Ray Rasmussen
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Good Enough

Comparison is the thief of joy

—Theodore Roosevelt

dusk
the black dog
labors through snow

Why did I agree to speak to the Saint Albert Camera Club? Days chained to my computer preparing a slide show; a long drive to the meeting place on icy roads; the evening to be spent with strangers. Likely, they'll look at my images and whisper among themselves, "Why did we invite this guy? He's not that good!"

And I'll whisper back in my mind, Why? Because we need something to do on these long northern winter nights. After all, a hundred years ago with the only light coming from candles, people once gathered to play not so great music, sing in not so great voices, dance as best they could . . . so why not us?

Perhaps a tot of whiskey before going in? And thus fortified, say to my audience, We're all wanna-be photographers. So long as we don't take ourselves too seriously, perhaps we can get through this and have some fun?

willow buds
tight to the stem—
snow melt