Stand By Me ...

“When the night has come

And the land is dark

And the moon is the only light we’ll see

No, I won’t be afraid

Oh, I won’t be afraid

Just as long as you stand

Stand by me

So darlin’, darlin’

Stand by me, oh, stand my me

Oh stand, stand by me

Stand by me

If the sky that we look upon

Should tumble and fall

Or the mountain should crumble to the sea

I won’t cry, I won’t cry

No, I won’t shed a tear

Just as long as you stand

Stand by me

And darlin’, darlin’

Stand by me, oh, stand by me

Oh, stand now, stand by me

Stand by me

Darlin’, darlin’

Stand by me, oh, stand by me

Oh, stand now, stand by me

Stand by me

Whenever you’re in trouble, won’t you stand by me?

Oh, stand by me

Won’t you stand now?

Oh, stand, stand by me”

       ~ “Stand by Me”

      ~ originally performed by Ben E. King

                            ~ 1938-2015
                 ~ released April 1961

      ~ written by Ben. E. King,
             Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller

According to Ben E. King, the title is derived from, and was inspired by, a spiritual written by Sam Cooke and J.W. Alexander called “Stand by Me Father,” recorded by The Soul Stirrers with Johnnie Taylor singing lead. The third line of the second verse of the former work derives from Psalm 46:2-3.

There have been more than 400 recorded versions of the song, performed by many artists. It was featured on the soundtrack of the 1986 film “Stand by Me.”

A majestic four point white-tailed deer buck and beautiful doe stand side by side as a peaceful hush sweeps across the field just before a midwinter snowfall begins to tumble from the sky in this high contrast monochrome shot I captured in the park in the late afternoon of a February day.

I'll Fly Away ...

“… Just a few more days and then

I’ll fly away

To a land where joys will never end

I’ll fly away …”

           ~ “I’ll Fly Away”

          ~ written by Alfred E. Brumley

        in 1929, published in 1932

  ~ “I’ll Fly Away” has been called the most recorded Gospel song. One of the earliest recordings of the hymn was made by the Selah Jubilee Singers in 1941. It has been recorded by many artists, including George Jones, Johnny Cash and Alan Jackson.

It is a frequently used in worship services by Baptists, Pentecostals, Nazarenes, the Churches of Christ & many Methodists.

I captured this high contrast monochrome shot of milkweed seeds in the October breeze before they fly away on an autumn afternoon at Trexler Nature Preserve, Schnecksville, Pennsylvania.

Doe's Summer Portrait ...

“Color is descriptive. Black and white is interpretive.”

             ~ Elliott Erwitt

                ~ photographer

             ~ born 1928

Leaves softly frame the face of my favorite white-tailed deer doe as she peeks out of the trees in this black and white portrait I shot in the late afternoon of a mid-August day in the park.

I’ve been blessed to photograph this doe and her fawns since 2012, and it’s a true joy to me personally and as a photographer.