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It is impossible to fully comprehend the vastness of God's beauty in nature in just one day. It's a question that often arises , and how much do we take this for granted? It's like being presented with a feast but then not eating. From the vibrant colors of a sunrise to the intricate details of a flower, every aspect of nature reflects the perfection and wonder of our creator. As we take in the beauty of a clear blue sky, the majesty of a mountain range, and the peacefulness of a flowing river, we are constantly reminded of God's goodness and love. Even in the smallest of creatures, we can see the fingerprints of God's creativity and care. Each day, we are presented with a new opportunity to witness and appreciate the boundless beauty of God's creation, and yet, there will always be more to discover and marvel at in the days to come. Put down your phone and go for a walk.

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Photo: Mercy - A single birdhouse is surrounded by the beauty of soft blue snowy trees. Mercy is the first attribute of God. God does not want anyone to be lost. His mercy is infinitely greater than our sins. Copyright 2018 Frank J Casella. Reference Link: https://frankjcasella.pixels.com/featured/mercy-frank-j-casella.html

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Priorities

I meet many busy people every year who have no priority list.

As busy people in a culture overloaded with information and distractions, isn’t it becoming more and more difficult to find time just to think?

I would like to invite you to join me to return back to the basics, and ask ourselves what is really important to me, and who is really important to me.

This challenges us to look at the priority in our lives.

For me, Jesus is number one priority. He tells us to prepare the way if our lives are not what they should be, and to do something about that.

Matthew 22:37-38 clearly explains: “Jesus said to him, ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. “

This is also the greatest and the first (of the Ten) Commandment(s).

To do this we make time for silence, to spend time in the wilderness. Many people I tlak to without a priority list seem to be afraid of this silence. But, did you know our true thoughts and answers are often suppressed deep inside us, crowded out by all the noise in our lives.

We need quiet time to seek if we have placed success ahead of personal relationships, and with God. Reflection provides us an opportunity to change it.

Where our treasure is there is where our hearts will be. We always make time for what we love. To find this, we need to clear the clutter, the things that distract us from where to put our energy.

In the digital world this may be to remove apps or news sources that busy us or cause confusion. What goes into our brains is what comes out of our mouths. In the real world, we seek what or who are the people or things that distract us from being our best selves. What is it that we treasure the most?

When it comes to money and possessions, the best way to find what you treasure is to look in your bank account and see where most of your money goes. You may be surprised it’s not what you think. For me, it is to seek how are the funds being used to help others and make the world a better place, while not just meeting my needs and all my wants or comforts.

People who are truly happy create value in their own lives, and then in the lives of others.

Priorities are a constant way to remind us of our purpose, and to take inventory of our lives to create value.


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Photo: Fleeting moment. A moment in time on the street in the Loop of the City of Chicago. Copyright 2012 Frank J Casella.
Reference Link: https://frankjcasella.pixels.com/featured/train-bike-car-bus-walk-frank-j-casella.html


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Most of my art photographs have a very strong composition towards lines and patterns. This is because it was ingrained in me from may earliest days. I was raised in a family business, my Mom made custom drapries, and from the time I was a toddler in my play-pen there was often swatches of fabric for me to play with.

As I got older (though out of the play-pen) I watched mom cut drapery fabric so the pattern would line up as she sewed together the panels for the drapes. Some of the fabric was very expensive, so she had to make sure the measurements where correct, as there was no second chances without having the expense of replacing the fabric.

This photograph – America Heartland Winter Beauty – is one of many examples for my strong sense of lines and patterns. Although it seems to be a simple landscape photograph, the elements that attract my eye most are the frame-in-the-frame composition, and the leading lines, both lead the viewers eyes to the subject .. here it is the house.

The power lines you might think are a distraction to a perfect picture, yet to me they provide a sort of positive tension to balance the composition, with the color of the garage on the right opposite the open/expanse of the backyard on the left – without these opposite elememts this would be an entirely different picture.

Finally, the colors: The red house, the blue sky, and the white snow. All primary colors, but I especially love the power of the color red in a photograph. Patterns in photography are areas where elements repeat, and are a key compositional element–one with the potential to get you truly stunning photos.

And the importance of line, shape and form in photography, representing a three-dimensional world in a two-dimensional image is not an easy task. The thing about line, shape and form is that they help you to add depth to your image.

Likewise, for those of us who believe … In God, all can come to know that the sin, the coldness, the indifference, the despair, and the doubt of our lives are overcome by God’s taking on our human nature and leading us to new life. … by the simple lives of faith they lead. Through the ordinary patterns of our life, the Holy Spirit brings about conversion and a new life in Christ.




Photo: America Heartland Winter Beauty – Color Art Photograph Copyright 2021 Frank J Casella. The beauty after a major snowstorm on a neighborhood street in America’s Hearland. Picture made in my hometown of Homewood, Illinois. Note: This image was given an effect to soften details and give vibrancy to the colors.
Reference Link: https://pixels.com/featured/america-heartland-winter-beauty-frank-j-casella.html


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One of the things that I take for granted with my photographs is the composition and construction of the image elements. It’s something that I focused on while learning photography as a kid, and my technique was pulled together in college. I am surprised how there is a very talented artist on Fine Art America who calls me the ‘composition master’ in his comments on my pictures.

Composition in photography is about the positioning and interaction of elements within the frame. It determines the visual structure and perception of an image. To create a balanced composition, one can use the rule of thirds, placing the subject in the left or right third of the image. Negative space can also be used strategically, and adjusting saturation can enhance visual impact. It is important to identify elements that disrupt the balance in a photograph.

If you have followed my photography over the years, then you’ve seen my transition from people pictures towards nature, but still concentrating on the spirituality message. Because the construction of a subject in a photograph can tell us the story about our lives. As Fr. Greg says (who is the Rector at Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago), our lives are always under construction. Our lives are messy, and at different times we can live as a meaningful specific, or a wandering generality.

God is very detailed in the construction of nature and how it’s beauty inspires us and causes the earth to evolve, so too with the details of how He created each one of us as individual as the other. Thus, I strive to create a photograph with such intention and detail, through composition and construction, in the same way that I live my life.

For example, many people who meet me for the first time say how opinionated I am, and how I’m a good listener. And this is my aim for you see in my imagery. To tell a visual story by listening to the moments in time, and feeling the light, and present it in a way that makes it relevant to our present day culture.



Photo: Changing Seasons In The Prairie - Lomography. Made at the Homewood Izaak Walton Preserve in Illinois. Copyright 2023 Frank J Casella.
Reference Link: https://frankjcasella.pixels.com/featured/changing-seasons-in-the-prairie-lomography-frank-j-casella.html


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When our heart is filled with anger, we cut ourselves off from the Holy Spirit, represented here by an impassable barrier. Forgiveness is key. Jesus taught us how to pray in The Sermon On The Mount and in His model prayer, He stated that, if we want to be forgiven for our trespasses or sins, then we have to be willing to forgive those who trespass against us. Photo: Anger – Nature Photograph Copyright 2019 Frank J Casella. https://pixels.com/featured/anger-frank-j-casella.html

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Anger and Forgiveness

It is important that we display artwork in our home or at our place of work that speak to us and, not only inspires but, also gives us joy, rather than things that provoke anger. When we keep filling our minds with goodness and hope, we then share it with others.

When it comes to the topic of anger, I initially felt overwhelmed and considered giving up. Anger is both simple and complex, with countless aspects to explore.

Instead of delving into all those aspects, I want to share what anger means to me personally. Whenever I find myself getting angry, my immediate response is to ask who or what requires my forgiveness. Allow me to elaborate.

A spiritual director once shared an insightful perspective with me: anger usually arises when things don’t go our way or when we witness injustices that we can’t control. For instance, when my wife and I over the years have been experiencing delays in a house project, which has caused some frustration. I also experience anger when my work doesn’t yield the desired results or expectations, especially when others are relying on me.

To overcome these challenges, I have found that forgiveness is crucial. I first forgive the things that aren’t working out, and then I actively seek where God is present in these situations. More often than not, it becomes apparent that God has a better plan, and He is simply waiting for me to align with His work. Anger happens when I refuse to let go and let God, or I give it to God and then take it back.

So, when angry with others, it is often best to offer forgiveness than to ask for apology. In other words, choose to respond rather than to react.

This process can be difficult at times, as it requires prayer, patience, and discernment with the guidance of the Holy Spirit. As Fulton Sheen aptly stated, “the Holy Spirit acts as an artist, painting a vivid picture of the vision God has for us.“

So, the next time anger strikes, I hope my words encourage you to take a moment, pause, and respond with forgiveness instead of simply reacting with anger.


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I love this moment … canoes arranged like a sculpture, and juxtaposed with the cloud pattern in the sky. I also love the pinch of humanity, with the person walking on the path in the background. In the aftermath of a huge snow storm, this is just a simple piece of art to illustrate the beauty of a winterfold scene and, as this picture shows, there is a calm to every storm. Canoes are meant for water, and here they have a purpose and place in the snow. Canoes in the Snow – Copyright 2011 Frank J Casella All Rights Reserved (revised 2022).

Photo: Canoes In The Snow - https://frankjcasella.pixels.com/featured/canoes-in-the-snow-frank-j-casella.html

High School Days

I was reminded of this photograph made a the local high school, where my wife and I, as well as our children, are alums, because a present student asked me about how the school has changed over the years since I attended there and the impact it has made on the community.

The short answer to share with you is, that the purpose of a high school I think is to help a student determine their goals and direction as they discern how their life will make a difference in the world. As the late Zig Ziglar says, “the definition of success is when opportunity meets preparation”. A high school can provide resources to the masses that would be difficult for each household to provide on their own.

I went to this school before the internet, which seems to have helped me since to become a lot more smart and knowledgeable over the years. So the job of a high school today is to fill in the gaps that the internet can’t provide, like experiences of mentoring with sills and relationships. Many times though today schools also influence with social political ideals instead of just sticking to their true purpose of education.

Too, over the years I believe many students today come from a one-parent family (not a broken family, as there is a difference), where in my day it was mostly two parent families. This presents a different demographic, as it seems teachers have more of a co-parent roll in the students life. For example, when our children went to the school we kept reminding the teachers that we are their parents, and to check in with us.

However, we are fortunate to have this high school in the community, as it has many programs for the arts and vocations to prepare students well for college or simply entering the professional world. That is one thing over the past sixty years that has not change, and only improved. I have personally benefited from this!

As the red canoe in this photograph seems out of place from the others scattered along the edge of the pond, so too can we feel out of place during our high school day’s when looking for some sort of direction. And after graduation most of us leave the area for college, sometimes never to come back to live there. This to me is the lasting impact a high school has on its community.


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During the tranquil moments of autumn, basking in the gentle rays of the golden hour, we find solace in bidding farewell to a serene Sunday. Although this particular photograph captures the essence of late fall, it will be a bit of time before we reach that time of year, as typically here in Chicagoland towards the end of October is when the fall foliage ignites the landscape with a vibrant tapestry of colors. Among my vast collection of Fall and Autumn, this image stands out as a personal favorite. The interplay of the sunlight illuminating the hues, combined with the artistry displayed in the cloud formations, reminds us of the incomparable beauty created by God’s paint brush. So, take a moment to savor and appreciate this image, a small glimpse into the enchanting allure of the fall season.

— Frank J Casella

Photo: A peaceful moment of autumn, in the golden hour light, and a nice way to end a Sunday. Copyright 2021 Frank J Casella.
Sunday In The Autumn Woods





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As the stormy clouds loom above, a mesmerizing dance of light and shadow unfolds in the vast expanse of the prairie at Homewood Izaak Walton Preserve in Illinois. It is during this transitional period of early Fall that nature unveils a breathtaking spectacle of vibrant hues, where the vivid colors of autumn foliage ignite against the dramatic backdrop of the turbulent sky.

In this remarkable moment in time, captured with utter precision (with God and my camera there is no coincidence I believe), every intricate detail becomes a testament to the divine artistry that surrounds us. It serves as a poignant reminder that even amidst the chaos and uncertainty of life, there is a sublime order at play, a masterful symphony composed by a higher power.

Just as the light seeps through the stormy clouds, illuminating the landscape with its ethereal glow, so too can we allow the presence of something greater into our lives. Whether we refer to it as divine intervention, the hand of God, or simply the power of nature, there is a profound beauty in recognizing that there is something beyond ourselves, a force that meticulously tends to the minutiae of existence.

This photograph encapsulates not only the extraordinary beauty found in nature but also serves as a gentle reminder to open ourselves up to the exquisite details that comprise our own lives. Just as the colors in the prairie bloom with intensity, we too can find purpose and meaning in the smallest of moments.

So, let us be mindful of the wonders that surround us, both grand and minuscule. Let us embrace the divinity present in the delicacy of a fallen leaf, the wonder of a passing storm, and the gentle flicker of light cutting through the darkness. For when we allow ourselves to become attuned to the nuances of the world, we create space for gratitude, awe, and an ever-deepening connection to the profound symphony of life.

That’s it for this Sunday Letter. Thank you for reading, talk with you again soon,

Frank

Photo: Early Autumn Prairie Stormy Sky - Color Nature Art Photograph Copyright 2022 Frank J Casella -frankjcasella.pixels.com

https://frankjcasella.pixels.com/featured/early-autumn-prairie-stormy-sky-frank-j-casella.html




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Forgiveness is a complex and deeply personal journey. It is often said that forgiving others is easier than forgiving oneself. This is due to several factors, including our own high standards and expectations, as well as the guilt and shame we may carry within.

One of the reasons forgiveness is important is the burden of unmet expectations. We often have certain expectations of ourselves and others, and when those expectations are not met, it can lead to disappointment, resentment, and a breakdown in relationships. Forgiveness allows us to release these expectations and find peace within ourselves.

Another reason forgiveness is crucial is the presence of unresolved anger. Holding onto anger can have detrimental effects on our emotional and physical well-being. It can poison our thoughts, strain our relationships, and prevent us from moving forward in life. By forgiving ourselves and others, we can free ourselves from the toxic grip of anger and find inner harmony.

In the Bible, 2 Corinthians 5:19 reminds us of the power of forgiveness. It states, “God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.” This verse highlights the divine call to extend forgiveness and promote reconciliation, not only with others but also with ourselves.

Remember, forgiveness is a personal journey, and it takes time and effort. It involves recognizing and accepting our mistakes, letting go of resentments, and choosing to move forward with compassion and understanding. By embracing forgiveness, we can experience healing, growth, and restored relationships in our lives.

May this message of forgiveness and reconciliation inspire you on your path of self-forgiveness and inner peace.

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Photo: The Seasons of Life - Color Photograph Copyright 2020 Frank J Casella - https://frankjcasella.pixels.com/featured/the-seasons-of-life-frank-j-casella.html
The bold Fall colored leaves dominates the road intersection in the Midwest American hometown of Homewood, Illinois. The blue sky and green grass contrast the Autumn colors. Just as the road of life has it's seasons, so too with this tree which changes with each season as cars drive by year round. Copyright 2020 Frank J Casella.



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Take a look at this stunning collection of autumn leaf photos. They showcase the beautiful colors, patterns, and texture of leaves during this enchanting season. Click on any photo below to explore them on my artistic website and indulge in this captivating visual experience.


These photos highlight the vibrant reds, oranges, and yellows that leaves acquire as they undergo their transformative journey in autumn. They remind us of the ever-changing nature of life and the beauty that can be found in imperfection.


As you contemplate the graceful descent of these leaves, gently swaying in the autumn breeze before settling on the ground, let it serve as a reminder to appreciate the present moment. Embrace the passing seasons of life and cherish the moments of beauty that enrich our existence.


Each leaf is unique, just like each of us. God created this beauty and it reminds us to enjoy and appreciate the world around us. Even though the leaves may have flaws, they still bring beauty to the world for a short time. Let’s keep our pursuit of perfection balanced.


Enjoy these stunning photos and let them fill you with inspiration and joy. Marvel at the beauty of nature captured in each image. Thank you for reading and viewing.

— Frank J Casella




The Colors of Autumn - Fall foliage on the road marking the start of the Autumn Season. Copyright 2013 Frank J Casella




Morning Frost Autumn Leaves - One of the common threads of my photographs is the details of light and shadow. The other thread is to share visually hope and God's love in the world. What this image shows for me is how each leaf has it's own set of details, just like each one of us. God made all of this, and knows what He is doing. Copyright 2019 Frank J Casella




Autumn Leaves and Raindrops - Perfection can get in the way of our success, if we let it. How to keep this in balance is key. Copyright 2019 Frank J Casella




Falling Leaves Green Grass - Abstract Colors - Frank J Casella - Copyright 2019 - A Fall leaf in the grass that illustrates the perfection of what God has created, to enjoy this beauty while on earth, in addition to His creating our lives. Although the leaf has flaws and scars, it still brings much beauty into the world for the short time of one season, just as our lives our short lived.



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