I couldn’t live without my smart phone. Well, that’s an exaggeration. But I’d be a moping and disgruntled geezer were it taken away from me for more than a few days. Man, thinking about that gives me shivers. I’d nearly prefer to contemplate the Apocalypse, which might not be too far off, sad to say, what with far-right-wing motherf*ckers proliferating like rabbits all over the globe.
Okay, back to my phone: I don’t use it as much, or at all, in some of the ways that are crucial to many people. For instance, I send (and receive) text messages, but not to the point that they are coming out of my ears. And I never watch movies or TV shows on the tiny screen. When it comes to surfing the internet, however, I’m addicted and a champ, as I read one thing or another on the phone for two or more hours just about every day. For this activity alone, my phone is essential to me.
And I’m totally in love with the magical device’s camera, a valuable ally. On vacations, I snap away like a mad dog. And I often document gatherings with friends or relatives, and other fun occasions, with a picture or two or more. Hell, just about everybody does all of that, I imagine. It’s a good way to keep memories at hand and to have a running record of the enjoyable parts of our lives.
The publication you’re staring at right now — Yeah, Another Blogger — often is on or not far from my mind when I aim and shoot, for I include photos in quite a few of the pieces I publish. I think of myself as an amateur photographer, I suppose, and get a kick from sharing images with whomever is good enough to read my stories. Seventeen of the approximately 300 photos I’ve taken so far this year have graced Yeah, Another Blogger’s pages already. And three more now are about to make an appearance. I tip my hat to my smart phone for making this possible. Modern technology blows my mind.
Speaking of which, I chose these three pics because they too blow my mind. They are undoctored photographs of what struck me as almost-hallucinatory scenes. I took the above picture on a cold, grey winter’s day this past February, a couple of blocks from my house in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, USA. Have tree limbs and branches ever seemed more complex and wiser? I had a feeling they understand the underlying nature of the universe and were trying to find a way to express this knowledge. If they clue me in one day, I’ll let you know, believe me.
(Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. April 2025)
Cellar Dog Philadelphia, a cool-as-can-be venue that opened not long ago in downtown Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the setting for photo number two. Cellar Dog is a bar cum jazz club cum non-electronic games joint (billiards, table shuffleboard and foosball are among the games you can play). My wife Sandy and I were there in April with our pals Cindy and Gene. The jazz quartet we heard that night pleased each of us a lot. And the looks of the place put me in mind of Salvador Dali paintings. To me, the shuffleboard tables appeared to be hanging on for dear life, praying that the bold floor tiles and the dazzling wall wouldn’t decide to catapult them into the heavens.
(Eastham, Cape Cod, Massachusetts. April 2025)
Later in April, Sandy and I, while vacationing on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, found ourselves at Eastham township’s First Encounter Beach. There, we walked upon the wet, rippled sands (known as tidal flats) left exposed by the receding waters of Cape Cod Bay. It was low tide, indeed, and the sky was beginning to turn colors as the Sun dropped toward the horizon. The scene was one of head-spinning beauty, for much of the bay’s waters, via the Moon’s gravitational forces, had been pulled incredibly far from shore. Both Sandy and I felt exhilarated. We were in the right place at the right time.
In conclusion, let me say I wouldn’t want to have my mind blown crazily often. I don’t have the constitution for that. Does anybody? But, for all of my adult life I’ve needed, and have experienced, a steady, slow stream of far-out-ish encounters. That’s the way I’m built. They’ve made my life better.
Yeah, Another Blogger 
A fine eye captured three stirring and diverse scenes. Well done!
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I appreciate it. Thanks a lot.
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Being in situation which makes you go ‘I just have to photograph that!’ is a perfect reason for have a smartphone stuck in your pocket year long. I always take mine on walks with me, as I don’t have a dog and my husband’s not as keen on strolling our neighbourhood as I am. It’s a joy, being able to capture those interesting places and scenes, and I say ‘go for it’, for your images give joy.
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Absolutely — to always have a camera at hand is a helpful, logical and reassuring thing. The camera comes in handy in practical ways too, such as when we take a picture in a store of a product we’re interested in so that we don’t forget the product’s name.
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Nice photos, Neil. I think the tree branches and the sand ripples seem to say: We are individuals, but we look better and do better when we stick together and work together. Something we humans are still trying to figure out.
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I like your observations!
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Thank you! 😊
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Wonderful pictures, the last one is my favorite!
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I got lucky with that picture!
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Love those pictures, Neil. I’m with you, I love to use my phone to take pictures and try and capture what I find interesting and exciting.
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Hi. Hats off to whoever it was that decided to put cameras in smart phones.
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Yep, it’s a camera that has other handy features like being able to phone or text, isn’t it? Fantastic pictures.
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I hadn’t thought of the device that way before. You make a good point!
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You keep surprising me. These are great photos. The trees in Willow’ Grove are mesmerising. I look forward to your next series.
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Thanks. Those trees are in a park two blocks from my house. They had no trouble catching my attention.
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I love the beach scene and the trees (and the clarity and light in the middle pic!) You’ve obviously got a much better camera on your smartphone than I have on mine. I tried a photo of a magpie at the top of a tree the other day and it could have been a duck for all the good it was!
I think I may have followed your blog years and years ago from one of my old blogs but can’t remember which or when. I’ve seen your comments on so many of other blogs that I popped over (and have subbed).
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Hi there, Val. Many thanks for adding your thoughts. I think my phone’s camera is probably middle of the road. It takes nice photos in many conditions, and certainly is good enough for me. But it doesn’t do well when I try to photograph the Moon and night sky.
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I use my phone for much the same reasons as you & actually purchased my latest one because of its camera. I love being able to take & retake pictures until I get the “perfect” shot, unlike back in the day when film limited your options and you never knew what you got until you had the roll developed. The photos you’ve included here are terrific as always. My favorite is the beach scene.
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Hi. I completely agree: digital photography is a VAST improvement over film photography.
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Loving the ripples on that beach! I use my phone camera for so much that I have to pay extra for storage!
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You clearly have taken a LOT of photos!
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Great photos! I also love having my phone handy to capture all those great images that pop up from time to time.
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We’re fortunate that smart phones were invented!
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Gotta love far-out-ish encounters! How did we survive before these phones? Great pics. 🙂
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Evening! Smart phones are beyond incredible. Some people get too wrapped up in them, cutting way down on face-to-face interactions. But, overall, they have made life better for people.
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Agreed. They have not been good for children/teens, however. But, for responsible adults, thumbs up.
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I love the composition and color of your beach photo. Just gorgeous. I’m a bit addicted to my phone camera too, always thinking how photos can enrich my blog.
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Hi. Our phones are so amazingly useful. And they always are at hand, unless we’ve misplaced them!
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Great photos, Neil. The trees look like the body’s vascular system.
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Right. Trees, like humans. are complicated!
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😂
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That they are! And did you know they communicate with each other?!
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Great story and photos Neil. I especially love the photo from First Encounter Beach. Receding tides make for such fascinating patterns on the beaches of the Cape. My favorite place is Monomoy Nature Preserve.
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Afternoon, Ernie. Cape Cod has what it takes!
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I really like the pic of the leafless tree. I don’t think we give enough credence to the beauty of the way that trees grow their branches. Thing is, I wish I got to see leafless trees for maybe a month, instead of four or more. 🙂
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I know what you mean. But that’s the way Mother Nature designed things.
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Such great captures! That’s why I’m rather glad phones have cameras, too. One never knows when life is going to give one something so memorable…or when one wants to remember that which can be so easily forgotten.
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I completely agree. To always have a camera at hand is a great thing.
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Yes, back before the iPhone, I had a ‘real’ camera and took scenic photos that had some ‘soul’ to them (like your tree and beach photos). They were good enough to frame and a few are still on my walls. Once I got the cell phone I discarded the good camera. The ease of use is too good. I take mainly people photos on it, but if I get the newer iPhone, I’ll work on scenes like yours, which are well done! I wonder which iPhone you have. I’m still with the 11.
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Hi. I have the iPhoneSE. I like it because it’s small. But I’m pretty sure its camera isn’t as good as the cameras on some other iPhones. Thanks a lot for stopping by. I appreciate it.
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Though I truly appreciate how critical a smartphone could be in an emergency–literally, life and death–I am that rare person who doesn’t carry one everywhere I go. In the car, yes, for the reason stated above, but I ramble “off the grid” in a world where nearly everyone I pass has that little white thingie–the wireless earbud–stuck in their ear. The thing I do love about Smartphones are their cameras! I traipsed across the world for some decades, toting my pride-and-joy Nikon camera, and though I loved the pics it took, it was a PAIN IN THE ASS to lug it around day and night. So, hooray for the Smartphone cam and kudos to you for using it to such good effect. These are GREAT pics. The Cellar Dog looks like great fun!
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Hi. The older I get, the less encumbered I like to be. That’s why i like my cellphone model very much. It’s smaller than most, and fits easily in pants pockets.
You’d love Cellar Dog. It’s got a great atmosphere and is quite unique.
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Our smart phones have more technology in them than it took to put a man on the moon. I feel you! I have always loved photography and my iPhone has taken the place of my real hard body DSLR (sigh). Hey, my phone is a lot smaller and can slip into my purse, and my phone takes high quality photos too.
Loving the photos. Cheers!
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Hello there, Velva. Smart phones are amazing. They are super useful. I’m using mine right now to read your comments and to reply to them. Have a real good week!
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“Modern technology blows my mind.” – me too – the quality of my “standard” camera is just incredible. Love the photos – especially the stripey beach! Linda xx
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Hi, and thanks for visiting. The tidal flats at that beach are otherworldly. We loved being there that day.
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Gives a whole new meaning to the ripple effect! 🌸
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Really like the way you write — your casual, honest, right-on way with words, your thoughts and impressions. And you’ve given us so many great photos. Your First Encounter Beach is stunning.
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Hi, and thanks a lot. I appreciate the thumbs-up. Enjoy the weekend!
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