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touch-the-flame ♂️ [6677526] [2008-02-16 18:11:49 +0000 UTC] "WayHip" (United States)

# Statistics

Favourites: 868; Deviations: 485; Watchers: 201

Watching: 64; Pageviews: 44401; Comments Made: 6998; Friends: 64

# Interests

Favorite visual artist: Rembrandt, Bouguereau, Doré, Friedrich, Steichen, Cameron, W.E. Smith, Brigman....
Favorite movies: Way too many to pick
Favorite bands / musical artists: Springsteen, U2, Peter Gabriel, Rock, World, Jazz, Blues, Classical, you name it
Favorite writers: Poe, Nouwen, Twain
Tools of the Trade: Canon Rebel XSi, Canon A-1, Minolta digital, Photoshop CS3
Other Interests: Film, Photography, Art, Literature

# About me

Why "Touch the Flame?"
The title comes ostensibly from the U2 song "Where the Streets Have No Name"...

I want to run
I want to hide
I want to tear down the walls
That hold me inside
I want to reach out
And touch the flame
Where the streets have no name

But the idea of "touching the flame" - reaching out, taking chances, embracing inspiration, giving in to temptation - has always intrigued me. I remember as a young child visiting my grandmother and being fascinated by a burning candle on the table. "Don't touch it" she cautioned. "It'll hurt." But of course, when her attention was away I slowly moved my finger closer and closer to the flame, until I touched it and was burned. Despite that early lesson in fascination and trust and danger and pain I still desire to touch the flame.

I live in Baltimore, Maryland (if you're in town and want a tour of my favourite photographic haunts hit me up). I'm a romantic at heart - from my interests in art to books to film to whatever... but I'm also drawn to that which speaks to the soul and feeds the spirit.

"You must be the change you wish to see in the world." ~ Gandhi

# Comments

Comments: 454

MrMeeseekz [2017-01-18 03:53:58 +0000 UTC]

Hi :D (Big Grin) it's me, please answer me uwu

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EternalClocks [2016-11-19 04:35:50 +0000 UTC]

I really like your photos. I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who likes dark things such as cemeteries, but also beautiful things like expanding seas merging into the horizon.

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touch-the-flame In reply to EternalClocks [2017-01-16 11:51:44 +0000 UTC]

That's really kind, Brian, thank you. I think there is much beauty to be found even in what some may consider odd places. Both cemeteries and seascapes present opportunities for serenity and calm as well as beauty. Thank you so much for the faves, and I hope you continue to find my work intriguing. :) (Smile)

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Badbearr [2015-10-05 11:57:32 +0000 UTC]

Awesome gallery!

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Parinferal [2015-04-19 12:39:12 +0000 UTC]

You're welcome ! :D (Big Grin)

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northernsoul20 [2014-12-31 13:17:40 +0000 UTC]

Love your gallery , keep at it. Enjoy the rest of the New Year - Xmas break.

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touch-the-flame In reply to northernsoul20 [2014-12-31 20:04:54 +0000 UTC]

Thank you so much! Thank you! Thank you!

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Tenebrae76 [2014-12-22 17:51:30 +0000 UTC]

Hug Hug Hug Hug Hug Hug Hug Thank you so much +fav +fav +fav +fav +fav +fav +fav

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mertonparrish [2014-12-15 03:39:14 +0000 UTC]

Ty so much for the fav. Have a wonderful holiday and new year!

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touch-the-flame In reply to mertonparrish [2014-12-15 12:00:03 +0000 UTC]

You as well my friend! Hug Hug Hug Hug Hug Hug Hug

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LadyoftheApocalypse [2014-12-04 04:03:17 +0000 UTC]

You have a very lovely gallery!

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touch-the-flame In reply to LadyoftheApocalypse [2014-12-04 04:43:15 +0000 UTC]

Thank you so much! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi! Hi!

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Syltorian [2014-12-01 18:33:00 +0000 UTC]

Thank you for your help with submitting to Cemetary-Grave-Art , and I hope I was not too much of a bother! :) (Smile)

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touch-the-flame In reply to Syltorian [2014-12-03 01:30:23 +0000 UTC]

Not a bother at all! :) (Smile)

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MerlaMerula [2014-11-27 12:50:40 +0000 UTC]

Thank you very much for the comments, the favs and the watch :) (Smile)

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touch-the-flame In reply to MerlaMerula [2014-11-27 13:00:21 +0000 UTC]

You are most welcome - I look forward to seeing your new work! Here's a kiss for you, my love!

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Mosby1865 [2014-09-30 13:47:57 +0000 UTC]

Glad to stumble across a fellow Baltimorean on DA :) (Smile)

Given the themes in some of your work, I'll admit I was expecting to see some photos of Antietam National Battlefield. I assume you've visited out that way?

Also (and this is rather further afield) if you ever make it to Andersonville National Historic Site in Georgia, I'd suggest looking up the story of Father Peter Whelan, whose story I found to be very inspirational.

Heck, look him up even if you don't ever go to Andersonville :) (Smile) His Wikipedia page should be a good start: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Wh…

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touch-the-flame In reply to Mosby1865 [2014-11-11 16:57:27 +0000 UTC]

I've shot at Antietam twice in the last year or so and both times the weather was uncooperative and I wasn't pleased with the results. I'll keep trying. :) (Smile)

Thanks for the info on Fr. Peter Whelan. I work in Catholic ministry myself so this is very interesting. I'm sure I've heard the name before but never really investigated to find out what he was all about.

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Mosby1865 In reply to touch-the-flame [2014-11-12 14:35:29 +0000 UTC]

Yeah, weather operates on no schedule but God's. There's a lesson there in humility that I try to remind myself of, on occasion :) (Smile) I hope you have better luck in the future.

Are you associated with the Archdiocese of Baltimore directly, or one of the many Baltimore parishes? We live inside the city line, but attend St. Agnes in Catonsville.

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touch-the-flame In reply to Mosby1865 [2014-11-13 00:57:54 +0000 UTC]

OK - this is crazy. We must meet... I'm the youth minister for St. Agnes parish. :) (Smile)

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Mosby1865 In reply to touch-the-flame [2014-11-13 15:06:46 +0000 UTC]

Really??!! What are the odds? I'll send you a note...

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Tenebrae76 [2014-09-22 17:47:43 +0000 UTC]

Hug Hug Hug Hug Hug Hug Hug Thanks for the new +fav +fav +fav +fav +fav +fav +fav

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mertonparrish [2014-09-01 08:04:48 +0000 UTC]

Your photographs are very beautiful, and I enjoyed reading your thoughtful and insightful deviant ID. Just sent you a watch. I will look forward to your work crossing my box. Thank you for your comments on my work and page. Have a good week and keep on creating!

Merton :) (Smile)

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touch-the-flame In reply to mertonparrish [2014-09-01 11:30:02 +0000 UTC]

Those are very kind words - thank you very much. I'll be watching as well! :) (Smile)

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mertonparrish In reply to touch-the-flame [2014-09-02 02:18:39 +0000 UTC]

:) (Smile)

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tiny-sparrow [2014-08-28 11:47:11 +0000 UTC]

Thank you kindly.

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artin2007 [2014-06-16 15:48:34 +0000 UTC]

An impressive collection of funerary art.
I have much more than I have organized
or uploaded, esp since I'm seen many seasons,
and, I like what seems to last, at least a bit longer
than our other corporeal environments.
I must like the generic symbols, statuary, crypts,
mausolems, architecture, esp those that have little or
no prominent Christian symbols...a silly perspective,
esp. in the West...but, there you are... There is still
much to admire and gaze upon and ponder...

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touch-the-flame In reply to artin2007 [2014-06-16 17:30:20 +0000 UTC]

Thank you - I appreciate the feedback. Thank you! Thank you!

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roon1305 [2014-06-01 19:33:14 +0000 UTC]

merci pour le fav"'""''"'

ma galerie roon1305.deviantart.com/galler…

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tiny-sparrow [2012-12-29 22:53:29 +0000 UTC]

I'm quite behind on my "thank yous." Thank you for the inspiration and encouragement and for adding more of my work to your collection.

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midnightscrawling [2012-11-05 18:39:19 +0000 UTC]

your welcome . Your work is the type i was looking for when i searched Germany . Almost all of what came up was the Hetalia Germany . I have been to Germany twice and fell in absoult love with it . I would post my own photo's of my travels in Europe but for some reason my computer wont read them :( (Sad)