The Photography of Dr. Jeff Harper

My father sorted out piles of old family photographs before he died. Going through these old folders I found  photos of some family members I had never seen before.

This is my great-great-grandfather, Owen E. Harper I and my great-great-grandmother Roselya Harper.  The note on the back asked "Homer?" referring to my grandfather Homer Harper III, the rest I do not know . .  there was no mention on the back.  This photo is from around 1900-1910 in St. Louis, Missouri, USA.

This is my great-great grandmother Roselya Harper, circa 1900-1910, St. Louise, Missouri, USA. This photo, and the one above, are the only photos I have ever seen of her.

My father was in the U.S. Army stationed in Berlin, Germany after the war.  The caption on the back of this photo said, "Berlin before The Blockade (Amy in the middle)," That is my father, Owen E. Harper II, on the left.

I came along on 1950.  Here I am at 2 1/2 years old in Monterey, California, USA.

We moved to Frankfurt, Germany in 1953 and lived in a very big house of a former Nazi.  My father "saved" these two good Italian people (seen with my brother Allan and I), Johnny and Lydia Bossi, from the destitution of post war Germany. They became very successful later in life.

We travelled all over Europe between 1953 and 1956 in our 1953 Studebaker.  Here we are at Lago Maggeore in the Italian Lake Country in 1955. (L to R: me,my brothers Dennis and Allen).

Those were the days: me at 10 in 1960 in Calimesa, California. I scanned the last 50 old photos (of about 350) today, but will not put them all on line. Go to my Old Family Photos page for more of these.

I took this photo with my iPhone4 the other night while walking to our car after a night on the town with my wonderful wife.  Old Bangkok can still be found in the back alleys of the Silom Road area . . . if you are looking.

Dr. Jeff, Where do you live? What's it like there?

This is Chaengwattana Road in the northern suburbs of Bangkok.  It is a fast growing area with even faster growing traffic.  When I moved out here 14 years ago you could shoot a canon ball down Chaengwattana and not hit anybody.  Drive west about three miles from here and you come to my house. These two photos were taken from the same spot, facing 180 degrees apart.

The Thai Government has relocated most of the bureaucracy from the beautiful Thai style old buildings downtown to bright and architecturally plain modern buildings out in my part of town.  This has caused the traffic. You are looking east here. But I forgot to say . . . that I LOVE Bangkok!

The entrance to the temple grounds was a thing of beauty filled with spiritual promise.

My wife (Yoo), brother-in-law (Vichai), and niece (Par) and I went to Saraburi province today to make merit.

We participated in ceremonies and left donations.

There was much beauty everywhere we went.  The smell of incense filled the air.

It was a day reflecting on what the Buddha said: wake up.

Who designs these cave temples? Fantastic!

The entrance to the underground temple.

One can partake of Chinese numerology cards in the underground temple.

The underground temple had some wonderful Buddhas.

It was cool inside the cave.

It is such a surprise to find Buddas in a cave.

The cave extended quite a distance under the cliff.

Down and around we went.

It seemed around every turn a new Buddha grotto could be found.

Someone is tending all of these subterranean altars.

Yes.  The someone is a "cave hermit" and this is an alter to him.

This is the only underground Chedi I have ever seen . . . . and I have been in many underground and cave Buddhist temples.

Some of the Buddha altars were quite spooky.

Even though it was a hot day, fan sales were slow in the temple courtyard.

As this was a special day for worshiping, merchants set up a makeshift markets outside the temple gates.

Beans, lentils, and split peas are in season.

There is nothing like Thai Chinese Temple Roastin' Ears (TCTRE) on a 100 degree day.  Trust me.

The most moving part of the day was passing out alms to the aged indigent poor of the area.  It was humbling and heart-rendering.

Only two hours drive from Bangkok are the "mountains" of Khao Yai; a region of vineyards and craggy hills.

Lovely morning light on the PB Valley Vineyards, Khao Yai, Thailand.

Is this France or Thailand?

Napa Valley maybe?  maybe not.

It was harvest time.

It is the beginning of the "Damn Hot and Damn Dry Season" in Thailand. When we left Bangkok it was still "only" in the upper 80s(f), but when we returned it was in the upper 90s(f).

After the sun set, a full tropical moon rose.

I rose before dawn to feel the environment, thick with humid mist, come alive.

The morning light revealed some new natural wonders.

Morning dew on red hibiscus.

Translucent yellow in the morning dew.

Jasmine: sweet smelling morning bloom.

The area around our bungalow was nicely planted with a variety of beautiful plants.

As the first light struck them these blossoms opened before my eyes.

Everywhere floral beauty!

The morning sun came through the garden at a steep angle, sometimes lighting the flowers from behind.

What amazing ideas this plant has about reproduction!

The day eventually brightened.