An old friend of mine and went diving in a clouded lake with my camera. I was hoping for clarity, but during post-processing I noticed every image was chaotic and diffused. I left the editing process for a while, discouraged, but later came back to this.

— By Leslie June (from “Open Theme”)

As I was visiting my father in Shanghai, I was brought to a water village (sort of like a Venice of the east). There are often many tourists, foreign or local, that come to these villages to spend the day. Amidst the crowds, the local villagers remain indifferent to the visitors and go about their day to day lives, as does this man, simply relaxing until something catches his eye from above.

— By Jennifer Rimaz (from “Open Theme”)

Minnesota has long been known as home to some of the most warm-hearted individuals that anyone could possibly meet. “Minnesota nice,” Is a coined phrase for us fellow forester-sounding, hotdish-eating folks. Outside a quaint cafe in the heart of old St. Paul sits Ryan. He is homeless, one of many, and regulars the quiet life of Western Ave. He claims he hails from middle Minnesota and shares a few life stories as I take a break beside him for a moment on the stairs. His life wasn’t always this way, the bulk of his time spent wandering the streets and collecting social security. A common theme among the destitute. What ever caused his abandonment of home and material goods no longer detains him, as he smiles and shares his plans to spend Easter with a few dear old friends.

— By Rochelle Tschida (submitted to “Local Legends”)

Jasper is the love of my life. He taught me how to nurture and care for another. Most importantly, he taught me that I was capable of nurturing and caring for another.

— By Natalie Durio (submitted to “Love without Language”)

I was visiting my other half in Coeur D’Alene, Idaho just about a week ago. While the little town is expanding it’s surrounded by even smaller little places. We drove through the outskirts and passed a century plus old church on top of a hill in Cataldo. It was and still is the perfect scene for a great eerie movie. I’ll be returning there for more photos in the coming months! I can’t wait!

— By Ira Kh (submitted to “The Best of Small Town America”)

Daisy, the tabby cat, used to rule the whole house living her life like a queen coming and going as she pleased. Then one cold December night her fate changed. The chocolate lab mix puppy arrived as a surprise early Christmas gift looking like an adorable fluffy brown stuffed animal all snuggled up in a warm blanket. Daisy stepped down from her throne as queen of the love seat couch when Snuggles entered the family room. She ran away in fear and hid every time Snuggies was around. Sometimes she would even hide underneath my parents’ giant bed terrified when she heard Snuggie’s paws tapping on the kitchen floor. When the dog went to sleep the cat came out to play. When the lab was playing fetch outside the tabby would just stare at the tennis ball gliding through the air from the window. As human beings, who so often want to fix all things in our own way and control all situations on our own time, my family and I tried everything to make this scaredy cat accept and love this friendly, adorable dog. Nothing. Nothing at all. Fear had conquered the once Queen Daisy. Or had it? One random Tuesday afternoon, probably over a year and a half after the new member of the family entered, we heard a quiet noise . My mom and I were cooking dinner in the kitchen when we glanced into the family room to see if it was my dad arriving home from work. Snuggies always waited patiently for him on the love seat couch. And there it was-one love seat couch with two animals lying down on opposite sides. Neither one ran away or made a single sound. They did not fight over who won the throne of the love seat couch. They both just seemed peaceful, calm, and simply full of acceptance. And from that day the friendship and love between the feline and canine grew slowly and perfectly as it was meant to be. The love actually grew so strong that Daisy never left Snuggies side as she lied on the cold, bathroom floor suffering through her last dying days. So much simple yet poignant wisdom to be gained. We just need to have the faith to live our lives, be ourselves, and surrender that all will be taken care of in time. If we can let go of searching for the answers to our fears or analyzing all the ways to conquer our terror we will one day, without even realizing it, live right into the answers. When the time is right, when we are least thinking about it, when we don’t even realize it, we will grow right out of fear and grow into love. And when love enters our lives miraculous things happen. Beauty that we once thought was impossible appears as our reality! Be free, surrender, let go! It’s all good!

— By Michelle Caporale (submitted to “Love without Language”)

Dear Mum and Dad, I have discovered the perfect place to raise my family. I’m sorry it means your grand-children will be growing on the other side of the world. There is so much freedom here in New Zealand, their life here will be a never-ending adventure. I’m sorry, but I’m not coming back.

— By Romain Perin (submitted to “Something to Write Home About”)

Not only is Williams, Arizona, home to part of what is left of Historic Route 66 but it also prides itself as being the Gateway to the Grand Canyon. And, with that, the Grand Canyon Railway was born.

— By william adam collins (submitted to “The Best of Small Town America”)

After a very crowded studio apartment became too much for two dogs and two puppies, I picked Celeste up brought her home. She was a true pit-bull, with the ability to scare people just by looking at them. I felt so much obligation to her, to make sure she didn’t spend too much time alone, that she got enough exercise, that she interacted with enough people. When my relationship ended and my boyfriend moved out, it was just Celeste and I. She would lay with me and stretch her long body out to cuddle with me, I would cry and she was always there. She was so loving, so loyal to me. One day, she got scared and she nipped a girl’s behind. It was a horrible shock for both of us. She whimpered immediately and ran to me. I knew this was it, that for her good, I had to send her to a home with more attention than a single, full time, no yard, one bedroom resident could provide her. She taught me that you can truly love, and still you have to let go. She lives in New Jersey now, with a huge yard, and a family of four. I think about her all the time, I still feel her love and the bond we experienced. Because of her, I know how much I am capable of loving, I know the strength of the heart.

— By Linka Odom (submitted to “Love without Language”)