"On the Move" 2005

"Heading Out" 2005

The war in Vietnam

During all wars a generation is born and changed forever. Unlike WW2 the songs being sung were protesting the war, the signs that were being carried were of Peace and Love. The hippies stood up for what they believed in which was Peace, Love, Flower Power, Sex, Drugs and Rock & Roll, oh man the Rock & Roll. This is and was the 60's.

WAR... What is it good for

ABSOLUTELY NOTHING EXCEPT

Peace,Liberty and Freedom

so come on all you big strong men

Uncle Sam needs your help again

become a sailor - jar head or sky pilot

& prepare for the eve of destruction

fore the answer is blowing in the wind

It's 1,2,3 what are we fighting for

as the stench of death drifts up to the sky

and god looks upon us as we ask why

WHY YOU SAY - SOLDIERS CAN'T BE GAY

charlie awakes to gooooooooooooood morning Vietnam

as Tommy, Bobby & little Johnny sit in a rice patty

smoking their grass they purchased from the pusher man

for a moment they fly by on their magic carpet

they too were born to be wild

like John Wayne, the Dirty Dozen, and Hitler

Reality Check Point

What's going on

four dead in Ohio

time has come today

smile on your brother

innocent dying as babies await crying

WHILE FORREST RUNS ACROSS THE U.S. of A.

his neighbors run to the great white north

chopper me out of Saigon- yes I just want to be gone

remember don't Tread on Me and don't burn my Flag

has anybody seen

Abraham, Martin and John

i thought that i saw them walking up soldier hill

singing let freedom ring

Bobbie to had a dream

64,000 dead were the words in my head

Thou Shall Not KILL

so who killed the Kennedy's

for what it's worth - it was you and me

WAR, what is it good for?

let it be

GIVE PEACE A CHANCE

one, two, three, four

live for today

for tomorrow may never come

because you can't always get what you want

Thank you to those who served, died and returned

WELCOME HOME BOYS AND GIRLS

Special thanks to the following for providing the sound track of a generation:

John Kay & Steppenwolf, Eric Burdon & the Animals, the Rolling Stones, Buffalo Springfield, Dion, the Youngbloods

the Chamber Brothers, Marvin Gaye, Bob Dylan, Country Joe & the Fish, the Grass Roots, the Beatles and John Lennon

"Laid to Rest" 2005 Arlington

"Brothers"

"The Wall #2"

balto ff

The 2005 Funeral of a Baltimore City Fire Lieutenant, Maryland National Guardsman, Freedom Fighter and a ever lasting American Hero.

The Wall #3"

"The Wall #4"

Memorail Day o5, The National Cemetery in Irvington, located on Frederick Rd. Baltimore, Md.

As I child my heroes were Daniel Boone, Davey Crockett, Neil Armstrong, Brooks Robinson, Paul Blair, John Wayne, and the men of the Green Berets. Today my heroes are those who make the ultimate sacrifice to keep us Free from fear, death and destruction and to protect our Freedoms. I finished my War Memorial project back in November of 2005, these are some of those images.

SHANKSVILLE, PA. 2001 FLIGHT 93 - FLIGHT OF HEROES

The road that leads to the hallow ground where Americans became Heroes. Remembering the flight crew and passengers of Flight 93. I first visited the crash site and make shift memorial in 2004 as part of America's 911 Ride. Not much has changed, the trees and grass has grown back, there is still the sense of serenity, clam, and peace in the air. What has changed is the number of visitors each year that pay their respects, hang a note on the fence, plant a flag in the ground, lay a flower by one of the angels and sit on a bench inscribed with the name of one of those lost that day. They come to pray, reflect and to remember all that was lost and to find peace in their Spirit. I honor all of our American Heroes of 9/11/01. I hope that you do as well, and that "May We Never Forget." Visit the web site for the memorial project at www.flight93memorialproject.org

I find walking through cemetery's very peaceful, plus you learn so much history.
"SHADOWS OF DEATH #1"
This shot was taken in 2004 in Cumberland, Md. in the Civil War section.

"SHADOWS OF DEATH #2"
This church and cemetery is in Kilkenny, Ireland and was built in the late 1400's.

"SHADOWS OF DEATH #3"
Early morning sunrise with a hint of fog adds to the peacefulness.

"WATER PLAY #1
This image was captured in Atlanta at Centennial Park in 2001.
It has been awarded two 1st place and one 2nd place finish in the people category. If I did not have my camera equipment I would have been in there playing right along with these children.

"WATER PLAY #2"
This image was captured in Atlanta at Centennial Park in 2001
It has been awarded a 1st place finish in the still life category.

Behind Blue Eyes

No one knows what it's like
to be the Bad Man
to be the Sad Man
Behind Blue Eyes

No one knows what it's like
to be Hated, to be Faded
To telling only Lies

But my Dreams
They aren't as Empty
As my Conscience seems to be

I have Hours, only Lonely
My Love is Vengeance
That's never FREE
Townsend 1970

"TREE OF LIFE #1"2001
This shot was taken in Yosmite with me laying on the ground of a walk path with tourist stepping over me as I captured this tree of life.

I'm like a child - my head in the clouds
always and forever day dreaming
my limbs are like arms reaching out - for a warm embrace
the color of my skin - is the bark upon my face
standing straight and tall
my roots planted firmly - in this earthy place
will you be there
to catch me if I ever fall

"TREE OF LIFE #2" 2004
Taken in a corn field near Front Royal Va. off of Rt 66

"TREE OF LIFE #3" 2005
I had driven by this tree a few times, in the spring, summer and fall. I knew that it was one that needed to be captured, it is one of my favorites.

"FLOWING SOULS" 2001
my life began as a single rain drop - that has fallen from heaven above
as each new drop falls - i begin to grow and become stronger
i carve out new paths to travel - i move on with every twist and turn

my body widens - my mind flows freely
my soul nurtures all that surrounds me
my heart beats out its rhythm - and shines like the sun
to bring life to those who enter my waters as one

as it continues to rain - i create a still pond
that turns into a peaceful stream - which flows into a raging river
finally I become a vast sea - full of everlasting life to live with-in me

This image taken in Yosmite has been awarded two 1st palce and one 2nd place finish in 2002

"HOLY CROSSES" 2005
The 1st National Basilica in the new world, constuction began here in Baltimore in 1806 and was completed in 1821, it has just undergone a 30 million $ re-birth. Visit their website at www.baltimorebasilica.org

"SHADOWS OF DEATH #4" 2004
This is a really cool cemetery here in Baltimore, the history one feels while walking the paths is amazing. May they all rest in Peace. This image won 1 st place in 2005 in the black & white landscape category.

"Snow Covered Boats" 2003

Loch Raven is one of my favorite places to go sit and reflect. This shot was taken right after it snowed with no foot prints other then mine and a few deer tracks. It was awarded a 1st and 2nd place finish in 2004.

Run Baby

It's all in the eyes
When you look at me
And the feeling
When you kiss me
Is a mystery
When the taste of each other
Comes into play
Babe you better run away
(Resnick)

My World

I don't want the world to see me
Cause I don't think that they would understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I'am
(Resnick)

Camera Lens

I wish I had a camera lens
To film the things
That my mind had said
Before they reached my mouth
And got all bad
(Resnick 2002)

Sudden Darkness

Lonely feeling deep inside
Find a corner where I can hide
Silent footsteps crowding me
Sudden darkness but I can see
(Bachman 1967)

In the Eyes of a Child

You must come out and see
that your world's spinning 'round
And through life you will be
A small part
Of a Hope
Of a Love
That exists
In the eyes of a Child
Hayward (1969)

The world needs to see, so just open your eyes

Bio for award winning imager and story teller Chuck Ritz

I have always enjoyed using a camera to capture a special moment in time. I began like most amateur photographers by taking pictures at a young age, then I realized that almost anyone can take a picture if you are standing in the spot marked a Kodak moment. As I was about to turn the over the hill age of 40, I began to hear about seeking out your vision in life. After years of watching Oprah and searching my heart and soul, I found my vision that has been inside of me all along.

I picked up my old Canon AE 1, dusted it off, loaded it with a roll of Kodak 200asa film and went for a drive in the country side of Frederick, Md. I began by shooting old covered bridges which have been titled "Roads of Wood". One of those photos was entered into an area Art Festival to be judged and to my surprise it won overall 3rd place.

I have always been one who enjoys looking at the objects, people, places and the beauty of mother nature that passed me by as I traveled. Those roads traveled were country lanes, dark alleys, cross country highways, back roads, neighborhood streets from not only America but also from Ireland, Bermuda and England. I have made many a u-turns in life, you pass it and then go back to capture it. For you never want to have regrets and say that would have made a great shot. After you go back sometimes it does become a good shot and sometimes it does not, but at least I found out the final result one way or the other. It's like asking a ?. The answer is either going to be yes or no. Long before 9/11 I realized how short and precious life is and can be. Live it, love it, embrace it and most of all share it.

I now shoot with 4 Canon AE 1's, a Rebel X and a Minolta digital slr, those cameras have become another set of eyes for me to show others to c what eye see. It all started with taking pictures, then I learned to take photos, now I feel what I capture are images. Something that when you look at it whether for the first time or for the 100th the feeling will always be the same.

I have won two best of shows, 12 first place, 8 second place, 3 third place and a few honorable mentions for images entered into Baltimore area art shows and photo contests. In 2002 I was informed that 4 of my images from Ground Zero were selected to be apart of the travleling exhibit "Here is New York" those images are and will be preserved in the Library of Congress, the New York Museum of History and the memorial at Ground Zero once the Freedom Tower is completed. I feel that I'm still an amateur photographer with a passion to capture life as it is, whether that life is good, bad, beautiful or even ugly, we must see it for what it is. With that in mind, I was selected to become the project photographer for the Dawson Family Learning Center which is being built in the burnt out shell of the home of the Dawson's. The Dawson's were a family of 7 that stood up against drug dealers in the city of Baltimore. Those punks came back one night with fire bombs, through them at the house at 3 in the morning when the Dawson's felt safe in their beds and ran like most cowards do. The Dawson's were awaken from the heat of the flames that had them trapped inside of their castle, with no way out. The neighbors were awaked by the screams of 5 children, ages 9-14 and the cries of their parents Angela and Carnell Sr., the smell of smoke that had filled the air, and the sounds of sirens rushing to extinguish the flames. The Dawson's died as heroes, not in vain and not forgotten.
I did not know the Dawson's in this life, until we meet in another time and place I will not forget you, Angela, Carnell Sr., Keith, Kevin, Carnell Jr.,Juan and Lawanda.

I hope that you enjoy viewing, reading and seeing what I have seen.

Peace and God Bless.

Chuck