• Avian,  Holiday Seasons,  Holidays

    Happy Thanksgiving

    Happy Thanksgiving

    ‘Tis a time to be thankful for all that we have, even if it is not very much. For me I can say I’m thankful because I’m healthy, game-fully employed, have a wonderful family. I can even say I have some great friends or at least 2 that I know of. I’ve also got $20 in my pocket, half a tank of gas in the car and my internet bill is paid (for this month). Right now I’m in Phoenix with my parents and my two sisters and a darn cool brother-in-law. So, there is much to be thankful for.

    But not everyone is as thankful. There are those who have no food, no home, no family, no job, no money. Or maybe they’re in some outpost in Iraq or dealing with a death in the family. For me this is also a time to remember them. I can’t help all of them but will reach out to those I can. I hope we don’t quickly forget those in need and then move on to our next helping of turkey or take that first piece of pumpkin pie? What is it we can do for those in need?

    Now, as for these guys above in the above image, I don’t think they’re quite as thankful about this time of year. If you look closely you’ll notice how they seem to be edgy, checking things out, not trusting me or any one else. Each step is deliberate. Cautious. Wonder why?

    I hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving.

  • lifestyles,  People/Portraits

    Perspective

    Shadows

    Since I travel so much my roommate and I really don’t see each other very often. So, when an opportunity presents itself we sit down and talk or head out for a bite to eat. This past Sunday we were each stretched out on our couches and catching up on the latest news. I thought the couch was pretty comfy, so after Paul got up and wandered off I stayed for a bit longer. All of a sudden I happened to notice the shadows streaming across the floor, creating these awesome patterns. Not being one to waste shadows and light I grabbed the camera and laid down on the floor below the window and took a few shots. I immediately knew I was going to like the lower perspective. But, as any photographer knows a different perspective can change the feel of the image. Yes, I had an idea! I called Paul back to the couch, asked him to help me out and took the second image. Paul is used to this sort of behavior from me. Both images are okay and each has it’s own story to tell. It’s all perspective.

  • Cityscapes/Urban,  fog

    The Commonplace

    No End in Sight

    “Anything that excites me for any reason, I will photograph; not searching for unusual subject matter, but making the commonplace unusual.” Edward Weston

    As a photographer I will stop the car along the road, parking illegally, jump out of the car  all in pursuit of some image my muse has called my attention to and must be photographed. I’ve also been known to stand in traffic for something that excites me. We photographers are not sick, just passionate, excitable, discovering the commonplace.

  • Cityscapes/Urban,  People/Portraits,  Self-portraits

    Out there somewhere

    My life is good. I’m healthy, I’m rich but not in a monetary way. However, I must admit there are times when things seem a bit out of focus, a little blurry, sort of like this image. I was in my hotel room and about to go to bed when I noticed my reflection in the window with the city lights as background and took a quick photo. I’m on the fifth floor so my reflection has the feeling of being suspended. I think it reflects how our lives can be at times. We are not quite rooted in present and may be a bit out there, suspended, not here nor there.

    It’s not written down anywhere but my body clock has let me know that today would have been our 38th wedding anniversary. Seems so long ago, suspended, out there. It’s times like this when it’s best to turn the lights off and find time for solitude. Ground myself to the present, send out some roots.

    Hope everyone is having a good weekend and enjoys their Sunday.

  • People/Portraits

    Melissa

    Melissa 1

    An afternoon shooting session with Melissa. What a wonderful time as a photographer. We talked prior to the session about not setting any expectations and just have fun. She instantly seemed relaxed, even though she denies it. I liked how she would move to one pose, listen to me shoot a couple of images then move right into another pose. Anyway here are some images from the session. It’s hard to believe she has two grandchildren: a one year old and a two year old. She is a beautiful woman and a beautiful grandma!