Elaine and Steven

I have known Elaine eleven years now. When we met she was single She stayed that way a long time even after she met Steven. About 5 years ago, they got married.

It seemed there would never be children. There were reasons that were not related to choices. But of course, miracles do happen and when you look at Elaine, it shows. She is big.

Monday their blessing enters this world. Her name is Lily, and as lilies before God are, she, too, will be a beauty. These will be proud parents.

I am real lucky to have a connection with Elaine and Steve and look forward to seeing the offspring of their commitment to one another.

Joshua

Joshua is the quietest of the three grandchildren. His shy but very smart. On Tuesdays I stay with him while his mother takes Adam to kindergarten. On this day, Janie was asleep so that I was able to grab a few shots of him.

His job when I am there is to put the keys into my car and help close the door so his Mother can drive away. He does the same thing when I leave.

I do not get to photograph him as much as I would like.

Gilbert Riparian Preserve.

Yesterday our members of Arizona Wonders on Flickr had a small meetup at the Gilbert Riparian Preserve. Since I prefer to shoot events and people, this is not a favorite location. I went along anyway because we do for friends what we will not always do for ourselves.

I filled my time taking shots that would improve my exposure skills. In the process I did grab a couple of "people from behind" shots. That was the positive note in an experience that has left me tired.

Baby Shower

Elaine became a co-worker 11 years ago.
She was single then, and younger than 30. Time passed and she married. Even more time passed and she finally became "with child". It shows.

Today her co-workers and friends honored her with a baby shower, the kind of thing guys normally skip. I went because we developed a special relationship over the years and because I could play around with my camera. Who can say when this will happen again for her.

I am happy for the change in her life. As a parent and grandparent, I recognize that she has only a vague idea of how intensely her personal life and former "couplehood" will be impacted next month. It does not matter. She will wonder how she ever really lived and loved before.

Film

I took the Pentax K1000 out of the trunk of the car a couple of days ago and finished off the roll of film. The camera had been in there since Spring Break in March when Carl and I made a photo trip to Florence, Az.


The film in the camera as already expired when I loaded it. After the long months in the heat, it took on a green cast. A little work in Lightroom softened that stain. Of course a color tint does not affect composition so there were a few shots I was pleased with. This was one. Color was not as important as the abstraction and movement. Sometimes there is beauty in urban decay. You can see more at the Flickr link on the right.

Life's Special Moments

I picked up the free copy of the Mesa Republic insert today as I do whenever I encounter it. On their "Special Moments" page I found the story of a couple whom I have known over the last 8 years or so. The accompanying story announces their 65th wedding anniversary. Congratulations, Thomas and Evelyn!

They were married less than a month before I was born. The war in the Pacific had not ended by that date in 1945. He returned to Indiana to marry his bride.

I love wedding pictures from that era. The groom stands stoic and sober-faced in his Navy uniform. Beside him the bride stands shy and innocent in a formal wedding dress and veil. These many years later this couple is charming and cheerful. Clearly, marriage was meaningful. Many wedding images from this time period show the same iconography. A similar, memorable photo of my in-laws sits in a prominent spot in our house.

One of my joys in life is photography. My focus is event photography. I like to shoot activities containing people living life's moments. Wedding photography is a favorite.

Wedding photography has not changed all that much over the years except that quality of innocence seen back then seems rare. Sixty-five years ago so much was expressed by the wedding act itself. Weddings were held in various venues because of the restraints of time, money, and rationing. Bridal gear was often simple and practical; a hand made dress or a suit could function in other circumstances. The rite of marriage, whether civil or religious, was the focus. The observers came to endorse and support the newly married couple.

Formal pictures (as well as others) of the bride and groom taken nowadays have a different look. My job as a photographer is to document the love expressed between the couple through looks, gestures, and even chemistry. This is more important than the singular stoic pose of the past.

Today's wedding ceremonies remain reserved and solemn in most cases, but receptions are often vibrant, alive, and joyful. The task is to capture the spontaneity and excitement along with varied details. Guests come to celebrate and have a good time. Photographs are intended to capture the excitement and happiness. The photographer gets to be a storyteller.

Sixty-five years ago, photography acknowledged a singular and significant event in the lives of the couple. Today's photography tells a bigger story. The focus is still love, romance, happiness, and fulfillment. So much of what existed between a couple back then was implied and simply allowed exist with privacy. Nowadays it wide open for all to see. When today's couples look back at their wedding images, I wonder was descriptive word the next generation will assign to their mementos of that day.