Yesterday was Thanksgiving. I felt like the turkey. It is a wonder I am not in someone's roasting pit today.
I had a family photo shoot scheduled. It was a photographer's nightmare. Besides the positive outcome, a sharpening of my learning curve, the large numbers of catastrophes that befell me can only suggest that they may be only minor interruptions in the future. If something could go wrong, it did. I survived, bruised and broken but still one tough bird.
Interestingly enough, the curse continued this morning as I uploaded the images to Lightroom. Yet, I endured and I prevailed.
I took a couple of images yesterday that were acceptable to my tastes. The client tends to be a connoisseur but I only promised snapshots and no money changed hands, leaving me with some kind of a saved face.
Today I will will lubricate my bruised ego with chocolate and Starbuck's Christmas Blend, reaffirm that my gear really is in working condition, and move on. After all, if photography is a passion, it is also an addiction.
Friday, November 26, 2010
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Lillian Grace
Maybe I am just getting old. Maybe I am getting wise. It just may be that my granddaughter has turned me on to something. Anyway, I am beginning to notice and enjoy babies. They soften my heart.
Last night Steven and Elaine blessed their daughter Lillian Grace, who came along back in October. Elaine let me to attend and grab a few snaps of the event that included the extended family. (I have thoughts on extended families, but that is a different post.)
Well, Lily displayed the reality of her name and demonstrated great "Grace" throughout the proceedings. Despite being passed from one pair of hands to the next, she opened her quizzical eyes at various moments but did not let out a peep. She was totally sweet.
The event was joyous, fun, and peppered with much laughter. Some of you are familiar with Elaine's signature laugh so I found it quaint that there are echoes of that style in her mother-in-law's laughter. Laughter makes an environment as calming as sunshine in a beautiful garden or seeing rainbows break the tense ferocity of storm clouds.
I am grateful that I could linger an play paparazzi to this budding starlet.
Last night Steven and Elaine blessed their daughter Lillian Grace, who came along back in October. Elaine let me to attend and grab a few snaps of the event that included the extended family. (I have thoughts on extended families, but that is a different post.)
Well, Lily displayed the reality of her name and demonstrated great "Grace" throughout the proceedings. Despite being passed from one pair of hands to the next, she opened her quizzical eyes at various moments but did not let out a peep. She was totally sweet.
The event was joyous, fun, and peppered with much laughter. Some of you are familiar with Elaine's signature laugh so I found it quaint that there are echoes of that style in her mother-in-law's laughter. Laughter makes an environment as calming as sunshine in a beautiful garden or seeing rainbows break the tense ferocity of storm clouds.
I am grateful that I could linger an play paparazzi to this budding starlet.
Friday, November 12, 2010
Louise Hayes Strickland
Mother died today. She was 87. I do not have any pictures to post at this time. It has been 19 1/2 years since I last saw her. It is a long and difficult story so I won't go into that. The last time I talked to her was after Daddy's funeral 6 years ago. They were divorced.
She was a talented and intelligent woman. Driven. Hard. Difficult. Really smart in some things. A good cook.
She is gone now. All conversations are ended. No bitterness or tense emotion on my part. I accepted her as she was. I pray she has found the peace that I have so long desired for her. I cannot give it, but I can pray that she finds it.
She was a talented and intelligent woman. Driven. Hard. Difficult. Really smart in some things. A good cook.
She is gone now. All conversations are ended. No bitterness or tense emotion on my part. I accepted her as she was. I pray she has found the peace that I have so long desired for her. I cannot give it, but I can pray that she finds it.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Veterans' Day Babysitting
I had hoped to attend the parade today and to practice my camera skills. It was not to be. Babysitting! That is what grandparents get to do. I have no idea why Anna and John did not want to take their children to the festivities.
Being determined to get some photo practice, I did the best I could with the lot that fell my way. Adam seemed always to be out of reach of the camera, but he did not mean to. Joshua wanted to turn away from it. Fortunately, Janie was distracted by the flavor of her first, juicy pear.
Being determined to get some photo practice, I did the best I could with the lot that fell my way. Adam seemed always to be out of reach of the camera, but he did not mean to. Joshua wanted to turn away from it. Fortunately, Janie was distracted by the flavor of her first, juicy pear.