Birthday In The Family

Adam (nephew) turn 14 and the family went over for cake and ice cream. Advantage or disadvantage to a have a birthday in December?

Wife and Daughter

After a photo shoot the wife and daughter were kind enough to let me play some more.

Justin and Wendy Photo Shoot

Abstract Tree

I tried to make an abstract image of this Japanese Maple that's hanging on to it's leaves when so many have given theirs up.

Time for a Photography Vacation

Dropped in on http://www.fstopandbeyond.com/ and Jason Christopher (L.A. fashion photographer) gave and interesting interview so much so that I checked out his website and than gave him a call. It's not that often that you leave a photographer a message and actually get a call back the same day. Jason went out of his way to answer several photography questions I had. He has a one on one workshop that takes you through the whole gambit of a fashion shoot from make-up, cloths selection to directing and shooting a model.

Photography Session In Old Town Petersburg

Old Town is such a great place to shoot.

Tay 15th Birthday

Family and friends over for barbeque, cake and ice cream

Prince George Ruritan Oyster Roast

Someone grab my camera and snapped this image of me eating an oyster. It is obvious that it was a damp cold day but that did not discourage many from attending. Wife enjoying a drink ... hot chocolate maybe.

Orn's Family Shoot

Daughter and I had a great time shooting Alison (my dental hygienist) and family at City Point in Hopewell, Va. (Grant's headquarters during Siege On Petersburg during Civil War).

State Qualifier

Daughter in State Qualifier (Virginia Beach) ... missed a two foot putt on hole number eight for par and all down hill after that ... I think I saw a tear or two

Final Hole

Playing In The Rain

Nervous Mom

Tell me and I'll forget; show me and I may remember; involve me and I'll understand "Chinese Proverb"

Taylor's First Golf Match

She approached me on the 5th hole with her shaking hand held out to show me just how nervous she was. She held it together and scrabbled for a 42 (9 holes) which was good enough for 4th. She had plenty of support ... maybe to much.

Snow

Photo of the wife taking the dogs for a spin in the snow. The first and probably the last but it got both her (teacher) and daughter out of school so it's happy times around my house.

My daughter and I pulled the canoe off the rack to be clean since the weather had been so nice. Looks out of place setting in the backyard with snow falling.

Famous Breakfast at Nanny's

Friend of the family Berkley stayed over last week and hoped for one of Nanny's famous breakfast but she was disappointed because Nanny headed out early for one of those home shows. This week Berkley is at home sick, Taylor is in the bed and no hope of dragging her out, Aaron (nephew) had to go to work, and my brother Norm was in Roanoke with w/ his wife and Carter (youngest son) so it was just me and Adam. Adam (nephew) is the one with the mop head. Breakfast is a follows: eggs, grits, bacon, sausage, homemade biscuits, chip beef and gravy and coffee. Pappa was fussing about Nanny burning the bacon when he was in the kitchen and she was not at the time. It's kind of a joke for we all have never known him to make a mistake. Pass the biscuits ... please.

Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep

Participated in a NILMDTS workshop (http://www.nilmdts.org/) yesterday in Raleigh. Met some amazing people all there for a good cause. The instructor is a coordinator over a very demanding area (Duke, UNC, Wake etc. etc.). I thought this was something I could do but after going through the class I'm having second thoughts. Plan to do some praying/soul searching. The instructor Aimee Bickers owner of http://www.pureexpressionsphotography.com/ stated that it is not for everyone. She had had 65 calls not counting the other 21 photographers under her. The videos and the story behind each were very touching for how could they not be.

Only got one picture and did not get that until I was headed home and it was cloudy, showers and dark when I took it. I wish I had gotten the group (approx. 16) together for a shot but once class was over I was trying to beat the traffic which is BAD around Raleigh NC.

New Horse

Wife spent the weekend at her brothers in Roanoke riding her new horse. They sent him there (her brothers) for de- stallionization if there is such a word but not sure if that is still in the plans.

My Golfer

Thought I'd throw a image in of my little golfer. She wanted to go a round today but the club was closed and her clubs are inside the pro shop. There is always tomorrow.

Wife Left

The wife went to Roanoke this weekend to work with her new horse while the daughter and I stay home to fend for the other animals. Berkeley, a friend of hers came over to spend the weekend whom is always a lot of fun.

Saturday I took them to the golf course and Taylor struggled and it showed with a few tears on the driving range but we still headed out for 9 holes, which I think did her good. Later in the day I took them to meet some friends for a game of laser tag. I took advantage of the time to get some reading and studying of photography in at Books-A-Million.

Making a decision to improve my off camera lighting whether it be day or night shooting I took out the One Light DVD of Zack's. I think this is only the second time that I've watched it all the way through. Next I reviewed my flash users manual and took to shooting when I saw that the sky turned favorable for some great shots. Taylor was my barefooted lighting assistant even in her pajamas (held the off camera flash) and Berk was my model.

Kuba Kuba

Had some business in Richmond and as I do so many times while there stop in at one of my favorite restaurants ... Kuba Kubas for a Cuban meal. Red beans and rice with corn bread is a simple but one of my favorite meals. I had to text my daughter while there just to rub it in. On an outside wall of the restaurant is an amazing mural, which I dying to shot a bride and/or model there one day in the near future. I also got a shot of J.E.B Stuart mounted on his horse (statue) just a block away from restaurant. Stuart was a calvary commander and was said to have been the eyes and ears of Robert E. Lee. What a powerful image there on Monument Ave.

Skipping School Is Good For The Soul

Skipping school and 60 degrees in February; we're going to the golf course. Taylor had a friend (Brooke) who came over to watch the Super Bowl yesterday and ended up spending the night, so guess who else is going golfing? She got a few swings in and you could tell she was a field hockey player, but overall she did well for her first attempt at golf. I had Taylor hitting from the white tee's for the first time. I think this was Taylor's first time skipping school but boy did I enjoy it. We did find out about a golf tournament, which is being held Valentine weekend. This gave her something to look forward too and I think ended any idea she had of playing soccer for the school. She has been leaning toward playing soccer half for the love of the game and the other half obligation to friends/classmates. It's funny how a day or an event can change ones complete outlook or direction. I guess we can all look back and wondered where we might have been if we took the other path at the fork in the road whether for good or bad. It's funny how little events can become so big and mold us and/or our future. She has had a broken arm and knee surgery as a result of soccer and I was not looking forward to seeing her play. It was so much fun spending the day with my daughter that I wish she could have skipped more while I have been at home as a result of shoulder surgery.