Tuesday, December 30, 2008

I've Been Working on the Railroad

This past weekend I got a treat in shooting with my Best Friend from Ohio; Dr. Willis Lonzer III. He's the one I made a comment about in a previously Blog about getting his photo's off the hard drive. It was Nikon versus Canon, gloves versus no gloves as I forgot mine back home down state. SO, that made it difficult for me in getting some shots due to my shivering hands and chattering teeth. At one point the train you see in one of the photo's is coming right at us. I wasn't afraid it was just a matter of whether or not I'd be able to feel my feet in order to run.

We had fun, hopefully Willis will get his shots off his hard drive because he got some very nice ones; that's a challenge out to you frat.

Beas

Bridge right before switching station





















































Sunday, December 28, 2008

Blue Chicago

I was in Chicago 7 months ago for a wedding and had sort of a reunion this past weekend. It made me go back to the pictures I took this weekend and share some additional angles and edits. I didn't get a chance to do much shooting this weekend in Chicago but tomorrow is another day.

David











































Friday, December 26, 2008

Group Participation

I pray everyone had a blessed Christmas that was in the "true" spirit of the season and that his "gift" continues to guide you now and into the New Year ahead.

Now there are several of you, and you know who you are, who have signed up for my newsletter and I want to thank you for that. There are also another 30+ who frequent my Blog daily and you also know who you are; please feel free to sign up as well to stay informed of the updates. There might also be another few random visitors who find the Blog and perhaps like what you see. Well, I need to hear from all of you; this is where the "Group Participation" piece comes in.

I want to get your candid feedback on where you'd like me to take certain aspects of my work. In 2008, I did more shoots with people, crossed over into the commercial world and explored my creative side a bit more. I was told to consider a book which I am. It was also mentioned that several of my fall and winter shots were postcard worthy, etc. Those all sound like great ideas which I will pursue and I want to take this time to get additional ideas for my 2009 plans. 2009 is just around the corner so time is critical if you feel led to participate via your feedback.

I will be headed to Chicago this afternoon to visit friends and hope to get my Best Friend out to do some shooting and hopefully get his work "off the hard drive" as his wife so lovingly reminds him. I will have my laptop with me and will Blog some of my/our best photo's over the weekend. I really want to explore parts of Chicago that I don't normally visit and get some unusual shots and perspectives. So folks, I will be waiting to hear from you. Also, some of you will be getting personal invitations to participate in this feedback process if I don't hear from you AND you do know who you are :)

Much love and thanks!

David

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Holiday Wish

Sometimes the words/messages you get from good friends are so perfect that you want to acknowledge their love (thanks Crystal) and turn around and share them (the words not the friends) with everyone as they are so appropriate, encouraging and powerful. This is one of the most powerful holiday wishes I have ever received which truly underscores the true value of friendship and love. So, here is my holiday wish to you and your families. It’s not authentic to me but very powerful and worthy of sharing nonetheless. God Bless and Merry Christmas in the true meaning of the season!

I wish you good health and well-being. I hope that you understand your value and self-worth every day.

My wish is that you are able to give the important people in your life the time and priority they deserve.

I wish you courage, determination and persistence to perform the tasks that you choose with excellence.

My wish is that you take time to discover your unique talents and that you dedicate yourself to something that you are passionate about.

My wish is that you grow in wealth in every sense of the word, and that you are never in need and that whatever wealth you have, you share it abundantly.

My wish is that you are able to spend time with someone who inspires you to be a better person.

Finally, I wish you a blessed and joyous holiday season. One that honors our God and those you love.

Have a Happy and Safe Holiday Season!

Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanzaa, & A Prosperous New Year . . . .

David

Monday, December 22, 2008

What's Next?

I have been thinking a lot about this in the last two weeks as it pertains to my passions; one of which is my photography. I mentioned last week that I have this charge with another photographer to Blog daily till Christmas. Well she raised the stakes the other day and now she plans to Blog daily till New Years and I am trying to figure out if I will follow. In order to be a good leader you have to follow sometimes.

So, what to Blog? I don't just want to take pictures of my shoes or arms pits and say, "here's today's post." I didn't want to write for the sake of saying, here's another little mindless message from Dave that counts in today's Blog column. I want my posts to be about photography with a message that hopefully will provide insight and encouragement. Okay, here it goes....

How do you know you are there, I mean really there and really know and feel confident that you are there. I was thinking about my goals for my photography work, what I feel I understand and the areas I want to learn more about. Does recognition that you need to grow mean you're NOT there? If I take a beautiful picture, one that you can find a dime a dozen of, I am there or is it really about being uniquely you and being confident in that? I have been pondering and letting this thought marinate for quite some time and I am going into 2009 with my answer. I AM there and here's where I am getting this from.

I mention in my profile that I love photography. Well I mean that much more now then when I developed my blogger profile more then a year ago. I ponder angles, perspectives and "views to a shoot" until I can get in front of my lens with everything I see in my daily walk. I hand out business cards to people that will take them, not for future shoots but so they can admire and provide feedback on my work. I feel l very confident in my portfolio on my website and Blog. However, the most important aspect of all of this for me is that I am present when I shoot and I feel I am blessing others through my work.

The comments that you leave on the Blog encourage and challenge me. They encourage me to define a new level and get there quickly. I look at how much my work has developed over the last year but I also look at the smiles on the faces of the people I shoot; that's worth a million to me. So I am there, I am claiming it, walking in it, breathing it in everyday and looking forward to the next time I look at the world through my lens.

Ross says "the key is to love what you see.” He's absolutely right and this love affair requires you to be "present during those moments in life that provide focus on the most important things". It requires more than just showing up but paying attention to what happening, what's available and what's possible. I love this stuff and feel I am there, not in an egocentric way but in a manner that gets me excited about the next opportunity. Next opportunity to showcase the most important stuff through my lens. This is why I do and will continue to do what I do and mature as a person and explorer of “presence”.

David

True Blue

In times like these it can be tough to maintain your focus on what's most important. There are so many distractions vying for our time that it can really be tough to distinguish between what is genuine and chameleon like.

At times of deep thought for me, I have turned towards my blessings to gain insight and possibly closure for the really tough stuff. There have also been those True Blue friends who have always been there over the years in good times and bad providing me with the things I need to hear versus what I thought I wanted to hear. It's the longevity of the friendship and the consistency of their support for me that I appreciate the most.

This year is almost but a memory and I can't go back and change some of the steps I've taken nor do I think I would as they have helped me grow as a person. I end the year with a humble heart with so much to be thankful for. I am also happy to report the most important things are still most important and that I carry them forward into 2009. Thanks for having my back, the continued support, many blessings and much love in 2009.

Sunday, December 21, 2008

Winter Wonderland

Two weeks ago the first snow of the year made for some very beautiful settings around the city. It was post card like and maybe someday I will do something to that effect with these and others I have taken. It was cold outside but at the same it was like being a kid in a candy store. Not sure what to shoot but wanting a little piece of everything. I left these scenes not with any cavities but maybe just a sniffle or two. I am happy I'm able to share these with you and spare you what I went through to get them; especially for those of you on warmer coasts/continents.

David









Saturday, December 20, 2008

Crystal Gardens

That's exactly what Ewing Manner Gardens looked like this morning as I walked along an ice path very gingerly as not to fall flat on my face and make a fool of myself. There were times where I almost hit the deck but thank God I made it.

The Gardens were beautiful and resembled fine crystal and the sound the trees made as the wind whipped through was surreal. It was very cold so I only got a few shots but it was awesome being alone in a place that seemed almost magical like the ones you'd find in Narnia or something.

David














Sometimes it just happens

I made an agreement with a friend that I would make a post on my blog everyday till Christmas. Well I didn't get around to it yesterday so I am going to do a double post today.

The two pictures below have quickly become two of my favorites because there wasn't much I had to do in order to get them right. The first was taken without the subject really knowing what I was doing; I told her I was trying to get my exposure right, which was kinda true. The second photo was posed but I only took one shot because the first one came out perfect.

I am hoping to bring you more of the second young lady as I learned she is a artist (painter) and I want to help her market her work.

Enjoy these and look forward to another post later today.



Thursday, December 18, 2008

Preston Jackson - Take 2

Okay, I must have been the only person on the planet that didn't know who Preston Jackson was/is. A couple of Saturday's I needed to get away from things and do some thinking. Well I had what I thought were great gloves to shoot in and a lot on my mind which I thought were two incredients to help me ignore the cold; ask me if it worked!!! Heck no. It was about 17 degrees outside and my only motivation at that point, other then getting back in my warm car was shooting another work of art of Preston's

This particular one was right outside the civic center in Peoria. Did I mention it was cold!!! Well it was so cold I had to shoot these in three takes in order to get the feeling back in my trigger finger. More to come on Preston but enjoy these for now.

David