Monthly Archives: October 2012

One of the greatest compliments I’ve ever been paid was when Richard Small, a photographer who I greatly admire, called me the master of “Extraction”.  While I’m not sure if master is deserved, I have worked very hard at learning how to extract what I hope are good images out of the overall scene.  One of my favorite places to make images is Santa Fe, New Mexico.  Santa Fe is a feast of colors, patterns, textures and wonderful art.  We finished up after eight hours that started at 3;00 a.m. and after a nap,  Jay Miller, his wife Susan, our new friend Greg, and I headed back up to Santa Fe to have a Bobcat Bite burger and walk up Canyon Road.  If you ever visit Santa Fe, I highly recommend that you visit this little 3/4 mile long road, that is filled with one great subject after another.  I took the D800 and one lens, the 24-120 VR, and a tripod, and spent an hour and half just strolling up and down this famous street. I hope you enjoy the take and I hope this is proof that a good range zoom and one body can help you make a variety of interesting images!!

 

I hope I’ve inspired you to get out and look for some things that get you excited!  To all of you that are joining us in November out in Arizona and Utah, I can’t wait, this trip has gotten me really pumped!

 

Blessings,

 

the pilgrim

I’ve been working with my dear friend Jay Miller all this week in Albuquerque, and he has had a tough month and half.  His Sister-in-law died in house fire a month and a half ago, then his mother died a couple of weeks ago, then if that were not enough, on his way to the Balloon Fiesta his father passed away!  I can’t even imagine going through all of that in such a short period of time.  Talking with Jay this week and trying to be there for him as he has sorted through all the emotions, has further made me determined to be the family man God wants me to be.  First and for-most, my Heavenly Father is certainly the head of my family, and my relationship with Him takes precedence over all else, but Sherelene, my adult children, and their spouses, and, of course, my grandchildren along with my brother Homer and his wife, Terri, are my core family!

 

I don’t think you can ever spend too much time, praying for and loving on your family!  I’m very blessed to have such a wonderful family to love and be loved by.  I’m out on a three week swing but thankfully will enjoy the last week of it with Sherelene, and then will get to see the rest of the family before I’m off again for the next three weeks!  In early November after one blessed week at home I head out to Utah for a long awaited Southwest workshop with a lot of dear friends, (also family), and my son Wesley will be with me for that!  I can’t say enough, how much Jim Begley means to me, (also family),what a great business partner, and brother, and  my great team, Snake, & Chuck.   Then you take my dear buddy R.C. Concepcion who will grace  us with his teaching and presence for the week, and a surprise guest, Matt Kloskowski who will hang out with us and enjoy all the fun!!!  Yes these people are family too, and I’m honored to be able to cal them that!

 

Thursday’s Prayer;  Heavenly Father, I know I don’t deserve the bountiful blessings you’ve bestowed on me, but I’m so very thankful, and humbled.  Above all, that you gave your only Son so that I might be forgiven and filled with your peace and joy.  I don’t know how long you will allow me to stay here with all this “earthly family”, but every day you give me I will give back to you by loving all your children that you place in my path!  In your precious Son’s name I pray, Amen.

 

In Him,

 

the pilgrim

 

So some fun shots of Balloons for grandchildren!

 

This morning, we finally got the perfect conditions, reasonable wind, deep blue skies and very few clouds on the horizon and the color show was everything you would have expected and more!  The release of a mass ascension of over 500 balloons was a tr , eat after several days of less than perfect flying weather. Standing on the viewing stand with two cameras, a D800 withe the 24-120 and a D600 with a 70-300, the frame rate was smoking!   While I miss Sherelene, my familyand home, I had to admit to myself that this was one great assignment.  I have witnessed many spectacles ranging from  sunrise in Arches, to sunsets in Olympic, but this one was spectacular, almost equal to any natural history thing I’ve ever seen.

 

I’ve really enjoyed working with Jay Miller, a true friend, and buddy,  and the great people of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta!  I hope you can feel a little of the colorful display in these images!

 

God blesses us in so many rich ways, this week it has been visual!  The opportunity to share this experience with a good friend and feel this joy is pretty special!  It is said in scripture that we can’t even imagine the new colors we will see when we get to heaven.  This kind of a morning makes you anticipate the glory all the more!

 

Blessings,

 

the pilgrim

 

 

 

Yesterday’s devotional from In Touch was a profound look at what we hope for in life, and how God has provided the opportunity for us to realize it.

 

This is the text from the devotional:

 

If you could have anything in the world, what would it be? Your answer reveals a lot about who you are. The psalmist writes, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart” (Ps. 37:4). There is nothing wrong with desires–they motivate us to achieve great things. But not all of our yearnings come from God.

 

Consider your aspirations and what they say about who you are:

 

Do you hope for a position of authority in order to be in control? Longing for personal advancement in order to manipulate others reveals a lack of integrity, whereas a godly person craves righteousness.

 

Do you dream about wealth and fame? Perhaps there’s a void in your spirit that you’re trying to fill. But only God can meet the insatiable needs of the human heart.

 

Are you afraid to ask the Lord for what you want? Maybe you think He won’t listen, but God tells us to approach His throne with boldness and confidence (Heb. 4:16).

 

If the Lord doesn’t respond affirmatively to your prayers, ask Him to make your desires conform to His will. Whatever you do, don’t take matters into your own hands and go after what you want. There is always a high price to pay for rebelling against God.

 

God cares for us bountifully, but that doesn’t mean we can expect Him to deliver whatever we want, whenever we want it. Only when our dreams align with His plan for our lives does He fulfill them. The thoughts that preoccupy us are an accurate barometer of the state of our relationship with Christ.