Monthly Archives: December 2017

 

 

I hope your Christmas day was wonderful!  Mine sure was, and I would  love to share with you some of the reason the entire Christmas season has been great for me this year!

 

FIRST:  I celebrated the birth of a Savior, a friend, a guide and confidant.  When you accept Christ as your Savior and Lord, your life will never be the same again.  I would not want to even contemplate where my life would have ended up without Him by my side.  This alone is reason for the greatest of celebrations!

 

SECOND:  The closeness of family.  Sherelene and I have had the great pleasure of being with our children and their families through out the last two weeks!  The older I get the more family means to me, and the greater the pleasure of being with them!

 

THIRD:   Drawing close during times of difficulty.  Wes’s battle with cancer and Jim and Sue’s battle with cancer and the loss of Sue have both re-focused my life.  2017 was time of deep prayer and kneeling before God, praying for family and dear friends.  In addition to Wes and Sue, I had several other wonderful friends all battling various forms of cancer and it was a year of constant lifting them and their families up to the Lord.  It is revealing how much closer we draw to those that we are in constant prayer for!

 

FOURTH:  The renewal of friendships.  During the holidays you often gather with old friends and I had a great breakfast with Jim Haverstock, Jim Begley, Brian Stefl and Wes on Christmas eve, eve morning, what a joy to be with such dear friends and celebrate our wonderful times together over the years, and feel great for Wes and comfort Jim Haverstock!  The meaning of real friendship, pulling together for each other!

 

FIFTH:  Making future plans.  While this is by far the least important part of my personal Christmas celebration, the future is still something we need to plan for it. Years ago when I first became aware of Scott Kelby I went to his blog and was suprised to find a whole section on his favorite movies, songs, hobbys, and lots of other personal stuff.  At first I thought it was a little narcissistic, but on further thought, and after reading all of  it, I thought it was actually pretty cool, I was interested in Scott, the person, and I expect lots of others were too, so what follows may be a little like that.

 

What’s next for me.  In 2018 I have 10 workshops scheduled with Jack, and will do a few smaller events for Fuji though out the year.  I’m thinking in 2019, I will start to cut back my travel to something like half what it has been and will be this coming year.  If I’m home more what will I do with the extra time?  More time in the word, more prayer time, and more personal outreach to the lost. Of course personal shooting and study will always be a big part of my life. Photography for the sheer joy of shooting and processin, (by-the-way I plan to spend this winer mastering Luminar 2018 to replace Photoshop and Lightroom as my main way of post processing!!!).  I hope to teach more on line and that will be a focus as well.  I plan to get a puppy, I think a golden retriever, and will name him Chester (in honor of the movie, The Kid). He will be come my best buddy, and I will take him everywhere with me!  I’ve also started to seriously study cooking.  I’ve invested in the proper tools and some good books and an online course on cooking and have already developed some new skills!!!  My goals is to invite guests into our home and serve them some wonderful food!  My family has had some master cooks and I would like to join their ranks!

 

So, I hope you had a wonderful and meaningful Christmas and will enjoy a blessed New year!

 

Blessings,

 

the pilgrim

 

Sherelene and I have been traveling this week on a little time off trip to Savannah and Amelia Island.  Jim Haverstock and Sue had planned a trip to Savannah to stay at the fabulous President’s Quarters Bed and Breakfast, but had to postpone when Sue became ill.   Recently when Jim learned I was going to drive down to see family and just get a way with Sherelene he graciously insisted we use his two night stay at the PQI.  He insisted that he knew that was his and had been Sue’s desire, so we accepted and had a wonderful time.  I had planned to shoot a lot of Christmas stuff in Savannah, but got caught up in the spirit of the city and we mostly napped and ate great southern food at the likes of  The Olde Pink House and 19Hundred70 restaurants.  What a great time, thank you again Jim!

 

I only made a few images in Savannah.

 

 

I’ve been in touch with Jim almost every single day throughout Sue’s illness and after she went to be with the Lord.  I also walked along with Sherelene,  Rhonda, Elijah and Abigail plus our entire family through a year of Wesely’s fight with T Cell Lymphoma.  In all of this there has been victories!  Wes is well and back to work and getting stronger everyday.  Jim is working through the grief and getting stronger everyday, and both Jim and Sue and Wesley have taught me life’s second most valuable lesson, be thankful for all you have right now!  Live life so you won’t have regrets, only the satisfaction of  a great love shared.

 

What is the first most important life lesson?  If you have given your life to God, He has it.  He will watch over you and do what is the very best thing  for you. You can safgel proclaim “God Has This”, no matter the trial!  Some people may doubt that, but I can tell you, I’ve seen that play out in the lives of those people I love the most!  Even Jim would tell you that God had it and has it. Out comes do not always look like what we think they should be.  Further consideration always proves God right, and gracious.

 

Lastly, I do a family calendar for Sherelene’s (and mine), the Scott family. I needed to photograph my granddaughter Cassidy the other day before leaving home.  She is in Medical Assistant School and I photographed her in her scrubs (which she loves)!

 

Photo note;  Shot with the X PRO 2 and the Fujifilm 50mm f 2 (Fujicron) at f 2, loved the outcome!  Cassidy as worked hard to get in shape and lost over 70 pounds in 2017!!!!

 

 

I think you can see I’m hurdling toward a great Christmas!  Today Sherelene and I will get to spend time with Scott, Diane, Hannah, Tim, and Ben in St Augustine and Saturday with Ron and Diane, Terry and Brenda (Sherelene’s sisters and my brother-in-laws!)  Lots of fun to be had and love shared

 

I pray you are being surrounded by those you love this Christmas season!  Just so you know;  Jim will be with Sherelene and I in Corbin the beginning of Christmas Weekend.  We will celebrate Peace on Earth and Good Will Toward All Men!

 

Blessings,

 

the pilgrim

 

 

Top Image:  Christmas tree, palms and beach at the Ritz Carlton on Amelia Island, my Christmas gift to my bride!  70 degrees here trumps 30 degrees at home!!!!

 

Photo Note 2:  Top image  50mm f 2

Church spires  14mm f 2.8

Door with wreath  23mm f 2

Cassidy  50mm f 2

All images, Graphite X PRO 2

 

 

Let’s start with a “key” question:

 

Is it to share your experiences and vision with others, in other words for Fun & Joy.

 

 

We see things, we experience things, and want to share them and show off our vision of the world, as far as I’m concerned, this is the best reasonto make imags, bu then your milage may vary!

 

Or you may make photographs of family and friends, becasue you love them and want to capture the qualities you love most!?

 

 

Yes, there is no better thing to do with a camera than to capture the people and memories in our lives!

 

 

Then you make images to sell to a client!

 

These two images were sold to the Coca Cola Museum in Atlanta, the top image is a brick wall at the pharmacy where the Coca Cola formula was developed in Cartersville, GA.  Second just an old antique Coca Cola opener!

 

Shot for Jack Graham Photo Website.

 

Shot for Kanssas State Tropper Magazine.

 

Then you may shoot to enter competitions!  Haven’t done that for many years, not interested, but if it tricks your trigger, go for it!

 

Finally you may shoot just to study the technical aspects of the images, you’re a PIXEL PEEPER!  Not judging, once again, if it’s your thing, go for it!  It’s fun to take a 36 mega pixel image out to 400% and be amazed.  Doesn’t have a great deal to do with everyday photography,  but admittedly it is cool!  ….and yes I’ ve delved into it in the past!

 

 

 

So you look an image based on why you shot it.  If it is for yourself, the Fun and Joy catagory, it simply has to make you you happy!  Obviously, you ned to judge exposure, sharpness, and the composition, but once again if youer happy, end of story!

 

If you are selling an image, then they need to meet the buyers needs, then a check arrives!

 

Family and friends, that easy, capture all those moments that means something to you!!!

 

Most imporant get out there and shoot something you love to do!

 

Blessings,

 

the pilgrim

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In 2018 I’m going to be doing my workshops exclusively with Jack Graham!  You can see the entire season line up at  jackgrahamphoto.com  This coming year we will be adding three new locations!

 

March 17-25, 2018  The Historic Mother road – Route 66    On this exclusive tour we will stay in three historic route 66 motels and hotels with great period decor and the real feel of traveling the Mother Road during the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s!   The toru starts in Oklahomea Ciity, OK and ends in Henderson, Nevada!  In addition to the greatest photo ops on the Route, we will also photograph at Nelson Ghost Town and the Las Vegas Neon Museum!

 

 

 

 

September 25-30, 2018  Badlands National Park & Scenic South Dakota  Fall in the South Dakota Plains is spectacular, we will shoot in the Badlands, Custer State Park, and Spear Fish Canyon!  This is one of the most interesting scenic loication in America!

 

 

 

October 10-14, 2018 Fall Color in the Upper Pennisula of Michigan.  One of the most legendary regions in the lower 48 states for fall color is the UP!  Our dear friend Richard Browne is life long residetn fo this region and will have thoroughly scout our shooting locations, it looks like an epic trip!!!

 

One of these might be a great gift for the loved photogrpaher in your life, or yourself!

 

Blessings,

 

the pilgrim