Love……..in it’s many forms……

Today, Valentine’s Day, February the 14th is a day of love, it’s also my 41st Wedding Anniversary. To say that this day on the calendar has meaning to me would be a understatement!
Sherelene and I have 41 great years of marriage and I’m as in love as a 16 year old even today.

1 Corinthians 13:1-8 (New Living Translation)
 1 If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. 3 If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.
 4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
 8 Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever!

This is the biblical description of love, love without boundaries or reservations. I wish I could always exhibit this kind of love, I try, but I often fail. Thankfully I know that even though I can’t accomplish this desire in my own strength, I can in His. Today I want to thank some special people for bringing love into my life. Of course the list must start with my bride and the love of my life, Sherelene, thank you sweetheart for 41 great years.

This weekend I got to spend time with three dear friends, Vinny Colucci, Melissa Southern, and Tim Isaacson. They have all been so supportive of me and are great to spend time with! We had a wonderful dinner on Saturday night and the fellowship was great. I also met a photographer that I have long admired and found him
to be a very nice guy as well.
Les Saucier is one of the top close-
up and nature shooters out in
the field today. He does work-
shops and lectures around the
country. His work is truly wonder-
ful. You can see his work at:
http://www.appalachianjourney.com/
The thing that impressed me the most
about Les was his open and giving
spirit. I went to Les asking for a big
favor, one that many shooters, would
have refused to give. I’m going to be teaching some more classes for Kelby Training and one will be on Close-ups. In the old days (70’s through the 90’s) I learned from the best of that era, John Shaw, Cliff Zenor, Larry West, and the late great John Netherton. It’s been I while and I knew it was time to dust off my techniques and knowledge before attempting to teach this class. Les really stepped up to the plate being completely open to share from his vast knowledge, what a prince. People can show love in many ways; Sherelene has shown it by staying with someone like me for 41 years, Vinny and Melissa have shown it by helping me, step by step, in the process of trying to get healthier, and in many other ways. Tim has been a spiritual mentor, and friend, who keeps me grounded. Les was willing to “give away” hard earned and proprietary information, just to help a fellow photographer, who he hardly knew…. By any definition these are all examples of love.

In addition to the other ways these people have loved me, they have also inspired me. On the trip
home I made a number of stops to shoot the images above, filled with a renewed desire to capture
my perceived beauty.

Use today to let someone who needs love know that you are there for them, as these people did for me.

Thank you Father for your love, that we can then share with others………

the pilgrim

*Photo Note: All images D700 and the new 24-120 AFS VR f4 lens. Hand held. At 65 VR really works!