backgrounds

I got a background from craig Mitchelldyer and its been sitting in a bag so I finally broke it out for christmas pics. While I shot a lot of the kids. I reluctantly won't post them but will e-mail other to friends.. but here's what we did, jumping pics. it's a made up sudio on my parents front porch..

I like titles

So sometimes I see a photo that feels like there's catchy headline attached as I shoot it. Here's one I like to call "Morning Breath".

Thanksgiving moments

After Saturday's Civil War game in Corvallis I got a chance to drop in on friends just outside town. Kelsey kept hiding her face and when she did it in front of all the family pictures I thought of how we all, or at least most people, don't like either the act of having our photo taken or the fact we have a perceived "flaw" in how we look. As children we adore the camera, at least that's my experience having shot so many assignments in elementary schools. But it changes a bit as we start to see how people value or not value our looks. Or maybe I am just reading too much into it and I am just annoying her with the camera...
Otehr other pics are:
Reading to Elizabeth and Grandma with grandchild.

KEEP OUT! This means you!

Why people insist on going places they are really not supposed to is kinda mind boggling. Especially if the road leads to a lake containing YOUR DRINKING WATER! The locks are for the many different agancies who need access to the road that leads to a lake. If your key matches one of the locks, you can open the wire blocking the road. The sign and its lock were shot at using, AND I GUESSHERE, .22 magnum rounds and a deer rifle caliber weapon.. Why someone wants to blast the lock when you can walk AROUND the gate, is beyond me...

Wings over Roseburg

Driving back from a football game I saw this guy wearing these wings and holding a pink umbrella. I pulled over and got out, they couple started laughing after I told them who I was. the caption explains:
Wearing pink butterfly wings. Troy Jarvis, of Winston, Ore., watches as his girlfriend cleans out her car at a car wash on Winchester Street in Roseburg Friday night Oct. 3, 2006. He was wearing all the things she pulled from her car that needed to be held on to as she vacuumed. "I'd probably be wearing her heels if they fit," he joked.

Number 1, for now

Well, no recent photo to update right now. But recent mail informs me that I sit in first place in our Region 11 Photographer of the year contest. But with four more months of judging left to go, I feel apprehensive that I can hang on to the lead but hell, I am trying..
For non photo people, Region 11's contest is for any R11 photog who wants to enter the monthly contest. The region is: Oregon, WA, B.C., Canada and Alaska. Each month's enrties, in five categories, are judged by another region in the country. Points are awarded for 1st-3rd.
So woo , hoo! And now back to work..

Not so timely postin

Ok, so I haven't updated in a while. I guess most times I feel there's not much to say. But here's a late one. Recently two kids from this small high school football set a national passing/receiving record. Together they made seven TD's in one game.. so here's the photo I came up with..

Cat in a Bag

Most people drive around town with their dog either in the bed of the truck or on the driver's lap. Doty rides a mule named Reba. And instead of a dog, she carts a cat in a bag. I forgot the cat's name, sorry. But it just hangs off saddle and nevers seems to mind. I even shot the cat sitting in a plastic cart attached to a four wheeler as Doty drove around the arena and smoothed out the dirt between horse riding competitions.

Needed: A drywall Sponsor

So, you think you're tough? Look at the damage and realize this is from PRACTICE sessions! The guy's whose garage houses the mixed martial arts group joked and asked if I knew any drywallers who would be willing to sponsor his fighters..

3 Minute & 11 Seconds

Recently, I had the honor of shooting a dear friend's brother's wedding. I have known Richard off and on through his sister Sheila. So, I get a call to be his and Patty's wedding photog. It was held in Pacific City July 27th. The windy afternoon slowed down just enough to let me get shots of the two , seen here, with a great backdrop. And the birds added a little zing to the photo. Looking at the photos today I noticed the time stamp on the photos beginning with Patty walking up to the area as Richard waits. From this point, the time shows 8:21:23 pm. I shot a few photos adn thought, I better get a group shot looking from the beach toward the audience. Walking around I shot a few photos and just about dropped my jaw as I heard the words,"Have you got the rings?" This is definately not where i should be so, RUNNING around the crowd I got back to the center aisle area to catch the rings going on the finger s and then the Kiss. the annoucement of the couple followed. The last frame before they walk back down the aisle is 8:24;34 pm...ok that's THREE MINUTES and ELEVEN seconds!! Richard had said it was going to be short but I tell ya folks, i've eaten Oreos that take longer than that! It was( the ceremony) however, fill with a few good laughs courtesy of kilts, Richard, and Patty. To top it off Richard has been blessed with his family's ability to cook awesome ribs!!! Congrats Richard and Patty!!!!

Photo mojo

For the past seven years, off and on, I have been assigned to Graffiti Weekend. It's an old car gathering that starts offically on Wednesday and Culminates with a cruise through Downtown Roseburg Saturday night. the biggest challenge is coming up with something original EACH year. It's frankly,freaking difficult, as a hate to repeat myself, photographically speaking. This year the photo god spoke and presented this gem..

THE DUKE IS GONE

The first year I met Christian, and his wife, Mary, he was just hired and was getting maried. So looking for a waterfall area to have their wedding ceremony, we hiked and brought along Mary's dog, Duke. Duke just roamed all over the trail ignoring, mostly, their calls to stay near. At one point Duke was way ahead of us and I just yelled"DUKE! Right here!" and pointed just behind my right knee. And low and behold the Dukster just dropped his head an walked bcak to EXACTLY 6 inches behind my right knee. ANd as I hiked he stayed right there. If I said,"Go Ahead" he'd head up the trail and poke along until I said "Right here" again. Back he'd come and this went on all day. Mary and Chris were to say the least surprised he'd listened so well. So that became the start of a fine relationship he and I have had for the past years. I became his, DOGFATHER whenever Mary and Chris went outta town without Duke. Hours playing fetch was the routine. I even found a kid's softball field in which to let him loose and we could play fetch in a place bigger than his previous home. But, a while back he got cancer and, in the course of one of many treatments, accidently the chemo into his leg instead of the vein. With a choice of painful life ahead, they opted to amputate a leg with the idea the cancer would be reduced and he'd have another year with us. Lately he's been puking, having trouble breathing and not eating. Today he had to be put down. It's gonna suck not being greeting by that three legged, batty-earred, rock-chewing and eating guy who's made me feel like a VIP when I get outta my car. It's gonna really hurt...

Just trying something here

Testing the photo quality and contrast v. my computer...

First post

Having not done this before, this is a test. If this was an emergency, I'd be hiding uder the desk.