Tanked

I love getting to shoot people a second time, or a even a third. It gives me an opportunity to compare and see how I have improved or what still needs work. Chelsea, Darcy, and Kayla are always fun. They laugh constantly so I often have to draw there attention back but these attractive people make beautiful pictures. This was the first time I've really taken pictures before 3:30, so harsh light had to be dealt with but I guess you have to get to get comfortable with it some time.

That's a tank she's hanging on

Love and Puppy Love

I finally got to a shoot with the final quarter of my college D-Group . Caitlin is one of those people I have so much in common with it's almost weird. We had almost all the same hobbies in high school except she was better at everything but it wasn't until our freshmen year at college that we really got close. She and her boyfriend Will are very involved leading in the same youth group as I do.
Their photo shoot was adorable and heart warming. The rain showed up at the end which was rather frustrating but I am still happy with their pictures.

After Chelsea and I went to meet our friend's new puppy Molly. How cute is she? :)

"The Luckiest."

I am definitely not a connoisseur of speeches. Paying attention for any length of time is not my strong suit but Lou Gehrig's speech after learning that he had ALS is powerful. There is very little that I can say to do it justice, but his attitude is one that I think everyone should stop and learn from. He doesn't ask for everyone to feel sorry for him, in fact he stands in front of thousands and all he wants them to know is how lucky he is.

Here is the full text of the speech:

"Fans, for the past two weeks you have been reading about a bad break I got. Yet today, I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth. I have been in ballparks for seventeen years and I have never received anything but kindness and encouragement from you fans. Look at these grand men. Which of you wouldn't consider it the highlight of his career just to associate with them for even one day? Sure I'm lucky. Who wouldn't have considered it an honor to have known Jacob Ruppert? Also, the builder of baseball's greatest empire, Ed Barrows? To have spent six years with that wonderful little fellow, Miller Huggins? Then to have spent the next nine years with that outstanding leader, that smart student of psychology, the best manager in baseball today, Joe McCarthy? Sure, I'm lucky. When the New York Giants, a team you would give your right arm to beat and vice versa, sends you a gift, that's something. When everybody down to the groundskeeper and those boys in white coats remember you with trophies, that's something. When you have a father and mother work all their lives so that you can have an education and build your body, it's a blessing. When you have a wife who has been a tower of strength and shown more courage than you dreamed existed, that's the finest I know. I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the Earth. And I might have been given a bad break, but I've got an awful lot to live for."

People come up to me regularly and share stories about my dad. One of my favorites is about his attitude when he received his diagnosis of Lou Gehrig's disease. Friends and family wanted to know how he stayed so positive and his answer was always "I never have a bad day." Even though he and Gehrig had different words they had the same message.

Register here to join us in the "Walk to Defeat ALS" on March 24!

Like Old.

 It's popular now for photos to have that "vintage" look. Kinda yellow, kinda unsaturated, very cool looking. I have been playing around with different tricks to get it on photoshop elements for weeks but none have knocked my socks off. Till today. I was looking around my favorite category of Pinterest, "Photography," and saw this link. I was disappointed to realize it was geared towards the whole photoshop but you can get a very similar look in Elements with really only changing one step. This is what I did inspired by that blog's steps.

Step 1) Instead of Channel Mixer I clicked Photo Filter and chose one of the Warming Filter's, there are three preset filter's on my mine and I just played with each of them till I found one that looked best on my each picture.

Step 2) Just do what she said

Step 3) I haven't found a good alternative step yet, if you find one let me know!

Step 4 & 5) Again do what she said these steps are what really give you the look you want

I broke out the old hobby for Valentine's Day, then used my new hobby to take/edit this picture

These steps definitely look best on naturally well lit photos, I love the way this turned out. Here's the original.

More good natural lighting gone "vintage"

Register IN BOB'S NAME

I have always been close to my dad because we have so much in common. We used to talk about if we won the lottery (to my knowledge we never bought a ticket, so clearly we didn't think that one through) we would buy the nicest cameras, computers, and basically anything else geeky. He got me in the habit of watching all the behind the scenes of any movie that we enjoyed even slightly. Ryan's was our favorite restaurant and we loved it even more because my mom hated it so much. He once told me that he better never catch me sitting at church. In his mind there is always something that you could be doing to help someone out.
My dad is also the single most influential person in my life when it came to photography. He was always that guy with the camera. The picture in the header is him with the camera that I always use now. I remember him trying to explain photoshop to me and buying every magazine and book on it. I don't know if he thought I would become as attached to the hobby as I have but he certainly encouraged it.
My junior year of high school he was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis most commonly know as Lou Gehrig's Disease. I had never heard of it but it has completely changed my family's life. It has also made us realize how strong of relationships we have with our family and friends. We have been embraced and loved unconditionally.

On March 24 there will the Walk to Defeat ALS at The Savannah River Walk. We have a team registered as "In Bob's Name" and we would love for everyone to join us. Here is a rough idea of what our shirts will be this year. The name tag says "Hello I am walking for BOB".

We will let ya'll know the price of the shirts soon but for now REGISTER HERE . You can join our team, make donations, and they even have fund raising ideas. If ya'll have any questions let me know and I'll be getting more information soon.

DNOW

 This past weekend was DNOW for our church's youth group. It's still strange to be a leader after all the years of eating Dorrito's till 5 in the morning then some how finding the energy play games and go to the rally the next day. My friend Katie and I were the leaders for the 9th grade girls. Those girls are hilarious and difficult to capture all in one photo.

First attempt at group photo, still missing one.

My awesome partner Katie working with our girls at my house

Fruit Pizza for my mom

Finally everybody in one picture

Golden Years

I got to experience something totally new this past Saturday. I was given the opportunity to shoot the photo booth at a wedding. Sadly I didn't make the ceremony but everyone said it definitely something special. Even just seeing the couple at the reception was enough to warm the Grinch's heart. They clearly enjoyed every moment that day and were much celebrating the new chapter they were about to start.

Advice from our elders.

Always a fun couple.

Chelsea finally got her picture.

In other exciting news, today is Tyler's birthday :)

I am sad I am not there with him since we met on my last birthday. It doesn't seem fair but that's life. I hope he has a wonderful time in Aggieland on his 23rd!

He would really like a monster truck for his birthday but since that is not currently in my budget, he gets a blog banner with a truck on it. Totally the same thing.

Trot to Adopt

Trot to Adopt, first mentioned here, was a massive success. The total raised for all the adopting families was $20,000. I can't wait to see what precious kids are given new homes through God's provision. My mentor was there as a sponsor and taking pictures. Her talent is unbelievable so watching her work is always fun for me. I am so proud when I get the chance to tell people I am interning with her and having my two worlds collide was fun.

Probably the best running buddies I've ever had. We laughed the whole time.

Over the Hill

Senior projects are still in full in bloom, I have to admit I don't miss those hours of stress over a few minutes of presentation for strangers.
Kayla's project was called "Our Jerusalem Project" from Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
On January 21 we all split into groups and went to several different locations spreading the love of Christ however it was needed most.

Please, pay attention to the background

Harris' little praying hands are too adorable.

First time I can ever remember winning Bingo :)

Coach.

We love visitors here.

Seeestors, that need to hold a seminar on sibling relationships