Beth and Tim: All finished!!!

My favorite!

Second

Seems like I find myself here each year...

Do I lose sight of who I am along my way? Yes. I look through my work and I search for me. Am I in there? Is the passion there? Did I open a tiny spout to my heart and pour a bit into it? I struggle, I lose sight, I sink low but each year around this time I search for my original eagerness to pursue a moment and pounce on it like a cat creeps through the tall grass and captures it's prey. Then the ecstasy of the moment when I find myself alone, in front of the computer, in the wee hours of the morning staring at a perfect moment. Tears mist up my eyes and I am breathless.

Then wedding season creeps up and I struggle to deliver on time and I fear I rush to fast and those moments seem to be coming farther apart. I miss them. I miss who I am during those times. When the room is quiet, only the humming of the computer can be heard and I am honest. I admit just who I am and I don't run from it... a dreamer, a lover, escapist, fantasizer, idealist, and a romantic. For a small amount of time life is simple and I am happy.

Tonight I decided to take more time to pursue inspiration.
I chased a sunset.
Have you ever tried it? Get your gear, jump in your car around sunset time and just drive until you find THE SPOT. You will know it because you will see it with your heart and when you look through your camera you will feel it in your soul.

Summer sunsets with corn stalks blowing in the wind....




I know this one is a little grainy but it was a beautiful memory between me and God. It was a cloudy sunset and right as I found my spot the sun sank behind a dark cloud. I closed my eyes and asked God if he could drop it out just for me. If you look right above the sun you can see the cloud. It was amazing. Right before it disappeared behind the tree line God dropped it out just like I had asked. I was breathless...

Cowan Lake

Ahhh this is such a beautiful time of year!

In search of new fun stuff!

K so I decided today (oh wait it's 2am so technically that would be yesterday) ;) that I wanted to go into Dayton and find a few new areas for pictures. I worked it up in my mind something like this.... "Ok you can do this, you are not afraid to be alone in Dayton, you are independent, strong and confident." I was totally psyched.

It ended up something like this.... "Ok I'm terrified...oh wait did I just miss that turn.....Man this is a one way again!.... Stupid GPS....(palms sweating, heart pounding) Where are the quarters I packed for the parking meter, No turn on red 6am-6pm so where the heck do I go now!!!!"

I was a mess. Every time I go to Dayton alone this is what happens. I was so afraid that my fear prevented me to let loose and notice the beauty or just stuff that would normally catch my eye. I was so mad and frustrated. Solution to problem..... call my beloved Tracy! She shoots in Dayton, maybe she can give me some cool safe locations!

TRACY TO THE RESCUE!!!! Lucky for me she had a senior session within minutes and they were coming to Dayton!! Sweet!
She shows up, whisks me to a few locations and before I knew it all the fear was gone, I was excited and stuff was catching my eye right and left. She does that to me, as a photographer and as a friend, I feel so very relaxed and I get to be me, flaws and all! You don't get to do that with many people. (You are one of my sweetest friends Tracy) Thank you....

I did find a few things in all my turmoil

The sky was so amazingly beautiful

Dayton is full of character

Ahhh blueness

But look at who Tracy brought! This gorgeously beautiful senior with the most beautiful eyes ever!





Hey who's this pretty lady?

Columbus

How the Lord can change a day

I can actually see the Lord working in these two pictures:

This is the scene when I pull up at 10am. I immediately pray in my head and ask the Lord to change the weather so we can do some shots outside.

1 pm I head out with the guys to this! Isn't God wonderful!


P.S. Beth and Kyle I'm working away on the pics and should have a preview up soon!

Where I came from......

Here are a few pics I took at my Mom and Dad's house. I believe this is where my roots in photography first developed. When you wake up to this everyday, how can you not see the beauty in life. (SIGH)
Where I keep all my yesterdays....

Mean looking little guy


Aww baby kisses!





Again (SIGH)


Self portrait from the day (mental note to self "don't wear good boots out in the fields LOL)