Darren & Me

I have taken the time to photograph the world around me and to photograph other people that I know, but I seldom take the time to photograph my husband, DJ, and me. We have been married to one another for 17 years on September 25, 2012. We have been together for 18 years August 2012. During this time, we have learned almost every single thing there is to know about one another. But, that does not mean that we have stopped learning. DJ and I, as every other person on this planet, are continuously changing, leaving more to learn. Darren (DJ) is my best friend and confidant. Every day that passes is just as precious as the day before, and each day brings us closer to one another. We really have had few photographs to show how dedicated we are to one another, so we took the opportunity to take advantage of the cooler weather by me photographing us as a couple.

I chose the Burlington station as the first place for me to take a few shots. With my Canon Rebel EOS resting on the tripod, I began to fire away. I am fortunate to have a husband who is very photogenic. DJ, who does not like to ever have his photo taken, was a wonderful sport and took direction very well.

As you can see from the third picture of the above shots, DJ also played around a bit. I love this shot because it fits his rock-n-roll style and personality, but it is not one that we will be sharing with friends and family, well, maybe his friends.

The above shots of DJ and the below shot of the two of us together were taken at the back of the station at the loading dock. I love how vine climbs up the door of the dock. It provided great composition and color for the shots. 

The picture above does show us how we are with one another. We are one of those couples that smiles at one another, laughs, plays, fights but gets over it, and knows how to relax around one another. (No, we do not throw punches when we fight. Our fights are just arguments, which makes us a 'normal,' whatever that is, couple.) We had so much fun taking these shots.  

Once I captured the shots I wanted, we moved to one of my favorite places to shoot, under the Martin Luther King, Jr. bridge. I like to shoot here because it is out of the way, private, and full of character. The concrete base of the bridge is painted with brilliant graffiti. Across the road from the bridge is an unused section of railroad tracks that provides an excellent backdrop for photos. 

The day grew cold as the front pushed further into the area, and I twisted my ankle due to my attempt to walk on the rocks around the track with my high heel boots on. So, DJ and I decided to move our photography shoot home. Here, we set up a photography area in the house, and I practiced poses for shots. 

DJ and I finished our shoot with an intimate portrait of the two of us in my favorite antique chair. 

The experience was enjoyable and intimate. I feel that it is the times like these that we take with one another that keep us close and happy.

Cooper High Fall Choir Concert

Fall has come upon us quicker than ever it seems, and with the coming of the new season, it was time for the annual Cooper High School Fall Concert. Just as with every year, I am proud to attend the concert to watch Dylan and his peers sing. I find myself in disbelief that Dylan has grown so much as both a child and a singer. It seems as if it were yesterday when he had first fell in love with singing and made District Choir while in the fifth and sixth grades. I feel as if only a couple of months have passed since Dylan was performing "Wild Thing" in the middle school choir. I find myself with bittersweet thoughts that Dylan is now a high school sophomore and in his second year as a member of the Cooper High School Choir. This year, Dylan is a member of the Junior Varsity choir, as the Cooper Singing Men has been disbanded. Dylan seems to enjoy Bel Canto more, and I am continually catching him singing songs they are practicing at school.

Tonight, Dylan was dressed in his tuxedo with his new blue tie, and I could not pass up the opportunity to photograph my handsome son with his handsome father, my husband, Darren. With them standing side by side, I noticed for the first time how much of a young man my Dylan has become and how much Dylan favors his father.

Realizing the moments with Dylan at home are numbered and fleeting, I also took this opportunity to have Darren photograph me with Dylan. Since I am normally the one behind the camera, the number of photographs of me with my children are limited. We took the serious shot, but I also wanted a picture that showed how the relationship between Dylan and I has blossomed and developed over the years. Dylan is not just my baby, but he is also my comical friend. We bounce witty comments and jokes off of one another, and we rarely take one another seriously unless the time and situation calls for a seriousness. No matter how mad Dylan gets, I can always make him laugh and vice versa. He understands that laughter is the best medicine when a person is feeling down, and this child has never failed to make me laugh. Therefore, I relished the idea of having a photo that reflects this. It only took a matter of seconds for me to make Dylan laugh.

Dylan, Darren, and I arrived at Cooper early, and Dylan was quickly off to join his peers in the choir room. Unfortunately, Damien was unable to attend the concert, as he was home ill. He will be fine, for this is a sickness that comes with humidity.

The auditorium was fairly empty, so DJ and I searched for a place to sit changing spots several times while searching for the optimal seats for photographing the concert. As usual, the seats we chose happened to be on the opposite side of the stage as what Dylan would be standing. Next time, I am going to make sure I know exactly where he will be standing.

The ROTC Color Guard presented the American and Texan flags, and the crowd stood proudly, listening to the Concert Choir singing "The Star Spangled Banner." After the color guard exited the stage, Bel Canto took the stage. They sang, "Gloria," "I Dream a World," and "Shine Your Light." I photographed the group as well as I could with the limited zoom I have with the lens that came with my Canon. I am ever so anxious to purchase a new zoom that will give me the more versatility I crave.

Regardless of my inadequate photography options, Bel Canto sang beautifully. I had to hold back tears as I watched my baby boy, my young man, Dylan, sing his heart out. The other groups, Red, Rhythm, and Blues, Les Chanteurs, and the Concert Choir sang their songs each and every one having to do with the theme of light. Each group sang beautifully, but my heart this year belongs to Bel Canto.

Fair 2012

Well, the West Texas Fair and Rodeo has come and gone once again. I did not get many pictures this year, as I feel I am losing my inspiration. I prefer to photograph the fair in the evening due to the bright lights of the rides, but this year, most of the rides had the exact same color of lights as the other. There was very little variation in color as you can see from the above picture. The fair was great, as usual, and I was there for the roasted corn. Sadly, I received the last cob, and it was a small one, but that is fine. I am on a diet after all. The booths were interesting, but I have noticed that their was no uniqueness to be found except for two boothes. One had silver & turquoise jewelry, and the other had silver and amber jewelry. All of the other booths seemed to have the exact same thing as the next. No wonder everyone around here is dressed the same with the same jewelry. I, on the other hand, look for the odd and unique. The art exhibit was large, and the items that won best in show were very unique and interesting. We stayed to watch the tractor pull, but the noise was too much for Damien to handle. We didn't stay long. I seldom go to the livestock exhibits or rodeo anymore, as the boys are not interested. It was nice to sit back and relax if I tired this year since the boys are old enough to amble on by themselves. The weather was cool, and the food was delicious.

Nicole

I have recently had the pleasure of shooting Damien's friend, Nicole. I don't shoot people often, so I wanted to practice, and Nicole was allowed me to use her for a subject matter. We had a lot of fun shooting at Cal Young Park, the old Burlington Station, and Evermans Park.

At first, Nicole seemed a bit nervous, but she was a great sport. I told her to just be herself and relax.

Nicole is a good model, as she was able to express a variety of emotions through the use of her eyes and facial expressions.

After I decided to close up the shoot, Damien & Nicole decided to goof around together. I added a fun artsy flair to this photo to fit the mood in which the moment was captured.

Nicole is a very good friend to Damien. She has really helped him to come out of his shell and enter this world of ours. Before befriending this nice young lady, Damien did not enjoy going out in public. Now, it is something that is tolerable.

I have made a CD with 100 of the best photos to give to Nicole, and these are just a few of of my favorites. I also included a senior picture collage, as Nicole will be graduating at the end of the school year.

Thank you, Nicole for allowing me the opportunity to capture you.

Sunflowers and Rain

DJ and I went for a Sunday evening drive when we came upon a patch of sunflowers that was accessible from the road. I took my time exploring the beautiful flowers and photographing them.

Many of the flowers were being visited by guests in the form of bees, butterflies, and grashoppers.

I found it interesting that each insect I found feasting on the patch of flowers were colored the same as the sunflowers.

The sky rumbled with thunder, and it began to lightly rain, so we headed down the road. I had hoped to catch lightening, but the lightening was sparse and was not centralized in one general area. As we continued on, I watched intently in the hopes of catching something to shoot. Soon, we found a freshly plowed field with a patch of wildflowers, grasses, and an antique tractor sitting in the middle. The rusty colors of the earth compliment the colors of the tractors.

The rain caught up with us once again, and we drove on to find something more to shoot. I was anxious to photograph the beams of sunlight breaking through the clouds. The red earth below contrasted greatly with the blue tones of the clouds.

Writing Not Shooting

I have been writing instead of shooting. If you are interested, you can read it here.

Around the House

I had an urge to photograph something yesterday, but I elected to stay home rather than go out in the heat. The urge would not leave me, so I photographed somethings I have lying around the house.