Ever wanted a grand adventure?....

It should be obvious that what is happening in this pictures is just wrong! In my defense, I'm the photojournalist, those are not my fingers. Really given all the opportunities to do something dangerous, this is pretty minor. As I recall, I believe this bear that lives in Puerta Vallarta was missing his teeth, imagine how close I was to check that out? With the recent earthquake in Haiti there has been an outpouring of aid. When I'm not taking pictures, I work as an intermediate care nurse. One of the reasons I became a nurse was to give humanitarian service. I've been in hot pursuit of an opportunity to serve aboard a navy ship acting as a floating hospital. Support of this program has been withdrawn. So to my blog followers, all 2 or 3 of you, if you know of any service opportunities requiring a registered nurse don't hesitate to call the number at the top of the blog. I have a passport and am current on my immunizations, if that's not TMI.

It's all about perspective...

So who gets to determine what is beautiful? It is obviously always in the eye of the beholder. Sometimes beauty lies in the contrast of two equal opposing forces. Sometimes beauty can be defined by what is in focus, other times the story is in what you can't see clearly. So when you see a beautiful image, go beyond and ask yourself why it is beautiful to you. The answer to that question can never be wrong, but by asking it, your world will open to more opportunities, other possibilities and the chance to understand something from a different viewpoint. Happy horizon broadening to you.

What winter can look like....

So as you can imagine since I am an outdoor photography enthusiast, this is my slow time of year. Occasionally an extra hearty soul will call for a photography session but they are rare. (Not many people want to see their own breath in the picture) Never fear when Ineed to take a picture I can always find a "subject". I plan to do a "seasons" series and this is my interpretation of "winter". Cool, huh? In the cold sense.

Things I've lost....

This is my grandson, James. One day while tending him, I thought he was safely playing in the washroom. Imagine my fright when I entered the washroom and couldn't find him there. The washroom was attached to the garage that was attached to the driveway that was attached to the big bad scary world at large. I couldn't imagine how he could have opened the door that led to the garage and obviously I'm grateful that he didn't. He just opened the dryer door and climbed inside. How many of you have that "super safe, extra special" place that you keep your treasures? I do but that place is more like an expanding deep dark black hole from which things never return. Maybe there is a collective place where all lost items reside until found, maybe like the island for misfit toys in "Rudolph". In case it is a collective and you make it through the black hole before I do, here are a few things I am missing and would like returned...my mind (not very big, may be hard to find), my teenage body (okay, I've seen others with this in the past, like Jennifer Aniston ;D), the energy I had as a college student (play all night and study all day) and of course my invincsibility, that feeling of being all powerful without cares or concerns, oh wait, I know where that is my daughter Emily, took it with her to Utah State.

What to do about a collective personality....

This cucumber/squash actually grew in my garden, this is not the result of photoshop. It often represents how I feel when I am pulled in too many different directions. I'm my own worst enemy because I have alot of varying interests. My interests compound upon themselves very rapidly. It's kind of the old adage if one is good than ten must be better and twenty even better and so on and so on. I've been asked many times (related to my vast library of fitness dvds) which exercise program is the best? My honest and complete answer is the one you will do consistantly. I often joke that I store my fitness dvds next to my cookbooks so all my recipes have already worked out so you don't need to worry about the fat and calories. So pick your poison...do aerobics (now called cardio), do resistance training, lift weights, dance, do pilates or any combination but you won't reap the benefit unless you do it. And don't mind me I'm still working on my resolution of gaining 5 pounds, don't worry I'll be successful.

New Year's Resolutions....

So I already used the excuse that I can either blog or take pictures and that I have been really busy taking pictures. I chose the pictures of this newborn baby boy to ring in the new year and explain my theory about resolutions. Resolutions are closely related to expectations and expectations are mearly frustrations yet to be born. The only resolution I have ever been successful at keeping is ... 1) Gain 5 pounds this year. I also lose that 5 pounds so I'm holding steady. I believe it was Erma Bombeck who said,"I've lost so much weight if I never regained it I could fit on a charm bracelet." So 3 weeks into the new year, how are your personal resolutions holding up?

Having your picture taken doesn't have to be painful...

Wasn't it W.C.Fields who said, "Never work with animals or children."? What was he thinking they can be the most fun! (insert frustrating, exacerbating, impossible as it applies) I try to get the job done of taking your picture as painlessly as possible. Present your ideas and plans at the beginning of the shoot and I will work them into the natural flow of the process. If you tack them on at the end, you usually have at least one member of your party that wants to bolt two or three smiles ago. How do you end the process as quickly as possible? Focus, focus, focus, pun intended. Pay attention to your photographer and look where you are supposed too, usually my Right ear.