Lessons Learned

All summer long, I have driven so quickly by the daisies out in the garden. Oh, they are so common; I'll photograph them another day, I thought. I was so busy with my camera anyway. I had some time and the urge yesterday, so I went out to find them at various stages of decay.

Yesterday, I found out that Stella, whose wedding I photographed last week, has been getting sicker and couldn't make it to church. Another friend had made a cake in the shape of a cross to celebrate their marriage. Please say a prayer for her.

Evening in GR

Last evening, I went with my photo buddy Deirdre on one of our great photo shoots. This time we planned to meet downtown and take some evening/twilight shots. It felt a bit rushed, but I managed to get a few. I think it felt rushed because we had so much talking and shooting to do all at sunset/twilight. Stay tuned, we will definitely be going again!

I could have stayed all night, but alas, Dee had to get up at O'Dark Thirty so we didn't stay long. It's interesting to compare the last 2 shots taken 31 minutes apart and the difference between them. I have included some of the exif data for your reading pleasure.

9:22pm
Exposure: 1.3 sec
Aperture: f/5.6
Focal Length: 28 mm
ISO Speed: 100


8:58pm
Exposure: 0.5 sec
Aperture: f/22.0
Focal Length: 28 mm
ISO Speed: 100



9:29pm
Exposure: 1.0 sec
Aperture: f/5.6
Focal Length: 28 mm
ISO Speed: 100

Flash Back Friday 127: The Julia's Go Fishing Edition

Oma, 1950's


Me, 1987

The Big Seventy!

What if you were turning 70 years old today? This might be a good thing to get in honor of the big day - especially if you were born in a Mercedes dealership in The Netherlands!! A few weeks ago, Dad came up to GR and found this sweet car. When John & I picked it up for him a few days later, I posed it in a good spot to take some photos. Pretty fun!

Wishing you a very blessed birthday Dad! Have fun!

Breaking a Leg

This past weekend, Bridget was in her final show of the Reluctant Dragon.


This is part of the cast that had been working together so hard for a month!


Bridget loved my seat number because it's also her nickname for me.

Another Amazing Day

Last week, Skip, a friend of mine from church, asked me to take pictures at the wedding of Stella and Marcus who also go to our church. It was such a gorgeous day for this beautiful bride and groom and it was such an honor to be there in the midst of it all. A couple of these photos I think are among the best ever that I have been able to capture. Stella has a brain tumor which made this wedding exceedingly special - we are all praying for her!

Stella hugging her dad who she hadn't seen in about 3 years


Stella with her 2 daughters who were bridesmaids


...and with her youngest son.


Her dad walks her down the aisle and Pastor Mary performs the ceremony.


Pastor Mary and Jeremiah react with joy as the bride & groom kiss.


A very sweet moment after the ceremony...


.. and another.

The whole family gathers around the wedding cake.

Latest Home Exhibition

Self-portrait painted last week by Maria

Flash Back Friday 127

John & Julia, 1988

I'm flashing back here to one of my faves - it came to me in a stack of old pix that belonged to Oma. Anyway, I also had the honor again this past week of photographing another wedding. So, so amazing! I hope to post it soon.

Clouds

There is nothing on this earth like a day with great cloud cover like this. Last week we had so many days in a row like it and I went nearby to a field with Maria to capture some of it. I do love sunny days, but think of all there is to see when the clouds have such great form. I thought of the Joni Mitchell song:

Rows and flows of angel hair
And ice cream castles in the air
And feather canyons everywhere
Ive looked at clouds that way

But now they only block the sun
They rain and snow on everyone
So many things I would have done
But clouds got in my way

Ive looked at clouds from both sides now
From up and down, and still somehow
Its cloud illusions I recall
I really don't know clouds at all

Introducing a New Band...

Moving from wedding photography to rockstar photography... in the rain no less.

The band's name is John FourteenSix and their first song is a remake of "I Wear My Sunglasses at Night." Yesterday, I came across a story about an American lawyer in the 1800's who wrote a song to a bar tune. His name? Francis Scott Key. The song was, of course, the Star Spangled Banner. So yes, it could happen!

This band, though not serious, is serious in its intent to have fun!

This is Michigan!

Edward jumps into the beauty...

Opening Night

Bridget performed last night in the Master Art Theater's production of The Reluctant Dragon. She played the part of Jennifer. They said "no photography" at the beginning. What? This cannot be! Surely they must mean "no FLASH photography". After all, I had taken pix last year. I stole a few anyway and when I asked the director at intermission, sure enough, I found out that it wasn't allowed until a special showing on the last day. Here are a couple of sneak previews which I took without flash...

Bridget's role was quite serious. I was happy to see the expressions back on her face after the show!

Flash Back Friday 126

Mom & Dad, 1961

Continuing on the wedding theme here for flashback...

Amazing

I've still been looking at all the shiny happy people from the wedding last Saturday and I don't know how to do a post to capture all the love and beauty and indeed the miracle of the day. This is maybe one of my favorites taken before this wedding by the river next to the historic, landmark sixth street bridge.

It was a beautiful day for this beautiful couple to get married! I thought I was going to pop from the excitement - it was just so amazing to be a part of it all! We walked along the river and next to the old restored factory buildings that are near our church. What an honor to be there with them during this time.