Boom

Okay, so I just NEEDED to post some pictures of fireworks! I felt cheated otherwise. Here is what I wanted to do. The first two are from July 4th in Oregon a couple of years ago. This was the first time that I actually photographed fireworks the right way.




This is from our very small display in the driveway this year. Not much, but hey, it satisfied the craving for another year...

Independence Day!

Not what you were expecting? Me either! I had planned on wowing everyone with some spectacular explosions, fantastic colors, and some dramatic landscape. Instead, when I looked out my window, I got this. Not to say it isn't beautiful, just not what I was expecting. I love the rain, just not today...

There is something about July 4th that gets me so excited. Probably the smell of the fireworks. It instantly reminds me of childhood. It brings back all those feelings I used to have every year excitement, naughtiness, and freedom.

As a child, freedom meant exactly what it sounds like. For this one day a year, I was free from normal parental constraints. On July 4th, I could REPEAT an act of questionable legality and uncertain safety over and over. How cool is that for a kid??? Don't get me wrong, my parents were watching me like a hawk the whole time! They just didn't make me feel it as much.

Today, I think I understand the word so much better. I have never in my life been forced to follow some one's beliefs without first being able to examine my own. I am allowed to pursue a career that is largely inspired by the arts without being filtered. I am allowed to say whatever I think needs to be said. I've never lived anywhere where these fundamental thoughts are not allowed so, for now, I can't imagine being without them and for that I am thankful.

Summer Fun

I figured this photo was appropriate. It's funny how much time I spend photographing animals. I love the challenge....sometimes. This is Ruby to all of you who don't know. She is pretty much the sweetest dog ever. She is my sister-in-law's dog. At least, until somebody else gives her attention She's kind of easy. I'm sure she will some day make another cameo in the blog.

It's supposed to be hot and humid here. I know that I'm planning on finding some water to immerse myself in this weekend! We are thinking Whitewater State Park. Should be some fun times! I don't know if Tiff and I are going to be able to squeeze some fireworks in on Sunday night or not, hopefully, that's a blog post by itself!

Whatever your plans, I hope everyone gets to spend some time with family or friends, whichever you prefer!

Inspired By...

Last week we had some insane weather! One thing I think most everyone in the Midwest loves (and hates), is thunderstorms. There is nothing on this Earth that inspires me more than when a huge bank of clouds rolling across the plains. You can see them coming for miles and miles. Watching the clouds and the light change with every passing second. They are never the same.

Last Thursday, we had 16 tornadoes go through the state of Minnesota. Luckily, none by me. My mom was at our apartment and we were watching a movie around sunset when the storms came in. It made for some spectacular color! I couldn't go out, which I BADLY wanted to do! So instead, I pulled the screens and windows from our second story windows and photographed from there while Tiff and Mom kept watching the movie.

The last photo, was the following evening. Seriously, how could I not pull over and take that shot?? Thank you June in Minnesota because I love thunderstorms!

OMG

I know right? Here everyone thought I had disappeared. In my absence from blogging, I realized one thing.... I'm kind of awful at it! Maybe not the writing, all though I think differently, but more the consistency. Too me a blog is something that needs to be done regularly.

I've been putting my blogs off until I could hit that goal of regularity. (That kind of sounds like some sort of Fiber One commercial) I don't know what it was in this last week, but my outlook has been changing. I realized that I have to quit looking for the right time and actually make it my time. It's been a slow evolution in my thinking, I know. I'm just glad it finally came around!

We'll see what happens in the future, but look forward to hearing from me a little more often...

Rome wasn't built in a day...

Why is it that it is always so hard to go out and take pictures?? I mean, really take pictures? Somehow there is always something that I "should" be doing. You know, the responsible thing...

I'm a photographer. I know what pictures I take to make my living and pay my bills. I have no problem with those. In fact, I spend most of my waking hours trying to come up ways to find more instances to do just that. It's the pictures that I want to take that I don't. Does that seem backward to you? It does to me.

Two weeks ago, I went up to Duluth, MN. I went for a family fishing trip. Amazing time! We had a great weather, good fishing and great company. The entire time I was there, I had these thoughts bouncing around in the back of my head. I had wanted to go up to Duluth and spend a photography weekend for ages.

I think that the biggest problem is that that I don't get my income from doing trips like these. At the same time, if I had my choice this is exactly what I would choose to do for a living. To do it for a living, I have to have a bunch in images like it in my library before I start. To have the images in my library, I have to take the trips. To actually do it, I have to have money. To have money, I need to keep doing what I am doing. To keep doing what I am doing, I need to not take these trips. What a vicious cycle!!

What have I learned from all this?? HAVE PATIENCE. Easier said than done, but I'm working on it. Well, that and maybe I should find a way to do one trip a year just to keep me sane.

Sad Day

So, I had some ideas that I wanted to blog about since I missed the last one. Sadly, I had a new topic come up. A few weeks back I let everyone know about Cyrus the Phodographer and Athena. I found out earlier today that Cyrus passed away yesterday morning.

Cyrus was an amazing dog, photographer, and friend to everyone that met him. He was laid back and didn't mind hanging out with you by the steps. His photographs will always remain for the world to see another perspective. I hope that his work inspires the next generation of puppies out there.