Photography...

Photography is something that I've always enjoyed. With my HS graduation money I bought a camera with part of the gift money I was given. My little Pentax served me well for many years. Then came the digital years and I rebelled. You see by then I had kids and there was no way those slow camera's were working for me- by the time I pressed the button to capture the moment the kids were gone and I was taking a picture of empty space. I had one or two experiences with point and shoot digital camera's that resulted in me giving them to my kids and I bought a Canon Elan 7NE film camera. I loved it. Then my husband was going off to Alaska fishing and there was no way he was taking my camera so I bought him a Panasonic the day he was leaving and told him to take pictures. He did and the camera was a great find. Finally it was what I wanted and needed a point and shoot to be. Last year when we were planning our trip to Disneyland I told Bill the one thing that concerned me was taking film thru x rays and airports. I've heard horror stories of people coming back from a wonderful vacation and having no pictures to show for it. That's when I got serious about a digital SLR and after much study and a trip to the camera store to see how my choices felt in hand I bought a Nikon D80. I haven't touched my film SLR since. I LOVE IT. Then of course came the need and burning desire to know how to use it... I mean why have it if I can't make it do what I want and use it to it's full potential. I'm also a big fan of photo journalistic family photography. I hated traditional posed photo's and it just made so much more sense to capture life as it was happening instead of creating it or making it look too created. I will admit there is some posing still in this type of photography but it's so much different. So much more artistic and I love thinking up ideas.

I'm learning, though I know I have a long way to go... That's the perfectionist in me. I want to give the potential client the best I possibly can. Where it will go- who knows. I would love to be able to make money doing this because you know the saying- do what you love and love what you do but I also know the other side of the coin and that's when you have a hobby you love and make it a business you no longer have time to do what you just want to do for the love of it. Time will tell and so will how far my skills and knowledge grow.

Here's a few more of my favorites...

Loyalty Day

Loyalty Day is observed on May 1st in the United States. It is a day set aside for the reaffirmation of loyalty to the United States and for the recognition of the heritage of American freedom. It was first in acted in 1921, celebrated especially during WWII, and became an official holiday in 1958. Most Americans are not aware of it anymore- which to me is sad.


Long Beach, Washington has one of the only celebrations on the west coast the first weekend of every May. They rotate the branches of our military to honor them and this year it was the turn of the US Air Force. We were lucky enough to attend the Loyalty Day dinner and hear the speakers (Thanks Sid and Bette). One of which was Abraham Lincoln (real name Jim Getty). My mother in law told me that while it's not a big thing to have first person re-en actors on the west coast. The east coast is a different story. They have them at almost every historical sight. This particular "Mr. Lincoln" actually works at Gettysburg and he was wonderful. Not as tall as the real deal but his presentation was amazing. He even told about the use of hot air balloons in the Civil War to determine enemy troop positions so they could fire on them. The ironic thing was that the South actually had the gentleman who helped the Union with this project in their possession and traded him to the Union. http://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/Lighter_than_air/Civil_War_balloons/LTA5.htm ) What a great tie in to the Air Force of today! He takes questions from the crowd as well and answers them as though it's Lincoln himself. What a lot of studying he's done because he knew his stuff.




Parade Day is Sunday at Long Beach and for years we've been lucky enough to be a part of it. First when Bill and I were dating as part of the Ocean Spray float. Let me just tell you it's still talked about to this day because we girls ran our rears off giving out Ocean Spray Cranberry products the whole length of the parade! Since we've been married and had children however- there seems to be a green obsession in the family. John Deere Green that is. ( Bill's father owns 3 antique John Deere Tractors and He and his wife have an AC tractor as well. The Allis Chalmers has been lovingly named Allison Charmers by our daughter and she prefers Orange a little bit more then green and yellow. She gets that from Grandma Karen.) Usually the tractors are in full force for the parade and we've even included a few Gators over the years to haul all of us. The kids love it and the little kids do too- haha. Bob's tractor club comes over and joins in the fun. There's really nothing more American to me then our military, our flag, our families, and a great American tractor. Thanks Long Beach for another great Loyalty Day. Hope you'll come on up and check it out someday, the parade is especially great. If you want to find us, just look for the Green and Yellow. http://funbeach.com/events/loyaltydays/index.html




Justin was sure of one thing...He was riding with Papa.

Neil saved the day! The Loyalty Day princess float broke down before the parade started so Neil towed it.


Told you she prefered Orange.