do you like the things that life is showin' you....

I've been in the woodshed sharpening my skills. I realized something awhile back and blogged about it, but the funny thing is I don't think I was convinced when I wrote it.


Anyway, quick synopsis. Specialization is a modern trend. Masters are never specialists. Stars are. Most "heroes" are. But masters are not.


Eventually I want to be a master. I'm not going to forget that again.


In the meantime I'm back on the original blog host because I was paying for something that I wasn't able to get the most out of.

And finally, here's a picture that will seem random to most but profound to a chosen few.

t.

Meme & Chey - Engagement -aka- "Through the Years"

Meme & Chey

I love Florida. It's amazing how around every corner there is a place that outshines the last one and this day was no exception. The Lauderdale area provided the backdrop to an engagement session with the fabulous Meme & Chey. It's hard to find better photo subjects than these two upbeat, hip young people.

Several people stopped to watch part of the session with comments like "What a beautiful couple" and "They look so good together". With a relationship that has survived everything from proms to long distances and is easily characterized by jokes, laughs and smiles it's impossible not to root for these high-school sweathearts.
I look forward to their wedding next year.

tc

I'm social. Really I am...

Originally posted May 11, 2009



it's just that I'm really modest. I sincerely believe that I'm interesting but I also believe that I'm a little biased in that respect. What is a man to do? Well since IMO action is the remedy for most everything, maybe I should just blog more. Since this blog is more for the strictly photographic side of my life I have started another that caters to my alter ego. The technology geek who reads an average of a book a week, shoots 1000x times the amount he posts, started cooking at the age of eight and still has a vinyl collection that he's listened to fairly recently.


If you get the chance check me out over at http://oftenamused.blogspot.com/ .

It's a mix of everything that I am and a touch of what I wish I could be.


TC

Kay & Austin - The Big Day -aka- "Why Don't You Smile Awhile For Me..."

Originally posted on April 28, 2009

Austin & Kay are real people. They are people you can spend an afternoon with and not even notice the time fly by. Kay  is a smiler. I've only seen her not smiling when she was laughing. Her attitude screams "Im happy to be here!"  Wherever here is.  Austin is the type of person that you want your kids to grow up to be like. Loyal to everyone he knows, responsible for his life and gracious in his words. He makes  you feel like you've done something for him that he couldn't have done, despite the fact that he's more than capable.  Together they make a dream team. Their ceremony was in beautiful monument Colorado at The Church at Woodmor. The reception was handled expertly by Suzanne Mangino & the amazing crew at the Sundance Mountain Lodge.

I was blessed  and honored to have been a part of their day and look forward to seeing their life together grow.


enjoy...

Austin & Kay - Engagement

Originally posted March 22, 2009

From the 1st meeting to this session I knew that their relationship was right. The right that's so obvious that you almost feel embarassed being there. As if you're intruding.


Every sincere smile, shy glance and soft word lets you know that what they have is rare. Kay and Austin are an example of the power faith can have in building a strong foundation for a coouple. I look forward to capturing their special day and watching their relationship grow.


TC

Take your time young man, momma used to say

Originally posted on March 12th, 2009

I like to hang out with people. I don't mean 30 minutes of chit-chat at the local cafe. I mean  light up the grill and spend hours on a reconnect level. Turn off all the clocks like in Vegas and  let the time pass by. Mostly like to invest time into my friends and not have it  be time I (or they) have penciled into my (or their) schedule. When a schedule is involved you spend a chunk of time you  should be giving to your peeps, preparing for what's next on the schedule.  I have a sixth sense for that when I'm with people.

Yesterday myself and a couple of my friends went for an extended walk where we took our time and  talked about life and the future. Their future in fact. These friends of mine are getting married soon. I took some images so they could remember what it was like before the I became a we and to  celebrate the union between two of the most giving and sincere people a person can be blessed to  know. The images will hopefully be ready in a few days.

In the meantime here is a preview.

I know somethin about somethin. I think?

I am a techie. Since I was little I've been able to spend just a little time with most any device and instinctively know how it works. I love gadgets, electronics and most things that beep, chirp and chime. I was kind of bummed that Circuit City fell the way they did. Not necessarily for the store itself because the customer service was consistently poor across the chain (in my experience). More for the fact that it's one less place to push buttons and turn knobs.


For all gear heads that have The Knack, there has been a great disturbance in the force.

Still. There is Best Buy.

Do you know the way to ...

Sentimentality is something that's usually not clearly associated with men. At least most won't admit it.


Think about it though.


Men have favorite fishing spots, favorite burger joints, favorite cars,  lucky t-shirts, socks and coins. Each of these things have sentimental value, but are not labeled as such. It's tricky advertising to say the least.


Well I'm admittedly sentimental. My basement is a testament to that. I have comic books from my teen years, record collections, old Bibles and notebooks, poems and songs I've wriitten, several musical instruments and tons of photos. Funny thing is, I'm going to throw most of it away.


It's time to move forward. Time to let go of things not associated to now, or at least the direction I'm headed. The "stuff" in my life has anchored me to this place. I've seen days go by and the dreams I've always had go with them. I've heard songs I should have written echoed in words to my children. I've read words I should have penned in every blog/email/book I see. I told myself when I graduated from High School that I was not going to be a shoulda, woulda, coulda person. Shoulda listened to myself.


I am truly blessed to have the life that I do, but i see clearly that the train I call my life is moving forward, I'm getting on it and not looking back.

Happy Birthday to Ya!!!

5 years ago I remember sitting in a hospital room staring at the ceiling (long story) letting the word Daddy run around in my head. My Dad set a pretty high standard for loyalty and responsibility so the task was a little daunting. Actually if we're being open it was kind of scary. Someone was going to come into this world relying on me to teach them how things worked, give suggestions on what type of boy/man/person to be and demonstrate how other people should be treated. These things are the least that a parent should do for their kids, IMO. With that said I figured I would trust that God never gives you more than you can bear so I dove in. 

5 years later I realize that I know only a little more now than I did then. I have a hunch that my kids are smarter than me, but I'll keep up the charade as long as possible. I also realize that my wife is a natural at the child rearing thing. I'm a benchwarmer, a useful diversion for the children at times, jungle gym, disciplinarian and story-teller at other times. I wouldn't trade it though. Kids will humble you in ways that make you question yourself if you let them. And I'm sure that I'm better for it.


My 5 year old, KC, has been asking for a super hero party since last July. His mom being the resourceful woman that she is found some resources for mask and cape making (which we spent many hours tracing and cutting) and then proceeded to make a gluten-free chocolate cake from scratch with fresh strawberry icing and hand decorated it. Don't hate on the gluten free cake in all it's Spider-Man glory (pictured below). I found myself gnawing on my fingers to get every bit of frosting off. All in all it was the party of the century, all of the little super-tikes had a blast and he'll remember it forever.

Gluten Free Goodness

Our Brave Young Hero

His faithful sidekick.

I'm so grateful that I've been given the opportunity to guide such a loving, mature, thoughtful, artistic and dependable little boy through life. If you ever get the chance to meet him consider yourself blessed.

R & J

I snuck in a session on one of the random warm Colorado days a couple of weeks ago. These youngsters are good friends of my youngsters and I figured hey, when my boys get older they'll probably want to see some pics of their friends from back when. Any excuse to shoot.  As an added bonus my wife and I are good friends with their parents so now we can put a memory or two in their scrapbook.
Here's a few from the session.