Misc. Family Photos

I wasn’t quite sure what to call this post because it really is just filled with “miscellaneous photos.” The photos don’t really have a heading under which you would find them, a theme yes, but a heading, not really. I recently purchased Lightroom presets from my friends over at CameraDojo.com and I wanted to give them a try before I used them as apart of my editing process with a wedding I’m shooting this weekend. I’ve got to be honest, I really like them a lot. They give my photography another dimension.

The first photo is one of Nancy and her mom. We had taken a walk, yes I even (most of the time) take a camera with me when I go for walks. You never know what you see that would cause you to say, “God, I wish I had my camera with me.” Now I never need to say that awful phrase. I noticed Nancy and her mom standing together and thought of the photo but didn’t suggest it because Nancy hates having her photo taken. I ended up taking the photo because Nancy said, ” Hey! Why don’t you take my picture with my mom.” “Of course” I said. See, that’s why I take my camera with me all the time.

The photo below is a recent one of Nancy and her Dad. He’s no longer on Depakote and as a result a little more alert. As Nancy attempted to feed him he let loose with a number of curses. He still eats the way he did prior to the medications being discontinued but at least he’s not sleeping all the time. It was eerie the way he looked at me and just stared. I wish I could see into his head and better understand the thought process going on. That blank stare allows me a healthy level of respect for the time we have on Earth because you never know when you’re number will be called. Last summer he was doing OK. He was a little forgetful from time to time but that’s pretty normal for an individual in his early eighties. Once he went into the hospital for surgery in September his memory went down hill fast. It’s almost as though he never came out of the anesthesia. Nancy no longer comes home from visits at the nursing home depressed and upset.

This is another photo of Paul. I really like this photo. i love the texture of his face as it’s punctuated by wrinkles and razor stubble. Knowing who he is and how hard he worked throughout his life makes this an expesially special photo.

My nephews. Ian and Evan in the next photo. These are my brother’s two boys. Shyer than shy. They cling to him like he’s leaving them behind but give them just a few minutes with their relatives and, well here’s the result. Notice the “safe” distance both boys kept. As I approached to get closer shots both boys hid behind their dad. They live in Pittsburgh and as a result of my brother’s schedule and my schedule we don’t have a chance to see them except for those annual family get togethers. They really are the greatest kids.

Evan who tends to be more shy than his older brother Ian but when he gets going…watch out.
Here he is, my baby brother. All 6′ 5″ of him. I really like the look of this photo after Iapplied the preset. I can’t describe what it looks like but it gives me a rather mellow feeling when I see the photo.

This morning I was siting on my front porch with my favorite dog Jack. I drank a cup of coffee and kept a vigil for the squirrels and made sure none of them left the ground and attempted to run across the yard. As I sat drinking my morning coffee i noticed I was playing with my wedding ring. I do this often. I pull the ring down toward the middle of my ring finger and spin it with my thumb. Nancy caught me doing this one time and asked my why I was “playing with my ring. It dawned on me then that when I do this I almost always think of her and our wonderful relationship. As a gazed across the front yard to a wonderful flower garden I noticed the new flowers Nancy had planted this year. For the life of me I couldn’t tell you what kind they are but they are beautiful, as beautiful as she is. Because my camera is always with me I decided I had to take a picture. The only problem is I don’t know how to take just one picture. So, one picture turned into over twenty pictures of these flowers. I hust had to include this photo.

So, you see I said earlier in this post there really is no theme to this post but on the other hand maybe there is. It’s family. i hope I’ve not bored you terribly but I love my family a great deal and the best way for me to express what I feel is visually, through my photography. So, I hope you’ve enjoyed this ride and enjoyed it enough you decide it’s worth a return trip. Until then…