Nancy is the pumpkin carver, cookie maker and house decorator in our house. I’ve never been fond of these activities, but I do enjoy photographing them.

Have a happy & safe Halloween.

Namaste

I have been having way too much fun lately and I feel a need to share this with you, my readers. I have returned to my roots; living a life as uncomplicated as I can possibly make it. I still write all of my blog posts with a well inked fountain pen criss-crossing the pages of my journal. It is only after I have gotten my thoughts onto paper are they then ready to be transcribed into my online blog.

You may ask yourself how this blog, when it does not directly relate to photography, is relevant to photography. Well my faithful reader, the blog is about me, my beliefs as well as my photography. The things which you read in my blog influence my photography. I believe when you hire a photographer it is important to hire as much for their personality as well as the quality of their work. I have looked at my photography business and found there was a need to streamline things if you will. I toiled over things such as price lists for the past few years and decided this was an area which required simplifying.

According to Thoreau, “Life for most has been tainted with unnecessary items and methods of transportation and communication” i.e., excessive furniture, post offices, and railroads. Thoreau believes “when we are unhurried and wise, we perceive that only great and worthy things have any permanent and absolute existence, that petty fears and petty pleasures are but the shadow of the reality” In order to truly experience living one must not go through life hastily; therefore, the existence of all things is to be absorbed, assimilated into daily life. Hurrying through life and refusing to be cognizant of surroundings and situations results in an empty and unfulfilled life, fore one has to drift away from the “extravagant” life and delve into the activities he/she sincerely wishes to participate. To access this approach, to live with purpose, one has “to drive life into a corner, and reduce it to its lowest terms; returning to the original way of life revitalizes an appreciation for existing, consequently revealing one’s genuine needs and desires.Afoot and light-hearted I take to the open road. -Walt Whitman

He who marvels at the beauty of the world in summer will find equal cause for wonder and admiration in winter. It is true the pomp and the pageantry are swept away, but the essential elements remain,—the day and the night, the mountain and the valley, the elemental play and succession and the perpetual presence of the infinite sky. In winter the stars seem to have rekindled their fires, the moon achieves a fuller triumph, and the heavens wear a look of a more exalted simplicity. Summer is more wooing and seductive, more versatile and human, appeals to the affections and the sentiments, and fosters inquiry and the art impulse. Winter is of a more heroic cast, and addresses the intellect. The severe studies and disciplines come easier in winter. One imposes larger tasks upon himself, and is less tolerant of his own weaknesses.

The tendinous part of the mind, so to speak, is more developed in winter; the fleshy, in summer. I should say winter had given the bone and sinew to Literature, summer the tissues and blood.

The simplicity of winter has a deep moral. The return of nature, after such a career of splendor and prodigality, to habits so simple and austere, is not lost upon either the head or the heart. It is the philosopher coming back from the banquet and the wine to a cup of water and a crust of bread.

And then this beautiful masquerade of the elements,—the novel disguises our nearest friends put on! Here is another rain and another dew, water that will not flow, nor spill, nor receive the taint of an unclean vessel. And if we see truly, the same old beneficence and willingness to serve lurk beneath all.

Look up at the miracle of the falling snow,—the air a dizzy maze of whirling, eddying flakes, noiselessly transforming the world, the exquisite crystals dropping in ditch and gutter, and disguising in the same suit of spotless livery all objects upon which they fall. How novel and fine the first drifts! The old, dilapidated fence is suddenly set off with the most fantastic ruffles, scalloped and fluted after an unheard-of fashion! Looking down a long line of decrepit stone wall, in the trimming of which the wind had fairly run riot, I saw, as for the first time, what a severe yet master artist old Winter is. Ah, a severe artist! How stern the woods look, dark and cold and as rigid against the horizon as iron!

All life and action upon the snow have an added emphasis and significance. Every expression is underscored. Summer has few finer pictures than this winter one of the farmer foddering his cattle from a stack upon the clean snow,—the movement, the sharply defined figures, the great green flakes of hay, the long file of patient cows, the advance just arriving and pressing eagerly for the choicest morsels,—and the bounty and providence it suggests. Or the chopper in the woods,—the prostrate tree, the white new chips scattered about, his easy triumph over the cold, his coat hanging to a limb, and the clear, sharp ring of his axe. The woods are rigid and tense, keyed up by the frost, and resound like a stringed instrument. Or the road-breakers, sallying forth with oxen and sleds in the still, white world, the day after the storm, to restore the lost track and demolish the beleaguering drifts.

All sounds are sharper in winter; the air transmits better. At night I hear more distinctly the steady roar of the North Mountain. In summer it is a sort of complacent purr, as the breezes stroke down its sides; but in winter always the same low, sullen growl. -John Burroughs, from his essay, “The Snow-Walkers”

I have returned to the beautiful solitude which is the outdoors and have also begun to re-explore some of my favorite authors; Burroughs, Thoreau and Emerson, for was these men who understood the importance of living a simple life, a life unencumbered by too much “stuff.”

Thanks for reading,

Namaste.

Chris

I watched an article on the CBS Sunday Morning news program about the lost art of stationary and saying “Thank you.” this segment struck a chord with me as saying “Thank you” has been one of the best values which I learned from my parents. It especially struck me as I walked to a local store to purchase my Sunday paper and I was greeted by the 18 year-old girl behind the counter who was clipping her nails and appeared as though I was bothering her. As I prepared to walk away from the counter I said “Thank you” and was met with resounding silence.

The couples who hire me to photograph their weddings also receive a “thank you.” I have read many blogs and websites written by other photographers who decry this practice. I disagree with them and realize my clients have options and I am truly grateful they have chosen me to represent their wedding photography. The simplest thing I can do is say “Thank you.”

I keep a box of nice stationary as well as freshly inked fountain pens within easy reach. Saying “thank you” for me is not an option, it is a must. I’ve previously mentioned many of my blog posts are written over the course of several days in my journal. Thank you notes are often written in the same format. I write  about my gratitude to a person first in my journal. Saying “thank you” is also a way for me to acknowledge a gift of either material or emotional proportions received from a friend. It is a way for me to express my gratitude to that person for their gift and I believe is much more personal than “firing off a quick email.” In an earlier post I discussed my use of a journal and a fountain pen to write my thoughts and observations. I had also discussed scanning a written document to be used as my “written” word for a blog post so I’ve included a handwritten thank you note which I’ve recently forwarded to a friend and scanned to be used in this post.

Here’s a photo of one of my favorite fountain pens made by the Conklin Pen Company. It is also a reproduction of the pen used by Mark Twain. Referring to this pen, Twain said, “I prefer it to ten other fountain pens, because it carries its filler in its own stomach, and I can not mislay even by art or intention. Also, I prefer it because it is a profanity saver; it can not roll off the desk.” The pen is not capable of rolling off of the desk because you fill the pen from a bottle by depressing the crescent which adorns the barrel of the pen.

“Thank you” for reading.

Namaste.

Chris

As you must know by now I have a tremendous love for the outdoors, its beauty and especially the solitude which I can find within the reach of its outstretched arms. I get out into the woods as often as I can. Sunday I was blessed with the most beautiful sunshine this area had experienced in the past several weeks. i love sunshine and there is something extra special about sunshine in the dead of winter. Is it the warmth it brings, the long shadows which are thrown or the way sunlight dances across the unbroken surface after a new snowfall? Regardless, The day reminded me of my recent trip to the Adirondacks.

From John Burroughs “Snow Walkers.” “He who marvels at the beauty of the world in summer will find equal cause for wonder and admiration in winter. It is true the pomp and the pageantry are swept away, but the essential elements remain,—the day and the night, the mountain and the valley, the elemental play and succession and the perpetual presence of the infinite sky. In winter the stars seem to have rekindled their fires, the moon achieves a fuller triumph, and the heavens wear a look of a more exalted simplicity. Summer is more wooing and seductive, more versatile and human, appeals to the affections and the sentiments, and fosters inquiry and the art impulse. Winter is of a more heroic cast, and addresses the intellect. The severe studies and disciplines come easier in winter. One imposes larger tasks upon himself, and is less tolerant of his own weaknesses.”

The photo below is of meditation rock. During the summer months I’ll climb out onto this rock and spend 15-20 minutes meditating from this rock. This perch allows me an extra measure of solitude as I can sit above the activity going on below me.

Meditation Rock

Footprints

Snowshoeing

A beautifully sunny day.

Henry David Thoreau…one of my favorite authors. This journal goes with me wherever I go and I find myself jotting down my thoughts and observations. A goal which I have had for the past several months is to write more; to sit down and be more deliberate in the act of writing.

Writing is one act which has always brought me some form of relaxation. My blog is obviously published on the Internet and therefore must be written on my computer. All of my writing is done first in my journal with a fountain pen. It happens to be a replica of the fountain pen used by Mark Twain.

I always use a fountain pen even when I hike. I enjoy the way the nib of the pen dances across the surface of the paper and leaves behind it a trail of ink. the ink when formed into characters and linked together  gracefully allows my thoughts to be displayed for all to read. I have even toyed with scanning my written word into my blog posts but I’m not sure if you could read what I have written. The color of ink I use is also important to me be it red, black, blue green or purple. Each ink bottle contains the life blood of my thoughts and when used work together with my hand to form the words which allow my thoughts to be expressed.

I removed my backpack and from the pack I removed a cushion, my journal, thermos of coffee and my fountain pen. I sat and gazed across the ridge that is the Niagara Escarpment. I watched as two cross-country skiers silently skied below me, oblivious to my presence high above. I heard the sound of a hawk and looked up to see it circling looking, I am sure for its next meal. The sound of the hawk accentuated by the cold breeze which blew through the trees causing the branches to rub together like bony fingers on a long dead cadaver. The only other sound was that of my breath and the beating of my own heart. Solitude.

Henry David Thoreau

A solitary skier.

A photograph of one of the orchards left in this area.

Silhouette

Thanks for reading.
Namaste.
Chris

Today is the day I begin Sharon Salzberg‘s 28-day Meditation Challenge.

The 28-day meditation challenge is back! Starting February 1, Sharon Salzberg will be leading the way as she guides us through the four-week program of her new book Real Happiness: The Power of Meditation. In addition to facilitating a book club discussion on tricycle.com during the month of February, Salzberg will be hosting the challenge on her own website sharonsalzberg.com/realhappiness, where she will be answering questions and offering advice to those participating. What exactly will the program entail? From Real Happiness:

“For the next four weeks, we’ll be exploring the principles of insight meditation, the simple and direct practice of moment-to-moment awareness. We first train our attention by focusing on a single chosen object (most often our breath) and repeatedly letting go of distractions in order to return our attention to that object. Later we broaden the focus to whatever thoughts, feelings, or sensations arise in the moment.”

Join me in my continued quest for true happiness and peace.

Thanks for reading.

Namaste.

Chris

Sometimes I’ll write about my goals; those I have set, those I have achieved and those I have not. Some pages contain an impromptu to-do list, a name, an address or a telephone number.  Each entry tells a story. When I write my mind becomes free of the restraints of the day. From time-to-time I’ll randomly grab a volume from the shelf and flip through the pages. Memories flood back to me and a smile crosses my face. Each entry tells a story.

I don’t write everyday.

I once had a goal of writing every day. I allowed that goal to slip through my fingers on the wings of excuses such as “I don’t have the time to write every day.”

The introspective comments I write, like my blog posts allow me to see my inner strength. This strength has reminded me, in times of weakness of my passion for life, my clients and my photography.

2010 turned out much as I had hoped and planned. I worked hard to achieve the goals I had set for myself and look forward to 2011 being an even better year.

I have taken an introspective approach to life for about as long as I can recall. When I was younger I struggled to identify who I was and what I wanted to accomplish. Photography had been a love of mine since I was a small boy. Like a lot of people growing up I was discouraged from following my dreams because “I could never earn a living.” My writing has allowed me to see who I am and to refine that definition over the years.

Thanks everyone for reading.

Namaste.

Chris

This past week I was thinking of those people in my life for who I am thankful. Like my last post said, this had nothing to do with Thanksgiving. I take time everyday to be mindful of the people in my life who have helped me achieve the success I have achieved. I am also mindful of the fact I could not have accomplished these goals by myself. You know who you are. A warm and heartfelt “Thank you” goes out to all of you.

I am so grateful for you, my readers and clients. I am also so very thankful that you take the time out of your very busy day to read my blog. We are all inundated with so much information or as Seth Godin calls it “noise” that we often become numb to the amount of information with which we are bombarded every single day. I read a statistic the other day which said the amount of information gathered in one Sunday NY Times is equivalent to all of the information an individual living in their village in the 1600′s would get in their lifetime. That’s head spinning!

Everyday I have several people who sign up for RSS feeds from my blog. For that I am very thankful. It is helpful in so many ways to know people read my blog everyday. I would love the opportunity to include all of you as more active participants in my blog.

For several years I have written a paper Gratitude Journal. I love technology but more than that I love the smell of a leather bound journal. I love the smell of the paper and the way my fountain pen glides across the page as I search for the words in my soul to express the gratitude I feel everyday. Unfortunately until someone figures out a way for me to use my fountain pen on my computer screen the words I write remain mine. I want to be able to share these thoughts with you.

For the past several months I have written a post called “Monday Musings.” These posts are a way for me to share a brief look into my personal life and also a way to share some of my photography that is not related to my professional work. I love making photographs and weddings, portraits and seniors are just a small sampling of my interests. I do not plan on stopping these posts but will work to make them a little bit more personal and allow you to have an even bigger glimpse into my life. I am also hoping you will help me with those posts. I am hoping to encourage all of my readers to write more comments for the posts they read. I would then love to be able to incorporate your thoughts into future posts as well as themes for future photo shoots.

I have recently thought about taking my journal online so I can share those thoughts with all of you. I am also borrowing an idea from another wonderfully talented photographer from whom I have learned much over the past few years, Anne Ruthmann. Thank you so much Anne for this wonderful idea.

Won’t you please join me? Leave a comment in the comment section regarding the post you have read or leave a comment and let me know about the people in your life for whom you are thankful.

Namaste and thanks so much for reading and following my blog.

Chris

I woke easily but earlier than I had intended this morning. I looked at the clock which informed me it was 5AM. I passively tried to return to sleep. The flannel sheets were warm. My dog Jack moved over and lay next to me. I stroked his head. He returned to sleep. I did not. I turned on my iPhone and checked the weather. The day promised to be what I would refer to as “nice.” Sunny and warm for this time of year in Buffalo. I turned on the lamp on the nightstand, reached for my journal and my favorite fountain pen. I wrote for what seemed like an eternity. One thought leading to another. As I poured my thoughts onto the paper, my pen and my mind, like a car with an empty gas tank began to slow. Eventually both stopped and I was done. Complete.

No one else in the house had begun to stir. Solitude.

I rose from the comfort of my bed and tested my leg which yesterday had informed me I should take a couple days off from running. It felt better and didn’t speak to me the way it did yesterday at the same time. I listened to its voice which is something I don’t normally do, like listening to my mother when I was a small boy. I dressed and decided to walk to the local supermarket to retrieve a cup of coffee and the Sunday paper. The Times was already in the mailbox.

As I exited the house my uncovered face was met by the cold, brisk temperatures the morning offered. The cold felt invigorating and enlivening. The supermarket was absent of many hours. I patiently waited for the clerk to put all of the sections of the paper together. The smell of my black coffee reminding me of the solitude to come once I returned home to enjoy its contents. I grabbed a fresh paper from the stack and made my way to the cash register. I deposited my money and made my brief, quiet walk home. As I walked I turned and faced East to see streaks of faded orange and yellow coming up on the horizon. A smile crossed my face as my thoughts rapidly turned to my camera. I decided to take a ride to the Erie Canal where I could spend more time alone with my thoughts, the water and my camera. Solitude.

I arrived at the Canal after dodging nothing but my thoughts and a few red lights. The water was serene, disturbed only by the slight breeze which caressed its surface. I walked to an area which had been a beehive of activity one week before. I approached the edge and sat on the cold stone wall which held my weight safely above the water’s surface. I sat between the tire tracks. The same tracks which had carried the passenger of the vehicle into the cold, dark depths of the canal and to his death. I did not know him. His name was shared with the world after his story had been made public in the local paper. I thought about him. I thought about his life and his death. I thought about  who and what he had left behind. I looked up and saw a gaggle of geese slowly and quietly making their way in their common “v” formation to an undisclosed location. I looked back at the water and at my watch. 20-minutes had passed. I thought of my life. I thought of those important people in my life: my wife and children. My parents, siblings and friends. I thought of Ed who I had spoken to yesterday who will be making a trip to Roswell Park Cancer Institute tomorrow. Solitude.

I rose and completed a walk around Gateway Park. Reading graffiti and looking at the flowers whose bloom has faded and who will be forced to sleep for the next several months. Their energy being replenished ready to bloom during the coming Spring to shower us again in their beauty. Solitude.

I love the morning. The following photographs are what resulted from my walk this morning by the Erie Canal and Gateway Park in Tonawanda/North Tonawanda.

The Golden Hour

The Golden Hour

My beautiful wife

Thanks to my friends for reading and allowing my thoughts into your heart. Have a tremendous day.

Namaste.

Christopher

You have been my rock and helped me find balance in my life when it was lacking. Thank you so much for everything you do. I love you so much and look forward to many more years together.

I think back to our first date at Pizza Hut and the Sunday morning over that wonderful breakfast we shared by the river when I proposed. Your answer of “Yes” made me the happiest person on Earth. That sounds cliche I know but I’m not sure if I could or would want to live without you.

We raised two wonderful children and have had our ups and downs, our trials and tribulations and together we have successfully navigated these waters.

I know as we continue to grow older we will continue to use the love we have for each other to overcome any future hurdles may come upon us. I look forward to those days as much as I look forward to the happy, trouble-free days…as long as you are by my side.

Thank you Nancy for the wonderful times we have shared. I love you very much and look forward to many more years together.

With all my love.

Chris

Mom, Kujo, Kaitlyn and Kaitlyn’s mom.

Casey Shreve, Kyle Shreve and Kujo.

I know it’s not even Memorial Day yet but football is still right around the corner.

Kujo working out for the first “unofficial” practice with the Upstate Team. We traveled to Syracuse where we met the coaches, players and parents of the Upstate team.

The photo below is typical of Kujo. He is always smiling, always laughing and rarely do you see him angry. So if you’re wondering where the nickname “Kujo” came from, here’s the answer. When Kujo played Pop Warner football he demonstrated a tenacious, never say quit attitude much like the rabid dog in the Stephen King novel of the same name. The “C” was replaced with a “K” as our last name begins with “K.” So there you have it, the story of how Kujo earned his nickname.

The secret to success. The underwear not withstanding it truly is hard work, sweat and sacrifice upon which we build and define success.

Thanks for reading. I truly appreciate everyone who has subscribed to my blog through a reader service. Later this week we’ll be featuring a full post from Audrey and Michael’s wedding.

Chris

We met with our accountant who is awesome. Refund? yes. Large refund? No. Anything is better than having to pay the State and Federal governments more money than I already pay them.

Earlier in the week I had an interesting conversation or should I say lively debate with some professional peers regarding the importance of the provision of the highest level of customer service. No exceptions. I’m not saying one needs to give away the farm but it’s important to listen to your clients and understand their needs. It amazes me what we allow to pass for “good customer service.” Once you have listened and believe you have a good understanding of your client’s needs, ask more questions to clarify and make sure both parties are on the same page. Too often we take such things for granted in the hopes of gaining a new client. When we don’t allow excellent customer service to shine through that leaves an unhappy customer to share his or her unhappiness with the world. As fast as communication travels with Twitter and Facebook we can develop a wounded reputation in a matter of seconds.

On another note, Winter seems to be on it’s way out. Mother Nature played a dirty trick on us and gave us all that false hope when she gave us warm temperatures for a few days and then threatened us with a storm eventually dropping a couple inches of heavy, wet snow on us. Damn you! Temperatures are beginning to slowly inch their way up to what most people would describe as civilized and livable. Ice has gone from the center of the Erie Canal and it continues it’s daily slow retreat toward shore. Another week and I can get my kayak into the water. Soon the ice boom will be removed and Lake Erie will allow the hundreds of square miles of ice to retreat the confines of the lake and make its long journey down the upper Niagara River before falling to its death over Niagara Falls. The sun has made an appearance or two leaving me wondering out loud if there really is hope for a sun filled Spring without snow and providing beautiful weather for the many brides and grooms who will be entering into matrimonial bliss.

I spent Saturday with my dad. We drove to Rochester and stopped at Hahn Photographic where I picked up a few things. I like Rochester. The city always appears to have more going on than does Buffalo. I love Hahn Photographic. Beautiful store, lots of stock and not at all cramped with great store personnel. Before we drove home we stopped at the Summerville Grill in the Town of Summerville, NY. We enjoyed a couple of Rubens and a couple of Guinness’. The weather Saturday was awesome as well. Nothing but sunshine. Not a cloud in the sky.

This past week gave us some bad news. Nancy’s dad took a turn for the worse. He’s been in a nursing home for the past year after his dementia grew worse and diabetes forced the partial amputation of his right leg. He developed a fever and his temperature spiked at 104. He responded to the treatments and for now he seems to have stabilized. Meanwhile we have increased the time spent with him. As I sat with Nancy and her mom I thought of my grandmother who had passed away just two years ago in the same nursing home. I remind myself daily of the importance of enjoying and living life to its fullest. Paul worked hard his entire life and enjoyed several years of retirement before Alzheimer’s and physical disabilities began to take their toll.

Thanks everyone for stopping by and for reading. Enjoy your week.

Namaste.

Christopher

The Olympics have come to an end. I love watching the games and love even more hearing the stories of the athletes and their family’s. I think it’s important to understand what the non-professional athletes (are there any participating any more) and what they have given up or put on hokd to achieve their dream of being an “Olympian.” As a result of the athlete stories I’m not a huge fan of the team sports such as hockey. I’ve always been a fan of the individual sports where success and failure comes down to that one individual, their training and their effort that day. Cross country skiing has always been my favorite events and a sport I’ve enjoyed since I was small. I think about the 50K Classic Cross Country event. 30-miles on skis with a stop long enough to change skis. the athletecism is remarkable that after 50K the time difference between first and second place needs to be decided by a photo finish.

All week long we braced for the snowstorm we were supposed to get by Thursday. Thankfully we escaped the storm and  instead of the 6″-12″ predicted, we got away with 2″-4″. I awoke Sunday to find a fresh coating of snow which had fallen throughout the night. Snow so weighted down with moisture the snow-blower wouldn’t handle the it. I procrastinated throughout the day and finally decided, after dinner to go to my parent’s house with Kujo to shovel their driveway. I like snow and I like Winter, but I’m ready for Spring. Enough already.

Saturday Stephen and I took a ride to Alfred University located in of all places…in Alfred, NY. Kujo was accepted at this and several other schools. Academically his hard work has paid off and he’s been offered a nice scholarship that will help to offset his tuition. Unfortunately at  Division 3 schools there is no hope of any athletic scholarship but the awesome words by the coach all but assured him of a starting inside linebacker position providing he continues to work as hard as he has throughout his football career. This should be no problem for Kujo as his love for football and his intelligence should afford him the opportunity to play and to start. Kujo and I really enjoyed the campus and the meeting with the coaches. It was great to hear the discussion he had with the head coach who praised his play, his leadership and his hard work. I smiled big inside and know Nancy and I have done our job well with him. We were sad mom had to work as it would have been nice to have had her along for the visit. I love spending time with Kujo. It has been difficult to believe how fast the years have flown by. He’s 17 now and in several months he’ll be leaving for college. I look back at the years and wonder where they have gone. I have few regrets but hindsight is 20/20.

Sunday I met with a bride who flew in from Houston, TX. She brought her mother and we had a fantastic conversation regarding her 2011 wedding photography needs. I hope to hear back from them within the month and book another wedding for 2011.

Nancy’s Dad isn’t doing well. His left leg has developed an infection and the conversation has turned to what to do. No doubt he will have to return to the hospital and more than likely face another amputation. Paul worked hard his entire life and this is just no way for someone to spend what should be one of the happiest times of your life.  Alzheimer’s, diabetes, gangrene and amputation.

The photo below is of the The Robert R. McComsey Career Development Center at the Allen Steinheim Museum. The minute I saw this building on the tour I knew I needed to take a photo of it.

As always, thanks so much for reading. Keep coming back.

Christopher

This past week had many highlights. When I look back at these highlights I smile. I smile because I made them happen. Monday, like any other day can be a sad day. I choose, not without some occasional difficulty, to make every day the best day t can be. I work hard everyday to achieve the highest level of success I can achieve. I remind myself “I made these successes happen. I developed and grew the relationships which allowed me to experience the success I’ve achieved.” I learn something about myself every week and continue to practice daily mindfulness meditation which helps me to successfully maintain a centered approach to life. Every once in a while my life veers either to the left or right, but my meditation practice helps me get it back on track.

The biggest highlight I experienced was a meeting with a great couple and and awesome wedding planner. Forget Me Knot Details wedding planner in Buffalo, NY featured one of my recent engagement sessions on their blog. This was hugely important for me and one of the most exciting things to happen in several weeks. Thanks for the shout out Liane. Lunch with friends and dinner with my wife rounded out a great week and as always the weekend raced by much too quickly.

I completed a brief photo shoot for the Ramada Inn located in Amherst, NY. The photo listed below is one of the photos from that shoot. What a great venue and an awesome representative. Thanks Alison for the shout outs and for your continued support. My wife accompanied me on this shoot and as always was helpful in more ways than she will ever know. Thanks for the company Nanc.

I look forward to this week and another exciting week.

As always, thank you for reading and keep coming back.

Diana, Joyce and Yaritza. Three great people to hang out with in the back of a pickup truck throwing out beads, toothbrushes, dental floss and condoms in below freezing temperatures. Woo Hoo!

Melinda, a nurse practitioner at the clinic drove her truck and laughed at us as she had the heater blasting inside the cab of the truck.

Joyce has her beads ready to throw.

I spent Friday afternoon meeting with a representative of the Ramada Inn in Amherst. Alison is one of those representatives who really gets it. I enjoyed our conversation very much. Alison requested I put together a 20×30 collage print of Megan and Rob’s January 9, 2010 wedding as there were many photos which showcased much of this fine venue. Alison fell in love with the print and was excited to show my photography to couple’s looking for a wedding photographer. Alison really enjoyed my work as well as the conversations we have had and the conversation turned to her daughter who will be a senior next year. The meeting with Alison was the highlight of my week as the rest of the weekend was difficult to navigate and one I would love to forget.

The rest of this post was difficult for me to write. In writing it I’m taking a nod from a photographer who I respect very much; Jasmine Star. Jasmine who posted an entry to her blog on 1/10/2010 which really touched me. In the post she discussed her battle with depression. While I’m not battling depression I have a family member who is battling Bipolar Disorder. This battle, while difficult for the individual is in some ways equally if not more difficult for the remainder of the family. We see what the person’s illness does not allow them to see. Talk about frustrating. At times it’s like banging my head against the wall just to see if it still hurts. many times I have walked away from these encounters wondering if, in some strange way it really is my fault. That belief coupled with the intense roller coaster of emotions leaves you not only breathless but physically and emotionally exhausted. That feeling of exhaustion coupled with the lack of visible sunlight left me exhausted. On one hand it forced me to not do much of anything this weekend but on the other hand it forced me to not do much of anything this weekend. I had no energy and no desire. Things in que waiting to get accomplished were forgotten about until I shut off the computer. Then like a V-8 moment I remembered the importance and went back to get it done. What makes this illness additionally difficult for me is I remain working as a social worker. as a social worker. I work with patients all week long who attempt to manage this same illness. This is not to say that the task of managing those symptoms is an easy one. I know it is not. Just when I would love to “turn off my brain”, I am forced to keep it on. Overload is difficult to avoid. As I’ve said in previous posts, a few of the things which help me maintain a positive balance are photography, listening to music and reading. Unfortunately when there is little energy left, all three of those things become difficult.

Like Jasmine, I smile all the time on the outside. 95% of the time those smiles are real and the other 5% of the time they’re hard work. I tell myself smiling is better than not smiling. While this is true it still hurts to see a loved one suffer like this. I am legitimately happy the majority of the time but feel sad. Sad this person continues to struggle when there does not need to be a struggle

Valentine’s Day was a wash as Nancy and I continue to struggle with our daughter’s behaviors. There, I’ve said it. It is my daughter who suffers from this illness. Valentine’s Day was a wash. Neither Nancy nor myself felt like celebrating, anything. As we sat down for the evening to watch TV, it was only a brief period of time before we had both dozed off.

I’m looking forward to Monday. I’m looking forward to escaping the uncomfortable feelings associated with this mental illness and working with my patients. More so I’m looking forward to spending some time with some cool couples and some cool events.

The photograph below has dual meaning for me. I love lighthouses and their significance as a historical treasure as well as the beacon of hope for which they stand. There are times when I feel alone and my lighthouse is my photography. For that I am thankful. There are lighthouses all around us. We need to look for them and some of them don’t come in the typical “light house” representation. We need to be open minded to the options and the opportunities around us. It is these things which will lead us out of the dark. My hope is one day my daughter will see the light from her own lighthouse.

As always, thanks so much for reading and keep coming back.

Christopher

Of those facts I am unsure; what I do know is I love my wife.

Happy Valentine’s Day Nanc. I love you very much and cherish the fact you are in my life.

I thought I would use this photo of Nancy as she is rather camera shy. I’ll have you know this photo is considered a “Nancy approved photo.”

Saturday I had lunch with a friend who I’ve not seen since 1998. Sean and I went separate ways when we both left the same employer several years ago. Sean’s trip took him to Houston, TX and my family and employment kept me here. We went for coffee and lunch and had a great time discussing the interesting paths our lives have taken over the last decade. Sean also developed a name for a self-help group consisting of people who talk too much. He named the group “Yuck, Yuck.” I guess this was in response the fact we occupied a table at a Tim Horton’s for a little over 4-hours. Is that a long time?

Last week also saw me book a couple of a additional weddings. One of those was another 2010 and one a 2011 wedding. The week also saw me get back together with Sara and her fiance EJ to complete the couple’s engagement session which had been rained out a couple of Sunday’s earlier. I’m still editing those photos and we’ll have a preview posted later this week with a full post the next week.

Oh, and how can I forget the Superbowl with one of my favorite bands, The Who playing the half-time show. There was no worry of a “wardrobe malfunction” during this halftime show. The guys looked old, but then again they should; they’re in their sixties. I don’t care what anyone said, they still rocked. Pete Townshend was sporting the “windmill” as he jammed through the band’s set. It would have been great to see Roger whipping the microphone around as he did back in the day, and Pete smashing his guitar on stage, I think that was something the “older” fans would have loved to see.

The New Orleans Saints won the 44th Superbowl. I’m OK with that decision as I had not strong desire to root for either of the teams. I’m happy for the Saints, their fans and especially for the city of New Orleans, a city that continues to struggle five-years post Katrina. Congratulations to the Saints. It ought to be one helluva Mardi Gras celebration this year. Unfortunately the commercials were all yawns. There were, in my humble opinion two winners. They were the Snickers commercial and the casual Friday commercial.

I spent the early afternoon with Sara and EJ. We completed “Part II” of the couple’s engagement session as we were rained out of the first. We were blessed yet again with nice weather. Temperatures warmed slightly and almost broke the thirty-degree mark. I was happy to see the sun show its face. I’ve said before seeing the sun does something special for me. It recharges my batteries and just generally puts a smile on my face. This smile is immediate. I mean as soon as I see the sun…I’m smiling. A preview post will be coming later in the week.

I’m sure there were some other things which took place during the week but as I’ve said before I really don’t have much recollection of the middle of the week other than to look at it and guess where it went. I discussed this during a post last week. Today begins the second week of February, the second week! Lent will be upon us. Easter, Spring, longer days and warmer temperatures will not be far behind.

Thanks again everyone for reading.

Christopher

The days are noticeably growing longer. This is good as we or should I say I need the daylight to ensure a better mood. As I drove to my office today I was greeted by blue sky and the sun. Sometimes I feel like a pagen worshiping the sun when I see it during the winter because the appearances which it makes are all too infrequent and all too brief. This past week was difficult with respect to the weather. There was little sunlight and additional snow graced the area. I found myself behind the snowblower on several occasions. Friday’s frigid weather saw temperatures with wind-chills dipping below zero. My windshield cracked on Friday as I drove to work through those sub-zero temperatures. 

There were highlights to my week and included Saturday night with my son for the North Tonawanda High School Senior Boys Night. We first stopped at the Pearl Street Grille for dinner and refreshments. I love the atmosphere of the Pearl Street Grille and look forward to shooting my first wedding reception there this October. After we finished our meal we moved on to the HSBC Arena for the Buffalo Bandits game. I had never been to a Bandits game and when I heard they had lost the first four games of the season, I wasn’t too excited to see this game. I have a habit of looking for the positives in everything I do. I didn’t say I always found those positives, I said I always look for them. I knew I was spending the evening with my son and I looked forward to that. He’s such a surprising young man who has adopted a set of values that would make most parents proud. He is intelligent, introspective, respectful and helpful. He has a level of understanding for others that completely blows me away and when we talk I feel as though I am speaking to someone much older. The fact the Bandits won 11-7 was the icing on the cake. I still cannot believe Stephen is a senior and the trips we have taken to look at colleges all seem surreal. I look forward to him moving on to the next phase of his life and know whatever he touches will be better for it.

The other highlight of my week was spending a few hours with Kristina and Jason completing their engagement shoot. The couple left the location of the shoot up to me and I was excited to try some new locations. The locations were new in that i had never shot there before but they brought back a lot of great memories from my childhood. I knew it was going to be cold and we didn’t want to spend the entire time outside. Instead we drove to several different locations and spent approximately 30-minutes at each. We came away with some pretty amazing photos of a pretty amazing couple. A preview of the couple’s shoot is coming later in the week. I will share this photo from the Hamlet of Olcott, NY. I love this area and especially these shops pictured below.

I finished the week editing photos from the engagement session and watching the Grammy’s. Here’s to another week gone by and another week upcomimg. The days will continue to grow longer in duration, the temperatures will grow warmer and the sun will begin to make more frequent appearances.

Keep coming back and thanks for reading.

Christopher