Simply Amazing

I am sitting in Orlando attending the SPI convention, this morning while designing the ACI tropheys for the KPPA convention I came across this photo I took years ago of Tucker playing with a deer I rescued after her mother had killed by a car. He used to play with her so tenderly and it was an amzing thing to watch between to animals that typically would not get along. I just thought I would share it with you all, I know it may not be that interesting but it just struck me when I found it so I thought I would share it.

Roller Coaster Ride

So I have not posted here in a while but I have been very busy with Imaging USA in New Orleans. I took over as the President of The American Society of Photographers, I will say this is truley and honor and I am very humble to serve these pillers of this amazing industry. Never could I have imagined being the leader of such a Prominant assn. This year in taking over as the President having 4 of my very dear friends recieving the ASP Fellowships, this is the highest achievment you can earn in our profession. CONGRATS TO: Dave Huntsman, Jim Chagares, Dennis Hammon and William Branson.  I left New Orleans only to go home and put my best friend ever Tucker the wonder dog to sleep. This was without a doubt the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. I am now in Orlando for the SPI convention and the weather is amazing accually got a sunburn yesterday. This morning as i was unpacking my clothes i found a stray dog hair on one of my shirts,, all i will say is " NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF A STRAY DOG HAIR "  Now with all the sappy stuff done i will try and do much better at keeping this blog up to date. I will be leaving here on friday and will be off to Portland Maine for the MPPA convention.

Simply Amazing !!

Every one and a while someone will come into your life that will become a TRUE friend, we all have many we call friends but are they really TRUE? I probabley can count my TRUE friends on one hand. About 15 years ago I met a man, his name is Woody Walters, I have been so lucky to be able to call this man, his wife Ninya and there wonderful children my TRUE friends. Last month while I was at ACI in Iowa Woody and I spent some time together as we always do. I asked Woody if he would do a portrait of me in his vision of me and I didnt want to see it until it was done. Well here about an hour ago I recieved this portrait in my e mail. I will say typically I hate my photo being taken, however I love this image he did of me, I think it really depicts me and my passion for my craft I so love. Woody did this portrait with his new brushes he just created and they are truley amazing. You can get these fine brushes and many other fantastic photoshop tools and tips by going to his website, Woody is the man that put Illustrations/composits on the map. No matter what you hear from anyone he is the man who started it all and I have learned a majority of my techniques from him and then moved in my direction to do the things I do. I hope you all enjoy this portrait as much as I do and please do let Woody know via facebook or e mail. His e mail is Woody@woodywalters.com and his web site is www.woodywalters.com

On the road

Sorry I wasn't able to get my post down yesterday, I was in airports and driving most of the day. Today I will be working on competition prints with one of the photographers I am currently mentoring. several of you have sent me images to review and I have looked at most of them. I will be responding to you personally once I have reviewed them in depth. I am planning on going step by step on this blog with the creation of a few competition images if that will interest you let me know with a message on here and perhaps you will see what comes out of this small pea size matter in my noggin.

What Really Matters

Today was kind of a crazy day, it was full of good and bad emotion but I do realize there are people who have it much worse today than I do. Today some friends of mine, there father had an elective surgery, what was suppose to be simple lead to him passing away very suddenly aftter the proceedure. This couple has lost a mother and a brother and now her father today, all in the past few months. Thats a lot for a heart to bare. So if you think and dwell on how bad you have it, just realize you don't really have it that bad after all.

The Simple Things

Sometimes we tend to make things more difficult than they need be. This image was taken rite behind my house. The simplicity of it is what really makes it so nice. The weather looks cold but yet you seem to get a calm feeling from it because of what it depicts, fishing is a very relaxing thing to do so your mind goes directly to that fact. The composition of this image was just what it was with no manipulation at all. The only thing done to it was the Black and white conversion. I guess the point I want to make here is that no matter what the weather or what your day was like just take a walk and enjoy the silence. You never know what you may see. These fisherman never even knew they were photographed. Let alone that they were selected for the International Loan Collection the ASP Traveling Loan Collection and then displayed in Korea. Guess it pays to be in the rite place at the rite time...BUT! You still have to see it.

First post on this Blog, I can assure yout it will get more interesting as it goes.

I was asked several times about a blog last year, never had I even thought or considered it. Some friends of mine seem to think I have things in my head that others may be interested in, well I am not sure about that however I do have things in my head, they may give you nightmares as you follow me, they may give you an awesome cooking recipe and you may even learn what makes me tick in the photographic world as well as in my photographic mind. There will be the occasional rants on politics, religion and whatever else may set me off from one day to the next. So with that said, sit back, hang on and enjoy the next year. The image I posted today is Titled : " The Stand "  I posted it today because it's a beautiful sunny and snowy day here in Michigan today.