Yesterday was gorgeous. The sun was out, it was bright and there was a slight breeze making the early spring leaves dance against the blue curtain of the sky.

As luck would have it I was to be at Rock Springs church here in Barnesville to shoot a wedding for one my oldest friends in Buggy Town, Becky Blount. What a beautiful bride she was.

It was both her and her betrothed’s second wedding but the elegance in which they joined the two families was truly inspirational. I wish them the best in life!

One of the things that they included in their vows was a promise to each other’s kids to not try and replace their “other parent” but rather to act as another supportive, encouraging, voice in their lives. I thought that was awesome as too many of my friends and even family have parents that play games with each other and put the kid in the middle. I have always thought this to be unfair but have grown to accept it as part of being human. Hearing their promise to each other and to each other’s children made me realize that while yes, life is a game (of sorts), we can choose to be a good sport or a cheat.

Some 15 years ago my momma dropped me off in the parking lot of the local photographer; Stephen Jay. There was nothing particularly memorable about the trip. I knew Momma had arranged everything and paid a lofty deposit for this seemingly momentous occasion in my life; senior pictures.

I walked in with a garment bag over one shoulder and ratty barrel bag over the other that had emblazoned on it in bright orange “Oakwood Elementary.” On my feet already were my dress shoes – a patent leather buckle number from the local Pick ‘n Pay.

For the next two hours or so I was ushered from one room to another in a labyrinth sort of procession that culminated with a trip out back for the “natural shot.” The irony? There was nothing natural about me in a light green, yellow and beige GAP plaid tucked into plaid trousers. Less natural was the pose I was put in against a fake tree. The experience left so much to be desired. Momma was happy though and when the proofs came back she lovingly looked over each one as if examining a Picasso sketch discovered on the back of a DaVinci manuscript.

Now that I am a professional photographer (at least that is what people call me) I find myself not only being called to take but actually doing so and charging money for these senior pictures. Most of them start the same.

A student comes in to find me taking random self-portraits and playing with lights to pass the time. We talk about what they want and when they can do it. We exchange emails and cell numbers and then spend the next several days learning about each other. See, what I have come to realize is that in ten years these students are going to look back at these pictures and say one of two things.

1) Was I really that person? WOW. What was I thinking?
2) I remember that day. It was so great. These picture? These are me. This is who I was – like it or lump it.

I shoot for the second. I don’t care if a student is into collecting bar coasters. If they want to have their picture made in front of a bar with coasters oozing out of their ears, then it is my job to try and accomplish that within the realm of good taste and professionalism. Their clothes? They can bring what they want. So long as it is appropriate, game on! And during the two hours of shooting or so what I discover is that every one of these seniors is a real person. They aren’t some superficial pose wherein their eyes are glazed over and they are leaning in with their head resting on their chin. They are cowboys, farm girls, treehuggers, Bible thumpers, jocks, gamers, cheerleaders…and the list goes on. It is my job to capture that as best I can. And I think I do. In fact, I think I do rather well.

Last week when I was lens to face with *Maddie, what I had found out about her is that she is searching – searching for herself, for her place in this world and her future. She is full of dreams and gets lost in her own fantasies about what life can be like outside of this one horse town. And so with her cowboy boots on and her head stretched up to the sun (pondering the answer to “so what do you want your pictures to look like in 5 years?”) I took this picture. It is her. It is unassuming. It is a glimpse into her life right now – who she is and who she wants to be.

Art Clokey, a pioneer in the popularization of stop motion clay animation and the creator of Gumby, died January 8 at 89 years old. His impact (though largely ignored by me) was clearly felt by others. For example, this empty coal car found its way to Buggy Town adorned with what else? Gumby and Pokey.

These past two weeks have been a whirlwind.

If you are a friend or a of mine then you are familiar with the hectic life I have had and how it has all focused around an amazing event that takes place tonight!

A collaboration between myself and four other local photographers, charity: water – Buggy Town Lenses is a photoraiser (photo + fundraiser) for the international non-profit . Our goal is to offer $5 professional photos in order to meet an overall $2500 goal. As of right now we have raised $815 online plus another $150 selling raffle tickets. Oh yeah! Duh! We are also holding a raffle wherein the winner gets a custom photography package valued at $3000. Not a bad ROI, if you ask me!

If you are interested in helping you can still -OR – become a -OR – join us from 6pm to 9pm tonight at 17 Zebulon Street for the actual event!

So please, help us with our goal and be a part of something bigger than you or I! Every drop counts…..

About three years ago I was fortunate enough to meet Becky – then owner of the Red Rooster Coffee Company here in Barnesville, GA. From the first time we spoke she was a kind, warm-hearted person who knew how to make a great cafe au lait!

Recently she sold the cafe and moved on to bigger, better things. We have kept in touch though and she even asked me to shoot family portraits for her. Of course I said yes. Below is one of those shots. What a personality this fam has. They were all laughs and smiles and it made the entire process so much fun.

Each day I get to work early in an effort to begin working early. But alas, most days begin with a much begrudged cup of lukewarm coffee, some NPR streaming on the iTunes and a breeze through the ‘ol RSS feed. I say a breeze. With somewhere just at 400 blogs being followed my feed seems to be more of a miniNET than anything else.

The one category I anticipate is the DIY crafty category that plays host to some of the coolest folks on the web. One of them is .

Before you visit her though you have to understand how I even found her. I am what I like to call flickr-curious. I like to stroll through Flickr groups and pools trolling for interesting looking photos or even photographers. One day about three months ago I found one that really made me smile. That’s right, The Dainty Squid (aka Kaylah).

In fact, it was this room that caught my eye!

Kaylah describes herself as “your average (currently) blue haired, cat lady who collects vintage owls, mushrooms and fawn. I love milkshakes, pizza, and Chuck Palahniuk. Oh yeah, and I sew, a lot.” Yes, sew she does. In fact, her use of bright, interesting fabrics on musn’t do without type of goodies is just what the doctor ordered in the ol’ DIY crafty category.

So do yourself a favor. Check her out. And while you’re there, buy something. I am sure there is a vintage owl waiting for her to purchase….and that requires moolah!

I am not of Irish or Scottish decent. And yes, I know the two are vastly different. However, as Americans I think we often clump them in together and I find both cultures to be strangely fascinating.

I have two dear friends who are 100% Irish though and we had several conversations about the role of blessings and “toasts” in that culture. I eventually bought a small book with Irish blessings. I am particularly fond of this one as Georgia summers are full of butterflies.

May the wings of the butterfly kiss the sun.
And find your shoulder to light on.
To bring you luck, happiness and riches.
Today, tomorrow and beyond.

Today I wish everyone who reads this luck, happiness and, of course, riches of great size. And although it is rainy in most of the Southeast and the weather is turning cooler all over, it is nice to see the beauty of a simple creature.

Story behind the photo:

I have often heard that if a human touches a butterfly the oil in our skin will do something to their wings rendering them useless. The butterfly would then sit and ultimately die.

I saw this butterfly back in the summer and I remember thinking, “what a tortured life.” The caterpillar is born. It spends copious amounts of time in a cacoon. It emerges a butterfly only to have someone try and pet it thereby killing it.

I just chose to shoot a picture.

This morning I posted an .

It was about folks’ favorite spots in Barnesville. Mine is simple.

Purchased by Gideon Barnes in 1826, the city of Barnesville has a rich legacy of agriculture, industry and quality of life.

It has been the home of numerous factories and businesses as well as the stomping grounds for some of the Southeast’s most successful people.

But it is the “hidden spots” that give buggy town it’s true charm. It’s the Railroad Village shacks, the downtown facades, the red clay masonry of Gordon college, the secrets of Carter’s Drugs, the architectural beauty of Thomaston Street, the mysticism of the Head family cemetery and the mural(s) of our history, that define us as a people. It is these very same landmarks though that often go unnoticed. We get too busy to stop and think about what a legacy our town offers.

Each one of us has a ‘spot’ or a place we think is just the most breathtaking in all of town.

For me it is the grass behind Aldora United Methodist Church. I love seeing the dawn break over the Continental Tire warehouse – men and women shuffling into their shift at the plant, wild turkeys playing in the grass and the breeze offered by the loan tree in the lot.

As the holiday season approaches Pan and I have been brainstorming and creating the various gifts we will be giving this Christmas.

We don’t want to give gifts that can be purchased at the local mall for several reason. First of all, we are over the whole consumer mindset and the pressure we put on our kids when we submit to such. We are also a little cash-strapped this year and want to make the most of each dollar. Since we have already committed to traveling to North Carolina (where her family lives) we have extended our budget more than is comfortable.

The third reason though is, by far, the most important. We want to give gifts that are from the hands and the heart. We want our friends and family to know that we thought about each gift and invested time and love into making it. Gift giving for us is just as much fun and as rewarding as receiving.

So, last night I started sewing the first of many projects. I realized that some of them are quite easy and involved little time while others are a bit more involved. Being as unmotivated as I am at times I chose to knock out the smaller projects before tackling what I now call “the toughies.”

As Pan painted away on a project of her own I cut, stitched and knotted pillows. It was a rewarding project and offered me a nice “down time” from the stress of the day’s office work. I am pleased with the result and am anxious to start another project.

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I have been a fan for almost 15 years now. His music has been a soundtrack to so many experiences in my life.

This weekend Pan and I went to Meansville, Georgia for their ‘A Day in Meansville’ festival and as we were walking about we came across a small car show. Sitting there, glistening in the early Saturday sun, was a blue 4-door. Immediately, I began to hear the lyrics in my head:

I’m a tailfin road locomotive from the days of cheap gasoline,
And I’m for sale by the side of the road going nowhere,
A rusty old American dream.