Music in Oldtown

Last weekend I headed home to the small town I grew up in, Willamina. This is the same little town I told myself I’d never come back to once I escaped  graduated. Yet, I find myself being drawn back. A few months ago I drove into town and began to weep. This overwhelming feeling of “I’m HOME” came over me. I don’t know why that happened. I don’t even have any family left there and the house I grew up in has been torn down. I suddenly knew that I wouldn’t wander far from this small town.

Recently I had the privilege of going to the Wildwood bar to listen to some great music. My friends, Meredith and Katie, own the place. I hadn’t heard of the musicians before and I feel a little bit ripped off by that fact. I mean, why is it that I am so slow to catch on to the good musicians? I want to be the one to discover good music for once!

First up was Joe Firstman, a young man from North Carolina that hopped on the Greyhound to LA. Check him out, you won’t regret it.

White Buffalo was up next. When he played I felt right at home in the smalltown bar like I was where I belonged. It felt like everything came together right at that moment.

It was a great night to be in Willamina. I was able to see people I hadn’t seen in over a decade and better than just seeing them, we got to have fun together.

The Bedell Wedding

The happy couple immediately after the ceremony.

In December I had the privilege to be the photographer at Clayton & Danielle’s beach house wedding. It was a total blast! I’m tellin’ ya, the bride’s family is a BLAST! They’re always up to my goofy ideas.

1-2-3 JUMP!!!! Let’s just pretend that they got it right on the first time!

What is that Seth boy pointing at? Are Evan and Levi pretending to be Spiderman?

Is this the beginning of a showdown?

The Bride with her mama, Bonnie!

Katie, Danielle, Charity, & Lydia

The girls got it on the first try!!

WHAT A KISS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Why I Love Taking Pictures

For as long as I can remember I’ve loved taking pictures. I remember sitting around with my friends wondering if I would forget that very moment if I didn’t take a picture of it. Would I remember the fun we had? The prank calls to cute boys? Smoking in barn full of dry hay? My bike wreck? Someday I knew I’d be old, but back then I thought 35 was old! I wanted to remember all the little moments that make up my life. I still do.

Sometimes I take pictures of dishes and laundry. I don’t think that’s ever anything I’ll forget, but it is certainly a HUGE part of my life. I like taking picture of my kids and friends doing the ordinary things like reading a book or playing in the field out back. When we get together to laugh or pray or worship–I want to remember that, too. I don’t want to just remember it for me. I want my kids to remember, too. Oh, and their kids..and their kids…and so on. There are a great abundance of stories to be told, but they often get buried in the daily chores of dishes and laundry.

I want to tell your story. That’s why I take your picture. When you see me at the coffee shop listening to friends make music and watching them make each other laugh or cry, I am always thinking of the story behind the picture I just took. How souls are connected in that moment and how that moment isn’t just about that one little moment in time. There is a bigger picture here. It’s the story of Us. All of Us. You, me, the man who sits in front of the local Figaro’s Pizza. It’s about the hairdressers, cashiers, baristas, moms, dads, kids, musicians, artists, all of Us. We are part of the Story.

I am moved by my deep love for those around me. I am beginning to love the town I live in and to cherish the one I grew up in. The ordinary things have become like gems in a big treasure box. Not all the gems are perfect, but they are beautiful.

This morning I am full of mixed feelings about the tragedy in Haiti. The pictures move me. The story moves me. And I am, once again, reminded how the photos and stories are so important.

Read part of the Haiti story by Corrigan Claywho lives there with his family. Also check out Big Picture’s photos of Haiti on day 1 , 48 hours later,  6 days later, and the Faces of Haiti.

Baby Wyrvn

Oh, these 2 photo sessions have been such a treasure to me. I no longer have babies to take pictures of. I miss so many aspects of that, but I really do love sleeping at night! I first met Wyrvn when he was about 3 or 4 month old. He has a look of wisdom and wonder in his eyes. I really wish I knew what the lad was thinking, but perhaps it would be too deep for me to understand. He was so tolerant to my pushing and prodding and turning him over so we could get a picture of him on his tummy.

I love the interaction between him & his mama, Shanta. Babies are so in love with their moms, it is a precious miracle to watch. I am in awe with this every time I see it. Oh sigh, I miss having a baby.

Next up, stripping him down to get naked baby pictures. Nothing cuter than that. He kept wanting to roll over onto his back!

He finally had enough of these shenanigans! He was ready to eat again. He has to keep up his strength, you know! Crying pictures are so very cute, aren’t they? You can hardly take them serious.

Fast forward approximately three (or so) months!

Look at the look on his face! He was so good for me sitting out in the warm prickly field. He sat there exploring everything around him which mainly consisted of green grass and dry grass. Never a sad or irritable moment was found in this boy then entire time he was visiting. He even let my kids maul him…I mean hold him.

That is just a piece of straw in his mouth. Doesn’t he look so relaxed? I think it’s the heat…or mid-blink!

Aww, look at the love he has for his mama. I never thought I’d love slobbery baby kisses, but it’s so lovely to be kissed in such a way by your baby. I remember my heart filling with so much baby love I thought I might burst.

Thank you Shanta for letting me take part in your baby’s first year of life. It truly is a gift!

Can you hear it?

The question over at Shutter Sisters today was? If today could speak to you, what would it be saying?

Sometimes I forget to dream. I forget that God has given me the ability to dream. He has given me hope that dreams are not futile. That my desires really do matter Him. He gave them to me in the first place.

What is today saying to you?

…and now

This is Dusty. Nine years old & very affectionate. Here is her photographic debut to the online world. It is interesting to see what she sees. Each of my kids enjoy taking pictures of different things. One of them likes to set up his toys for a photoshoot.

taken on Kodak EasyShareZ700

Lookie Here!

Golden hour had hit. You know, right? The time right before the sun is setting and the land is bathed in golden sunlight. We all look beautiful in this light. The dullest yard looks amazing. My children even look happier.

Anyway, my eldest son, Christopher asked if he could take my camera out to take pictures. We put on the 75-300mm lens and he headed out with my beloved Pentax. He crossed 2 ditches, traversed a vast plain, tackled a mighty hill, & climbed up a tall tree. (All this with about $1000 hanging around his skinny little neck.) It took me awhile to feel a little panicked that he could’ve fallen and broken my camera. It’s all for the sake of art, isn’t it?

Look at that shot! Isn’t it amazing? It warms my heart that my kids love taking pictures as much as I do. It is not unusual to find my kids with some sort of camera in their hands. If you have a camera or a camera phone you may be subject of one of the little ones saying, “Can I take pictures on your camera?” Then disappearing for awhile to return with hundreds of blurry pictures. However, they also get in some pretty cool shots that I wouldn’t think of getting.

Christopher likes long walks on the beach. Has a steady job delivering pastries to the local coffee shop. He’s been dancing in ballet going on 8 years. He was an only child for 9 years. He’s been asking for the same things for his birthday for about 7 years: legos, Bionicles, art supplies. He prepares breakfast every morning. He is now taller than his mama-which would be me. He used to want to be the president of the U.S., an anthropologist, and a professional danceur. He doesn’t know it, but he also wants to make a way for his mama to spend a good part of his life travelling the world. He is only 12, so if you’re hoping for long walks on the beach with him you gotta sign up and await my approval.

[My son is hoping for lots of comments on this post. He is so excited. This truly is his crown jewel in the photography realm.]

Chris & Bryanna

I had the privilege of being the second photographer at my good friends’ wedding. I know their photographer, Krista [whom I love], from the camera store and asked if I could just follow her around to see how she did things. Can I express to you how relaxing being the 2nd photog is!?! She is very good at the posed shots, making sure the hair & veil look just right, adjusting the dress, all those little details that I am not so good at noticing. I mentioned in the last post about weddings being like reunions, but I’m telling you that this one truly was a reunion. I saw friends from California that I hadn’t seen in awhile & one of my friends had just come home from South Africa. It was great. The whole thing was an adventure. I drove hours to get there, couldn’t figure out where I was supposed to camp with Krista’s family, finally caught up with her, set up their tent in the dark, and finally nestled into our side of tent. I should mention that cell phones don’t work out there! What did we do without them in the first place? Anyway, everything about this wedding was amazing. The food, the music, the friends, the love.

Jeremy & Amie

What an incredibly fun wedding! It was perfect. There was a fear of rain since it was raining the evening before, but it all cleared up in time for the wonderful wedding. The bride was beautiful, of course, and the groom was always up for more pictures. Since I know the bride & groom personally it felt like we were at a big reunion.

The last 2 photos were taken by my sweet sister-in-law, Rachel. Edited by me.

Amadeus Cafe

Beautiful Food by Amadeus Cafe in South Salem, Oregon

Wedding Reception