One of the things I really enjoy about our neighborhood is watching the interactions of the “Neighborhood Circle” kids. It is about pure innocence and fun!  Today was no different.  The activities centered around our neighbors tree swing,  shopping carts,  and blowing bubbles.  All kids are helping and playing with each other no matter their gender or age.  The vision of our kids playing in our circle acts like magnet to pull the parents out to socialize with each other.  We are truly building a camaraderie and community inspired through our children.  All of us seem to look forward  to these “Neighbor Circle” gatherings. 

Here are some of my favorite images capturing the fun.

Sophie is helping to the little ones with bubbles. 

Like wine she gets better with each year passing,
A caring and loving person,
A friend everlasting.

Like everyone,
she is not perfect,
but her excess care is not her defect,
She makes everyone glad They’re there,
You won’t not find a better person anywhere.

Of herself She likes to give,
Her Tenderness makes one glad to live,
The greatest love there is no other,
Than the love I have for my dearest mother.

Steve Jackle
1983

Yes! I was cheesy even back then.     Happy Birthday Mom!

Yesterday was my oldest daughters 10th birthday. Time flies when you are having fun!  Since last October, she has been taking acoustic guitar lessons every week.  Sophie is a rocker at heart and has requested an electric guitar for a few months now.   I told her that if she keeps playing her acoustic guitar that eventually she will be able to get an electric guitar.  

She has been complaining about the modern country music (Jason Aldean, Zack Brown Band, Lady Antebellum, Luke Bryan) that I have been playing in the car lately.  She wonders what has happened to my music tastes.  She says: “Don’t you like KISS anymore Daddy?”

Jackie and I agreed to get her a strap for her acoustic guitar among some other things.  In my previous life (before marriage and kids),  I played bass guitar in a couple bands (Jesse’s Zoo and Naked Café) in Chapel Hill, NC.  Music has been a big part of my life since my youth.   Even to this day I am very dangerous in a music store much like a kid in a candy store.   Jackie asked me to take Sophie to Guitar Center and help her pick out a strap.  Being afraid that I would buy something for me, I suggested that she take our daughter to pick out the strap.  I received a call from Jackie at the store yesterday, apparently Sophie had found an electric guitar that she wants.   Since we already had given her other presents earlier in day,  I said she had to buy the guitar out of her saved money.   A few hours later, they arrived home with a shiny new Fender Squire guitar and Peavey amp.  I have not seen Sophie this excited in a while! Lesson learned.  A mom that that easily gets persuaded by her children is not any better focused in the guitar store than a musician father. : )

  Being the father and Raleigh musician photographer that I am, I suggested that we take a few shots of one of Raleigh’s latest electrified guitarists.  We headed to the back porch to capture a few minutes of a girl and her guitar.

This morning Sophie woke up and rushed in to the room where the guitar is stored.  She said she wanted to be sure that she was not dreaming that she had an electric guitar.  I love that she is so excited about music and playing guitar.  I hope this continues for many years!   Rock on Sophie! 

I have been a member of the Wedding Photographic Society (WPS) for several years now.  Periodically, we have an event called Portrait Palooza.  Each participating photographer gets a dedicated 10 minute time slot to shoot a model dressed in a wedding dress.  It is like a free-for-all for creative juices.  The venue picks the winner of the contest and is allowed to use the image(s) for advertising.  This year was the first time I participated in the contest along with over 30 photographers and 4 models at the beautiful 1705 Prime venue in Raleigh, NC.   We have such a great community of wedding and portrait photographers in the Raleigh WPS! That is for sure!

The photographers were divided into four groups with a leader/timer and a model.  It was sure a pleasure for me to have WPS Photographer of the Year  Michelle Gunton as my leader. She is such a great person and creative photographer! Too bad she could only “time” my slot and was not able to suggest creative things to me. : )

Anyway, to this day, I am not sure sure how I feel about competing with art.  I know how to compete from my wrestling days in my youth, but I am just not sure that art is a place for competition. 

Art is expression –very subjective and personal.  Unlike most sports, there is not a concrete set of rules to go by to determine a winner.  So art is in a sense “multi-shades of color” that is defined by each photographer(artist) and viewer.  Or is it?

I also understand that image competitions can be important tool to help one grow as a photographer. Winning photography contests affirms that your expression does make an impression on others(judges mainly) and helps to affirm your creative efforts. Contests  have winners and losers and in this sense  they are “black and white.” 

So… in this spirit of this contemplation,  I decided to share two versions of the images that were shot at last night contest – one "color” and one “Black and White” version.  So are you a “color” or “black and white”  type of person?

Here is the black and white version of the image at the top of this post.

The next set.

The last set.

This morning, I was making breakfast for the family. Yes, I am the breakfast king in our household – a total legend in my breakfast mind. : ) Savannah comes into the kitchen with a robe, sunglasses, and a top hat and proudly states: “I am Willie Wonka!”  I just had to share a few from the Wonka shoot a few minutes ago.  I love the imagination of our children! Rock on Savannah Wonka!

When I was growing up,  my grandmother and grandfather would tell stories about my father and my uncles when they were younger.  If the behavior was a little mischievous,  my grandfather would say “boys will be boys.”  In my house, I am out numbered 3 to 1 so it is “girls will be girls” here.   I love it when 5 year old will be relaxed and be their self in the studio even if their father has several strobes firing that could inhibit them.

Here is a kiss goodbye for Nanna! See you soon!

Sometimes things are planned and happen for a reason and other times they are spontaneous and unscripted.   In my previous post, I tried a lighting technique on myself using a large soft box real close to my face.  Besides that I am not fond of using my camera timer, I wanted to try the technique on someone a little better looking and interesting than me.   So I asked Sophie to join me in the studio under the guise that she would be taking pictures of me.  She was game for that.  I told her I would have to setup the camera and light and after I took a few test shots we would reverse the photographer and model roles.   She tired real quick of putting her face close to the light source and pulled my desk chair in front of the light and began to lounge.  End result: impromptu lounging shoot.

I am looking forward to the Packers – Giants playoff game this weekend with guarded optimism.  The Packers need to take their potential Super Bowl journey one game at a time – no matter what the prognosticators say.  If they need to be reminded of this message, just ask limping “Big Ben” and his team from the Steel City.  Regular season records and wins do not automatically advance a team in the playoffs.  Talent at the skilled positions is not the only thing needed to win playoff games. The key to winning this game will be defense, special teams, and pass protection.  The Packers need to stop allowing their opponents more yards that they can generate on offense.  Go Pack!

It is early Christmas morning. Uncle Steve has his camera as usual.  My nephew Marshall had just grabbed some chocolate from his stocking. Wah La!  I love the innocence, excitement and amazement that little children bring to Christmas morning.  They are happy and grateful for everything that their parents and Santa Claus brings them no matter how big or small it is.  They help to remind us about the importance of spending time with and appreciating the family.  Marshall was the beacon on Christmas morning. He acted in direct contrast to my older nieces and nephews and other family members.  As time went by, most stopped believing in Santa Claus and focused more on the number and value of gifts they received rather than the thought and effort behind the gifts and the family behind them.   I think we can all get caught up in the material things in life and forget the value of the intangible things.  I am glad we have Marshall around to keep things in perspective. 

Here is a special moment between him and his cousin Sophie.

My mother-in-law epitomizes the giving spirit. She really does a great job preparing the many things that are necessary to accommodate the 16 family members that invaded her home for Christmas.  She does so much to make everyone feel welcome and important.  Thank you Carol for everything!  I am proud and blessed to have my wife Jackie in my life as the apple truly does not fall far from the tree.   Here is a special moment between Carol and her latest grandchild.