Reagan

This was taken in 2004 for a modeling portfolio that Reagan was putting together.

Jill

This was a photo that I took in 2004 to update a modeling portfolio for a woman named Jill. She had done quite a bit of modeling and so she told me exactly what she wanted and I just took and processed the photos.

More of My Favorite People

I have pictured others in my "inner circle" on this blog and suggested they were favorite people of mine. How can I not show these three and not say the same? My MIL, my youngest son and my wife on a visit to see Jon in Alaska a couple years ago. As I've said before, I'm a lucky guy.

Four Amigos

Here's my stream of consciousness: foot prints in frost (yesterday's post) makes me think of foot prints in the sand. Foot prints in the sand make me think of Mexico. Mexico makes me think of family trips. Family trips reminds me of photo I took of the Four Cousins in Mexico a few years ago: Matt, Brian, Jon and Derek. So where do I go from here in the stream? Check back tomorrow.

Brian & Katie In Mexico

Here are two of my favorite people in one of my favorite places. I'm a lucky guy to have the opportunities I have!

Deux Amis

We were free men in Paris, unfettered and alive, posing somewhat awkwardly in front of a structure that is anything but awkward - the Nortre Dame de Paris. I handed my camera to a passing tourist. So I guess that this isn't really my photo is it?When I give my camera to a stranger so I can pose, I try to pick someone who appears to be slower than I am so that if they decide to run with my valuable equipment, I can catch them. I wouldn't tackle them, though, since that might harm my camera. . . .

Flesh and Blood

My oldest son, Brian, is pictured in this blog more often than Jon is. And, because Jon sent me a flattering email about my blog photos earlier today, I thought I would reward him by posting a photo I took of him 10 years ago somewhere in Italy. He has a better sense of style than I do and he gets his looks from his mother, fortunately. He's a pretty good photographer, though. Maybe he got that from me?

The Bird Man And the Child

I was with a group of students in the Montmartre district in Paris and as we were walking down the steps of the Sacre Couer Basilica, I looked down and saw this man and this apparently mesmerized child. This isn't the only photo of a child marveling over birds. What is it about birds that is so fascinating to children?

57

Yes, I am 57 today, though I don't think I look a day over 12.

The Wittenberg Wiener Man

I'd like to think that if I went back to Wittenberg, Germany (where Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses), I could get a better photo of the Wiener Man. Like the girl I posted a few days ago, he looks a bit suspicious. A better shot would have people waiting in line for the wurst he was selling (which I think is the best wurst in Wittenberg!). The Wiener Man would be oblvious to me and I would have a great action shot.For what it's worth, there are very few photos I've taken and posted here that I wouldn't want to take over again so that I could improve them. How do other artists deal with their old art which could be made better as their skills improve?

Suspicion

For the last several years, in addition to teaching at Watertown High School, I have also volunteered to take photos for our yearbook. Sometimes the editors tell me what to photograph. And sometimes I'm told to "wander." And that's how I found this subject.The art rooms are my favorite places because I can almost always find people doing things rather than sitting and listening to teachers. Often the students are so absorbed in their work, that they are oblivious to me. But this girl was anything but oblivious.When I was about to take the photo, this girl gave me this look, which isn't exactly hostile and not exactly friendly. It is suspicious. After taking this photo, I told her who I was and what I was up to and she relaxed and let me take a another photo or two.This photo didn't make the yearbook but I like it nevertheless, largely because of her undisguised doubt. But I also like it because I think this girl looks a little like Scarlett Johansson, one of my favorite actresses.

What If God Was One of Us?

Joan Osbourne's song "One of Us" asks an interesting question:"What if God was one of usJust a slob like one of usJust a stranger on the busTrying to make his way home?"Neither of the men in this picture is God (I don't think). And we aren't on a bus, either. We're somewhere under Paris riding the Metro. The gentleman on the left is my friend Billy, The Lutheran Minister. So I guess he's close to God. At least that's what he tells me.The man on the right was wide awake and lucid until Billy started talking to him about the marvels of Lutheran theology (or some such subject) and you can see the effect this had . . . Can you say "soporific?"But I do love my friend Billy.