hope for tomorrow...

Took this photo during our short weekend trip to Childress. Sometimes an accidental occurrence, such as this lens flare, can make the photo. It also helps that the crop on the sign just leave the one phrase for the photo. 

The year 2013 has been a good year, albeit with many mountains and valleys. I look forward to the year 2014 and all of the hope that it brings for my life and the people's lives that I will have the opportunity to influence...

as a child sees it...

On the day before Christmas, Pyper was all excited about what was to come. As I photograph her, and see her expressions, I can't help but to think of the premise of seeing the world like a child sees it. I wish I would have approached more things in my life with the innocence of Pyper. Reflecting about this on the eve of the birth of the One that told us that "we must be just like children to see the kingdom of God". In 2014 and beyond, I want to see and make a difference in the world around me with the eyes of a child...

conversations, photos and coffee...

Got to spend a little dad/daughter time this afternoon with Sadi. Nothing like having some quality time for conversations, photos and Starbucks coffee...

making the most of it...

This photo has been sitting on my Leica camera memory card for a few weeks. Just noticed it today and downloaded it. It was like finding money in jacket that I haven't worn in a long time.

I don't get many opportunities to take photos of both of my beautiful girls together. When I do, I try and make the most of it. After seeing this image, it makes me smile a mile wide...

acting on inspiration...

Looking through a photo magazine this afternoon and I came across an image that inspired me to try this. I decided to add my own touch, but I kept some of the characteristics of the original (pose, washed out appearance). 

Part of the inspiration comes from the fact that I could relate to this original image. This is where I am at. I am at the point in my life where I just need to take time to do things like this...

The Simon Ponder Deep Ellum Polawalk - Digital Version

I had two Polaroid SX-70s, one Polaroid Spectra SE and one Toyo View 8x10 for my instant film arsenal. I cannot imagine going out on the street and not having my Leica M8. Got some great candids documenting the day. The instant ones are posted on my instant film blog here.

more halloween 2013...

Halloween has creeped upon us again... Pyper was ready and excited for it this year. Even though she was allergic to most of the candy that she was given, she still seemed to have a blast just getting to say "trick or treat" to total strangers. She definitely loved here costume and at one point even told her Dad that she needed to check his heart (see photo #2). At the end of the night, she got tired of the glasses, but she still was ready to pose for me under a street light. Between Tyler and I taking photos, the night will never be forgotten. I also posted some instant photos of Pyper here. I love these photos below, but there is nothing quite like an instant photo coming out of the camera ready to hold in your hand...

just me...

Not the biggest fan of pictures of just me. However, Sherri made a deal with me on Sunday (out of sympathy). She would let me take a Polaroid Chocolate Film photo of her if I would let her take an photo of me.  The deal was sealed and I took the Chocolate image of her first. Here is the photo of her. She then took this photo of me with the Fuji x100s. Because I have posted so many photos of her, I thought I would post this one too. Someday I can only hope that she would want to start taking photos for fun...

some of my Pola friends...

A few of my digital photos taken during the recent #PolawalkTX weekend. Couldn't spend the entire weekend together and not pull out my Leica or Fuji cameras occasionally. Such a small sampling of the entire weekend. Looking back, I sure wish I would have taken at least one Leica/Fuji photo of everyone in the group...

*Frank - in the Hilton lobby

*Cameron - in Deep Ellum

*Juli - in Deep Ellum

*Whisky Will - in Deep Ellum

good times...

Catching this fleeting moment with a camera gives me the opportunity to come back and see it over and over again. I must be honest. I smile every time I see this photo...

can you see me...

Pyper was squinting, so I asked her to open her eyes. I love it when she listens...

james motlow...

Met James while I was in Sacramento out shooting with Francisco Chavira. He happened upon us because he spotted my 8x10 camera set up in the middle of a field on the edge of a small settlement called Locke. As we were talking, James also noticed my Leica camera laying on the ground (he had owned a Leica M4). After some discussions, we learned that he was a photographer who had co-written a book called Bitter Melon documenting the life of the formerly all-Chinese town of Locke, California. What a neat opportunity to get to talk with him and take his photo! After buying and reading the book, I hope to get to meet up with him again someday. I have so many things that I now would love to talk with him about...

little chatterbox...

Stopped by the Tyndell's today for a short visit. Pyper walked out with me to get my phone that I left in my land rover. She is at such a neat age right now. The whole way out to the rover and back all she kept doing was looking up to me and talking. Couldn't pass up snapping a quick photo of this moment...

even when she's sick...

If it's a good one, I feel like I have to get the picture. Even when she is sick...

Testing the Light...

Took this image of Francisco Chavira with my Leica M8 while testing the lighting for an 8x10 shoot during my visit to Sacramento. Not bad at all for a "test shot"...

a sucker for photos...

A few shots from about a month ago with my M8 and a 35mm summilux lens. It never gets old documenting the simplest of things in life with my Leica...

the best kind of photo...

Nothing like being able to capture a photo of the one that you love...

old glory...

Probably have overdone the flag photos now, but they are so rich and colorful that it is hard not to keep taking and posting them. I have one of Maci on my iPhone blog, I have the 8x10 Impossible color image that I took of Tyler on my instant blog and now this one that was taken with my Fuji x100s.  This particular flag is displayed on the side of a business near downtown Greenville. I know that given time, it will become a victim of the elements. Like many things, I wanted to capture the photo before it changes or disappears. It is probably obvious, but that is the reason we take many of our photos. This one has now been captured in all of it's glory...

a bit of a glow...

Spent a little time outside running around with Pyper. She stopped long enough for me to snag this photo with my X100S. Not bad for shooting in automatic mode directly into the sun. Her blonde hair has such a glow...

pyper and maci...

Stopped by Maci and Tyler's apartment after lunch to take a couple of photos of Pyper. I can't even begin to say how grown up she looks in this photo. I was so taken back when I first saw this photo on the computer. I guess you could say that Pyper is getting good at having her photo taken...

Afterwards, Maci and Pyper spent the afternoon with us at our house helping Sadi get ready for prom. They were about to leave and go home and Pyper wasn't very happy...

Sadi's Prom 2013...

Had very specific instructions this year for Prom pictures. No studio equipment and very few cameras. Took some photos with my Leica (see below), some photos with my Polaroid 600SE (see here) and some with my iPhone (see here)...

just another day...

...with Pyper in the house and my Leica around my neck. Always ready to capture that next moment (of Pyper with a mouth full of rice).

Pyper is so cool...

Captured a few candid images while spending some time with Pyper today. A slightly cool, but beautiful evening made it even better. 

the faces of bruce...

Got to spend a short time with Bruce this weekend. Bruce flew all the way to Texas from Germany and arrived on Thursday afternoon. He belongs to our friend's daughter who is stationed in Germany.  She is coming home in August and the airlines will not let English bulldogs fly during summer months (starting in May).  Our friends, Joe & Elizabeth and their other daughter Genie, picked him up at DFW and stayed a couple of nights with us before heading home to Arkansas.  It was a great time of catching up and getting to take snapshots of Bruce...

zoo keeper...

Took Pyper to the zoo yesterday. Of course the purpose is to go see the animals, but I think I get more out of watching Pyper see the animals.  I never come away from any of our outings with a lot of photos that are memorable.  I look for one or two that I can hang onto. This one is definitely a keeper...