Treasures from an Old Building

There is a building I drive by several times a week and nothing ever moved me about it, except last Friday. Somehow, that old abandoned building looked full of possibilities. Somehow I imagined a photo shoot or two or three using parts of the walls, doors, steps as backdrops for some individual shots.  I was able to convince my wife who was out on a girl's day to bring ALL the girls with her to that building.  I love my wife, not an iota of doubt about what I wanted to do. She saw the vision with me and the results did not dissapoint.  Many thanks to my Nieces Rameika and Aisha, and Aisha's mom Tania, my mother in law and my lovely wife for agreeing to be my models for this shoot.

 

With these last two photos I wanted to show them as if they were painted. The magic of Lightroom and Photoshop allowed me to get these cool images. I can imagine what they would look like as canvas prints. Hmmmm....perhaps as a birthday present to someone :-)

  

The Excitement Builds ...

Just got off the phone with an MOG, Chad and we are planning a trip to his home town, Oak Hill, NC.  Chad is the owner of Marah LIFE Personal & Professional Development Coaching  and a fellow member of Raleigh International Church.  We have been discussing his farm called Marah Farm in his home town for some time now and we have finally been able to set a date for our trip. I look forward to chronicling this visit to Chad's hometown and experiencing the marvels and serenity of this small farm community where he grew up.  This will be the ultimate trip for a city boy with a camera.  Please stay posted as the images will appear at the beginning of next month.  God is so awesome to bring great men that are after His heart into my life.

Tha Wolfpack

I've lived in ACC country now for nine years and I have yet to attend a Wolfpack football game.  This will change and it will change this season.  I started by checking out the stadium parking lot in an effort to check out the football stadium itself, but I was struck by the entryway. Folks it was screaming for HDR!!

I just could not help being in awe of the fountain!  I know I'm a simple man, but sometimes the good Lord just puts things in your path that make you say WOW!  Needless to say, I did not see the field, I could not get past the fountain. it was too much and I didn't want to spoil the moment.  I will have another day to see the field.  I cannot wait. Go PACK!!!

Back to business

Saturday evening we had the pleasure of photographing Haielle, Jamila and Maurice's  beautiful baby girl.  She was a trooper, posing for the camera, looking straight into the lens.  She was awesome!  This was such a fun assignment, I could have stayed another couple hours, but Haielle needed her beauty sleep.  Thank you Jamila and Maurice for such a wonderful experience. I cannot wait to do this again.  I must say with humility that I was touched and very humbled when Jamila emailed me to say "We have found our family photographer."  

This is the day that the Lord has made...

Today (last saturday actually) my wife and I woke up and rejoiced as we do every day the Lord

gives us. We decided it has been far too long since we visited the flea market at the State Fairgrounds together. Besides we needed to replenish our supply of sea salt.  Our first stop was at the Spice Lady. There is no other place in Raleigh to go for spices or especially for sea salt. The variety is mindblowing and the health values...well let Joan tell you all about that.Joan always has some new information to share about what is good for our bodies and today we learned about MSG and "Natural Flavors." Needless to say Natural Flavors is not what you think it is...more on this later. Joan's daughter, Traci "The Tea Lady" was not there today as she was nursing an injured hand and was taking a much needed break from the shop. If you drink tea or want to drink tea or are a tea connoseur, you MUST stop by and purchase your teas from Traci. I have been purchasing my sea salts and teas from them since 2001 and I have never...never been dissapointed with their products or their service.  I once ran into a couple that drove from Washington D.C. to purchase tea from Traci...WOW!  She's  rock star!!

Our next stop was to one of my wife's favorite vendors. Kerry's Willow Works is a splash of colors and wonders. Owner, Val makes ornamental furniture and most of all ornaments of all kinds for all seasons.  My wife Lana loves color and loves to change things around on our doors, in the house and on the porch of our home. Some of her favorite items she has purchased from Kerry's Willow Works because of their bright colors and also because there are a lot of butterfly designs.  Lana loves butterflies...  Val started out selling just home made furniture 10 years ago at the flea market, but has expanded into the ornaments.  Her location is much brighter and more inviting than it was in the beginning.  She is shy and quiet, but loves to share about the items she and her husband create and sell at the market.  If you like color, you MUST stop by and support this wonderful vendor. We do every chance we get.