Portraits: Clay

I moved to Texas in 1999 and started my 6th grade year at Wimbish Elementary where I made new friends, new enemies and found a new identity. Clay was one of the good guys, one of the friends I kept when we went to junior high. While we only really knew each other for 2 years of public schooling, we saw each other occasionally in high school at speech tournaments and then found each other again through Facebook. A healthy dose of Facebook stalking ensued on both sides.

When Clay heard I was in the Metroplex, he sent me a message begging for some awesome photos from me. How could I say no? We met up and walked around the Highlands, and surprisingly, for a guy who has never had a portrait session before, he was a very cooperative model.

It was wonderful getting to catch up with Clay. Here are some of my favorite shots from the afternoon.

Portraits: MJ and Mason

Going up to the Parks Mall with Mason and his daughter MJ was an absolute adventure! It all started with me going through my portfolio and seeing there was an absence of photographs of children. One thing that made this such a great experience was that MJ knew me and was already at ease with me and when I lifted up my camera to take her picture, she went into full "diva" mode. Hand on hip. Big smile. "Aren't I fashionable!" she asked in statement form. Oh I don't think there was a moment I wasn't smiling around her. She is so smart and so sassy.

"Isn't daddy handsome?" Yes, MJ, he sure is.
"Don't I just look like a princess?" Yes, MJ. You are a beautiful princess.

Earlier I mentioned the sass.... ^^^
In this photo, I asked her to pose and after she turned around to face me, she put up her finger and told me I was allowed "one picture only." Okay. One picture. She was the boss.

As we were leaving the mall to go to a park, MJ put on a small show, dancing across the floor with a flurry of poses, twirls, spins, and a bucket full of smiles and laughter.

"Hey, MJ, can you go stand by that pole, under the sign?"
"Yeah!" she exclaims and goes and runs under the sign, looks at it and then grabs it. Of the photos from this spot, this was the absolute best. She loved to have her picture taken, but when she was done, she was done and it was off to the next spot, and the next adventure!

Gibson Ranch Dugout

I have never been to a cowboy dugout before. Just so happens, they don't all look like this. Most of them are dug into the side of a hill or mountain and are pretty rough-looking. This one, on Mike Gibson's ranch is the Taj Mahal of all cowboy dugouts. It was such a wonderful opportunity to get to see such beautiful country and be in the company I was in.

While we waited for everyone to get back to the dugout, Sylinda and I got dinner together. Once it was on the fire, the sun was absolutely perfect in the sky, so I grabbed my camera and took a few shots around the dugout of the beautiful country that surrounded us. Breathtaking.


These last two shots are of the dugout itself. ISO 800, f-8, 30 seconds.

Photo Expedition and the Rattlesnake

The Badlands Wildlife Expedition put on by Wyman Meinzer allows people to come into Wyman's backyard, which includes several surrounding ranches, and photograph some of the most beautiful country in West Texas. They experience true untamed wildlife - bobcats, coyotes, and rattlesnakes - and learn how to call in the predators. It is an absolutely incredible experience, one I encourage anyone who has the time to go on. It is open to photographers and non-photographers alike. Wyman will not only teach you about photography and present you with incredible opportunities, but he will allow you to see beauties of life many often pass by without realization or notice.

A few members of the expedition were a bit wary when it came to photographing the rattlesnake, but Wyman's constant and patient encouragement, allowed the fear to slip away and some amazing photographs to be made. It was such a thrilling opportunity to witness this. On the Junction adventure, I had my first opportunity to be face-to-face with a rattlesnake and now I feel like an old pro at it. It is an understanding between photographer and snake. No quick movements. Relax. Breathe. Be patient. Standing on the side and watching Wyman work with and encourage and advise these groups of people as they approached the snake with their preconceived ideas and hesitations was absolutely thrilling. I don't think there was a moment I was not smiling.

This post is a combination of the first two expeditions put on by Wyman and the people who helped make them so memorable.

Red Steagall Cowboy Gathering

This past weekend I went to the Fort Worth Stockyards for the Red Steagall Cowboy Gathering and Trade show. Santa Fe on the Brazos had it's own booth to sell store items and promote Wyman's new book - Under One Fence: The Waggoner Ranch Legacy.

Sylinda and I had an amazing time meeting new people, dancing and having some pretty delicious meals. We stayed in the Stockyards Hotel, which was only a minute walk from the rodeo, the dance and the barn where the trade show was held.

During the low-traffic time, I had my camera out and took photos of the people who would walk by. Some, I had incredible conversations with, and some never even noticed I even had my camera out. Here are just a few that I adore from this weekend.

Wonderful World of Etsy

I just bought a ring on Etsy from Vintage and Glam Jewlery and I absolutely LOVE it. :) I was looking for a ring that was flat and wouldn't knock into anything and also let me show off a bit of personality. Sure enough, Etsy had it. The artist who designed this ring was also fabulous to talk to and to show my appreciation, I took a few photos and came up with this! Sent it to her with some very positive feedback. I love that about the website, it allows you to put up "Appreciation Photos" of the gift you purchased to the seller.

I uploaded a post to my 365 Project but since then have decided to take a few more appreciation photos. Here I'm dedicating a post to my new favorite piece of jewelery. I absolutely LOVE this ring.

My Beautiful Mother

This is my beautiful mother. Kathy Alison Wallace Church. She has been so much more to a mother to me, she is my best friend and I feel so lucky to have such a strong and intelligent role model in my life.

This weekend she came up to visit me in Benjamin, TX. We were lazy mostly, sipping our coffee out on the veranda watching the cats strut by and the wolves chew on a pig. Monday afternoon, we had some clouds overhead and so she and I walked around and I took pictures of her. She asked for only one good photo out of one hundred images. Well, I definitely have a favorite of them all, but there are others I consider the best too. Here are the rest of my favorites.

I love you, mama!