Do you know what the word photograph means? Basically, (Photo + graph) Photo ~ of or produced by light and graph ~something that writes or records. So photography means writing with light. But that definition just isn't really good enough for me. I think of photography as the only way of stopping time. Sometimes the only way I clearly remember a time in my life or a feeling is by looking at a photograph. How else would we remember what we looked like as a baby, or how would I know that my sone looks a lot like my grandfather when they were the same age. The old expression "a picture is worth a thousand words" is how I started a school report when I was in Mrs. O'Neils sixth grade english class. Yes, I was completely amazed by photography in the 6th grade. That's what 12 years old? But the first time I realized that I wanted to use a camera was in the 4th grade. At that time (and I'm not revealing my age) buying the camera or using mom's was not the expense, buying film, flash bulbs, and processing was the expensive part. I came from a family of 6 kids ( you do the math). It took me and my brother Jeff until we were in high school before we bought our first 35mm camera. So what is it that sucked me in to this passion? Have you ever looked at an old photo - i mean really, really, old photo. It's amazing! How did they do it? How did they figure it out? It blows my mind, but imagine any small part of this world without photography, or show me a profession, any profession that doesn't use photography, or imagine education without photography, or the internet or newspapers or books....i could go on and on. Photography can be a vacation for the mind. This was very evident to me when I was younger and we had a family friend buy the name of Ruby, Ruby was a lady that used to come to our house to have my mom do her hair. Ruby worked at Scott Air Force Base and brought us paper every time she got her hair cut or permed, I know right? paper doesn't seem like a big deal but this paper was special. This was tractor feed paper that was bout 11x17 inches (each piece). On one side it had reports of some kind. Truth be known if I had tried to figure out what was on the printed side - i may have been a aerospace engineer rather than a photographer (i'm still convinced that there were military secrets encoded into those lines of text) but I focused on the blank side of the paper. The possibilites were endless........one blank canvas after another that could go on and on. I think this is where my artistic side came out. As cool as the endless supply of paper was - there was one other thing. Ruby had a subscription to National Geographic Magazine and guess who got the mags when she was done reading them? We did! Talk about a vacation for the mind! I traveled all over the world through the pages of National Geographic. I imagined myself as a photo-journalist and I truely believe that my love of travel and photography was born in those pages. Ruby died before I realized how much these things affected me and I never really got to thank her for the gifts, well I mean, we thanked her - "Kids, what do you tell Ruby?" In unison "Thank you Ruby" Thank you Angel Ruby. I think I'm going to try to find her grave this week, just because.

I also need to give a shout out to my friends who recently graduated High School. Congratulations to all of you! I'm very proud! BTW the graduate show will be up and running tomorrow night - if it kills me.

I also got to work on a very rewarding project over the weekend. I helped a very good friend with a.. hmmmm what would you call it?, I guess a feng shui / remodel project. For anyone who deosn't know me - I love to do remodel projects. I'm always trying to fix or change something. I'm pretty good at carpentry and plumbing, and so-so at electrical work. I even have my own tools. I owe this facet of my personality to my parents and my willingness to try anything to my dad. "The impossible just takes a little longer." ~ Gene Kuhl

Thanks to Shelley who recently discovered my blog! Thanks for the kind words and thanks for letting me know that you read it. I love you!

So what's next?

Stay tuned, with me - you never know.

LoJ

Inspiration comes in many forms and fashions. For instance, it could be
attending a graduation ceremony, not because you have to, but because you want to, or realizing how many truely amazing people you have in your life, or when a 13 year old friend releases her first CD and you just know there will be so much success in her life or it could be seeing an old friend for the first time in a long time, or it could be sharing meal with your BFF, or making someone smile or having a fun conversation with people you hardly know and end up doing crazy cheers and random clapping or doing something that just feels right or seeing an old photograph that brings back great memories.......I could go on and on. (Karen, i think i accomplished the longest run on sentence) I'm so inspired right now i feel like i'm in a dream. Where do you find your inspiration? Find the little things in life, find the positive, and be inspired.

Congratulations to the Albers Elementary graduates and the Carlyle Jr. High graduates. Nicely done! Shoot for the stars! I'm so excited for all of you on the new chapter in your lives. Thank you for letting me be a small part of your world.

All my best to Morgan Siever on the realease of her CD. Morgan, thank you for letting be a part of your project. I love your CD! Beautifully played.

Brian and Tracy, good fishing tomorrow.

Brooke, your smile brightened my day and last but certainly not least, Sharon, thanks for sharing dinner with me. It's always more fun to share.

It's forever now.

LoJ

Great morning!

What a great time of the year for us. Seriously, you can't make up stuff this good!

Busy week here with concerts,graduations and weddings! I'm also working on our senior tribute video that we project in the front window of the studio. We do a collage of each senior we photographed this year and set it to music. Keep an eye out for it - coming soon to a window near you! lol You can see it later this week at dus so do a drive by - you can't miss it.

Best wishes to Mr. Kesterson, retiring from the Carlyle Music Department after many years of dedicated service. You will be missed.


We will be at the Cardinal Game with the Carlyle Jr. High School Band on the 31st of May. They will be performing pre-game. I believe there are still tickets avalable.

Sending our best to Kimberly and Curt as wedding preparations are in the final stages. We can't wait for your wedding.

Kudos to Andreww who graduated from Rankin Technical College last Saturday and also to Brandon who will graduate from Trinity Hoffman School next week.

Congrats to all our seniors! I was very proud to be at honors night and so many of "our" senios were top award recipiants.

Also, adding a new video to the blog today. This is Hannah, she is graduating from 8th grade. We did a really great 8th grade session for her a few weeks back. She's a doll!

We are currently making plans for a couple camps this summer for kids ages 9 through 12. "Chicks that Click" and "Write with Light" will be scheduled later this summer. If you know someone who may be interested - give us a call.

2011 Seniors look for an invite to a senior premier in June.

Stay focused!

LoJ