Mom-day
Inspired by a fellow blogger who also didn’t know what to do for Mother’s Day, I am dedicating this post to the woman who has given the most of herself to enable me to be where I am today. I am not writing this as a list of all the things my mother has done that inspire me. Rather, I want to share some of the biggest lessons I have learned from her and show how they came to be.
Karla was born in the tiny farm community of Munich, North Dakota (pop. 210), and for some reason (or perhaps that very reason) she has since traveled all over the world. I don’t know where her spirit to explore comes from but I know I have inherited it. And she has only ever encouraged me to blaze my own trail. My appreciation for the world around me began with weekend camping and hiking trips. As a family, we endured mosquito swarms, downpours and sleepless nights. But, believing that there is an obtainable solution to every problem, I learned how to see through obstacles in my way over the years. Before a family trip to Australia, she learned to swim so we could all go snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef; in preparation for a trip to Colombia, she and my father learned Spanish. I couldn’t ask for a better model for trying new things. And I have seen how easy it is to make a difference in others’ lives. A couple years ago she began training as a Red Cross volunteer, to assist victims of fires and other disasters. Now, when she sounds tired on the phone in the afternoon, I know she was probably up all night working an event. The balance of fun, work, conservation, indulgence and taking everything in moderation is the lesson I will continue to practice all my life.
Despite all she has seen and done, I believe her small-town upbringing lets her enjoy life’s simple pleasures, like a sunny day or the wind in her hair.
I love you, mom!
Leaning over the edge of a whale-watching boat in Maui last year.
Lizard Legacy
Although he has been in my sister’s and then my parents’ care for the last five years, my leopard gecko Ardie died today. He lost sight in both eyes years ago and hasn’t been able to feed himself for a long time. In the last month he went downhill quickly and lost about half his body weight. When my mother took him to the vet recently, his charts indicated DOB as 1994. 18 years. I thought he was only 14. Which means he lived a longer life than I even realized. RIP little guy.
This photo is from probably one of my earliest “studio” shoots ever, from 2002, in which I used a lamp, some leaves and a big white piece of cardboard. I guess it showing off fall fashions…
In: animals, fall, family, minneapolis, minnesota, portrait, studio
River Men
I had to hike a mile down a mountain and along train tracks in the rain to photograph a crew of guys who are taking a hand-made batteau (a late 1700s-style boat) 360 miles upriver. Yes, UP-river. It was probably the best day of work I have ever had. Working with talented reporter Liz Barry, who did the whole hike wearing Converse All-Stars, we got in a couple of canoes to join the crew as they set up camp on the opposite bank. As y camera bag dried out by the bonfire, I couldn’t help but look around at where I was and again realize there is no other job quite like this one.
Check out the article at The News & Advance.
In: friends, job, Lynchburg, nature, spring, summer, transportation, Virginia
Southern Black Widow
It seems the interesting critters have all come out recently. I found this female black widow spider outside of a restaurant after I finished my lunch today. This was the first black widow I have ever seen but I immediately identified it by the red “hourglass” marking on the underside of its abdomen. Surprisingly timid, I coaxed her onto a stick and used the painted wall of the building as a backdrop. They are generally nocturnal and prefer dark environments so I don’t know what she was doing out and about. Perhaps enjoying the weather as well?
In: animals, Insects, Lynchburg, nature, spring, summer
Springtime Darner
It was surprisingly chilly today and I don’t think this dragonfly was prepared for the change in the weather. I found it motionless on my doorknob and made a couple portraits while it was being sluggish (and then it flew away). The Springtime Darner is common in this area especially in the spring (hence the name).
In: animals, Insects, Lynchburg, nature, summer, Virginia
Easter Times
Woke up at 5:45 to photograph an Easter sunrise service on a hilltop half an hour away. The Penuel baptist Church-sponsored service at Altavista Memorial Park was beautiful and succient – two things I appreciate. Just to round out this post, I also threw in a few shots from an egg hunt yesterday at Peakland United Methodist Church in Lynchburg.
In: children, holiday, Lynchburg, nature, spring, sunset, Virginia
Hill City Baseball
Some shots from the baseball diamonds of Lynchburg so far this season.
In: b/w, children, city, Lynchburg, night, sports, Virginia
Kids Being Kids
I want to dedicate this to the talented Katie Barnes, who today reminded me that the things I take for granted (and even complain about) I may someday miss. Specifically, feature hunting, and having an outlet for photographs of everyday life that I am able to publish and share with tens of thousands of readers. Here is a set of photos from a feature hunt last week, taken during an aimless drive through residential Lynchburg.
In: children, Lynchburg, nature, sports, spring, summer, Virginia
Announcing Spring
In: Lynchburg, nature, spring, Virginia
Buy Me A Beer
My birthday is on Saturday.
Let me explain. This year for my birthday I want you to buy me a beer. Being born on St. Patty’s day I think this is an appropriate request. One pint, on draft, $5. Tradition, right? But I know I won’t be able to see most of you, and a mug of beer doesn’t do well in the mail. So instead, I will ask that you take that same $5 and sent it to one of these three organizations. I have always had trouble deciding where to donate time and money, believing that only after comparing mission statements and researching financial records will I know which one deserves my help more than the others. The fact is, there isn’t any magic formula for being charitable. All charities could use our help and most of them are hurting now more than ever. So if you can’t pick, do eenie-meenie-miney-moe and see where you land. (Although I would encourage some of you to start on #2 or #3, or else everyone will land on the same one…) And if you still feel weird about narrowing it down, consider a small donation to each. 3x$5=$15, which is like two Irish Car Bombs plus tip, right?
I feel very fortunate to be employed, sheltered, healthy, and surrounded by friends. I don’t really have anything else on my list, so I thought it would be nice to help others meet those same basic needs.
- Habitat for Humanity – affordable housing (donate)
- Jacob’s Ladder – job training (donate)
- charity: water – clean water (donate)
The time it takes to fill out a donation page will be less than the time it takes to pay your tab on Saturday night, I promise. And of course I completely support donating to any other charity or organization you might prefer.
Thank you very much 
-pmb
ps- please tweet and link to this post with tinyurl.com/bdaybeer
