• Candid Portraits,  People/Portraits

    Posing

    July 30, 2010
    Posing

    I mentioned a few days ago about a new coffee shop (hangout) I found in Old Gahanna. I think it is going to be a nice hit for the people in the area. It’s also next to a Cold Stones Creamery (which can be trouble), a couple of decent restaurants and a couple of bars. Anyway, I witnessed an interesting scene on that first visit. While sitting inside enjoying the air-conditioning, I noticed this young child perched one of the tables outside the coffee shop. She had a couple of siblings with her and all were dressed in white. A photographer was shooting some outdoor family portraits and was using the tables as props. Since the photographer, and the mother, were working hard to get her to pose, I figured I needed to shoot at least one image from my angle. Not sure what his images looked like but her pose worked just fine for me.

    Read More
  • People/Portraits

    Cute As a Button

    July 3, 2010
    Cute As a Button

    When Melissa met me at the coffee shop last weekend, she brought along her niece, Ali. So, I had two lovely women with me that day. While we were sitting outside at a table I noticed this childrens clothing store which was a converted house that had an unusual name, Cute As a Button. Ali was kind enough to let me take a photo of her under the sign. And, she is cute as a button!

    Read More
  • Cityscapes/Urban

    First Ice Cream

    March 4, 2010
    First Ice Cream

    I found these young children enjoying their first ice cream of the season in Old Town in Fort Collins. Temperatures were in the low 50’s yesterday so lots of people were in shorts, shirt sleeves, riding bicycles, and eating ice cream.

    Read More
  • Photography

    Making a Splash

    August 3, 2009
    Making a Splash

    This is not a technically well done image but because it has a powerful message, it speaks volumes to me.

    This child is enjoying life, living it as it should be lived. She is experiencing life and at the same time is learning what happens when you jump in puddles of water. I love it! I was amazed at her focus, oblivious to all that was around her. The child within her, and is also within us, was fully alive. Some where along life we lose some of the childlike curiosity, thinking adults must not act in certain ways. I ask, why not?

    I also like how her parents, whose feet you see in the background, are letting her splash. As a grandparent I’ve come to enjoy the experience of watching children play and even joined in. I’m reminded of a time I climbed up on a slide behind my oldest grandson. When we reached the top and he noticed I’d followed him, he told me too big grandpa. I answered, “Oh, yeah! Watch this.” and down the slide I went, more than once. Why don’t we encourage others to splash more?

    Read More
  • People/Portraits

    Good people…

    July 11, 2009
    Olivier

    …will pop in to our lives and bring their smiles. I’ve had the opportunity to spend time with one of my pilots, his wife, Cindy and their son Olivier. They are good people and not because they invited me over for a BBQ the other evening. They are just good people inside. I enjoyed seeing their new home and hearing about all the things they have done to the house and what some of their plans are for the future. This is their son, Olivier, who wanted to make sure we watched as he rolled down the slope in the backyard. Can you tell he likes the new house also? Yep, good people!

    Read More
  • Documentary/Street

    Waiting for a rider

    July 5, 2009
    Come ride with me

    When I arrived, the streets of Granville, Ohio were barricaded. The streets were busy in preparation for the 4th of July celebration as food vendors were filling the streets with the smell of their delights and the carnival rides were being prepped. It seems as if this horse is patiently waiting for the young boy or girl to sit astride and take a few turns around the carousel. What fun!

    Read More
  • coffee shops,  Documentary/Street,  People/Portraits

    Gathering Places

    June 16, 2009
    Gathering Place

    Not everyone drinks coffee or tea at coffee shops. These shops, both small mom-and-pop and corporate, have become gathering places for conversation, study groups, romantic meetings and business deals. It’s a place for perking up in the morning and relaxing in the afternoon. People will go out to eat then stop for a coffee and conversation before going home. If you find a favorite one you will find yourself building a community of fellow coffee drinkers. I have a accumulated a family of friends from visits to these shops. Some of those will be life long friendships. Yep, coffee shops are a gathering place.

    For these children it’s also a time to play. I  like the comparison of the mother in the background talking with her hands while the children are playing a game with their hands.

    Read More
  • Metro Parks,  People/Portraits

    Mother and Daughter

    May 5, 2009
    At Frog Pond

    I needed some space and quiet today so I headed for Inniswood Gardens. It wasn’t the quiet I wanted as they were busy working on some of the park.  A Bobcat was whirling around and a saw was whirring through timber. Not to be turned down I ventured deeper into the wooded area on the path to find the quiet. Ahhh! On the way back to the car I discovered this mother and daughter at the Frog Pond. They are looking a two turtles sun bathing on a log just below them. You can see the larger of the two turtles just to the left of the yellow flower and its reflection. I like how the young girl is telling her mom something and using her arms to add emphasis to her story. Yes, I know it’s pretty harsh light but I like the image.

    Read More
  • Avian

    Zoo Time

    April 23, 2009
    Zoo time
    Hold still, you’re making this difficult.
    Parrots at Columbus Zoo

    Two of my roommates made a day trip to the zoo this past weekend and as you would expect for a weekend, children were everywhere. And, why not, aren’t zoos for children? NO! they are for all of us to enjoy. Anyway, Jamie was showing me images this morning and it triggered my mind to the images I took this past summer. I looked back through them and found some I really like. I added a few images to my gallery that you can find here. I enjoyed the above image depicting the enjoyment of a child meeting nature up close and personal and I chose the the following image as it shows and adult enjoying the nature. Nature is truly an artist as seen in the image of the parrots.

    Read More