The Human Tree

  As a photojournalist you meet a lot of people from all walks of life. Some good, some not so good and a lot somewhere in the middle. It can make a person kind of cynical about the human race and how little regard we have for the plight of those less fortunate than ourselves. 

  Then you get the chance to meet someone like Gary Randle, who founded and is the Executive Director of H.O.P.E. Farm, Inc. in Fort Worth. An organization that tries to fill the void in inner city  youths who are missing a male roll model in their lives. 

  He has dedicated his life to making what most people would refer to as a low income community better with devotion of his time and energy to give boys their father figures back. He and his staff inspire, encourage and even discipline their "sons" to become better men in their community. He has become the six foot eight inch oak in the south side neighborhood that brings stability into families lives. 

  Makes me want to strive a little harder to do some good for the people in my community. Guess I can start just by saying thanks to everyone that cares at least a little. May "This" tree of a man inspire us all to do some good around us and make the world a little brighter and a lot more meaningful. 

Future Star

  I got an early call on Friday. The reporter that I was to meet for a photo shoot with an NFL draft prospect was stuck in Shreveport after his plane was rerouted on the flight to Dallas/Fort Worth. Seems the thunderstorms were too much for the plane as well as the roads around here. 

  This meant that I was on my own to try and get the images for USA Today.  A little minor shuffling of schedules and a lot of non-rain dances and I arrive at Carter High School in Dallas to meet with Allen Wilson, the schools football coach. Spent an hour talking football strategies with a couple of the most genuine coaches you could meet as we waited for our subject to show up. 

   We knew he was

there when all the kids in the hall started swooning. Amazing, and to think 2 years earlier he was one of the young faces in the hall. 

  Michael Crabtree enters the room, quiet and unassuming. With media and sports stars you never know what you are going to get, but he was really charming and still has the utmost praise for his former coaches, both high school and peewee. 

  Always delights you when players exceed their hype. Just makes me excited for what he can accomplish and wish him the best. 

Catching My Breath

  Thought I would keep it simple today with just a single image.

   I have a few patches of these wild onions sprouting up randomly in the yard that make these wonderful little blooms. They are coming out of what looks like an alien egg pod or something just as unusual. The flowers themselves are really interesting, with really delicate little petals, but before they open they look like a tiny tulip at the top of a thin stalk. 

  Astounding at the nuances I find in the simplest places if I just look close enough. One more example of the inter-connectivity you find in mother nature. 

Blooms Galore

   I think this blooming project may be getting out of hand, today I noticed that virtually every plant in my yard has some sort of colorful flower on it. There are yellow ones on the clovers, delicate white ones on the wild onions, dandelions even get a complex little yellow bloom before turning into the notorious seed heads that every gardener fears.

   Im trying not to be discriminatory in my selection, as I analyze plants the miniscule details start to show themselves. Tiny cellulose structures, the shape of the leaves, the veins on all the surfaces, every part of it is fascinating. 

  

My Backyard

  As I looked around my yard yesterday, I was impressed with the variety of colors and shapes of blooms that abounded there. For years I thought that it seemed like such a waste that they come and go so quickly and very few people really see the details and shapes of the gorgeous formations. 

  So in a flight of creative energy, I set about shooting images of all the flowers I could find in my yard. Needless to say I had no idea what I was getting into. Every time I walk out the door to go pick the next specimen I find some other plant that has sprung for spring.

  Im not limiting it to just the plants that I had anything to do with, some are the weeds, some native wildflowers that are just popping up and of course the dandelions too. Attached are a few of the examples, shall see how this all goes. Always thought about doing this but now I have actually started the project of photographing "The blooms in My Backyard". 

Spring Has Sprung

  A blustery wind is blowing outside, but the sun is shining. All around are new colors and everything seems to be growing like there is no tomorrow. The closer I look the more things I see that are alive and moving. Even those little things you probably don't want to see a lot of, like the bugs eating all those pretty blooms. 

   Of course that just means that you have to take the good with the bad no matter what it  is. Wind with the warm sun, bugs with the blooms, allergies with all the pretty flowers and on and on it goes. When you really think about it though, none of it is that bad so you really get nothing but good stuff. You just have to take into consideration your perspective. Here is to a really colorful scene around everyone. 

Car trips

   So this morning I hear that the Department of Public Safety closed down the interstates and major highways in the far northwest part of Texas due to a massive blizzard. Having just driven thru that part of the country brings back memories of big skies, waving grasslands that stretch to the horizon and some of the most beautiful colors in a sunset possible. I realize there are probably people stuck in snowdrifts along that part of highway now and it doesn't look anything like that. Never ceases to amaze me how quickly the weather can change.

  Also makes me appreciate car travel. Over the years of trips I've taken, and in every direction I have gone, it is awe inispiring the landscapes I have seen and would have completely missed had I been in an airplane. Untold sunrises, sunsets, scenic vistas and crazy weather passed outside the windows of the car I was riding in. I couldn't count the numbers of cookies, sodas and other junk food that were consumed in all those miles. Looking back on it though, I would not trade them for anything because they make the time spent at the destination that much more special and the memories of the trips so much more colorful. So at this point I hoist my  mug for a toast to the cars wind screen and may it continue to be my movie screen even if there is no script to go by.

Good from bad

I wake up Monday morning to a dark room, way too dark. All those little telltale lights of the TV and alarm clock are not there. The wind outside is still howling and then I realize, with all that wind a tree has fallen on the power lines running up to Taos Ski Valley. Im here trying to shoot pictures for upcoming ski stories and you just cant do that when the weather takes a dumper. This is going to be one tough day to shoot pretty ski pictures. The depression starts to set in even before the biting cold hits my face. I make the best of it but my heart is just not in it. I go to bed worn out and bummed because it just does not look as good as it could.

   Ahhh! Tuesday is a whole new day. Just amazing how a little sun can change my perspective. To top it all off, there is some fresh snow to boot. With those stunningly blue New Mexico skies to set it off and the pictures just come together. It is days like this that makes taking pictures so much fun.  I can not believe that this is still called work. Guess it makes up for all the bad days, huh? 

Learning experience

I think I re-learn every day that the simple things in life are the most important, and my teacher always seems to be my dog Kimo. Seeing a little snow, hanging his head out the car window,  letting his ears flap in the breeze, the sight of a squirrel or just running crazy fast circles. It doesnt matter if all he does is pee in a new spot, all of it brings joy to his world. Some day I hope to be able to see all the little things and be that easily amused. 

Corpus Christi beaches

Ahh, so I took a trip to Corpus Christi with the sidekick Kimo to hang on the beach and get a little surfing, kiteboarding and windsurfing. Lots of wind but crazy surf with some good size to it but really jumbled and lots of current. Had a great time anyway, and of course the dog really loved it. Does amaze me still by haw little it takes to find enjoyment. Seems that the less that is involved the more fun you can have with it

So hard to get out of bed this morning, everything is cold. I heard it was 23 degrees, pull the covers up a little higher, but Kimo really wants to go for a walk and just doesn't seem to be phased by the cold. Guess that is what the heavy fur coat does for you. Finally got out just as the sun was rising over the horizon and looked around at all the frost thru a thick layer of cold fog. Everything was covered in beautiful crystal formations creating these perfect outlines on all the leaves. Kimo just wanted to pee on everything but I sent him on his way alone and inspected some of them closer. Just amazing what nature can create and how quickly it changes, the first rays of sunshine and it all disappeared. Guess mother nature showed me, even the cold days are worth getting out of bed for.

Off we go

  So another adventure, I saw the Ewan MacGregor and Charlie Boorman tale "The Long Way Round" trip around the world on motorcycles today and was inspired to come up with another adventure of my own. Having just completed 2 months in the state of San Luis Potosi, Mexico running rivers and the like I have been inspired by the lads to start another adventure as soon as possible. Where to derive the funds is the problem at the moment, but I guess the direction I go will have a bearing on that since the amount of funds needed would change. Seems the adventures are all around, the author of "In Search of Captain Zero" just started his big exodus from the states to some place south of the border as well. The big question seems to be where to, warm or cold?