Last 2016 Post

2016 was by no means a breakthrough year, but it was quite a good year photography wise. The biggest was being selected as the primary photographer to decorate the new Odom Moses offices in town. Many of my works were enlarged 20x30 and such, matted and framed very professionally. There was a reception and tour. It was a hit. I would never afford to do so many so well. 2016 I was able to reconnect with the Reporter and do two covers for the Currents magazine and several front page photos. Too bad I couldn't work full time. The Gallery, I think I sold enough to not go in the red on rent and framing. It's still a struggle to select what will sell and not be too cheap. The Happenings page was started and grew to 3500 followers. Instagram was started and grows daily, nearing a 1000 followefollowers. The Facebook pages don't grow and few people respond unless it's something with people in it. I find it frustrating as what I like, poetry and the creative or far out photo, people don't.
I was able to do two covers for Johnny Bullard's books. I did free work for Baya. I shot one wedding.
Tomorrow I start a church directory for Fellowship Baptist. So on to 2017.

Lens binge

It could be the result of the same old result, of reading too many reviews, that I bit for the Adorama sirens and ordered a Tokina 11-24 2.8 lens. In addition a polarizer, tripod and lens hood. Do not know if things will improve, being that the 18-300 has improved things marginally. 0ne thing is certain, the Cabela's VISA is near max.

Lantern Park

Today I attended the 50th anniversary of the Lantern Park Baptist Church founded by the late LE Peterson. I attended by myself, Melanie keeping Mama. I went down to the 2nd row on the left,the place we sat in the late 80's and 90's when Melanie taught Awana and our sons were little. I was baptized by Rev Peterson. They were great people. We parted ways sadly when I came to oppose the dispensational teaching. It was a strong no no, to which I was called the poison man by attempting to send contrary tracts to the deacons. The Sunday Rev Peterson said he would reveal the poison man if he didn't stop, we quietly bowed out. This was the first time back since. I have to assume nothing has changed and being independent fundamentalist it still adheres to Scofield and his system. It wasn't a hill to die upon but I did.

Driving Me Crazy

We took a long ride yesterday to Cross City for the buffet dinner at the Carriage Inn. From there across the highway to Dairy Queen for sundaes and such. It was raining with lightening. Our day of photography seemed a wash. We proceeded up 19 toward Jena, turning into the scrub to make our way to Steinhatchee falls. I took the perfunctory few photos despite the lack of proper light. We loaded and drove in to town, Steinhatchee that is, pausing at Roy's to survey the recent storm damage. from Hermene. We went back into the scrub to a pond, perfunctory photos. Over to a landing. PP.
To Shared Island. Dixie Mainline. Suwannee. And on. Perfunctory. Photos.
Point being. You cannot drive a photographer. I gave up trying to say stop, slow, wait.
I just thought of returning alone.

Honesty

Honesty hasn't always been my strong suit lately. In the realm of photography, the raw image as from the camera or iPhone has been manipulated, often without the knowledge of the viewer. I've added full moons to scenes, I've manipulated color, sharpness, etc. Some images to the point you would not recognize it from the original. It emanates from an unhealthy desire toward a wow factor, to garner likes. What is the solution? Don't do it unless there is full confession of the image being manipulated or created. It is a great and fun way to save images but the viewer should be made aware for my own integrity sake.

Reach One

It was my senior year at Florida Southern 1979. I had declared an Art Education major mainly out of exasperation, the only thing I could do at the time. I really did not aspire to teach. But it was practical and seemed a way to get a job in art. In the course of the year, early on I was assigned to Mrs Plemons kindergarten art class in nearby Winter Haven. I was to observe and learn. It was a wonderful week with the then innocent and excited kindergarteners. I so hoped my internship would be with the kindly Mrs Plemons. The last semester arrived and schools were assigned. To my great disappointment I was given 7th grade at the then new Lake Gibson Junior High. The teacher was Mr Weinstein, a Jewish gentleman who had a strong disdain for my Christianity. The art classes were basically detention halls for the students. Most of the time was spent breaking up fights, quieting the class, getting control. Mr Weinstein was the constant recepient of pranks. When it came time to turn the classes over to me, Weinstein was more than ready for a break. And so I proceeded with my projects, one such creating a stained glass paper mosaic, of which Weinstein opposed as being too religious. And so the end came. I passed. I vowed never to teach again.
It seemed a total loss. Years later, well into a career in retail, one day I received a letter from Lakeland. It was Greg, one of the shy students who was picked on and did not fit in. He wrote that of all the teachers he had in school, I was his favorite. He wanted to write and thank me. It made my eyes well up. So it wasn't a loss after all. I had reached one.

March Madness

Kentucky got beat by Indiana this past Saturday, ending a so-so season. Much of my blogging has gone since I got a certain visit in December, that showed me this blog was being followed, searching for reasons to continue hurting me. So I've quit. Sad that only twelve or so people ever followed this blog, yet the one ruins it.
These days I've been working again going on nearly a year now after a long unemployment since 2012 when I had a one year meter reading job. I am now a driver for a Medical company setting up o2 and such. I travel. It's good. Low pay. So-so bosses who try my patience. No job is as we would like. I manage. Pays some bills.
I drive the old PT cruiser and my only son Jordon drives the pathfinder we bought from my sisters ex husband. We still miss the 4wd pathfinder we gave to our other son.
Melanie the wife after a year working away in Williston Hospital as Dir of Nurses, got a job at Hospice as dir of nurses. Much better. She likes it.
Still have work at Gallery in town. Sell here and there. The Odom Moses Accounting Company recently honored me by enlarging and framing many of my prints for their new offices. Very well done.
I will try and blog as I think about it.