The Creation

WOW!  I was just reading TheBlaze.com and found this AMAZING picture of a baby grabbing a doctors hand while still in the womb during a C-section. It kind of reminds me of Leonardo da Vinci's classic painting "The Creation of Adam" does it not?


There is a twist of irony to this story that makes it semi-relevant to this blog. As it turns out, the mother in the photo is a professional photographer and yet it was her non-professional husband who is the one who took the picture. Dad, I think it will be some time before mom is able to top this picture! (Then again, I'm betting mom doesn't care one bit. ;0)

More on this story, as well as a video interview with the couple, can be found here

Hatsuhinode

The sunrise on the first day of the New Year is known as hatsuhinode.

The picture above was taken at Santa Barbara City College, overlooking the Santa Barbara Harbor as the sun rose just after 7:00 AM.

With the advent of the new year, I decided to give the blog a bit of a facelift with a clearer definition of where I would like to take this for the coming year. I hope you enjoy the new look and format.

Spent a wonderful evening at Calvary Chapel Santa Barbara last night as one of the ministries at church "Real Life" put on an evening of singing, worship, fun and fellowship. Highlights included some AMAZING homemade Buffalo Wings as well as some highly competitive games of dominoes with Carol Smullens and her son. Actually, it was only ONE game of dominoes, and we quickly realized that nobody knew exactly how to play. Nevertheless, a good time was had by all.

This morning I headed up to Lompoc and spent the day with my dear friends the Grahams and had a mini-movie marathon of watching Thor followed by the Avengers. A good time was had by all as we watched movies and ate delicious home-made macaroni and cheese (Maggie's is the BEST!!!) as well as tri-tip. No vegetables were to be found this night, which officially made it a meal of "man-food" for the evening <Insert Tim Allen grunt here>.

I am so blessed to have Chris and Maggie back in my life again. I had lost touch with them for 20 years as I stepped away from the faith (What was I thinking?) and their family have been such a  loving blessing to me over the last two years. Thank you Lord, for bringing be back and having such good friends to fellowship with in your name.

2013 will be a year where I hope to make many, many more deep connections with people of fiath. I hope YOU are one of them!

=BM=

A Passing Storm

The HDR (High Dynamic Range) photo above, was taken this evening at sunset, near the Baccarra hotel in Goleta. I was sitting at home when suddenly at 4:00, I remembered the GORGEOUS sunset just a few days prior.  With the stormy weather we had last night and this morning I was hoping that this evenings sunset would be just as spectacular. With this in mind, I quickly jumped up, grabbed my gear and set out for the Baccarra hotel, in hopes of getting a deep saturated red sky photograph.

On a side note, due to the geography of the coastline in Santa Barbara, the Baccarra is one of the only easily accessible beaches that that actaullyfaces west (actually, south west). Cabrillo Blvd (aka East and West Beach here in Santa Barabara), for example, faces south east. 

As I jumped into my car and headed north, I was quickly greeted by dark clouds and a downpour of rain. Being breifly discouraged, I checked my iPhone and noticed a small, yet concentrated spot of rain on the doppler radar map. Perhaps I coulds wait it out and the storm wpould pass and allow me to get a shot?

I pulled into the parking lot at Haskell'ss Beach at 4:30 as the rain was coming down hard. According to my phone, sunset was at 4:58 PM so I decided to just sit and wait and see if the storm would pass and break before sunset, allowing me to get a shot.

As I was sitting in my car, enjoying the sound of the rain falling onto the roof of my car, I started to think about the past twenty months and how good the Lord has been to me during this time. I was struck by the metaphor of the passing storm and how we often times need to wait upon the Lord in stormy times (A recurring lesson the Lord seems to continually teach me on a daily basis) In waiting for the storm to pass, I looked up some passages on waiting on the Lord and found this jewel fron 2nd Peter.

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance  - 2 Peter 3:9
 
Wow! I was immediately struck with how this applies to me. As someone who has walked in sin for twenty years prior, actually turning away from the Lord for that period of time and then returning and recommitting my life to him almost two years ago, it is good to know that He is much more patient with me than I deserve. The good news is that no matter where we are in life, He will always wait for you to turn to him, or was was in my case, turn back to Him.

Suddenly, and almost immediately, the downpour stopped, so I grabbed my gear and trodded down the gravel road, skillfuly dodging flooded potholes and puddles, keeping my feet dry.

I set up my gear and although I was not greeted with the crimson display I had seen just a few nights prior, I did get a fairly dramatic sky and a decent image out of the journey.

There is always beauty after a passing storm, when you trust and wait upon the Lord.

=BM=

Merry Christmas

Luke 2:11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 

14“Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

 What an amazing 4 days I have had! 

I have had an incredibly busy month of December this year, directing two choruses (Santa Barbara and Santa Maria), singing in my quartet FourGiven an also singing in the Trinity Lutheran Church Choir. 

I had been going hard every night since the first weekend in the month and finally midway through the month on December 14, I attended a Quire of Voyces concert, (whom I LOVE) but was ultimately too tired and worn out to stick around for the second half of the performance and sadly, I had to leave.

As I was driving home from the QV performance, thinking of all of the performances I had done in the past two weeks and looking ahead to what was yet to come, I felt overwhelmed and just beat down. Moreover, it had occurred to me that I had been so focused on getting through this hard time, I had been completely counting on ME to do it and had lost sight of of the Holly Spirit.

That night, I prayed for the Holly Spirit to fill my mind, heart and soul and he payed off in spades. The last four days have been an absolute absolute AMAZING answer to prayer!

Saturday evening, Dec 22nd, Kathy Fitzgerald of Calvary Chapel in Santa Barbara set up an amazing singles mixer for the night. We must have had 50 people attend, all engaging in fun and fellowship. Although that was a lot of fun the best part was an unexpected event wehere after we ate, we broke out into a session of singing carols and prayer led by Heather Faith.  We to hear from a woman by the name of Keesha (i think) who just did an amazing job, briefly sharing her testimony, as well as a gentleman by the name of Tony. It was such an amazing part of the evening... The Holly spirit was there in the room at that gorgeous Montecito estate and we had a great time.

Sunday, Dec 23: On Sunday afternoon, there was a memorial service for Fran Thayer, with of assistant pastor Ted Theyer of Calvary Chapel. Fran's husband Teddy went up and lead worship in his wifes memory and was able to keep it together while singing a tribute to her.  David Guzik also gave an amazing sermon on "heaven" and knocked it pout of the park. Even still, the service was so joyfull and upbeat. It was a perfcet way of honoring Ted's wife and the love of Christ in their lives.The Holly Sprit was AGAIN palpable and present in this beautiful ceremony. I was touched quite deeply even though I was fighting off a low-grade headache that day.

Shortly after the memorial service, I stayed for the 5:00 service and David was on his game again, as he preached out of the book of Exodus.

Monday Dec 24, - I attended the Calvary Chapel service at the Granada Theater and acted as a usher for the event. Our guest musician Evan Whikam who was AMAZING (I bought all three of his CD's) and David Guzik preached on "Christmas trees" and Christs life began with a tree in the garden of Eden with man's fall from grace, and then ended on a tree (cross) when Christ died and resurrected on the third day to atone for our sins.  Again, another home run from Dave!  After the Granada, it was off to Trinity Lutheran Church for singing at two services #1) the 6:00 service #2) the 9:30 service. These are my favorite services of the year with TLC as they always bring out all of the stops and bring in brass, harebells and all sorts of wonderful music. 

Tuesday, Dec 25, Christmas Day. I spent the morning at mom and dads opening presents and having breakfast at 8:00 AM, then headed over to some dear friends at noon and got to hang out with their massive family and watch as the mass of people opened opened their presents.  The big news was that these friends, who are having financial difficulties, have been blessed by their mortgage company who is going to forgive a portion of their mortgage and give them an unbelievable fixed, rate to refinance their home, so that they can keep their home.  THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN  FOLKS! Their blessing rubbed off on me as that has been an answer to prayer for all who know them.  God is SO good!

After that, it was back home for Christmas with my aunt, uncle and cousin where we had just a wonderful dinner and evening together.

As I prepare for bed, I just had to reflect on the fact that the last four days have been as busy as the first part of the month. The difference, is that the Holy Spirit was present in these last four days and instead of there being a burden, there was great joy in experiencing the Holly Spirit..

Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.

Jesus Christ is not only willing, but wanting to be let into your life. Hear his voice, open the door and let him into your life.  He will bless your life as he has mine. We just need to ask.

=BM=

Baptisms on the Beach

There is a  yearly tradition at my church, Calvary Chapel Santa Barbara and even though this is only my second time attending, I can honestly say that is quickly becoming one of my favorite events of  the year.

Every year, the church meets at a local beach or pool, grills up some AMAZING food (BBQ Tacos this year!) and performs baptisms for those who want to publicly profess their faith in Jesus Christ.

This event is always very well attended and this year was no exception. Even with cold stormy weather an the threat of rain, I estimate that we had 150-200 people show up for the event. What an amazing time.

Of course, the event resonates for me so well, because last year, Sept 1st, 2011, I was baptized at Goleta Beach, putting an exclamation point on my rededicated walk with Jesus Christ last year.

That happy fellow is me, just after getting baptized last year.

“Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life” (Romans 6:3-4)

I can't believe that it has been just over one year since I was baptized. I can look back on this past year and see how far I have come in my walk with the Lord and yet also reflect on some regrettable and shameful mistakes I have made in the past year and how far I desire and still need to go. Sometimes the Lord can find a way to keep us all humble and rooted in him. I am just forever grateful that he is one who's forgiveness is everlasting. I come up so short, so often, yet he still keeps accepting me. Nobody said that a new walk with Christ would be an easy one, however, given time, patience and bit of humility, God's Grace will renew your spirit if you trust in him.

As a photographer, the one thing that I really missed out on last year, was that there was nobody there to take a picture of the moment.  I remember being so filled with the Holly Spirit, I wish that there was somebody who would have taken a picture of me at that moment as I had just come out of the water. Something that I could look back upon and remind me of the joy I was feeling that day.

Well, I am a photographer, so I decided to do something a little extra special. Instead of doing "event style" photography taking random pictures of people at the beach, using a long lens and shallow aperture in available light, I decided to do more of a portrait session with off-camera flash.

WARNING: Semi-Technical Photographer Mumbo-Jumbo Ahead

The setup was simple. I had an 12' heavy-duty light stand, anchored to the beach with three 26 lb sand bags. Raised to level of about 8' was a Westcott Boom arm supporting a 50" Westcott Apollo softbox.  The light was a single Nikon SB-900 speedlight triggered by a Pocket Wizard Flex TT5.

Using the Pocket Wizard AC3 Zone Controller on top of my Flex Mini, attached to my trusty Nikon D700, I was able  to quickly adjust the output of the flash, wirelessly, for each shot.  This was especially important, because a 50" nylon softbox is essentially a kite if there is any breeze whatsoever. When that kite is attached to a boom arm and light stand anchored with over 70 lbs of weight, it essentially becomes a weather vane, and moves and  shifts position however the wind blows.  In other words, for each shot, the light would be in a different position, so I would have to dial the flash up or down as needed. I couldn't have done it without the AC3 Zone COntroller. I LOVE this piece of kit!

END OF: Semi-Technical Photographer Mumbo-Jumbo HERE

One by one, the people who were newly baptized, came up and I had the privilege of photographing them in their moment of rebirth and glory with the Lord. What a blessing it was to be able to share in this moment with them.  With my own baptism only one year removed, I was reminded again, how glorious our Lord Jesus Christ is, just how lucky I am to have him as my savior, and how blessed I am to have other to share in his glory.

 =BM=

God's Precious Miracle

 

In early June, I leaned that Calvary Chapel of Santa Barbara's assistant pastor Lars Linton and his wife Emily, were expecting their second child in mid-July. In my relatively brief time of attending Calvary Chapel of Santa Barbara, Lars has always been an encouraging friend and my faithful "buddy" sitting next to me regularly at Thursday morning Forge men's bible studies. 

In anticipation of the big event, I emailed Lars and offered to take family portraits of their newborn baby, shortly after she is born.  I told Lars that to get the best pictures of the baby, we would need to shoot withing the first week of her birth, that way we could get shots of her "folded" up tight,  else her tummy might get too big and she could not curl up quite as comfortably.  Lars and Emily were excited at the proposition, so we all eagerly waited for the day that their newborn baby would be brought into the world.

On July 6, 2012, the day came that would change the Linton's lives for the foreseeable future.  

Emily had a good, short, period of labor and she delivered a beautiful baby girl named Lindy Grace.

Merely hours after her birth, things started going terribly wrong. Aas Lindy started losing color, it was quickly discovered that baby Lindy was born with a congenital heart condition known as Tetrology of Fallot which does not allow her to get the oxygen she needs. Mere hours after Lars and Emily were celebrating the arrival of their precious baby girl, she was whisked away and transported to UCLA Medical Menter where she would be kept in the NCIU and eventfully undergo open heart surgery just two weeks later.         Details of Lindy's experience can be found at her blog page at lindygrace.com where Lars and Emily document in detail, the events leading up to the surgery and in baby Lindy's recovery.

As a single guy with no kids, I cannot fathom the idea of having your two week old infant go through open heart surgery. The pain and uncertainty must be unbearable, yet throughout this entire ordeal, Lars and Emily's faith in the Lord has been tested, yet they have remained steadfast in God's grace and love throughout the entire ordeal. I eagerly await every blog post they make and am constantly encouraged by the faith and patience they are having during these trying weeks. 

Last week, I received an email with a blog post that indicated that little Lindy would finally be arriving home in Santa Barbara. Shortly after that blog post, I received an email from Emily asking when we mght be able to get that promised photo shoot in?

YEE-HA! I was excited to learn that Lars and Emily wanted to do it soon, VERY soon, so we planned on Saturday morning, Sept 1st at 9:00AM at their apartment.

On Saturday morning, I packed up my gear and then said a quick prayer before heading over to their house, asking for the Lord to bring peace to baby Lindy during the process and not let the clicking of the shutter or the popping of the studio strobes to upset her and also that the adults would be patient and just roll with whatever little Lindy would allow us to do. Would she be fussy and cranky? Would she be uncomfortable laying on her belly with her feeding tube in the way? Healthy babies are unpredictable as it is, so how would a baby who just arrived home days before, after open heart surgery just a couple of week prior fare in the process?

I eagerly arrived on site and proceeded to take some natural light pictures of little Lindy for about an hour and then broke out the studio strobe and soft box to take family portraits and was out in less than two hours.  

Lindy did very well the entire time with very little fussing and no major "biological surprises" to speak of. (Thank goodness! :0)

After all is said and done, I was able to get some beautiful images  of some good friends with their precious new miracle baby girl. There are still many challenges coming up, including more surgeries as well as regular feedings, so that she can get the nourishment she needs for proper growth. 

Still, I am awestruck that the life of a precious, fragile, 7 week old baby girl, is teaching us all about putting our trust in the Lord, during times of confusion and uncertainty.

                  Fear not, for I am with you;
                  Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
                  I will strengthen you,
                  Yes, I will help you,
                  I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

                         Isaiah 41:10

=BM=

 

Graduation Day

On Saturday, June 6, 2012, I had the honor of photographing the graduation ceremonies for the Santa Barbara Christian Homesteaders Inc. a group of local home schoolers throughout Santa Barbara. 


My dear friends Chris and Maggie Graham had a seven children participate in event. (WOW! Congratulations!)

The afternoon started off with families coming over to a small garden area at the side of the church.  I had a single Paul C Buff Einstein studio strobe set up camera right, with a five foot octobox as my modifier of choice.  Families were then welcome to come over and have portits taken of their graduating children, as well as having pictures taken with attending family members.


Wow! What great looking kids!  I was really struck by how well mannered and well behaved these kids were.  They were an absolute joy to photograph.


During the portrait session, I had to keep things moving, yet tried to keep things upbeat and fun, as there were a lot of families waiting for portraits. It was  bit of a challenge, but a highly enjoyable experience.


When the graduation ceremony started, it was more of a run and gun type of a scenario. Each child was instructed to hold up their diploma after they received it and that was my cue to take a picture.  Armed with my Nikor 70-200 f2.8 lens and on-camera flash, I was able to bounce the flash off of the white ceiling giving the pictures a bit of fill light.


 It sounds easy, however the kids names were called out very quickly. The good news is that I was able to match the tempo of the event, so everyone got a decent picture out of it.


Before the graduating seniors came out, my friend Drew Kawiecki, an associate pastor at Calvary Chapel of Santa Barbara gave the commencement address for the graduating class.


Then the seniors came out one by one, and I had to snap a portrait as they walked down the aisle.

Did I mention what a a good looking group of kids these were?


 When it was all said and done, I came home feeling absolutely blessed for having had the opportunity to participate in this special day for these young people who love the Lord.