I am THANKFUL
For my parents and extended family. Especially those that walked across the country when horses were the Cadillac of travel, just to settle and have their own. They were the toughest of all and taught us what real endurance means.
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I am thankful for my eyesight. Lately I have been not shooting as much. My vision is as bad as it has ever been and worse. Getting old usually means eye wear and Cataract’s. I am fortunate to live at a time when cataract surgery is almost as common as a cold. Next month I will have two surgeries to fix both eyes. God willing I will have 20-20 vision for the rest of my life. Can’t wait to look through the viewfinder again and see what is and is not in focus. Yipeee!
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I’m thankful for HDR, macro, flash, Color Efex pro, NAPP, Nikon, Apple, Wacom, Scandisk, Gitzo, Really Right Stuff, Gimble heads, filters, and anything that makes me better at my passion than I really am. I am blessed to be able to enjoy these “things” and put them to use.
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I am thankful for critters of all kinds. Just the fact that they will stop and pose for me. My life has been full of experiences few people get to enjoy. I’ve been charged by a grizzly, chased by a Big Horn Sheep, dove at by a Golden Eagle, bit by all kinds of insects, almost caught by a Badger, kissed by a Camel and cornered by a Moose. For 30+ years my life has been full of color, action and opportunities to enjoy God’s creations.
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I am thankful for Christians. All faiths. The true believers. The faithful and the humble. The people that bring credibility to the constitution. Ones that level the playing field. Those that believe in true PEACE.
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Most importantly I am grateful for my family and friends. People like Ms. A. May. That greets me everyday with a huge smile and lifts my spirits. Friends that I know I can stand with for the right. Heroes like OF, Wendell, Randy O., Don L., Bishop Clark, and others that have cemented my character. Those that know my “ism’s” but still put up with me like P Nall, Kelly I, Paul H., Thomas N., April C., Steve H., Dan M. Brad M., Dan P., and many others.
My family is my breath of life. My wife that has corrected me for 36 years and still loves me. My children that know how much I love their Mother. AND I LOVE THEM! My children have been so blessed by her. She will always make time for them. And then there is my Grandest Kids. Holy Cow! I never new how much love a child could steal from me. I have the next photograph on my 30″ screen at my desk. It reminds me to be more like a child. That I truly have something to live for. Growing up, dating, missions, marriage, manhood and life lessons. I wonder if there is a little angel waiting to come down and wear pink? Steal my heart with her little smile? I am so blessed to be surrounded by so much love, beauty and life. I thank God for all my blessings.
The photograph below was taken by Dan Paschal. He is a master of flash fill photography. I will never have his talent for capturing mixed light.
