Monday, September 21, 2009
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Special Olympics Moment
Yesterday I had the honor of being on a team of three photographers shooting the Arizona Special Olympics Triathlon in Scottsdale. Wow!! It was a good time, HOT, but good.
I'm in the process of trying to edit my 800+ photos. I have some of them and I will post a few when I get a chance.
I wanted to share with you a special moment that will stay with me for a very long time.
It was hot, but not as hot as it would have been earlier in the summer or later that same day. At the end of the day, after the awards ceremony there was but a remnant of people left behind.
I had taken refuge under the shade of a tree and was putting my socks and shoes back on after being able to soak them in the pool during the closing awards ceremony.
A little boy and his parents came and stood beside me. The little guy was probably 8 or 9 and a special needs child. His father tried to hand him his shirt to put on and that was all it took to unleash the dam of tears.
He had not received an award!
He was heart broken and began to sob as his mother held him. All he could say was, "I wanted a prize. I wanted a prize." His mother's comfort was doing nothing to alleviate his pain.
I love God moments. Lately they seem to be few and far between for me.
I had a prize for the boy.
I turned to him and told him, "I have a prize for you that no one else here today received. Do you want it?"
His eyes got a bit wide as he withdrew his head from his momma's chest and slowly walked the 4-feet over to me.
I reached out my arms and I embraced him. I told him that I had not hugged anyone that day and that he was the only one there who would get this prize. No one else; just him.
It was not a quick hug. I held him tight for about 30-seconds. No more tears. No more breathing heavily; just quiet. I looked down at his face as he melted into me.
When I let him go, he thanked me, turned and walked up the stairs to leave. His mom looked at me, gave me a big smile and turned around, placed her arm around her son and walked up the stairs with him. He received a prize. Acknowledgment for just being himself. A treasure!!
I'm in the process of trying to edit my 800+ photos. I have some of them and I will post a few when I get a chance.
I wanted to share with you a special moment that will stay with me for a very long time.
It was hot, but not as hot as it would have been earlier in the summer or later that same day. At the end of the day, after the awards ceremony there was but a remnant of people left behind.
I had taken refuge under the shade of a tree and was putting my socks and shoes back on after being able to soak them in the pool during the closing awards ceremony.
A little boy and his parents came and stood beside me. The little guy was probably 8 or 9 and a special needs child. His father tried to hand him his shirt to put on and that was all it took to unleash the dam of tears.
He had not received an award!
He was heart broken and began to sob as his mother held him. All he could say was, "I wanted a prize. I wanted a prize." His mother's comfort was doing nothing to alleviate his pain.
I love God moments. Lately they seem to be few and far between for me.
I had a prize for the boy.
I turned to him and told him, "I have a prize for you that no one else here today received. Do you want it?"
His eyes got a bit wide as he withdrew his head from his momma's chest and slowly walked the 4-feet over to me.
I reached out my arms and I embraced him. I told him that I had not hugged anyone that day and that he was the only one there who would get this prize. No one else; just him.
It was not a quick hug. I held him tight for about 30-seconds. No more tears. No more breathing heavily; just quiet. I looked down at his face as he melted into me.
When I let him go, he thanked me, turned and walked up the stairs to leave. His mom looked at me, gave me a big smile and turned around, placed her arm around her son and walked up the stairs with him. He received a prize. Acknowledgment for just being himself. A treasure!!
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Can Saturday come any slower??
I'm trying not to get too excited about the upcoming shoot on Saturday, but it is difficult. Have this nice long lens just waiting to get out there and get some great shots of the Special Olympics athletes in all their glory as they cross the finish line for their triathlon.
Check back at the first part of next week and I will post some of my favorite shots for you to take a peek at.
Check back at the first part of next week and I will post some of my favorite shots for you to take a peek at.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
More Lightning
Phoenix can be a bit freaky when it comes to lightning storms. This rolled through last night and there was no rain. Gotta love our monsoon!!
Monday, September 7, 2009
Hope for a hardened heart
Do men like this really exist?? When I read the following, I thought it was an excerpt from a book entitled, "The Blissful Art of Being and Breathing". It was not. It is from a blog. You can find the link at the bottom of the page.
All I have to say is, "Angel, you have a keeper. Hold tight and enjoy the ride!"
_______________________________________________________________________
**One warm evening nine years ago…
After spending nearly every waking minute with Angel for eight straight days, I knew that I had to tell her just one thing. So late at night, just before she fell asleep, I whispered it in her ear. She smiled… the kind of smile that makes me smile back. And she said, “When I’m seventy-five, and I think about my life and what it was like to be young, I hope that I can remember this very moment.”
A few seconds later she closed her eyes and fell asleep. The room was peaceful… almost silent. All I could hear was the soft purr of her breathing. I stayed awake thinking about the time we’d spent together and all the choices in our lives that made this moment possible. And at some point, I realized that it didn’t matter what we’d done or where we’d gone. Nor did the future hold any significance.
All that mattered was the serenity of the moment.
Just being with her and breathing with her.
**From the blog: Mark and Angel Hack Life
All I have to say is, "Angel, you have a keeper. Hold tight and enjoy the ride!"
_______________________________________________________________________
**One warm evening nine years ago…
After spending nearly every waking minute with Angel for eight straight days, I knew that I had to tell her just one thing. So late at night, just before she fell asleep, I whispered it in her ear. She smiled… the kind of smile that makes me smile back. And she said, “When I’m seventy-five, and I think about my life and what it was like to be young, I hope that I can remember this very moment.”
A few seconds later she closed her eyes and fell asleep. The room was peaceful… almost silent. All I could hear was the soft purr of her breathing. I stayed awake thinking about the time we’d spent together and all the choices in our lives that made this moment possible. And at some point, I realized that it didn’t matter what we’d done or where we’d gone. Nor did the future hold any significance.
All that mattered was the serenity of the moment.
Just being with her and breathing with her.
**From the blog: Mark and Angel Hack Life
Friday, September 4, 2009
Playing with my rented toy.
I'm part of a photography group on Facebook and about 2-weeks ago I received a friend request from someone I didn't know. After looking at his profile and seeing that he was another photographer I went ahead and accepted his request. I'm so happy I did.
Jasen is trying to put together a team of photographers and one of the first events he was asking for help on was something I could really get behind, the Special Olympics Triathlon.
It's not a paid gig, but as most of you know, my heart is for volunteering for worthwhile ministries and organizations. I jumped at the chance.
Unfortunately, I don't have a long lens required to shoot the event. The good news is I was once again able to rent a 70-200mm f2.8 lens from the good folks at borrowlenses.com. This is the same company I rented the lens for my shoot in Yosemite with the Aperture Nature Photography trip back in January.
I waited with baited breath today for my package to be delivered. Of course it was delivered when the lighting was at its worse, not to mention the hottest part of the day.
So, when the light was a bit better, I shot what was available, the family pets. Well, I did take it down the road for a couple of shots too.
I have to tell ya, I love this lens!!! I can't wait until the 12th when I get to capture some great shot of some amazing athletes. I'll post some of the photos here so keep an eye out.
Late night addition. This little guy loves it when I leave my outside light on. He can eat till his belly is bulgin'.
Jasen is trying to put together a team of photographers and one of the first events he was asking for help on was something I could really get behind, the Special Olympics Triathlon.
It's not a paid gig, but as most of you know, my heart is for volunteering for worthwhile ministries and organizations. I jumped at the chance.
Unfortunately, I don't have a long lens required to shoot the event. The good news is I was once again able to rent a 70-200mm f2.8 lens from the good folks at borrowlenses.com. This is the same company I rented the lens for my shoot in Yosemite with the Aperture Nature Photography trip back in January.
I waited with baited breath today for my package to be delivered. Of course it was delivered when the lighting was at its worse, not to mention the hottest part of the day.
So, when the light was a bit better, I shot what was available, the family pets. Well, I did take it down the road for a couple of shots too.
I have to tell ya, I love this lens!!! I can't wait until the 12th when I get to capture some great shot of some amazing athletes. I'll post some of the photos here so keep an eye out.
Late night addition. This little guy loves it when I leave my outside light on. He can eat till his belly is bulgin'.
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