When We See Him Face to Face, We Will Know He Was One of Us

f 5.6, SS1/640, iso 250, Center weight fill flash, Focal length 70mm, close crop, off center focal point.
Thank you Jesus.

Happy Birthday Jesus!

A photo of our little ones during VBS in Munkacs, Ukraine.  What a great way for them to learn the wonderful story of just how much God loves us.  A heartfelt thank you also to our cool interpreters.... you guys have to know how important you are to everyone.

Danube River, Budapest, Hungary

Young Buck

Showing you now a sample of my reference material and then the finished painting.  The freedom to change certain elements of the original photograph is not just your right but in fact becomes necessary in order to make a simpler statement, which of course is stronger than reality.  The photo shows the face at an odd, rather oblique angle.  I prefer a profile, three quarters, or frontal.  That would be more familiar in terms of how the painting might be appreciated by the viewer.  No need to paint every blade of dried grass to get the message across either.  There should be an obvious focal point if I have done my job and it should be in a pleasing spot on the canvas.  All of this is just my opinion, mine and hundreds of other artists that is.  But I also believe we should not back ourselves into too many rules or corners so to speak.  I have tried so hard to learn the traditional methods of painting but I also envy some of the more contemporary painters of our day and only wish I knew where to begin without seeming foolish or lazy in my methods.

Come On Snow!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Pumpkin Pie anyone?  Not too soon to plan the menu you know.  A still life with found things around the house...

Old Friends

Couldn't believe it, but it was for real.  Any other time and you would think I had to hire actors to portray another era.  Tricky lighting here, and the dog wouldn't be still (the old gentleman was eating a slice of bologna)!  Surprised myself when I looked at the metadata:  f/2.8, 1/6shutterspd, iso 140, centerweight metered.  No tripod even with slower shutter speed, but I was sitting and my elbows on my knees.  This was some time ago before I knew shutter speed controlled the background exposure so the light source was pretty blown out.  Many thanks to the subjects for their cooperation.

My Kind of Shot

Just a simple Cades Cove everyday occurance.  They are very used to our brand of paparazzi.  No flash photography here.  Just metered more or less for the sky to make sure I had a blue background.  The darks were lightened in PS CS4 Raw and then some minor sharpening due to the fact that I was shaking as usual.  He, of course, could have cared less that I was aware that a Buck has been known to charge.

When God Paints the Sky

Nature, the best teacher of all.  This is Sevierville at Twilight (and you haven't even gotten up into the mountains yet).  Most visitors come here for the unbelievable shopping, but my favorite reason is for what you see now.  Not that I don't enjoy giving my money away as well.

Elkmont Retreat

In another era, when the mountains were new to us, there began the tradition of a great escape.  Turn right at the Sugarlands visitor center and follow the signs to Elkmont Campground, follow the little dirt road to the left and stroll into a time gone by.  I felt like I walked into a time warp.  There are many structures like this one, but all are empty now.  Yet with every turn I  hear the echoes of laughter and the language of happiness when children explored  nearby creeks.  I am beginning a series of paintings based on these little buildings.  I hope to capture what I feel about this special place.

Ms. Cleo

There are volumes of stories in a person's face.  This is my wonderful neighbor.  She agreed to stop working

in her garden long enough for me to take a portrait of her.  The honesty I was able to capture here is

breathtaking.  I'm not bragging, just telling you how gracious she is.  I feel so honored and blessed when

someone looks me straight in the eye.  F 4.5  1/200  iso250 center weight metered, fill flash.  I was down on

my knees looking up at her.  Spend a little time here.  I personally believe that photography is about detail

moreso than painting.  I strive for those little messages in photographing and I will spend the rest of my

life trying to lose the detail when I paint.