{Let's Dance} Erie, PA Senior Portrait Photography

“There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and will be lost.” 
― Martha Graham

A preview for a lovely, poised and beautiful young woman who I had the privilege of photographing senior portraits. It has been awhile since I had a session with a senior and I had forgotten the pure pleasure and motivating energy it brings. This young woman stands at the beginning of a very exciting journey that I am sure holds tremendous potential. Congratulations to Lorna, General McLane class of 2015. Marching and moving to the beat of her own drum!

{Outside the Church Library}

“For after all, the best thing one can do when it is raining is let it rain.” 
-Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

{Catch and Release}

“Among other things, you'll find that you're not the first person who was ever confused and frightened and even sickened by human behavior. You're by no means alone on that score, you'll be excited and stimulated to know. Many, many men have been just as troubled morally and spiritually as you are right now. Happily, some of them kept records of their troubles. You'll learn from them—if you want to. Just as someday, if you have something to offer, someone will learn something from you. It's a beautiful reciprocal arrangement. And it isn't education. It's history. It's poetry.”

― J.D. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye


  This will be a post on the more morbid side. Since the beginning of the month I have dealt with non-stop funeral work at the store. Being my first post-holiday season, I was unaware that this is a common trend.  It seems,  people muster through the holidays for their families (in a lot of cases) or friends and feel at peace to move onto whatever comes next once the celebrations commence.  Makes sense...
 Each day that I have left work has evolved deep existential thinking on the drive home....or should I say more than the usual...:) )  Driving home, Reviewing  the events, interactions and most strongly the emotions of the day.  May I repeat the obvious when I say,  There is no escaping death. And unlike many other parts of life...Death is truly the great equalizer.  No one gets out of that one. All walks of life have walked through those flower shop and doors.   And despite, the differences, the similarity is overwhelmingly the need have one last meaningful connection to their loved one.  It is pretty intense and powerful to witness.
 I've wanted to write about this subject for awhile but I'm tired, so this post probably serves more as a virtual post in note for future recordings.  There is a shitload of run-on sentences, bad grammar and randomness....But I'm done thinking for today. It's a day off so I'd prefer to take a detour from the intensity and think of lighter, happier things. Like the two days of sun in A ROW...in ERIE! Wow!
Almost as if the sky opened from above with angels singing on high "Can I get an AMEN from down there!" Maybe...

{Crayola}

“My soul is an empty carousel at sunset.” ― Pablo Neruda

{Daring Love}

"Prayer is taking a chance that against all odds and past history, we are loved and chosen." — Anne Lamott



This is an anemone, the flower, not the sea creature. It has been in the store the last few days and like many of it's "flowers on the wild side" predecessors, I have watched patiently...waiting it for it to open and bloom. And they open, slowly. So very slowly. 
I can relate.  

{Speckles, Sparkles, Snow}

“The world's big and I want to have a good look at it before it gets dark.” 
― John Muir




Winter. Is. Here. Officially, in January. It was nice, the 50 degree springiness of December. The last few days has brought non-stop snow. Being forced outside by my job, I finally embraced the cold and the camera. It was too good of an opportunity ! But, wow, the wind and...the snow! It was white out, blowing, drifting, wrapping around everything in sight.  By the lake it was ruthless . It was romantic. Porcelain delicate snow. Powdered, Speckled...and soft.  I got out of the truck, in between the few minutes of rest, and tried to capture what I saw in my head (always drawn to the branches and berries) It's...never quite what I pictured. Which leads to more searching...but beautiful and I am satisfied nonetheless.... Winter is a big place, and their is lot's to see

{Matchboxes}

“I live my life in widening circle 
That reach out across the world. 
I may not ever complete the last one, But I give myself to it. 
 I circle around God, that primordial tower. 
I have been circling for thousands of years, 
And I still don't know: am I a falcon, A storm, or a great song? [I, 2]” ― Rainer Maria Rilke, Rilke's Book of Hours: Love Poems to God