So awhile back, as many of you know, my father was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer which was first noticed as a growth on his right hand. Doctors determined that he would need to undergo surgery to remove the growth and to explore his lymph nodes for any spreading.
The surgery went quite well, but lasted longer than expected. In short, the tumor was successfully removed as well as at least one millimeter of growth around the tumor. Additionally, a graft of skin was taken from under his arm to use for the back of his hand. Doctors also had to remove the lymph nodes under his right arm, as additional cancer cells were found there. He is recovering well, and my mother has decided to stay with him overnight to keep him comfortable.
As you may recall, my parents just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.
Dad will likely have to undergo additional therapy, including radiation and chemotherapy. While I’m sure he’s looking forward to neither, I do know he’s in good spirits. Thanks to those who’ve kept him in your thoughts.
Hoxton Financial Group added a new member to their team, and wanted to have some photos of him to go with their upcoming revised brochure (which I’m anxious to see). Mr. Burns warned me in advance that he’s a tough shoot and has never really taken a good picture. I told him to just relax. We talked about family, jobs, real estate and financial planning (his forte). But my end goal was to get him to loosen up a little so that the picture looked more natural.
After taking off a few semesters to focus a little time on my business and personal pursuits, I started back to teaching at Shepherd University.
Starting in 2001 I began teaching studio photography at Shepherd’s art department. Since then, I had added Sports Photography as well, patterning it partially after the sports action photography which we developed in this area way back in 1996.
So, this semester, having missed teaching a little, I took up Sports Photography again. Unlike portrait photography, sports photography has an interesting set of variables which require a different kind of approach. Teaching that approach to recreation students (and a few other majors) is made even more challenging because they have no original basis in understanding within the realm of photography.
To start off, I have to teach them the basic understanding necessary to appreciate what is happening inside a camera when the shutter release is pressed. To me the concept is quite simple. But to someone who has had limited or no exposure to photography, let alone cameras, it can be a lot to absorb. On top of that, they are also instructed on why certain aspects of the elements of photography they learn apply directly to sports photography.
In the later weeks of the semester, the students go through instruction and exercises on how each of the many sports benefit from the specific methods I teach. In short, the first half of the semester prepares them to understand what they will learn in the second half.
I enjoy teaching a great deal, and plan to offer workshops for clients and photographers in the near future.
A lovely couple came to us to have some portraits taken for their family. Recent transplants into our area, the Turners moved here from the northern Virginia area. It was nice to get to talk with someone from the area where I grew up.
Needing a headshot for two purposes, Paul called us to take some photos of him both in the studio and outside. He needed one for an honor he is receiving from the University of Tennessee, and another for the website of a conservation organization.
Our first portrait sitting of the year was Martinsburg High School senior, Ashley. She didn’t want a lot of photos, but her mom wanted to make sure she got her band and softball photos, the drape and something “really nice.”
It was great fun taking some pictures with Ashley (whose nickname is Nikki), and trying to keep her from laughing at her boyfriend who was there with her.
