Amanda and Kenneth

I enjoyed photographing a wedding recently for a lovely young couple. As many of the weddings I shoot are those of friends, friends of friends, someone who went to church with me, a co-worker's cousin, etc., usually I know SOMEONE in the crowd. This wedding was different in that I'd met the bride only once over coffee at Starbucks; had never met the groom; had never been in that particular church before this wedding; and didn't know a soul in the building!

Nervous? Difficult? No way! In fact, if anything, being simply the photographer made for a much easier, much more relaxed wedding--at least, from my perspective it was!

I have several other weddings coming up in the next few months that will be much like this, and I'm looking forward to each one. Watching the personalities of both bride and groom slowly reveal themselves throughout a wedding day is a most fascinating past-time--hard to believe that I am getting paid for something so incredible.

Blue Bird Babies

IMG_8527 copy3, originally uploaded by tsgentuso.

Ms. Mary's bluebird houses have seen constant activity this year--in spite of swooping attacks from the local Red Tailed Hawk. This picture was taken in Spring of 2007 in my neighbor's backyard. Fascinating to watch how diligent both the momma and daddy birds were--watching out for their babes, scouring for grubs for those insatiable little beaks...

Think I am going to have to set aside a morning to see what I can see of these lovely feathered friends again! Life has been just too busy of late, and this sounds like a perfect remedy.

What's for Dinner?--My Morbid Macro Fascination

What's for Dinner?--IMG_1410 copy2, originally uploaded by tsgentuso.

These spiders are just fascinating. We usually have one or more weaving their gorgeous webs in the front bushes every Summer. Orb Web Weavers is what we call them. The boys have spent entire afternoons tossing ants into the center of the web just to watch the spider in action. Don't you love the way they put a "no fly zone" sign up by weaving an easily-seen white zigzag down the center of their webs? The insects don't get it, but the birds sure do.

I am playing around with the idea of getting a dedicated macro lens--you know, one of those lenses that does ONLY macros, and extreme macros, at that. Those creepy crawlies just keep calling my name! I want to count the hairs on the little stick-like legs, the facets in their incredible eyes, the...

Maybe another day. Hey, how long until Mother's Day--oops, too late. What about Labor Day--I labor, I work hard, I don't think that one will float. Oh, well, Christmas will be here before you know it!

Alabama Roads

There was a time--not so long ago, actually--when I made many trips through parts of northern Alabama. This little farm was one I enjoyed each time I drove past it, no matter what season it was. The horses were always there, grazing, playing, drinking. The creek was almost always bubbling and gurgling along, even in drought time. But the flowers--well, they made their appearance each year in the Spring and stayed until Summer rolled in...lovely, like a yellow carpet. I would have loved to walk through them, I think, wouldn't you?

Technically, the focus is a little soft...no tripod. I had to take it standing on the side of the road, and it seems like every time I pressed the shutter button, a semi would roar by! Oh, well. It is a more than adequate reminder of a lovely spot and a sweet time and a good visit.

Happy Fourth of July!

Happy Fourth from hot but not quite humid Nashville!

What a great time to be alive--economy and other nagging issues aside! Truly we are blessed in this nation. What a GREAT time to be alive!

Okay, on to some of my latest forays into the world of still slices of life. Spent a week on the beach with a BUNCH of teenagers from my home church. Really neat time together--don't know who enjoyed themselves more, me or the kids!

Here are some visual highlights of the week:







Doesn't get much better than this! By the way, the beach was like sugar--that's the tide line above. Great for seashell hunting!