Wednesday, May 28, 2008

O. Rufus Lovett featured in June's Southern Living

Kilgore College's photography instructor, my mentor, is featured in the June issue of Southern Living Magazine. The feature is under the Texas Living, People & Places. The story talks mainly about his teaching at Kilgore College and his photographs of The World Famous Kilgore College Rangerettes. On the Southern Living website it has a sideshow of images from both his books, Weeping Mary and Kilgore Rangerettes. Weeping Mary was published in 2006 and Kilgore Rangerettes in September.
The photographer, Gary Clark, came to Kilgore to photograph Rufus for two days. When he first arrived he photographed in the classroom. After out digital imaging evening class Clark, Rufus and a few of his student assistants went to eat dinner at Chili's in Kilgore where we got to learn a little more from Clark about the business side of photography. Clark generously paid for our dinner at Chili's and then we called it a night.
The next day we went out to R.E. St. John Memorial Stadium so that Clark could photograph Rufus with the Rangerettes. After spending several hours out there and being able to watch another photographer work it was once again time for dinner. For dinner they decided to go to the Country Tavern in Kilgore. Once again the talk of the business came up and more valuable information was obtained. Clark's time spent at Kilgore was short but was a good opportunity for me to pick up a little more information about the business.
Little opportunities likes these have taught me a lot about the life as a editorial/photojournalist that you will not learn in the classroom. I have had other opportunities like these with photographers such as Wyatt McSpadden, Scott Campbell, Tammy Cromer-Campbell, James Evans Michael O'Brien and many others over the years.

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Memorial Day 2008

Memorial Day is a time to take stock of the present, reflect on the past, and renew our commitment to the future of America.
Today, as in the past, there are problems that must be solved and challenges that must be met. We can tackle them with our full strength and creativity only because we are free to work them out in our own way. We owe this freedom of choice and action to those men and women in uniform who have served this nation and its interests in time of need. In particular, we are forever indebted to those who have given their lives that we might be free.
I don't have to tell you how fragile this precious gift of freedom is. Every time we hear, watch, or read the news, we are reminded that liberty is a rare commodity in this world.
This Memorial Day of 1983, we honor those brave Americans who died in the service of their country. I think an ancient scholar put it well when he wrote: ``Let us now praise famous men . . . All these were honored in their generation, and were the glory of their times. Their bodies are buried in peace; but their name liveth for evermore.'' As a tribute to their sacrifice, let us renew our resolve to remain strong enough to deter aggression, wise enough to preserve and protect our freedom, and thoughtful enough to promote lasting peace throughout the world.
~Ronald Reagan~

I want to thank each and every soldier that has ever served and the families that supported them in their duties. Thank you.

For our Memorial Day we decided to go to the Caldwell Zoo over in Tyler. We spent most of the day over there until the bottom just fell out and began pouring rain. So we ended up coming home after that. Enjoy!


























Sunday, May 25, 2008

The Party in the Pines Motorcycle Rally Patriotic Parade

Today The Party in the Pines Motorcycle Rally had their Patriotic Parade in Longview. The rally has been going on all weekend. The parade left Jaycee Rd and went down Cotton, McCann Rd, Hawkins Parkway, Gilmer Rd, Loop 281, and back around the to fairgrounds. With the help of my brother Nicholas I was able to be in three spots and shoot the parade. I began shooting coming out of the Maude Cobb Convention Center entrance across the road. As soon as the guesstimated 1200 bikes past we loaded up and went to the intersection of Bill Owens and Hawkins Parkway where the Lutheran Church is at. After that we went to FM 1845 and Jaycee Dr to get a corner shot of the bikes leaning over to turn the corner. Along with the local bikers where the Patriot Guard Riders. Now if you don't now about the PGR the you should really check out their website.
I wasn't going to get up and go photograph the parade today because I am working nights and I had to be at work tonight at 11 p.m. but something was telling me that I should really go. So I did and here are the images. Enjoy!
























Friday, May 23, 2008

Cody's Baseball Game

Tonight I went to my little nephew's baseball game in Spring Hill. I have only been to one other game this season, without a camera of course, so this is my first time with a camera. Some of the players I don't know who they are because they are from the other team, but most of them are of Cody.















Also I have been corresponding to a young women that I meet in Austin at Invisible Children's Displace Me Event about a year or so ago. She is a freelance photographer and globetrotter that works mainly with NGO's in many countries such as Africa, Egypt and many other places around the country. Her work is truly breath taking and by far is some of my favorite work. She claims home to Austin, Texas. Check out her websites and take a look at her work, it is truly amazing.
I sent her a message the other day because she is currently working in Rwanda and I asked her a few questions about how she got started in working over seas with these not-profit organizations. The reason I asked is because that is something that I truly want to do. I would love nothing more than to travel around the work and documenting the ever changing conflicts and resolutions in these third world countries. She email me back with this response:
"honestly, i never opened any doors. God did and I just walked through. The most important thing is that you seek His guidance in where you should use your photography and not what you want but what He wants. It may be at a newspaper in the states that you will have the most impact. Just keep that in mind.honestly.. i haven't done much.. I just take photos and He gets them out there. I travel mostly for NGO's who hear about me word of mouth i guess.. it's Him.Be blessed on your journey.. and find things that are unique to photograph.-esther."
I have definitely taken that into heart and we will see where He takes me!