The Gate

A gate on a farm in Douglas County Oregon. Editing included a Photoshop plug-in filter called Monday Morning.

Koda

When I was sick I was off work a long time and spent a lot of time sitting in my recliner. We have a huge moose dog, Callie, who did her best to comfort me but is much too big to snuggle in my lap. I hadn't had a small dog for 30+ years and decided it was time... I wanted a "comfort" dog.

My daughter, sister and I headed off to our local animal shelter, Saving Grace. We went into a room with lots of kennels full of loud excited dogs all trying to get our attention. All but one. One little dog was sitting quietly just watching us. I visited with all the dogs but kept going back to the quiet one named Koda.

Before we left the room I had fallen in love and decided to take Koda home with me. The woman at the shelter showed me her history and warned me that she had been in 4 different homes in her year of life and she might have some training issues.

She definately had some training issues. Mostly she had bonding issues from having so many different owners, no doubt. She kept trying to get away from us. If the door was opened a crack, she wiggled out and was off running down the street like a shot. She would tolerate sitting in my lap if I put her there but never climbed up on her own and certainly never snuggled in. She had a "I'm tough, I don't need you" attitude.

But that was 5 months ago. She now understands that she is an important, adored part of our family and jumps eagerly into any available lap. And now you couldn't pry her away from our family with a crow bar.

As I write this I realize that I wanted a dog to comfort me during my illness and found a dog also needing to be comforted. A perfect connection. Thank You God. :)

Meet Koda, my special friend.

Gulls in Flight

Photo taken in Bandon Oregon. Artsy processing by Photoshop

Mossy Fence

I love moss and I love fences so I like this shot pretty well. Another photo photoshopped into an "artsy" look.

New Hyde Park Inn Sweet 16

Justine had a wonderful Sweet 16 in Long Island, NY.

Not only did she change her gown but her mother made all the decorations!

What I have been doing lately, besides the usual candids and photojournalism,

is bringing a small studio to offer photos that are different and better when what

everyone else is getting since today everybody has a camera! Naturally I encourage

all the guest to participate since it is so much fun and some people have never had a professional

photograph!

Kenny & Shannon Wedding @ The Vanderbilt

Kenny is a friend from my Chamber of Commerce Networking Club. It's always a pleasure and honor to photograph some one's special day and double so when it happens to be a friend !!

Here's the moment when Shannon and Kenny are about to see each other for the first time and also something Terry shot which is a unusual look at their rings!

Old Gory Rules The Day!

Real America is celebrated in Travis, Staten Island where citizens show their patriotism in the country's longest running Fourth of July Parade which dates back to the Revolutionary War!

I am proud to be the official photographer every year as I get to make images of not only Staten Island personalities but also many politicians ( including Mayor Michael Bloomberg) and those from other states who chose to march on the Victory Boulevard route.

The Grotto

I was off work for several months this year and had time to play around with Photoshop. This is a reworked archive shot. I took it at Shore Acres which is near Coos Bay on the Oregon Coast

Fresh Start

Dear Blogger Friends

I haven't been out doing my small part to capture our beautiful world for a very long time and I'm beginning to feel that "draw" again.

Long story short.... Its been a long crazy ride but I am now, officially, a cancer survivor. There are no words to express my appreciation for you all for your kind words and thoughts and prayers :) (((((((HUG)))))))

I hope you will forgive me if I have to dig through my archives for photos for a bit.

So... Now I have to figure out how to use this thing again... and head over to your blogs and see what you have all been up to while I was gone.