Dakota State’s graduation isn’t very far away. Allie came out earlier this week for a fun cap and gown session. Here are a few of her favorites.
Karstyn’s Birthday Cake Surprise!
April 28, 2010 By Leave a Comment
How can you resist cake on your first birthday! We were in luck. Karstyn came in for her birthday session and ElizaBeth had an extra cake just waiting for her. Mmm, good frosting! Then, when Karstyn was done she just didn’t know which way to go, but, oops, into the cake. Those cute little gellie shoes worked perfectly for sticking to all that frosting. Luckily, Mom came to the rescue.
Don’t worry, Karstyn, every year we get a little older, we feel like stomping a few cakes, too.
Karstyn’s Baby Plan Panel
April 27, 2010 By Leave a Comment
We love those babies. Karstyn is growing up way too fast. Here is her Baby Plan Panel. It’s a framed 16×20 and it comes with the purchase of the Baby Plan. Our Baby Plan includes newborn, 3, 6 9 and 12 month sessions. You can buy as many pictures as you want.
What a way to start the morning!
April 20, 2010 By Leave a Comment
I’m not a real big fan of swimming. When I was a kid, I loved the pool. As an adult that barely learned how to swim, I’m not as thrilled by it. After two years of working with a trainer at the Community Center, I’ve finally advanced to the “not drowning” skill level.
A few weeks ago, I pulled a back muscle. I laid off the training and visited the chiropractor. I didn’t get much relief until I visited Gina Norman at Touch of Heart for a massage. Both ElizaBeth and I go see Gina every month or so to take out the knots out after spending too much time on the computer. Gina worked me over good and I felt so much better.
My attitude over the past weeks has been in need of some improvement. The back wasn’t letting me get much sleep and I wanted to let it heal before running the triathlon on Saturday. I’ve discovered that I really need exercise to relieve the stress associated with life. After the triathlon, I figured I’d take it easy. I couldn’t take it any more. I needed a good workout. I was excited to get in the pool again. I woke up half a dozen times in the night in anticipation.
At 6:30 am, we were at the Community Center and ready to go. I felt so much better after an hour of Lisa’s “encouragement” in the pool. The back feels good and I’m much more productive. I realize that if I’m lazy, I’m going to feel worse because of it. I NEED to exercise every day.
Almost triathlon time!
April 15, 2010 By Leave a Comment
It’s going to be a cold morning on Saturday when we come out of the Madison Community Center pool and run to the bike racks for our first transition. ElizaBeth and Dacey will be joining in the fun. ElizaBeth has been training with a vengance. Dacey is a little anxious about doing well. He wants to beat me and I want to crush him. The old man isn’t dead yet. I figure I’ve got a couple of years left before the magic of youth buries me. I’m going to take every last victory I can still get.
The race starts at 9 am in the pool. The fastest people go first. It’s a snake swim – you move from lane to lane as you complete a lap. What if you are slower than the person behind you? To pass someone in front of you, you just tap their foot. The fun comes at the end of the swim when you go from the nice heated pool to temps of 30 some degrees while only wearing a still wet swimsuit.
In the first transition, you have to put on whatever clothes you need along with socks and shoes. The bike portion of the race goes west on 9th street and then north on highway 81. Last year, we were blessed with strong north winds that made that first hill unfun. The crew at the Community Center have volunteers manning different parts of the course making it easier for the first time triathletes to find their way. Four miles from Pizza Ranch, the bikes turn around and head back to the parking lot and T2.
Running feels funny after 9 miles on the bike. This triathlon is one of the shorter ones around. The run is only two and a quarter miles. If you burned your legs up on the bike, you can still walk if you have to.
Who is going to win? Not any of us. Jason Crisp has made this his race. Jason has done Kona in Hawaii. Just to qualify for Kona means that you aren’t a normal human being. You have to be gifted physically, train hard and be mentally tough.
South Dakota Professional Photographers Association: Members in Action
April 13, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Today, I headed down to Jeff Viere’s studio in Sioux Falls for the SDPPA’s Members in Action program. I brought the projector and screen for Cheryl Elbers to use. Unfortunately the projector didn’t play well with the Mac computers during the program. We adapted and moved on.
I am enjoying the start of my year as president of the SDPPA. I’ve been on the state board for several years now. We have had a great group over the past few years. The photographers on the board may be my competition for weddings, seniors and families, but they are my friends first. Our state organization is full of wonderful photographers. We respect our peers. We help each other out. We push one another to get better.
Thanks to Pam Karlen, Todd Buckstead, Elaine Steen and to the Melbys for all of the advice over the past few weeks as I’ve tried to figure everything out for this next year.
Fun at the Falls!
April 1, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Last Sunday found us in Sioux Falls scouting locations for Spring and Summer senior portrait sessions. We ended the day at Falls Park. We gave the camera over to the kids. Both Dacey and Rachel are awesome photographers talented beyond their years. We have conversations about depth of field and circles of confusion, leading lines and compression of telephotos lenses. Here are a few of their images.
