Go out and inspire someone.

"Reach out and touch
Somebodys hand
Make this world a better place
If you can
Reach out and touch
Somebodys hand
Make this world a better place
If you can."

When someone is in need, we have two options---we help or turn the other way. Hopefully deep down we want to help, but I am also sure we have turned and thought, "Do I really have time?"

You do.

Yesterday I started a project at our local YMCA; it was not something I had approached them about, they contacted me after I had let them know I was a photographer and if they needed my services just ask. When I heard the details of this project,  I knew there was a reason this happened---I was 100% honored by their request.

I am not going to go into details about the project because it's not out yet and that would not be right. But I will go into detail about someone who I photographed and he completely blew me away; his name is Bruce and he is a true inspiration in how to live our lives. 

Bruce is seen frequently at the Y, and it would be hard to miss him if you saw him. It has nothing to do with his having MS,  actually it has everything to do with his approach on life. I first saw him the other day when I was working out---if you call it that---and could not help but notice how he was talking with so many people no matter where he went. He was not avoiding his workout, he was being approached by people who really like him---"genuine like" and wanting to spend time with him. If he was hoping to work out, it was going to be a lot longer than he had thought it would be.

Since I knew what the photo session was going to be about, I had time to think about how I wanted to capture the time I had with him. No matter how I envisioned it would be, I was wrong. Bruce was fine when I described the photo I was wanting to take, but it was our commonalities that changed the entire shoot. I learned he grew up 28 miles to the West from where my family settled when they came to the U.S., went to the same college my sister attended, and we both, absolutely, love the Chicago Bulls. (When I heard this---I knew we would be friends well beyond the photo shoot.)

In this world we need more people like Bruce---sure some people might see him as someone who needs others, but it's actually vice-versa; it isn't until you talk with him that you know why he has trouble working out---with all of his friends who want to spend time with him, it's tough for him to find the time. (His passion about life is infectious---something we all need in ours.)

The photo above was taken yesterday at the Y; as I explained to Bruce when we met, "I want to capture how you have conquered this machine." He just smiled and I shot.

Thanks for stopping by.

Risk, Vulnerability and other stupid things I have talked myself into.

"Right now, hey 
It's your tomorrow 
Right now, 
C'mon, it's everything 
Right now, 
Catch that magic moment, do it 
Right here and now."

I am not a big risk taker. At least not normally. I don't enjoy living on the edge, although I do sometimes, and I really don't like doing things where I am pretty sure the risk of injury is more than likely. Yet, for some reason, I do things that go completely against my principles. I think we all do.

Call it a thrill, a need, or even just a sense adventure---I think we need to take the leap of knowing there is something out there that needs to be fulfilled that makes it all worthwhile. Probably the most risky or vulnerable position we put ourselves in is when we first feel the emotion of love. I am not talking about the love of a parent or sibling, I am talking about the love of a stranger who suddenly becomes a part of your life. 

This "first love" is probably the greatest "risk" we can take; it sticks with you forever no matter how minor, or untrue, you thought it really was. I remember my first love, I mean the one that didn't have "puppy" in front of it. It not only rocked my world, it planted a seed deep within me that has lied dormant for decades. Or at least I assume it has. Certainly there are aspects of these internal feelings that resonate today because I have learned about how love can be much broader and stronger than what took place so many decades ago. But in the end, my first love and I ventured down different paths. But, she will always be my first love. 

There are other types of risk that can leave you just as vulnerable; when I was early in my career, the thought of speaking to a crowd of people was not only something I hated to do, but was one that brought fear in just hearing we were going to "maybe" have to do it. I am not alone, but in sales you have to be able to speak to an individual as easy as you do a roomful of people. Today speaking in front of groups is not only fun but something I really love to do. The key...know what you are talking about otherwise you will go down in flames; yes I have seen this happen many times and it is not pretty.

So what are some of the stupid risks I have take recently? 

I have begun to photograph horses. I was going to say "shoot," but that could be taken a different way even though I meant using a camera. I have researched it, and it seems many photos that have been taken look remarkably the same. I don't want that; I  have had to ask three times if I could take photos the way I was hoping to---finally on the fourth request, I got, "sure go ahead." I think deep down they didn't think I would do it. They were "nearly" right. 

As I have learned when shooting other sports, angles are very important. I don't want the photo from right in front, I want it above, below or in a different position. So, I asked the horse trainer, "Can I lie on the ground as the horse is jumping?" Was I concerned? Ummm...is a 1500- pound animal coming at you going to hurt if it steps on you? So yes I was concerned, but felt I could roll away if it got really bad---or at least hoped I could.

The photo above was taken a couple of weeks ago. The horse, Kalli, is supposedly a very sweet and nice horse who would never come at you if she saw you on ground according to the trainer. I also know that horses are "not high on the pecking order of intelligence." So I got on the ground, to the left of Kalli, and watched as she came up to the bar and started to jump. I watched her eyes and legs---fortunately they were going the right way, meaning not toward me. Whew. Taking a risk is part of life; sometimes when it's your passion you do really stupid things!

Thanks for stopping by.