~DTR
Yesterday (Saturday, 3/31..."Easter Eve"), on our most recent RutnDot roadtrip, I asked Rut to be on the lookout for a “flowered cross” because I wanted to take some pictures of one if possible. I knew that many churches display them in their front lawn in celebration of Easter. I explained that it didn’t have to be any particular kind of church or elaborate display either…just a cross that clearly showed the fact that Jesus Christ died, but even more importantly, LIVES today…for us. Well, as we rode along, I became more and more disappointed because while we did see many crosses along the way, they all either had the black cloth draped over or were plain wood. I totally get it…yesterday wasn’t Easter Sunday, and the flowers usually signify the day He arose. But, then, we had a roadside reminder…out of the blue…no church anywhere in sight. Just a cross…a beautiful floral cross…out in the middle of nothing special. As soon as I saw it (going 60 mph), I started to speak and Rut said…”I know. I saw it, too. I’m looking for a place to turn around.” So, we went back, and I got out and walked into the middle of that field and took my pictures of that beautiful cross from every angle and worshipped my Savior in the process. I have no idea who put that cross out there and so lovingly decorated it, but God used it to speak so clearly to me in that field, y’all. Here’s the deal… God didn’t send His Son to die for certain people who go to certain places. There wasn’t any qualifying criteria for who Jesus came to save. He hung on a cross and bled to death for ALL of us…every single one… even those who don’t know Him yet, and because He LIVES, we Christians will too…for ETERNITY… with Him. I believe it’s our job as Christians to make sure those (and there are many) that haven’t heard of Jesus and what He did on our behalf are told about it. In addition, that flowered cross in the middle of nowhere on a day other than Easter Sunday also reminded me that my Jesus LIVES every…single…day….not just on Easter Sunday. Let’s not lose sight of that, y’all, and let’s tell the world about Him and His Love for us every.single.day. “Victory in Jesus”….that’s what it’s all about, and thank I my God daily that I have it. Until next time,
~DTR Even though I made a decision to close my photography business almost a year ago, I still have opportunities to take photos of family members from time to time. Our niece, Emalise, hit a milestone back in January, so I definitely wanted to capture a few images of her to document this special time in her life. Happy 13th Birthday, Emalise! Aunt Dot loves you very much! Yes, it blew in, blew out, and blue skies are already back. However, I’m a South Georgia girl, and even after living here in NEGA for 28 years, snow will always be magical for me. I can count on one hand how many times I had ever experienced it before moving here, so, you better believe I take full advantage of the opportunity to worship my God in one of my favorite ways… looking through my camera lens. When it comes to Creation, I always stand in awe of His Beautiful Work! “Take a good look at God’s wonders…they’ll take your breath away!” ~Psalm 66:5 (MSG) Now, for a cup (or two) of coffee! :)
Until next time, ~D I'm in the midst of a Project 52. That is, a picture every week for an entire year following a specific weekly theme set by a photography blog that I follow. After doing a much more demanding photography project last year (a picture every single day in 2016 of anything I chose), I figured this would be a piece of cake. However, what I'm learning is that having limits...specific things I'm looking for can actually make things a little more difficult some weeks. At any rate, THIS week's theme is... "texture". So, I asked my husband to chauffeur me around our small town yesterday as I scoped out a cool "texture opportunity". Looks like I kinda' missed the mark last night, but when you're drawn to sunsets...especially in the summer, well... it just can't be helped! :) Guess the texture search continues. :)
Until next time, ~DTR "The most enduring battle is between head and heart; what would be efficient and logical is nearly always trumped by what is messy and illogical." ~Antonya Nelson My Head and my Heart have LOTS of conversations about life... all aspects of it. Now, I'm not talking about my literal head that houses my face and brain and whatnot, nor am I referring to the heart that pumps the blood. No, when I say "Head", I mean that part of myself that tries to be logical and rational (and sometimes with a bit of sarcasm sprinkled in). When I speak of my "Heart", I'm talking about that part of me that's all about feelin' the feelings. Maybe you can relate. If so, you know the drill... Heart feels something... starts leading the rest of the body that way.... only to have Head call her out on it as irrational behavior. Or maybe Head leads the way by introducing a plan of action...only to have Heart exercise a meltdown because it's not in line with the feelings. Yep...Head vs. Heart. I'm here to tell ya'... the struggle IS real! "One of the worst battles you will have to fight is the one between what you know in your head and what you feel in you heart." ~Ritu Ghatourey I have been a camera-carrying nut for most of my life. Truly, photography is one of my favorite things to spend time doing. When our son was a senior in high school (2012-13), I decided to take some "official" pictures of him for his senior casuals. I had never done anything like it before. I posted them on Facebook and, not long after, a friend of mine asked if I would take pictures of her daughter also graduating that same year. I took those pictures happily (not asking for anything in return...it just didn't feel right to do so), and that set off a chain of inquiries that quickly made me realize I couldn't keep doing it for free, but if people were willing to pay me, I'd gladly take the pictures. (...and I will never forget the woman that was the first to tell me that my work was worth a price. Wow! Talk about a confidence booster! I'm forever grateful to her!) So, for the last five years or so, I've taken a LOT of pictures of plenty of people, and I've been honored and humbled every single time I was asked. I've gotten to know some wonderful people because of it...many of who are below the age of 18! After all, DTRphotography was started because of some casual portraits of a teen! Anyway, that's the backstory. Now let's get back to the title of this blogpost. For the last year or so, I have been listening to almost constant conversation between my Head and my Heart about this subject of photography and, frankly, it's become a bit of an internal conflict for me. Sometimes Head starts the discussion. Other times, Heart takes the lead. Here's what the struggle sounds like....
"A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination." ~Nelson Mandela
So, there you have it. When my head and my heart agree on something, well... I can't ignore that. Believe me, among all of those internal conversations, I have had PLENTY of conversations with my God about all of it as well. There's a Peace in this decision, which is how I know He's in this with me. In addition, I am so grateful for a husband who has followed me around with ladders...and diffuser panels...and never...not once... complained about any of it. He has supported me in this dream since the very beginning, and he was the one I was most concerned about disappointing with this decision, but he's agreed with my Head from the very beginning of this struggle. (Hey! Come to think of it, maybe HE has been the voice in my Head all along! LOL) So, I'm closing the DTRphotography doors for a while. I would say forever, but, I learned a long time ago not to use the words "never" or "never again" because life is ever-changing, and what seems suffocating right now may be exactly the breath of fresh air I need in the future. Only God knows for sure.
Now, just to be clear, I'm not deleting this website or even my DTR Facebook page. I'm still going to be taking pictures with my watermark on them! Heck, I just bought a brand-new full-frame DSLR that I can't wait to get behind and look through! Right now, though, I'm going to concentrate on tapping back into how the whole photography thing got started for me... with family (I've got some very important milestones coming up for the most precious people in my life)... and with everyday living... and with appreciating and honoring God's Beauty all around us. THOSE are the things that focus on Peace for me, and right now I am in GREAT need of that Peace in my life. "When the mind is perfectly balanced with the heart, there is bound to be peace within." ~Author Unknown Lastly, I just want to say thank you. Thank you to all the teens that allowed me to tag along as you turned your tassels or became Sweet Sixteen or moved from a "Tween" to a teen. Thank you to the engaged couple who trusted me to get good shots in the dead of winter. Thank you to you beautiful brides for giving me the distinct honor of taking your portraits in those gorgeous white dresses. Thank you to the couple that humbled me with your confidence as I documented your pregnancy from start to finish. Thank you to all the Mamas & Daddies for allowing me into your homes or yards to capture an hour or two with your most prized possessions. For all of you... I say thank you for believing in me and my art. It has truly been an honor. Promise me you'll all hold on to my number. Hey, you never know... my Head and my Heart are a crazy duo. They could possibly agree again one day, so I'm going to keep the keys to the DTRphotography door.... just in case. ;) Until then... With much love, ~DTR Another school year has come and gone which means it's time to salute the Class of 2017. I had the honor of looking through my lens at these eight awesome teens as they experienced this final year of high school. As I have done for the past several years, I'd like to give each of these graduates a little spotlight and maybe a few words of advice in the form of wise quotes as they celebrate and get ready for the next chapter of their life story. So...let's get right to it... "To embark on the journey towards your goals and dreams requires bravery. To remain on that path requires courage. The bridge that merges the two is commitment." ~Dr. Steve Maraboli Son of Steve & Kathy Banks ~Turner's next stop: Central Alabama Community College~ Majoring in Special Education *********************** http://dtrphotography.weebly.com/albums--blog/turner-class-of-2017 "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined." Son of Jeff & Kim Bowen ~Bryce's next stop: Clemson University~ Majoring in Sports Communications *********************** http://dtrphotography.weebly.com/albums--blog/bryce-class-of-2017 http://dtrphotography.weebly.com/albums--blog/bryce-class-of-2017-part-2 "My favorite animal is the turtle. The reason is that in order for the turtle to move, it has to stick its neck out. There are going to be times in your life when you’re going to have to stick your neck out. There will be challenges and instead of hiding in a shell, you have to go out and meet them." - Ruth Westheimer Daughter of Kevin & Candice Brown ~Lauren's next stop: Georgia Southern University~ Majoring in Nursing *********************** http://dtrphotography.weebly.com/albums--blog/lauren-class-of-2017 "Now the first suggestion is to aim high, but be aware that even before you have reached your ultimate professional destination, if you always strive for excellence, you can and should have a substantial impact on the world in which you live." ~Sandra Day O'Connor Daughter of Eddie & Sandy Campbell ~Taylor's next stop: Kennesaw State University~ Majoring in Theatre *********************** http://dtrphotography.weebly.com/albums--blog/taylor-class-of-2017 "And suddenly you know: It's time to start something new and trust the magic of beginnings." ~Meister Eckhart Daughter of Rock & Laura Evans ~Morgan's next stop: Georgia Southern University~ Majoring in Early Childhood Education / Speech Pathology *********************** http://dtrphotography.weebly.com/albums--blog/morgan-class-of-2017 http://dtrphotography.weebly.com/albums--blog/morgan-class-of-2017-part-2 "As you embark on a new journey, keep an open mind. you never know what could be until you try. Waste no opportunity." ~A.P. Ray Daughter of Mark & Kim Fuller ~Grace's next stop: Georgia College~ Majoring in Mass Communication *********************** http://dtrphotography.weebly.com/albums--blog/grace-class-of-2017 http://dtrphotography.weebly.com/albums--blog/grace-class-of-2017-part-2 "Don’t be trapped by dogma—which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition." ~Steve Jobs Daughter of Jeff & Connie Garrett ~Mary's next stop: The University of Georgia~ Majoring in Agribusiness *********************** http://dtrphotography.weebly.com/albums--blog/mary-maureen-class-of-2017 http://dtrphotography.weebly.com/albums--blog/mary-maureen-class-of-2017-part-2 "It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all—in which case, you fail by default." ~J.K. Rowling Daughter of Jeff & Connie Garrett ~Maureen's next stop: Piedmont College~ Major Undecided *********************** http://dtrphotography.weebly.com/albums--blog/mary-maureen-class-of-2017 http://dtrphotography.weebly.com/albums--blog/mary-maureen-class-of-2017-part-2 "Now go, and make interesting mistakes, make amazing mistakes, make glorious and fantastic mistakes. Break rules. Leave the world more interesting for your being here. Make good art."- Neil Gaiman So there you have it! My special Seniors! Graduates, it was my pleasure to be a part of your Senior Year! Thanks again for the opportunity! I wish you each a lifetime of peace and joy as you travel your individual roads to success. I can't wait to see what happens next for each one of you!
So, from all of us here at DTRphotography (and by "all of us", I mean my husband and me) ;) ............ Congratulations, Class of 2017! Now get out there, and do great things! :) Until next time, ~DTR You may remember that I did another session with this handsome ECCHS senior back in the fall (here’s the link if you’d like to see them again: http://dtrphotography.weebly.com/albums--blog/bryce-class-of-2017 ). This time, it’s all about the cap & gown because graduation is literally just a few days away! Bryce and his longtime girlfriend, Brianna, are both honor graduates with distinction. In addition, Bryce is a vital member of our Varsity Baseball Team, and we squeezed this mini-session in among their state playoff games. (Go Big Blue!) Jeff and Kim, you’ve raised a wonderful young man, and I know he’s going to do big things at Clemson University (on and off the baseball field) this fall! Much love and my very best wishes to the Bowens as you celebrate this family milestone! Bryce, your walk across the Granite Bowl is almost here! You’ve certainly worked hard…and you’ve earned it! Congratulations! :) Oh, how I love photographing the Truett Girls! I took this set back in July of 2015: http://dtrphotography.weebly.com/albums--blog/the-truett-girls and then this session of the Twins last fall: http://dtrphotography.weebly.com/albums--blog/mary-maureen-class-of-2017. Now, of course, it’s cap & gown time and all the pomp and circumstance that goes with it, so here I am again, looking through my lens at these beauties! Mary & Maureen, you’re headed to some wonderful new beginnings at UGA and Piedmont College, and I wish you both all the best! Congratulations and my very best wishes to you and your parents, Connie and Jeff Garrett, as you all wrap up this unforgettable “journey to the Granite Bowl!” Much love! ~Dot When two Theatre majors express an interest in having you take their graduation pictures on their college campus, you jump at the chance… especially when they are as animated as these two. See, the handsome young man is our son, the beautiful young woman is his fabulous girlfriend, and they are so much fun to be around! Trey and Nicole have known each other since the very beginning of their Freshman year at Georgia College in Milledgeville, but they didn’t start dating until two years ago….today!... May 10, 2015 (this post wasn’t timed for that, I swear…just pure luck!) :) I knew she was a special girl when she sent us a handwritten thank you note after she came home with Trey one weekend for a UGA football game. Handwritten…in the mail! Yep…very impressive! So, now these two have earned their Bachelor of Arts degrees in Theatre, and they both begin their MAT (Master of Arts in Teaching) program next month. They want to be English/Drama teachers…Nicole in Middle Grades…Trey in a High School setting. As a 27-year veteran in the field of education, I can say with certainty that these two will be phenomenal educators! So, Nicole & Trey, congratulations to both of you on these BA degrees! I'm so proud of you! Maybe I’ll get lucky and y’all will ask me to take another set of grad pics this time next year, too! I love you both! You may remember that I did another fabulous session with this gorgeous ECCHS senior back in the fall (here’s the link if you’d like to see them again: http://dtrphotography.weebly.com/albums--blog/grace-class-of-2017 ). This time, it’s all about the cap & gown because graduation is literally just a few days away! Mark & Kim, you’ve raised a true beauty, and I know she’s going to do big things at Georgia College this fall! Much love and my very best wishes to the Fullers as you celebrate this family milestone! Grace, soak up every moment of these last two weeks of high school. Your walk across the Granite Bowl will be here before you know it! Congratulations! :) This sweet little family holds a very special place in my heart. Last week, Beth let me know it was time to mark one year of life for their sweet Will, so that’s just what we did! As I walked around the park with them during the session, it occurred to me that I have done more sessions with Beth & Kevin than any other clients since DTRphotography began back in 2012. I’ve had the pleasure of watching them grow from couple ( http://bit.ly/2qmKNeU )... to young expectant parents (http://bit.ly/2pMqhXN )... to anxiously awaiting “Baby E” ( http://bit.ly/2qtmJ9i ). Soon after, I had the honor of capturing this new family of three in their home just two weeks after Will was born! ( http://bit.ly/2qmJdtp ). Then, I captured Will’s sweet smiles as they marked six months with their precious baby boy! ( http://bit.ly/2pkSqDW ) Now, here we are, and I’m almost overwhelmed with just how much these folks mean to me. They’ve trusted me with these once-in-a lifetime moments, and it’s been an incredible journey that I have thoroughly enjoyed. Will is a BEAUTIFUL boy…full of energy…and curiosity…and sweetness (those eyes! Oh, MY!), and he’s got two parents that love him beyond measure. I know because I’ve seen it firsthand every time I’ve watched them together through my lens! Happy Birthday, Will! Much love to you and your Mama and Daddy! :) One of my favorite parts of shooting teenagers is the conversation we share throughout the session. With Seniors, I always ask what their plans are beyond graduation, and, most times, I have a fairly good idea of what their answers will be. This teen, however, totally took me by surprise. You see, Turner Banks is an athlete…and a good one. He’s headed to play college baseball, so I figured his answer to me would be something along those lines. While there’s absolutely nothing wrong with a sports-related field, I was blown away and so sincerely moved when he told me very quickly with deep conviction that he wants to focus on Special Education…that it’s very important to him to be able to help those with special needs. Wow! Steve & Kathy Banks, you’ve raised an impressive young man! Now, I know that you still want to get together again and do a session spotlighting his sports (and we will, Kathy!), but I’m glad this one was focused solely on Turner… the teenager with the beautiful blue eyes, great smile and a heart of gold! Enjoy these last few weeks of high school, Turner! Congrats on reaching this milestone in your life and my very best wishes for what lies beyond your Granite Bowl graduation! I’ve known this gorgeous young woman and her family for a long time, and I simply cannot believe she's about to fly out of her Mama & Daddy's nest! It seems like just yesterday she was that quiet little girl down at the lake! Now look at her....all grown up with an unforgettable personality to match! Lauren, you are a beauty (just like your sweet Mama!), and I am so honored to have been able to be a part of this big milestone. Congratulations and my very best wishes to you and your parents, Candice and Kevin Brown, as you all wrap up this unforgettable “journey to the Granite Bowl!” Much love! ~Dot Caps & Gowns have arrived at our high school, and that means the Class of 2017 is in the final stretch to graduation! I did another fabulous session with this gorgeous ECCHS senior back in the fall (here’s the link if you’d like to see them again: http://dtrphotography.weebly.com/albums--blog/morgan-class-of-2017 ). This time, in addition to the coveted cap & gown, Rifle Season has just wrapped up, and Morgan is the top shooter on her team, so, of course, we had to get a few of her looking down the barrel of her rifle! Most importantly, however, is preserving these memories for her parents, Rock and Laura Evans. Much love and my very best wishes to all of you as you celebrate this family milestone! Morgan, soak up every moment of these last five weeks. Your walk across the Granite Bowl will be here before you know it! :) Yesterday was my birthday, and I am SO grateful for the many birthday wishes I received throughout the day from so many of you! Over the last few days I’ve posted plenty of pictures from the “archives” of my childhood on my Facebook page. It’s not something I would normally do. Oh, sure, I post plenty of pictures all the time…just usually not ones where I am the sole focus. I’m not normally a “Me. Me. Me!” person, and while I’m sure it seemed like overload to you, it was just a very small sample of the hundreds I sifted through as I took a long, sweet stroll down memory lane. I think the thing that makes photography so valuable to me is having the ability to freeze moments in time that might very easily be otherwise forgotten. If you’ve read any of my recent blogposts, you probably know that I’ve been contemplating lots about life lately, and while flipping from picture to picture over the weekend, it became very clear very quickly that I’ve had a wonderful life…different than many for sure…but wonderful nonetheless. God has taught me SO much through the people and relationships He’s put in my life, and for 49 years I’ve been truly fortunate. Yes, my past has been fantastic, but what about my future?
See, while many people have this revelation at their 50th birthday, it occurred to me last night that yesterday marked the end of 49 years for me, and I’m actually STARTING my 50th year of life TODAY! That notion is a pretty big deal to me. I mean… chances are that I’ve already hit “mid-life” a few years ago… not many folks actually live to be 100, but, then again, I come from a LONG line of very strong women who DO live well into their 90s, so…Lord willing… ya’ never know! :) At any rate, now, more than ever before, it is abundantly clear to me that I only get one life, and as I start this 50th year, I want to be sure it counts…all of it…every day…every minute…every second! Am I leaving my mark? Will people remember me when I'm gone? and, if so, what will they remember? Am I finding joy in my every day? Sure, I do for others all the time, but am I honoring MYSELF? What am I passionate about? Am I following that path just for me? I intend to start living my life to the fullest in ways I have not done in the past. This is not a mid-life “crisis” I’m having but rather a mid-life REVELATION! No, you won’t be seeing me driving around in a shiny new sports car or coming out of a tattoo parlor freshly inked any time soon. (Nothing wrong with either of those things, by the way, if that’s what floats your boat! It’s just not something I need in order to float my own.) Regardless of how many years I have left on this earth, I want them to matter, and I will give my God all the glory for each and every breath He allows me to take along the way! “I don’t want to get to the end of my life and find that I just lived the length of it. I want to have lived the width of it as well!” ~Diane Ackerman So…again, thank you for your love yesterday. I appreciate it more than you know! Here’s to “living the width”… starting today! :) |
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