Giving thanks

It’s been a minute since I’ve had anything to say. That’s because I’ve been busy, and essays require reflection to have any value. I am finally in a brief period of respite. My photo assignments are nearly done. (More on that later.) My leaves are ground up and my gutters are clean, just in time for the first snowfall of the season. And my family is beginning to gather for Thanksgiving. I want to pause to wish you all the embrace of family and a hot meal together. Gather strength, for there is much work yet to be done.

My fall into winter began in Colorado, with the “Tango on the Rocks” festival. It was a beautiful experience. I danced with a woman from St. Louis whose embrace fit me like a glove and whose walk showed me the heart of the dance. It opened my eyes to what’s possible when two people connect in ways both intimate and respectful.

I then went to a ballroom dance competition in Scottsdale, Arizona, where I reconnected with competitors from around the country. It rekindled my desire to perform in dance competitions, though finances will constrain that impulse considerably. I posted photos from that competition in my last blog entry so I won’t repeat that here.

Next, I had the pleasure of photographing a small wedding party at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis. I have a policy of not shooting weddings but the bride convinced me, saying she loved my work and just wanted some simple keepsakes.

I photograph the annual theatrical dance performances at Cinema Ballroom in St. Paul, Minnesota. This year, I both photographed the performances and danced in “The Production” myself. The event had a theme of, “As Seen On TV.” My images are shot under contract with the ballroom so I cannot show most of them here. However, I can share a sample from the tech rehearsals, which you can see in the gallery below.

I also made my first trip to the Albuquerque Tango Festival. I did not shoot much, as I was too busy dancing. But I did make a few images outside of the festival. Albuquerque has a special place in my heart, as we stopped there when I was a kid on one of our many trips to Kentucky to see my father’s family near Viper, a town that no longer exists.

I have also been shooting from the hip, grabbing shots that just interested me. Mostly these involve my ongoing interest with coffee shops and their clientele.

Most recently, I photographed a group of physicians who work at a pediatric surgery center for their new web site. The love these folks have for their work and patients is self-evident, making my job a breeze. And those precious children, my heart went out to them even though I knew they were simply acting for photo project.

Stay tuned. I have another photo session coming up this weekend. It’s the second part of an environmental portrait I’m making with a local artist. I’m excited to be finishing this. project, which has dragged on for too long because of scheduling conflicts.

Happy Thanksgiving, folks!