Tag Archives: black and white

Gilman

One of the best things that happened to me as a child was being sent to Gilman School.  Outside of my parents, Gilman laid the foundation for my life to this point, and the further I get from my time there, the closer I feel to the place.  Maybe I just appreciate it more as I get older.  So I was really so excited to attend its San Francisco alumni event last week.  A few fellow alums and I grabbed dinner after the event.  Tim Holley came along.  Mr Holley, as he will always be known to me, is on the left.  He is also a Gilman alum and has been a teacher there for nearly three decades (he’s not really aging).   I also wrote about him last year when I went by the school for a drop-in visit.  He taught each of us African American Literature.  He coached each of us in baseball or basketball.  And he still cares very much about what and how we are doing today.  Sitting at dinner, catching one another up on the guys who weren’t present, listening to Mr. Holley’s remembrances of  less mature versions of ourselves, I kept thinking about how fortunate we were to have teachers like him.  I wish every child had a Mr. Holley at school.  And a Gilman.

2010…the Appendix

As I was putting the lid on last year’s image library (which basically means I was moving the files off my computer to my 3 backup locations), I came across lots of images that I really love but hadn’t shared.  Let’s face it, when you take 40,000 images a year, not even a loving mother will sit through them all.  But here are 20 moments from 2010 that caught my eye the second time around.

 

Tanji Dewberry

Trying to figure out where my pic was?! Didn’t I see you in 2010????

When It Gets Really Good

Natalie, Greg, and their kids are regulars.  I have been visiting them every few months for over two years.  Usually on a Sunday.  Each visit starts around 9am with a pancake breakfast, prepared lovingly by Greg while I break out my gear and start shooting….whatever.   Between shutter presses, I hear about what’s new with them.  I catch them up on whats new with me.  Occasionally my girlfriend comes along to hang out, have some pancakes, and assist me.  Sometimes, like this Sunday, we take a field trip.   And I just keep shooting.  It turns out to be kind of a Day in the Life of their family (completed in 2 hours).  And its just a LOT of fun.  After photographing them so often, we’ve entered the realm when it just gets really good: the children know me and are always ready and willing to play, I spend almost no time thinking about my gear, I already know where the best light can be found.  There are no nerves in the entire home.  I can be creative.  And they can be their beautiful selves.  I hope that it shows.

…and a visual shout out to the very capable assistant!

Demet

They already have a baby girl with teeth! Wow! I don’t know them but I feel like I do. And Serene is always so dang stylish, even in her casual assistant clothes. Love the gloves.

Giving Thanks in Maryland

I was able to go home for the Thanksgiving holiday and had a chance to see a bunch of family.   My niece Jordan, who I thought was actually shy…is NOT!  She never got tired of posing for the camera, losing to me at thumb wrestling, or being the only clue-giver in charades.  It was great to see my uncle Kenneth, who is 60 but looks all of 45.  And my grandparents reminded me that they met when they were just weeks old (they were neighbors).   I think they can count the time that they’ve been apart in their entire lives in months.  I also finally built in some extra time during the drive to my mom’s house to photograph some of the great scenery along the way.  As sleepy as the town of Deale, MD is, it can also be absolutely beautiful.

Mom’s

Uncle Kenneth & Jordan

Jordan struggled to keep the camera/grip/flash steady and got a pretty nice shot in the process.

Granddad, still as sharp as a tack.  We can always count on him to stay out on the porch until we turn the corner onto Gwynns Falls.  I love that he has all the signs of a grandfather: belt + suspenders, zip-up sweater, eyeglasses in the shirt pocket (and a cell phone).

Georgette Varner-Haynes

Awesome, Dana. Love this!

I love this man….