I have decided to ditch the Lasting Impressions Photography name. I made it up myself and thought it would really be a great name and I still like it, but I keep running into other photographers using the same name (who would have guessed others had thought of the same thing too)...so I have decided to just use my own name. There shouldn't be much copying that. What do you think of the new banner?
Alana
We recently went with some friends to stay at their cabin. The kids had a blast playing in the snow. My son finally figured out how to make a snow angel.
Sorry I've been away for a bit. We've been painting our cabin and I've been there every spare minute I can manage. I just ran across this story and video and was so impressed, I thought I'd share. I will try and think twice before I say I can't. (Sorry its a bit lengthy for a post, but I do think its worth reading.)
Eighty-five times he's pushed his disabled son, Rick, 26.2 miles in Marathons.
Eight times he's not only pushed him 26.2 miles in a Wheelchair but also towed him 2.4 miles in a dinghy while swimming and Pedaled him 112 miles in a seat on the handlebars--all in the same day.
Dick's also pulled him cross-country skiing, taken him on his back Mountain climbing and once hauled him across the U.S. On a bike….
And what has Rick done for his father? Not much--except save his life.
This love story began in Winchester, Mass., 43 years ago, when Rick Was strangled by the umbilical cord during birth, leaving him Brain-damaged and unable to control his limbs.
When Rick was nine months old the doctors told Dick and his wife, Judy "He'll be a vegetable the rest of his life;'' … “Put him in an Institution.''
But the Hoyts weren't buying it. They noticed the way Rick's eyes followed them around the room. When Rick was 11 they took him to the Engineering department at Tufts University and asked if there was anything to help the boy communicate. ``No way,'' Dick says he was told. “There's nothing going on in his brain.''
"Tell him a joke,'' Dick countered. They did. Rick laughed. Turns out a Lot was going on in his brain. Rick was rigged up with a computer that allowed Him to control the cursor by touching a switch with the side of his Head, Rick was finally able to communicate.
Rick’s first words? “Go Bruins!''… And after a high school classmate was paralyzed in an accident and the School organized a charity run for him, Rick pecked out, “Dad, I want to do that.''
Yeah, right. How was Dick, a self-described “porker'' who never ran More than a mile at a time, going to push his son five miles? Still, he tried. “Then it was me who was handicapped,'' Dick says. “I was sore For two weeks.'' That day changed Rick's life….. “Dad,'' he typed,… “when we were running, It felt like I wasn't disabled anymore!''…….And that sentence changed Dick's life…forever.
He became obsessed with giving Rick that feeling as often as he could. He got into such hard-belly Shape that he and Rick were ready to try the 1979 Boston Marathon.
“No way,'' Dick was told by a race official. The Hoyts weren't quite a Single runner, and they weren't quite a wheelchair competitor. For a few Years Dick and Rick just joined the massive field and ran anyway, then They found a way to get into the race Officially: In 1983 they ran another marathon so fast they made the Qualifying time for Boston the following year.
Then somebody said, “Hey, Dick, why not a triathlon?''
How's a guy who never learned to swim and hadn't ridden a bike since he Was six going to haul his 110-pound kid through a triathlon? Still, Dick Tried.
Now they've done 212 triathlons, including four grueling 15-hour Ironmans in Hawaii …. It must be a buzzkill to be a 25-year-old stud getting passed by an old guy towing a grown man in a dinghy, don't you Think?
Hey, Dick, why not see how you'd do on your own? “No way,'' he says. Dick does it purely for “the awesome feeling'' he gets seeing Rick with A cantaloupe smile as they run, swim and ride together.
This year, at ages 65 and 43, Dick and Rick finished their 24th Boston Marathon, in 5,083rd place out of more than 20,000 starters….. Their best Time? Two hours, 40 minutes in 1992--only 35 minutes off the world Record, which, in case you don't keep track of these things, happens to Be held by a guy who was not pushing another man in a wheelchair at the Time.
“No question about it,'' Rick types. “My dad is the Father of the Century.''
And Dick got something else out of all this too. Two years ago he had a Mild heart attack during a race. Doctors found that one of his arteries Was 95% clogged. “If you hadn't been in such great shape,'' One doctor told him, “you probably would've died 15 years ago.'' So, in a way, Dick and Rick saved each other's life.
Rick, who has his own apartment (he gets home care) and works in Boston, and Dick, retired from the military and living in Holland, Mass. always find ways to be together. They give speeches around the country and compete in some backbreaking race every weekend, including this Father's Day.
This father’s day, Rick will buy his dad dinner, but the thing he really wants to give him is a gift he can never buy.
“The thing I'd most like,'' Rick types, “is that my dad sit in the chair and I push him once.''
And the short video is below...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4B-r8KJhlE
My son had his B-day this last week. We did a construction theme birthday. It was so fun. Everything fit the theme right down to the cake. The boys got to build a ficture frame from tongue depressors and paint it. I took their group photo and we are going to insert it in the frames and return them with a picture in it with the thank yous. They built their own hot dogs with "red paint", "yellow paint", "white paint" (ketchup, mustard & mayo). Buns and chips were served in plastic paint trays. It was all so fun. They colored dump truck pictures and built with block, legos and Kinnex. A tool box with candy tools and tool stickers was their party favors & they got to take home their hard hats and safety vests. It was all pretty crazy. Thanks Meegan for helping! I'm glad we're not doing parties every year. The last picture is his treats he took to preschool to share with the class. Although they had nothing to do with the construction theme, I thought they were cute.
While shooting the other day we found a new spot. This is under our hay shed and has always been covered with hay, but after feeding the horses and cows all winter, a large section of this fence was exposed. We took a minute to snap a few. I think I really like this new backdrop. What do you think?
Alana
Amanda tagged me and asked me to list 6 things that make me happy! Here's a quick list:
1) Indulging in a good book
2) V Chocolates almond toffee
3) Music
4) Friends
5) Watching my kids have those "aha" moments when they learn something new & it finally clicks.
6) Taking that great picture that captures a moment worth preserving forever.
So now I'm tagging....Kelly, Meegan, Brenda, Jamie and Christie Tag You're It!!!
Yesterday my husband called and said, "Quick you better get your camera and go outside now!" I was so burried in the daily routine and stess from the day, making supper, chasing kids etc... I had not even taken a moment to glance outside. I went quickly and saw the sky exploding with color surrounded by a stark winter chill, the river frozen over. Almost a fire and ice effect. It was truly stunning. I only caught the tail end of its ever changing light show. What a treasured view at the end of a stressful day. God does send us bits of beauty and peace if we will but look up and take notice. Thank you for this moment of tranquility.
Alana
The other night I caught a glimpse of the full moon looking down our driveway. It really just had a romantic feel for me peeking through the trees. It was extremely cold outside as it has been below zero for some time. I think this picture really captures the icyness we have all been feeling lately. I'm definitely ready for spring.
Alana
I am really starting to get sick of all the sub zero temperatures! Winter is fine, but does it have to be so blasted cold? Tonight on the news, they said there is wind chill advisories for Friday of -40 degrees below zero!!!! BRRRRRR Just playing around in the yard taking some frosty pictures.
Meegan and I were experimenting with some new lighting techniques. Here are a few playing with back light. 
What a wonderful weekend we just spent at this cabin. I think watching the sunrise was one of my highlights. It was so fun to just watch the sunlight stream down the canyon as it higlighted the ice chunks and steam coming off the ribbon of river. It was an ever changing light show. I was just thrilled to be there and have my camera. I hope you enjoy them too.
This last weekend while staying for 5 days at a cabin, I got some great opportunities to experience those "golden hours" both at sunrise and sunset. I loved this little barn and trees. It reminded me of something from a postcard. It was really amazing to see how the scene changed at different times during the day. Now, I just can't pick a favorite.
Alana
I caught a beautiful sunrise over the Tetons the other morning. This is rare for me since I am NOT a morning person, but what a gorgeous reward for getting up early. Maybe my photography passion is good for me it could get me out of bed earlier on occaision ;)
Alana
I have decided to challenge myself to learn and work with the natural light that is present in my home. Here are a few we snapped the other day. I'm loving them in Black & white.
Alana
I have had several requests asking about how to achieve the effect I did with the landscape photos from a previous post. It is called Orton Imagery or the Orton technique. Kenadee since you posted your comment annonymously I didn't have an email to reply, so I will post here the link to a tutorial with easy instructions on how to get this effect on photos with Photoshop. I hope it helps. You'll have to email or let me know how it works for you. I'd love to see other tries at this.
http://www.naturephotographers.net/articles0106/dw0106-1.html
Alana
Hey! I finally figured out how to get a little more custom with my blog. I was so excited to try a little more creativity. It was really fun once I figured it out. I think changing it around from time to time could be addictive. I have always loved desktop publishing and designing, but don't a thing about html. Well, I'm learning a little and getting more practice with my photoshop program so...what do you think?
Alana
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