Print of the Year Competition

Last night was the annual Capital City Camera Club Christmas Meeting and Print of the Year Competition. Fancy Cat was named the Print of the Year in the Enhanced Class; Historic Parlor was named Print of the Year in the Advanced Class and as overall Print of the Year. Historic Parlor is a 16x20 metallic print of an HDR image taken at Booker T. Washington's Historic home in Tuskegee, Alabama earlier this year.

I was also honored to be named the CCCC Photographer of the Year.

The Capital City Camera Club has been a wonderful "place" to grow and learn. I encourage any Montgomery-area photographers to visit the club. www.photoclub.org

Leaf Play

I've been at the computer with few breaks since 5:30 this morning working on images from portrait sessions and weddings. Late this afternoon I heard my granddaughters outside squealing with laughter. I walked to the window and saw them playing in the leaves their grandfather was trying to rake into piles. I suddenly realized that, at least for a few minutes, there was nothing else more important than sharing and capturing that moment. I am so blessed from knowing these wonderful little girls. I am so blessed to have adult children and daughters-in-law who allow us to be part of their lives. There is hardly a day that goes by that my husband and I don't shake our heads and marvel at how blessed we are. I will get back to my commitments very soon. But for just a little while, I am savoring this moment in time.

Along Alabama Roads

In an attempt to find beauty among the barren December landscape, I took a few photos yesterday between Selma and Montgomery. I always prefer to travel the back roads just to see what I can find.

Congratulations to Brittney and Pawel

On the Saturday after Thanksgiving, I had the honor to photograph a wedding at Emerald Mountain in Wetumpka, AL. What a lovely area for a fall wedding! Over 500 images are being uploaded to a private, online gallery for friends and family to view. Here are 30 of my favorite images:

WAR EAGLE

I know I'm taking a big risk offending all the Alabama fans out there, but I just couldn't resist after another wonderful trip to the Southeastern Raptor Center in Auburn, AL today. The handlers are so wonderful to work with and the birds are so beautiful. More images from today will be posted soon in the Image Archive section. This one is of Spirit. Spirit is one of the eagles that has flown before the Auburn home games since 2003. She cannot be released because of a deformity of her beak. On October 27th this year she flew in honor of the bald eagles being taken off the endangered species list. She was never given the title of War Eagle (I think that only goes to golden eagles).

This one is Tiger, a 27-year-old golden eagle known as War Eagle VI, who retired from stadium flights this year after being diagnosed with skin cancer. Tiger came to Auburn University in 1986. Tiger has been replaced by Nova, War Eagle VII, who was born in captivity in the Montgomery Zoo.

Seeing the eagles fly before the home games at Auburn is one of the most awe-inspiring sites in the world whether or not you're an Auburn fan.