Jeremy Camp: The Response Video

Ha! I posted a video a few days ago where we recorded singer Jeremy Camp wishing our friends a Happy Thanksgiving. Turns out those same friends went to his concert two days after we recorded the video and they got Jeremy to record a video for us. That's awesome. Too funny.


Jeremy Camp from Donald Hughes on Vimeo.

Portfolio Trip: Walking in Walla Walla

An impromtu portrait before we ventured out into beautiful Walla Walla, WA.


It was the perfect time of year (October) to be walking around Walla Walla. The leaves were in full color and the sun was bright. I felt like I was walking around the set of Anne of Green Gables. A completely gorgeous fall day.

Tyler

My nephew Tyler. If ever there was a good kid, this would be one of them. Well-behaved, intelligent and sweet as can be. He's got a good heart.

Jeremy Camp

Singer Jeremy Camp and I at DFW Airport

On our flight into DFW for Thanksgiving, Jeremy Camp and his band were on our plane sitting all over coach with the rest of us common folk. Jon stepped out of the airplane toilet closet only to come face to face with a very familiar looking man waiting for the next vacant bathroom. Taken aback, Jon stopped and stared the stranger down thinking, "Is that?..." before going back to his seat.

Meanwhile, I'm in the bathroom opposite with no idea that there's a SUPER STAR right there. As I'm headed back to our seats, there's Jon standing up next to his seat, looking down the aisle toward me. I get closer and he goes, "I think Jeremy Camp is on our plane."

"Nuh Uh. Where?!!" We're in the second row of coach and I start peering down at all the seats behind us, both of us still standing while tons of people stare back at us.

"I ran into him coming out of the bathroom," Jon said. "You'll see him. He's got the big muscles and everything. --There he is!"

We banter back and forth, all the while speaking in hushed tones, as this trendy looking guy comes down the aisle from the back of the plane.

"No it isn't!" I say, scrutinizing the guy's face.

"That's him, " Jon says.

"No it isn't." I maintain. His hair is darker than I remember and he's wearing glasses. Two things he didn't have the last time we saw him in concert. "That's not him," I say.

"Yes it is. That's him." Jon's totally confident now. Nodding his head.

"No it's not," I continue to say, but then the guy gets closer, "--OH! Maybe it IS him!" Suddenly, I'm sure of it, too. WHOA, I think to myself, THAT'S JEREMY CAMP!

As soon as the plane lands, we hurriedly get off and wait for him like a bunch of stalkers.

I must say. Jeremy Camp is so nice and genuine. He was about to get on his phone when we accosted him, but he stopped and took the time to talk and tell all about why he was in town and what he was up to for the next few days. Truly such a kind individual.

He and his band create music that is worshipful and from the heart. Jon and I were greatly impressed with his depth of character, but listening to his lyrics and his life story told us that already. It's a great thing, though, when you actually meet the person behind the music and find out that the genuine & kind person on stage and the person in real life are one and the same. Awesome.

The video below was Jon's idea. We have friends who are super-fans of Jeremy Camp, so we had him record a Thanksgiving message for them. Wasn't that sweet of Jon? What a thoughtful guy. I do wish I was in the video though...just for selfish reasons. But I'm happy I got a photo with him.

UPDATE: See the video response our friends got Jeremy to record for us after attending his concert 2 nights after we recorded the video above for them.

Porfolio Trip: "Daddy & Me"

The following photos were taken during a trip to eastern Washington to visit some friends:

The little munchkin on the swing.

No, that is not a wig. Yes, that is her real hair.

I love how their legs are following the same line.Tickles & Giggles

Little munchkin hand.

Portfolio Trip: "Mommy & Me"

My wonderful friend and accomplished artist, Rachelle Tiner, took me to this beautiful Japanese Garden back in October when the leaves were in full color. It was absolutely stunning. And the garden was free! I couldn't believe it. Such a nice garden and they let any 'ole person saunter in. Unbelievable.
Of course, with such a pretty place around us, I had to snap some pics:

Rachelle is such a natural in front of the camera. I just love photographing her!

Evangeline's a beautiful little baby girl. But, geez, look at her mother. I guess it's no surprise!

Look at these delicious boots Rachelle was sporting. Had to get a photo of those.

Evangeline's little boots were adorable, too!

Heidi + Ukulele

Love ukuleles. They're such happy instruments.

Styling Pasta: Round 2

Whole grain pasta with asparagus, zucchini, garlic and sun-dried tomatoes.

Ever since I saw a cover this summer from Real Simple magazine featuring spaghetti on a red background, I've been on a semi-mission to learn how to style spaghetti. I say semi-mission because I only try my hand at styling spaghetti when I make it for dinner. And, pasta's not the easiest thing to style as far as I'm concerned, so I actually didn't attempt it until last month. Needless to say, my first attempt was...well, not so good. The above photo is my second attempt. I've got a ways to go before I figure out how to wrestle spaghetti, but the good news is that at least it looked a lot better than my first try. And, it tasted a heck of a lot better than the other spaghetti dish I made. ;)

Lone Tree

Beautimus.

Yesterday the weather wasn't just rainy, it was rainy, blustery and awful. Just miserable weather. The kind of weather you don't want to go out in.

But today. Well today was a new day. Surprisingly bright with sunlight--still cold--but sunny and wonderful. The kind of sunshine where everything looks good and happy, even this gnarled old tree.

The Ramer House

Ramer House, October 20, 2008, Walla Walla, WA

I've mentioned in the past that I'm a big fan of Joel Meyerowitz's work. His images are timeless and take me back to peaceful and idyllic times. It was 2004 when I had my first "Meyerowitz Experience" at the Amon Carter Museum in Fort Worth, TX. I was there for my photo professor's grand Artist's Talk regarding his exhibit Brent Phelps: Photographing the Lewis and Clark Trail. Unfortunately, I drove around too long trying to find a parking space and they ran out of seats and wouldn't allow any extra people in. So, alas, I never did get to hear him talk about his experiences photographing along the trail. What a stinker. But--the flip side is that while I was milling around the museum waiting for Brent to finish his talk, I happened upon a beautiful color photograph hanging among several other pieces on one of the smaller walls. The photograph was Hartwig House by a certain Joel Meyerowitz. I made a mental note to look him up when I got home. Hartwig House is a photo of a home interior looking down a hallway full of doors which ends with a screened door filled with shrubs beyond. It's hard to describe adequately, but this I do know: As I stood there with that photograph an inch from my nose, just a youth in my early twenties, absorbing the creamy colors of the print, I stepped into another time: calm, peaceful. I became part of that photograph, walking down that hallway, floating through that print. I know that sounds artsy and fanciful, but the experience was so incredible. Meyerowitz's Hartwig House changed the way I looked at photography. His books A Summer's Day and Cape Light changed the way I viewed the world and shaped the way I shot for the next couple of years.

Meyerowitz's work is way beyond the photo above, but as I stood in the Ramer home that day, I couldn't help but remember and be inspired all over again when I saw that hallway and those doors.

Judy's Place

I do believe I've found myself a new prop stylist: Judy Thompson. She has such a great sense of color and balance. Her home is deliciously Crate & Barrel-esque complete with closets full of linens, a fully stocked kitchen, a garden...and on and on and on. I was giddy with all her "props". They were so fun and scrumptious in detail, variety, texture...Oh! I loved it! Can't wait to work with her again. Thanks Judy!

Above: The cookies are from a new recipe I've been trying. Rosemary Shortbread Cookies. Sounds kinda weird but they're completely great. They taste best before they start to brown--but...pale cookies aren't always so good for photos. 'Course, I shouldn't have put them on a white plate... Ah well. Live and learn.