Award Winning Photographs

Lately, I have been enjoying crossing off things off of my goal list for the year.  One of them is to win a photo contest.  I suppose that the first step is actually entering a contest in order to win it.  I have to admit that I am a bit intimidated when I see so many amazingly beautiful photographs submitted in a contest when I only use a point and click camera and don't use photoshop or lightroom.  The task of entering can seem a little daunting and pointless.

After thinking about it for a while...I wondered what really constitutes an "award winning photograph?"  I think anything that is displayed on your wall or on a shelf at home would be an award winner.  It doesn't have to be the best photograph, just one that brings up memories that you are proud of or that you will cherish forever.

The day you graduated from high school, a family reunion, the day your child was born, the picture of you after you completed a race....all moments in time to be proud of.  All award winners.  Even if you are not in the photograph, it could be the beach you spent your summers on as a child, the city you fell in love in, the house you bought from working half of your life to afford.  All winners.

We are drawn to images that stir up feelings. Whether or not they win prizes, it's really the memory that means the most to us.  I would love to see your personal award winning photographs.  I hope you post it to my facebook fan page for others to see.  Click HERE to post.

For me, I will always have photographs of the places I've been to and the people in my life that I will cherish forever.  Those are my personal award winners.

Lasting Memories

The past few days in Southern California has brought on some record rain, if you haven't heard. It found its way into my driveway and into my garage. I was gone during the day for the first big storm wave and I came home to inches of water in my garage.

Since I live on the road several months out of the year, there are only a few things in my home in case I need to pack up quickly to get on the road. For the most part, I live like I am still living out of my car...but in my home. Most of my belongings are stored in my garage. Some things are in plastic bins (smart choice) however there are a lot of items in cardboard boxes (not so smart choice). All of the boxes on the ground were soaked along with the contents inside of the box.

I wasn't really concerned when I came home, but I looked in the morning and didn't realize how many cardboard storage boxes were on the ground. A lot of them had old family photos in them. I also had framed pictures resting on the ground that are now soaked along with clothes, furniture, and other miscellaneous items. Although it was a bit sad to find, I wasn't that upset about it.

Because I have lived out of my car for so long, material possessions don't mean as much to me as they did in my 20's. I was never one to spend a lot of clothes and things. I think the "treasures" that mean the most are trinkets from places visited and pictures from those trips. Some of the damage leaked into albums of my grandparents. This picture I scanned a while back is one of my favorites of them.

Losing my father and grandparents was extremely painful, but all of the memories I have in my head will never be damaged by a flood. I am thankful that I had the time with them. I am fortunate for that. I can't complain. I am fortunate to have a roof over my head, food and love ones to turn to.

For all of that, I am forever grateful.

During the time the water was creeping up in my garage, I was out snapping these pictures.