I’ve posted several new pics form the Mel shoot on my flicker ( Click here to see the set) . There are a few more that I am working on, and a few that I’m not sure if I want to post…but really like. We’ll see.
I think this one is my favorite so far.
Monthly Archive for December, 2008
Once upon a time I was just a grad student/skydiver trying to find my way and trying not to eat Raman Noodles. I soon found that the best way to make extra money skydiving was to buy a video camera and a still camera and strap them to my head. After all, Jumpmaster jumps paid 25 bucks a pop, and Video/Stills jumps paid $45. That was when I bought my first “real” camera and started learning how to take pictures from old camera heads like Flabby. Anyway, at that point my photography was pretty well limited to skydiving and trying to shoot long exposures and landscapes. Enter Mel. Mel was my lunch buddy back in Denton. We used to hang out and went to lunch once a week or so, and I will never forget the day she asked me if I would take her photo. She was is my friend and is stunning…so even though I didn’t really know what i was doing back then…how could I say no? I need to find those old pics and scan them in (shot on film), but Mel was my first model and one of the keys to me wanting to learn more and more about photography. The photos I got of her really helped me develop my style. *12-2009 Update, below is a scan from the first shoot
I only get to see Mel once every few years now. She is working on her career and education in a land far far away. Ok…She’s still in Texas, but a land far far away sounds more dramatic. ANYWAY, now I only see her when she is in town for Christmas or a family event; last night was the first time I have seen her in 3 years or so. For me it was really cool to get the chance to take pictures with her again, since she was the one who, in a lot of ways, started all of this. I still haven’t gone through all of the pics, but these are some of the ones I’ve finished thus far.
More pics in Mel Part two here
A few people thought my last post was a little bit too heavy, and that I needed to follow up with something lighter. Pupies were reccomended at one point.
Well I thought I’d just post some recent pics. Just to show I do read the feedback you guys leave, I am posting a puppy ANDDDDD a bird! Does that count?
Uncle Greg
Amathy
Patrice Pike
Me and my Cousin Jeffrey doing our traditional Thanksgiving polar bear swim.
You have heard the tearm “to freeze one’s…..” never mind.
Dear Joe:
Merry Christmas Joe Cates! I hope you enjoy the new outfit, bracelets and hotel room the citizens of Texas and New Mexico have given you as a reward for being on the Texas Department of Public Safety’s 10 most wanted list. It took them 2 years to find you so they could deliver your gifts, and I hope you didn’t think your deeds had been forgotten. Thank you for being there in so many of the great memories I had of my teenaged years. Some of my favorite memories like standing on the rim of the Grand Canyon, building homes form scratch for the poor in less than a week, ski trips to New Mexico and Colorado….as the youth director you were right there in all my great memories from that time in my life. Thank you for not selecting me as one of your victims. Actually, you should probably thank yourself for that decision; you see, I may have reacted a little differently than some of your other victims reacted. Some of those other victims are friends of mine who were on those same trips when you were generous enough to abuse them and do damage that will never be undone.
I’m glad they found you Joe. If you were washing my dishes at your fancy job in New Mexico, and I realized it was you… I am pretty sure it would end up being a bad day for both of us. So enjoy your stay in prison Joe. As one of the tax payers footing your bill, please enjoy all of the prision slop you can handle. If your cell gets a little chilly at night, don’t be afraid to tell the guard that Zach said it was ok to turn the heat up just for you. I want you to be comfortable there Joe; after all it will be your home for a long time. I hope your new roommate is hospitable to you, and bestows some of the same blessings upon you that you bestowed upon so many others.
Yours Truly,
Zach Lewis
Photo: Joe Cates
PS, is this the picture you are going to use on your Christmas Card?