I’ve been working on a series for UNC Health Care called Family House Diaries for the past few months. I’m going to be working in it for the next year, God-willing. I had never heard of the SECU Family House until this February—it’s really a fantastic place, though! It’s like the Ronald McDonald House, only that living facility is geared towards children and this one is for patients and families of patients who have to travel a long way to get treatments at UNC and need a resting place.

June’s story was on Scott and Dottie Boeving– a wonderful couple who have become very dear to me over the past few months. They have modeled to me what real faith looks like—faith when everything is falling apart. EVERYTHING. After losing their life savings to corporate fraud, they have now lost their health and may potentially lose their home. But their love for the Lord and for each other is stronger than ever, even though despair seems like a more natural (and even permissible) reaction! Watch their story above or look at the whole package here.

I spent a good portion of yesterday afternoon photographing some adorable airedale terriers in pittsboro yesterday with two of my latest video story subjects, Scott and Dottie Boeving. The Boevings have spent the last few decades breeding and showing airedales and went to visit some of their former pups.

I thought this was worth putting on my blog because I’ve never really photographed showdogs before. It’s interesting culture in and of itself; it would be fun to do a photo story on it (Scott and Dottie were using all sorts of words about dogs that I didn’t understand!) The photo shoot abruptly ended when we found out one of the dogs lost his front tooth (which apparently means the months of preparation and grooming might go to waste, since he would be disqualified for the championship. sheesh!). Dottie and the dog’s mommy rushed him off to the doggy dentist to get some expert advice on what to do.

Anyways, I hope you enjoy the photos. Scott and Dottie have become quite dear to me; Scott is undergoing treatment for cancer at UNC Hospitals and I’ve been photographing them during their stay at the SECU Family House. I’ll post their story soon on the UNC Health Care website! Please pray for them.

Click on the thumbnails to view the aire-dorable slideshow.
Enjoy!

I had the honor of shooting Alex and Brian’s Chapel Hill wedding on May 22, 2010 at Chapel of the Cross on Franklin Street. Alex is a friend and (former) roomie of a photography friend of mine, Erin Smith, who did a wonderful job shooting this wedding with me!

This was one of the most colorful weddings I’ve been to, from the bouquets to Alex’s Carolina blue shoes, to the crazy neon lights on dance floor. The wedding attendants had a lot of spunk and personality; I had fun climbing on chairs to capture all the moments on the dance floor from overhead.

I hope that you can feel the dynamic emotions, excitement, and love that was present on their wedding day when you look at these photos. Thank you, Alex and Brian, for including me in your story for a day. You guys are awesome, and Erin and I both had a blast shooting your wedding.

They say his brain is being eaten by “tangles.” What it really looks like is an orange rotted right through. My grandpa’s brain is shriveling.

He sees me through his Alzheimer-glazed eyes, and i see him right back through those same Alzheimer eyes. I am sick too. I can’t remember my Grandpa–the way he was before he stopped remembering how to read and paint, or what day it is, or who the president is.

Some days I am seventeen. Some days I am my mother’s ghost. Some days I am unknown.

He returned to me today, in full, for brief. minutes or seconds or hours I do not know, but I know I was so caught up in the feeling—the old, good feeling—of being held by my grandpa. The monsters are gone now, and awareness of my own unknowing as I listen to him tell me about the war, the farm he grew up on, faces of people I know only through a few tattered photos—Ray and Carl. I don’t even know how to spell their names.

i forgot what it felt like to love my grandpa.
Not the patient with the shriveled brain, but
Grandpa Roy.
The man. The painter, the poet, the picture-maker, the porch-sitter. The “didn’t learn a damn
thing in church” “rusty-ann” “”brat dog” “i reckon so” patriarch of the Dudley clan.
The man who wrote me beautiful hand-written letters
of counsel and good wisdom
when the 18-year-old me hurt something
awful.
The man who sat real quiet in his
kitchen chair and
cracked jokes and
held his girls. He wore flannel and high-wasted pants and had big eyeglasses.
He opened his presents with a pocket-knife.

His glazed, blue eyes–clear up now–as he cries out, “I’m anxious to hold you.” I close my eyes. He wraps his arms around me, and I feel the intent gaze. Not the glaze, but the knowing, piercing, cognizant look. I am beheld with love, seen through the eyes of love. Love: the real vision that transcends the physicality and death of it all.

(impressions from my last visit to the nursing home. he’s doing well—he told mom that he’s “making music” with all of his friends at the new home). written on may 13, 2010.

I had the privilege of filling in as a photo/video coach at the 2010 Carolina Photojournalism Workshop last week in Little Switzerland, North Carolina. In one week a team of 19 talented student photojournalists documented stories on the culture and people of Little Switzerland (Spruce Pine/Marion area).

I was especially impressed this year with the positive attitudes exhibited by the students. There wasn’t an ounce of negative competition, envy, dissension, etc. Everyone encouraged and helped everyone else, and it turned out to be a really pleasant experience. The website will be live in a month or so.

I participated in this workshop as a student in 2006 and 2007. Check out stories from last year’s award-winning site here.

Here are a few photos; I didn’t take very many because I needed to just enjoy the experience; my brain was fried after shooting a wedding that same weekend (pics of that to come soon!) enjoy!

oh so loving reunion between nate and cookie.

executive producer extraordinare, pat davison

story distribution time and a disgruntled coach.