the patriarchs
We are back from our annual family gathering in the Smoky Mountains. We spent nearly every day swimming in the Little River, running around in the woods, eating huge meals together and telling stories on the porch. This year, among other things, we saw a black bear, a river snake swallowing a sculpin the wrong way, a beautiful luna moth, and squadrons of dragonflies.
The last night we take a portrait of everyone who was there, and my job is to photograph the process as my father-in-law (left) and uncle Jake run back from setting the timers on their cameras.
It was a great week and I wish we were still there.
the guru or described as randy for eternity
For most of the first two years that he knew me, my father-in-law pretended not to be able to remember my name. Of course, I was obligated to return the favor and that is how he picked up the nickname, “Randy.”
less x axis more y axis
a timed sprint along the z axis
an early and possibly ill-gotten lead
proves impossible to overcome
the photographers or family portraitists portrait
This is a portrait series of my father-in-law and his older brother taking the family portrait at an annual family gathering last year. The portrait always gets taken at the end of the week when everyone is out of clean clothes, tired, and happy. We will go back soon and I am very excited. Everybody in the family grins when these pictures get mentioned and documenting the portrait process has become my assigned role.
It is strange to think that one day I will be one of patriarchs looking at generations I have made. Will I be able to hold everyone together, overcome all of the forces that pull people apart, remember all of the stories? Will I make it that far even?
