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Have you ever wondered what happens when you cut someone’s head off in a family photo? I seem to have stumbled across the answer today.

I swear I didn’t crop this photo.

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The illustrious Tracy Green.

One of my favorite things about photography is catching people with a real smile. I get really tired of taking people’s pictures and getting the generic “I’m posing for a photo” smile. Real smiles make me giggle, mainly because it reminds me of whatever it was that I or someone did or said to get that reaction. It adds a new dimension to a photo because it is pure joy coming through the lens.

On my road trip this summer, I found myself offering to take people’s photo almost everywhere I went. It was a way for me to break the ice with people, and provide them with a great photo. Just the simple act of offsetting the couple to the left or right of frame sometimes would make them have a photo and not a snapshot. I got many types of reactions to the offer, mostly it was “great!”, but occaisonally I would get the “how much does it cost?” reaction. I only took their photos for free, but it was amusing to hear the people who suspect that their is a catch. I think in this day and age, it is pretty typical to expect a catch.

At an overlook of the Capitol Reef in Utah, I had a Russian family of about 12 pile out of a minivan while I was taking some panoramic photos . I offered to take their photo and the father immediately jumped on the offer. He was very happy. Everyone else in the car looked like they had been traveling with their family for way too long. The overlook of Capitol Reef off of I-70 is about 200 miles from nowhere.

As they went to line up for their photo, the father candidly said “If you need us to do anything, just say what you want us to do.” My eyes lit up – “Oh really? Ok, when I count to 3, everyone should jump.”

And half of them did it! The mother gave me the evil eye, but everyone else was giggling at the idea. The youngest girl in the group, probably about 8 or 9 years old, just loved it! As I jumped in the motorhome and drove away, she was still smiling the biggest toothy grin you ever saw and waved goodbye to me. I could tell that I had made a lasting memory that they would all remember of their road trip that summer.

I had regretted not taking a photo of the Russian family to go along with the story, but I figured I would find an opportunity to make more memorable photos on the road trip. Monument Valley proved to be the place that would allow me to take more fun photographs. I encountered a German father and son, who were traveling with their son’s friend. The were game to take some atypical photos, which proved very fun. They got so wrapped up in pointing at things, which is what I had asked them to do, they just kept doing it after I had taken several photos.

I then encountered a Japanese tourist who wanted to be photographed jumping off the ground in front of Monument Valley. I asked him if I could take their photo jumping as a group.  After he translated to the entire group, everyone started laughing, and kept laughing. I was given every camera that the group had and took at least one photo with eight different cameras! I asked if I could have a photo as well, and they just couldn’t stop laughing, they were having so much fun, and you can see it – this is the 9th photo of them jumping! I think they could have just kept right on jumping.

So I ask ya’ll to take a risk on your vacations and trips home this holiday season. Take a photo with a twist. Take a photo of everyone with their hands in the air, or with everyone looking down like a family huddle, or use your imagination. Post a link to the photo you take in the comments!

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A Christmas with the Cole family is not Christmas without also spending it with Clark Wilhelm Griswold, Jr.

It also wouldn’t be Christmas without trying to get your dog to wear a santa hat for a photo.

Merry Christmas!

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I wish this was what I was talking about.

You know when you book a flight you’re always looking for the cheapest fare? The fare that you paid for the ticket this holiday season is not the price you paid to get you and all your LUGGAGE to your destination. I’m flying US Airways today to the east coast, and was charged $15 for my first bag and $25 for my snowboard bag. It used to be an all inclusive experience: baggage, meal, pillow, blanket, movie. Now I think I’ll probably have to pay for my meal too.

Gone are the days where flying was convenient and fun and hip. Those adjectives should only be used for flying privately.

I think I’d still rather fly Southwest and have fixed flying costs, instead of playing airline roulette with fares only to have to pay more money when I get to the airport. Previously I mentioned that Southwest had hedged their fuel for the year, I hope they are stocking up again right now.

Does anyone know of any gasoline for car hedge funds? I’d be a member of any club that would get me fixed prices on fuel for the next year or two.

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From Kim Jett on Wed, 10 Dec 2008:

Margaret Balliet was in Texas and was involved in a serious car accident
yesterday. She was hit by an 18-wheeler and was pinned between it and
the median wall. She has a cracked skull, which was actually a blessing
in disguise, as it has been relieving any pressure that would have built
up on her brain. As of today, she is responding when asked to move her
toes and various other tasks, which is GREAT!!! She seems to have two
broken vertebrae in her neck…..the cat-scan does not show any trauma
below the neck. She may be going into emergency surgery this afternoon,
but I have not heard on this as of yet.

Stephanie Holland has sent up a Caring Bridge site for Margaret,
although all information is not on it as of yet…..this is a GREAT way
for all of you to stay updated on her progress and posts your thoughts
and encouragement. The site address is:
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/margaretballiet

I’ve been asked to post the interviews of Margaret that we did for the “Burn on the Bayou” documentary. Below are the 10 minute sections of over 2 hours of interviews that we filmed of her.  I personally wish Margaret a speedy recovery. My thoughts and prayers are with her.

Interview 1, Part 1

Interview 1, Part 2
Interview 1, Part 3
Interview 1, Part 4
Interview 1, Part 5
Interview 1, Part 6
Interview 1, Part 7
Interview 1, Part 8
Interview 1, Part 9

Interview 2, Part 1

Interview 2, Part 2
Interview 2, Part 3
Interview 2, Part 4
Interview 2, Part 5

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