Summer is in full bloom and tourists are ever so prevalent on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. But isn’t that really what summer is all about …..  Family Vacations, Family Reunions and each of us in some form a traveling tourist?

I remember as a child, growing up in Florida, our annual summer family outings back to Georgia to visit my mothers’ parents and all of my relatives in Athens, Ga or off to Lake Jackson, Ga. spending time with my Dad’s side of the family.  The traditional picnic lunch was eaten in one of the many roadside parks while traveling.  When not traveling to Georgia many weeks were spent entertaining relatives at the beach. As time went on and I got older, my summer days with family were shared with trips to the east coast surfing with friends.  In a lot of respects my east coast travel buddies became my “second family.”   Family can be defined in many ways in this day and time but without a doubt it remains an important and integral part of each of our lives.

While traveling recently to the North Carolina island of Ocracoke, I came across a local surf shop with a display of surfboards. In an odd sort of way, with the different sizes, shapes and appearances, it was if this collection of surfboards were representative of a family. Everyone lined up properly for that once a year vacation portrait. I look at it and I hear the  old tune by Sister Sledge … We Are Family.  “We Are family, I got all my sisters and me, We are Family, Get up everybody and sing!”
Enjoy!!!

If you are in need of a photographer for an upcoming photographic assignment, I am no further that a phone call or email. Ring me up!!!

Best regards ….. ~ dK ~

Before I begin I would be very remise not to acknowledge – It was a very sad note to hear that Walter Cronkite passed away over the weekend. The space program, as well as the world, has lost a true gentleman of intellect, a voice or reason and a pillar of grace.  We stood next to him during some of the most trouble times and triumphs of our generation and history. How ironic that his passing would come 3 days before one of his most distinguishing days. And that’s the way it is …. He will be missed.

Where were you??? Forty years ago today, I sat in front of a small black and white TV with by best friend, Brian, hanging on to every word that Walter Cronkite spoke. Waiting anxiously for any confirmation that we had landed a man on the moon and then the words finally came from Commander Neil Armstrong ….. “Houston, Tranquility Base here … the Eagle Has Landed!” And as time passed,  ….. “That’s one small step for Man, that’s one giant leap for Mankind!”  (http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/apollo/40th/index.html). How elated I was, how mesmerized to see the images and how proud I was to be an American.

Never in my wildest dreams, did I imagine at the young age of 16, that one day I would share in the rich history of being part of the space program. But for 25 years … I shared the dream and documented if for future generations.  Three of my most prized memories of those years … meeting and photographing Neil Armstrong, Walter Cronkite and John Glenn … all heroes in my mind, all icons of the space program and such an honor to be in their presence.

To this day, the words of President Kennedy ring ever so loud: “We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win, and the others, too.” – (http://www.jfklibrary.org)

On this day -; the 40th anniversary of the lunar landing – what better tribute to all the men and women (as well as Walter Cronkite) who were part of the space race than the Saturn Rocket display that stands  tall and proud at the US Space and Rocket Center and to the real deal housed in the Davidson Center for Space Exploration in Huntsville, Al. (http://www.spacecamp.com/)

To those that dared live the dream so we all could dream … I salute you !!!!!!
- http://wechoosethemoon.org/

If you have an upcoming photographic requirement, give me a ring.

Best regards … ~ dK ~

I hope you had a great week and an even  better weekend and now it is …unfortunately … Back to work!!

Have you ever had one of those weeks where you just got slammed and could not get your head quite out of the clouds. I came home last week to what appeared to be a fairly easy schedule only to end up “fighting off alligators with a swizzle stick.”   Nonetheless all’s well that end’s well and looking back … it was a really great shoot week!!!!

The image below was captured during a outdoor fashion shoot and is very reflective of how I felt towards the end of the week. Many thanks to Lauren for indulging my “odd sense of humor”. ENJOY!!!!!

Go ahead and do it … you know you want to …  we now have a comments section so give it your best shot. Also a new link to sign up to receive this blog, if by chance you are not on the list. There is also an opt out but that would break my heart!!!!

As always … I am no further away then a phone call or email to assist with all of your photographic requirements!!!

Enjoy ………… ~ dK ~

In sports you hear it is all about the about the X’s and O’s but on the 4th of July, it really is all about .. the Oohs and Ahh’s!!!!!!!!!!!! Once a year we gather to celebrate our Nation’s birthday and fix our eyes towards the sky!!!! No matter how many times or where we witness the spectacle of colors …. it still brings joy to our hearts and souls. Happy Birthday …. America!!!!!!!!!!!!

With each and every fireworks display I have had the pleasure to photograph  … I still continue to sit in anticipation of the finale ….. the crescendo of lights and colors. This year was no exception!!!! The Bridge Street celebration in Huntsville was breathtaking!!!!

Shot from the Westin Hotel …. Bridge Streets spectacular 4th of July celebration. Many thanks for the hospitality, as well as, the birds eye view from the Westin Hotel staff  (www.Westin.com/Huntsville) and to Rick Davis for assisting with the logistics!!!!  On  a more somber note …… my heart felt thoughts to the residents and families of Ocracoke, NC where the truck hauling the fireworks exploded on the island early Saturday morning canceling their celebration.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A couple of new features on the blog page … we now have a comments section and a place for those to select to receive the blog, if by chance you are not on the list. There is also an opt out but that would break my heart!!!!

Enjoy ………… ~ dK ~