Good Morning from the Rocket City. I hope that your Holiday activities are progressing well and that you are in fine spirits!
This past week we lost a true American hero with the passing of Senator and Astronaut John Glenn. I had the pleasure of meeting Senator Glenn on multiple occasions while I was a photographer at the NASA-Marshall Space Flight Center. All were humbling experiences for me yet I came to realize that being humble was one of his most valuable traits. He was an American icon and a world ambassador that will be missed. God Speed John Glenn.
In somewhat of a contemplative and reflective state of mine, it got me to thinking about one of the questions I am asked the most, other then “when will I be home?” The question I think may be the most asked, “What is my favorite thing to photograph?” I have been blessed over my career to have the opportunity to photograph many different things, people and places. Of late I think I am have been most noted or “noticed” for my capturing beautiful women in beautiful places and as much as I think again, that I am blessed, but that may not be the thing I want to me remembered for.
Which got me thinking, “ What have I done for me lately?” For the past two years I have been working on a project for the Food Bank of North Alabama (FBONA) documenting famers in Alabama and efforts by the FBONA to get their products into the local grocery stores and markets. Going from farm to farm I began to appreciate the love and passion these famers share for doing what they do. They do it because they want to not because they have to. They are not comfortable sitting indoors at a desk. I began to develop a huge amount of compassion, admiration and respect for their tireless dedication.
My most recent FBONA projects have been going into the local school system where Alabama food products are making a difference at the cafeterias. The goal was to capture images kids eating the food but what I began to realize was that the images of the kids were so much more than that. To me they are images of hope and resilience, images of a generation full of innocence. I loved the opportunity to act like a kid and get up close and personal with them. At the end of the shoots, I felt very honored to have been asked to be a very small part of this project. While looking through the images I realized there was a common theme and emotion. In the faces of each of these children, there was a sense of joy, trust and spirit that was expressed in their eyes and smiles that affected me. All I could think of was how great it would be to be so un-encumbered and free and to approach life today with that spirit!!
It has been, by all accounts, a very gratifying experience for me. If you want to know more about the Food Bank and their mission, go to: https://www.foodbanknorthal.org/
Enjoy and revel in the spirit of these beautiful faces.
Keep us in mind for any and all of your upcoming photographic assignments. All of the art showcased in my blogs, as well as, on my web sites is available for publication or for purchase as corporate and/or residential collectible art. It may just make a the best holiday gift!!!!
HAPPY HOLIDAYS ……
~ dennis keim ~
