Relay Time

A special moment from the 2010 Valdese Relay For Life

I wanted to share a link to a blog post I just posted on the studio blog called "Let's Relay" about tonight's Burke County Relay For Life.  Relay is special to me and it is an honor to be the photographer for such a great event.  Hope to see you at the Relay!

Failing the EOGs

Sarah and her classmates are taking their 5^th grade Science EOGs today.  Next week they have the rest of the EOGs.  That means two weeks of stress and worry for these students and teachers.

If you don’t know what EOG stands for, it is End of Grade testing.  Depending on how the student does on the EOGs could mean if they pass or fail the grade.  There are also implications for the teacher and school as well on how the students do on their EOGs.

I don’t know about you, but I hate test.  I understand they are important, but I still hate them.  Then add all of the pressure of the EOGs could mean pass or fail; well that is simply ridiculous.

I have no clue who came up with the idea of the EOGs and the power they have, but I have some news for you.  I give them a big fat “F”.  You know as in failed.

There is no sense in relying so much on the EOGs to determine how well a student has learned.  What kind of a lesson is that teaching the students?  To me it says it does not matter if you really understand it as long as you can memorize enough to pass a test.  Great way to go through life.

We have good teachers that are well educated and that care about the students in the classroom.  Let them do their job and truly teach the students and not just teach for a test. 

These teachers know when a student has learned the lessons or if they need to be held back a year.  Plus, without the stress of the EOGs, the teachers could focus more on teaching each student at each student’s level.  Let them do their job they have been trained for and that we (the taxpayers) pay them to do.

It is time for a change.  There is no sense in placing this kind of pressure on these young students or their teachers.  Our country did not become the number one country in the world because of a stupid (oh yes I did go there) test.  We became number one because we developed a society of people that were willing to work, knew how to use their brains to figure things out and believed in themselves. 

That is what we need to be teaching and stressing to our children.  Not the pressure of the EOGs.   Regardless of how well the student has done all year; one bad test can make them feel stupid and that they cannot do anything.

Do you think I am kidding?  Ask them and see what you think of the EOGs then.

I would love to hear your thoughts on the EOGs.  Please share them.

Happy baby/toddler photo contest

Here is one of the cuties I am talking about.

I found out about this photo contest and thought I would pass it along to you.  Since I have the pleasure of photographing so many cute and adorable kids, I know many cuties that could easily win this photo contest.

The photo contest is being held by Food Lion the grocery chain based right here out of North Carolina.  The contest is show off your happy baby or toddler and they are giving away some nice prizes too.

The grand prize winner will receive a year supply of both diapers and baby food.  In addition to the grand prize, the 10 finalist will win $100 Food Lion Gift Cards.  Not bad prizes.

There are three phases to this contest.  Phase 1 ends May 31^st and that is the deadline for all enters to be submitted.  So if you are interested in entering this photo contest, you have till the end of the month.  During the second phase, 10 finalist will be selected that will then be voted on by the public through a facebook campaign in phase three.

I took the time to read over the rules and I recommend you do too. There are 4 small print pages, but you should read them before entering.  Here are a few key points I got out of the rules.

-          You can only enter once

-          The photo must have been taken 1/1/2011 and 5/31/2011

-          You baby or toddler must be between the ages of newborn to 3 years old

-          Only the baby/toddler you are entering can be in the photo, with the exceptions of twins, triplets or multiples.  They will be considered as one entry.

-          No professional photography is allowed and you give away all copyright and ownership to Food Lion of that image.  This is something a lot of contests are going to and I don’t like it.  There is no reason for it.  They could just say they can use the image to promote the contest or future contests instead of wanting it all.  I am sure someone gave them the advice to do this, but it prevents me from entering photo contests when I am eligible. 

-          This is a facebook contest, which means you and anyone you ask to vote for your kid’s picture must “like” the Food Lion’s facebook page to enter or vote.

There is a quick summary of the Food Lion happy baby/toddlerphoto contest.  If you enter let me. 

Unconditional Love - Happy Mother's Day

When I think of my mom, I think the words “unconditional love”.  Before I became a mother myself, I never understood how she put up with so much from me.  Now I do.

A mother’s love is unconditional.  It is stronger than anything. 

I am thankful I have a mom that has loved me unconditionally regardless what I have done.  And I hope I am half the mother she has been.

Love you mom, Happy Mother’s Day!!!

Making the decision to have a child is momentous.  It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.  ~Elizabeth Stone

PENTAX 645D takes home another award

The PENTAX 645D medium-format digital camera

The PENTAX 645D camera has another feather in its cap.  The medium-format digital camera has been named the Best DSLR Professional Camera for 2011 by the Technical Image Press Association (TIPA), a group made up of various editors from mostly European photo and imaging magazines, during the recent TIPA European Photo & Imaging Awards. 

The PENTAX 645D offers photographers 40 effective megapixels in a magnesium alloy body that is fully dust-proof and weather-resistant, which according to TIPA makes “it a great choice for outdoor and location photographers.”

The 645D was named Best DSLR Professional camera

The design, build and features were also noted by TIPA, but the lens system impressed them the most. “Perhaps most impressive is lens compatibility, which encompasses both the new D FA autofocus lenses as well as older 645 lenses.”

Previously, the PENTAX 645D won the 2010 Editors Choice Award from American Photo Magazine.  The medium-format digital camera body sells for $9,995.95.  There are two new D FA autofocus lenses available.  The 55mm f2.8 sells for around $1,199.95 and the 25mm f4 sells for around $4,999.95.

The PENTAX 645D

I still own my PENTAX K-1000.  It was my first 35mm camera.  That of course was in the film days and it has the nickname “the Tank.”  I would love to try out the 645D.  If it is anything like the K-1000 or the film medium-format cameras PENTAX was well-known for making for years, the 645D should be a sweet camera and worth the awards it has earned in the short time it has been on the market.

What a difference an hour makes

From the Hickory/Morganton area, Charlotte is only about an hour away.  But oh what difference an hour makes.

Occasionally I write for an online news source, Examiner.com.  Today I learned of two different, yet similar stories that I just had to write on.  They are both about jobs coming to our area.

Electrolux is bringing 200 jobs to Charlotte and Geiger is bringing 64 jobs to Hildebran.  Please take the time to read the articles.  I get paid a little for each time someone clicks on the articles.

Since on Examiner I write about the news, I have to basically just report the news.  While we are on the porch swing, I can give my opinions more freely.

I’ll admit any new jobs coming to North Carolina are a good thing.  And I am very grateful for the new jobs coming to Hildebran; after all our area has been hit really hard with job losses and the economy for a number of years now.  Our rich history of manufacturing has moved to other countries along with the jobs.

So yes, it would be nice to have been able to report that Burke County was getting 200 jobs like Charlotte.  Mecklenburg County has 10.2% unemployment, while Burke has 12.3%. 

In reality, our area is only getting around 40 new jobs.  Geiger is moving from Hickory to Hildebran and bringing their 24 employees from that facility.

It would have even been nicer to have reported that the wages for the new jobs to have been closer to each other.  The new jobs down in Charlotte are around $60,000 a year before benefits more than the new jobs in Hildebran. 

Why can’t our area get those type of jobs in our area? 

Crossing the finish line

A sea of people all walking for one cause.  As we turned the corner to head up the "hill" this was what we saw.  It is one of the most amazing sites I have ever seen.

Just over two weeks ago I completed in my first 5K ever.  As I have written about earlier, the 5K was in honor of my cousin Robin Rockett Bowen.  Robin was killed when she was hit while running last Christmas Eve morning.

When the run was first being planned, we were all hoping for 200 runners/walkers.  As the weeks and days approached the run, it quickly became apparent that the Lord was working in the run.

On the morning of the run it was announced that 602 runners/walkers were registered for either the 1 mile fun run or the 5K.  I am still amazed.  

The weather during the run was perfect.  The fellowship was beyond belief.  I can honestly say that this day was a positive step in the healing process for all that loved Robin.  Plus, $10,000 was raised to be donated to several charities and causes that Robin supported.

The support from the runners and community was unbelievable.  This was just one of many families that was out in their yard cheering us on.  Their sign stood out to me.  Later I learned there was more to their story.

Several of my photography friends, including a new photography friend, came to help me photograph the day.  I am very thankful for them giving their time and love to help support this.  Their images are priceless.

For three months I worked out trying to loose some of this weight I have gained and even more importantly improve my lungs. I lost some weight, but I did make some serious ground on my lungs.

Here I am with my cousin Kathy (right) and her daughter Lauren before the run.  Thanks to my new friend, photographer Denise Moody for this image and many others.

I walk it with my cousin Kathy, Robin’s sister, and we crossed the finish line together.  I know Robin was with us every step of the way too.  In fact, we were both pretty happy with how we felt and our time. 

This was my first 5K, but I have decided it is not going to be my last.  I am still training.  In fact, I have stepped it up some and running most of my workouts now.  Although I will admit when I am done, I feel like Fred Sanford and his famous “This is the big one! Elizabeth, I’m coming” scene.  Of course that requires me to be able to speak and at the end of my workouts I am just trying to get some air.  But, I am working on it.

Here I am after the run with some of mine and Robin's classmates and family members.

I haven’t decided on which one will be my next 5K. There are several I have learned about and I need to decide on which one will be the next one.  I don’t think I’ll be able to run all of it, but maybe a run/walk combination.  Next year, I will run all of Robin’s Run.

I found this quote before doing Robin’s Run and I think it is very fitting in life and running:

“Runners just do it ~ they run for the finish line even if someone else has reached it first.” – Unknown

See you at the finish line.