Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Erik

My son, minutes after joining the world.


Saturday, April 16, 2011

IWFC 5

So I'm 2 weeks back from IWFC 5. I feel badly that I didn't post sooner, however I've been spending time with my wife before our child is due. She's been having some "issues" in the last trimester, with gestational diabetes. She's doing great, giving herself her shots and taking her sugars to make sure our baby is healthy. I'm very proud of her.

Anyway, we've been getting the house and baby items ready for our new arrival and have had a few "scares" about a possible emergency c-section and all of that. Whether she wants to, or he wants to, on Monday morning, her birthday, they are inducing her into labor.

They were close to doing it a few times over the past few weeks, but the doctor's decided to hold off. So if she doesn't go into labor over this weekend, it'll be on her birthday. With a little luck, our son comes out on mama's birthday and it's the best birthday gift a mother could ask for.

I'll be posting a lot of photographs, don't worry.

I photographed the IWFC 5 at the Blair County Convention center. Given the title, I'm sure you can figure out it was the 5th itteration of this event. A great night of fights and action. UFC Fighter Charlie Brenneman was there signing autographs, and like an 8 year old child, I had my photograph with him and had him sign a poster! YEAH! I've got an 8x10 of him that was ordered through me from one of his VFL fights framed, and signed on the wall beside a photograph I've got of Dan Severn that is also signed. Yeah, I'm like a kid. Not to mention a framed April 1965 Playboy (it used to be 75 cents!)

Here's a link to a gallery of the photographs. Buy a bunch!
http://roblynn.smugmug.com/Mixed-Martial-Arts/IWFC5-422011/16456803_pHSRb#1238396010_hpDUD

After my wife is out of the hospital, I'll be resuming normal shooting schedule and activities. I've got a few MMA shows coming up and a few more "tenative" dates.

Stay tuned!

Saturday, April 2, 2011

A future.

My wife is nearing her due date quickly. It seems like only yesterday we were having discussions as to when we would have children. Only last evening that she tells me that we're having a baby. She called me yesterday to mess with me, and said "grab my bag we're going to the hospital". It was April Fool's Day. She had to prank me with something. When she said grab the bag, I felt incredible. A feeling came over me that I cannot quite explain. We she said "Just kidding", I was like...phew, I've got a few more days yet!

The best way to explain it is, I'm nervous as can be but excited at the same time. I'm wondering all of the things that I assume GOOD parents worry about. Will I make enough money? Will I teach my child right from wrong? Will my child love me?

I took a day for myself off of everything on April Fool's Day. I only went to get my haircut, and conveniently for me the girl didn't have much to say. I just kept to myself, handled some stuff around the house, and played some games. I took the day as one of the last days that I will not be a parent. I didn't really even spend too much time with my wife. I just was me. It is ironic, that even though I took a day for me, all I could think about was my family. My son. My wife. As selfish as it is that I took a day off of everything just for me, I realized that my family is now what defines me. I took the day away from everything, and ending up thinking about everything! My wife has a chair that she put into the babie's room. A glider/rocker that she is going to nurse our son in/on. I sat in it for awhile and just looked around the room. Thinking about what it was when I bought this house, and what it was in between (I rented the room out for a few years, then it became an office) and now it is my son's room.

I walked throughout the house, and thought to myself..."what needs to change for my son?"

I've never been overwhelmed by my accomplishments. I don't really feel like anything is out of the ordinary. Sure, my past is different than a lot of people's. Sure, my childhood may have been crumby compared to some. It may have been excellent compared to others. For the most part, I just feel like I've done what I've been supposed to do. I don't want to say that when my wife told me she was pregnant, that it didn't sink in. It did, and I realized the true gravity of this situation. When we seen the first ultra-sound, it stuck a little further. When we seen the second, and I heard "you're having a son", it kicked in a little further. When I put my arm on my wife, and I feel him kick/punch it sinks in a little more. When she told me to "grab the bag", I realized it more.

So this little man, this is my purpose. This is my overwheming accomplishment. To provide for him. To love him. To teach him. This baby. My son. He is my future.

I've never felt love like this. Everytime I feel like I cannot love him anymore, I love him more! I haven't even met him yet and I would give the world for him. I cannot wait to meet you Erik, my son. Be a good boy for your mother and I. I promise, I'm going to be a good parent for you.

Here's some photographs from the room. I was going to correct the wide angle lens distortion, and said...no, no I won't. For anyone that cares to know, all were shot with a FF camera with a 16-35 f/2.8 Canon, and almost all at ISO 1600.
















PFC5













Simple headshot?

EDIT- This blog was originally to be posted earlier in the month. In err, instead of hitting "post" I hit "save now" and it lay dormant. I also did this with another recent blog entry too, and I caught the mistake today (4-2) when I went to get this evening's ready.


Okay, so I gave my self a photo project to photograph a few ladies with a simple headshot. The turn out was great, and we all had a great time photographing this set. Here's a few from the day.