Choice is a Person - Robyn Mclean - Pro-Life Advocate, Writer, and Speaker

My goal (if I did this right) is to portray Robyn as a beacon of HOPE, for that is what she truly represents. May you see what I see in and have experienced with her.

Most people don't write their love story from a victim mentality, but Robyn Mclean could've chosen to do this, for she had endured adversity throughout her life.  From adoption to an abusive relationship, involving violence, neglect, suicidal thoughts, an unplanned pregnancy, and a movie-like script of attempts to escape, she endured and has emerged on the other side.  You can read about Robyn's story here, article 1 and here article 2  Robyn is a beautiful and vibrant young lady.  Her adoption story is just as compelling as her adult life experiences.  Born in another country, she was adopted by Bible believing parents.  Her life seemed to be going on the "American dream" path, going to be a classic, redemptive story.  It was for the most part.  She started dating, and then the abuse started.  Beaten, manipulated, and abused, she found herself pregnant from a forced and threatened encounter. 

The very words that were used were "if you don't give it, I'll take it".  She struggled with so many issues.  What would her parents think, her pastor, her friends?  Who would believe her story?  Suicide became a thought that seemed like it would solve all of her problems.  I don't know exactly what happened at that time, but I do know that God made it clear to her that death was not the answer.  Abortion was an option, but it never took over her actions.  She gave birth to AJ, and through his life, God has taught her that life is precious.  Her outlook has grown into one that gratitude sets in the forefront of her mind.  Since that time, she has married, had another child (a little girl), and started an organization called Stirring Embers that helps people overcome adversity in a variety of ways.  She also has a web site called, Robyn Loves Coffee.  She is a national speaker and pro-life advocate.  What I really like about Robyn is her zest for life. 

After all that she's been through, all the pain, the loneliness, and situational hopelessness, she has emerged as an authentic human being that has an enormous big heart geared towards helping people overcome.  She speaks truth in a way that's not compromising, but yet 100% relational.  When you read her answers below, it's clear to see that I'm right on in this assessment.  Robyn has been there, walking through the fire, and yet she has not allowed it to make her bitter, or have a victim mentality.  She loves the Lord, loves her family dearly, and is willing to help anyone who truly wants to be helped.  She's a internet guru that has found a way to help other Truth-seekers share their stories with the world.  If anyone wants to see how tragedy can be turned into triumph, look no further than Robyn Mclean. Robyn is proof that true empowerment for women comes from “choosing life” not “taking it”. For more about Robyn: Pro-life advocate, writer, national speaker, rape and abuse survivor, overcomer, and wife and mother of two children based in Oregon, you can visit Robyn Loves Coffee .

Describe your involvement with choice and abortion.  How has it affected you?

I have always been pro-life. Sure, I was raised as a pastor's kid, but that's not why I'm passionate about God and people. Even before I could fully understand and grasp that I was adopted out of poverty in the slums of the Philippines, I felt it..and, I understood it. Life. People. Value. Purpose. In fact, I found out I was adopted afterward, when I was in Kindergarten. In high school, I was an atypical teenager. I wrote on a lot of values, virtues, and social justice issues. I went deep and complete, haha, and my teachers had to read it.

Where did you find strength to get through the rough parts of your journey?

Wow. Honestly...in my case...it wasn't always me finding strength, it was what God did for me when I was just DONE. The pivotal moment was me becoming pregnant with my son, a precious, new, innocent life nestled within me. I could've been raped and not gotten pregnant, but I got pregnant, and it saved my life.  You see, I didn't have any more strength left, so I was planning my suicide. I couldn't end my life, knowing it would affect and put to death this new life that I was meant to protect 

If you could go back and change one thing about your life, what might that be?

Some people say they wouldn't change anything because it made them who they are today, and I get that. For me, sometimes I wish I would've been able to escape my abusive ex before he forced me into marriage by life threats and coercion, but would've I still had full custody once I gave birth? I don't know. So, oftentimes, we truly can only do the best we can do. One thing I'm hoping to help make a difference in is the awareness of others on what we need to change in the law and courts to help mothers and children in abusive situations, because it's broken and doesn't protect everyone the way it should. Mothers shouldn't have to stay in an abusive situation, and mothers shouldn't have to relinquish their children into an abusive situation.

What would you say is the biggest misconception people have about abortion?

That it will fix their problem and they can go on with life in a carefree way. Abortion only makes it worse. There are so many women who are suffering in the silence and dealing with the pain, trauma, and regret afterward. Those from rape, like me, still have the rape to deal with and abortion only adds to the trauma and pain.  

Would your advice be any different for someone thinking about having an abortion vs. 

someone that's already experienced one?

Most likely. But, I tend to take into account each individual's life story and circumstance, who they are, and then base my approach on that...but, most of all, how God leads me to. 

There usually isn't a formula to these things - training to an extent, yes,  but not really a formula. For someone who has already had an abortion, needs more grace with an outlook of healing vs. someone who hasn't had one yet. So, one must be prepared to have different resources to offer. Both would require a level of intentionality, because it's not always about what we say to people all the time, it's our presence and level of commitment to truly being there for them. Sometimes, it's not about words, it's our care, empathy,  and availability.

Describe how it felt to be told to end your child's life in the womb by abortion?

Well, I wasn't told. But, I dealt with the same of exposure at a Christian college, and my ex basically put the idea out there and said he'd support it. But, I knew it was wrong as much as I didn't want to feel shame of a pregnancy reveal before people knew I was being abused and raped - so I felt out of control shaping people's understanding of my situation. So, moreso it was my circsumstance and prediction of the Church's response to me pressuring me, not someone actually pressuring me. 

Through action though, I was beaten at 3 ½ months pregnant in a field with a fiberglass rod, and told later by my ex he had hoped the baby would've died. For me, that is what I faced. So, it definitely felt like the world was against me, even with the Church and Christian college through their drama, gossip, and judgment of a former class president, former lead female vocal singer of the traveling worship team, and present pastor's kid. Though the Church says abortion is wrong, half the time we're the reason people want one and we don't own up to it. Which is why I really LOVE the organization Embrace Grace and what they're doing to transform churches around the nation and truly reach those in need!!! So, all of it, just made me embrace my baby even more and do everything I could to protect him and make a way for us!

If there is one truth about abortion that you could speak into the lives of all people, what would that truth be?

One truth?! That's hard! There are so many! (which is a good thing.) Hope is there even if you don't see or feel it - You can never regret choosing life; allow the stories of those who lived it and have an even better life, after choosing life, encourage you. Not for emotionalism...but, factual tangibility. It puts hope beyond an idea for you. 

Tell me how making the decision to not abort has paid off.  Any regrets?

Wow! Well, I would've been dead. I was going to commit suicide and changed my mind when I found out I was pregnant. I can't imagine the mental state I'd be in if I had an abortion on top of it. 

I have no regrets at all. My baby and I sure journeyed together and he's truly touched other people's lives along the way in little and big ways! He has a gift of seeing people that others either ignore, don't see, or see as "less than". Also, have you seen his smile? It's AMAZING!!! Today, he's one of the most encouraging sources in my life on my worst days...always ready to give me (or anyone else for that matter) a big hug and words of encouragement. His story has probably reached over a million people all over the world and touched their lives as well. He's not even 11 yet, and he's already done more than I can imagine just because he was able to have his right to life. 

Give your best response for your favorite argument trying to support abortion 

No matter what circumstance you are facing, no matter what kind of doubt hangs over your head, it will never outweigh choosing life for this separate, innocent individual. Both times I had babies, my life was either unjust, attacked, and rock bottom, or I was finally ready to truly launch my career from a bunch of in-between life opportunities. I never planned pregnancy in those moments, but both of those pregnancies either saved my life or led me to what I truly wanted to do, and saved me from death or a career I didn't want at all! Sometimes, we think we know how we want life to look, and society says we have to protect that in order to succeed, but that is simply not true. There is always hope, and in knowing that truth, we can never go wrong making the right decision to choose life.

Choice is a Person - Heather Hobbs - Mother from Rape, Miracle Baby Mom, Advocate for Life

Heather is an incredible woman.  What she's experienced in her lifetime, most can only watch in movies to get an idea of what she's been through. She fits into so many categories of my project (and beyond), I didn't know how  to label her, know a name to give her write up for a title.  She was in the foster care system growing up.  She was an athiest, who was pro-"choice" (as she describes it).  She was raped and held hostage for three days.  She became pregnant, and was beaten unconscious while pregnant.  She had major complications for three of her four pregnancies, which biologically speaking (as she was told) was impossible to begin with. 

And yet through it all Heather didn't allow her experiences to determine her worth.  She now is a pro-life advocate, speaks out for the unborn, speaks against sexual violence, against human trafficking, and promotes family values.  Her story of how this came to be will be coming out in a book in the future (so be on the lookout).  When I met Heather, she was wrapping up filming a documentary, and was taking care of dinner with her children.  Heather is a beautiful, vibrant, well-mannered, and determined young woman.  She brought her family to the session.  As she began to tell me her story, I couldn't help but take my eye away from the camera in awe of how much this woman has suffered.  Three of her four pregnancies involved doctors telling her to abort her baby.  The first reason to abort was as a consequence of rape.  Not only did she have to deal with that, but she also suffered from hyperemesis graviderum (vomiting excessively throughout the pregnancy).  Her second pregnancy, again had a doctor tell her to abort, because she went septic throughout her pregnancy.  After blaming the baby for the cause, they later found out that it was gallstones (over 37 stones).  Her third pregnancy found her baby boy with ruptured intestines, and septic.  She was told a third time to abort.  She was even told to abort by the Mayo clinic.  Miraculously, her baby boy's body formed a calcified cover over the intestines and kept him alive until he was born.  After an immediate surgery, he survived.  You can read more details about her story here.  I must say her journey is an incredible one filled with drama that most people wouldn't have survived.  Talking with her inspired me to be less selfish with my attitude.  It helps me see pain as part of life that is sometimes necessary to strengthen us for future adversity or to help with someone else's.  And her willingness to sacrifice her own life for the sake of her children paints a crystal clear image of what God has done for us.

  I wish I could've spent more time with her, it was truly incredible.  I hope Heather's story and images help paint the picture of hope, of true strength, and most importantly, LOVE.  Her life denounces all the arguments for justifying abortion.  Her health was at risk, she chose life.  She was raped and pregnant, she chose life.  She suffered throughout each pregnancy, she chose life.  Abortion is never a justified CHOICE.  If she would've chose to abort her baby during her first pregnancy, she wouldn't have a beautiful, intelligent, witty, and out-of-this-world daughter.  Who, by the way, was my trusty assistant for the portrait session.  And for those who disagree about Heather's choice to carry her baby to term, it was her daughter that led her to faith in Jesus.  So don't tell me she doesn't belong here.  God knew exactly what she needed in her life, even if it didn't come about in a conventional manner.  "Playing God" was not an option Heather felt comfortable with.  If Heather chose to abort any of her children, she wouldn't have the beautiful, wildly energetic, loving family she currently has.

Abortion may be an option here in America, but it's never the answer.  Heather Hobbs is proof that true empowerment for women comes from “choosing life” not “taking it”. For more about Heather: Anti-Abortion Speaker, advocate for life, warrior against human trafficking, rape survivor, domestic violence activist, wife to an amazing husband, and mother of four children based in Texas, you can visit her site here.

Here are some answers to questions I asked her.

Describe your involvement with choice and abortion.  How has it affected you?

Abortion was urged with three of my four pregnancies. My eldest was conceived in rape, my second was deemed a threat to my life (which was a lie), and my third was given a fatal diagnosis. All of them are here, strong, and brilliant little people

Where did you find strength to get through the rough parts of your journey?

I found strength in Jesus as a young woman up until now but as a child and teenager I honestly can't explain what it was that kept me going. I contemplated ending my life many times as I battled thoughts of despair and lacking any kind of self worth.

If you could go back and change one thing about your life, what might that be?

I would truly not change a thing. Every experience whether perceived as bad or good has been a blessing in some way. If we choose to learn from every moment then we will never need to feel regrets.

What would you say is the biggest misconception people have about abortion?

The biggest misconception is abortion is a choice. Nothing could be further from the truth. Choice would imply a woman feels strong and empowered. The most common reality of abortion that it is based on fear. When you are preying on someone's vulnerabilities in any other way, it would not be promoted as "prochoice." Because there are greedy evil people who only care about making money they have expertly manipulated society into thinking women are oppressed if they can't kill their children. This is a human rights violation not a Women's rights violation.

Would your advice be any different for someone thinking about having an abortion vs. someone that's already experienced one?

I think it would be pretty much the same, you can never undo that "choice"

Describe how it felt to be told by so many people, specifically doctors, that ending your child's life in the womb was the only solution?

I felt like I had no one in my corner. That I was being told I'm broken as are my children and neither of us were worthy of living in this world.

If there is one truth about abortion that you could speak into the lives of all people, what would that truth be?

Abortion is not about CHOICE

 Tell me how making the decision to not abort, willing to sacrifice your own life, in order to give your children a chance at life, has paid off.  Any regrets?

I was and will always be willing to die for my children but the greatest lie out there is that abortion is necessary to protect a mother. It's been disproven countless times by pro-life ob/gyns. Delivery is always an option. Abortion is far more dangerous to a woman. Yet, Planned Parenthood and other pro-abortion places act like they're saving lives when they're the greatest murderers ever known to man.

**Due to a technical malfunction, please be forgiving with the audio portion (it’s terrible) of this video, Heather’s words are so, so important. It’s worth the listen.

Choice is a Person - Monica Cline - Former Comprehensive Sexuality Educator (CSE) trained by Planned Parenthood

Monica is a very strong individual.  She carries herself with class, dignity, compassion, and assurance of the truth.  She has a very compelling story, one that involved a lot of adversity that made her into the person she is today.  She’s definitely a woman that we can all look up to, youth can aspire to be like, and definitely use her life as proof that choosing life has the greatest rewards. Her life has taken many turns, but the one thing that stands out to me is her own reckoning with the truth.  She started off working with the gay community.  Her story of rubbing a man's feet due to his immense pain and near insanity as he laid in bed, dying from AIDS, was something I'll never forget.  She was then indoctrinated into the Planned Parenthood family in Austin, Texas, and trained by one of the leading Pro-Abortion advocates in the country.  She was a Title X (family planning) Training Manager and volunteer educator for Planned Parenthood. Her job was to educate people as young as 12 years old about sex and risk reduction. She rose up the ranks of one of the best public health training centers in the nation, but her journey was not all about just that.  Monica experienced an unplanned pregnancy, in which she decided to abort her son.  If it wasn't for a close friend being excited that she was blessed with a baby boy during a phone call, she might have gone through with it.  Instead, she decided, "... that my child’s life was more valuable than my comfort.  I was willing to face controversy, conflict and shame for the sake of my child’s life.  I instantly became a mama bear and I was determined to have my child and proudly raise him myself."  She faced not only the fear of raising this child on her own, but also the shame that came with announcing it to her family.  It wasn't until she was teaching at a conference to a bunch of 12 year olds, that the reality of the truth really started to settle in on her. 

She began to question Planned Parenthood's methods, and started asking herself "Is this what kids really want?". She soon found out the truth when a 13 year old girl asked a specific question in regards to sex, Monica responded, "Have you ever considered not doing the sexual activity that you say you don't like? Do you know that you don't have to have sex at all?" The young girl responded, "Ma'am, no one has ever told us that." The classroom of 12 year olds started talking among themselves and decided to avoid sex because it wasn't what they wanted at that age. They made an informed choice that protected their hearts and bodies.  As Monica questioned more and more things, she began to realize (through Planned Parenthood) "serving the marginalized meant only “meeting them where they’re at,” and then just leaving them there."  She began to speak up, questioning the Pro-Abortion message, and thus was told that she no longer belonged there.  Monica's journey isn't the typical story.  She's been on both sides of these modern day, controversial issues.  But it was her questioning, listening to her conscience, seeking out the truth, that led to her leaving the industry and starting her own non-profit organization that now equips parents with the necessary tools and education to raise healthy, well-rounded families.  She is now a pro-life, pro-family advocate with the determination to expose the falsehoods and misrepresentations that sex education has evolved in our society, harming not only our children, but everyone vulnerable to these lies.  Her goal is to encourage parents to “Reclaim Parenthood” and become their children’s greatest advocates and educators.  Her organization provides resources that help equip families and strengthen family trust and confidence. 

Monica is a gifted speaker and a person that has found truth because she questioned what didn't seem right.  Her stories will be ones that stay with me throughout my journey on this project.  She is definitely a strong woman, one that I will listen to every time she speaks.  For more on Monica Cline, former Title X PP Training Manager, public speaker, Pro-Family and Pro-Life advocate and educator,  mother of one, and founder of the non-profit organization It Takes a Family, you can visit her web site here, .

Here are some of her answers to the questions I asked her:

Describe your involvement with choice and abortion. How has it affected you?

I was a comprehensive sex educator for over 10 years.  I was trained by the gay community and Planned Parenthood. My parents taught me that a Christian God existed, but I did not have a foundational Christian teaching to guide me, so I accepted the moral relativism of the culture.  Choice and freedom of expression were highly valued which meant that we accepted all truth, if it did not harm, judge, shame or limit a person.  This meant that we did not judge recreational sex or abortion at any age.  This ideology dresses itself in compassion and acceptance, but in reality it is void of moral and ethical values which leads to the dehumanization of all parties involved, including the pre-born baby.  The truth is that when one is steeped in that culture and God’s moral truth is absent, the individuals cannot see their wounds or the humanity of the pre-born baby.  All is subjective and what you feel is true reins. 

I taught CSE, but I also lived by it and eventually faced my own unplanned pregnancy.   I knew that abortion was a sad experience, but I didn’t understand why.  I saw my friends who had had an abortion, or several, and witnessed them wallow in sadness before the abortion and then retreat for several days after the abortion.  I cared for them, but we never spoke of the sadness.  Why were we sad if it was just a clump of cells and not really a child?  Why were we sad if we were simply making a healthy choice to live our best lives?  It’s because deep inside we knew what had happened.  We knew a child had died, and the father did not care and the hope for family was gone…at least for now.  So, there I was facing my own unplanned pregnancy.  I didn’t know what to think except to schedule an abortion.  That’s what CSE teaches you.  If your sexually active outside of marriage, then use barrier methods, hormonal birth control, get tested and treated for STDs and have an abortion.  I scheduled my appointment and then called my best girlfriend from college.  I told her I was having an abortion, but instead of affirming my decision, she celebrated.  Then she began to imagine and describe what my child would be like and look like.  The color of his or her skin, the texture of his or her hair…if she were a girl would she have my big brown eyes and my determined personality.  As she celebrated and described my child I began to think to myself, “why am I not celebrating?”  Then I remembered that my parents would be so ashamed and angry with me, but then it occurred to me, “Am I really going to kill my child because my parents will be angry with me or ashamed?”  That sounded ridiculous.  I decided that my child’s life was more valuable than my comfort.  I was willing to face controversy, conflict and shame for the sake of my child’s life.  I instantly became a mama bear and I was determined to have my child and proudly raise him myself.

Where did you find strength to get through the rough parts of your journey?

The rough part of my journey began after I became a Christian, which is not a bad thing, but rather to be expected.  After having my son I faced depression and my relationship with his father was frail.  I sought answers from the world but found a void in the new age rituals and false healers.  But one day I realized that God was with me, protecting me and I knew I needed to know Him.  I went to the only Christian church I knew of.  On that day I accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior.  My life changed after that.  God took the scales from my eyes and I began to see the harm that CSE was nurturing in vulnerable communities.  It was the same harm that I was inflicting on myself prior to having my son.  The more I grew in Christ the more my job became difficult for me.  I was implementing sex education into the community and it was harming more than helping.  I witnessed the unhealthy relationships, broken spirits, desperate behaviors that our CDC evidence based interventions could not and did not address.  The core issues leading to disease and unplanned pregnancy were being ignored.  I began to question our methods and our laser focused approach to promoting sexual promiscuity and abortion.  My questions were not met with enthusiasm to improve our approach, but rather I was told that if I was not pro-choice then I didn’t belong there.  It was the first time that I realized that the people who had mentored me were close minded and would have supported me aborting my son.  My greatest inner conflict was when I was asked to teach children comprehensive sex education.  The young girls were just entering middle school and already Planned Parenthood was guiding them toward being sexually active.  I became angry, as the Holy Spirit convicted me about what I was asked to do.  Confused as to what I should do I prayed.  Then I chose to accept the job, but decided to do it God’s way.  I helped those young girls asses their lives, hopes, and dreams through basic open ended questions and listening skills.  We talked about obstacles that would keep them from achieving their dreams and they identified unhealthy relationships, teen pregnancy, and disease.  I then asked them what they needed to do to overcome those obstacles and they answered, “don’t have sex as a teenager.”  As they watched me affirm their very insightful conclusion, I saw their little shoulders drop and relax.  Their faces glowed as sweet smiles grew on their faces.  These girls just wanted to be young girls with their hopes and dreams.  They didn’t want the pressure of sexual activity.  We discussed ways they could support each other in their decision to reserve sexual intimacy for marriage.  I left that Planned Parenthood conference feeling at peace and full of joy knowing that these girls were guided toward making the healthiest decision for themselves.  Then I quit my job.

If you could go back and change one thing about your life, what might that be?

I wouldn’t change anything about my life.  I recognize that God’s work in my life has uniquely qualified me to speak into the lives of those who have chosen to have believed in the lies of the sexual revolution, had sex outside of marriage, experienced unplanned pregnancy, or abortion.  My past has equipped me to shed light on a dark world and share the path to a healthier life.  I am a determined woman and I plan to share what I know and what God has taught me, to strengthen families across our nation. I want to strengthen and equip parents to be the leading voice in their child’s life from a Biblical worldview. 

What would you say is the biggest misconception people have about abortion?

Abortion is not a means to freedom, opportunity or an escape from poverty.  Abortion enslaves the woman in grief, depression and poverty of spirit.  

Would your advice be any different for someone thinking about having an abortion vs. someone that's already experienced one?

I would focus on listening to her and counseling her based on her circumstances and state of mind and heart.    If she had already experienced an abortion I would give her an opportunity to share about that experience. 

Describe how your view on Abortion has evolved up till now?

I was never a pro-choice activist, but I always supported “a woman’s right to choose.”  I basically didn’t have a stance on abortion, and just accepted abortion as a necessary option in some cases.  Many people who support abortion believe they are being compassionate and want to “save” young women from the burden of motherhood, single-motherhood and poverty.  But I overcame all those barriers.  Motherhood was not a burden, single motherhood strengthened me and although I was not financially wealthy, I was rich in family because I had my son.  I realized that if I could overcome these barriers, then other women could as well.  We need to speak hope, and support one another through unplanned pregnancy.  I believe my pro-life position was strengthened when I witnessed what 1st trimester abortion would look like.  When I had scheduled my abortion it would have occurred at 13 weeks.  I had never thought about what that would be like for my son.  I watched Dr. Levatino’s video of a 1st trimester abortion and witnessed what would have happened to my son had I gone through with the abortion.  I was shocked, grieved, angry and finally I just cried.  I asked God to forgive me for every considering abortion and thanked Him for stopping me.  This is when I became a strong pro-life activist. 

If there is one truth about abortion that you could speak into the lives of all people, what would that truth be?

The abortion industry wants women and especially women of color to believe that we can’t make it.  They say that single motherhood is too hard, we will neglect our children and live in poverty, so we shouldn’t become mothers.  They dangle “freedom” through abortion as our saving grace.  I am living proof that a woman can successfully and lovingly raise her son on her own, and not live in poverty.  Motherhood is what strengthened my character and I found true empowerment and freedom.

Any final words?

I have found that my most challenging circumstances brought the greatest long lasting blessings.  If you find yourself with an unplanned pregnancy or other crisis, get help from the pro-life community.  People who believe in the value of life will always speak hope into yours and you will be blessed.  Be patient, choose life and you will reap great blessings.

Notice how she smiles and her face lights up when she talks about her son…..

Choice is a Person Project - Robin Steele - Father of Special Needs Daughter

When I read about Robin's story I was just taken back at the adversity he and his wife faced.  Knowing that your first child will not be perfect, like you expect, has to be disheartening.  However, Robin and his wife were tightly connected to family and their church.  That support group, along with their faith, was paramount in helping them solidify their decision in choosing life.  Having a doctor tell you that you can go to Kansas and have a late-term abortion had to be demoralizing.  But Robin didn't allow that to define him.  After deciding to carry Kennady to term and accept whatever God has for them, they experienced a life-changing event that continues on to this day.  Their daughter might not be exactly like most children, but what she gives cannot be measured.  One of the turning points in Robin's story was when the doctor literally wrote on Kennady's records, "THE PARENTS UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS NO CHANCE OF THEIR DAUGHTER HAVING A MEANINGFUL LIFE".  He was floored.  He was angry.  This was a defining moment.  Instead of blaming God, or running away from Him, or blaming others, Robin went to God with it.  He pressed into Him.  And that's when the reality hit home.  God is the only One that assigns MEANING in Life.  Sure people play a role, but it is only God that gives things true meaning.  This affected him so intensely, that he eventually wrote a book about it.  Check it out here. 

The reason why I chose Robin to participate in my project is because he chose life for his daughter.  He didn't give in to the pressures of society.  He wasn't going to take the easy road out.  He knew he might not have the strength and endurance to be able to perfectly raise a special needs daughter, but he chose to face it head on.  He refused to listen to the arguments for abortion, like some many people today do.  People actually have abortions for sex selection purposes, birth defects, down syndrome, genetic disorders, and many others to name a few.  The problem with this type of thinking is, WE ARE NOT GOD.  We were never meant to play God either.  There are so many stories about parents being told to abort because the doctor has discovered something abnormal about the baby, and option #1 to solve it is to abort.  The fear of malpractice lawsuits have prompted this trend.  And unfortunately it has become widely accepted and influenced the medical community immensely.  The baby is never the problem.  Robin knew this, and his beautiful daughter Kennady is living proof.  When I met her, she was quiet, but when she heard music she started to liven up, an occasional smile here and there.  When Robin started talking to her, whispering close to her face where she could hear and feel the air of his "daddy words" and feel his lips gently brush up against her forehead with a kiss, she lit up with smiles and sounds of pure joy.

There was a connection between Kennady and her father, one that words can't describe.  It was like witnessing love entering a room, becoming tangible.  Like two kindred spirits dancing in tune with every beat.  What I witnessed that day will never be forgotten. 

Robin told me that the condition Kennady has normally limits the life span to about two years.  She's 19 years old now.  There are only a few people older than her (in the world) with her condition that are still living.  She's a living miracle.  Why did God choose to give Kennady to Robin as a daughter?  I can't fully answer that question, but I can say his life wouldn't be as meaningful without her.  The doctor was right about one thing during those early days in the hospital about a meaningful life, he left God out of the statement.  Without God, life is meaningless, but with God all things are possible.  Robin is a man of integrity, determination, and a heart that's too big to ever be full. He pastors a church now, and his success is partly due to the lessens he has been taught by his daughter.  When you trust God, and not play Him, He expands the capacity to love beyond the limits of our hearts.  Robin chose life.  He accepted his role in this story, and God rewarded him with a special needs daughter that has given him more love than most of us could ever comprehend.  Real life isn't easy, but when we choose to honor God in it, He will honor us in return.  Robin Steele is living proof of this TRUTH. 

Here’s a series of questions I asked him with his answers. For those of you who have questioned yourself about having a special needs child, this man’s testimony may give you insight into your own heart. May Robin's story be a blessing to you. For more on Robin Steele, father of a special needs daughter, pastor of Promised Land San Marcos church, and author of “How to Be Made Whole”, you can visit his web sites here, www.mademeaningful.com or pastorrobin.com.

When your daughter was diagnosed, what options were you given by the doctor?

We were given the option for abortion (traveling to Kansas for a 30 late term abortion) or continue the pregnancy with a specialist.

Where did you find strength to get through the rough parts of your journey?

Our strength was from God and our church family.  Both of these were crucial to sustain the brutal news that our baby would not be normal.

If you could go back and change one thing about your life, what might that be?

I would have slowed down and enjoyed the early years more instead of trying to move forward so fast.

What would you say is the biggest misconception people have about raising a special needs child?

People think that raising a special needs kid is all bad.  Nothing is further from the truth. Our daughter blesses us everyday with miracles that we would never have had without her. These outweigh the negative.

What would your advice be for anyone facing a complicated pregnancy in which the baby has been diagnosed with some abnormality in which the medical staff paints a grim outlook?

I recommend people diving into a church family with everything they have.  Be vulnerable. Ask for help.

What has your daughter taught you most about life?

My daughter has taught us that only God determines our value and meaning.  Doctors, parents, friends, and others all play a role, but only the creator can give value.

If there is one truth about "valuing life" that you could speak into the lives of all people, what would that truth be?

If we trust God with our value, then we know that he has a plan that we can’t explain or predict. We need to let go of control and let him lead the way.

Choice is a Person Project - Abby Johnson - Former Abortion Clinic Director

Abby Johnson - Former Abortion Clinic Director, Author, Speaker, and Mother of Eight

I've known about Abby for quite a few years now.  I watched her movie "Unplanned" when it came out and was captivated by the raw honesty of the movie,  I mean I've never seen a movie that revealed so much reality/truth about the topic of abortion.  I've heard her speak on the radio, as well as watched videos of her on the web.  Abby has a larger-than-life personality.  She's very down to earth, and is willing to lend a helping hand in just about any situation.  When I met her to create the portrait, she was vacuuming the house in her housecoat and her hair was up in a towel (her little ones were running around playing).  The first thing a thought was, "this woman is definitely not a foo-foo, well to-do, socialite".  I immediately knew this session was going to be interesting and fun because there were no signs of pretentiousness.  Being somewhat famous, I thought she'd be different, more formal and proper; you know how the rich and famous act.  Well, for Abby, I don't think fame has gone to her head.  She has too many coals in the fire to allow herself to get caught up in the rat race.  She’s the kind of person that can walk into a room, and everyone is huddled around her just because of her controlled, boisterous demeanor. Anyhow, I wanted to ask Abby a ton of questions, but we had a limited amount of time, so I did ask the one question that has never really been answered by anyone who believes that abortion should be practiced.  I asked her "how did you rationalize or justify helping women get abortions"?  I wanted to know what kind of mindset people can have that work in the abortion industry and not feel like they are doing something wrong.  She told me that she thought that if abortion was illegal, many women would go to back-alley clinics and get them there.  They would be risking their lives by doing so.  She said that by providing a nice, clean facility, it was actually helping women.  I told her that still doesn't answer the question.  Then she gave me the answer that I totally understood.   She said, "in reality, I just didn't think about it.  I busied myself and didn't put much thought to it".  That made perfect sense.  I mean human beings revert to alcohol, drugs, sex, food, spending money, relationships, and whatever they can to try to intoxicate themselves so they don't have to think about their problems.  Abby was just being human, rationalizing away the guilt she felt deep down inside.  It took her a long, long time to come to the conclusion that abortion was something she didn't want to do anymore.  All the things she witnessed;  her husband being against it, her family being against it, finally came to point where she had enough.  A little boy (Baby Paul, see pic below) being aborted, viewed from a sonogram finally broke the spiritual stronghold that had deceived Abby for 9 years +.  She didn't immediately have a "come to Jesus" moment, but she walked away from a lucrative job, that had power, more power than most can imagine.  What really stands out to me about Abby, is her genuineness.  I mean here you have a person that has had a hand in thousands of abortions, maybe not doing the actually killing, but lying and manipulating women into believing they're only choice is terminating her pregnancy.  The guilt that must come with that must be unbearable. 

I mean having two abortions herself, then working her way up to Director of one of the biggest Abortion clinics in Texas must have taken a toll on her emotional and spiritual life.  The fact that she walked away from that, and is now fighting for the unborn, proves that God's grace is enough.  I'm not calling Abby a spiritual giant, but I will say, that she is a lot like the Apostle Paul.  She now uses her past life to be a vessel of Grace, for God to use to rescue hurting, lost souls.  She helps heal damaged lives affected by abortion, and she helps others to find their calling in life, exiting out of the clinics of death.  Abby is one of the best real life examples of grace, for God took a broken, deceived, and hurting soul, and sanctified her into a glowing, bold, living example of a life that not only listens to His Voice, but puts into action what she knows to be true.  God can do all things, for nothing is impossible for Him, and Abby is proof of that in the flesh.  Her testimony continues to influence and affect so many lives, and most importantly, save the lives of the unborn.  Who knows, maybe one day, we will have people find the cure to cancer, or invent things that benefit all of mankind, just because of Abby's mission to expose the abortion industry and save lives. If you ever get the chance to read her two books (The Walls are Talking and Unplanned), or watch her movie Unplanned, don't pass it up.  It, in a tasteful, but honest way, reveals the truth about abortion, giving real life examples of the pain, suffering, and devastation that abortion has on people.  It's rated R, probably because of a few graphic scenes, not to mention the fact that the abortion industry doesn't want young teens and children to see because of what it exposes (an R-rating keeps them away), so keep that in mind.  If you ever get the chance to meet her, you will forever be touched.  Her resolve for making right her wrongs, her love for the unborn, her desire to see workers leave the abortion industry, and her zest for life definitely make her one of a kind.  For more on Abby Johnson, former Abortion Clinic Director, international speaker, book author, mother of eight children, and founder of the non-profit organization AND THEN THERE WERE NONE, you can visit her web site here, www.abbyjohnson.org.

Describe your involvement with choice and abortion.  How has it affected you?

I worked at a Planned Parenthood abortion facility for 8 years. I have been involved with over 22,000 abortions, including two of my own. I would say that when you have your own personal abortions, your heart is changed. Eventually, you realize you that your heart is missing a piece of it that will never be filled until you reach eternity. But when you manipulate and coerce other women to kill their children, it changes the composition of your soul. You have negotiated with people for the deaths of their children. It changes who you are completely. Yes, God forgives. But you never forget. You wonder what type of person could allow themselves to do that type of work, and then you realize you were that type of person. On one hand, you want to forget what you have done, but on the other, you never want to forget because that is what keeps you motivated to keep fighting for the unborn today. 

Where did you find strength to get through the rough parts of your journey?

Naturally, everyone will tell you that you have to get your strength through God and that is certainly true. But it’s more than just knowing it and saying it. If you really want to get through the hard parts and heal from them, then you have to live your life for Christ. You have to read your bible, go to church, spend time in prayer. It can’t simply be something you know, it has to be something you live and practice each and every day. 

If you could go back and change one thing about your life, what might that be? 

I’m not sure I would go back and change anything. Every thing I have done, including each and every mistake, has led me to where I am today. I don’t live my life thinking about regrets or what I would have done differently. 

What would you say is the biggest misconception people have about abortion?

I think our society has glamorized and romanticized abortion to the point where people don’t know what abortion really is. People think it is some sort of sterile, bloodless, painless procedure…when the exact opposite is the reality. Abortion involves piecing the body parts of unborn children back together. It’s incredibly painful for the woman. It’s a very bloody procedure. Abortion clinics are filthy, staffed with untrained personnel. Women are put at risk each and every day, but that is not what the media would have you believe. 

Would your advice be any different for someone thinking about having an abortion vs. someone that's already experienced one?

When I talk to women who are considering having an abortion, I always talk to them about the reality of abortion and make sure that they know all of their options. I find the term “pro-choice” to be a lie. Women don’t have abortions because they want to exercise their right to choose. They have abortions because they feel like they have no other choice. Part of my job is to make sure I talk to them about their life and how a baby can fit into it. I want every woman to realize that abortion never has to be a decision they have to make. For women who have had abortions, I talk to them about abortion healing and help them understand that their feelings of regret or sadness is normal and that they aren’t alone. 

Describe how your view on Abortion has evolved up till now?

When I first left Planned Parenthood, I can’t say I was necessarily pro-life. I just new I didn’t want to be involved with abortion any longer. The longer I was out of the industry, the longer I knew abortion was wrong in every stage, for any reason. 

If there is one truth about abortion that you could speak into the lives of all people, what would that truth be?

That abortion is wrong, no matter the reason, no matter the situation. There is never a reason that abortion is acceptable. There is never a medical reason for abortion. Abortion is always wrong.

Choice is a Person Project - Claire Culwell - Abortion Survivor

Claire Culwell - twin abortion survivor, international speaker, and author of “Survivor”

When I read Claire’s story I was moved, moved to the point of finally having good reason to start this project. I was so touched and emotionally charged that I decided that she would be the first person I would photograph. From the moment her voice echoed over the phone, I could tell this woman was special. Her sweet demeanor was easily recognized and as we talked I knew she was worthy of being my first subject to have in front of my lens. Claire’s story is nothing short of amazing. For anyone who believes in the God of the Bible, you recognize His mysterious and sovereign hand gently guiding this precious soul in her life. Her adoptive mom was also a delight to meet. The first thing I told her was that adoption is the closest thing to the Gospel there is, tangibly speaking. If you listen to Claire’s interview with Lila Rose on LiveAction (watch it here), there are many things that stand out. I’ll let you decide for yourself, but for me is the fact that she repeatedly states that her adoptive parents always told her, and showed her and her sister that they were “chosen, wanted, and loved”. Imagine if all children were told and shown that in every family today? The second thing that stood out about Claire is that she truly understands what Abortion really is. She will never condemn anyone for having one, not even the people who oppose (pro-choice) those that are pro-life. Everyone deals with abortion differently, and most are dealing with it out of their pain. That stuck with me. Here you have some who would’ve been aborted if the doctor had newer technology, ultra-sound, and who experienced the brutal dismemberment of her twin. You have someone who was excited to meet her birth mother, only to find out that her birth mother didn’t choose life, as she thought. God’s hand is on Claire Culwell. If you ever get a chance to meet her, you will leave a changed and better person. She is the real deal.

Here’s a series of questions I asked her with her answers. For those of you who are pro-life, this woman’s testimony will enhance your life. For those of you who are pro-choice, please read with an open, honest heart. It might touch your spirit in a way you’ve never experienced. And for those of you who sit on the fence, may Claire Culwell’s story be a splinter in your backside that causes you to move because you know you cannot remain “luke warm” any more. She has blessed my life, may she be a blessing to you too. For more on Claire Culwell, twin abortion survivor, international speaker, and author of “Survivor”, you can visit her web site here, www.ClaireCulwell.com.

Describe your involvement with choice and abortion.  How has it affected you?

Abortion is something that affects everyone whether they know it or not. Everyone knows someone who has experienced abortion in some way. That is certainly the case for me although I didn’t know it for the first 21 years of my life. Before that time I knew I was adopted. I was raised in a loving home with parents, Warren and Barbara Culwell, who told my sister and I that we were wanted, chosen, and loved. We knew we belonged in our family but we knew there was also a possibility we might meet our birth mothers one day. Nothing could have prepared me for the truth behind my birth that my birth mother, Tonya, would share with me. I had flown to visit her with a gift in hand. I remember being so excited to give her the gift, and the card that read “Thank you for choosing life for me.” What a moment I imagined it would be, but that moment went nothing like I had planned out in my head. The moment of excitement was met with tears. My birth mother told me that during her pregnancy with me she was 13 years old and was told that abortion was her only option. After following through with a D&E abortion that was meant to take my life, she went home to continue on with her life like normal only to realize she was still pregnant. The doctor told her that she had been pregnant with twins and that the abortion was only successful on one baby. She delivered me, her survivor baby, 10 weeks early in Oklahoma City. I weighed 3 lbs, had common twin complications like a dislocated hip and club feet, and I was placed for adoption when I was released from the hospital at 2 months old. The moment I met my birth mother looked nothing like I thought it would but it was a miraculous moment. For the first time in my life I realized that choice has a name and a family, and that the person affected by abortion was someone like me. From that moment forward, I chose to forgive my birth mother so that I could freely share my story with dignity, grace, humility and faith. The story of the abortion survivor changes hearts and minds. You can’t look at my face without seeing my twin and the humanity of the unborn child. Until every human being regardless of gestational age and circumstance has a choice, I will continue to share my face, the face of choice. 

Where did you find strength to get through the rough parts of your journey?

Growing up my parents would tell my sister and I to “remember whose you are.” We knew what they meant- a member of the Culwell family and chosen by God to be part of his family through our faith in Him. During the uncertain moments of my life including when I found out that I am an abortion survivor and a twinless twin in the name of choice, I clung to what I knew was true about me. God says I am worthy, loved, forgiven, called to be brave and bold, and created perfectly in His image with a plan and purpose for my life. That never changed even in my moments of confusion and hurt. 

If you could go back and change one thing about your life, what might that be? 

I trust in the author of my story who wrote my life story perfectly for me. If I could change one thing it would be for me to trust Him more. He always knows what is best and goes before me in everything I do

What would you say is the biggest misconception people have about abortion?

Abortion is not empowering for women. It tells a woman she can’t when she can. She is told she must take the life of her child in order to live her life. It tells her she doesn’t have support when there are SO many of us waiting and ready to help her. 

Would your advice be any different for someone thinking about having an abortion vs. someone that's already experienced one?

For someone considering an abortion- You are supported and you are strong. We want to be your village and we want to support you through your journey to motherhood. Abortion is not your only option. Please reach out to LoveLine for support. I promise motherhood will be one of the greatest joys of your life. For someone who has had an abortion- I am so very sorry for the circumstances that led to your abortion experience. I can not imagine your pain but I do know that there is hope and forgiveness after an abortion. Please reach out to Rachel’s Vineyard. 

Describe how your view on Abortion has evolved up till now?

Being adopted, my family would have been against abortion but it wasn’t something we talked about. The first time I heard the term “pro life” was when I met my birth mother and reached out to a local pro life organization for support when I learned I had been affected by abortion. When my birth mother told me I am an abortion survivor, it humanized the unborn baby and the woman considering an abortion for me. From that point on, there was no turning back for me. I have spent every day since I was 21 years old fighting for women like my birth mother, for the unborn child like my twin and for the abortion survivor like myself. Abortion is the greatest injustice of our time. I will continue to share my survival story until we make abortion unthinkable. 

If there is one truth about abortion that you could speak into the lives of all people, what would that truth be?

I am just like you. Abortion affects every single one of us in some way whether we know it or not. Abortion tore my twin’s body apart limb by limb. We should be outraged and yet we stay in our comfortable bubbles ignoring how abortion is destroying children and families of our own. My encouragement would be for every single person of faith and conscience to stand up against what abortion is and what it does. We cannot be silent any longer while our children die and women truly believe that abortion is their only choice. We must do better than that. It is time for us to rise up together and create a culture that truly values life, women and families.

Choice is a Person Project

I’ve been wanting to do this project for a long, long time. I know it’s very controversial, but I’m not here to be controversial at all. We live in a world where selfishness and “me first” attitude reigns. With this mindset, it’s easy to be deceived into believing a lie, especially when you’re told “everything will be fine”. The abortion industry has done more damage to our country as a whole than any other event or movement in it’s history (with over 56 million lives lost since 1973). The lies, the deceptive practices, and the spiritual, physical, and emotional damage that has been inflicted on so many lives because of the decision to abort an unwanted child growing in the womb is the greatest tragedy in American History. If you read our constitution, the order in which our rights are stated is as follows, “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness”. Without Life, the other two are not possible. My goal is not to make abortion illegal. My goal is to present stories of people’s lives affected by the choice they made, or others made for them in regards to abortion, and put a face on this issue. My hope is that through the images viewed and stories told, the CHOICE that people have been given through our legal system will no longer be an influence in one’s decision when faced with a pregnancy. My goal is to abolish abortion in the heart, one person at a time; that way it will not even be an issue, a choice, or a controversy any more. Abortion may stay legal, but become an unnecessary practice because people see the value of every human life, born or unborn. My wish is for people to read, view, and learn about what these people experienced, what they learned, and what they wish they could tell others about abortion. Putting a face on the choice that people think is their right, humanizes this legal practice, and it exposes the lies that so many have bought into by bringing it into the light of the truth. Abortion isn’t about my rights or your rights. It isn’t about a blob of tissue, or what it’s called. Abortion is about people making a decision about life that will affect not only them but many others for the rest of their lives, and what nobody tells you before or after it happens. This project puts a face on those that society says don’t exist, shouldn’t exist, or just doesn’t want to acknowledge. There is no greater travesty in America today. Choice is a Person.

MMA Fighter, Grappler Champion, and Entrepreneur....

I received a text from a recent acquaintance who referred me to Aron as a photographer. I got a call requesting portraits of a former MMA Fighter, Grappling Champion, and Entrepreneur. Aron has quite a resume. He needed images for Top 100 Entrepreneurs Magazine. He was told that I was “the guy” to go to for great imagery. I don’t know exactly if that’s true, but I’ll definitely not pass up a great opportunity to create top-notch images of extraordinary people. Aron calls himself a jokester. When I asked him what he did to wind down after a big fight, he told me, “go home and watch Disney with my daughter”. If only we could’ve recreated that in a image? Any way, Aron is a “make things happen” kind of guy. His latest business dealings involved a $35 million deal to build a shopping center in Frisco, Texas. He actually brought a 3' x 7’ rendering of the center. We used it in one of his portraits. After creating many different looks, we headed off to the gym. Do you know why fighting gyms don’t have AC? Because these people are tough. I mean “No AC, No Problem” tough. Anyway, after about 45 minutes of sweating completely through my clothes, we got the images I had envisioned. Aron is one focused individual. His training and experience has made him into a persistent and persuasive force in the business world. Hopefully, these images make it to print, if not, I enjoyed the process, and he has phenomenal images to help promote himself. One look at these, and you’ll never forget him. That’s for sure.

The New Most Interesting Man in the World…

Texas Grappling Champion, “Don’t Mess with Texas”.

The Man behind the Project…. or in this case in front of the Project.

20 Years and 11 Trips Till My First Bear....

I’ve been going to Big Bend National Park for 20 years now. This was my 11 trip. It was only for 2 days, but since I know the park so well, I picked the most scenic areas to photograph (which is anywhere in the park). I started out driving West to Study Butte. After a quick lunch at the local gas station/cafe, I headed back East into the park. On the way I spotted several bovines in an open area. There was no grass, no vegetation, and no shade. It was as if the cattle were all crying (see the tear lines from their eyes). I thought, “wow, that would suck to be cattle here”. As I kept driving I spotted an old Airstream RV and relic Plymouth., so I had to photograph that. As I approached the plethora of photographic subjects, I watched a Roadrunner with a catch in his mouth jump up to one of the openings in the RV. I quickly ran around to the other side to get the shot (see image). I then proceeded to the current high school. Their athletic fields were all gravel with an all-weather track around it. The views of the Chisos mountains off in the distance were breath-taking. I made my way through the desert and photographed what interested me. I ended up at Rio Grande Village, at the East part of the park. There I did a short hike up to the Hot Springs Canyon Overlook. It was eerie because I was the only one there. I had the entire canyon to myself. It was beautiful. From the Westward view, you could see the sun setting, reflecting off the Rio Grande river, while the canyon walls provided a muted reddish hue to complement the warm colors coming from the sun setting. When I turned around, facing West, the Sierra del Carmen mountain range lit up and began to glow with warm hues that projected forward from the cool purples and blues in the sky above it. That ended day 1. Day two started out driving the almost 50 miles to Santa Elena Canyon in the dark. Boy that did not disappoint. I got there long before the sunrise. The purples and pinks in the sky reflected almost magical pastels off the water in the Rio Grande river. I turned to watch the sun rise over the Chisos in the Northeast, only to be pleasantly surprised when I turned back around to see the golden light explode on the canyon walls. There was just enough water to get a classic reflection of the canyon. It’s one of my favorite images from the trip. I then made my way back to base camp. Driving up into the mountains for the 63rd time (guessing), I witnessed my first bear. 11 am in the morning my eyes were met by a small bear, probably less than 1 1/2 years old. This was my first bear. It took 20 years and 11 trips, but finally, I was blessed with seeing the one animal I’ve always wanted to see there. I didn’t get to take any images, but this made my trip so rewarding. Some times it’s the things we can’t photograph but witness with our eyes that impact us the most. I could’ve gone home then, but I had more to photograph. After lunch, I made my way back to Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive. On the way, I stopped and filled up at the tiny gas station. I met a couple from New York and Philidelphia. Actually, they were Polish and Brazilian. We chatted, and they told me about a waterfall that had flowing water. In the desert that’s a small miracle in itself. We shared stories, and I headed out. I photographed so many places along the road. But as the sun went down, the magic started to happen. The colors in the sky mixed with the darker hues of the sandwiched mountain ranges led to beautiful images. Towards the end, I wanted to get an image of the Window, with Casa Grande in the middle view. By the time I got there it was dark. So I set a 25 second exposure at ISO 1600. I thought, “this will be a documentary style image”., for it would be to grainy for my taste. My camera wouldn’t focus, so I got my flashlight out to help with the focus. As I shined it in the distance, a thought came to me, “why don’t I paint the desert foreground with my flashlight”? So I did. It turned out so cool, and you wouldn’t even know it was light by a flashlight. The moon looks like the sun in the image. You can actually see a satellite streak in the sky to the left of the moon. As I was driving back, I had the privilege of watching my second bear. This one was so much bigger than the first one. I turned the car around and got to photograph him. I grabbed my camera, turned the ISO to 6400, and fired away. I didn’t check my settings in the excitement, so the shutter speed was slow. The image of the bear isn’t the greatest, but proof that it happened. As the bear headed back towards the trail, I spotted two headlamps on the trail. I drove over and warned the hhikers that if they kept hiking, they would run right into the bear. So they cut through the brush down to my car, and followed me back to the parking lot. What a day! Two bears in one day. Wow!!!! The next day I was to leave, but it didn’t stop me from rising early, hiking about a half mile in pitch black darkness to photograph the Hoodoos. I couldn’t find them at first, but persistence paid off. As I stood out in the vastness of the desert, all by myself, I couldn’t help but think of how blessed I was to be there, and the silence was so peaceful. This trip will be one of my favorites, because of the two bears. It was also the first time I’ve ever been there by myself (which I don’t recommend, ever). Nature has a way of teaching us so much. But the wilder the place, the more necessary it is to have some one else there with you. I didn’t do much hiking at all (like I usually do), all because I was there alone. Trust me on this one. I’ve posted some images from the trip. If you ever get the chance to visit Big Bend National Park, do it. Look me up and I’ll give you some ideas that may help make your trip even more unforgettable.

Bovine #1, 2nd coolest horns in the place.

Felt sorry for this guy, but he did have the coolest horns I’ve ever seen.

Typical Old-West dilapidated colorful old automobile.

Airstream ruin….

Roadrunner with catch posing for picture.

Old Plymouth….

This Plymouth has some stories to tell…..

Can’t get a better view from the driver’s seat…..

There’s the Window from 20 miles out….

Road to Rio Grande Village….

Road to Daniel’s Ranch…

Hot Spring Canyon Overlook….

The Sierra del Carmen Mountain range….

Santa Elena Canyon before sunrise….

When there’s water, there’s reflections….

The Glory of Santa Elena Canyon…

Backlit Chisos Mts….

Chisos Basin Road….

Casa Grande from the Campground…..

The Century Plant, or better known as the Agave….

Luscious Fruits of the Prickly Pear Cactus….

Mule Ears Peak, or as I call it, Batman’s head…..

Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive…..

sunset sandwich….

Moon rise over the mountains…..

West view of Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive, looking toward the Christmas Mountains….

Moon rise over the mountains with agave lechuguilla splicing the moon.

Desert view of Moon rise over the Window…..

Bear #2, this one got captured by my camera….

The Hoodoos up close and personal……

The Hoodoos from a distance (longer lens used to compress the view)….

Athletes - An Elegant and Whimsical Beauty

MiKayla is a collegiate volleyball player. When I learned of her I thought, “wow, this girl is a beast on the court”. Then I met her and I thought, “this girl is an elegant beauty”. Her soft voice and laid back personality makes her easy to like. She’s finishing up her last semester of school, as she aspires to become a doctor, so she’ll have plenty of schooling to go. The thing I like best about her is the way she carries herself. Humble and whimsical, some times quirky, but intelligent. When she’s on the court, you’d probably think, she’s just another tall, intense volleyball player, but when she’s made up, she’s as pretty as they come. The reason I wanted to photograph her was because I wanted to capture her dual roles in college: Beauty and the Beast. She was extremely easy to photograph, but even more so, fun to be around. Here are a few images from the session.

Her essence captured in one image….

The game she loves….

Another image that tells you a little bit about who she is…..

Quirky….

The competitor she is…..

Caught up in the Game she loves…..

Men of Influence - Bob Lepine

I had the privilege of photographing Bob Lepine yesterday.  In the process of arranging this session, I ran across many roadblocks.  I first had this scheduled to take place in October, but due to some unfulfilled promises by some other than the two of us, it didn't happen.  After some more setbacks, my persistence paid off.  We arranged this session to take place at Cross Mountain Church.  Danny was very gracious to allow me to use their facility.  One of the reasons Bob Lepine is one of my men of influence is his steadfast, consistent, and transparent  faith.  He is the co-host of Family Life Today, with Dennis Rainey, as well as the host of Truth for Life.  Both of these are national radio broadcast shows that have been on the air for a long time.  I began listening to Bob on the radio in the late 1990s.  His consistent, steadfast, and respectful approach to educating, and helping others is simply remarkable.  Earlier this year, he produced a movie in theaters called Like Arrows (very good by the way, you should rent it when it comes out).  His stance on truth is ever growing in grace.  He used to live in San Antonio, so he has a particular interest in the San Antonio Spurs (even though he now lives in Arkansas).  While I was photographing him, he shared with me the turning point in his life.  It was when a man sat him down and questioned his knowledge of sin.  He realized what he thought and what the Bible says were two different things.  It was at that point that the Gospel changed him, his desire to know God's word was ignited, and he's never looked back since.  He also told a funny story about his son, when he was about 1 1/2 years old.  He was driving in the car and someone came close to cut him off, so he honked the horn.  Right then, his 18 month old son yelled out, "Jerk".  Bob's wife looked at him, and he admitted that he had said "it" once.  His honesty, and willingness to share life experiences are what makes him so influential.  He's not afraid to talk about his failings, which tends to lower the walls of resistance when it comes to communicating and forming relationships with people.  He has a rapport that puts people at ease, and yet speaks the truth in the process, something lacking in today's society.  Bob is a great guy, but he's so much more than that.  If I were to be in a heavily sparked conversation about a controversial issues, I'd like Bob's presence, because he can handle the heat, but do it with gentleness and respect.  This is something I still need to work on.  Bob's consistent example in living out his faith has been more than influential to me (as reason to be in my Men of Influence Project), but I'm sure to millions of other listeners over the years as well.  When it comes to the Christian faith, he gets it.  And he's willing to share and give of himself, so that others "get it" too.

Texas High School Football Hall of Fame 2019 Stadium Sessions BTS

I just returned from a 1200 mile journey across the state of Texas shooting for the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame. I had to shoot 6 stadiums (I have the other two already done from previous years) for 6 of the inductees this year. My trip was highlighted by the greatest McDonald’s worker I’ve ever met. A DPS officer in Menard who thought I was a drug runner. And a Facebook Message from Adrian Peterson, that caused my to miss my Coahoma exit. Snow flurries started in Sealy and continued up to Palestine. The temperature didn’t really change at all during the day. The wind was mighty in Sealy and let up as I drove north. I arrived at Daingerfield HS just when practice was getting underway. I talked with their coach, and decided to work around them (that way I wouldn’t have to come back in the morning). I then drove to Mt. Pleasant to spend the night. Got up at 4 am (again) and drove to Waxahachie. I avoided the Dallas morning traffic by leaving so early. Waxahachie Lumpkin Stadium was really nice. I’ve never seen as large of UnderArmour shoes on a 20 foot tall Indian mascot before. On the way to Stephenville, I noticed that the highway I was driving on was dedicated to Chris Kyle, of American Sniper movie fame. Arrived in Stephenville right about lunch time. Half of the stadium was under construction, so I had to photograph from one side. Drove to Coahoma, and arrived as the team was practicing for their first playoff game. Luckily for me, there was a 30 minute difference in time from when the sun set in Coahoma, as to Daingerfield the day before. So I got to shoot it, and got great shots with clear skies and a beautiful setting sun. My drive home was uneventful, except for the DPS officer mentioned above. I didn’t get a ticket or even a warning (lucky me). He told me that I pulled into the cross walk area when I stopped at a light on the highway. At least, I know he’s doing his job (not eating donuts, hanging out at the donut shop) ;). Arrived home about 2 pm, and was exhausted. Can’t wait to photograph the people to go into these stadium images. Here’s a 7 minute video of the BTS of the stadium sessions.

Surviving the System - Cheronda

Cheronda is a one-of-a-kind.  I met her at a photo session with foster kids called the Heart Gallery.  It's something I've been doing for about 5 years now.  The Foster Care System has a program where photographers make portraits of kids in the system in order to help them get recognized and adopted.  Cheronda has worked her way up to her current position (don't ask me for the title, I forgot).  She grew up mainly with family, her grandmother mostly, then was placed into the foster care system as a teen.  Her determination helped her get out of the system at age 17, which is rare, where she attended college, pursuing  her education.  Of  the many people I've met in my life, Cheronda has to be one of the most energetic, loving, positive, and geniune people I know.  Her heart is definitely for the kids she's around.  Her love for people comes through in all of her actions.  I am amazed at the person she's become, given the circumstances she endured growing up.  Her dedication to her job, working for CPS (state run organization), puts her at work at odd hours during the day.  One day it may be early morning, and the next  she's pulling an all-nighter, but she does it with enthusiasm like it’s her first day on the job. When most people in this country are pursuing jobs that have high salaries (chasing the dollar), Cheronda is making a difference in the lives of people that have no home;  people that are abandoned, neglected, and left to fend for themselves.  She loves these kids, and does her best to help them make connections.  These connections are, what she says, "are the most important thing people can do for a kid in the system".  These connections help these kids develop into responsible citizens.  They give these kids hope.  They make a difference in the lives of these foster kids.  If I could ask one person to speak to young adults (about direction and adversity), I'd want it to be Cheronda.  She gets it.  She's an overcomer, and is willing to share her secrets with anyone willing to listen.  Cheronda is the perfect example of how adversity, when handled with the right attitude, can help you develop your character and help you become the best you can be.  This is Cheronda Tillman, and she is surviving the system, and helping others through it. You can learn more about Cheronda in her interview.

some of her cherished childhood memories

an image from her memory book

Cheronda knows what it’s like to be alone, and need help

The beautiful woman she’s turned into today, a smile that lights up any room she enters

The one image that speaks volumes about being in the foster care system

The windows of her soul

Capturing her personality, one image just couldn’t do it.

Men of Influence - Mark Gregston

I had the privilege of photographing Mark at our church. He was presenting a parenting conference. He also spoke at our church services earlier that morning. Mark Gregston is the founder of Heartlight Ministries. It is a residential counseling center for teens. He has also written 12 books, as well as the host of the acclaimed radio program, Parenting Today’s Teens. I participated in one of his book studies a few years ago, and really learned about how teens interact in their families. His book, Tough Guys and Drama Queens should be on every parent’s list to read in order to help understand today’s teenagers. Mark is a no-frills kinda guy. Did I mention he kinda looks like Mark Twain (see quote image). He’s very animated when he speaks (see picture set below). He says it like he sees it, which can have a tendency to “turn off” some modern-day church goers, but when you really listen, what he says makes sense. His motto to parents is “lighten up”. And the best advice he can give a confused parent with a troubled teen is to “listen”. It’s not our responsibility to “fix them”, rather help them develop their God-given abilities to make it out in the world. He says his best counseling sessions are usually, “yeah”, “un’huh”, “wow”, “no way”, “c’mon”, because he just listens. He never gives answers, just asks questions. It’s an interesting approach, that seems to work for him and his ministry. Mark is a funny guy as well. He could keep most people entertained for hours with his stories. And boy, does he have some doozies (stories). The loyalty he builds with his residents is lifelong. The best thing parents can do is to make sure their children know they are loved. Leave the perfectionism, the control, and the judgemental attitudes at the door. If you want to grow closer to your teen, be vulnerable with your teen. Be honest. His quote (see image below) is something every single person on the planet should read, believe, and put into practice. If you are ever in East Texas (Longview), look him up. I’m sure he’d have a cup of coffee with you and welcome you with conversation. Mark is making an impact in so many ways today. The world is definitely a better place because of him. That’s why he is one of my Men of Influence.

Mark displaying his inviting personality

The Modern-day Evangelical Mark Twain

This could be a portrait taken back in the Cowboy days…

The animated and dynamic speaker in action, telling me a story….

Surviving the System - Marissa

I've been photographing Foster kids for about 5 years now.  So when the idea of actually doing something other than providing pictures for CPS, I got really excited.  I've started another personal project.  It's called Surviving the System.  You can read about it's purpose in the beginning of each video.  I hope this inspires you enough to take action, to do something more than like this page, or smile and close your browser.  Any way, on to today's inspiration....

I met Marissa a month and a half ago.  I found her to be an extremely driven and focused individual.  Marissa grew up in the Foster Care System, so she knows it well.  She has overcome a lot in her life, and I could clearly see her resilience first hand.  When she left the system, she attended college and received two degrees.  Not only that, but she earned her masters degree as well.  So much for the nay-sayers... She also runs her own photography business (www.marissasimonphotography.com).  Her current goal is to work her way up with the company she currently works for.  In 2-3 more years, she should have her own branch.  Did I mention she's a mother of three children?  This young women should be an inspiration to many.  As we chatted during the session I could clearly see that she has been affected by the Foster Care System (as we all would).  She's more of a private person.  She doesn't want people knowing her business, yet she can be very outgoing.  She's very guarded, and that's understandable, but she's not afraid to give of herself; like she says in the video, her secret is serving others.  It's where you find yourself, by losing yourself in service to others.  I really like Marissa, and even though she's not perfect (as if any of us are), I know she's going make it in this world.  When she called the morning of the session, she asked if we could push the start time back one hour, I cordially agreed.  When she arrived, I asked what she's been doing on her day off, she responded, "I just got back from skydiving".  She's fearless.....  You can learn from her yourself by clicking here, it's a video about her, in her own words.....  I hope this inspires those that are still in the System.  And I hope it inspires those that can make a difference in the lives of Foster Kids.  It just takes a heart of compassion with the fortitude to put into action what you know is the right thing to do.  The System has it's issues, as does most organizations these days, but it's up to people like you and me to make connections with these kids, that will help spur them on, giving them hope to Survive the System. I'll leave you with this thought.  I asked Marissa to bring pictures from her childhood.  She said she would look, but didn't find any.  Can you imagine not having any pictures from your childhood? It's hard to imagine, isn't it?

The image she's holding is a faceless little girl.... something all Foster kids experience.

The images in the back are of all of her tattoos.  They each signify events or values that she holds....

Men of Influence - Dallin Malmgren

They say every one has a story, well, this man has many stories, thousands of stories; stories still continuing to be written in all the lives of those he's touched.  Dallin Malmgren is a retired high school teacher of 33 years.  He taught several different courses; creative writing, English, business communications, as well as journalism, and later coached the tennis team.  He is also a published author.  He was my high school Business Communications teacher during my senior year, and was one of my favorite, all-time teachers. He was in the early part of his teaching career when I sat in his class, but that didn't hold him back from motivating and inspiring us to become better and deeper people (usually done by more seasoned veteran educators).  His sense of humor was unmatched.  He had a way of getting and keeping your attention, without much effort.  Mr. Malmgren was a fantastic educator, but an even better person.  His zest for life was expressed daily in his classes.  He had nicknames for some of us, and would give out verbal awards that recognized zany things about many of his students.  He had a way of connecting with you that seemed to melt away your defenses.  He was someone you could trust and talk to, never having to worry about it turning into something you'd later regret.  He told us stories about his earlier days, some that I still remember to this day.  One story I vividly remember is one of him hitch-hiking across the American West (from California to Missouri), and doing it from a very fast car driven by a military pilot. I guess the quality I liked about him the most was his authenticity.  He wasn't arrogant.  He wasn't there to boss us around and abuse his power as a teacher.  He was there to share his knowledge with us, and enjoy the excitement in seeing our development. One thing I remember about being a student in his class was having to give a speech (sorry, I don't remember the topic), and at the end, I quoted the last few lines from the movie "Vision Quest".  His eyes lit up and seemed very impressed that I had taken the time to prepare my speech (unlike most of the others who just winged it).  I can only speak for myself when I say, Mr. Malmgren made a difference in my life, but I'm more than certain that there are thousands of others out in the world that are better people today because of the influence of this man.  He answered his calling, dedicating his life to serve in the classroom.  Teachers don't get much credit these days, so those of you that had one that influenced you, make an effort to contact them, and tell them what difference they made in your life.  Mr. Malmgren, you're the best, and one of my Men of Influence.  Thanks for sharing life with me.

Classic Mr. Malmgren

His authenticity comes through in his quote

Can you tell we had a good time?

His favorite thing to do

Men of Influence - Dr. James Dobson

Dr. James Dobson has to be one of the biggest, if not the biggest, influences (outside of my family) on me in my life.  I started listening to his radio broadcasts in the early 1990s after graduating from college, and have never stopped.  He is a clinical psychologist, author of 25 plus books, father, husband, leader, and has been and still is a radio show host of several popular broadcasts across the globe.  His books have helped me become a better man, father, husband, and follower of Christ.  His influence on me has made a huge impact in helping shape my character.  The stories from his broadcasts have stayed with me, so much so, I often share them with others when I'm in conversation.  Dr. Dobson is one of the most influential men in the country over the past 40 plus years.  His writings, broadcasts, and appearances have influenced  literally millions of people.  Last year he was voted as one of the top twenty Evangelical Leaders in America.  He also recently was awarded the Winston Churchill Lifetime Achievement Award from the Faith & Freedom Coalition.  The reason Dr. Dobson was on my list is because he not only helps families stick together, his endurance and steadfastness throughout his lifetime has been a strong example of being a man of his word.  He stands for truth, and isn't afraid to confront those who want to eliminate it, though he does it in a respectful and loving manner.  The stories I've learned from him on his broadcasts will stay with me forever.  They have helped shape my character, and strengthen my resolve for living a life of faith, and putting my family in the forefront on my existence.  I will end this section with a short story that he told about his son on one of his broadcasts.  Dr. Dobson's son, Ryan, had a bad ear infection.  So bad, that the doctor had to immediately scrape it out without anesthesia.  The doctor told him to hold Ryan down on the table so he could get to his ear.  As Ryan screamed from the pain, Dr. Dobson held him as tightly as possible.  As the doctor proceeded with scraping out the infection, Dr. Dobson discovered a mirror on the opposite side of the table away from the doctor.  Ryan was staring at his father with the look of terror on his face, as if to say, "how could you do this to me"? Dr. Dobson, knowing the reason why, had to continue to hold his son tightly down on the table, knowing he was hurting his son in order for the doctor the completely rid Ryan's ear of the infection.  He knew by holding Ryan down, he was causing him so much pain.  He knew that Ryan was confused about why his own father would do such a thing to him.  Then he realized, this is exactly what God does with us, what we see as pain, God sees as necessary to rid our lives of something that will eventually harm us. Some times, He has to allow us to go through painful trials, in order for us to get better.  Some times, we feel betrayed by Him in the heat of our circumstances.  Some times, we can even want to look God in the face and question His motives.  But in the end, God does what He does for our good.  Some times that means holding us down on the table of hardknocks while the doctor of life scrapes our infectious behavior out of our pattern of living.  He does it because He loves us, and has our best interest at heart.  Thank you, Dr. James Dobson, for being the man you are, not perfect, just consistent, loving, and with eternity in mind.  As you told your son Ryan once, "BE THERE", if we never get to meet again, I will cherish this moment, and see you on the OTHER SIDE.

If you'd like to read about the experience, read on......

When I started out on this Men of Influence journey, I thought it was going to be smooth sailing.  I contacted 25 men who have made an impact on my life, more so my faith, but as soon as I made the contacts, I started receiving rejections.  I had about 4-5 "maybe"s and two "it's possible".  I was visiting the hospital back in March, and I received a phone call from Brad, Dr. James Dobson's assistant.  He told me that he loved my work, and hopefully photographing Dr. Dobson would work out.  Almost three months went by and no word from Brad.  We were planning our Summer vacation trip, and two weeks before we were to leave I received a call from Brad.  Photographing Dr. Dobson was now a reality.  I couldn't believe it.  In the excitement of the news, I now had to pack my lighting equipment, along with all of our "stuff" for a week of hiking in the mountains of Colorado.  This was by far the biggest challenge.  Wouldn't you know it, when I picked up the car rental, I was offered a Chevy Suburban for the same price as the van we were scheduled to use.  I knew this was the beginning of the "Divine Appointment".  Brad helped me book the session, the enterprise associate got me a huge car with tons of space to haul my equipment, and now I was on my way to hike the great outdoors, with a break in the middle of the week to photograph Dr. James Dobson in Colorado Springs.  After two days of hiking in the mountains, the day finally arrived.  In the chaos of packing for the trip and planning the photo session, I forgot to pack my photography shirt to wear.  That meant, a trip to the store on the way driving down to Colorado Springs.  In order to make the 9 am arrival and setup time, I left about 5:30 am, not knowing Denver traffic.  I was cruising, beautiful light and grand scenery, it was a dream.  Things couldn't get better.  I made it to Denver in about one hour, then traffic. I'm not talking light traffic, I'm talking "Houston during rush hour" traffic.  It took me over an hour to get from north Denver to south Denver.  Accidents everywhere.  After the chaos on the road, I finally arrived in Colorado Springs.  I had to stop and get a shirt to wear, so Wally World it was.  Found the perfect shirt, and was back on the road, heading to Family Talk Headquarters.  I arrived at 8:50 am.  Brad met me and helped cart in all my equipment.  I got the quick tour and settled in the conference room for the session.  Brad shared with me how he presented Dr. Dobson with my photographic proposal.  He told me the story and I was so grateful to him for going about it the way he did.  After an hour of setting up, we got a call to go up to Dr. Dobson's office to meet and greet.  Walking in his office was a spectacle.  His office has a gigantic window that frames Pike's Peak in its extraordinary shape.  We shook hands, said our "nice to meet you's" and sat down on his couches.  We talked about many different things; why I wanted to do this, what was it's purpose, and my history.  The conversation included Winston Churchill, a painting that reminded Dr. Dobson of his daughter, USC football, and his wife Shirley.  She called him during our conversation (more on that later).  After about 25 minutes of "chatting", it was time to do what I came for.  When Dr. Dobson showed me  his "good side",  I explained I already knew that (I do a facial analysis on every single person I photograph).  He seemed impressed that I did my homework.  We photographed his profile first, then did some black and white, more dramatic style images.  We finally moved over to the v-wall.  Dr. Dobson, seemed a little uneasy, so I broke out the football jokes.  As I photographed him, he would tell me stories, I would respond, and share a few of my own.  I asked him to go to his "happy place" (think of something that makes him happy and joyful  inside).  A few clicks later, he asks if he can tell me a story.  While we were talking in his office, his wife, Shirley, called.  He proceeded to tell me that she got a good report from the doctor.  His face lit up like a little boy on Christmas day.  I think that's when I got the real Dr. James Dobson portrait.  We have so many things in common.  We were both born in Shreveport, Louisiana.  We both have lived in Texas.  We were both athletic.  We are married to the love of our lives.  We both love the Lord Jesus.  We both have a passion for the truth.  We both love to tell stories to help relate a topic to people.  I could go on and on, but I think you get the point.  After grabbing a couple of closeups, we wrapped it up.  I told Dr. Dobson, a few stories that he had broadcast on his radio show since the 1990s and he was amazed that I remembered in detail all the facts.  He was impressed that I was an avid and very attentive listener.  We shook hands, as I thanked him, and he quietly exited the room.  Brad was so helpful throughout the session.  He helped me pack up and escorted me out of the building.  As we left, Brad shared with me his story.  It was pretty incredible as well.  Every time I thought about what was happening, I could only thank God, because I knew this was a "Divine Appointment".

Men of Influence - Ray Comfort

I started learning from Ray about 13 years ago.  He is a street evangelist in the Los Angeles area.  His story is fascinating.  He is the founder of Living Waters Ministries, creator of The Way of the Master TV series, and an author of 80 + books and tracts.  He's a family man, husband of 46 years, and great teacher and preacher of the Gospel.  Of all the people in the business of promoting the Gospel of Jesus, he is the most influential to me.  He taught me an effective way to witness to people that reaches the soul of every person you witness to.  If you are interested in watching him in action, he preaches in open air every week on the board walk near Huntington beach, CA.  I could spend all day watching his street witnessing videos (I've watched over 100 of them).  My favorite in the Caribbean Woman episode (warning: not appropriate for the faint at heart).  When she goes off on him, of course he remains calm.  Getting back to the session.  I met Ray and EZ (his son-in-law) in Houston at a speaking engagement.  The session was a blast.  To say we had a good time is an understatement.  The thing about Ray I love the most is his love for people.  It's not easy telling someone about Jesus.  You get all kinds of reactions, especially when the people are God-haters.  His genuine love for others is crystal clear when you watch his videos, and meeting him in person, didn't disappoint.  In the middle of the session, Ray walked over to the some of the hotel workers and gave them a Gospel tract.  Anyway, we had a good time (as you can see in the images) and this was one of my most important photo sessions I've ever done.  Not because it was for a national magazine or anything like that, but because he is such a special person to me.  He most definitely is a man of influence.  His influence will last an eternity, and many people will be the benefactor of his actions.  Thanks Ray, for granting me this opportunity.

Men of Influence - David Edmonson

I met David about 3 years ago at Texas School of Photography.  I sat in on one his special 30 minute classes.  His zest for life and love of people really inspired me, so much so I took a two day class he offered that Summer at the Little Red School House.  Again I was inspired.  A few months ago, I stumbled across an online course taught by David and his son Luke.  I signed up, and was working through the course when I learned of a 3 day workshop they were thinking about doing.  The next thing you know, I'm signed up and headed to Dallas for it.  The workshop was a lot of information, shooting, talking, sharing, and inspiring.  I left extremely exhausted, but ever-so-grateful for the opportunity.  We were told that this amount of information and learning would only be deepened (better understood) in the future, so don't worry if you felt overwhelmed.  Overwhelmed is an understatement.  Getting back to David, he was a commercial photographer for many years and just in the past 10 years of so, he has focused his photography on the classical painters and artists.  He recreates his versions of the classic artists, but he uses family and friends to do it.  His purpose is to help mentor photographers to create a legacy, images that will carry on throughout the passage of time.  His goal is to build relationships with people and help educate and motivate them to learn the craft and create portraits that mean something to them.  Just spending time with him I learned a lot about who he is as a person.  He is always saying, "Thank you", when you do anything to help.  His encouraging demeanor is easily recognized in the way he approaches you.  And last but not least, he cares more about you, than he does if you mess up or succeed.  He shows you with his words and hugs that "you matter", which the world needs a lot more of these days.  He and Luke create masterpiece images that not only win awards, but leave more of an impact of those in the photographs because it's about them.  I've seen him create portraits of his own family, his friends, and even acquaintances that will continue to give back in future generations.  David is the real renaissance man, or better yet, the most interesting man in the world.  He doesn't take many images on the set, but when he does....... they are incredible.

Men of Influence - Dave Montizambert

I just got back from spending a week at Texas School with one of my mentors, Dave Montizambert.  He's Canadian, from Vancouver, BC.  I came to know of him while studying the teachings of the late Dean Collins.  Dave is a commercial photography lighting guru, who can light just about anything.  His methodology is based on the unchanging laws of light.  Dave is a funny, creative, and methodical creative.  His approach to photography is light first, subject second.  He is carrying on the legacy of Dean Collins, but adding to it with his own experience, tastes, and behaviors.  There were about 19 students in the class, who I am sure, found him to be very knowledgeable, vulnerable, and open with sharing his lighting procedures.  His stories were very memorable, especially the one about his wife making the French man "very proud".  The thing that I like about Dave (the reason he is in my "Men of Influence" project) is his ease of being human.  I mean, he doesn't have an ego, or is not afraid to mess up in front of the class.  Very few people I've met have that character quality.  He shares his knowledge without holding anything back.  He taught me a few years ago, over the phone and through the internet, so meeting him for the first time in person, was very honoring, and yet easy, like talking with an old friend.  Any way, I had asked him if I could photograph him outside of class while he and I were there.  He agreed, and these are some of the portraits I created.  All in about 15 minutes or so.  Since Dave is a lighting master, I thought I would create images that took several concepts that he preaches into account.  The color image tells more about his knowledge than you're lead to think.  He's a "specular highlight" and "shadow edge transfer" supporter, so that is the reason I captured that portrait on half black and half white.  And since he usually used tungsten lighting (in the early days), I incorporated a tungsten bulb.  His taste in photography is very high contrast, another reason I made most of these in black and white.  He says that he likes dark shadows.  He once said an art director once said of his images, "it looks like you can reach into the image and touch it".  I must say that this week was very enjoyable for me, not only because I got to meet Dave, but I made some friends from the class as well.  One of them, John, his assistant.  A fellow Canadian.  Dave is lighting genius, but more importantly, a very humble and down-to-earth man.  I will cherish the time I got to spend with him, and make his teachings about light, my very own.  Thanks again to everyone for a great week of learning and fellowship.  One of my favorite Texas School visits to date.

Lighting Master

Metering the correct way...with a smile

Magical lighting....

The Man....