Hail Viewer

Ok, so this shot isn't from today but it did hail today and I thought about this metal jungle gym thing Ave was in this one time last year and I thought, "Hmm, that's a good place to watch a hail storm." It's one of those "Hamburgler" things only nowhere near a McDonalds so I don't know what you'd call it. I'd probably call it Mr. Metal-Mouth-Man and the kids would think that sounds like a fun place to play. Right?

What a week

Avery's last week of Kindergarten, Uncle Rog is coming in town, and I'm too busy to tell you about stuff like how the other day I was filling out this form and for age I automatically started to write 16. SIXTEEN?!? What in the world? Then I kind of laughed and put a 2- and went "what ?#!" I'm out of my twenties? Then I had to think about which thirty I'm on. I need more sleep I guess. I'll tell you all about those crazy things later.
For now just know that I had the privilege of photographing Shannon and Brent's wedding Saturday and it was a blast. I even had help from Adam.
He's kind of crazy but he does a great job. Well I tell him he does a good job anyway...look at him, the dude is nuts! If you're reading this Adam, I'm just kidding. (I'm so not. Someone help me.)

Pantene Tree

Hawaii

No, this isn't from today but the editing is from today.

Jello or Prunes?

Love ya Ma!

My Mom is the best. We are a lot alike in many ways so we stress each other out and make each other crazy and I think it’s because we love each other so much and want happiness and the best for each other. My Mom always emphasized God in our family and I remember the song she’d sing about “…if I should be a fireman when I grow up, I’ll be a Christian fireman when I grow up,” and at the time I kind of wanted to sing it “if I should be a gangsta when I grow up….” But now (especially since I’ve got my own kids) I really understand and appreciate that focus in life.
Now that she’s a Grand-Mother too, it’s neat to see how much more love she’s got even after I’ve drained it all out with my shinannagans (great word huh).
Anyway, it’s Mother’s day and I LOVE YOU MOM!!!

Computers...

...they can help us do great stuff but when a hard drive almost crashes and you can't do anything for awhile and you have to spend forever sweating about what is and isn't backed up 100% it can be a little stressful. (yes that's why I haven't posted).
Here's one of Brooke's paintings, she's really got skillz.

Little Rock

So we went to Little Rock this weekend to see my old roommate Richard and his family. They’ve got 2 boys and 2 girls and they are all wonderful and we had an absolute blast. Richard did a ton of work here for us on the new (old) house since he knows how to do everything and has every tool known to man and builds houses for a living. So in an attempt to pay him back for all the sweat and blood (he almost lost a finger), I brought all my good junk down there and got some really great images of them. They’re also in a new (new) house and Brooke (the wife) wants some good photos to decorate.


It rained so we went to the Capital and got some groovy stuff all over the place and then did a bunch indoor at their house. Awesome weekend.

Avery's Concert...

...was awesome!!! I got a bunch of great shots but for right now, here's 2...

More Rain

So we’ve got a ton of rain which is great for the flowers we have (that we didn’t plant). It’s also good for the trees so Harry Potter (below) doesn’t have to use magic to give them a drink anymore. And yet we haven’t had enough to fill our new church baptistery yet (also below). Maybe we should have gone with the smaller model.

Wedding Season

It's May so that means it's time for me to be crazy busy with weddings. I actually am pretty busy with that so yay! Unfortunatly, I'm a little behind on some other projects so I don't have time for blogging as much as I'd like. I can't even go fishing like Luke and David. I grew up with those guys and got ahold of those shots and it's weird because they haven't aged a day. I guess it's that fresh ocean air.

Happy Birthday Erin!

Doesn't it look like she's selling stuff? I'd buy those candles. We had a great weekend and Erin turned 31 today. And today Preston turned 40, holy cow what a bunch of oldies eh? And here I am pushin 24, I guess someday I'll be ancient and confused like my wife and friends but until then, I know I'm hip and all the kids think I'm a rightous dude. Yep, I hang out at the cool places like the MFA listening to my Poison and Milli Vanilli tapes and Young MC stuff.
But enough about me, Erin had a good time and got to have a stress free weekend, we even had Friday night without either of the kiddos so we went out and saw a movie and then it was so late we had to head home. I think it was almost 10:30 or something. Yep, we're pretty rowdy so look out!

Beware the power of the dark side...

I’m nervous about T.J. He’s not going to be a physicist or an accountant and he’s about to graduate high school. He’s been through a lot and I don’t want to say too much here on the internet and all but let’s just say I think his life is about to go one way or the other and it could be really great, wonderful good stuff or it could get really bad. He’s kind of at that Anakin Skywalker stage in Episode 3 when he’s getting conflicting direction from Palpatine and the Jedi Council.
…
Holy cow I’m a dork.
…
Anyway, everybody please pray for T.J. cause he’s family to me and Erin and the kids and we love him and hope he has a great life.

What was I saying...

...about kids being so much fun to photograph and how it's like playing and all that...well, maybe not always. I almost photoshoped a goatie to see just how much he'd look like his dad.

Testing the whole emailing thing

Can't see this? Here's the solution, oh wait...

So my own sister-in-law can’t get this blog because her school is really restrictive about what sites they let you get on. AND, my buddy Craig (you might remember him from this) can’t get on this blog at work anymore because of the same deal. Well, I’m working on a solution so everyone who wants to can get their fix of mindless commentaries from me and others as well as the photos that are always a little less appropriate than what my mother would like.
Basically the new post would come to you via email so you wouldn’t have to take a virtual step on the actual site. Also, you shouldn’t have to wonder if there’s anything new or not, anything new would come to you via email. So if you want me to add you to this service, email me and you will then get an invite that makes sure you really want to be added to the group. Don’t use my john.amundson@gmail.com cause I never check that one, email me at john_amundson@hotmail.com and I’ll know.
OK, after promising all of this it had better work or I’ll feel like a big dork.

Rain

So it's raining and that always makes me kind of want to go and shoot some puddles but then I'm like, well, maybe when it's done raining and then you know what happens? I forget and never get shots to work with like this one that's a puddle at a strip mall. This one reminds me of the Division Bell faces from Pink Floyd, kinda like those Easter Island dudes. I know, I know, you're thinking how about less weird stuff and more bunnies and flowers. I'll get right on it. But I still like my puddles.

Forget it, I need my color...

I photographed Mr. Clayton the other day and it's always fun working with little guys like him. I find that I have to kind of think about the environment the way the little ones would and then I totally loose track of time because in a way, I'm just sort of playing. Sort of. At the same time I've got to make sure I'm getting it right and all, but it's very different than say, shooting the vice president...oops, you can't say that can you. I mean "photographing" the vice. Anyway, tons of fun with bubbles. Everybody go out and get some because it's a wonderful thing to do!

Ugly

Avery helped me with a shoot and then she took some shots of me making faces and then we did a few together. She’s really scary here…I wonder who she gets that from…

Shadow=Black, Highlight=White

Just a few minutes before Survivor...thought I'd throw these up...