photography

You can’t follow if you are in front of me

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When my kid was little I would constantly tell her that. She was always in a hurry to get to wherever we were going. To be honest, we were probably running late. She would be out in front of me, but going the wrong way. We finally got to a point where I would just look at her, and she would say, “I know, I can’t follow you in front of you.”

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She was a pushy little kid who would have talks with me asking if we could leave early because she didn’t want to be late. She was always in a hurry and talked constantly until she passed out sleep.  She hated naps and sleep. She loved going and doing.

She has matured since then and this week we will celebrate a major milestone. The time for her to follow has come to an end and it is time for her to blaze her own path.  I am so excited!!! (I am so tired of bumping into this child because she is trying to slow down for me)

Even though I am a single parent, I cannot say that I did it by myself. I truthfully have to say, God did it and used me and an awesome community of Family and Friends.  I could not have done it alone. But let me tell you the secret: You let your child know up front Joshua 24:15 is your motto and stick to it. (No you don’t get to choose when you go to church and you don’t get to choose when you go to bible study.) It was my duty to teach her God’s ways (and you can’t teach His ways without His Word.) Then surround that child with people who will pray for them daily. (Pick people who actually know God and have a relationship with Him)

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Our lives have been filled with storms and sunshine, but the fragrance of prayer to Jesus has always been present. He has been faithful through the cloudy days, torrential rains, high winds, lightning and thunder. He has outlasted jobs, homes, churches, people.

He taught us to join a group of believers and serve. We were members at several churches and served there. We participated in bible study. I taught her to put feet to your beliefs. Don’t listen to what people say. Look at what they do. Many will say they are Christians, but will live like the devil. Live like Jesus told the truth.

Your children will do what they see you do. If you are a whore, they will be whores. If you are a drunkard, they will be drunkards. If you are a Trekkie…

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I am excited because this is not my work. It is God’s work. I am reading C.S. Lewis’ The Weight of Glory. He explained we like to talk about what we sacrifice, and not so much the love God has lavished on us. The Lord has lavished amazing love on us through this journey. I have met some amazing men and women of God who have prayed us to this point. Thank You, Lord.

He has begun a good work in my daughter’s life and will see it through.(Philippians 1:6) His plans are higher than my plans because He doesn’t think like me. (Isaiah 55:8-9)  She is about to start a new path where there will be sunshine and storms. She knows prayer will lead her safely through.

What A Day

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It was amusing for me to have a type of day that started at 7am and will end well after midnight. The sad thing is that I did not get all of my 10,000 steps in. (And I was too busy to take extra steps.) And true to my personality type, there were lots of tasks to be done and they were done.

Duck

As I waited for my photo client in the park this morning, I saw this duck. unlike all of the other ducks at the pond, he stayed in this position. The birds around him walked, swam, flew and interacted with one another. This one flipped around occasionally, but this is what he did the couple of hours I was there.

I assumed something was wrong with it and could not help but feel sorry for it. It had the power to fly, swim and walk but did not use it. It is like people and their gifts. They have the power to do amazing things, but stay cloistered in their little worlds and never spread their wings to do the things they were designed to do.

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Had an awesome photo shoot with this lovely young lady who is about to graduate high school. It was a good time capturing the moment of her life when she is about to take off in flight. I can’t help but think that if God gives wonderful gifts to birds, what amazing things He places in us.

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I also got to meet new people at church and spend fun time with my daughter. One of the things that I love about my daughter is that she is concerned about my growth as a Christian as I am hers. She challenges me and I will miss it as she moves off to college.

Turtle

Yet here is a lesson I caught. (LOL) Even though this pond was titled around ducks, full of ducks and that is who the people came to see, this little turtle didn’t let it stop him from enjoying the duck habitat. Sometimes we can’t enjoy a place because we are all caught up in what it is called.

This turtle swam in the water, sat on wet concrete sides and probably ate the food intended for the ducks.He did not let not being a duck stop him from enjoying the world he was in. A lesson well taught little turtle.

African American History Month

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The United States was built on the backs of African Americans, Mexican Americans and Asian Americans. That is why I love Black History Month. It tells the stories I never got to hear in school. It reminds me that my people are not shiftless and lazy.  They have great minds and hearts contributing to society.

It reminds me that you can come from nothing and add something significant to life.  In my Queens project, the women I chose made a contribution to society that changed the fabric of it. Ordinary women did extraordinary things.

For this project, I chose women from all walks of life. I will share some of the photos I have taken, thus far. These are my Queens of Freedom.

Bessie Smith, the Empress of the Blues

Betsy Ross, mother of the American Flag

Madam CJ Walker, first African American Millionaire

Delores Hueta, Labor Leader and civil rights worker

Rosa Parks, civil rights activist or the mother of the freedom movement

Sacagawea, lead Lewis and Clark across North America

Shirley Chisholm, first African American woman elected to Congress

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Tell Their Stories

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I love that there are months to celebrate African American History and Women’s History. It is the opportunity to tell the stories of people like you and me who accomplished things that moved us further along on life’s journey.

My current photo project is inspired by a group of women who changed life for the people around them. These women taught us about freedom, self worth and beauty. They walked us to freedom through dark woods in the dead of night. They built fortunes washing clothes and combing hair. They leave a legacy that the impossible can be done.

I call them Queens because these women led when it wasn’t easy. Anyone can do it when it is easy, but these women did it when there was nothing in it for them.  When all of the odds where against them. They made a difference.

Because of women like Harriet Tubman and Sojourner Truth, Betsy Ross we are free. We are not restricted by someone who owns us. Because of women like Elizabeth Cady Stanton we can own property and manage our own lives.  We can be lawyers, architects or millionaires. We can be what God created us to be and not limited by what man thinks we should be.

Bessie Smith was raised during a difficult time in our country’s history in 1892. She lived in the segregated South. Her parents died when she was young, so she and her brother would dance and sing on the streets of Chattanooga, Tennessee to earn money.  In 1912 she started her career as a dancer traveling with a troupe. She would later get a job as a singer, which would lead to better paying jobs.

By the 1920s and 1930s, Smith was known as the Empress of the Blues. She would headline shows and traveled around in her own custom made rail car. What was more important is she gave voice to a style of music that got its roots in America. Bessie Smith understood the blues, it was her life. She poured everything she had into it until it consumed her.

If we don’t tell these stories who will tell them? Young girls need to know you can climb out of hard times if you have perseverance and a dream.

 

Welcome New Folks to the Site

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I wanted to take a moment and welcome the new folks to the site. For those who are unfamiliar with UPP Creative, we are a multi-media company with skills in publishing, photography and film-making. Please look over the website. You can learn about the books, video projects, photo shoots and much more.

Photography

We currently have a great Groupon Deal going for and Outdoor Photoshoot, so take advantage of it now. Search for UPP Creative Photography on Groupon Deals. It is a great time for family portraits.

The Queens photo shoot will be happening by the end of the year. I have some lovely ladies set to play the roles. It is going to be fun.

Video

Movie Poster

Movie Poster

We finished our first feature film in 2015. It showed in two festivals.

There are a few surprises left in 2015. I will share them when I get a chance.

Books

Look it is finally in print.

Connections Print Version

I am so excited. This is just the proof, but if you want to order it through me, I am offering it at a discount. I am just so excited!!!! If you are interested in ordering a print version of Connections please email or inbox me.

Blog

I also try to blog once a week. I believe that Jesus Christ came to save us. Every day, He teaches me something new and I like to share with you. Music is very important to me so there is usually a song attached to the blog. Some days it will fit in with what I am writing about, other days, I just like the song.

I believe our stories are powerful and love telling them. I make projects that matter. I want to Entertain, Educate and Stimulate the Mind.

I praise God for the vehicle of UPP Creative.

Peace and Hair Grease!