Photo of the Day September 5, 2021

September 05, 2021 in Photography

It’s been a while since I’ve posted a photo. Today I was watering the lawn and wanted to capture the drops of water falling from the leaves and limbs of this tree at sunset.

Moving Forward

July 18, 2021 in Life

Next month it will be one year since I relocated back to northern Idaho. This past week I have spent some time reflecting on my emotional, and spiritual growth. God has brought me through a lot this year and I’ve grown in areas I never thought possible to grow in. In addition to this reflection, it also time for me to make other changes in my life. I have held on to my job as a blanket, something comfortable and familiar in my time of transition. It is time to let that blanket go and move on to other things. I have found a new job in an industry I never thought I’d end up working in, airplane manufacturing. God is also working with me on another endeavor that I’ll announce when it becomes more fleshed out. God is good.

Tonedevil Brothers performing at a Wedding Reception

July 10, 2021 in Photography

I followed the Tonedevil Brothers to a wedding reception for someone we went to high school with this afternoon. The site was on the property of their soon to be home, great view of the valley, despite the smoke from local fires going on right now. Congratulations to the Miller’s.

Poem

June 19, 2021 in Life

Pain too much to bear

Reality comes down

Face it or leave it

Rough Day

June 18, 2021 in Life

It was just the other day when I was so grateful for getting to spend more time with the women of my life. Today I felt sad. We went to Triple Play in Hayden because Lukas wanted to take his sister. I knew going into today that it was the last day and I didn’t want to face it. After putting on my happy face all week, today I was bursting at the seams with emotion and tears. There were several times I had to fight the emotion back so I wouldn’t break down in front of anyone. It felt good to be able to talk and laugh with them this week, but at the same time it felt too good to be true. The proof of that is that they are leaving at first light. There is also proof that I still care about my marriage and relationship with Melissa because part of me is missing, there is proof that my daughter being absent in my life is painful, because I wouldn’t feel this way otherwise. I wouldn’t trade this feeling for anything though, because it’s this feeling that keeps me honest. It’s this feeling that keeps me following after Christ. I pray that those who have lost this feeling or deny this feeling within themselves, find it again.

Photo of the Day June 16, 2021

June 16, 2021 in Life

My last entry was coming from a place of pain and loss. Today I spent the day with Jenna, Lukas and Melissa at Silverwood Theme Park in Northern Idaho. There was a point when God reminded me that for now I just need to be grateful for the extra time that I get to spend with those that I love. It may not be how I want it, but it’s extra time that I didn’t think I would get. I’m very grateful for that extra time. The pictures below are images that focus on lines found throughout the park. Thank you Lord for a great day.

Photo of the Day June 13, 2021

June 13, 2021 in Life

It’s a picture and a journal entry day today. When I first started this journal last year some major changes were taking place in my life. I can’t remember if I ever circled back and talked about what those changes involved.

I remember when I was young, before my teenager years, making a vow to myself to never get divorced like my parents did. Having divorced parents was rough. I can remember a time when they were both together and then they weren’t anymore. I don’t remember when or how it happened. I can’t remember details about what made it hard, but I do remember vowing to not do that to my kids. What I didn’t consider way back when was that both people in the marriage have to commit to that same vow.

For reasons that I do not understand, I am officially divorced (at least paperwork has been turned in and the deadline has passed). I am fully aware of my part in the relationship, and responsible for it. What I am unaware of is why it had to end. Sure, the relationship was broken but we were both Christians serving a God who restores what’s broken.

Melissa and Jenna both came up to Idaho this week to spend time with me, but also to pick up Lukas and bring him back to California for the summer. I went over to their Air BnB today to hang out for a bit, but it just feels weird. It’s not just the fact that Melissa sent me divorce papers less then two months ago, but Jenna is still not wanting anything to do with me and only talks to me when her mom scolds her for not.

The picture below is of Jenna. My daughter, my first born, the young woman that i would cross through hell on Earth to save and she won’t speak more than a word or two at a time to me. It’s an ironic statement because I am doing more than crossing through hell on Earth to save her right now. I pray for her often. I’m not a perfect man. I have lied, cheated, and stolen many things in my life but what confuses me the most is how chasing after Jesus has led to this. A failed marriage and a disconnected daughter.

My prayer for both Melissa and Jenna is that they find peace, God’s peace, not fabricated or circumstantial peace. God’s peace is peace. I will keep walking and following after Christ as long as I have to because I love Him more than them and their approval. But I still love them both very much. It breaks my heart to be disconnected to both of them. It’s not supposed to be this way.

Photo of the day June 9, 2021

June 09, 2021 in Photography

Plenty of these little guys were floating in the wind at the beach as well as begging for food. #seagull #sandpointcitybeach #northidaho #sagleidaho #dailyphoto #dailyphotography #theotherdogfilms #wildlife #animallife

Photo of the Day June 5, 2021

June 05, 2021 in Photography

Here is Broden and Lukas. The two spent most of the weekend riding bikes together. I do not remember why Broden was giving Lukas that look, but makes you wonder what he was thinking.

#theotherdogfilms #sandpointcitybeach #northidahophotography #sonyalpha #nephewsarethebest #sagleidaho #northidaho #bluelips

Photo of the Day June 4, 2021

June 04, 2021 in Photography

Today's picture is of my nephew Broden. He interviewed me about the pictures I was taking..."does your camera take good pictures or do you have to apply a lot of filters and stuff?" I'm going to paraphrase my reply here, "real photographers don't use filters like glasses and bulgy eyes and such." I showed him a sample. "That camera takes GOOD pictures," was his reply. I tend to think it's the subjects of the photos that take good pictures personally.

Side note: I'm sure the question about filters has nothing to do with his moms use of social media filters.

#dailyphotography #theotherdogfilms #sonyalpha #sagleidaho #sandpointcitybeach #northidaho #nephewsarethebest #northidahophotography

Photo of the Day June 3, 2021

June 03, 2021 in Photography

It has been a few days since I took a picture. It's a lot of fun going outside and hunting for new ways to view the world around me. I liked the shape of this cut off limb with the sunset kissed leaves in the background. #theotherdogfilms #thisisthelife #sagleidaho #dailyphotography #sonyalpha #northidaho #sunsetphotography #trees

Reflections June 2, 2021

June 02, 2021 in Life

I was doing a little Bible study time tonight and was reading 2 Timothy 2:3. It spoke to many things about my life right now, but ultimately it led me to a bit of revelation.

I'm a storyteller and filmmaker and all through film school, and even through virtually every course of the Master's program I'm in currently, the common thread about good storytelling is that having a protagonist make the decisions we want them to make as we watch them on the screen would lead to a very dull and quick movie. Hence the need to watch them fall over themselves in bad choices first, BEFORE making the choice we want to see them make.

Let's take a look at a man, Jesus, who did everything right and his story on Earth was filled with conflict and ended in violence. This is interesting to me and I'm going to consider how I move forward with my storytelling after school. Can a protagonist make the right decisions and how will making those choices affect the supporting characters? If we look at the stories from the Bible, doing the right thing caused a lot of anger and hatred in people which ultimately impacted the "protagonist" Jesus. It certainly hasn't made for a dull story.

Photo by Amine M'Siouri from Pexels — Photo by **Amine M'Siouri** from **Pexels**

Photo of the Day May 30, 2021

May 30, 2021 in Photography, Life

Today's picture is all about Lukas. He wanted to cook dinner tonight, so he opted for tacos. For those that feel the need to point out the obvious, let me head you off right here...we know, it's not Tuesday.

#NotTacoTuesday #thisisthelife #sonyalpha #sagleidaho #northidaho #theotherdogfilms #kidscookingdinner #tacosFTW #dailyphoto #dailyphotography #nothingfancy

Photo of the Day May 29, 2021

May 29, 2021 in Photography

Not only does our own sin change our individual perspective, but it alters the way we view others and their sin. Turn your light on!

#theotherdogfilms #thisisthelife #sonyalpha #SinProblem #turnyourlighton #northidaho #sagleidaho #IWouldntHaveItAnyOtherWay #checkyourselffirst #CheckYourself

Photo of the Day May 27, 2021

May 27, 2021 in Photography

It has been through writing and filmmaking that has given me a voice...I remember starting two screenplays in high school. One was about a virus found in worms. Then the film "Outbreak" came out so I shelved it and walked away. I began writing a new script that dealt with unknown creatures that surfaced in Africa. I don't recall why I stopped writing that one but I didn't get back into writing films until four years ago.

A few life changing events and many minor distractions later, I am close to beginning production of my first film this side of film school and while living in north Idaho. I can't complain about any of that.

I regretted walking away from my passion all those years ago, but I'm determined to do what I have always loved and wanted to do. Nothing or no one will distract me this time.

#doingwhatyoulove #sonyalpha #theotherdogfilms #sagleidaho #northidaho #contentment #loveofwriting #writingforthewin #thisisthelife #IWouldntHaveItAnyOtherWay

Photo of the Day May 26, 2021

May 26, 2021 in Photography

For as long as I can remember I haven't liked the person I saw staring back at me when I looked in the mirror. It's been a journey to know myself, to understand me. I haven't gotten to the place where I want to be with that yet but I'm determined to get there. I measured my worth based on family, friends, children. I sought to please those around me in hopes that they would see in me what I hoped they would. I wanted so desperately for them to value me as much as I valued them. No matter how many times I was let down by those I put my hopes in, I continued to do what I knew wasn't working, or what was right.

It has been my relationship with God that has brought real truth and hope in my life. It seems like such a no brainer considering I've been a Christian for years, but it was the idols I didn't realize I had in my life that kept me distracted from the One relationship I needed the most. I am more content now than I've ever been thanks to God's hand in my life.

#TheOne #theotherdogfilms #SonyAlpha #sagleidaho #northidaho #photography #photooftheday #contentment

Photo of the Day May 25, 2021

May 25, 2021 in Photography

There are plenty of photographers that do close ups on people to capture their character. Here is Hudson, his first close up. What would you say about his character from the picture? #theotherdogfilms #sonyalpha #sagleidaho #dailyphoto #northidaho #hudsonthedog #closeupphotography #closeup #describethecharacter