Marriage Sucks

Deep Creek...


Often times when I'm shooting my goal is to tell a story from a distance. To be seen and unseen. My mission is to be the invisible six foot five inch man.  It saddens me to say that I can't hide, and I never get to shoot from a distance! So, I've come to the realization that some photo-journalist are designed to be in the thick of it all.  


This next blog entry that I'm about to share with you isn't exactly for sensitive people.  It's about a weekend that I'll never forget.  It was filled with moments that left me saying, "what in the world did I just shoot"?  Was that real? Did he just say what I think he said?  Are these old people that have been married for 50 years serious?  It was a weekend of photographing married folks.  Yes, I said, "married folks".  


After reviewing hundreds of photos I came up with a sound title for this entry.  Marriage Sucks... A unique title huh?  


I've been promising my wife a weekend get away for a while.  So we finally carved out some time and she drags me out into the hills of Maryland.  If you've been married for any length of time like we have you know that there's a catch to every trip.  It was Christian "married" couples trip.  When she told me all I could picture was the film, Why Did I Get Married.  Can you say nervous?  Yea, the trip started out bad.  We received a phone call a few days before the trip and a couple wanted to ride with us there...  I had reservations because every time we hang out with this particular couple all we do is laugh and have a great time. Who wants to start a weekend get away having fun?  


Fast forward to our arrival and it's snowing like crazy.  I'm driving down the side of this mountain saying to myself, "God if I die at least I won't be alone".  Later that evening we unpack and by that point my nerves had regrouped and everybody was flowing.  Soon after everyone crashes.  Around 2:30 am I hear, "Hey J, I need you to go with me to pick up one of the couples, they ran off the road".  It was my good friend Don Juan.  He only woke me up because my car was blocking his in the driveway...  I wanted to kill myself... It was cold and late.  


Fast forward an hour later and we find the couple in the middle of a blizzard.  As I'm sure you've gathered by this point God and I had a nice size chest bumped because I was happy to still be alive.  During that 2 hour stretch my wife was back in our cabin sleeping peacefully.  Marriage sucks, because she and Don's wife trusted God to cover us in a snow storm.  So much so that they didn't any sleep, lol. 


Marriage sucks... We spent the next morning paired up with Tim and Ebony making a killer breakfast!  Who wants to work with two other great cooks? I'm just saying it's much better than working with somebody that can't cook.  Later we went snow tubing!  For the record the other Ebony cheats and Phil lost every race on the slopes! The next day our battery goes dead with 19 other couples around to help us.  Who needs great couples around when your care dies?  Walking in 12 degree weather would have been better right?  We sewed into each others lives like crazy! Marriage really sucks because one of the perks is just meeting great people...  I hate it so bad that I'm ready to pay my deposit for next year's trip!  Marriage Sucks when you do it right!  Josh even helped me when I feel down the steps, lol.  His face was priceless!   


To my brother from another mother, the die hard Giant's fan, Marriage Sucks...  Thanks for the invite! 50 years plus!   

Vision 1 Point 0

It's the 3rd day of the new year and at 12:54 am I should be resting.  This morning I don't think that's going to be the case. Instead I'm on a creative grind that won't let me wind down.  I even post it in my Facebook status and my friend and fellow entrepreneur Ryan C. Greene said, "Visionaries don't have business hours".  How right he is.  

Vision 1 Point 0.

Cancer Season 3

Cancer Season 3

As most of you know 90% of my friends and colleagues work just as hard if not harder than I do.  One of those gentlemen happens to be Jeff Phillips, owner of Infocus Studios.  Jeff and and I have been friends for a number of years. We've supported one another's business ventures and families as they've both grown over the years.  This season I've been filming the Archbishop Spalding high school football team's season for Jeff's company.

This is my third season covering the team's progress.  I've seen them at their highest and their lowest moments.  So as you can imagine it's difficult to not develop a bond with the coaches and players.

Season 3 hasn't been any different than season one. The 2011 season has definitely proven to be a staple in the Archbishop Spalding family's character.  Prior to the start of the season Head Coach Mike Whittles was diagnosed with Cancer.  Little did the team know that the game of football would hand them an early life lesson about brotherhood and faith.  As the team's journalist, I've had to separate my own raw emotions and focus on my position.  Just 18 months removed from Cancer claiming the life of my good friend "Pete", my will to support the team and Coach Whittles couldn't be any stronger.  

I've witnessed the same to be true with those that are connected to Coach Whittles and the Archbishop Spalding family.  To date, the Archbishop Spalding community and Catholic high schools of Maryland have helped raise thousands of dollars in honor of Coach Whittles to support Cancer research.

I've covered hundreds of stories and like all of the others I'm remaining optimistic that this one will have a positive impact and outcome.  

So for all of you Cancer survivors and supporters I salute you.

For those of you that have been affected by Cancer please help support the fight.

High Point The Way I See It

High Point is an experience.  It’s the foundation of my success and the core of my being.  It’s been a road map to freedom for millions.  She’s rich in tradition and considered by many to be a melting pot for the Carolinas.  In 1995 when I left for college I had no idea in the years that would follow, that High Point would be so heavily engrained in my soul. 

As young a person it’s easy to allow the quest for greatness to become tainted by life.  High Point is who I am, the people, the sites, the smell of the handcrafted furniture being engineered by thousands and the authenticity of who High Point as a community.  In those un-pure moments the thought of those things will remind you of whom and who’s you are.  

This weekend as I cruised by High Point University I was reminded by the voices of the great ones that are no longer with us. I thought about Mr. Fo Fo working in the cafeteria during my high school days at summer basketball camp.  I could hear him saying, “McQueen you better eat so you can shoot that ball boy”! He was a tough guy from the streets but he cared about us young people.  High Point represents the simple things that make life grand. The Mary Lou Blakneys, the Hank Walls, the Ed Price’s of the world, the Jerry Camps, the Ken Browns and the Bruce Davis’s working to build wealth beyond a dollar.  Priceless!

My most recent visit was one that caused me to lose sleep.  I didn’t lose sleep because it was negative experience, but because I was in awe over the depth of the traditions and the history that I’ve been privy to my entire life. I guess it’s safe to say I’ve had my “Ah Hah” moment.  Growing up, I always knew that I was surrounded by pioneers, but now understanding what to do with that information has me stretching to the next level. 

The next level requires me to be a teacher as well as a quiet student.  The next level requires me to bridge the challenging social and economic gaps within my community.  It requires me to understand and to embrace my history.  It also requires me to be a “freedom rider”.  High Point has charged me along with my peers to be the next cream of the crop. 

So, to the William Penn family there will never be another you.  You’re great in all that you do and have done. Your names are in the record books.   To the Friends of Coltrane, you’ve answered the call of the legends of yesteryear and the promise of those of tomorrow.

High Point the way I see it you are and always will be the best!    

Sincerely, Your native Son.   

    

Photography Student Kelsey Dickey

William Penn Alumni

The Tiger

The Stars of the John Coltrane Jazz Festival 

Legendary Jazz Vocalist Patti Austin

William Penn Class of "58"