Willie Dixon, Blues Poet

I want to thank my friend Tom EB Borum for this link.



Willie Dixon was one of the greatest and most prolific artists ever to sing the blues, with more than 500 compositions to his credit. Dixon’s songs literally created the so-called “Chicago blues sound” and were recorded by such blues artists as Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Bo Diddley, Koko Taylor, and many others. Some of Dixon’s songs went on to reach an international audience in the 1960s, when they were popularized by such British groups as the Rolling Stones, Cream, the Yardbirds, Jeff Beck, and Led Zeppelin.

So click here and check out the new OFFICIAL Willie Dixon website, full of photos, videos, and rich blues history.

J&B Bridals 2011 Bridal Show

Sunday was another typical newspaper assignment Sunday for me, four assignments in two states all within three or four hours of each other. So It becomes a DRIVE FAST, SHOOT REAL QUICK, DRIVE FAST, SHOOT REAL QUICK, and REPEAT kind of day. The flip side to an eleven hour day. But sometimes during all the chaos I still get a chance to make some photos for me. My first assignment was at noon covering the J&B Bridals 2011 Bridal show at Wilson College in Chambersburg, PA.



Due to my assignment load I couldn't stay for the 1:30 pm fashion show featuring the work of NYC designer Madeline Gardner and three NYC models, but Richard Resh co owner of J&B Bridals did get me backstage and dressing room access to make some fashion show prep photos. I would love to have covered that show both in front and behind the stage. Great models, beautiful gowns, and nice light. But you have to move on to the next assignment.



Madeline, Yana, and the other models were enjoying their day out in the country, and the folks at Wilson College got a little taste of NYC.



Thanks Jim.

When The War Comes Home

New Year's Day, a time that we all look at as a way of starting over or getting another chance. But sometimes in life you dont get another chance.

Smithsburg, MD resident and U.S. Marine Lance Cpl Maung P. "Sam" Htaik was killed January 1, 2011 in the Helmand province of Afghanistan while he was conducting combat operations supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. He was 20 years old. Below are Sam's parents Hla and Flory Shwe being presented with Sam's Purple Heart during the memorial service.


I was expecting a huge resistance from the funeral home to photograph the memorial service, even though we had written permission from the family. But just the opposite happened, I was given full access to the memorial service. The Shwe family saw the media not as a hinderance but as a source to broadcast what kind of hero their son was. They actually WELCOMED the media and both parents thanked me and the reporter afterwards for covering their son's memorial. That may NEVER happen again in my career.


Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley shown above attended, spoke, and stayed for the entire two hour plus memorial service. A great honor to Sam, his family, and all in attendance.

This was a memorial service not the funeral service. Sam will have a military graveside burial service January 18, 2011 at Arlington National Cemetery. His parents have welcomed The Herald-Mail's request to cover the service. Again, they want to celebrate their son and his good work and see the media as a way helping them to spread the word and good name of their son Sam.

While most of us look forward to New Year's Day as a day off filled with food, friends, and football Sam's family will always feel a bit empty for the loss of their son, brother, and soldier Sam.

A New Year, A New Me

2010 is in the history books, and 2011 gives us all the opportunity to make promises we probably will not keep. So here goes my list promises.

1 - Think Outside The Box More Often.

2 - Post more blogs.

3 - Shoot More Black & White.

4 - Shoot more images in a documentary style.