I’m often asked what got me into photography.
Mine is a similar reason to why many enter the photographic field.

I had a child.

When Tyler was born 6 years ago something changed inside me forever. There I was, holding in my arms a living breathing hour glass.. with each minute that passed he was changing, never again to be the person he was before. Right in front of me… and I had to capture every moment. I photographed him every day for the following three years. It really wasn’t even a choice.. something just snapped and I couldn’t stop it.

Approaching the end of his first year I decided to make a calendar documenting his life which happened to nicely coincide with Christmas and made great surprise gifts for the grandparents. Here’s a few pages from the first calendar. Each day is a shot of him on that day a year prior.

Of course I had always been interested in photography.. took a few classes while working on my art degree, but never really considered it as a career choice.

Well, as the story goes, one thing led to another, from photographing Tyler, to a senior portrait of my sister, to a wedding for a friend.. Then all of a sudden people started paying me. That was weird.

Now 2006 is almost over and I haven’t looked back. The joy of capturing life for others, allowing them to reflect… remember things which happened along their journey. For me, this is priceless. Thank you to everyone who has touched my life and allowed me to share in theirs. See you in 2007.

I, like many, am addicted to the coffee flavored crack served up by Starbucks.

So the percentage of life experiences which revolve around the god of java seem to grow every day.

Here’s what most of you already know:

Starbucks has done their job so well that they have become a studied success story paving the way for business development of all types.

Here’s what I learned a few nights ago:

Upon contemplating which bag of coffee beans to purchase I asked the barista what the difference was in the christmas blend vs. the holiday blend, she began to tell me that one was the “more correct” declaration of celebration for this time of the year whereas the other referenced the christian interpretation of the season… yadda yadda.

I simply reiterated.. what’s the difference in the beans. She said “Nothing, its the same beans”.

I told the barista that I’ll try the Holiday blend this time since I got the Christmas blend last time.

Just to mix it up a bit.

Starbucks has brilliantly and cleverly packaged the same damn beans to appeal to a wider audience. Perception is everything.. reality is completely subjective.

So kudos to Starbucks and to my own new product line of christmas cards and holiday cards.

I had a photo shoot near the ocean today. On the way back in I stopped at the beach to breath in some salt air and rejuvenate.

There was a strong haze and a hint of rain sprinkling every so often.. simply magical. You could only see a hundred yards or so down the beach so the few people walking would slowly disappear as they headed into the mist. It was a bit dreamlike.

I often wonder about the people who pass by, and if they wonder about me.

This was a sweet surfing logo on a truck window… For the non-surfers out there he’s “hanging ten” ie. curling all ten toes over the nose of the board.

I received a call today from a couple whose wedding I photographed last March in Pensacola. The groom asked me if I remembered one of his groomsmen, Nick. I thought for a moment and quickly recalled the standout character of the group.. (every wedding has one). He then explained to me that this past week Nick went to bed.. and never woke up. Just like that. The photos of him at the wedding were essentially the most recent photographs his family has.

I’ve heard similar stories in the past by other photographers, but never experienced it.. until now.

It is completely sobering and humbling and I do not have the words.

I’m so fortunate to have the best clients in the world. Our most recent “best clients” were Amanda and Darryl who drove up from St. Pete Thursday afternoon and hung out through the evening.

We had a blast hanging out. We started at a little local park here in San Marco which has two parallel rows of oak trees lining a long path.. when the evening light falls between the trees its gorgeous. Then we headed down town and ran around for awhile as the sun went down and the city lights kicked in.

We wrapped up the night with some drinks and sushi.

Here’s some pics from the day.

I think the first blog post is really the most difficult.

After I finish this one, perhaps the 2^nd will be the hardest. Either way, its time to blog.

Beginning a blog is sort of like an artist staring at a blank canvas attempting to begin a painting. What should he paint, what if it sucks.. the canvas is so pristine.. unflawed.

Painters block, writers block.. whatever you want to call it.. many times you have to screw up the canvas intentionally just to get started..

So here’s a pic of an f’ing dog I shot the other day.

My name is mark pennington.. and I am a blogger.