What Nation are We?

Hey all, 

If you have been following the blog for any amount of time you know that I try to focus on photography. A couple of weeks ago a friend of ours gave us a DVD set to watch. Specifically the second DVD as it was a sermon set with Charles Stanley of the First Baptist Church of Atlanta GA. The speaker was David Burton is a well versed (pardon the pun) historian on our founding fathers.

If you have any interest what so ever about the history of our founding fathers that has been missing from our schools since the late 50's and early 60's, you will want to view these videos.

All in all they it comes to about 50 minutes but once you start viewing them is seems like 20. There are two ways to view the video. First is to view the entire video on the InTouch Ministries site [here] and click on November 2009 and select the video (to the right) of November 8th. It is titled Is America a Christian Nation; or you can view the youTube videos right her in order.

Video 1 (Skip to 1:50 to start with David Burton)

Video 2

Video 3

Video 4

Video 5

I certainly hope these videos were as enlightening to you as they were to me. Granted I am no historian but I really do not like the way history has a way of changing in the last 30-50 years. I don't know, maybe it's just me.

Anyhow, thanks for letting me use this space for a moment of photo-deviation.

Cya Tomorrow... Doug


P.S. I am told that my search engine ranking goes up when I link to my website so I will be adding the following to each post from now on. That is until I find out it doesn't help.


For more information of our photography, visit us at peekfoto.

Times Are A Changing

When we started Peek Digital Photography back in the fall of 2007 it was as a planned second income to my already consistent income as a professional pilot. My primary income provides me with a certain amount of time on my hands. It was time in my life to look at possible fall back income for that "just in case" scenario that can occur in aviation.

During my formative years I was heading in a architecture/engineering direction before a sequence of events corrupted my decision making process and went into aviation. I can't complain, it has been a very interesting experience. In developing the logo for the company I fell back on a rather analytical block design that was better suited for a manufacturing company rather than a photography studio.

It might as well say Peek Digital Manufacturing. Two issues have come up regarding the branding of the company. First is the sterile shape of the logo and the second is the length of the name itself. The colors do a good job in the readability of the name but it is just to long. I could say that the squareness of the pixel motivated this design but that just would not be the case.

About four months ago I was reading one of the many blogs that I keep track of and it hit me square in the face. My target audience is not a bunch of professional engineering types, it is the ladies out there that are looking into having their own, family, or child's picture taken. It was time to show my softer feminine side. A fresh new brand was in order. A logo with flair, and a name that rolls off your tongue a little easier. Back in October I was sitting in my hotel room after a simulator session and started scripting some initials on the hotel note pad. After I was happy with the result, I took a picture of it and worked on it in Photoshop. Here is the result of that work and the introduction of the rebranding of Peek Digital Photography.

I liked the color gradient so I kept it in both the logo and name. The reversed "f" in the name is carried over from the reversed "F" in the logo. One person said they had never seen an "F" like that before. That might have come from my drafting experience. Besides it is unique and has a certain amount of flair to it.  It would not be the first logo to be burned into peoples memory.

So what happens to Peek Digital Photography, LLC.? Not a thing. It is the legal name of the company and the peekfoto monicker is a DBA (doing business as) mechanism that allows rebranding without the cost and legal wrangling to shut down one business and start another. Why go there unless it was necessary.

Hey, hope you all like the new softer and creative brand.

Cya... Doug

Why is it so much fun?

What motivates us to do what we do? Is it the thrill, pleasure, inspiration, money, power, notoriety, safety, security? This list goes on and on. But it is safe to say that passion rises very high on the motivation scale.

Ultimately survival is the number one motivator for people to generate an income or some form of support (at least most people). It is passion that helps us not only choose our direction in life but gives us the ability to stick it out when things are down or the career is struggling.

I have been blessed with two passions. Aviation has been my life but I h career ave not let it define me, I am a husband and father first. That is not to say these do not clash at times. A that has not been an easy road even though my current positoin is one of envy in the current climate of aviation careers. A second passion I have been blessed with is that of photography. While I have been interested in photography most of my life,  the passion was not realized until later in my life.

So to answer the title question; It just is! Here is a brief rundown that I term the 5P's that may describe the why to the quest of "Why is it so much fun?

Planning

This is the part that the choleric in me enjoys. Scouting for a location, talking to people about what they want or expect, and setting things up for the actual shoot.

Performance

An extension of planning the performance is the fun part. It fulfills the sanguine nature in me. Working collaboratively with a subject in free flowing environment is a blast. Sometimes it is the spur of the moment thought or suggestion that results in the best shot of the day.

Processing

Working with the images after the shoot. Sorting, selecting, and correcting are the main workflow here. Taking an image and working with it to not only make it look as good as you saw the subject when you took the shot is very much part of the artistic drive.

Producing

It might be ordering prints, creating prints in house, or setting up a slideshow of images. Each aspect of producing the product has its challenges and rewards.

Presenting

Probably the most rewarding moment for me in photography is when a client first looks at the prints you present them and they just stare at each print. Not the flip through the print here but a long look at all of the image. You can see the satisfaction in their eyes. It is wonderful.

I have three screen grabs of my Smugmug site. The first was of an engagement ring shoot at our house working with my wife and the couple getting married. Different lighting and lens combinations and a really good desert and fun conversation. Nothing beats it.

The group of images above are from a shoot I did of a buddy of mine at work that again was free flowing. It was at their home and we had a really good time together shooting and talking, being creative together.

Here area group of engagement images that we did. Again it was a fun collaborative effort. I was on my own and the sun was a little harsh so we went to the woods. Got to be flexible. You can see some of the goofiness that goes on that just makes shooting fun. I really like to do test shots coming as close to the final settings as I can. Often the "test" shot produces the more relaxed subject and that is always good. 

Reflection

I have found that putting a camera to my face does something psychologically to me in the same way the stage does to an actor or the rubber nose of a clown, and the make-up of a mime. When I put on my uniform to go fly, my wife says I have my pilot face on. I am sure this is the same thing with a surgeons scrubs, a policeman's uniform, or a lawyers suit... Ok maybe no the lawyer thing because they are always the same.

Well... There is a little deeper glimpse of me and my passions. Hopefully it was not too scary of a ride.

Cya... Doug

Who… What… Where... [Part 4]

Present to Future

Who Am I

As I stated previously, we remain happily married, enjoying watching our children continue to develop into responsible adults. While I do not consider myself over the top religious, I maintain a strong personal relation with my saviour and faithfully attend and am involved in our local church.

As far as who I will become, it is my goal to be even more devoted to my wife, and my Lord while we enjoy our grandparent years and maintaining a youthful spirit within.

What Am I Doing

This has three parts (Hmm I sense a trend here) being aviation, photography, and personal. As a check airman, I am enjoying actively participating in maintaining a operational standards elevating the level of safety and performance we provide our clients. Photographically we started Peek Digital Photography in late 2007 and have been having a great time setting things in motion. My flying schedule allows more than just a casual effort in photography as I work seven days and am off seven days. Personally my wife Evelyn and I are enjoying a quasi empty nest lifestyle. Nothing beats a warm day when we can get out on the Harley and just wander around the countryside.

Where Am I Going

My plan is to continue to maintain my position with NetJets while enjoying my pursuit of this photographic venture are adventure as the case often is. Where we end up will be determined by where the light in our path is shining.

Summary

There you have a four blog post synopsis of who I am, what I am or have been doing, and where I have been and going and am planning on going. My life has not been as simple as these posts may reflect but it is a good thing to summarize the highlights of ones life. One major area I have intentionally left out of this synopsis is the importance of our children. I mentioned we have three adult children before but they are so much more than that. Tim, Sandy, and Tom are all virtuous individuals with values I wish I had at their age. I credit this mostly to my wife Evelyn in their upbringing. Yes we maintained a common purpose and were 99.9% in agreement in how were would raise the kids. That has been rewarded in the adults they have become.

I hope this has given you some insight into our lives and who we are. Todays portraiture session or wedding environment is much more a collaborative process than sitting down, snapping a few images, and off you go. My desire is to provide an environment to allow the creative process to be expressed in a fun photo shoot resulting in fabulous looking images.

If you have hung around and are still reading these posts, I want to thank you for allowing me into your life and expressing mine in such a cathartic way.

Take care… Doug 

Here are the links to the series:

Part 1 Introduction

Part 2 School to Professional

Part 3 Professional to Present

Who… What… Where... [Part 3]

Professional to Present

Who Was I

Shortly after graduation form college, I was married to a wonderful person whom I had met seven years previous. We had maintained a distant relation through my college years and decided to tie the knot. That was over 31 years ago and we are more in love now than we were when we walked the isle. We now have three adult children even though one is finishing up his schooling.

What Was I Doing

Spending the decade of my twenties trying to get hired by the airlines resulted in many years of frustration. The general aviation jobs I had ranged from flight instruction, flying night freight in light twin-engine aircraft, flying passenger charter trips, to corporate flying. As I never got that “airline” job, I can look back on my career and see God’s hand shining his light on the paths I was to take. My employments took to the Quad Cities, IL, to Plymouth, IN, South Bend, IN, Benton Harbor, MI, Elkhart, IN,and Grand Rapids, MI.

Where Was I Going

As unstable as flying in General Aviation had become, all of my training and experience had been in the area of service to others. Treating passengers with the utmost respect, privacy, and convenience while providing safe and efficient transportation to their destination. This is the banner that strengthened my core values of others first.

During each employment of my career, I would somehow find my self involved with projects or positions that made things better for others. I guess it was this natural ability that secured a position as Chief Pilot with a charter company in Elkhart, IN. That turned into a position as Director of Operations but was taking its toll on my family time. I was given an opportunity of employment with the Amway Corporation in Grand Rapids as a pilot. In my mind this would be the job I retired from. That is until nine and a half year into my tenure I raise a concern for the direction the department was going that ended in my separation from the company.

Yes this was a traumatic event in my life but ended in a position with the company I am currently employed with. I have been with NetJets out of Columbus, OH for over eleven years. Starting as a line pilot, I quickly became involved in the training department as an INstructor Pilot then take on the role of Check Airman evaluating the pilots on the aircraft I fly on behalf of the company and the FAA.

Tomorrow we will look into the future as much as we can. Here you can gain an insight into my plans and motivations.

Cya then... Doug 

Here are the links to the series:

Part 1 Introduction

Part 2 School to Professional

Part 4 Present to Future

Who… What… Where... [Part 2]

School to Professional

Who Was I

Growing up in the southern suburbs of Chicago, I was a result of the atypical dysfunctional 50/60’s family in the burbs. Granted we did not know it was dysfunctional until years later so it seemed normal to us. I was not actively engaged in sport but was involved with the local Civil Air Patrol Squadron. That involvement culminated in being selected Cadet of the Year in 1973 for the Illinois Wing.

Up to that point in my life I really took things as they came without real direction or purpose. It was not unto Good Friday in 1973 that I finally realized there is a higher power and a real purpose for my life other than a simple existence. My sister showed me a number of Bible verse the pierced my very being. I realized my life would be incomplete without a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

What Was I Doing

I grew up the son of an airline pilot. My fathers career was not to be my initial carer path. It seemed I had a talented in drafting, design and architecture. That was the direction I was heading until our family purchased an aircraft. The bug was contagious and my career path was fixed for good.

Where Was I Going

Attending the Aviation Technologies Program at Southern Illinois University I earned my Aircraft and Power-plant Mechanic certificate. Continuing with an SIU education I completed a four year Bachelors program. During those four years I earned additional certificates and ratings including Instrument, Multi-engine, Instructor, and Instrument Instructor Certificates/Ratings. The Instructor certificate was gained during my freshman year and allowed me to flight instruct for the University during the rest of my college years. This allowed me to gain flight time for my future aviation career.

Tomorrow we will explore the period from the early years of my professional life to present day.

Cya then… Doug

Here are the links to the series:

Part 1 Introduction

Part 3 Professional to Present

Part 4 Present to Future

Who… What… Where... [Part 1]

This week I am going to deviate slightly form my normal photo blogging and present a personal series.

This will be a series of posts that take you on a journey as to who I am, what I am doing, and where I am going. This seams simple enough, but in reality it is more complex than a simple synoptic biography. There are three W’s that apply to three different times in my life and professional career. This is not going to be limited to a single post but rather three, four if you include this introduction Why am I doing this, well first, other than a resume, I have never done a personal biography and second; I want to provide you the reader and prospective client some insight into who you may be collaborating with. Each post will contain a who I was as a person, what I was doing in my life and where I was going.

Tomorrow we will explore the period in my life from the early years to my professional beginnings.

Cya then… Doug

Here are the links to the series:

Part 2 School to Professional

Part 3 Professional to Present

Part 4 Present to Future