July 4, 1776 :
Declaration of Independence

"When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident:

That all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; that, to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed; that whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object, evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security. Such has been the patient sufferance of these colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former systems of government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over these states. "

Today let us give thanks to those courageous and forward-thinking men who drafted and signed this world-altering document, and to all those who have laid down their lives in the defense of our rights and our liberties.

A teaser...

I had the opportunity to meet this lovely couple this weekend past - more about that wonderful experience a little later as I am still furiously editing and processing the rest of the images! But when I saw these two, I just HAD to create a portrait for them - aren't they gorgeous in love?!!

Dog Days of Summer

(Well, we're not really into those days yet - traditionally the "dog days of summer" are late August - but I couldn't think of a better title for this blog post!)

I was doing a little digital house-cleaning, backing some image files, when I ran across these dog images. I photographed them as a learning experience, since I have not photographed very many pets, at least not as a solo portrait. The owners of these fine dogs (all of them sweet and good-natured animals, well-behaved in the studio, too!) all volunteered their time to let me create these portraits - and I'm afraid I fell down on my part of the bargain. Life got busy and I let the files get shuffled to the back burner - until now, when they've resurfaced. I owe these generous pet owners some prints and want to state publicly that I will contact them asap and follow through!

I had a GREAT time working with both owners and their dogs - because of their assistance, I am developing a pet-themed fundraiser this year for PROD (Promoting Responsible Ownership of Dogs). PROD is a small, all-volunteer, nonprofit organization that serves the Columbia River Gorge communities. Their programs, which have been in operation since 1996, are made possible solely through the support of local donors and foundation grants. Over the years, PROD has helped spay/neuter more than 4,800 animals, made possible the adoption of hundreds of stray and owner-released animals, and helped educated countless children and adults on responsible pet ownership.

(So be on the lookout for an announcement in the next month or so - I'm targeting late September for this fundraiser, when everyone's back from vacation and back in school!)