On a more positive note -

After my last "rant" about dishonest people who use and abuse, I thought I would give a shout out to two of my WONDERFUL clients who came to me and used my services to custom design a graduation announcement for them this year  Here's to Amanda and Michaela - Congratulations on you graduation today from Camdenton High School!  I'm sure the future is very bright for you, and may God guide you on your journey in life.  I know I am not alone in wishing the very best for ALL our graduating seniors -

Here are their custom designed 5x7 grad announcements, printed front and back on Pearl paper. 

What have we come to? OR: What really matters?!?

Let's see . . . I was 16 years old when I started my junior year at Lebanon High School and joined the Bittersweet photography staff. I was 17 when I borrowed my aunt's 35mm Pentax camera, loaded up with 40 rolls of slide film, and left for a summer tour of 6 countries in Europe. I must admit . . . I fell in love! The sight of those beautiful slides that showed EXACTLY what I wanted to capture was quite addictive. That's the way it is with slide film: it is the actual "positive" you exposed (kind of like a negative, only in reverse) so it tells the whole story. You get to see how good or bad you actually are. Oh wait, most of you don't get it and don't care, right? Digital has increased convenience 10 fold, and made photographers exponentially stupid as well!
I'm not really griping, as I LOVE the convenience and control of digital as well . . . Just stating fact. Technology changes everything, but is NOT an excuse for amoral behavior.

Today I have been negatively reinforced that most of this does not really matter. Technology has brought many new and exciting possibilities, and some problems as well. Its made it much easier to COPY everything from photographs to music to art. Somewhere along the way, we've lost something much more precious than the experience gained through using slides, film, or even developer, fixer and rinse. This time it was someone I thought was a friend, but last time it was a client from St Louis that stole from me . . . It hurts worse this time, yet I'm pretty sure neither thief cares. I am learning that INTEGRITY is in extremely short supply in this 21st century world. Does anyone know or care that THE PHOTOGRAPHER owns ALL rights to the images he / she creates. The client / friend who stole from me has brazenly copied several of my images onto a glossy 4x6 with the word "Senior" on it. Two things I want to mention 1) It looks like ABSOLUTE CRAP . . . I mean, I'm embarrassed and horrified that someone will think I did this! . . . And 2) I could easily take this glossy 4x6 to my lawyer and sue for BIG $$$$$$. I would win, no doubt. But what would I win? Lots of money, and shame for myself and for my "friend."

I will NOT sue. I am a Christian, and I love my Lord and His commands too much to drag this person through court and all that nasty mess. Suing will always be a last resort for me. Money is not worth selling your civility and your witness. However, policy changes are in order. I have much to think about, and NO I will not harbor hate or a grudge - I would only lose even more. Sorry for the rant . . . I just don't have much faith in humanity anymore. Thomas Jefferson once said (loosely quoted) that democracy could only be sustained if its citizens have moral convictions . . . I'm not seeing it.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Social media overload

Bad, bad Doug! It has been a LOOOONG time since I have posted an update here. Blame it on Facebook and Twitter! No, not really . . . It is my fault. However, if you wish to follow me on FB, I am at Images By Doug Goodwin

To follow me on Twitter, I am @photo4art. I will plan on adding some photographs and commentary here in the near future. Hey, I certainly can't blame it on the weather. My birthday month of January was just AWESOME.

I hope your 2012 has started with great things as well. May God bless your family and strengthen your faith this new year. - Doug


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:@ Ha Ha Tonka state park

Way past midnight

Well fans and friends, it is way past midnight, and I am still working.  I have been updating my email address on all of my various websites, blogs, social media, etc.  I have had the original email since sometime around 1990, so I guess it was time for a change . . . I am getting over 300 JUNK emails a day on that old address!  How stupid is it that someone actually gets PAID for sending out worthless, stupid email by the hundreds every day?  I also realized I am WAY behind on this blog.  What was it, AUGUST when I last posted.  This is no revelation, but I will try to do better, as I'm sure that anyone following me has become bored and given up by now.  If you want to stay connected, check out my Facebook business page or follow me on Twitter @photo4art

2012 has officially arrived 14 days ago, and I don't see anything slowing down in technology or my future as well.  Canon and Nikon have recently announced new "flagship" cameras in the Canon EOS 1DX, and Nikon D4.  Both cameras are light years ahead of what was available less than 2 years ago, and I'll bet they will be obsolete within 2 years of release.  That seems to be the cycle for electronics and camera "expected life spans" these days, and these BAD BOYS are not cheap: $6800 + or -, I believe.  I remember when digital first came out for professionals, and the cameras were well over $20,000 each, as I recall . . . Oh, and you would laugh at the quality compared to your "point and shoot" today.  At the time, we thought (various professionals that I studied with and attended seminars from) that it would be at least 10 years before digital would replace film . . . That was only 13 years ago, and film has been dead for so long I've forgotten what it tasted like! (We licked the rolls, sealed them, and sent them to the lab).  Aaaaaaah, "change" . . . The only constant I can think of!

We might as well embrace change and always be looking to the future, because "If you blink, it will pass you by!"  The only constant I can think of is Jesus Christ, and He is the same yesterday, today, and always.  I think that is one reason our modern society thinks Jesus (the Son) and God (the Father) are so outdated; the Bible says that God is not like us!  He is always the same, and His Word never changes.  What a sense of peace and assurance this gives me.  I am so thankful that God is not like us . . . After all, we are like a breath or a vapor, and then we are gone.  Even if you live 100 years, what is that . . . less than a blink in time and eternity.  I know many do not have faith in the ONE true God, and yes I can understand the difficulty in believing . . . I was fortunate . . . I came to faith and trust in Jesus at the early age of seven years.  You know it is SO much easier to come believing as a child, fully trusting in His arms to catch us when we fall.  Consider this: Wouldn't you rather be wrong and a fool for Jesus, than to deny his mercy and grace and miss out on the most important decision you could ever make? . . . A decision that leads to an eternity in Heaven with God versus an eternity in Hell in eternal torment?  Its definitely worth some serious consideration!

WHY do I always seem to end up talking about God and Jesus on a photography blog . . . Good question.  Photography is my job; my vocation of 22+ years and a source of much enjoyment in my life.  Jesus is my Savior, my best friend and the one I will spend the next 10000+ years with.  Without him, you are doomed to an eternity of torment, separated from all that is good . . . I guess photography is just not THAT important in comparison, is it?

God bless, and keep the faith!  If you have any questions about photography or salvation in Christ, don't hesitate to email or call me.  I'll try my best to answer either.

=Doug