While I was down in San Antonio, my son and I had to check out the Alamo and the Riverwalk.  I mean, if you’re going to walk around like tourist how can you miss the Alamo?  It is the quintessential Texas tourist location.  I set my camera to “Tourist” and went to find Davy Crockett.

Wow!  The Alamo was in the middle of town, completely surrounded by tall buildings.  I couldn’t get a clean shot anywhere.  It made me wonder why Santa Anna would bring his troops so far into town.      One of the re-enactors showed us how the trapped Texans used every means possible to try to get reinforcements.

Yeah, it was a pretty disappointing stop on our trek.  I love history, so the museum is very interesting, but photographically?  I don’t want to upset any of our Texas readers, but, unless you concentrate on detail shots, you’re not going to get much.  We only had an hour, so I’d like to go back when I have more time to face the challenge.

We had better luck at the Riverwalk.  A mission and presidio were established along the San Antonio River in the early 1700s.  Flooding was a frequent problem.  Texas began serious work to control the flooding in the 1940s, and, today, there are several canals with restaurants and shops on both sides of the canals that run through the center of town.  They claim it is the number one tourist attraction in Texas, with party barges and water taxis plying the canals.

We went restaurant hopping, stopping in to sample six establishments in one night.  The weather and food were great, with seating inside and out.  Make sure you have lots of time to enjoy the experience.

The light was failing quickly when we were arrived, but make sure you take your camera if you go.  I bumped up the ISO and put the fast lenses to work between food stops.

There are roaming musicians and music from the bars to keep you in the party mood.

The Riverwalk is a colorful, scenic treat that will keep your camera happy.  There are many footbridges, so you can easily get to either side of the canal.  I’m sure they are favorite locations for weddings and portraits.

We just nibbled here and there and ended the night at an Irish Pub with a pint.  What a great night with the Captain.

It was an interesting visit on many levels to me.  First, it’s a compelling subject as a photography story.  Most Americans don’t give a second thought about the people behind the casualty statistics.  This facility is top-notch, and the good work happening there needs to be recognized.  Next, I am a supporter of the Wounded Warrior Project (whose presence is everywhere in the Center), so it’s always good to see my donations at work.  Finally, I’m a retired Army officer, with an Army officer son in a combat unit, so soldiers and their welfare are important to our family.

I wish I had the ability to make that in-depth photo study, but I wasn’t being sponsored by either the Army or Wounded Warrior Project.  I was there for a couple hours of snapshots – recording images for a Family Readiness Group.  You can learn more about the Center for the Intrepid here.  You can volunteer to assist the Wounded Warrior Project or donate to their mission here.

I went to the Center with my son to meet and photograph some wounded soldiers from his brigade.  He spent both days at the Center on an official visit with them and some of their family members.

These unit visits may seem trivial to civilians, but they are important to soldiers.  Teamwork and unit cohesion are crucial to the military.  They foster a closeness and camaraderie that are hard to explain, but strongly felt by members of the unit.  The visits help maintain the bond and let the wounded soldiers know that they are still members of the unit and not forgotten.  In fact, these soldiers were looking forward to returning to Alaska when the brigade returns from Afghanistan.  The First Brigade of the 25th Infantry Division, “Arctic Wolves,” will be home before June.  These troops want to be back with their team for the homecoming festivities.  If they are fit to travel, the Army will send them there.

I was in the main lobby, not in the wards, so I only met soldiers well into their recovery.  These soldiers were no longer self-conscious of their prosthetics.   One just plopped down on the floor for a conversation, like we were at a Saturday afternoon picnic.  They don’t want your pity – just a chance to move on with their lives.

It was a visit all Americans should make.  As you can see, I didn’t make any great photographs in the few hours I had with these soldiers.  That wasn’t really my goal on this trip.  I was just there to provide a simple task for these young soldiers.  Anyone could have done it, but I was lucky enough to be asked.  Thanks, guys.

The Aurora Ice Bar is located in Chena Hot Springs, Alaska.  It is just a little bit south of the Arctic Circle.  The resort is open year round for your vacationing pleasure.  They say it’s a great place to see the Aurora Borealis.

The Aurora Ice Bar is kept at about 20 degrees inside a specially designed building, so you can even enjoy it in the summer time.  We were there in August, but the nasty warm weather never bothered us.

The entire bar and stools are made of ice.

The bar is open during the tours, and many of the tourists tried their Apple-tinis.  You can see the glasses – they’re also carved from ice – lined up on the shelves behind the bartender.

The building is filled with ice sculptures.  They have a xylophone made of ice that is playable.  There is a workshop at one end of the building where you can watch current sculptures being made.  The artists there have sculpted jousting knights, ice fish, and the Coca-Cola polar bears.  They never seem to run out of ice up there.

We were only there for an hour because we had lots of other things to see, but we did look around at the two ice bedrooms, complete with an ice outhouse.  (No, the outhouse isn’t ever actually used.)

As you can see from these photos, I was in snapshot mode.  The bar wasn’t on our original schedule, so I was just carrying the camera and one lens.  I was really set back because I didn’t have my flash.  I hope to get back there someday with better preparation.

So, if you’re ever up near the Arctic Circle, looking for a drink, stop by for lots of fun.  Tell them I sent you….

So, how do you avoid this label when there is a big event like a college graduation or a wedding, and you are asked (or want) to bring your camera?  If you find yourself in this situation, think how you’d feel as the paid photographer.  They have a job to do, and they don’t want any distractions.  I’ve had the same feelings when an Uncle Harry came to one of my events.  Last weekend, my daughter and her boyfriend graduated from Eastern Virginia Medical School, and I was asked (and wanted) to capture the moment.  But I didn’t want to be that guy.

You can diffuse the situation if you recognize it and act as professionally as the paid photographer.  I’ve found the easiest way to avoid this situation is to arrive early and seek out the photographer.  If you explain the situation and assure her that you won’t interfere with her job, you’ll usually get a wary, suspicious “We’ll see.”

I arrived at Norfolk Scope 90 minutes early and found the set up.  The new doctors would walk off the stage, and pose in front of an EVMS banner for a quick snap with their diplomas, before making their way back to their seats.

The photographer and her assistant had prepared well: they had a location away from the central stage; taped out a posing position to ensure quick positioning; and were testing their flash pack when I arrived.  I told her who I was and what I wanted to do.  I promised that I would tell her before I shot and that I would only shoot (with my resulting flash) after she had.  I told her I wasn’t an Uncle Harry.  Once her role and seniority were established, she relaxed a bit.  By the end of graduation, we were exchanging business cards.

Dr. Christopher Stallwood

After the ceremony, I had the privilege and fun of being the primary photographer for the families and at the graduation party in Virginia Beach.

Dr. Rebecca Dallman

Allow me a few lines to congratulate my daughter who declared, at the age of five, that she was going to be a doctor.  She never wavered and has been in school for 24 years following her plan.  Our family is proud of, but not surprised by, her success.

At the beginning of every year, I try to do some basic housecleaning on my Lightroom database.  Last year, I did a blog about deleting images (here) when you determine that you’re never going to use them.  I see no reason to keep photos that aren’t the best of that event or multiple copies of images.  I know hard drive space is cheap these days, but that isn’t my rationale.  I just don’t need the images I delete.  More than 600 were deleted this year. 

I also try to catch up on any photos that need keywords or ratings.  You should keyword your photos as soon as you can, and Lightroom lets you keyword during the import.  But, sometimes I’m in a hurry and don’t get to it immediately.  I have set up a Smart Collection to catch this error, and I go to that collection whenever I have some free time to work it down. 

While I was reviewing and updating the photos, I came across some old shots from the beginning of my film days.  I was living in Monterey, CA, and had a friend with an uncle who worked for the Professional Golfers’ Association.  She got us tickets to the 1980 Bing Crosby Tournament in Pebble Beach.  My brother came along for the ride.  We’re supposedly related to Bing, according to family legend.  I haven’t proven the link in my genealogy, and we never got invited to the mansion, so…

The Crosby Tournament is known for bringing out the celebrities.  I was using a the new Canon AE-1 and was just beginning to take photographs.  Looking at the photos, I can see I needed the practice.  I know many golfers dream of Pebble Beach, but I was just interesting in taking some pictures.  I grabbed my camera bag and some film and went out for something different.

President Ford came by with Arnold Palmer.

Telly Savalas was having a rough day.  He was grousing about the crowds.

Jack Lemon and George C. Scott were crowd favorites, with Jack cutting up on the two holes I watched him.

And it wouldn’t be Carmel without Clint Eastwood.  He was in his Dirty Harry phase then, so the crowd was pretty rambunctious.  He must have been doing poorly, too, because he seemed like he was in surly mood.  Maybe he was just in character.

Lots of memories. Another reason why you should review your images every year – to relive the good old days.  Have fun.