Quote of the Day:  “A mentor is someone who allows you to see the hope inside yourself.”

He helped me buy my first digital camera and showed me how to use it.  He encourages me and inspires me daily.  Without my mentor, I don’t know if my photography would be what it is today.  While I still have quite a way to go, I am, undoubtedly, blessed to have this wonderful person in my life to help me on this fabulous journey.

I adore this photo of Joe at his ranch hanging with friends, however, this is not the photo I intended to post today.   The intended photo was of Joe taking a photo of my daughter with a pinhole camera he made while hanging out, sipping wine one afternoon on the mountain.  My photo, taken on automatic with my brand new Nikon D70, (and, sadly, stuck on a disk in my MacBook CD…which just at this moment conveniently decided to fail….Joe, HELP!!!), was not a masterpiece.   The photo Joe took with his handmade, pinhole camera was.  With his permission, I will add a link to his professional site that posts the shot.

I learned that day, that the best equipment in the world does not a great photographer make.  It comes from something within.  It is the vision of the artist.  My vision is becoming clearer each day.  Thank you, Joey, for all that you do for me. Happy Birthday, my friend! xo!