Gettin' on the Cole train...

Before we could get on Cole's train... we had to dodge the bullet.

Originally, Cole's mom, Joanna, had set up her son's senior appointment for a 1 p.m. slot.

No big deal, right?

Upon further inspection, Joanna told me that Cole would REALLY like to be photographed with a John Deere tractor or combine... So, after hearing that, I did some arm twisting and convinced her of the importance of getting that done at the 8 a.m. session instead... as to avoid the high mid-day sky.

With special thanks to Southards in Tama, we made a dash over there first thing out of the gate that morning of his session... and it wasn't the SUN that was the issue.... but the clouds... or what was in them.

The forecast was for an all day rain... and a quick look at the radar told me that they were right... but there was a LITTLE window of opportunity... so we took it.

The end result was that we got all the shots done with the green machines... and we felt good about that.

Before we made our way back to the down town Tama area for some urban looks, we did stop off at an empty cornfield that had just a few hay bales lined up. Being the country boy that he is... it was worth the trespass, right?

So we hopped out.. and it was starting to sprinkle... yet.. we were undeterred. As we were banging out just a few images... here he came...

The owner.

As if there were some sort of invisible laser tripped alarm on the pathway to the field... down the long hill came Mr. Field Owner on his tractor.

"Whatcha doin?"

"oh... just some senior pictures."

"ahhhhh... ok... just wondered."

Gotta love Iowa. :)

So we got our shot with the circular bales and we were off to downtown. We didn't take a LOT of time there with our country boy... but this time of year... bricks and alleys are something you can count on!

About the time we arrived back in Montour, the skies opened up and it was a complete washout the rest of the day... but, no matter to us at that point... Let it rain!

We did our barrage of indoor stuff... but Cole was mainly interested in a couple of shots.

Sports... and more sports.

More specifically... he's an East Marshall baseball player and wrestler... and a Hawkeye Football fan.

Both of which work for me. ;)

So we paid homage to his two sports and his Hawks... and the proverbial bullet was dodged. And this time of year, with the threat of worse things to come... that's a very good thing.

Tis the season to run like a Mustang... and fly like an Eagle...

Josh had a three pronged approach to his senior session.

First and foremost... East Marshall athletics. Secondly... fandom of the Philadelphia Eagles. And third? A trip to the family Christmas tree farm.

So my mission was set. We went a little out of sequence in order of importance as Mr. Gummert threw on the Michael Vick #7 out of the gate.

In a season that's been rough sailing ever since the team's backup quarterback coined them the "Dream Team" prior to the season... only to see them stumble to a 3-6 start. No matter.... Josh wore the colors... and wore them proud. At the time of his session... it seemed that perhaps this team of dreams was getting things turned around... but in the interim... they dropped a couple more.

Until last night.

I found it kind of ironic that while I was working on Josh's Eagles blend images last night... there they were... on TV... playing against division rival... with #7 out of commission with broken ribs... backs against the wall... and the world counting them out. The guy that authored the Dream Team curse was under center, no less. What happened? Well... I think I could hear the screams and see the fist pumps from across town as the boys from Philly got it done 17-10... So, they're 4-6 now... and without a doubt... they'll need several more in a row to even get back in contention... but for one night... they showed the promise that made them a playoff favorite before the season began.

Second up was the Mustang gear. And I have to tip my hat to Josh here. When your team is bangin' out win after win and has tradition, prestige and glory on its side, getting up for the next game is easy. No doubt the teams that are sitting on that side of the fence have put in their time... and have earned that stature.

But what if you're on the other side of the fence?

Josh plays football, basketball and track... and after enduring the school's worst seasons in school history over the past 12 months, there he was... wearing the purple and gold as if HIS team was 9-0 in football and 21-1 in hoops, instead of the other way around. Just like he was all last winter... and all fall... putting that uniform on again an again, and going out there and giving his best shot... when maybe getting an "injury" or just flat out quitting may be more fashionable.

Sometimes we don't like school... or eventually our jobs... and what do you do? You get up and go anyway. A smart man told me one time that the definition of a man is getting up doing what you're supposed to, even when it might not be fun.

Lots can be learned from winning... but I might argue that the same can be said about about picking yourself up after another loss... Life isn't always perfect... and if character can be built from any of the losing... Josh and many of his friends have gotten their fair share of difficult lessons.

The third prong of our session was saved until the end as we paid a visit to Three Bridges Christmas Tree Farm. Grandpa Larry was out there tinkering around during the calm before the storm. That storm, I believe... starts in just a few days as Thanksgiving usually marks about the time that the family business is... well.... open for business.

Found at 2249 Yates Avenue, north and west of LeGrand, we took advantage of the trees, and what was left of the fall foliage. I also got a bit of tree-business education from Larry, which I found very interesting.

I wish I could tell you that the big delay between session and blog post was my master plan to time things with a big
Eagle victory... the cusp of the Christmas tree season, and the beginning of another Mustang basketball campaign, but that wouldn't be honest... I'm just that far behind... but that being said... it worked out pretty good, did it not? :)

Ricky kept me Hopper-ing...

Does it get any more Iowa Boy than a boy named Ricky, a pickup he's proud of, and his black lab named Dozer?

I don't think so.

Throw in a couple plaid shirts, his dirt bike and a tour around the family farm, and make no mistake... it was 100% Hawkeye State material.

Jodi and her son, Ricky Hopper, showed up and asked me if I could take them out to their farm north and east of Toledo, and we were instantly off. Nearing the end of the line of our busy senior season is a difficult proposition trying to find different places after nearly 100 seniors, but a trip to their home where it's all-Ricky originals, all the time?

Bingo. Instant uniqueness.

While there, I got to meet Papa Rick and much to his dismay, he found out quickly that I was trying to find the oldest and most run-down places on the farm that were possible. (that's how I roll). New buildings are nice... but the CHARACTER is found in the old nooks and crannies. :)

Ricky told me that he was looking forward to the upcoming basketball season, and due to my insane delay... we're now into practice and at the doorstep of actual games. I hope that's going well for him so far.

As technology would dictate, we had a call a couple of hours ago from understandably anxious, Mama Jodi... wondering if the pictures were ready (since she had seen some floating out on our core website at www.stewartphotography.net) My secretary, Jennifer, assured her that we were close... but not quite ready.

I'm happy to report... we're now ready, Mrs. Hopper.

Hope to see you soon!

No Debate: Christian runs to his own tune...

I've always thought it took a special mind to REALLY excel at a sport like cross-country.

The effort and the mind-over-matter strength that it takes to be one of the state's elite in that sport isn't easy. If it were, everyone would do it.

So, when Christian came in for his session, I knew I had myself a brain in house that I was gonna love to pick.

And I did.

Luckily for me... we were on the cusp of the state meet, and so all of our discussions were totally relevant and there's nothing better than riding on the coattails of that kind of excitement.

Looking back now, I know that Mr Kremer-Terry didn't have the state meet that one of the events top performers would expect of himself... but that's life... sometimes when the body gets injured... there's no convincing the mind to overcome that.

Nevertheless... I got the career story from Christian that began in 7th grade when he was the self-proclaimed "worse guy on the team" and somehow turned that into several state appearances in cross-country and track and a standing amongst the top 10 to 15 distance runners state wide.

So, we knew he was a runner... to put it lightly... what I didn't know was that he's also accomplished on the saxophone and guitar... and dude can argue with the best of them.

Argue? Well... you wouldn't know it on first glance, because he seems actually very soft spoken and polite... but I was also introduced to the NFL on Christian's session day.

Most of you that know me, are fully aware that I can talk NFL until the proverbial cows come home, but this was something very different.

The National Forensics League.

Turns out that Mr. Kremer-Terry has accomplished much for the Bobcat debate team, and he wanted that highlighted as part of his session... and we did that.

I didn't get a chance to reunite with her during the session, but it came to my attention at the beginning of the session that my subject was the son of a gal I graduated with from high school. It was the third such occurrence for me this senior season... a definite sign that I'm heading downhill FAST now. :) But a special shout out to Mama Amy who endured an entire year of sitting by me in Mr. Kennedy's government class back in 89-90. :) The legislatures tells you that you HAVE to take government to graduate... what they didn't tell you is that you have to sit by the biggest smart-aleck in the class... so my apologies 21 years later, Amy. :)

Frankie Says RELAX....

Don't get the headline? Google it... listen... and enjoy. :)

But to the Frankie at hand... the more proper headline should have been, "Horsin' around" or "Not Frankie's First Rodeo."

Make no mistake... this girl knows horses. They are her passion... her pastime... her idea of a perfect getaway.

So when Papa Larry and his baby girl asked to drive over to the horse barn north and west of Marshalltown... off we went.

I have to give Miss Frankie all the credit in the world on this one as her patience HAD to be tested on this day. Her session day conjures up two words:

BRU TAL.

Ok... it's one word... but it was COLD and WINDY... with an emphasis on windy. Add in a couple young horses and Frankie's long hair... it was a recipe for frustration... but as you can see... we found a way.

I learn something nearly every session... and what I found out this time is that I was in the presence of a franchise owner.

I asked Frankie's very entertaining father, Larry, what he did for a living... and he told me... "I'm a McDonald's Man."

Not knowing exactly what that meant, I asked for further clarification and Larry told me that he runs the place there by Highway 30. A man named Freyberger... owning a McD's? I can't make that up. How great is that?

Truth is, I should have been lobbying for a trade deal involving wallets for fries... but we kept the focus on Frankie and her fun.

I also have to give credit to a couple members of the Hessenius family. Frankie's longtime boyfriend, Chase was in just a year ago... and I have to give him a hat's off for whatever role he played in getting his gal to come our way. (thanks, bro... and GO HAWKS!) Furthermore... I was surprised to see Chase's mom, Dana pay us another visit for the end of Frankie's session. It was good to reunite with Dana... in addition, Frankie no doubt appreciated having a female perspective there in and among a couple of knucklehead fellas like Larry and I. :)

The session had a little of a throwback feel as Frankie and I joked around about the 80s band Frankie Goes to Hollywood... and I was also encouraged by the awesome fact that she donned a GUESS t-shirt! (what's next? big hair and tight rolled jeans? Let's make this happen gang!) It wasn't all 80s, however... as our girl jumped into a little royple (royal blue + purple = royple) and some insanely cool cowboy boots... and BAM... eat your heart out TSwift!

I learned about McD's.... she learned about royple... and we both defeated the weather.... and after a long wait... Frankie... you can RELAX, indeed. :)