Gettin' Busy

The the "Silly Season" of emotions upon us, it's getting busier. Christmas party's and charitable events are the one's taking up most of the time. I love to be at all of them, if only there were a 36 hour day!

Saskatoon Help-Portrait
Janet and I helped out this year and had a BLAST!!! It was fantastic to see some old friends and photogs, although, most we're younger than us.  We met so many new friends, it will be hard to keep track of them all.

As I understand it we gave away a little over 100 packages ( 8X10 - 4X6 ) to family's and individuals that could not afford them, but the smiles that we received back were 10 fold in comparison. There is no price tag that you can put on watching a persons face light up and the self-esteem it builds when they open that envelope and see their smiling face.

Thanks to Krystian and Aleksandra Olszanski for their hard work and organizing skills. They did their best to keep us organized no mater how disorganized we got. All the volunteers did a bang up job no matter what their assignment was.

I look forward to being a part of this for as many years as possible. The skills I learned by listening, watching and doing were fantastic and will come in handy as I progress down that path of making images.

Be sure to log on the the Help-Portrait web site to keep informed about next years event.

A little something I wrote, enjoy....


Saskatoon Help-Portrait, 2011



'Twas the night before Help-Portrait and all through the city,
photog's were buzzing, some would say gitty.

Their batteries all charging so they would be ready,
to power a day, they'd give back to their city.


With Manfrotto's & Gitzo's all cleaned and quite steady,
the family's would see that we were really quite ready.

The Spiders and Aliens were ready to beam,
the hot lights are gone, or so it would seem.


The backdrops all hung with much care and concern,
just maybe smudged out with a dodge or a burn.

On manual, on shutter, on aperture or auto,
we must get it this right, that is our motto.


These setting's are mad and are starting to blur,
will I ever get ahead of that dam learning curve.


On Nikon, on Canon, on Pentex, on Fuji,
all the new camera's, they all look so pretty.


With hard drives a drivein', and printers a printin'
the editors will make the pictures ass kickin'


The help and support ol' Krystian drummed up,
he knew all along Saskatoon would step up.


To everyone that's pumped and ready to go,
there's only one thing that you really must know.


Look to the right, and the person you see,
maybe unsure with a little unease.


Grab their right hand and shake it with care,
you just made a friend, aren't you glad you were there

- Bruce A. Johnson, 2011

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Janet & I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas & Happy New year. Be safe this festive season and remember to count your blessings, there's many, many more than you think!


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