Nativity Plus Pig

My five-year-old son set up the props for this shot. I adjusted the camera and the tripod and he pressed the shutter release button.

He pounced on the shutter release just a bit, so the shot isn’t super sharp, but I still like it. The tranquility, the reflection of Christmas tree lights in the window backdrop, but most of all I love the pig. So pink and out of place. I smile every time I look at this photo.

My son and I hope it brings a smile to your face, too.

Happiest of holidays!

Please visit my photography blog, too – www.cahillphotography.com

Read Full Post »

Believe

Faith isn’t what you know – faith is what you believe.

Merry Christmas to all!

Read Full Post »

Remember Others

This was taken during a Christmas tree-lighting ceremony early this month in Scio, Oregon. I covered the event for the Scio News.

Something the Scio Christian Church Youth Pastor, Leon Rothauge said that night stuck with me. He talked of how we should remember those who have to work on Christmas, such as gas station attendants and emergency room staff. Leon suggested taking them a basket of cookies to remind them that God loves them.

I’m planning to do some baking tomorrow. On Christmas, I’ll fill a plate with goodies and drop it off at the gas station in town that will be open. I got a pack of hand warmers to go with the cookies.

In this photo, that’s Leon’s wife, Carol in the center. The street light gives her a halo glow. I like that. It seems appropriate. Her and her husband do a lot of good things for youth.

Merry (almost) Christmas all!

Read Full Post »

Great-Niece

Here’s another shot of my adorable new great-niece (please see my last post for the full story).

Wide awake in this one and wearing her Christmas dress.

She looks like she’s ready for the next holdiay party.

Read Full Post »

Holiday Babies

This is my new great-niece. Isn’t she precious? I had the honor of taking her newborn photos the other day.

My niece, Angel – the baby’s mama – has a friend, Nicole. The two friends are in their mid-20s. They have been best friends since they were in second grade.

Both young women got pregnant with their first babies early this year. Their due dates were a month apart – Nicole’s towards the end of November, Angel’s on Christmas Eve. (I took pregnancy photos of them together at a scenic park at the end of October).

Nicole had her baby boy the day after Thanksgiving. Angel and her husband Justin went to the hospital to visit the new little family. Angel held baby Anthony at the hospital. When she went home that evening, her contractions started. A month early. She gave birth to baby Tessa the next day.

So now the two best friends have two babies two days apart.

Would you call that a double or a triple miracle? Either way, it’s pretty neat. The two best friends will raise their babies together. Maybe the kids will become best friends, too.

This photo is of precious baby Tessa, who is strong and healthy despite her early birth. She weighed a whopping 5 lbs. 5 oz. the day I took this shot.

Is there anything sweeter than a newborn sleeping in her mother’s arms?

Read Full Post »

Rainbow Over the Water Tower

Earlier this month I took my camera and went for a hike around Cheadle Lake in Lebanon, Oregon. It’s a place I enjoy going on nicely lit mornings to search for photo possibilities.

This particular morning, I was in sort of a funk. I hadn’t taken a really nice photo for what seemed like forever and I was feeling like I’d never be creative again.

There were geese on the lake. There was the same old water tower. But how many zillions of times had I snapped shots of those same subjects? Yawn.

I searched for interesting light shining on something interesting. Nothing caught my eye. I searched. I grumbled. I decided to set up my tripod and take some shots of the Canada geese after all. The tripod gave me fits. I started feeling sorry for myself: There’s no creative bone left in my body. Nothing is going my way. Oh woe is me. You get the picture.

I folded up my tripod and turned around to trudge back to my car and head home.

Out of no where, a rainbow appeared over the water tower. I felt that old familiar stir – creative excitement that had been missing lately from my life.

I thanked God.

A fine mist hit my face. The rainbow grew brighter. And all was good with my world once again.

Read Full Post »