So I have added a header, a title, and just above is a picture grid of some holiday photos from last December.

If you think your camera gear is mainly for capturing wildlife, landscapes, insects via macro then you are missing out on the opportunity to record your own history and the history of others by taking pictures of people, places and events in your lives and perhaps in the lives of others around you.

Life is happening all around us, every minute of any given day and to let it pass you by is such a loss. I treasure the photo albums my parents put together throughout their lifetime as I look back on memories from life with family and friends.

I have friends who used to live in the same town as me and they are both incredibly talented and successful professional photographers, lecturers, and writers. I miss them being close by because they moved halfway across the country (USA). They have both had tremendous challenges in their lives and even so they continue to push on and record life around them.

They just added a new family member and Dudley is such a wonderful young boy who will bring so much happiness into their lives. They have already started the photography process to make sure that Dudley is etched digital ones and zeros and in beautiful prints that I know will adorn the walls of their home. Dudley is the one without the hat.

I have to tell you that I have never seen such a smile on my friend Steve and it is easy to see that Dudley (the one without the hat) has lovingly and happily bonded with Steve's beard. What is so very important about this image is the fact that it was captured and will be with Steve and Sue forever. I look at this image and no matter how I feel, down, up, neutral, it brings a smile to my face and a warm feeling all over. I love the image almost as much as I love my friends. This is a happy picture.