Because I Love It -- Teenage Bullrider

Earlier this year, I decided to focus on a couple of different personal projects. One of them has the working title ‘Because I Love It’ and it’s a project about teenagers and the hobbies/activities that they love. This young man, Holden Atkinson, agreed to be my first subject and I got to go ‘backstage’ at a rodeo documenting him and his friends while they did their thing. It felt great to get out and photograph something just for me and I am super excited to start sharing more of these little projects(and photographing more—so, if you know of someone who would like to participate, please have them reach out).

Eventually, this will be a diptych project, but I thought it would be neat to show you the series of images that lead to the eventual diptych(two closely associated photographs put together).

So, here’s Holden…go check out his Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/HoldenCashAtkinson/

This is such an important step for me—moving out of my comfort zone and photographing something that, although inspired by my own kids and their love of their past times, has truly nothing to do with either of them. I feel like I’m all grown up now…stepping into a different arena of photography entirely. And, it’s exciting!

The Grandparent Project

That is the working title of my latest personal project. Here is my first instalment. If you know of someone who might be a good candidate for this project, please let me know. Thank you.

Anne, Calgary, AB. Canada.

One day I came across a reading by a psychologist in the US. He said: “The great secret of enjoying life is to learn to love yourself and accept yourself and the rest will just take care of itself” and that was kind of new. From my education, you had to work hard and succeed. You had to work at it. Loving yourself didn’t come into it. 

Tommy Drummond and I used to fight for who was going to be at the top of the class. In Junior High, they posted those you know. 

It’s not over. EVER. As long as you are alive, there is something you can do. 

Appreciate who you are and what you can do. 

I stay pretty active, although my body doesn’t do what I’d like it to do all the time. I get tired. I still sing in the choir. I really have enjoyed a musical career. Of course, I have the kids and the grandkids. There’s lots going on. I’ve been president of the social club a couple of times. And I go to church and I am on a committee there…so I keep busy. I’m a soprano. They need me, too. Sopranos aren’t all over the place these days. .