Jumped down to Harlingen and South Padre Island to see Sylvia's parents. They've been married 56 years -57 come January! Amazing. This shot is called "Reflection at the Shrimp Boats". It was shot in Port Isabel. Drove around Padre to see the damage left over from Hurricane Dolly. Wow! Some pretty strong damage everywhere. Most beach entrances north of the buildings were blocked by tons of sand dunes 15 feet tall, formed during the hurricane. One building, 25 or more stories tall...is sinking and unstable. No one had an intact roof. Holes in the sides of buildings. Did eat some fine seafood though on the island, roof or not!

I'm back from LA! I had a fantastic time. I gave a presentation and advice to photographers from the US and Canada. (Hi Jerome Scullino from Montreal! Jerome was cool. He was smart and skipped late afternoon stuff to shoot a couple at the beach. His pier shots were really great! Here is his website. And a shout out to a great photojournalist from Long Beach. Chad Robinson is branching out into wedding photographer and doing great work! His site is here.) I spent two days listening and talking with some great photographers. Dennis Reggie had me gasping-for-breath laughing. He's big into reality/photojournalism and was speaking on the trend of colorizing a black and white image so the flowers are "magically" blooming with color...or a brides lips are red! Well, you had to be there.

I was excited to see that my Gallery Wrap print maker Simply Canvas had enlarged (see picture) one of my shots for a backdrop to their booth. I took a quick iPhone shot of it. It looks about 60x80. I originally shot it with my old D80 about 2 years ago. That's pretty big for the D80! I'm told it is being donated to hang at the Pictage offices. I feel that is an honor.

I got a shot of some clouds from the plane that remind me of Snoopy. When I got back at DFW a Vietnamese nun walked up to me for help (do I look like a teddy bear or something?! I think God said "that guy there, yeah, Jim is his name...he's the one to talk to...) She spoke no english other than. "I go with you." and "God bless you. I am Dominican Convent." I had only my carry-on and no luggage so I could skip that part, as it seems to add a half hour on to the trip. But, I couldn't refuse a traveler needing help. Especially a nun! I did get a picture made so Sylvia would believe me. I asked for the baggage location for her (D40)...she paused for the ladies room...then we hit gate D40...I convinced her that she shouldn't wait there...she followed me through the revolving doors at security...she didn't know to keep walking through the automatic doors and disabled them...an ambassador and I convinced her to push the red button to start it again "walk! walk! walk!"...as if shouting translates!...she made it out of the revolving doors...we find the D40 for baggage (why do they use similar numbers for baggage claim areas as they do for gates? -they never correspond...she points out 3 -60 lb. boxes she had sent from Nam. (I hope it's not drugs)...I pick them up and cart them for her...she shows me a name, address and number saying "sister -sister" -pointing to my phone. I call for her and let them talk. Her sister comes from Garland to pick her up. I go home. Jesus smiles.

The last pic is of me waiting in the car for Sylvia. We are going out to breakfast. My jet-lag sleep deprivation can be measured by the fact I left my coffee on the hood of the car. Yes, Sylvia got it for me before getting in. Coffee, Brazil's gift to the world.

Well it's off to Los Angeles for me! I'm excited about speaking at the Partner conference. Looks like 400 photographers attending, there are about 45 seats left...and those might go to the "last minute people."

In my hand is the certificate I'm giving as the door prize -a 4-day workshop with Corey McNabb. Keepnitfresh is donating this $1750.00 value gift for some lucky photographer attending my program on engagements!