While Sylvia went to the garden display at Fair Park...I hit the baseball hall of fame exhibit. Oh my gosh how cool is this! A terrific collection of memoribilia. Ty Cobbs sharpened spikes. No wonder everyone hated him. He could cut you bad.

Andy Warhol. If you're a fan -you love it!

Wow! Roberto Clemente cap. Here was an early hero of mine. What an arm! He died in  a plane crash bringing hurricane relief supplies in a chartered plane. Three thousand hits is considered the minimum to make the hall of fame for a hitter. He got exactly that before death. I think it was God's way of saying...you're coming home, but I've got a little gift for you before you go.

A uniform from the Professional Women's Baseball League. Remember the movie A League of Their Own? Seeing a real uniform was special. And the "girls" wore skirts. Slide into second with a skirt? You can't tell me they didn't have guts.

And now, the start of the baseball season...it's April again. It is also the 61st anniversary of Jackie Robinson being brought to the majors from the "Negro Leagues," breaking the "color" barrier. He had to pledge to Branch Rickey not to say a word for 3 years even with all the crap he was going to face. Nothing else carries both the sad and the fantastic at the same time. Talk about pressure. If he didn't "make this work" then they may have not tried to integrate baseball for another 20 years. Integrating baseball was a kind of first step for civil rights. Truman did force the integration of the armed forces months before, but that mostly took place in europe where we had been fighting the world war. Mr. Robinson carried a lot on his shoulders. He had to prove he was so good that it didn't make sense not to have an African-American on the team. He was taunted from the stands, the other team, umpires, and even his own teammates at first. They threw stuff at him, refused him hotel rooms, and to eat where the other players ate. That uniform is as special as the Babe's, or Josh Gibson, or Ty Cobb. We all stand on the shoulders of giants.

Sylvia and I met up later. The flowers were beautiful she said. (Yeah, but I'm the one who got choked up.)

Kathleen and Jason met me at the world's largest earth clock. We started doing engagements and in less than 10 minutes...it was pouring.  Did we have a good time? You bet. Fun, romantic, some real WOW images! Isn't it romantic? -as they say...a simple walk in the rain? There wedding will be at the Marty Leonard Chapel in Fort Worth. Cool!

I got kicked out of Fort Worth (so-to-speak). Rats, I hate when that happens. Well, I'm exaggerating a little! Tonie (a real knockout! like my Dad used to say), Anthony and I went to Fort Worth to do an Engagement Safari. Had a great time with fantastic images. 

I had Tonie sitting on a short planter wall and was asking Anthony to lie on his back with his head in her lap. Nice and cozy...romantic...Tonie would cradle his head and they could whisper...NOT.

One of those "security" goofballs that ride around on bicycles saw us. You can't do that can you? You...yeah - you with the camera in your hand...what are you doing? Duh. What do you think I'm doing? No tripod. I'm holding a camera like any tourist. I guess he screws his hat on in the morning. 

We finished up in other locations. You can't stop love.

Tonie and Anthony will be married at the Green Oaks Wedding Chapel. 

Oh yeah...the last time I got kicked out of town...Sylvia and I had driven way too long. We were going through Fresno CA in the night, and got off an exit for the road "Hotel and Motel Road". It seemed like the logical exit...but did look a little seedy. We pulled up to a parked police car and asked where a good hotel would be. He sent us north to "40th Ave." (best of my memory anyway). By the time we got to 40th...we knew he had sent us about 5 miles OUT OF TOWN! It was the absolute edge of city limits. Very funny...

Can a day be more perfect? I spent a sunny day with Erica and Andrew on Safari doing engagement images.  They will be married later this year at Chapelle des Fleurs in Flower Mound (Now called Le Beaux Chateau). We had a blast cruising the Fort Worth Museum District (and some nearby places). They are true blue (ummmm true maroon) students of Texas A&M. So we put the Aggie banner up to open their slide-show.

In March of 08 Sylvia and I traveled the back roads of Oklahoma and Kansas to gather with the Rode clan in Overland Park. Oklahoma sites included Bartlesville, where Frank Phillips started Phillips 66, and Price Tower, the only skyscraper designed and built by Frank Lloyd Wright. Kansas included Coffeeville and the Tom Mix museum.

We stayed in a famous Motor Lodge built in the 1950's...which still carried old fashion charm. It is located of the historical marker designating the official intersection where the Oregon and Sante Fe trails crossed paths. I asked if they had a big easy chair in any of the rooms, and they gave us a huge suite with two recliners in the main room! Stayed 3 days...each morning I awoke expecting to be kicked out and moved to a cheaper room. The bathroom had tile the same style and color as the house I grew up in, many, many years ago.

We ate lunch at Johnny Cascone's, always great food. The image above is from my cell phone...of course I'm cutting people off! My apologies. We had bar-b-que later. We even gathered again at the Nelson Art Gallery the next day. Over the years most of us had eaten in their Roman courtyard. Later, we wandered the Impressionist gallery. Above is an image of olive trees by Van Gough.

Andrea and Daniel were married at the Northeast Wedding Chapel. Everything goes so smoothly there. What I really loved though was seeing how many great friends they had. It sounds silly, but people with a lot of friends seem to have the best weddings! I guess as they say in west Texas..."they're good people." I hope that doesn't sound hokey...but it fits my reaction to the wedding. If you are friends with this couple, you've got good friends!

Andrea wanted what is called in California, "Trash the Dress". I called it "Rock the Frock" for a while. I can't get over the "new" thing of taking the gown out to places it will get dirty! I think it is a tension breaker. You do so many things to make the wedding day perfect, that when it's over, it's time to break-out. I still don't like that phrase...or even my "frock" subsitute. So I've decided to call it "Field Trip." Wherever we go after the wedding is over...it will be a field trip!

Nikki flew in from Washington. She booked me by telephone and we had never met. She was a bit nervous on her wedding day (so many things to take care of long distance), but everything was fantastic! It was a small intimate wedding, but hearts were big. I love these weddings! Here is an image.

See their wedding video in the Events section of www.JimRode.com.

Mr. Rode, I’m about to beg. I went with ******* photography for my daughters wedding August 18th. She cost $900. We thought you were a bit high, and I was paying for everything so I picked her. My husband says I should have just thrown the money down the toilet. The kids are mad at me. She did alright, but she only took 200 pictures and they are all boring and look faded compared to your pictures. Dan said he could have done a better job.

I don’t see anywhere where you do family pictures, but if we paid you a sitting fee can you take pictures of our family at church around Thanksgiving or Christmas? We always have family in on the holidays and my daughter can bring her gown....etc.
Fran

I asked Fran if I could put her letter on my blog. She said "Do it. I should be a lesson to everyone." She did ask me not to use her real name. She also said I must hear this kind of thing all the time. I don't. I think people make choices and stand by them.

Here is the point of this post. There is a reason so many photographers have a low price. They are uninspired and unprofessional. And 99% (I'm guessing on the percentage here) of these "inexpensive" photographers have some other job 40-plus hours a week. $900 bucks is a huge bonus for the weekend. That is where their passion is. That is where their creativity goes -their REAL job. You might as well give a camera to someone at work and say "Here's a check, come photograph my wedding."

There is a reason photographers like me cost a little more. You are not paying for someone to take pictures. You are investing in Jim Rode, his experience and creativity. I don't have another job. This is what I do, it's all I want to do. I do a lot of things that provide value for your wedding day...from spending the day making creating fantastic engagements with you, to artisically editing each wedding image the week after the wedding. So don't say he charges this much for 5 hours and she charges that. You are not really examining what your photographer is going to do for you. I probably work 30-40 hours with each engagement and wedding. That other photographer made a killing just handing over a cd as she left the wedding reception -She killed a beautiful wedding day.

You don't ask your neighbor to deliver a baby...unless he or she is a doctor. You wedding day should be treated professionally too. And yes, I am helping Fran get some family photographs. I can't do anything about the lost wedding.

The reason the phrase "You get what you pay for," has been around for a hundred years...because its been true for a hundred years.

Very long day for me. Going backwards...seeing my mother who is having a little physical rehab. Nice to see her, she appreciates the visit too. Sylvia and I were in east Dallas...and that means Highland Park cafeteria. Man, eat there and be stunned. It is still a $50 dollar lunch for only $18 (for the two of us). Jaw stomping good food.

The lions share of the day started early. A negotiated traffic maze through Big D into little Mexico. Breakfast at a favorite place with Kara and Eric...then off for an engagement safari that lasted till one. Just in time for them to fly.  Kara and Eric are being married at the Northeast Wedding Chapel.

PS Look at that great image of Erik and St. Michael!

Sylvia and I cruised all over the state fair of Texas. Nearing the end of seeing EVERYTHING, she saw the sign for the garden and butterfly area...and simultaneously, I saw the baseball hall of fame exhibit. Well, men are from Mars etc. We split for an hour.

I loved the baseball exhibit! I've been so down on the sport since the steroid thing...but seeing all the cool stuff rekindled those old feelings. Sylvia would have liked it too. Here are a few photos I took with my iPhone of things such as Jackie Robinson's jersey, a jersey from the Women's Professional League (back during WW ll) -you remember..."There's no crying in baseball..." and the Super Chicken.

I can't wait until tomorrow. I did an engagement safari with Tiffany, Frankie, and Zach. Had a great time. Got some GREAT images! I played the slide-show 3 times when completed. I couldn't stop the mist in my eyes...Okay, I'm a wimp...but man, when you get to know people, and create great images...nothing is more powerful.



We strolled the canal, fed the ducks, and tossed beans into the waters. Spending time together is what its all about...not toys...not money...time. Toward the end of the video you'll notice the colors are stronger. These are the paintings. Enjoy. (It's also posted at http://www.jimrode.com/ on the block that leads to slide-shows.) Tiffany and Frankie will be married at the Little Chapel in the Woods, on the campus of TWU in Denton.

Sylvia and I went to the state fair of Texas last week. Had a great time. Hit the free ice cream twice! -well, it was especially good. I don't know what they did...it was provided by the Texas Dairy Association. (Probably made with whole milk and cream. Is that cheating?)

I absolutely loved the exhibit from the Baseball Hall of Fame. I'll blog on that later. These images were made with my cellphone. (Hey, you don't need a good camera...just a good photographer!) I liked the deep colors in the photograph of the lagoon. The swan boat is cool, and the obelisk is trimmed in gold leaf.

The other image is this quilt on display. I thought it was great! Lots of color, and very Texas.

Met Betty Buckley - Jim Rode Photographer

Wow! All I could think was wow. One day I'm watching movie and television star Betty Buckley singing in tribute to Andrew Lloyd Webber at the Lincoln Center on television, the next, meeting her in Southlake. She had come to visit with JV Hart to have lunch. She graciously allowed me to photograph her (who could resist sweet me?). I loved that she was in one of my favorite Roman Polanski movies "Frantic" (with Harrison Ford).

JV Hart Peter Pan Children's Fund - Jim Rode Photographer

It was an extremely exciting and (forgive the cliche') heart-warming moment, to present a check for $2000 to JV Hart on behalf of the TWW. James put a clowns red nose on mine to break the tension of the moment (does he carry this around all the time?!).

The check is to benefit the Peter Pan Children's Fund. I believe that charity helps us live longer...live a better life (with a bigger heart), and goes over good with the big guy above.

JV Hart's screen credits include Bram Stokers Dracula (Francis Ford Coppola), Laura Croft Tomb Raider, Hook, Contact, and Tuck Everlasting among others.

James got the idea of Hook from his son Jake, who once asked at the dinner table..."What if Peter Pan grew up?" Five years later, when production began, and Jake now eleven, he is being greeted in a fun moment by the cast, starting with Robin Williams bowing "Thank you Jake." Each member of the cast in turn bowing, shaking his hand, "Thank you Jake."

Here is JV Hart...stopping for lunch, and a little peace at the Corner Bakery. He is a nice guy.

My new website is launched! Love it. You will too. Catch it at http://www.jimrode.com/.

And just when you think you are on the cutting edge of what is new...

You get slammed dunked into reality. For months I've been offering Gallery Wraps. I've been making portraits using this new style for a year or so. They are on canvas, beautiful, and you don't need a frame! The canvas wraps around a very thick edge. It really stands out. (See the sample image from my lab.) It's kind of like...you can walk into a room, and see the side of the portrait first...really cool. Really new...NOT!

Let me explain. A good artist will always be looking at what was done before. Now I've always admired Georgia O'Keeffe. She was married to Alfred Stieglitz. He help pioneer the recognition of photography as an art form in the early 1900's. She was a great artist. She is famous for her up-close-and-personal portraits of flowers...think -huge painting of a single flower...

Well...how do we put this. He had a way with the ladies... She couldn't stand it of course...but she loved him. So she left New York, and moved to New Mexico, and began to paint there. She bargained with him and made a deal they both could live with. She would come back to New York each summer to be with him...but he had to behave while she was there...then she'd return to the desert for the rest of the year. This is why we have both New Mexico/and New York O'Keefe paintings.

Now keep up with me...I'm getting there. She would paint beautiful portraits of the desert landscape, capturing the beautiful colors (with minimalism for the sky)...and take a lot of ...flack from art critics...who would say "She's breaking the rules...she doesn't know how to paint! She is not making the sky equal to the foreground." etc. etc. Today, her art is $$$.

I went to see some of her work at the Amon Carter Museum in Fort Worth. A museum docent was speaking about her...and I sidled over. "She would drive critics crazy by continuing her scenery around the edge of the frame." OMG! There it was. She was making gallery wraps! Kind of... Continuing the image around the frame was practically the same thing-wasn't it? And doing it 80 years ago too. She really knew how to break the rules... It's too bad the critics couldn't see that she was ahead of her time! Well, I'll still do Gallery Wraps...but I won't say "It's the latest thing!"

I went to the Dallas Museum of Art with Sylvia to catch the Van Gogh Sheaves of Weat exhibition before it closes Jan 7. No photographs allowed within the special showing of course, but did catch a few inspiring shots elsewhere at the museum. Here is a Hopper, and a Sargent that I was thrilled to see. I caught a quick shot of a beautiful sculpted lady.

I had a wedding a few days later at Bella Stanza in Arlington. I was compelled to have the bride (she was a bit danced out...and looked like a break would fit in...) sit at the couch in the bridal room at Bella Stanza. I didn't realize until days later that my mind was clicking subconsciously. I think I captured inspiration from the sculpture and translated it to a wedding image! This image you see has been rendered as a watercolor. I will blog more about the wedding soon.

On the way out, I caught the rainy street while waiting for Syl to catch up. She was retrieving the umbrella left behind while I was checking the parking meter (3 minutes to spare!). I later created this painting of the street.

Grandma called and said the walls were closing in on her...We took Grandma Stewart out to the Galleria in Dallas. That's Sylvia wheeling her around (much faster than walking with her...she could never cover the mall on foot). We lunched at Nordstrums and had a Santa Claus sighting. That's my painting rendition of the great one above. We strolled the mall, and listened to the holiday orchestra, watched the ice skaters, and posed with one of Santa's elves!

I had a great time in the Stockyards. Each year, A Stockyards Christmas event is held in the Fort Worth Stockyards. I volunteered along with Martha and Jim Falkner, Beth Lehaie, Joanne Faries and Meredith Greenwood Brown, to pass out a Trinity Writers Workshop book of Christmas stories and poems to children who came to visit Santa. We helped children write a letter of their wishes, which he kept for further review. It was a lot of fun. Truth be told, I brought donuts and everyone else did the work while I took photo's. I did talk Fox 4 news into filming us for the 6 o'clock news. We were on for about 3 seconds. Got to mention one of my favorite places. You know the feeling when you are sick and tired of burgers, chicken and fish...and all you want a great steak? Cattlemens...a Fort Worth legend. Enough said.

Ho Ho! It's Christmas time. What a great season. It's the time when emotions can go up and down with great depth. I admit that I may cry in church...or laugh with friends at a party. Up and down we go. I wouldn't trade it for anything. And the feelings you get when you gift your children and friends...truly repairs the heart!

I caught Nannette and Reg stealing this sleigh. Turns out, they were going to give it to me at Christmas! Okay, in that case, I not calling the cops.

Can photographers ever be serious? I'm just making this up of course. Reggie and Nannette are two weeks from the wedding. (Christmas weddings are tough on me. I stake out the balcony -get the perfect angle -commit to memory the scene I'll turn into a painting -and bam...the minister will hold up the rings and the bride will raise her head to look into his eyes, and I'll realize I'm holding my breath. When you're in the balcony while God is blessing a marriage, you can feel the breeze from angel wings on your cheek.) Anyway, they wanted to have breakfast with Sylvia and me before the wedding. We went to a place I've often taken Syl to. They were decorating for the holidays...and there was the sleigh. Some idiot brought a little point and shoot (Oh wait...that was me. Don't you hate those guys who always seem to have a camera?) and before you know it...a photograph appears!

Making friends is the best gift that God gave to man. If the whole world could make friends...would there be anymore problems? Wouldn't we all care for each other? The four of us think alike. I'm blessed this Christmas.

Did a new safari! I had a great time having lunch with Brandy and Arthur. They are cool. I'm going to do another safari later adding in their kids! Arthur is in the sports entertainment field. I'm not saying what yet, and don't want to spoil the surprise...you'll just have to wait for the safari to be posted. The slide-show is here Brandy and Arthur. I used my favorite safari song. When I was done I couldn't believe how cool it was!

Their wedding will be a a great chapel. The Northeast Wedding Chapel in North Richland Hills (Hurst?) ...maybe Ft. Worth...It is about 1 mile north of 121 on Pricinct LIne road. Here is their link. www.northeastweddingchapel.com