Elizabeth + Paul Engaged!

This is a couple that has become very near and dear to my heart. Paul is the guy that will teach you by example to create memories and do things that scare you. This comes in the form of spelunking, camping in the most remote of locations, having a dune buggy (epic!), fixing anything, and going on any adventure that comes up. Elizabeth is a fun-loving, bright, supportive, and all around great person. :)

Yes, they’re quite perfect for each other. :) Here are the pictures!

A salamander! (Paul has crazy great vision :))

~ Jon

Beautiful Things

Here’s an update on a few of the daily pictures that I’ve been taking for my 365 project. It’s tough to take a picture everyday (and I’ve used quite a few skip days already) but it’s definitely a good thing to do. :)

Went to Hot Springs for Spring mini-break.

The weather here has been amazing. I’m treasuring it while it lasts. =)

My brother and friends did a benefit concert. A whole-lotta-talent.

Went to the zoo!

Climbed a mountain.

Found a waterfall. God is good. He makes beautiful things.

~ Jon

Smile

Live. Laugh. Love. The essentials of life. Life can be so busy and complex but if we can simplify our lives to focus on what matters, the world would be a better place. I’ll be keeping it simple today…just taking my advice. ;)

It’s been said that laughter is the best medicine.

It’s true.

For another interpretation of this week’s project 52 laughing theme, Laura Stricklin!

Laugh at yourself first before anyone else can.
Elsa Maxwell

~ Jon

Dad, Life, Draw, and 52

March signifies the start of the my favorite season…springtime! Springtime is also wedding season, which is also my favorite time. :-) For the past few months I’ve been doing a lot of learning, photography projects (portrait projects, this–project 52, and my Facebook-based project 365), business things, meeting with some outstanding couples, working my lovely part time Harding job with student support services, and also creating photography work for myself to keep on learning and growing.

So that is the short version of why my blog has been more quiet as of late. BUT in a few short weeks, things are about to get started. I’m excited to work with some great people to make some rad pictures. Coming soon. :)

This week’s project 52 subject is irish, but I kind of change it to dads. :) My dad a bit far away to photograph (1000 miles), so I had to think of alternate ways to document this. Here’s my thought process: (don’t judge ;)) So I’ve been drawing a lot of stick figures lately…and stick figures remind me of the stick figure families that you see on cars which of course includes a dad!

I apologize in advance to my family–don’t take my drawing skills the wrong way. Don’t think that my deformed stick figures represent your sharp and dashing looks. Also don’t be offended that I only drew 40% of the siblings…I ran out of paper on that side. :)

But yes, I look up to my family a whole lot and love them so so much. They’re the best.

You may ask, why have I been drawing so many stick figures lately? Well…this past week I discovered Draw Something–a smartphone app in which you draw a word for your friend(or, stranger ;)) to guess. Think pictionary + my awful drawing skills + my fat fingers on a non-precise touch screen = pretty bad. But it’s also pretty good. My username on there is jonyoder–add me!

-> Back on the subject of project 52 and dads, check out the happy and smiling Kim’s version!

~ Jon

Stormy 52

This week’s project 52 theme is stormy weather. How appropriate! This week in the abandoned-by-most-of-my-friends town of Searcy has been quite wet. And when it rains here…it pours. As long as I don’t have things to do outside or weddings to shoot, I love the rain! (usually :)) Today I got some hot chocolate and watched the rain for a bit and then ran outside to get a few pictures.

Stay dry! :)

Check out the talented and smiling Jenn’s rendition of this week’s project 52!

~ Jon