chuckbrownphotography.com

 

     I figured I’d go out and capture a few pictures in the snow today. Didn’t feel like going far so I just walked down the street and snapped a few. This old guy was the only model I could find. Maybe during the next snowfall I’ll find more.

  

   I didn’t know what to expect when my wife and I decided to go to Washington, D.C., to be a part of the historic inauguration of America’s first African-American president. Despite the cold weather and the millions of people squeezed together like the images I’d seen of slave ships bringing Africans to the Eastern Coast of what’s now the United States of America, there is no other place I would rather be.

     I saw the T-shirt that read, “I was here,” with a picture of Barack Obama. I saw the hats and scarves with Obama’s name, signature or picture. I saw the tears from blacks, whites, asians, latinos and people of all economic and ethnic backgrounds. They estimate that there was more than 2 million people who became a part of history with President Obama. I was counted during election and I was counted again January 20, 2009.

     I wrote another blog about the significance of President Obama’s election and what it means to my month-old grandson and his generation. I’m sure I’ll write more about the significance as time goes on. But my grandson will never have to wonder if a black man can become president in America. By the time he is old enough to understand what happened, maybe they’ll be many more significant events that we can point to. Then one day, he’ll be making other inroads because of the foundations that generations before him laid.

     That leads me to my next and final statement for this blog. I desire to do God’s will and maybe somewhere down the line, someone will say it was because of something I did or something I said that allowed for future generations to make further advancements. I never thought there was anything that I couldn’t be or couldn’t do. But seeing Barack Obama sworn in as president of the most powerful country on the planet raised my desire to be a part of history by helping uplift this nation and its people. I’ve also looked at my grandson and determined that I will make a greater impact on the future and future generations, one life at a time.

     2008 left with promise and 2009 entered with inspiration and motivation to improve life for myself, my family, those around me and those coming behind me. I welcome anyone who shares that mission. Together, we can make it happen. Again!

 

     On December 14, 2008, my daughter , Brittnie Monique Stewart, gave birth to a beautiful son, Kyan Jerod Hogue. My grandson came into the world at 8 pounds, 11 ounces and 22 inches long. He had a full head of hair and was such a precious gift for my family and me as we were preparing to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In no way did I forget the reason for the season, but Kyan gave me an added joy and reason to give God thanks.

     After holding Kyan, kissing him on the forehead and speaking the blessings of God over his life, I began to think about the significance of his birth and its timing in history. A month earlier, America elected the first African-America as president when Barack Obama defeated John McCain. A month later, Obama was sworn in as America’s Commander in Chief. My grandson’s future is brighter.

    Kyan is more than my grandson. He is the next generation of my seed. He represent the future of my bloodline. There is a special bond/connection with my grandson that is inexplicable. I know it is deeper than my emotional attachment. God promised me the same thing that He promised Abraham in the bible. He said that my seed would be blessed for generations and generations.

    As a result, I look forward to playing ball with Kyan, watching him grow into a strong young man and one day deciding for himself whether he wants to be president of the United States one day. In the mean time, I bought him his first Nikon camera and his first bible. He’s off to a great start. And I’ll just keep photographing him.

     This will be one of the few blogs that I write that will not include photos. And for good reason.

     If you never heard of Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep (www.NILMDTS.org), let me introduce you to the organization. I attended a photography workshop earlier this year and a representative for the organization showed a video explaining who they are and what they do and the need for more volunteer photographers to be a part. I was hooked, emotionally drawn and immediately connected to the organization.

     Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep is a non-profit organization that exists to assist families suffering an early infant lost. These services are available for infant loss as early as 25 weeks gestation or at the discretion of medical personnel. Parents of critically ill or stillborn babies contact NILMDTS, who then provide them with beautiful, heirloom portraits of their children, photo albums and slideshows.

     I joined the organization to be one of their photographers and last week got my first call to photograph a three-day old newborn with brain damage, who wasn’t expected to live much longer, and his family. Because the family requested we keep the photos private, I will not post any. But it was such a powerful experience that made me appreciate life even more and the time we do have with family, friends and loved ones. Sometimes we take life for granted. We see our children and assume they’re going to be there tomorrow so we don’t tell them we love them today. Many families have experienced stillborn babies or critically ill children and wished they had more opportunities, the opportunities some of us have, to kiss their children again or to say they love them.

     So, for all who read this post, I love you and I appreciate you. I don’t take this opportunity for granted. And I admonish you to tell those who are close to you that you love and appreciate them. We all have missed opportunities and at some point wished we could have said or done something differently or more. So let this be a challenge that the next opportunity you have, you’ll seize the moment and make the most of it. I know I will.

    

 

     I got a call from one of the local newspapers that Extreme Makeover: Home Edition had selected a local family for renovations and they wanted me to photograph it to go with an article they were planning to run. I thought that was an exciting assignment. I had watched the program dozens of times with my family, being moved my the stories and the people in them. I was anxious to meet the family, hear their story and meet the cast of the show.

     The Slaughter family and their story were amazing. The couple and five children lived in a two bedroom house that had water and wind damage among other problems. I watched as hundred of volunteers and neighbors pulled together to build them a beautiful house. Neighbors talked about how the couple loved to help others and it was easy to help them.

     I was also intrigued about photographing Ty Pennington, who had more of a cult following than I thought. So I wanted to make sure I got a few good shots of him for my portfolio as well. The other members of the cast were also fun to shoot.

     Today I celebrate the election of Barack Obama as the 44th president of the United States of America for several reasons. I’d like to share a few of those reasons with you.

     First, from a historic perspective, America turned out in record numbers to elect the first minority - the first African American - to be the chief executive of the most powerful country in the world. For a country that has been marred in racial division for hundreds of years that is a monumental achievement in and of itself. At one point this country would not have even recognized President-elect Obama as a man or give him the opportunity to vote. Now he is the commander in chief. This victory was one for everyone who was ever discriminated against, oppressed, disenfranchised, abused, slighted, overlooked, devalued or wronged in any way. Your vindication - our vindication - began with the election of our next president.

     Secondly, I see my late grandmother in Obama. I wish that she were alive to witness it. I kissed her picture the other day because I missed her. I missed what she stood for, how she stood up for those without a voice big enough to be heard. She was a community organizer and a fighter for labor rights and a campaign manager for many politicians on the local and state levels in Baltimore. Granny not only believed in what she could do, but she believed in what other people could do even when they didn’t believe in themselves. She reminded anyone who listened that God did not leave us or forsake us and that a brighter day was coming. When Barack Obama was elected president, he stood there as my grandmother.

     Thirdly, Barack Obama represents hope for every Black male (particularly African American males). Racial problems have not disappeared because of a historic day of voting. But what it did was gave a broader view of who the African American male you walk past could be. At one point you might have thought stereotypically that he was a rapper, a gang banger, or a thug. But now, just maybe, that man could be the future president of the United States of America. Being able to tell my children and one day my grandchildren that you can be whatever you want, even if they want to be the President, will have greater meaning. Now they have an example they can look at say, “Yes we can” because Barack Obama changed the course of history. A young black man can no longer look at himself and say it can’t happen. Obama raised the bar for everybody, especially black males, and has created greater hope and touchable dreams.

     Although the reasons are extensive, I’ll leave you with this final reason why I celebrate Obama’s election. I attended rallies for John McCain and Barack Obama during the campaign. At McCain’s rallies I saw crowds that didn’t resemble the America I live in. But at Obama’s rallies I saw supporters of all races, ethnic backgrounds, ages, and socioeconomic backgrounds. It showed me a state of united Americans. I witnessed the coming together that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke about 45 years ago. I felt the spirit of unity that Obama had been speaking about. Standing in the midst of those crowds, I believed that we could work together, live together and build a better United States of America.  So I celebrate.

     I know that the road ahead is not an easy one. But if we all come together and do our parts, anything is possible. I will continue to pray for the United States, Barack Obama and his family and all of us who want to see a better and stronger United States of America.

     I have always been intrigued by politics. It must be something about the historic nature of it. Many people become tired and irritated by the campaign ads which become bitter, especially during the last days leading up to the election. But it’s something about the analysts and political “experts crunching numbers and projecting winners that marvels me. Plus, you add the comedy that comes along with it, and you have me glued to all of the channels - CNN, MSNBC, BET, Comedy Central, and of course NBC (Saturday NIght Live).

     When all is said and done, what matters most to me is that everyone gets out and votes. It doesn’t matter if you support Sen. John McCain (Rebulican from Arizona) or Sen. Barack Obama (Democrat from Illinois) or any of the other candidates that we never hear about after the Republican and Democratic conventions. But the price paid for us to have this privilege, this right, was enormous. We owe it to those who fought and died that every person’s voice is heard. Your vote does count!

     I had the honor and privilege of photographing both McCain and Obama during their campaigns. It’s my pleasure to share a couple of these pictures with you. Maybe you seeing one of these pictures will encourage you to get out in vote. Whatever your motivation, use it to get to the polls and encourage others to exercise their right to make a difference.

Hill Dance Academy Theater

5 Keys to Making Your Dreams Come True

 

 

 

1. Dream – You first must dream. That means you have aspirations, goals and aim toward something not previously there. In other words, set your sites on something up ahead. It could be bigger. It could be better. It could just be different.
2. Associate Yourself with those who Dream, those who Share Your Vision, Those who Made Their Dreams Come True and/or Those who Believe in You. – As a Christian and a believer in Jesus Christ, I start there. What better example do we have? From there, surround yourself with positive, upbeat and uplifting go-getters. If you want to own your own business, get some business owners in your network. If you want to pursue law, hang out with lawyers, paralegals, and law students. Familiarize yourself with your dream and the people who can teach you, inspire and motivate you and assist you with your journey.
3. Set Realistic Short-Term and Long-Term Goals – Stagnation and inactivity can make a dream evaporate. Short and Long-term goals help cancel doubt and fear while moving you closer to seeing your dream in reality. Short-term and long-term goals will fluctuate by the specific dream. But it’s important to verbalize your goals, document them, and chart your process. A short-term goal could be as simple as… “Tomorrow I will call 3 people who have similar dreams to find out what their first steps were in pursuing it.” A long-term goal could be… “By this time next year, I will have purchased enough equipment to start my own business.”
4. Get Busy – The keys to “making” your dream come true is important because you have to put the work in. There are several definitions of make, but I like the ones that are simple and to the point. Produce! Bring into form! Cause to become! Bring into existence! To assure the success or future of something! This tells me that there is work to do. As Nike says, Just Do It!
5. Believe it Can Happen – Again, if you’re like me, you’ll first register your dreams with God and believe that He’s backing you. Then you have to believe that you can make this happen. Maybe it will be easy. Maybe it won’t. But you have to believe that in the end, it will be what you saw from the beginning. Enjoy the process. I often say, ‘Failure is not an option.’ That doesn’t mean that everything will work perfectly. You’ll just find out that some things and some people aren’t a part of the equation. Chalk it up as lessons learned and experiences gained, not failures. Then move on… in the direction of your dreams.  You can make your dreams come true!

Welcome to the Chuck Brown Photography blog. I hope this will give you a glimpse into the ever-changing world of my photography. Feel free to comment, question or even challenge my views, opinions and photos. It’s all healthy. It helps the evolution of photography. It’s helps the evolution of Chuck Brown Photography.

I plan to upload pictures on a regular basis, share thoughts and feelings about the photos and photography in general and share my insights into the world of photography.

I also would love to answer your questions right here in the blog. I’m looking forward to it!