Best moments of 2013 for me

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What a year it has been. I have had a great year of moments and feel incredibly blessed.

Lili’uokalani Park, Hilo, Hawaii. [Nikon D4, 28-300mm, ISO 250, ƒ/7.1, 1/60]

Each year starts with me in the Georgia Dome covering the Chick-fil-A Bowl. This year will be no different. In addition, my wife, Dorie, will be celebrating her 20th year working in the press box.

Tom Butler, Kona Coffee Grower [Nikon D4, 28-300mm, ISO 2000, ƒ/10, 1/200]

I am returning to Kona, Hawaii, to teach lighting and business practices to Youth With A Mission Photography School 1. I love meeting these students from all over the world every year. I learn from them, if not more than I probably teach them. 

Anacleto Rapping is on the far left, and Joanna Pinneo is on the far right, reviewing a student’s portfolio at the Southwestern Photojournalism Conference. [Nikon Coolpix P7000, ISO 1600, ƒ2.8, 1/30]

This year, I am also working with the Southwestern Photojournalism Conference in Fort Worth, TX. The Southwestern Photojournalism Conference takes place the first weekend in March.

Bill Bangham, Eugene Richards, and Stanley Leary at the SWPJC. [Nikon Coolpix P7000, ISO 1600, ƒ2.8, 1/60]
Dave Black looks at a person’s portfolio at the SWPJC.  [Nikon Coolpix P7000, ISO 1600, ƒ2.8, 1/50]

We took our daughter, Chelle, to Los Angeles for her first visit during spring break. We visited all of her uncle’s friends. 

Pam Goldsmith is a world-renowned violist who was Richard Zvonar’s partner for more than 20 years. Richard is our daughter’s uncle. Pam took time to help Chelle, who had also taken up the viola. [Nikon D4, 14-24mm, ISO 1600, ƒ/9, 1/60]
Chelle visits Richard Bugg, who works with Meyer Sound. Their sound system was used at the Beijing Olympics and in other major productions worldwide. Richard Bug is another one of Richard Zvonar’s business associates. Together, they built this sound design system.  [Nikon Coolpix P7000, ISO 400, ƒ2.8, 1/6]
Dorie and Chelle stand before Chick-fil-A in Hollywood, CA. We stopped here for lunch while sightseeing in Hollywood one day. [Nikon D4, 28-300mm, ISO 100, ƒ/3.5, 1/800]
Dorie, Stanley, and Chelle Paradise Cove in Malibu, California. [Nikon D4, 28-300mm, ISO 100, ƒ/8, 1/200]
Paradise Cove in MalibuaAnother friend of Richard Zvonar is Ronan Chris Murphy, who has a recording studio in Santa Monica; we visited him there. [Nikon D4, 14-24mm, ISO 12800, ƒ/6.3, 1/25]
Chelle and Dorie stand before the Hollywood sign. [Nikon D4, 28-300mm, ISO 280, ƒ/29, 1/60]

Now you don’t have to go to Hollywood to meet the stars. Many live near us in Roswell, GA. 

Chelle met Pip, an American singer who competed in season 2 of The Voice on Team Adam Levine, while Chelle was a model on the show with Pure Fashion. [Nikon D4, 28-300mm, ISO 1600, ƒ/5.6, 1/125]

I get to live out much of my life through my kids. So her school had Mark Wood come and lead a workshop with the orchestra. Wood was a violinist and an original member of the symphonic rock group Trans-Siberian Orchestra, which he left in 2009. He has also played with Celine Dion, Billy Joel, Steve Vai, Westworld, and Lenny Kravitz. As a solo performer, he has released seven CDs featuring his versions of popular rock songs. On these CDs, he is accompanied by “The Mark Wood Band,” consisting of one member of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, several other musicians, and his wife, Laura Kaye. Chelle even got to sing with him on stage. 

Mark Wood is leading the workshop. [Nikon D4, 28-300mm, ISO 10000, ƒ/5.6, 1/100]
Chelle is performing on her Viola with Mark Wood. [Nikon D4, 120-300mm ƒ/2.8 Sigma, ISO 12800, ƒ/4, 1/320]
Chelle is singing with Mark Wood. [Nikon D4, 120-300mm ƒ/2.8 Sigma, ISO 12800, ƒ/4, 1/320]

As you can see, photography is helping me remember and share my moments with you and the world. 

1st Lt. Nelson Lalli returned this past summer after serving our country in Afghanistan for nine months. We were so thankful he returned home. [Nikon D4, 14-24mm, ISO 10000, ƒ/8, 1/60]

While many other moments were unique, I will close out this past year with my coverage in Mexico. I was thrilled to cover a coffee cooperative that is turning not just farmers’ lives around but also their communities. 

David Cifuentes Velazquez, the coffee grower and member of the Just Coffee Cooperative, enjoys sharing with a visiting group how coffee has grown. The joy on his face and that of his family captured the restoration of their family brought about by the coffee cooperative. [Nikon D4, 14-24mm, ISO 12800, ƒ/5, 1/80]

Remember, everyone has a story, and I would love to help tell your account. So give me a call if you need any help.

Check out my latest package, translated into English from my coverage of a coffee cooperative in Mexico, below.