FotoFenomenon's Xanga

Monday, September 29, 2008

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 15:01:33 GMT

Something A Little More Recent

Mrs. Thornton's First Grade Class, Factory Shoals ES, Nikon D2h, 20mm, f5.6 @ 1/20s

Sorry for taking so long to get back to posting on a regular basis. It's been an awesome year full of new adventures and discoveries! This past week I was able to spend some time at Tanya's school photographing a program the Art, Music, and P.E. teachers are hosting. Starting with China, every 6 weeks they are profiling a nation that competed in the 2008 Olympic games. It was fun watching these kids experience a little taste of China!
	70mm, f2.8 @ 1/45s	11mm, f5.6 @ 1/50s

For more pictures of Tanya's class you can view her photo gallery from her school profile page.

Friday, April 04, 2008

Fri, 04 Apr 2008 14:21:45 GMT

From the Archives

Sunset over Grant's Pass, Oregon, July 2007, Nikon D2h, 16mm, f8 @ 1/200s

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Thu, 21 Feb 2008 15:42:52 GMT

Wedding Photos

Will & Tanya Thornton, Douglasville, Georgia, January 18, 2008
Photography by Joy Jensen @ www.joyjensen.com

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 13:08:15 GMT

Gathering Dust

Back of the lens cap, Douglasville, 70mm, f8 @ 1/1000s

“In the absence of photography, there is always…life.”

My camera has always been by my side. From the coldest, darkest streets of Moscow, Russia to the hot, sandy beaches of Fiji. Through countless airport scanners, innumerable hardships, incalculable joys, hunger, and fear; I’ve slept with it, combed my hair by the reflection of its LCD, checked my teeth in its mirror, and used its long-barreled lens as a pillow. My constant companion. A strong and courageous friend.

No. I’m not selling it, nor has it died.*It* has simply been supplanted by a *Someone*.

I knew it could happen. I…mean…I’ve heard of it before…even seen it a time or two. A *someone* comes along and snatches the shutterbug right out of an unsuspecting photographer’s heart. This time it’s me. I mean right now my beloved Nikon D2h lies neglected in the ransacked room I used to call my own in my parents house. It didn’t even rate the first load to the new apartment.

Sure, I recognized the signs early on….Back in the spring, I choose to leave *it* behind when going out with my *Someone*. “Just for the evening,” I would tell myself in an attempt to salve my conscience. Sure enough, soon evening turned into all weekend; all weekend into week-long breaks. I have no pictures worth mentioning from Olympia; horridly inconsistent images in Alaska; no images from Sacramento, or southern California; and the only mildly remarkable images from Denver are the ones I took…ahem…for my *Someone*!

I finally realized this decline was terminal while in Tibet. I couldn’t shoot without first talking to my *Someone*….who was well over 12,000 miles and 12 time zones away.

Pitiful? Well…let’s just say after those long-distance conversations I shot better than ever…interacting with my *camera* and *subjects* like never before. I was on fire; tapping into emotion and light as never before!!

For those of you still behind the power curve, long ago I decided not to fight the heart-drift from *it*. This past weekend I made it permanent. I married my *Someone*.

And left the photography to others who haven’t quite lost *it*…

Blessings!

Will

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Tue, 13 Nov 2007 14:13:21 GMT

Go Gorillas!

U-5 Gorillas: (left to right) Maggie, Gage, Britton, Corbin, Zach, Coach Tanya, and Kate,
Fowler Field, Nikon D2h, 70mm, f4 @ 1/320s

The fall soccer season is just wrapping up for the U-5 DC Gorillas. Tanya and I have had a blast coaching and playing with six of the coolest kids in Douglas County! This was my first season [Tanya's second] coaching; thanks to to Tanya and the parents, I had more fun than I thought possible.

The thrill of crisp Saturday mornings, mass pandimonium, high-fives, orange slices at half-time, kids playing in the dirt, running the length of the field [the wrong way], players scoring [in the wrong goal], freeze tag at practice; all of this will be sorely missed...

For more pictures of the U-5 Gorillas visit these two galleries:

U5 Gorillas: Player Portraits

U-5 Gorillas: Game Photos

Sunday, November 04, 2007

Sun, 04 Nov 2007 02:22:25 GMT

Engagement Photos

Will & Tanya, Sweetwater Creek State Park, October 26, 2007
Photography by Joy Jensen @ www.joyjensen.com

Thursday, November 01, 2007

Thu, 01 Nov 2007 14:02:41 GMT

Latest Projects

Screenshot of www.blacktentphoto.com

Screenshot of www.williamlovestanya.blogspot.com

In case you've been wondering what I've been working on lately [or if I've been working at all!]. Here are two sites I've designed in the past month—both with very different messages—reflecting the dual focus of my life these days. Juggling both of these projects has been fun. As my programming/design work attention span is rather short, it has been nice to switch back and forth between the two [one guess as to which one holds more charm]...

I'm really proud of the free image interfaces that I was able to use on both sites. For those so inclined, check out the following links for more info on the free Flash slideshow and image gallery generators I found:

Flash Slideshow Maker

Slideroll

Pictobrowser

Having more fun than ever,

Will

Friday, September 28, 2007

Fri, 28 Sep 2007 15:01:30 GMT

At My Wit's Work's End

Construction Sign on Queens Street, Auckland, New Zealand, Nikon D2h, 18mm, f4.5 @ 1/30s

I can sleep anywhere. No joking. I've slept on floors, in church baptismals [empty, of course], in locker rooms, airports, planes, tents, in cars [moving and stationary], under cars, on top of picnic tables, in trees, in caves, out in the cold pouring rain, on park benches [in England, New Zealand, Australia, and China], in subways, on trains and busses. Once I even slept on a rockslide in the mountains of Taiwan [we were lost, really lost].

The key to sleeping anywhere is...well...to be truly exhausted. And sometimes it feels like I've been very tired for a very long time—eight years to be exact. This year, I've finally drawn the proverbial "line in the sand" and begun to drastically change the way I do ministry. [More time off, no "work" after business hours, regular-consistent fun, etc.]

Unfortunately, for the last few months I pursued these changes simply out of a physical need, rather than clear spiritual direction. This has produced those dirty, selfish, "I'm-not-doing-enough-for-the-kingdom," feelings of guilt. [Not my idea of fun.] But yesterday, a question from a close friend sparked genuine study into what God has to say about rest...was I in for a surprise!!

While I knew that God "gives his beloved sleep," I was shocked to realize that God desires to gift His people with a deep, consistent rest from their labor. Nor did I realize that God considered not having rest a curse. And that the curse was for those who practiced a consistent unbelief in God's ability to do supernatural work on their behalf. The writer of Hebrews uses the children of Israel's stubbornness in the wilderness to illustrate the depth of God's feelings on this matter.

These folks saw God's power on a scale and in a way never seen before or since. Ten plagues. Dividing of the Red Sea. Destruction of the entire Egyptian army. Water from a rock--twice. Manna from heaven--every morning. Quail. The sun even stood still for an entire day!! And yet they did not believe God could help them.... [No wonder Moses was so angry!]

"God's promise of entering his place of rest still stands, so we ought to tremble with fear that some of you might fail to get there. For this Good News that God has prepared a place of rest has been announced to us just as it was to them. But it did them no good because they didn't believe what God told them. For only we who believe can enter his place of rest. As for those who didn't believe, God said, "In my anger I made a vow: 'They will never enter my place of rest,'" even though his place of rest has been ready since he made the world....So there is a special rest still waiting for the people of God. For all who enter into God's rest will find rest from their labors, just as God rested after creating the world.

"Let us do our best to enter that place of rest. For anyone who disobeys God, as the people of Israel did, will fall....This is the God to whom we must explain all that we have done. That is why we have a great High Priest who has gone to heaven, Jesus the Son of God. Let us cling to him and never stop trusting him. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same temptations we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it." (Hebrews 4:1-3, 9-11; 9-15, NLT)

Some reading this passage or post may correctly point out that the thrust of this passage is to demonstrate that through Christ God has forgiven our sins and provided a rest from striving after the law given to Moses. I understand and love this. But my heart was deeply convicted by the other, very practical, reality that my unbelief in the daily power of God results in fruitless labor. God's desire for me is to work diligently—even sweat from my labor—but to find rest, to live in rest...to trust in His power and seek rest in my soul and for my body.

Blessings!

Will

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

Tue, 18 Sep 2007 13:44:33 GMT

My God Answers...Always

Fruitless Worship To A god without Ears, Lhasa Tibet, Nikon D2h, 70mm, f2.8 @ 1/1500s

Today, I laugh.

One year ago, I cried.
Two years ago, I wept.

Today...I laugh.

I smile. I am full. I am hopeful. Excited. Overwhelmed with joy. Anticipation. Transitory happiness. Like Jacob of old, I have wrestled with the angel of the Lord and been blessed by the hand of God. So I laugh. Limping from the struggle, I nevertheless walk with my shoulders back and a ready smile.

Those who know me best have seen the struggle, the wrestling. The weeping. Pain. Sorrow. Hurt. Anger. Despair. Their support during these times carried me through and kept me in the fight when my soul was overwhelmed. But it has been the hand of God that has held me. Comforted. Strengthened. Guided. Chastened. Holding me tight until the beautiful light of the morning.

I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised,and I am saved from my enemies. The cords of death encompassed me; the torrents of destruction assailed me; the cords of Sheol entangled me;the snares of death confronted me. In my distress I called upon the Lord;to my God I cried for help.From his temple he heard my voice,and my cry to him reached his ears....For who is God, but the Lord?And who is a rock, except our God?—the God who equipped me with strengthand made my way blameless. He made my feet like the feet of a deer and set me secure on the heights. He trains my hands for war,so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You have given me the shield of your salvation,and your right hand supported me,and your gentleness made me great. (Psalm 18:1-6, 31-35; ESV)

I was studying on Sunday morning and found the words of David so refreshing: "You make known to me the path [well trodden road] of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore." (Psalm 16:11; ESV)

If you are walking through the "valley." If today you cry. Struggle with despair. Loneliness. If all you planned has fallen into ruin or has dissapeared in to the "never ending fog" of the unknown. Cling to the Father. Weep at His feet. Call upon His mercy. He will hear...and He will answer with "fullness of joy" and "pleasures forevermore"...always.

Blessings!

Will

Friday, September 14, 2007

Fri, 14 Sep 2007 16:10:57 GMT

Welcoming Trials and Seeing Eternity

Will and Rowan on a Chengdu Bus, Courtesy of Michelle Neu

Inspired. I've always gained so much hope from Paul's life. Perversely I suppose, as it's kind of morbid to find pleasure in someone else's pain and hardship...but his life was so much worse than mine—or for that matter anyone else's I know. Good thing! How did he do it? I mean, to go from town to town getting public beatings, whippings, death by stoning, sneaking in and out of town to avoid death mobs.... When did he rest? Did he take time to let his wounds heal? At some point the pattern must have become painfully clear--the next town will be no different. And yet he gets up and pushes on.

Shamed. I get bent out of shape—fearful—if my bank account reaches zero at the same time my gas tank or Starbucks gift cards. I whine about my back pain. Shouldn't I be grateful I don't have scars like these?

Convicted. How can I complain about blisters on my latest trip to China, when I should be grateful not to have had to sail to China--only to be shipwrecked on the coast. How silly to worry about having my gear confiscated; when Rowan and I could have been tossed into prison, forced to sing our way out. Or beaten in Lhasa. Flogged in Xining. Kidnapped in Shanghai. Wrecked and lost in Yushu.

Comforted. Yet the pain I experience is real. I am often troubled. I suffer weariness. Jet-lag. Pain. Fear. Isolation. Confusin. I am shunned. Pushed away. I have equipment stolen. Broken. Abused. Lost. Laughed at. Documents are confiscated. Cars breakdown. Internet connections are locked. Taxis get lost. Pants rip. Cell phones run out of minutes. Connections break. Hard drives die. Power cords get lost or left behind. Tour guides don't speak English...wait...nobody speaks English!!

Forced to experience many discomforts, I continue to push the envelope. I bleed when the "close shave" gets too close, bruise when I stumble in the darkness, cry when I'm lonely, shiver in the cold....All while earnestly pursuing things of the Kingdom. Paul's words keep me pushing forward—in spite of these modern day trials:

Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For he says, "In a favorable time I listened to you,and in a day of salvation I have helped you.Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation."

We put no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise.

We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything. (2 Corinthians 6:1-10; ESV)

I sincerely hope you are not currently in one of these trials. They're no fun. Troubling. Discouraging. Weakening. And yet I am challenged by Paul yet again:

"So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:16-18; ESV)

Rowan is probably still traveling today. Yep, he's at it again...this time to southeast Asia. Another marathon. More people to encourage. Inspire. Challenge. Assist. More hope to inspire. Peace to share. Love to give. Pray for him and his team. These trials will be an ever-present reality. Eternity being pursued...today.

Hold fast!

Will