Jacob Adkisson

Fall Mini Portrait Special

2011-10-03T12:27:00.000-07:00

Hello, just wanted to let everyone know of this great special I have offered! Be sure to check out the details below and book today because spots are filling up fast!

Another Day at Work

2009-09-09T20:16:00.001-07:00

The Rescue

2009-04-28T20:46:00.001-07:00

In case you don't have a Facebook and where unable to keep up with my adventure this weekend let me fill you in!
I embarked on my adventure Thursday April 23, 2009 headed to Texas Caribbean Foods in Dallas, Texas. The goal was to meet Josh Orr, Dallas Street Team Leader for Invisible Children and have a meeting about an extraordinary event that I would help run, The Rescue! Being an early bird, I was there before anyone else and had butterflies in my stomach with all the anticipation of meeting the other volunteers that I would be spending the next who knows now long with, with no sleep!
All the other volunteers arrive and order food. We mingle and introduce ourselves and get to know one another. After having dinner, Josh begins telling us exactly what the weekend might have in store for us. Then we were introduced to Krystal Rodgers who Regional Organizer for Texas and Louisiana. After the meeting we headed out to get things prepared for the upcoming weekend.
Saturday rolls around and was ready to roll! Had my camera, backpack, sleeping bag, few snacks and water. I was now officially embarking on my adventure as one of Joseph Kony's abducted child soldier.
In case you don't know what the event was here are the details:
For 23 years, the government of Uganda and a rebel group called the Lords Resistance Army, led by a man named Joseph Kony, has engaged in Africa’s longest war. In recent years, peace was seemingly within reach, largely due to the Juba Peace Talks that began in July 2006. However, despite a ceasefire signed between the LRA and Ugandan government, efforts toward peace through the Juba Peace Talks were stalled on several occasions by Kony’s refusal to sign the final peace agreement. Kony’s absence at the peace agreement signing on November 29, 2008 proved his promises to be
futile and ultimately disabled the peace talks. Furthermore, the ICC has obtained evidence that Kony used the ceasefire during the peace talks to regroup, regain strength and resume child abductions. Joseph Kony is the world’s first individual indicted by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity.
Since September 2008, hostility in the Orientale province in DR Congo and Western Equatoria in South Sudan has reached a feverish pitch. In apparent desperation and a renewed will to spread terror to DR Congo, the LRA murdered over six hundred and abducted more than one hundred and sixty children to fight amongst its ranks. More than 104,000 Congolese have been displaced since Christmas in attempts to escape the LRA forces. A civil war, originally contained within Uganda’s borders, has now evolved into a widespread regional crisis. Invisible Children, in concert with other policy organizations including Resolve Uganda, The Enough Project, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, now believes an international effort to apprehend Kony and rescue his child soldiers is the most viable way to end the most neglected humanitarian emergency in the world today.
The Rescue Event Summary
On April 25th, 2009 the international community will unite to deliver the innocent from Kony’s reign and ensure he is brought to justice. Thousands of participants will gather in 100 cities across the world to symbolically abduct themselves to free the abducted. Your abduction will begin on April 25th at 3pm when you leave your home and meet at a designated “abduction site”. You will drop off one of your family photos at the abduction site, symbolically leaving them behind (see below for all items you need to bring). Then you will march as a group, on foot, to the event location called the “LRA Camp” while carrying any supplies you will need for the night on your backs. This march will range from 1-3 miles (2 – 5km) depending on the city, and will be done in a single file line with all participants holding onto a rope. Invisible Children will arrange for photographers and videographers to film this symbolic march. (If for any reason you are physically unable to make this walk, please meet us around 4pm at the LRA camp location itself.) Once you’ve arrived at the LRA Camp, you will set up your “camp” and then wait to be “rescued”. A “successful” rescue requires two things. First, an approved media outlet from your area must show up and cover the event. Second, you and your city must arrange for the attendance of at least one pre-determined cultural or political leader. We are calling this person the “mogul” or “rescuer.” Depending on the size, scope and fervor you create in the next month for your specific event locale, the leaders invited to The Rescue may be a Congressional Representative, State Official, local Mayor or local business/media or community figure. The list of approved media outlets and moguls for each specific city is available on TheRescue.InvisibleChildren.com. For more information on how to approach these media outlets/moguls and how to secure their commitment, please reference the last two pages of The Rescue Packet.
While at the LRA camp, you will write letters to your political representatives, create art/photo projects and seek out media attention in an effort to petition our governments to develop a strategy and support existing efforts to rescue Kony’s child soldiers. For all cities that are successful in getting the media coverage and their Rescuer to come and speak on April 25th, you will stay the night at the LRA camp and make the march back home at dawn on April 26th. For the few cities that were unable to get a media outlet and mogul to participate, we ask that you hold out for the Rescue as long as possible. Because of this, it is important that you begin reaching out to your media and moguls immediately to ensure your Rescue.
What to Pack on April 25th
• Three photographs of you with your friends, family or guardian. Please place a red circle around yourself in the photo, symbolizing that you have been abducted. You will drop off one of these photos at the abduction site, and include the other two with the letters you write to your political representatives.
• Supplies to set up camp and then wait for your Rescue. You don’t need much. The kids in Uganda leave for the bush with nothing but the clothes on their backs. Therefore, please bring the smallest amount of supplies that you need to survive until you are rescued. These supplies could include a sleeping bag, pillow, warm clothes, comfortable shoes, food, water and a tarp (or sleeping pad) if it is forecasted to rain. Remember, you will have to carry these supplies for up to three miles during the march to the LRA camp.
• Supplies to write letters and complete a simple art project. Grab just a small amount of pens or paint to make your letters and art piece your own. If you have extras, please bring some to share.
• Your official Rescue T-shirt. Invisible Children has released two official Rescue T-shirts. Either shirt is appropriate, but ideally please wear the Green “AK-47” Tee. Please wear this shirt on the outside of your clothes so it is visible to the thousands of the people that will see this event.
• Your Rescue Tote Bag. Use this bag to make a statement in the month leading up to the Rescue. Then please bring it on April 25th to carry your photos and art supplies.
• $5 Dollars, Euros or Pounds. Please bring 5 bucks to the event. This money covers the cost to host this international awareness event.
What to expect on April 25th The tone of this event should be very peaceful. We do not want you to bring loud noisemakers, aggressive signs or graphic images. We want this to be an emphatic demonstration where we stand in solidarity with the abducted kids in the LRA. Therefore, the march to the LRA camp will require a somber and respectful mood. The atmosphere at the LRA camp will be similar. For those of you who’ve attended our previous two events, Global Night Commute in 2006 and Displace Me in 2007, we loved the feel of those nights. People were peacefully moving around, meeting new friends and discussing world issues that really matter… while writing their letters and completing their art projects. The climax of the night will be when your Rescuer arrives and pledges their support for The Rescue of Joseph Kony’s child soldiers. When this happens you should be very proud of what your city was able to accomplish and we hope that you celebrate and then stay until dawn the next day when you march
back home. Spending the night in the Camp is a unique experience. For one night, you will forfeit the comforts of home and sleep in solidarity with the thousands of kids who have been abducted during this war. Your commitment to stay overnight shows the sacrifice that you are willing to make. This sacrifice will speak to our leaders.
For those cities unable to get their media coverage or Rescuer to attend on the night of April 25th, do whatever you can to hold out and wait for them to still come. Calling a news station and saying that you will not go home until they come to your Rescue sends them a powerful statement. We do not want you to become confrontational with anyone or violate any park rules, but to the extent that you can- hold out and wait for the Rescue. Of all of the cities participating in The Rescue, these cities will really show the world your determination and what it is like to be waiting for others to come to your aid.
This is what our mission was. After arriving in Dallas, I was quickly put to work on getting the site of the LRA camp ready and getting things ready to abduct the people that would be arriving at City Hall Plaza.
The WHOLE Saturday was full of meeting extraordinary stories on how they came to know Invisible Children and what they have done with the organization. Personally, I have been involved for about three and a half years and participated in Displace Me in 2007 in Austin, Texas. (I will be posting a few photographs from that as well in the next couple of days) The experience of sleeping out in a park with complete strangers with the same goal is an amazing power to be part of. We were one for all and all for one. Dallas was rescued about 7:30 p.m. Saturday by a representative sent by Congresswoman Bernice Johnson and Channel 5 news. After we were Rescued our Rescue Riders packed up and were getting ready to hit the road to Little Rock, Arkansas. I had a HUGE decision to make, to go or not to go. This organization is truly a major part in my life and would do anything for them. After several minutes talking to Krystal about going, I decided I would call my mom. Its always mom that put your mind into a rational state, and that was definitely a good thing. At 11:15 p.m. I made my decision not to go to Little Rock with the Rescue Riders, even though truly I wanted to so bad! I remained at the Dallas LRA camp with Nick until the next morning. After only getting maybe and hour or so of sleep through the night, the camp packed up and headed back home. I headed back to my apartment for a much needed shower and crash for a couple of hours. After getting up I began getting things together to head to Longview for the rest of the weekend. While driving home I stopped and had lunch when it dawned on my, Austin, Texas was not yet Rescued! They needed me to come and help! After calling my mom once again, she seemed she wanted me to go. So I send Nick a text and told him I was on the way to pick him and Tank up and we were headed to Austin!
At about 8 p.m. we arrive at the Capitol with our sleeping back and stash of food and water ready to once again sleep outside for the night. Once we got there we checked in with Brin who was in charge. Brin currently is a Roadie for Invisible Children. With out hesitation she gave us a warm hug and made an announcement via bull horn to the whole LRA camp! Instantly people came gathering around us, welcoming and thanking us for our support.
After getting to know people and mingling we setup camp and waited to be Rescued! About 4 hours into the night, we found out that we could NOT sleep on State grounds and had to remain awake the whole night! Already running on a couple hours of sleep, it began to sprinkle and I headed back to the Jeep to put my camera gear up and decided to sleep for about an hour or so in the back end of my Jeep.
Waking up from my little nap, we gathered as a group and began making signs and posters for when the Senators and Congress Representatives come to work at 9 a.m. at the Capitol. We also began making phone class to those Representatives to try to get one of them to come to our rescue!
At about 10:45 a.m. we were still not officially Rescued but did have a confirmation that Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison was going to be our Rescuer! Nick, Tank and I loaded the Jeep back up and we headed back to Arlington. Once I got back to Arlington I had to immediately get back on the road to head to Kilgore for an awards Banquet.
This weekend could not have been better! We are now down to once city left. Nick and I have decided that after finals that if Chicago is still not Rescued we are going there! We might need your support to make the trip there! These experience I have had with Invisible Children have been life changing and life moving. I will never forget them. 876 miles, 3.5 hours of sleep in 3 days! Below are some photos from the weekend.

The Rescue - Dallas

The Rescue - Austin

Here are some videos from different people and what they came up with at the Rescue. If you look hard enough you can see me in a lot of them!

Neal McCoy's Video Blog

2009-03-24T19:24:00.000-07:00

sleet/snow

2009-03-12T22:00:00.000-07:00

Here are some photos from a recent photo shoot that I was on Wednesday in the poring rain. Its four films makers that are UTA students that have made a film 'sleet/snow' that has been selected for SXSW AFS Member Showcase. Check out the trailer at: http://www.facebook.com/notes.php?id=46269937118#/video/video.php?v=548535832884

Oil Field Trash

2009-03-11T19:25:00.000-07:00

Nature's Still Life

2009-03-11T19:20:00.000-07:00

A Print Journalist

2009-03-02T15:40:00.001-08:00

Today's Assignments

2009-02-25T20:04:00.001-08:00

First assignment for today:Author James Mathew reads a short story from his
book Last Known Position Wednesday at Nedderman Hall
Rady Room. His book was awarded the
2008 Katherine Anne Porter Award for Short Fiction.

Second assignment: Mavericks vs Texas State
Score: 4-0 Texas State

Third Assignment: UTA Mavericks vs Lamar University
Score 66-59

Weekend Home

2009-02-23T18:48:00.001-08:00

My dog Tank

Tank playing fetch

Tank and Cody. Cody fell into a hole.

Look at him go!

Cody, Rustin and Tank playing fetch. Tank fell in hole and did a flip.

UTA Basketball

2009-02-14T18:30:00.000-08:00

After 40 Years

2009-02-12T17:17:00.001-08:00

Great American Sports Photography

2009-02-10T13:40:00.000-08:00

Some of you may already know but probably most of you do not know, but I have created a sport and event photography company;

As an avid recreational player and spectator, the creator of Great American Sports Photography understands team spirit and memories whether they are made on the field or on a race track. As a company we understand the importance of capturing these moments, and our employees are dedicated to making these memories last for a lifetime.

With our innovative on-site photo processing lab, parents and players can take home the memories the same day they are made. G.A.S.P. strives to capture the essence of every hit, run, play, laugh, pass and finish, from the players to the spectators. G.A.S.P. accomplishes this goal with our dedicated professional staff of photographers and sales representatives.

Our full-circle process begins with our photographers who are placed out on the field in the middle of the action, sending the action back to our photo-processing lab, where our sorters and printers prepare the images. Moments after the images are prepared, parents and players can view the action on one of the viewing stations assisted by a sales representative who is dedicated to finding the best way to preserve the day's achievements.

Our innovative on-site photo processing lab is housed in a 16 foot enclosed cargo trailer. Players, riders, parents and spectators are welcomed to the trailer by four large viewing stations. As you walk up to the viewing stations you are greeted by a sales representative that will be available to help answer any questions that you may have and help you get started in viewing your images. Once you have found your images you can look through the images at your own pace because you are in control of the viewing station. Once you have in mind the images that you would like, a sales representative is standing nearby to help complete your order. G.A.S.P. offers a variety of products to choose from standard prints to specialty items such as; playing cards, wall clings, blankets, magnets, calendars, etc. Standard print orders are printed on site and are available for pick up typically within 30 minutes of order.

G.A.S.P. shoots a variety of events from softball, baseball, soccer and football to motocross, jeep rallies and much more, include team and individual pictures for leagues. If you or someone you know would be interested in our services please feel free to contact Jacob Adkisson by e-mail at gaspphotography@gmail.com or cell phone at 903-738-8593.

We are dedicated to preserving life time memories.

Blue October's New Video - Dirt Room

2009-02-09T18:33:00.000-08:00

Their new album comes out March 24!

Invisible Children - Book Donation

2009-02-09T17:26:00.000-08:00

If you have books that you would like to donate please feel free to send them to me and I will send them to Better World Books. Feel free to contact me at jacobadkisson@yahoo.com

Charity Water & Twestival

2009-02-08T21:11:00.000-08:00

Tweet. Meet. Give.

On 12 February 2009 175+ cities around the world will be hosting Twestivals which bring together Twitter communities for an evening of fun and to raise money and awareness for charity: water.

Join us by:

Attending one of the events detailed on the city sites listed on this page.
Uploading or buying music at Twestival.fm.
Taking part in the t-shirt design competition.
Donating to charity: water.

The Twestival is organized 100% by volunteers in cities around the world and 100% of the money raised from these events will go directly to support charity: water projects.

In September 2008, a group of Twitterers based in London UK decided to organise an event where the local Twitter community could socialize offline; meet the faces behind the avatars, enjoy some entertainment, have a few drinks and tie this in with a food drive and fundraising effort for a local homeless charity.

The bulk of the event was organized in under two weeks, via Twitter and utilized the talents and financial support of the local Twittersphere to make this happen.

Around the world similar stories started appearing of local Twitter communities coming together and taking action for a great cause. Twestival was born out of the idea that if cities were able to collaborate on an international scale, but working from a local level, it could have a spectacular impact.

By rallying together globally, under short timescales, for a single aim on the same day, the Twestival hopes to bring awareness to this global crisis.

charity: water is a non profit organization bringing clean, safe drinking water to people in developing nations by funding sustainable clean water solutions in areas of greatest need.

Jennifer Connelly in charity: water Public Service Announcement from charity: water on Vimeo.

Right now 1.1 billion people on the planet don't have access to safe, clean drinking water. That's one in six of us.

Unsafe water and lack of basic sanitation cause 80% of all sickness and disease, and kill more people every year than all forms of violence, including war.

Many communities in developing nations often have a plentiful supply of clean drinking water just below the ground, but no way to get to it.

This is where charity: water and their partner organizations come in. Drilling a well can cost from $4,000 - $12,000 USD and many living on less than $1 a day cannot afford one in their community, even if the money is combined.

Twestival cities might consider setting a goal to raise enough money from their event to fund a well project in a developing country, starting at $4,000 USD.

We all know that Twitter can be a powerful communications tool. It can connect, mobilize and inform people around the world instantly.

Those of us on Twitter know of its ability to organically create interesting communities from those people who find and follow each other. It is proven from the first Twestival that bringing the Twittersphere together for a special event is not only a memorable night; it has momentum to bring about social change.

This website has been designed as a simple portal where each Twestival city organizer will be assigned their own site to update their event information, post news, blogs, photo and video content.

This site has specifically been established with central controls which ensure that all of the donations go directly to charity: water and event registration is secure.

There will be certain creative restrictions on city sites, especially for those with a web developer on their team; but it was important not to compromise these features due to the scale of this grassroots event.

Feel free to link in social media sites or any other website relevant to the Twestival.

Phase one: Launch the homepage with a list of cities which have already registered. Over the next day, organizers will be given a password and instruction to upload information to their own city site (start thinking about a first blog post). Please have a bit of patience as we are working as quickly as we can.
Phase two: All of the cities should be linked up to the homepage. Features to donate, bid on an auction, raffle and other fundraising projects will come online as buttons as they are completed.
Phase three: On 12 February 2009, Twestival will be working with partners to have live broadcasts of the events around the world.

This site will be the central hub of information and schedule of events with links to Twitter, photosites and video content sites.

Follow @twestival for updates.
Contact @amanda for global enquiries.
See the development blog for technical site updates.

Come join us on 12 February 2009, 18:00, Mockingbird Station, 5321 E Mockingbird Ln, Dallas, TX 75206

2009-02-07T18:37:00.001-08:00

O. Rufus Lovett & The Kilgore College Rangerettes

2009-01-27T12:40:00.001-08:00

73rd AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic

2009-01-04T10:10:00.000-08:00

One Year From Today

2008-12-09T14:25:00.000-08:00

Today marks the one year anniversary of Joshua Travis Upshaw's death, a death that stuck us all by surprise. Till this day I can recall the day it all happened. It was a Monday night around 9 or 9:30pm, my mother and I were sitting at home at the bar talking when my sister called the house saying she was on her way home. When my mom hung up the phone, she turned to me and said that something sounded wrong so we waited until she got home. My sister came through the door sobbing with tears rolling down her face. Mom, asking what was wrong, was unable to understand what she was saying and all I could understand was "Josh mom, Josh." My sister began to make more sense and she said that Josh had been killed in a car wreck sometime today. My sister didn't know when, where, what happened or any details, so I grabbed my phone and went out side to call the one person that I knew would know, Chris Osborn. Chris answered and I asked if it was true. Chris goes what do you know? Upset I said I don't know anything, what is going on? Chris told me what he knew, said that he had a car wreck, from what he heard he was going around a corner and over corrected and ran into a tree on the drivers side of the car. Chris said that he was pronounced on scene and did not get transported to the hospital. Instantly I knew what I had to do, something was telling me that I must go over to his house to be with his Mother, whom I am very close to. I went back into the house and explained what Chris had told me and told my mom that I was going to Brenda house to be with her. I arrived at the house, of course full of family and friends. I spent most of the night over there with Brenda. At around 11:30 or midnight I told her that I was going to go home and that if she needing anything that I am only around the corner and that I would be here in an instant. I knew I had to be very strong around Brenda the next few days. I couldn't let her see me break down. The next day, I went to Kilgore for finals and explain to my instructors what happened and took all my exams that day so I could be finished with them and spend the rest of the week helping or doing whatever I needed to do for the family. The next several days were really hard for me to be strong, but held it together while I was around Brenda and the rest of the family, but I did. I was apart of pretty much the whole process of arranging a funeral which was a first for me. The second night when I was getting ready to go, I asked Brenda if there is anything I can do and she just looked at me with tears in her eyes and said "if you find Josh, bring him home to me." It was hard to let go of our embrace because tears began to roll down my face and I didn't want her to see me with tears in my eyes. The next day was vistation at Radar Funeral Home. I got to the funeral home early so that I could see him before Brenda and everyone else got there to have a few moments alone with him. In those moments I feel to my knees and cried and laughed at the same times with the memories that I will always have in my heart. Few momemts past and Brenda walks in with the rest of the family. During the whole time of the visitation I stayed right by Brenda side, never leaving it. After visiation I went back to the house to once again be with the family. Back at the house the family was talking about stories of Josh when he was younger when his father was still alive. A little background, Josh father died when he was pretty young and Brenda told me that he had been asking about his father and saying that he wish he could be with his father. As the night went by and we all shared and cherished everyones memories it was time to bring the night to a close. That night I did not get much sleep at all and the morning came early. I didn't go to the house before the funeral because my mom didn't want me driving from the church to the graveside so I rode with her. We get to the church early so that I can see Brenda before hand. The service was a Cathloic service which was the first for me. One of Josh's closest friends wanted to sing 'I Can Only Imagine.' He gets up on the alter and the music begins. You could tell that his voice was extrememly shaky and he was having a difficult time getting through it, but he did. After the service we went to the graveside. I have come to realize that gravesides are the hardest thing on me. I was standing just outside of the pavillion in the front so that I could keep an eye on Brenda. Halfway through I began to loose it and thats when Brenda finally saw me break down and I just began to sob. My mother and sister was around on the other side and my dad and I were on one side and he placed his hand upon my shoulder. After the graveside service they carried Josh to his final resting spot, next to his father Travis Upshaw. I walked Brenda back to the car and told her that I was going home to get my car and then will be at the chruch for lunch. After the lunch I went back to her house to spend some more time with her and then went home. The death of Joshua Travis Upshaw was an extremely difficult one and I don't know why, perhaps because it was such a sudden death and someone a year younger than I shouldn't have past away so soon. Everytime that I heard his name, or thought of him I always broke down and cried. For the longest time I didn't know how to deal with his death until several months later I had an idea for a photograph. The photograph was difficult for me but after I had finished it, there was like a relief off of me. Maybe its because I looked at the newspaper clipping and his obituatry for so long that I had to accept his death. But this single photograph has truly help me with the death of my dear friend, Joshua Travis Upshaw.

Josh I know your up there looking down on me
Enjoying your time with your father.
Always remember that you will have a place in my heart.
Don't forget about me and I know
one day we will run into each other again.
Remember to look over us, especially your mother
who is an amazing woman.
Till this day, I wish I would have
gone with you to that Ranger's game,
so when I get up there, we are going to go watch
a Texas Ranger's Game
from some very special seats.
Your Friend,
Jacob

AFTERGLOW
I'd like the memory of me
To be a happy one. I'd like
To leave an Afterglow of
Smiles when day is done.
I'd like to leave an echo...
Whispering softly down the
Ways of happy times and
Laughing times and bright
And sunny days. I'd like
The tears of those who
Grieve to dry before the
Sun of happy memories
That I leave behind when
Day is done.

In Loving Memory
Joshua Travis Upshaw
May 8, 1988 - December 10, 2007

Parson's Family Portraits

2008-12-09T14:23:00.000-08:00

Fashion Shoot - Mario Schill

2008-11-21T17:55:00.000-08:00

R.I.P Elizabeth Ann Adkisson

2008-11-11T18:03:00.000-08:00

The past five days have been an emotion roller coaster for me. Thursday night at about nine o’ clock, I received a phone call from my father. I instantly knew by the sound of his voice that something was wrong. His voice shaky and softly said “my mother just past away.” He briefly told me that he was on his way to his mom’s house. Instantly I began making arrangements with work and school so that I could travel home to be with my family, but because of a quiz, I was unable to leave until Friday morning to head home. On my way home I was handling everything just fine until my mom told me to be prepared because I will be where my Grandfather Olen is buried. Until that moment, I had not thought about it and that’s when I lost it, but I knew that I had to be strong during the next several days for my dad and Aunt Cynthia.
Friday everyone was going to have an early night and try to get some sleep because of the night before, so I did not drive out to see anyone Friday. Saturday I meet my dad, stepmother, my little brother, Aunt Cynthia and Uncle Terry at Red Lobster for lunch before heading out to my grandmother’s house to begin going through old photographs and getting things in order for the days to come. After going through all the old photographs and pulling several out to pin on a bulletin board it was time to head to the funeral home to view her body before visitation the next day. I decided to go with my dad to prepare myself for the visitation.
Sunday arrives and at about 1:30 p.m. I arrive to Welch’s Funeral Home for visitation. To me, the visitation part of a funeral is one of the nicest parts of a funeral. It’s hard to explain, but its time for family together and be with old friends that often times we have gotten too busy to see or talk with anymore. This is the time that I look at as being a joyful process of the funeral. Bringing people together for the hard times is truly what family and friends is really about. After visitation and everyone had left, I came back into the room to photography my grandmother. These photographs, which I have done before, are the hardest things for me to do, but doing them is essential.
After visitation I headed back to Arlington because I had to take a second part of a mid-term exam at nine the next morning. After the exam, I headed back to Hallsville for the funeral. The church members of Mulberry Springs Baptist Church prepared a lunch for the family before the services.
After the service the family headed to the cars to prepare for the ride to Grange Hall Cemetery in Marshall. As we began the journey to the cemetery I began thinking of being at the cemetery that my Adkisson side of the family is buried and tears began to roll down my face. After a 30-minute drive we were at Grange Hall Cemetery and just as I put my car in park I looked up and saw my first Adkisson headstone in front of me. Tears began to poor from my eyes. I get myself together, knowing that I had to be strong for my dad and Aunt Cynthia and head toward the pavilion. I sat down on the front row with my dad, stepmother little brother, Aunt Cynthia and Uncle Terry and kept my head down as the graveside service began. After a few minutes Rev. Wilson began his part of the service and I looked up at the casket and just to the left of the flower arrangement on top I could see the headstone Adkisson where my Grandfather Olen is buried and I began to sob. After the services I saw that my Cousin Shelia was over in that direction and began to walk that way with tears rolling down my face. I told her that I had never been out here and she took me by my hand and lead me to my grandfather to meet for the first time in 21 years. I fell to my knees and just began sobbing. After a few minutes she lead me over to where my Aunt Virginia, Shelia’s mom, is buried and once again I fell to my knees and began sobbing. After a few minutes I made my way back to the pavilion to say my goodbyes to the family as they began to leave. Several minutes pass and everyone is gone expect for my dad, step mom and little brother and I told my dad that I wanted to stay until they finish burring her and spend some time with my grandparents together before heading home. They left and head home and I remained in the Grange Hall Cemetery alone because there was something that I had to do, something that I have learned from a dear friend, Joshua Travis Upshaw’s death that I had to do for closure. I had to make a photograph.

In loving memory:
Olen Adkisson - Oct. 26, 1934 - Apr. 4, 1987
Elizabeth Adkisson - Feb. 5, 1937 - Nov. 6, 2008
Married June 29, 1956
&
Aunt Virginia - June 11, 1944 - Feb. 26, 1998
~There is nothing better than a hot Dr. Pepper~

Old Photographs

2008-11-09T18:06:00.001-08:00

My Grandfather Olen

Great-Grandfather Hopkins and I

My brother Nicholas and I

Cousin Shelia

Cousin Shelia and Aunt Virgina

Uncle Loyd and Cousin Shelia

Election Night 2008

2008-11-06T14:00:00.000-08:00

Election Night 2008

2008-11-04T18:08:00.001-08:00

So through out the night I will posting images from the Tarrant County Republican Watch Party held at the Renaissance Worthington Hotel in downtown Fort Worth. There will be just images through the night with cut-lines below.

Community members look at the Cummulative Report for
Tarrant County General Election during the Republican Watch Party on Tuesday
at the Renaissance Worthington Hotel in Fort Worth.

Portraits

2008-11-03T18:16:00.000-08:00

Engagement Portraits

2008-11-02T15:27:00.000-08:00

Time Exposure

2008-11-02T14:59:00.001-08:00

Fuzzy's Taco Shop

2008-11-01T15:19:00.001-07:00

Fuzzy's Taco Shop

Caso & Chips

Fish Taco

Garlic Shredded Beef & Ice Cold Beer

Garlic Shredded Beef

Taco Plate

Friday I photographed a couple of plates at Fuzzy's Taco Shop, which meant of course that everything they prepared would have to be eat by me of course. They food is excellent! There are locations in Ft. Worth and Denton and soon to be one in opening in Arlington.

Engagement Session

2008-10-26T15:18:00.000-07:00

America's Best Dance Crew

2008-10-22T22:08:00.000-07:00

Here are some images from my assignment with the Shorthorn on Wednesday night. I covered an interview session and performances from America's Best Dance Crew Live held at the Nokia Theatre in Grand Prairie.

A.S.I.I.D. Members Tristan Fisher and Joey Antonio

BreakSk8 members Shannon Anthony and Jordan McQuiston

SoReal Cru members Andrew Baternia and Mark Fueaman

Super Cr3w

Fanny Pak

SoReal Cru

Melissa Lawson and Family

2008-10-20T19:31:00.000-07:00

Monday I was sent out on assignment to photograph Melissa Lawson with her family at their home. In case you don't recognize Melissa, she is the winner of television show Nashville Star. She currently has a song playing on the records titled "What If It All Goes Right." Monday I spent an hour and half with the singer in her home with the family. While at the home, I felt as though I was a fly on the wall while they sit and watch Star Wars. The family truly made me feel at home in their 'personal' space as I look around looking for creative positions to photograph the family. After spending time inside, we adventured out for the evening walk. After the evening walk, it was time to begin preparing dinner for the family, which ended my time with the family.

Zaden, left, Rick, Xander, Melissa,
Ryker, Maverick and Harlon in their home

After the formal portrait the family began tickeling each other

Melissa plays a little number with Ryker and
Maverick by her side

Melissa Lawson playing a song while in her livingroom

Melissa looks as Ryker trys to play a little number on the guitar

The Lawson's during their evening walk in their neighborhood

Kilgore College Homecoming 2008

2008-10-19T20:28:00.001-07:00

This weekend I went back to Kilgore for their Homecoming and photographed the Rangerettes!

Shocking New Music Video from Britney Spears

2008-10-14T10:51:00.000-07:00

Britney Spears has done it again! The release of her new music video “Womanizer” on ABC News’ “20/20” was unbelievably too hot for network TV. After seeing the video I know why! Even though I am not typically a Spears fan, this music video grabbed me from the beginning. The video obviously shows a lot of Spears' skin, but its done in a very classy way. Through out the video you have not choice to watch, maybe hoping to catch more. Out of Spears music career this would have to be my favorite song and video. Check out the video yourself and tell me what you think of the video.

Fight Night Training

2008-10-13T20:55:00.001-07:00

Scott Hensley trains for UTA's fight night on Thursday at Cowboys. I will be shadowing Scott through out the rest of the week until fight night is over, so continue to check out the photos to come.

Blake and Fallon - White Elephant Saloon

2008-10-12T11:34:00.000-07:00

Straight out of Austin, Texas, Blake and Fallon rocked the White Elephant Saloon Saturday night in Ft. Worth, Texas. Austin is home of the music capital of Texas and this talented band shows why. Out of all the artists that have emerged from Austin, Blake and Fallon really know how to put on a good show. This duo hit the stage with a great passion for music not just from their own music, but many other great artists. The famous saloon was filled with tapping boots, bobbing heads and table tapping. Blake and Fallon kept the people two-stepping all night from music from their album “Wasted Days” to covers from Stevie Nicks, to Rascal Flatts.
The band is created from diverse members that together create a unique blend of musical melody. The band is comprised of three members, guitar and vocalist Blake Powers, vocals and keyboard, Fallon Franklin, and drums, Joey Campbell.
Powers is an accomplished singer/songwriter winning numerous songwriter awards. Franklin who has appeared at the TV show America’s Got Talent and released her own album “Red Lights” in 2004 has a distinctive voice much like Sheryl Crow and Stevie Nicks. Campbell influenced by Jeremy Taggart, Gene Krupa and many others adds soulful rhythm to the show.
Check out their website blakeandfallon.com to hear their songs and check their tour date for a show near you, you will not be disappointed.

Blake Powers singing and playing guitar Saturday night
at the White Elephant Saloon at The Stockyards

Fallon Franklin sings Saturday night at the
White Elephant Saloon at the Stockyards

Fallon Franklin plays the keyboard during the
show on Saturday night at the
White Elephant Saloon

Blake and Fallon performing at the White
Elephant Saloon at The Stockyards

My Never

2008-10-07T19:21:00.001-07:00

Will you think of me in time?

It's never my luck
So never mind.
I wanna say your name
But the pain starts again
It's never my luck
So never mind

I had a dream that you were with me
It wasn't my fault
You rolled me over, flipped me over the somersault
And that doesn't happen to me.
I've never been here before
I saw forever in my never
And I stood outside her heaven

Will you wait for me in time?
It's never my luck
So I'll say never mind
And I've lost a lot of what I don't expect to ever return
I tend to push them til’ the pushing gone from hurtin to burn
I always take them to that place I thought they wanted to go
Then end up dancing round
This clown commands applause at his show

I had a dream that you were with me
And it wasn't my fault
You rolled me over, flipped me over like a somersault
And that doesn't happen to me
I've never been here before
I saw forever in my never
And I stood outside her heaven
Her heaven
Inside her heaven
Her heaven

And I can only dream of you in sleep
And I never see sunlight again
I can try to be with you but somehow I'll end up just losing a friend.
And I can only reach for you
Relate to you
I'm losing my friend
Where did she go?
Where

I had a dream that you were with me
It wasn't my fault.
You rolled me over, flipped me over a somersault
And that doesn't happen to me
I've never been here before
But I saw forever in my never
And I stood outside her heaven
Stood outside her heaven
Stood outside her heaven
Won't you let me into your heaven?

I heard this song about two weeks ago and it completely blew me away. It is by, of course, my favorite band Blue October and the song is title “My Never.” This song has a lot of meaning to me, like all of Blue October’s songs I can completely relate to this song. It seems as though I was living in a dream and believed that we could work out, but like the past it’s never been my luck. But as I try to move on I can’t seem to get over the brick wall that has been built around me, the wall that has all of our memories, the laughs, the fights and all the years that we have spent together. I get to the wall and I see the memories and I relive them over and over again hoping that I can fall back into that life that we shared. I miss you’re beautiful laugh, your smile, the touch of your skin, the smell of your hair. There will never be a day that doesn’t go by that I don’t think of ‘my never.’ You will always have a place in my heart till the day I die.

Blue October has many other songs that really relate to what I am going through but the other one that really hits hard is title “What If We Could:”

What if we could?
Put our lives on
Hold and meet some
Where inside of the world
I would meet you
Would you meet me? (Two, three, four)

On a park bench
On a skyscraper
On a mountain
Oh yeah, whatever it takes
I would meet you
Would you meet me?

I'm glad to say that we met
But I'm sad to say that the circumstances weren't
On our side
So go on, go on be around
Go on be a own star

What if we could?
Where would we go?
If it felt right
Would you want me to know?
I would meet you
Would you meet me? (Two, three, four)

It's like a last chance
For a first dance
You're a sunrise
God, somehow exist
I would you meet you
Would you meet me?

I'm glad to say that we met
But I'm sad to say that the circumstances weren't
On our side
So go on, go on be around
Go on be a own star

You're a superstar in my eyes
In my eyes
Look in my eyes
Just look in my eyes
My eyes, my eyes

What if we could?
Put our lives on
Hold and meet some
Where inside of the world
I would meet you
Would you meet me? (Two, three, four)

On a park bench
On a skyscraper
On a mountain
Oh yeah, whatever it takes
I would meet you
Would you meet me? (Two, three, four)

God, I would
God, I would
I would meet you
Would you meet me?
I would meet you
I would meet you

I feel like I keep repeating myself but this song has meaning to me as well. The song is pretty self-explanatory, but it’s the God’s honest truth that no matter where I am in life and the opportunity came up I would meet her. I don’t care what I was doing I would completely drop everything just to meet her. On a park bench, seems as though the song is for us because we both know that we always fall for each other at a park. I know we have had our share of good days and bad days but it’s those moments that we spend together that make us stronger.

I ask to ‘my never’ would you meet me?

More Old Photographs

2008-10-01T15:59:00.000-07:00

Here are some scanned slides that my dad has that has been passed down to him. I scanned the images and surprisingly they are in really good condition and did not need a lot of retouching. I enhanced the color on most of them and edited some spots that were on the slides.

Cottonwood Pass Colorado 1976

Cynthia Nolan with her grandfather Sydney Hopkins

Shonee National Park 1971
Clara Bell and Sydney Hopkins

Twin Lakes River Colorado 1969

Clara Bell and Sydney Hopkins
Married August of 1933

In Loving Memory of
Clara Bell Hopkins - September 3, 1915 - June 29, 2006

Brother and Sister Portrait

2008-10-01T15:52:00.001-07:00

Here is a portrait I did of two siblings at UTA for the Shorthorn.

Neal McCoy and Friends in Concert

2008-09-28T15:58:00.001-07:00

Saturday night I came to Longview to cover the Neal McCoy and Friends in Concert at the Longview Lobo Coliseum. As many of you are aware the concert is a benefit concert for the East Texas Angel Network (ETAN), who Neal and his wife Melinda started. The ETAN was created to enhance the lives of families that have children whose child or children may be suffering from a serious or life-threatening illness or disease. The concert brings in major singers and artists such as Tracy Byrd, Charley Pride, Troy Aikman, Nolan Ryan, Jack Hanna, Bo Derek, Wayne Newton, Bob Kingsley, Tracy Lawrence and many others. All of the artists and sports figures DONATE their time for the ETAN. Locate hotels, restaurants and merchants donate rooms, dinner and many other items to these artist for their visit to Longview.

The weekend includes a golf tournament on Friday, a corporate dinner Friday evening and Saturday a meet and greet with the children that are apart of the ETAN. Last year, I covered the whole weekend of events and it really touched a part of my soul. Being around these kids last year really made me look at my life and really appreciate life. Because not everyone is privileged to a healthy life. Covering the weekend events was a really hard task for me because I had never been around these kids before. But by the end of it I had made friends and began to know the kids and their families. Coming back this year was a real treat for me. Being able to see many of the same kids brought a joy to my life.

The ETAN has been in existence for fourteen years and has nearly raised four million dollars and has assisted over 400 families in the East Texas area. The network is currently supporting 120 families with financial assistance. I encourage you if you have never been to one of the concerts, go to one not only to see that great show but also to help support such a wonderful organization that is in the heart of East Texas. Check out the ETAN for more information or to donate at www.easttexasangelnetwork.com. Below are image from the show Saturday night with guests Gloria Barron, former Miss Texas; Blake Shelton, country music singer and yours truly Neal McCoy.

Danny from the KYKX's Danny & Dru
morning show shoots t-shirts into
the crowd.

Gloria Barron, former Miss Texas

Gloria Barron dresses Neal McCoy up as 'Baby Neal'

Dru, from the Danny and Dru show introduces
country star Blake Shelton

Blake Shelton performs

Blake Shelton weaves by to the crowd

Jack Hanna, the animal guy, brings live
animals to the stage

The famous penguin that walked down
the red carpet at the opening night of
"Happy Feet"

Jack Hanna introduces
Entertainer of the Year Neal McCoy

Neal McCoy enters the stage greeting
the locals with a big smile

During the concert, locals bring money to
the stage to help support the ETAN

Neal McCoy and one of the Angels Trevor on stage

Neal McCoy moisens his lips for his anual kiss

Neal McCoy kiss long time patron of the
Neal & Friends in Concert. Every year, she comes to
the edge of the stage for her kiss from Neal McCoy

Neal McCoy thanks the crowd for coming out and
supporting the ETAN

Neal McCoy waves bye to the crowd on Saturday night

I truly enjoyed covering the concert Saturday night. Before the concert started I was able to talk and get to know Blake Shelton, who is truly a down to earth guy. He played all of his songs acustically and was truly an amazing performance by Shelton. Neal McCoy of course put on a good show and even brought his brother on stage to sing "Some Where Over The Rainbow." But me coming to this show was not about the artists that were there, but was because of the kids and the support they need. I look forward to covering the event next year, hopefully I will be able to cover the whole weekend as I did before.

Enough for now

Old Photographs

2008-09-26T17:24:00.001-07:00

Here are some images that I scanned that belong to my grandmother (my mom's mother). They are of my grandfather, who is no longer with us, and one of my grandmother. I had to scan all these images and really do a lot retouching because of the condition that they are in. Only one or two of them have dates on them. I hope to be going through some more photographs that my mom and grandmother have when I am home next weekend.

Rusty Poe - 1969

Smith 'Rusty' Jackson Poe - July 4, 1928 - January 9, 1996
My favorite photograph of my grandfather
Date stamped on back of photo: January 2, 1954

Smith 'Rusty' Jackson Poe
&
Helen Beatrice Poe
Married April 4, 1952

Silver wings shinning in the sunlight,
roaring engines headed somewhere in flight.
Their taking you away, leaving me lonely,
Silver wings slowly fading out of sight.
Don't leave me I cry, don't take that airplane ride.
But you locked me out of your mind.
Left me standing here behind.
Silver wings shining in the sunlight,
Roaring engines headed somewhere in flight
Their taking you away, leaving me lonely.
Silver wings slowly fading out of sight.
Silver wings shining in the sunlight,
Roaring engines headed somewhere in flight,
Their taking you away. Leaving me lonely.
Silver wings slowly fading out of sight.
Slowly fading out of sight.

Another evening at the Stockyards

2008-09-25T20:30:00.000-07:00

So I enjoyed another night at the Stockyards and made a couple of images tonight. Hope you enjoy.

Love sitting on the top and watching the band on one side and the crowd in the street.

One of my favorite hang-outs, also was my grandfathers!

In The Shadows

2008-09-24T11:02:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time there was this girl who had four boyfriends. She loved the 4th boyfriend the most and adorned him with rich robes
and treated him to the finest of delicacies. She gave him nothing but the best.

She also loved the 3rd boyfriend very much and was always showing him off to neighboring kingdoms. However, she feared that one day he would leave her for another.

She also loved her 2nd boyfriend. He was her confidant and was always kind, considerate and patient with her. Whenever this
girl faced a problem, she could confide in him, and he would help her get through the difficult times.

The girls 1st boyfriend was a very loyal partner and had made great contributions in maintaining her wealth and kingdom. However, she did not love the first boyfriend. Although he loved her deeply,
she hardly took notice of him.

One day, the girl fell ill and she knew her time was short. She thought of her luxurious life and wondered, I now have four boyfriends with me, but when I die, I'll be all alone.

Thus, she asked the 4th boyfriend, I loved you the most, endowed you with the finest clothing and showered great care over you. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?'

'No way!', replied the 4th boyfriend, and he walked away without another word. His answer cut like a sharp knife right into her
heart.

The sad girl then asked the 3rd boyfriend, 'I loved you all my life. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?'

'No!', replied the 3rd boyfriend. 'Life is too good! When you die, I'm going to marry someone else!' Her heart sank and turned cold.

She then asked the 2nd boyfriend, 'I have always turned to you for help and you've always been there for me. When I die, will you follow me and keep me company?'

'I'm sorry, I can't help you out this time!', replied the 2nd boyfriend.
'At the very most, I can only walk with you to your grave.' His answer struck her like a bolt of lightning, and the girl was devastated.

Then a voice called out: 'I'll go with you. I'll follow you no matter
where you go.'

The girl looked up, and there was her first boyfriend. He was very skinny as he suffered from malnutrition and neglect. Greatly grieved, the girl said, 'I should have taken much better care of
you when I had the chance!'

In truth, you have 4 boyfriends in your lives:

Your 4th boyfriend is your body. No matter how much time and effort you lavish in making it look good, it will leave you when you
die.

Your 3rd boyfriend is your possessions, status and wealth.
When you die, it will all go to others.

Your 2nd boyfriend is your family and friends. No matter how much they have been there for you, the furthest they can stay by you
is up to the grave.

And your 1st boyfriend is your Soul, often neglected in
pursuit of wealth, power and pleasures of the world. However, your Soul is the only thing that will follow you where ever you go.
Cultivate, strengthen and cherish it now, for it is the only part of you that will follow you to the throne of God and continue with you throughout Eternity.

Thought for the day: Remember, when the world pushes you to
your knees, you're in the perfect position to pray.

Being happy doesn't mean everything's perfect. It means you've decided to see beyond the imperfections.

Author Unknown

Another Evening in Downtown Ft. Worth

2008-09-23T18:45:00.000-07:00

Rocky Horror Picture Show

2008-09-22T16:39:00.000-07:00

So Friday night, I took an assignment for the Shorthorn to cover the Rocky Horror Picture Show movie that EXCEL was hosting on campus. Well it was not just a normal showing of this movie, and if you have seen it you will probably get the images but if you have never seen it then I would recommend watching, even though I'm sure that you probably wont like it. So I get to the theater and was instantly greeted by Transies, transvestites along with Frank - N - Furter and Janet. Students began to show up, some of whom had dressed up for the costume contest and some just to come see the show. The first hour or so I was there the Shadow-cast members from Los Bastardos dance and greeted the crowd and pulled students up on stage to dance. Each student was given a survival guide and a prop pack. In the prop pack included a water gun, rubber glove, roll of tolilet paper, piece of toast, newspaper, noisemaker, party hat, several playing cards. All these items where to be used by students during scenes of the movie to have interaction for the crowds. Well I will have to say that I enjoyed the little part of the show before having to leave early (had to be at work at 6:30am) and it was still going on at midnight! So if you are ever looking for a once in a life time experience and are in Ft. Worth you should check out Ridgmar Movie Tavern and watch Los Bastardos - DFW's premier Rocky Horror Picture Show Shadowcast live. They perform every Saturday night at midnight. If you are interested in more details check out their website at http://www.losbastardos.com. Enjoy the images!

Colorado

2008-09-13T19:17:00.001-07:00

Yes I know I went to Colorado back in June but I have finally got all the pictures edited and ready to post. So here they are:

Business Portrait

2008-09-11T17:22:00.000-07:00

The Kilgore College Rangerettes

2008-09-10T19:03:00.000-07:00

I began my college career at Kilgore College in fall of 2005 studying photography under the direction of O. Rufus Lovett. Being from Hallsville nearly 20 minutes east of Kilgore I have always heard about The World Famous Kilgore College Rangerettes but surprisingly never have seen them in person. It wasn’t until I started college at Kilgore College that I finally was able to see a performance that was at the first pep rally and I was stunned. It was in that first sighting of them that I saw the dedication, pride and hard work that is put into the Rangerettes. The following semester I began photographing the Rangerettes performances from pep rallies to football games to Kilgore’s Christmas parade to their yearly performance “The Revels.”
There are not a lot of people that know the history behind the Rangerettes and if you are from East Texas I definitely recommend taking a trip to the campus of Kilgore College to the Rangerettes Showcase and Museum. The Rangerettes were created by Miss Gussie Nell Davis and was the first group of its kind in the world to bring “show business” to a football stadium. The Rangerettes, under the direction of Miss Gussie Nell Davis, took the field for the first time during the 1940 football season. The Rangerettes were under Miss Davis’ direction for 39 years when she retired in 1979. Miss Davis passed away in 1993.
Since Miss Davis there have only been two other directors of the Rangerettes, Mrs Deana Bolton Covin who retired in 1993 and current director Mrs. Dana Blair. Mrs. Blair is the only director to have been a Rangerette, serving as Lieutenant and Swingster (1981-1983) and became the third director after Mrs. Covin retired in 1993.
The Rangerettes have traveled all around the world from Venezuela to Hong Kong to Singapore. I have had the privilege of photographing the Rangerettes at the New Year’s Cotton Bowl Classic in Dallas for two years in a row and has been a wonderful experience that I will never forget. The Rangerettes have been performing at the Cotton Bowl since 1951. The Rangerettes have been on hundreds of covers of magazines from Life, Newsweek, Esquire, Texas Monthly and Texas 24/7 and have been on many major television programs.
I plan to continue photograph the Rangerettes for many years to come. I have come to enjoy hard work and determination of these you women and how well they represent Kilgore College.
The photographs that are below span from spring of 2005 to spring of 2008 in which I graduated from Kilgore College. I truly miss the time that I have spent with this group and will always have the memories.

Stormy Night

2008-09-08T19:51:00.000-07:00

Tonight at 7 p.m. I left the house pretty quickly to somewhere to clear my head. Things have been pretty rough with Beth and I so I just wanted to go out by myself with my camera to clear my head and get my thoughts in order. So tonight I decided to go down to the Stockyards in Ft. Worth. Now I have been there many times as a young boy but tonight was different. I am not sure if it was because I was different or if it was the reason I was there but something was different. After driving down Exchange Avenue three times just to see what is going on I parked my car at the other end and grab my camera and began walking down Exchange Avenue.
With it being a Tuesday evening Exchange Avenue was pretty dead and lifeless, which was perfectly fine with me tonight. The streets were wet after a thunderstorm rolled through The Stockyards creating a nice haze down Exchange Avenue. When you mixed the haze, the street lights, bar lights and the stormy sky above it was a perfect night to be out photographing. As I began photographing stress was lifted off me. I strolled through the streets stopping now and then to make an image. Then I came to the White Elephant Saloon to have a drink and give my feet a rest, I didn’t have the right shoes on for the weather. After talking a little while to the bartender I headed out to the street again to finish my adventure in the stormy night.
After a few hours of hanging out on Exchange Avenue the night began to fall dark and I grew tired I began heading back to my Jeep. It was such a relief to go out and be alone and just spend my time photographing. It seems sometimes that I get caught up in the newspaper that I don’t go out and photograph just for personal pleasure and that’s exactly what I did and it was a really nice night. I am planning on many more trips to The Stockyards to spend my time just hanging out and photographing the lights, people and everyday life.

Enough for now...

Long Drive Home

2008-09-05T00:06:00.000-07:00

Here are a few images from my drive home last night from Kilgore.

New iMac!!!

2008-09-03T19:20:00.000-07:00

Well I am happy to say that I am posting this entry on my new iMac! After two years trying everything to get one I finally have one! It came today and I felt like I was walking downstairs on Christmas morning to see what Santa brought you!!! It is the second week into classes and things are the same, just getting busy with homework, which I am not accustomed to and The Shorthorn keeps me busy.
This weekend I had a house full of Hurricane Gustav Evacuees!!! It was very interesting and man was there some good food!!!
Also today was eviction day at the apartment complex! This morning they just started throwing peoples stuff out in the parking lot for anyone to shop through! We didn't get anything because Nick was scared to go by himself and by the time I got home, all the good stuff was taken!!! So I will send out a memo to everyone the day before the next eviction day so we can all go shopping!
Well I am off to finish getting my iMac all setup!

Enough for now,

First Day of School

2008-08-26T07:24:00.000-07:00

Well its that time of year. I started classes on Monday, as just about everyone else did as well, and so far so good. I only was able to meet two of the professors because the other two were out of town. The biggest thing that I am going to have to get used to is sitting in a lecture room of 350 other people! That is mind boggling. I think I am going to enjoy my English professor as he used to be in the newspaper industry. He did his introduction and talked about the class and "Shitty First Drafts" also called SFD's that will be writing a lot of! Another thing I like about him is that we never actually turn in a hard copy of paper, everything is done by email! I really like that, but some of the other students didn't and they voiced their opinion on the matter and he simply replied "that's a legitimate bitch." So I think I am going to enjoy this guy! Well that's it, been working on home work and doing assignments for the newspaper.

Enough for now,

First Issue of The Shorthorn

2008-08-20T16:12:00.000-07:00

Well, I have began work as a photographer for The Shorthorn. I had my first assignment on Monday, which was published in The Back to School Issue of the Shorthorn. Everyone can check out each issue of The Shorthorn at www.theshorthorn.com. When you get to the website, on the top is different pages you will want to go to extras and down to PDF's and Current Semester. Just look for the current issue and check it out. I am really looking forward to working on the paper. I have been in training since Monday and things are going really great. Classes start Monday so I am definitely going to be busy next week!
Also, I wanted to mention to everyone that my cell phone service doesn't work good up here at all, so I am shopping around for new service. If any tries to get a hold of me leave a voicemail, hopefully I will get that, or email me at jacob.adkisson@mavs.uta.edu.

Enough for now

Settled In!

2008-08-13T20:01:00.000-07:00

Yes I know! I have not posted much in the last month but things have been pretty busy! I am officially moved and pretty much settled in at the apartment. I start training for The Shorthorn, the student newspaper at UTA Monday and truly looking forward to it! I will be a staff photographer and hopefully next semester move my way up to Photo Editor! Also I finally got a job with a really good sports/events photography company, TSS Photography. I am actually will be starting out as an assistant to the photographer for a while and then move my way up to a photographer. They are a pretty large national known company. The owner of the branch that I will be working for seems to be a really nice guy and down to earth! I wont actually start work until September. School starts on the 25th of this month and I am not sure yet if I am ready or not, but I guess since I have paid tuition, I don't have much choice! I have a few more basics to get out of the way so I am not taking a single photography or journalism class this semester!!! Which will be good because I will get them out of the way and have the good stuff to look forward to! I am majoring in Visual Journalism (photojournalism) and minoring in Public Relations. I haven't been photographing a lot lately but will be picking up the camera soon again! I am coming home this weekend for my great-grandfathers birthday cookout at my dads house. So there will be definitely pictures from that!!! Well, I promise I will start keeping this up better now that I am settled and will be getting out and doing more!

Untitled

2008-07-29T17:22:00.000-07:00

"We really don’t fall in and out of love. Love is always there it just needs to be tapped in order for it to blossom." We may never find our soul mate in this lifetime but who knows? He or she maybe just beside you waiting. Something to share~ Love Why hold someone back... when u know u don't love them... Why keep them to yourself... when u know you won’t wanna have them? Why let them miss other chances...when they can have them? If you really don't love someone....let them go...hurt them NOW.. not later...for a longer relationship builds stronger emotions... A good relationship isn't a game you play or an ego trip you take. It is about love and two people. Loving someone can give us the greatest joy we can ever know and it can hurt more than we can believe too. When it does not really hurt when that person did something disappointing to you, but really hurts when you see that person in pain and sadness, then you know you truly love that person. Loving someone means you should be ready to experience heartache and happiness at the same time. That's the reward and that's the risk. Unless we are willing to experience it, we will never really know what it's like to love and be loved. Sharing love is probably the most valuable and meaningful experience a person can ever have. And there's a difference between being in love with someone and loving someone. It's the difference between a love that's fickle, wild and short-lived and one that's tender and passionate, nurturing and lasts a long time. The first is easy. The second, the one that really matters to all of us, takes work because it's about keeping a relationship. Loving someone takes efforts. We have to be able to communicate with each other. Nobody can read anyone else's mind. We always presume that our partner knows what we think and feel. Maybe in time we might be able to predict or sense each other's thoughts but it's never perfect and takes time to develop. Getting the chance to love and be loved by someone is blessed. Respect him/her for who he/she is and not what you want him/her to be. Everyone is pretty and special in his/her own special way. No one is perfect. It is true love which closes the gap of imperfectness to form a smooth surface of acceptance for each other. True love sees and accepts a person for who he/she is. It is also true love which makes a person change for the better. The power of true love to a person is undeniable. A relationship needs commitments too. What is love without commitments from each other anyway? It's like principles and values. Everyone has them but they only mean as much as we are willing to stand for them. The same goes for our commitments to relationships, and the person we love. "Love is like an antique vase. It's hard to find, hard to net, but easy to break." Every day everywhere, people fall in love ... but just how many of these relationships are self-sacrificing love, and not just relationships which are formed only for the intense feeling of falling in love? I know hundreds of friends who say the magical words "I love you"...but more often than not, the truth is just -- I am IN love with you. There is a difference between being in love with someone and loving someone. If a person says he/she is in love with you, he/she means that he/she likes you for who you are now and he/she fell in love with you because of the present you. This kind of love is temporary and lasts only as long as the fairytale lasts. When fairy godmother comes in at midnight to whirl us back to reality, we see the heartache of such a relationship.. where both were only IN love with each other. But if a person says he/she loves you, he/she means that he/she loves you unconditionally for who you are now, who you were in the past and who you might be in the future. When he/she says he/she loves you and really means it, you have to ask yourself if you love him/her too or if you're in love with the idea of being in love. It is very hard to see the difference through logical thinking. Let your heart guide u. May you be blessed on your soul-searching journey for your soul mate. ARE YOU REALLY IN LOVE? ASK YOURSELF! Is this true love? Do I really love him/her? Or is it just another infatuation? R U willing to give? Even though you may not get back the same amount you gave? and R U cheating yourself? Thinking that you really love him/her and not just taking him/her as a substitute for your ex-boyfriend/girlfriend? Friends, let today be the day....... you truly understand love...... If after reading this and answering all the questions, you are very sure that you love him/her, tell him/her that. Let him/her know how much you love him/her and that you are willing to take the risks of being hurt by him/her in the course of the development of your relationship with him/her. This is a love that's sacrificial, are you ready for it? If you accept some one's philosophy that is simply their rationalization to justify their failure, you accept their failures!

Last week I was on my way back to Arlington, because I had a certain someone with me, when a song came on that really stuck to me. It's a Tom Petty song named Crawling Back to You. Toward the end of the song there is a set of lyrics that took a place in my heart:

"I'm so tired of being tired

Sure as night will follow day

Most things I worry about

Never happen anyway

I keep crawling back to you

I keep crawling back to you"

There has been this person that has been in my life for a some 10 years and have dated off in on since we were in school together and even after she moved but we have had our share of little fights and go our own ways but there has been something that keeps bringing us back together. There is nothing more in the world I want is for us to be together. I know we have both changed over the years and there are somethings that we just don't know about each other anymore. Honestly I am willing to do anything and everything for us to be together.

Enough for now........

The Great Texas Balloon Races

2008-07-24T11:46:00.001-07:00

Here are the images from The Great Texas Balloon Races. Hope you enjoy.

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Moving!!!!!

2008-06-27T02:21:00.000-07:00

I will signing my lease to the apartment on July 7th and will move in that week as well! Once I get everything moved in and settle I will be sending out a postcard with my new address, telephone and all that good stuff out to everyone. If anyone is throwing away any old house stuff or has anything that they don't want anymore let me know I might be interested in it!

And yes I know I haven't been keeping this blog up but I have been traveling every weekend this month to Arlington trying to get all this stuff worked out and get school stuff lined out! I received a letter yesterday in the mail and I have been accepted into the Honors College Program at UTA!!!!!!!

Also, I will be leaving Friday evening for Colorado and will be back July 6th. I wont be around my cell phone but will check my email in the middle of the week if anyone needs to get a hold of me!

End of Summer Portrait Special

2008-06-14T18:33:00.000-07:00

I am offering End of Summer Specials on Seniors, Families and Children! Book your appointment now before you get tied up with back to school, kids moving off to college, etc.! Email me and I will send you all the information on the special. To book an appointment just give me a call 903-738-8593 or email me jacobadkisson@yahoo.com! I am booking appointments in the evening hours so that the sun is almost down and it is much cooler!
Appointments will be done on-location. There is an additional $25 fee for travel outside of Longview area. The locations are of your choice! Some of my suggestions are: your own backyard, city parks, gardens outside of Maud Cobb Convention Center, Kilgore Synergy Park, Downtown Longview or Kilgore, Tyler's Children Park or Tyler Rose Garden Center.
If you have any questions feel free to email me or call me. Booking is limited so call to ensure you spot!

Morning

2008-06-13T03:09:00.000-07:00

Morning! This is a work that I hear often at work, typically the end of my shift. I am been working the 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. shift at Longview Regional Medical Center for a while now and have watched as people arrive and depart the working lives. I have been spending a lot of time sitting at the front desk which has huge automatic glass door and huge windows that over look the parking and helicopter pad so that I can see when people arrive and leave for work.
Now I am a person of schedule and being on time is a HUGE issue for me. I think as long as I have been working, five years, I have been late maybe 3 times and going to school I was hardly ever late to class. I think that is one of the best things band taught me during high school "early is on time and on time is late." Typically about 4:45 a.m. every morning the hospital begins to slowly "wake up" with life again.
There is a woman that comes in between 4:45 a.m. and 4:50 a.m. and has a seat in the closest chair to the Emergency Room door. "Morning" is all that I have every heard her say. But she sits there waiting until 4:53 a.m. so that she can go clock in, which the time clock is in the adjacent hallway so I have view of it as well.
The next person that comes in is the Nuclear Medicine guy that delivers medical supplies. He pulls up under the ER drop off area and parks his car. He steps out of his car which is a Sliver Saturn Ion and walks toward the trunk where he gathers the supplies for the days. He then walks into the door and turns the corner "morning" with a wave of his hand.
Next is the newspaper delivery woman, sometimes a guy, that comes racing through the parking lots and pulls into the ER covered area like she is Jeff Gordon, drops off the papers and speeds off out of the parking lot.
At 6 a.m. typically follows the charge nurses that walk through the parking lot and headed to the time clock to begin their 12 hours of work. The sun is beginning to rise and the day begins for the "normal" employees Between 6:30 a.m. and 7 a.m. life really picks up. You have the early people, the on time people and the late people. Very seldom have I seen an early person be late this reason is because when they are running late, they still are on time because they are always early!
Typically between 6:30 a.m. and & a.m. I make my final trip down the hallway to use the little boys room where I am greeted with "morning" up and down the hallway.
Ten till 7 a.m. rolls around and I am waiting anxiously for my relief to show up for work. We have the one "early bird" that is always here before it is time for her to clock in and then we have the ones that don't like to clock in till right at 7 a.m. and then you have the ones that like to show up late. These "late" people tend to really aggravate me. There are several reasons for this: First-it is 7 a.m. and I am ready to go home; Secondly it is a respect issue with me. Yes I understand that there are times that you will be late but day after day? I think some people need to learn what I had to learn while in band:
"Early is on time and on time is late!" - Sherri Morgan - Director of The Roaring Band From Bobcat Land

Fire at the Governor's Mansion

2008-06-10T02:15:00.000-07:00

So I was doing my nightly reading of the news at work when I came across the photo gallery in the Longview News Journal of the Governor's Mansion fire that happened on Sunday morning about 1:45 a.m. Up until this point I had NO idea of this happening. You should go online to either the Longview News Journal or The Austin American Statesman at statesman.com and look at the photographs. At this point they think that the fire was intentional, but they say the investigation is still underway. 25 years ago almost the same thing happened at the Capitol. The fire took over eight and a half hours to be put out. The mansion was unoccupied by the governor Rick Perry and family due to the renovations being done to the mansion. They are still waiting to figure out if the structure of the building is okay to just renovate it or will they have to destroy the mansion. I am hoping they will just renovate the 125 year old mansion, which is the fourth oldest governors mansion in the US.

Fine Art Work

2008-06-09T18:29:00.000-07:00

Yes, I know I haven't posted in a while, but I haven't been able to get my computer working again. But here are some images that I did this past couple of months that I had backed up on CD's. These are from my fine art work that I do from time to time to change things up. All these are for sale, so if you are interested in purchasing any of them let me know. They are available from an 8x10 to 13x19. Enjoy.

Welcome Home

2008-06-01T20:00:00.000-07:00

Sunday morning, the Patriot Guard Riders and family members welcomed home Second Class Petty Officer Damian Feliciano. Officer Feliciano has been serving for 1 year in a high risk area in Cuba. He will be home for a one month leave and will then be deployed to Bahrian. His Wife and three children were so excited when he walked through the gate on Sunday. Several members of the PGR (Patriot Guard Riders) and family members were there to support his duties in the Armed Forces.

I know that I haven't posted in a few days but I have been having computer problems so I am in the process of finding me a new computer. I am probably going to get me the 24" iMac. So as soon as I work out all of my glitches I would be posting every day. I am still waiting on my camera to come in. Also, next weekend in Alleyfest in Downtown Longview. I should be out there all weekend long.

O. Rufus Lovett featured in June's Southern Living

2008-05-28T21:25:00.001-07:00

Kilgore College's photography instructor, my mentor, is featured in the June issue of Southern Living Magazine. The feature is under the Texas Living, People & Places. The story talks mainly about his teaching at Kilgore College and his photographs of The World Famous Kilgore College Rangerettes. On the Southern Living website it has a sideshow of images from both his books, Weeping Mary and Kilgore Rangerettes. Weeping Mary was published in 2006 and Kilgore Rangerettes in September.
The photographer, Gary Clark, came to Kilgore to photograph Rufus for two days. When he first arrived he photographed in the classroom. After out digital imaging evening class Clark, Rufus and a few of his student assistants went to eat dinner at Chili's in Kilgore where we got to learn a little more from Clark about the business side of photography. Clark generously paid for our dinner at Chili's and then we called it a night.
The next day we went out to R.E. St. John Memorial Stadium so that Clark could photograph Rufus with the Rangerettes. After spending several hours out there and being able to watch another photographer work it was once again time for dinner. For dinner they decided to go to the Country Tavern in Kilgore. Once again the talk of the business came up and more valuable information was obtained. Clark's time spent at Kilgore was short but was a good opportunity for me to pick up a little more information about the business.
Little opportunities likes these have taught me a lot about the life as a editorial/photojournalist that you will not learn in the classroom. I have had other opportunities like these with photographers such as Wyatt McSpadden, Scott Campbell, Tammy Cromer-Campbell, James Evans Michael O'Brien and many others over the years.

Memorial Day 2008

2008-05-27T02:41:00.001-07:00

Memorial Day is a time to take stock of the present, reflect on the past, and renew our commitment to the future of America.
Today, as in the past, there are problems that must be solved and challenges that must be met. We can tackle them with our full strength and creativity only because we are free to work them out in our own way. We owe this freedom of choice and action to those men and women in uniform who have served this nation and its interests in time of need. In particular, we are forever indebted to those who have given their lives that we might be free.
I don't have to tell you how fragile this precious gift of freedom is. Every time we hear, watch, or read the news, we are reminded that liberty is a rare commodity in this world.
This Memorial Day of 1983, we honor those brave Americans who died in the service of their country. I think an ancient scholar put it well when he wrote: ``Let us now praise famous men . . . All these were honored in their generation, and were the glory of their times. Their bodies are buried in peace; but their name liveth for evermore.'' As a tribute to their sacrifice, let us renew our resolve to remain strong enough to deter aggression, wise enough to preserve and protect our freedom, and thoughtful enough to promote lasting peace throughout the world.
~Ronald Reagan~

I want to thank each and every soldier that has ever served and the families that supported them in their duties. Thank you.

For our Memorial Day we decided to go to the Caldwell Zoo over in Tyler. We spent most of the day over there until the bottom just fell out and began pouring rain. So we ended up coming home after that. Enjoy!