It’s been some time since I’ve touched this blog. Life get’s in the way sometimes, and my life has traveled some distance since my last entry. It is still about the journey, still about creativity, still about moving forward. So what has happened ?

A lot…

My buddy John, who traveled with me, has moved on. To St. Louis. He is doing well in his journey. I miss him, as does Walter the Wonder Dog. But that is what happens in our journey. People enter and they move on. It interrupts the high points in my journey, but we are all on a journey. People enter and exit. But they remain an important part of our story. The story of our life.

He has played a key roll in my journey. But his journey is his, and mine continues.

I still create photographs. I always will. But the turns that the creative endeavor take can be planned or they can swerve to a different path. Mine has certainly swerved. But that’s the fresh air that we breathe, the trails that pop up from nowhere, that makes the journey so interesting.

So here is my life, my journey right now.

Music has fallen into my lap and I am blessed that it has.

I have met some incredible artists on the way. Musicians, songwriters, performers. All extremely creative, all an incredible presence on the stage and all really great people, some of whom I have the great privilege of calling my friends.

Music is a great mix of sound and images. And I have found that our art intersects. Music creates visual art in our minds. You hear a song and it takes you back to a time, a memory. It can take us back to an event, a relationship, a memory so deep and so special and so deep in our hearts. It truly is a visual medium, if only to bring us back to something special from days gone by.

My job now is to create a visual record of a time, now, in front of us. To put together the sound, the lights, the energy of the show and make something special. Special for the artists performing and for the audience that was there to experience the sound, the words, the special feeling of the live show they just experienced. But it’s not just for those who were blessed to witness the performance, but to try, in some way, to convey the experience to those that couldn’t experience these amazing artists.

When working a show, I plan, I visualize, I think of the music. Of how it makes me feel, as a fan, and a participant. I’m not just there to ‘take pictures.’ I am there to convey a feeling. I’m not there to record an event. I am there to present what the artists in front of me brings to their performance. They dream, they dance, they sweat, they breath hard. It’s a lot of work. They are pouring out their heart and they are putting their soul into their performance. I see them. Before the show, all excited with nervous energy. I see them durning the show, more excitement, giving everything they have to the audience. I see them after the show, worn out, expended as much as a triathlete, exhausted, spent, giving everything they have to the performance. It truly is awe inspiring to me.

I work really hard at what I do. I plan, I visualize, I I

I love music. I always have. I crank up the tunes in the studio, I am inspired by it. I think we all are. But to have the honor of recording, in my own way, what they do, and it’s a gift from God. I am blessed. Blessed to be able to see what they do, to experience the performance and blessed to be able to record, in my own way, what they give us.

There are so many people to thank for where I am now, I can’t mention all of them. But for the purpose of this post at this time, I have to mention some very special people, musicians, artists, amazing creatives true friends.

Morgan and Randy of Southside Highway. Beautiful people, amazing talent and family. Lendon James, who I have seen grow before my eyes. Lendon has always been great, but he has a stage presence that shakes the house.

But I have to single out my brother, Gary Russell. He is a real person, nothing fake about Gary. We started this musical journey together. Many nights in the studio and the RV talking creative work. He wrote an amazing song one night, right before my eyes, at 2 AM. I’d like to say I had something to do with that, but, honestly, I only supply the whiskey and the ear to listen.

And remember John, the guy I started this thing off with? He was part of this too.

The journey continues. I know not where it will lead me, but it’s been a fantastic ride so far.

I can’t wait for tomorrow.