john jacob jingle Ansel Adams, his name is my name too.

Ah, the modern day "photographer".

It seems that everywhere you look these days, someone is touting themselves as a photographer.
I dare say you could not venture through ONE set of "myspace" friends without finding at least one person who fancies themself a picture picasso. *lower case on purpose*

I have looked at the pictures of these so called "professional" photographers and I believe perhaps Dorthea Lange would not be worried about her spot in the bread line, if you catch my drift.

What makes people thing that just because photography equipment is more readily accessible than ever before, they are able to stake claim to something previously considered ART?

Since when did getting a kid to smile in the center of a picture make you a professional photographer? When did snapping a pic with your digital whatever while some dog is shaking drool off its face qualify you as "having a knack" for photography?

My favorites though....have got to be the "fashion" photographers. You all know these guys. They get some 19 year old girls to sit on rocks, motorcycles, on the beach, or in a railway station posing in bikini or a short skirt and heels and they call themselves photographers.
Ugh.

Would someone please tell these ego maniacs that a snap shot does not a photographer make.
Criminy.
It is my firm belief that before you are allowed to BUY a camera you should have to sign a waiver that you have at least BEEN to a photography exhibit, or at the very least, are not going to attempt to pretend you are a photographer because your new camera has auto-focus and you are now able to take clear pictures.

Heck, even Anne Geddes, although best known for those goofy babies-as-other-stuff pictures, has some beautiful work SANS butterfly wings, cow costumes and flower petals.

When it comes down to memories...
I am all for the family pictures taken by Great Aunt Josephine with her thumb in the corner and the subjects of her sneak attack making a face or caught drinking out of the milk jug.

--and when it comes to professional photography....leave it to the artists, not the weekend Cannon warriors.


Please visit some REAL photography when you get a chance. There is a lot of beauty in the world, and the only way some of us may ever see it is through someone else's eye.

http://www.annegeddes.com/modules/anne/galleries/browse.aspx?pi_galleryid=3

http://www.davidgallery.net/Shows.cfm

http://www.photo-seminars.com/Fame/eugesmith.htm

http://www.artwolfe.com/cgi/shop/detail.cgi?r=DP894

http://www.muenchphotography.com/

http://www.johnshawphoto.com/favorites_gallery/index_fav.html

Did you say JEHOVAH?!?!

Recently several of my close friends have begun their spiritual journey.
Don't get me wrong...
I applaud anyone who is trying to better themselves.

That being said: I knew it would only be a matter of time before I was to hear the words
"you should come to our church with us!"

That time came today.
Followed by my next favorite phrase--
"It's okay that you are Jewish, it's NON-DENOMINATIONAL"

uh huh.

"THAT'S GREAT!" (says I)
"So is there a lot of Jesus worship there? You know, "in Jesus name, Amen-Jesus cleansed your sins-being saved through Jesus Christ" etc.?"

yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeah.

not so much for jews then.

Anyhoo, this leads me to ask you New Testiment-ers to help a Jewish sistah out.
I wanna know....

..What happened to God?


It seems these days there is very little mention of God in the Christian religions of late.
Jesus is the man it would seem.

I mean, I get the whole
"we believe Jesus was the son of God and died on the cross for our sins" bit-- I do.

But I wonder, is it like some sort of heavenly Sanford & Son-wherein the Father retires and the Son takes over?

I was always under the impression that God sent you guys (yeah YOU--we chosen people were already good to go) the old sandaled one to remind you that HE is the one true God, cleanse your sins for a fresh start, yada yada.

So how did the Big Guy end up being a holy benchwarmer?

Who took the God out of Christianity and why????????

Why have so many religions forsaken Him for the trendier "Jesus" model?

-JESUS 2000-
A savior for the new millenium! He walks, he talks, he turns water into wine!

Are you tired of being laughed at because you still hold on to the antiquated belief that being a good person, helping others and loving God is all you need?
Well look no further! JESUS 2000 is your ticket to heaven!

Wanna lie, cheat or steal?

JESUS 2000 says simply ask forgiveness and BAM!
sin is gone!

Wanna feel superior to others?

JESUS 2000 says that ONLY through accepting Christ will you save yourself from demons!

*enjoy secretly knowing that all your silly "GOD" loving friends are bound for eternal damnation*

and one of the best parts about JESUS 2000?
You don't even have to know how it works before you can start using it!

That's right! You simply have to listen to your JESUS 2000 instructional pasture for 1 hour a week and take all he says at face value-you don't even have to think for yourself before you can start telling other NON-SAVED people that they are wrong!

Act now and receive your very own un-buttered toast emblazened with the likeness of the Mary, mother of Jesus!
But that's not all!
We will also include STIGMATA! yes! amaze your friends and prove your faith!

(and even if you decide not to keep JESUS 2000, please keep STIGMATA as our gift to you simply for trying JESUS 2000!)

*prophecies not valid in all states, some baptisms void where prohibited, tithing not included--please see your local evangelists for details*

"And God said to Moses, 'I AM WHO I AM; and He said, thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, I AM has sent me to you... this is My eternal name, and this is how I am to be recalled for all generations'" (Exodus 3:14-15).

Hisham'ru lakhem pen yif'teh l'vav'khem v'sar'tem va'avad'tem Elohim acheirim v'hish'tachavitem lahem

Beware, lest your heart be deceivedand you turn and serve other gods and worship them.