Okay, this is a little different post. A real break from bugs,blooms,beasts and beautiful views, but a true treasure none the less. This is a photo I made at my day job. We do High School sport portraits and we have 1/2 dozen schools that we still do the old school photos. Making school photos in itself is not a real stretch of creativity. The reward comes from getting to see kids grow up in front of our camera. We have been doing this in our small SW Texas area for over 20 years. We work with some coaches that we made sports photos of when they were in little league and Jr high.For the most part, other than the getting to be with the young at heart, it is not a job that generates a lot of positive feedback. In the rush of trying to get 100-400 kids photographed in a short amount of time you will most often hear more complaints than compliments. I have come to accept that as part of what I do for a living, but every once in a while…..We have been doing photos of this young man from his first year in school. When we did photos of him at an early age he could not sit on his own. His sister who is just a couple or three grades older than him had to support him in her lap. Her determination and flat out love for her brother has stayed with me as an example of unfailing love and unrequited affection. I have come to enjoy doing his photo more than most any of the other kids I do. He may not look into the lens and give you a knock out smile, but he will look into your heart and melt it like an ice cube on a summer day in the desert.His mother posted these words about his photo on my facebook wall and it not only made my day, it made the last 20 years mean something.“A pictures worth a thousand words! Or for me a thousand emotions! Some good some sad. I can’t begin to describe how I feel when I see Trent’s school pictures, mostly I feel grateful! it’s funny how seeing a picture can bring back so many feelings. You can even smell them and hear them and feel them! I never thought much of school pictures before, but it’s something I never thought I would have of Trent. And we have some great ones! Thank you Jim Work!For a baby that was never suppose to be born alive, or make it through his first night, we sure have come a long way! I cant believe he is 7 years old! — “Always remember there are others paying closer attention than you think on your journey††††††nada te turbe†††jim

via Photo of Da day @ Da Pine #277.