tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36806620Fri, 08 Jul 2011 05:36:46 +0000Passage of TimeCal FirediemagazineBarackBittersweetJake RobinsongraduationN. fowlerirecruitingfreeAFAdeathlossbrain-eating amoebacommunityCar accidenthugcanonburningdrag racingMEPSPoinsettia BowlwheelchairBWright PhotographyportraitstruthsummermvhsJody Gomez PhotographyCharityqualcomm stadiumpublishsocietyPolictically correctfamilycreditsportsTour de Franceparachutemoto crosspetslieseqestrianprofessionalNHRApop outdopingweddingsofficatinggridironbaseballAlex WittFeatureamatuerarbitrationbrain-eating parasitecameratouchdownrehabseniorGodbrotherLake Elsinorebowl gameswww.jodygomez.comJRobbShutterbugUSAFsenior portraitsmovieAll The Right Shotsproudsturcture firefireskydiveswimmingfeature articlerefereecross countryfunPerris LakesurpriselovejudgmentsadnesshospitaleventingNaegleria Fowlerianimalshugsumpirenaked ladyairplanearmed forcesMurrietaskydive elsinorefunny carusaadvertisingmilitaryCheney SunglassesHealthcareSuturesskydivingmovie stillstrackpole vaultJody GomezpararescuegoodbyerumorsTexas Christianhigh school18th birthdayJeff CraceObamacyclingMSNBCmountain bikingFloyd LandisranchfootballTemeculaJohn Forcecustom design9/11recoveryfirefighterLeavingLake HavasuphotographyHomecominghatredAir ForcewriterAmerican Family AssociationcommunicationLake Perrispro stockhappyPoorfansPovertyncaapublishingphotographerpublicityparentsPoverty Children Healthcare Poor CharityVice PresidentquarterbackPATCheney reflectiondragsterphotojournalismChildrenelectrical firepjhousetop fuelfilmBoise Statehorsescheerleader~ Various Thoughts &amp; Ramblings ~http://jodygomez.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Jody Takes Pictures)Blogger67125JodyTakesPictureshttp://feedburner.google.comSubscribe with My Yahoo!Subscribe with NewsGatorSubscribe with My AOLSubscribe with BloglinesSubscribe with NetvibesSubscribe with GoogleSubscribe with PageflakesSubscribe with PlusmoSubscribe with The Free DictionarySubscribe with Bitty BrowserSubscribe with NewsAlloySubscribe with Live.comSubscribe with Excite MIXSubscribe with Yourminis.comSubscribe with Attensa for OutlookSubscribe with WebwagSubscribe with netomat HubSubscribe with Podcast ReadySubscribe with FlurrySubscribe with WikioSubscribe with Daily Rotationtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36806620.post-5068394341092099271Tue, 28 Sep 2010 20:28:00 +00002010-09-28T13:28:57.860-07:00I have been reading Mayhill Fowler's blog post Why I Left The Huffington Post and the attached comments with a mixture of humor, frustration, and anger these past couple days.  Humor in the naivete of the thought that working for free will magically produce a paying job, frustration that despite proof to the contrary people still continue to do it, and anger because those same people who work forhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/JodyTakesPictures/~3/4SEZY4i2bhk/on-giving-away-farm.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jody Takes Pictures)3<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/JodyTakesPictures/~4/4SEZY4i2bhk" height="1" width="1"/>http://jodygomez.blogspot.com/2010/09/on-giving-away-farm.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36806620.post-4626186972815305862Sun, 19 Sep 2010 22:42:00 +00002010-09-19T17:00:14.899-07:00photographyphotographerparentsfunphotojournalismbrothercommunicationgoodbyesadnessCharitycamerafirefightercanonChildrenhugJody GomezloveproudHere are some thoughts and feelings I have about shooting. Some of them are mine, some of them are bits of wisdom I've learned from others. All of them together describe a minuscule fraction of how much making pictures means to me and how those pictures nourish my soul. When I am shooting, I am centered and all is right in my world. The clutter and white noise of the world disappears into the http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/JodyTakesPictures/~3/u31KTRcDVxI/why-i-make-pictures.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jody Takes Pictures)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/JodyTakesPictures/~4/u31KTRcDVxI" height="1" width="1"/>http://jodygomez.blogspot.com/2010/09/why-i-make-pictures.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36806620.post-2796302272510780671Fri, 09 Jul 2010 02:10:00 +00002010-07-08T19:16:49.133-07:00A couple years ago I became an accidental genealogist. I forgot to cancel my free 14-day subscription to Ancestry.com within the allotted time frame, so I decided to make use of it. I wasn't expecting too much because family history holds that we are Creek Indian and my grandfather's family originated in Alabama. My grandmother on the other hand, was not Indian, so I thought I would have an http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/JodyTakesPictures/~3/36A1yd7mFho/rise-of-poarch-band-of-creek-indians.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jody Takes Pictures)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/JodyTakesPictures/~4/36A1yd7mFho" height="1" width="1"/>http://jodygomez.blogspot.com/2010/07/rise-of-poarch-band-of-creek-indians.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36806620.post-4889563070633920040Sun, 16 May 2010 02:41:00 +00002010-05-15T19:41:09.653-07:00"In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person's becoming in every facet an American and nothing but an http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/JodyTakesPictures/~3/FfcZyRPfOvs/teddy-was-smart-guy.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jody Takes Pictures)1<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/JodyTakesPictures/~4/FfcZyRPfOvs" height="1" width="1"/>http://jodygomez.blogspot.com/2010/05/teddy-was-smart-guy.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36806620.post-5764599777365099464Tue, 11 May 2010 22:41:00 +00002010-05-24T16:14:15.322-07:00MEPSUSAFparentsmilitaryLeavingarmed forcesbrothergoodbyehugssadnessAir ForceBittersweetChildrenfamilyhugloveproudZachary left home today. He got on a plane that flew him to San Antonio where he will begin his new life in the Air Force at Lackland Air Force Base. Saying goodbye was both easier and harder than I imagined. There are few words to describe the emotions we all felt as we watched him swear in, get on the bus, and leave. My camera saved me from breaking down completely, so I will let the images http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/JodyTakesPictures/~3/herqB6ZkjLA/zach-says-goodbye.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jody Takes Pictures)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/JodyTakesPictures/~4/herqB6ZkjLA" height="1" width="1"/>http://jodygomez.blogspot.com/2010/05/zach-says-goodbye.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36806620.post-8325719457329487693Tue, 11 May 2010 02:12:00 +00002010-05-10T19:12:57.793-07:00These two pictures are of Facebook posts. The first one cracked me up, but the second post made me laugh until I cried - maybe because I could picture the whole thing! http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/JodyTakesPictures/~3/B5Sw8FiA_3c/funniest-facebook-fail-ever.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jody Takes Pictures)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/JodyTakesPictures/~4/B5Sw8FiA_3c" height="1" width="1"/>http://jodygomez.blogspot.com/2010/05/funniest-facebook-fail-ever.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36806620.post-432566665327514318Sun, 09 May 2010 21:57:00 +00002010-05-09T14:57:32.771-07:00Tomorrow is the day my oldest son Zach officially becomes a man. He is leaving for San Antonio, Texas to begin his life in the Air Force. I am feeling so many things at once, but the overriding emotion I feel is pride. Pride that my son has the wisdom and maturity to know what he wants to do with his life. Pride that he has the courage to step out and pursue his dreams. Last night we had http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/JodyTakesPictures/~3/bMLqF1Fu88k/its-time.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jody Takes Pictures)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/JodyTakesPictures/~4/bMLqF1Fu88k" height="1" width="1"/>http://jodygomez.blogspot.com/2010/05/its-time.htmlhttp://www.swrnn.com/southwest-riverside/2010-05-08/lifestyle/emotional-mother%E2%80%99s-day-weekend-for-menifee-momtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36806620.post-1013254815507307850Sat, 27 Feb 2010 16:12:00 +00002010-02-27T10:52:24.389-08:00NHRAdrag racingdragsterpro stockfunny carfanstop fuelJohn ForceI want to expand my photography into different sports so I was very pleased when my editor gave me the nod to shoot the NHRA Winternationals at Pomona over Valentine's Day weekend this year.I haven't been to the drag races since I was about two or three years old and my dad was a mechanic on the Invader Corvette during the famous Lions' Drag Strip days from the late 60's to early 70's. My http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/JodyTakesPictures/~3/L_msSxuB6WM/nhra-winter-nationals.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jody Takes Pictures)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/JodyTakesPictures/~4/L_msSxuB6WM" height="1" width="1"/>http://jodygomez.blogspot.com/2010/02/nhra-winter-nationals.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36806620.post-8932978088382655264Thu, 25 Feb 2010 16:33:00 +00002010-02-27T08:09:48.119-08:00photographycreditprofessionalfreeamatuerpublicitywriterpublishingpublishI was reading a thread on SportsShooter this morning and was directed to a YouTube video showing writer Harlan Ellison talking about people wanting to use his work for free. People wanting to use our work and not pay for it is a big problem for photographers as well, and I encourage us all to stand our ground on this issue.I hope you find this video as inspiring as I did.Disclaimer: video has http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/JodyTakesPictures/~3/Ok9e835GNBU/on-working-for-free.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jody Takes Pictures)1<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/JodyTakesPictures/~4/Ok9e835GNBU" height="1" width="1"/>http://jodygomez.blogspot.com/2010/02/on-working-for-free.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36806620.post-3129160475822213307Sun, 07 Feb 2010 01:46:00 +00002010-02-06T17:52:18.975-08:00No photos this time, but I just had to share that my son Mikey is involved in competitive cheer leading. We used to tease him about it until we saw what was actually involved with being a male cheerleader. It has nothing to do with rahs rahs and pom poms. It's incredibly difficult, dangerous, and athletic. But I have to admit that in all the roles I ever imagined I'd play as the mother of http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/JodyTakesPictures/~3/UuZo4x8iuto/they-nailed-it.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jody Takes Pictures)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/JodyTakesPictures/~4/UuZo4x8iuto" height="1" width="1"/>http://jodygomez.blogspot.com/2010/02/they-nailed-it.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36806620.post-1870723472264910460Fri, 15 Jan 2010 19:15:00 +00002010-03-24T10:52:49.006-07:00usaUSAFAir Forcemilitaryarmed forcesrecruitingpjpararescueproudWhat were you doing on 9/11/01? I watched the news in horror that morning. I debated keeping my kids home from school, then decided that neither I nor my children would fall victim to the fear these cowards tried to instill in us. We're stronger than that - we're American's for goodness sake! So I woke the children (who were 10 and 8 at the time), showed them the news, explained to them what http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/JodyTakesPictures/~3/ev2QL4zO48A/remembering-911.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jody Takes Pictures)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/JodyTakesPictures/~4/ev2QL4zO48A" height="1" width="1"/>http://jodygomez.blogspot.com/2009/09/remembering-911.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36806620.post-4524602786137675498Fri, 14 Aug 2009 19:55:00 +00002009-08-14T13:02:09.304-07:00housefirefightersturcture fireburningfireelectrical fireCal FireMy youngest son Mikey was out with a friend the other night at called to tell me there was a "huge" fire in La Cresta near our house. So I grabbed my camera and fire gear and jumped in the truck to go take a look. I wasn't expecting too much because the last fire Mikey sent me to was a bust, so imagine my surprise when I rolled up on a fully involved home. The fire was caused by an electrical http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/JodyTakesPictures/~3/b5Gv2f-e2ws/house-fire-in-my-neighborhood.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jody Takes Pictures)1<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/JodyTakesPictures/~4/b5Gv2f-e2ws" height="1" width="1"/>http://jodygomez.blogspot.com/2009/08/house-fire-in-my-neighborhood.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36806620.post-5578288972872867617Tue, 04 Aug 2009 02:26:00 +00002009-08-03T20:49:19.327-07:00surprisehappyskydiveLake ElsinorefunAmerican Family Associationskydive elsinore18th birthdayparachuteairplaneskydivingMy oldest son, Zack, turned 18 on July 24th. I didn't have a clue what to get him for his birthday, but I kept hearing him talk about wanting to skydive. So early yesterday morning, we rousted him out of bed, blindfolded him, and took him to an "unknown location". I wanted to make it a special day, so I made sure Zack's posse met us there. All together, there was my husband Mike, little http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/JodyTakesPictures/~3/n_wQR2FX8WM/welcome-to-sky.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jody Takes Pictures)1<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/JodyTakesPictures/~4/n_wQR2FX8WM" height="1" width="1"/>http://jodygomez.blogspot.com/2009/08/welcome-to-sky.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36806620.post-8932699658999199021Sat, 11 Jul 2009 02:56:00 +00002009-07-19T20:15:12.683-07:00There's a tiny little town in New Mexico called Glenwood. It's a cute little town, but nothing spectacular unless you know its secret. It's called the Catwalk and I highly recommend you take a visit. The Catwalk follows the path of the pipeline built in the 1890s to deliver water to the mining town of Graham. Workmen who had to enter the canyon by crawling atop the narrow pipeline named the http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/JodyTakesPictures/~3/i8QiO34jp44/catwalk.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jody Takes Pictures)1<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/JodyTakesPictures/~4/i8QiO34jp44" height="1" width="1"/>http://jodygomez.blogspot.com/2009/07/catwalk.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36806620.post-5150819976895920591Fri, 10 Jul 2009 03:17:00 +00002009-07-19T20:31:49.159-07:00I saw this in Las Cruces, New Mexico and it made me laugh out loud. Enough said.http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/JodyTakesPictures/~3/MXKHwQhNwg0/arbys-heart-attack.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jody Takes Pictures)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/JodyTakesPictures/~4/MXKHwQhNwg0" height="1" width="1"/>http://jodygomez.blogspot.com/2009/07/arbys-heart-attack.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36806620.post-4923119328938270484Wed, 08 Jul 2009 22:40:00 +00002009-07-19T19:51:52.052-07:00The desert is a vast open space that is full of surprises (I guess you can say the same about Texas as a whole). Well, there was no surprise bigger than driving down a desolate highway and seeing Prada in Marfa, Texas. It turned out to be an art exhibit, and it was a nice diversion.You just never know when that mirage isn't...In the middle of nowhere stands a Prada shopNote the bustling http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/JodyTakesPictures/~3/aq6fhW9Gsxc/prada-in-marfa.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jody Takes Pictures)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/JodyTakesPictures/~4/aq6fhW9Gsxc" height="1" width="1"/>http://jodygomez.blogspot.com/2009/07/prada-in-marfa.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36806620.post-2706132546205739197Mon, 06 Jul 2009 23:26:00 +00002009-07-19T19:39:45.095-07:00While visiting with Mom and Pop in El Paso, Texas, we decided to take a mini road trip to Ft. Davis. It housed the 9th Calvary in 1867 and was occupied throughout the mid-late 1800's before becoming a national landmark in the 1960's. What a cool place! The entrance to Fort DavisOfficer's quartersChurch ruinsMike and Pop in front of one of the homesMom and Pop taking a break in the shade after http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/JodyTakesPictures/~3/9vCjkRJTmH8/fort-davis-texas.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jody Takes Pictures)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/JodyTakesPictures/~4/9vCjkRJTmH8" height="1" width="1"/>http://jodygomez.blogspot.com/2009/07/fort-davis-texas.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36806620.post-189088035371206043Sat, 04 Jul 2009 19:12:00 +00002009-07-19T19:23:37.624-07:00Anyone who knows me knows that the 4th of July is my favorite holiday. I don't know why, but for me it tops Thanksgiving, Easter, and even Christmas.This year Mike (hubby) and I spent the 4th with his mom and dad in El Paso, Tx. Pop is a retired marine and belongs to the 19th Rifle Company 1953-1962 USMCR. This year they were the Grand Marshall of the 4th of July parade in town.Semper Fi.~ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/JodyTakesPictures/~3/_JEhcarnrKg/4th-of-july.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jody Takes Pictures)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/JodyTakesPictures/~4/_JEhcarnrKg" height="1" width="1"/>http://jodygomez.blogspot.com/2009/07/4th-of-july.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36806620.post-6787780478602808611Mon, 15 Jun 2009 22:27:00 +00002009-07-19T18:22:45.687-07:00high schoolgraduationMurrietamvhsWell, graduation has come and gone, and I can't believe how fast our kids' school years go by. It seems like last week I held Zachary for the first time, and here he is, a high school graduate. I wasn't prepared for how emotional I would be about the whole affair. I found myself tearing up at random times starting about two weeks before graduation. I guess it didn't help that I made a http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/JodyTakesPictures/~3/vVbp48iej5o/look-out-world-here-he-comes.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jody Takes Pictures)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/JodyTakesPictures/~4/vVbp48iej5o" height="1" width="1"/>http://jodygomez.blogspot.com/2009/06/look-out-world-here-he-comes.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36806620.post-7138342453628146850Mon, 25 May 2009 03:08:00 +00002009-05-24T20:29:06.635-07:00I was saddened to hear the news that Mike Barter passed away from complications of colon cancer surgery. Mike and I met back in August 2007 when he called me to ask if I would shoot his reunion with the Huey helicopter he crewed in Vietnam. I was so moved by my experience with Mike and the crew at the Wings and Rotors Air Museum that I'm still in touch with them to this day. In fact, it was http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/JodyTakesPictures/~3/pTrDobVd8d0/ive-just-learned-of-friends-passing.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jody Takes Pictures)1<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/JodyTakesPictures/~4/pTrDobVd8d0" height="1" width="1"/>http://jodygomez.blogspot.com/2009/05/ive-just-learned-of-friends-passing.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36806620.post-5741706303701229220Sat, 02 May 2009 01:18:00 +00002009-05-24T20:28:33.413-07:00sadnesslossdeathhorsesranchpetsanimalsWe lost our old mare Dusty. It was sudden, unexpected, and a great tragedy. She broke her front left leg in the morning before I went out to feed. We had her for over 13 years and I miss her so much. She was rock solid - and a gentle giant. It was so sad listening to Topper and Chester call for her all day after her body was taken away. Her memorial stone is going to say "You'll meet me at http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/JodyTakesPictures/~3/RYXRencfO-Q/dusty.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jody Takes Pictures)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/JodyTakesPictures/~4/RYXRencfO-Q" height="1" width="1"/>http://jodygomez.blogspot.com/2009/05/dusty.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36806620.post-164352906581177861Sat, 11 Apr 2009 03:23:00 +00002009-04-10T21:03:55.142-07:00graduationseniorphotographerMurrietaBWright PhotographyportraitsJody Gomez Photographysenior portraitsMy son Zack is a senior and most of my past attempts to shoot photos of him have resulted in a bunch of giggling (on my part) and messing around (on his part). Luckily my next door neighbors happen to be photographers, so I decided to hire them to shoot Zack for me. They are twins - Brian and Brandon Wright, and their work has an edgy feel to it that I thought would fit Zack's style quite well.http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/JodyTakesPictures/~3/8X15C46x9AU/zacks-senior-portraits.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jody Takes Pictures)1<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/JodyTakesPictures/~4/8X15C46x9AU" height="1" width="1"/>http://jodygomez.blogspot.com/2009/04/zacks-senior-portraits.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36806620.post-8922815821855671252Thu, 09 Apr 2009 00:11:00 +00002009-04-10T20:22:10.729-07:00All The Right ShotsgraduationphotographerMurrietaportraitsJody Gomez PhotographyTemeculawww.jodygomez.comJody Gomezsenior portraitsWell, it's that time of year again. The rush to get senior portraits shot before graduation. Here's a couple from a session I did with Anna last Tuesday, and I have three football players scheduled for next week. Shooting girls is so much different than shooting boys. Despite the obvious - I find the way I approach the girls and the whole feel of the photo session to be like night and day http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/JodyTakesPictures/~3/JMXb0Ifq7cI/senior-portraits.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jody Takes Pictures)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/JodyTakesPictures/~4/JMXb0Ifq7cI" height="1" width="1"/>http://jodygomez.blogspot.com/2009/04/senior-portraits.htmlhttp://prints.alltherightshots.com/g/senior_portraitstag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36806620.post-65587810577851688Sat, 28 Feb 2009 04:14:00 +00002009-02-27T20:45:11.305-08:00Maybe I have too much time on my hands but I was on SportsShooter and laughed at this thread titled "Headlines that could (couldn't) be better" So I went on a tangent and started surfing for funny headlines. I wasn't disappointed and openly admit that before long I was laughing so hard tears were rolling down my face.Here's some of the best ones I found (my thoughts are in parenthesis):* Queen http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/JodyTakesPictures/~3/Wm4lDn7wDko/hilarious-headlines.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jody Takes Pictures)1<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/JodyTakesPictures/~4/Wm4lDn7wDko" height="1" width="1"/>http://jodygomez.blogspot.com/2009/02/hilarious-headlines.html