~ Rant about Beliefs ~

This picture pretty much sums up why most people dislike hate Christians.  I was raised in a Christian home and attend the Seventh-Day Adventist Church.  My Dad is a Pastor and I grew up attending Church.  I have been able to see the GOOD and BAD of organized religion.  Sad to say there is a LOT of BAD in it.  So many people think it is their duty to go out in to the world and impose their beliefs upon their fellow human beings.  In doing so though, they hurt and damage other people so much that the person they intended to help is turned away.  This woman in the picture above is extending her hand to shake the man with the sign and he looks like he will not even touch her.

To me being a Christian is all about love.  Loving others.  Not going out and judging people and trying with works to make people think you are so good and amazing.  So many good Christians act like good people but secretly have so much sin.  I have always preferred to walk this world and do my best to have a strong relationship with God and do as much as I can to love others and help them.  I don't believe God wants me to be running around pointing fingers at everyone.  God is a LOT more powerful than I am and HE can work on the lives and hearts of others.  He does NOT need me to be a wrecking ball and hurting others by throwing my better than you attitude in their faces.


I really like this picture because there has been so much damage done by "Christians" and it just shows that some people get it.

if you're wondering who these "Christians" are take a look:

Now if more Christians would stop attacking others for being evil and cared more for others like this:

Then the world might start becoming a better place.

~ Good Song ~

It's FRIDAY!!! :)  Excited for a short week next week.  Going to Teacher's Convention Thur and Fri in Edmonton next week.  It will be so AWESOME to get away for a bit and have a short week of teaching.  I hope to take some pictures while I am in Edmonton.  This is a beautiful song I wanted to share.  Added it to my site tonite.

COLD!!! Winter has let me down.

So far winter has not given me any satisfaction.  It started with the LACK of snow.  Looking outside and seeing the world blanketed in the beauty of white is one of my favorite things about winter.  We started with warm weather and no snow, the world was brown and dirty looking.  LOTS of ice everywhere to slip and fall on.  Then shortly after going back to work in 2012 the temperature decides to drop like crazy to -40ish and we still have a dusting of snow out there.  Makes me sad.  Hopefully the snow will come.  If it is going to be this cold at least give us snow winter!!!

For those of you COLD, here are some HOT pictures from my 2012 shoot with the lovely Tatiana!!  She brings the heat.
-Randy

Welcome 2012

Figure it is time to blog in 2012 and welcome in a New Year.  Looking back at 2011 I feel quite happy with my photography.  I learned a LOT from making so many mistakes, some were really hard to swallow but I live and learn and hopefully won't make those same mistakes again.  There were lots of positives.  I think the big highlight was making so many friends in the Vegreville area and starting a local photography group.  The Facebook Vegreville Photography group is an awesome group.  The photographers there are just down to earth people who love photography.  Lynda and her husband Soren are HUGE in planning and participating in events.  They are the busiest people I know and both love to go out and shoot.  Lynda can model and shoot and is just a cool person, who I feel honored to know.  Then there is Tara (who might move), the Dons (both awesome photographers), the Hallzee clan, then the local models Danielle and Breanne who have been great at coming to support the VPG.  I have also met a model named Nicole who I hope to work with lots in 2012. Nicole is very creative and is so at home in front of a camera.  We also adopted some Edmonton photographers.  Another highlight was shooting weddings with my good friend Mac Sokulski and starting our www.rpmphotography.ca which is now up and running with a few weddings under our belts.  Hoping to continue this in to 2012 and keep enjoying photography with my friends.

Thanks to everyone clients, models, people, my wife and 3 cats for allowing me to work with you.  Without the world around me my life would be so boring as a photographer.  As 2012 is still so fresh, I cannot wait to jump in to it and start snapping pictures and making memories.  Happy New Year everyone.
-Randy

~ December Weekend ~

Just an update, had a LAZY weekend....but I did manage to get some photography work done so I can send out some photography work on DVD to people.  There is a challenge with being a teacher and photographer, teaching always takes priority so sometimes photography work gets neglected.

I did have a good weekend, sad my Oilers lost to the Calgary Shames.  But lately it's been typical for them to lose to them.  I still would rather be an Oiler fan though.  I know it sucks for Flames fans but those 5 Stanley Cups will always prove who the best team is. You can't argue about the ultimate in hockey success, a cup win is a HUGE mark of success.

Holiday time is coming quick.  I am hoping to do a few shoots even though holidays are close at hand.  I just LOVE taking pictures and hope to get some more work done so I can kick back, enjoy holidays and have some new work to edit.

Well, I BETTER get to bed.....gonna be a long week I.
-Randy

Update on Life

Wow time flies.  I have been busy with life....this school year has been busy.  Lots of challenges and opportunities for photography.  Balancing teaching and photography can be tricky.  I have to thank all of the patient people that wait for me to get their images out to them.  A lot of people are so understanding and for that I give thanks.

Recently I had a chance to shoot with a model from Vegreville.  Her name is Nicole and I met here during the end of summer at a Drag Race here in Vegreville.  She was racing with her boyfriend Lee Hern.  They are an adorable couple and at some point I hope to do some couple photos of them with their wheels.  They live and breath racing and cars it seems.  It is nice to have a local model like Nicole to collaborate with.

I am really looking forward to holidays.  We have our trees set upstairs and downstairs now.  I put the lights up on the house so Christmas mode is in full effect now.  I am looking forward to going Cross Country Skiing with Jenn.  I went last year for the first time and really enjoyed it.  I am still a big noob....but I am enjoying it.

Well, not much to babble about in this blog post, but I wanted to do an update.  Ohhh and I also should end with a Movember update.  I BEAT my goal of $500 and thanks to everyone that supported me.  I am so pleased with the support I received from you all.  My total for 2011 is $615!!!! :)  THANKS to Tara Ruptash for helping me with my Movember photo shoot wrap up by taking some pictures of me.

Here are some photos from my recent work:

November 11, 2011 Thank You

This world is still an evil place, every day the news is full of evil and wrong doing.  Yet, it is important to never forget the history of the human race and remember the sacrifices made by so many that came before us.  Lots of great men and women have paid the ultimate price to give us the wonderful things we enjoy today.  Freedom in Canada is a special thing and we have such a wonderful country thanks to these heroes.

I really hope that people can learn to be more loving towards each other.  To respect the differences we have and learn to give to those less fortunate.  I admit I live a pretty selfish life and really don't do enough for others. However if we don't start caring about others we are destined to keep fighting, killing and hurting each other.  Some people really dislike religion or the bible.  However if you were to follow what the bible teaches then this world would be a better place.  But even without following the bible, just learning to show love and care for each other would make such a huge difference.

I am hoping to start living a life where I am less focused on myself and try to do more for others.  Those Men and Women that paid with their lives did so for us, so we could be free.  I guess I will end this blog post by just saying THANKS!!!