the post lifest dillema

i hate going back to doing the usual thing once ive experienced something so awesome. it happened every time after passion too. i am exhausted; my eyes are fighting to close even as i type this, but i want to share, but im not sure if words can do it. i saw so many people awakened to new life, a better life, a REAL life.

this was the 2nd year i was able to take photos for lifest, and because of that, i was able to go anywhere i wanted (i love you all access wristband!) and get in the mix of all the emotion and excitement -- which makes lifest one of the top festivals in the country.

i saw hundreds of kids get sponsored. i saw people face down on their knees in the dirt. i saw people crying out... singing... yelling... tears running down their faces... little kids with their arms raised...

ive gotten the "how was lifest?" question many times today... and with my exhausted body dragging and my bloodshot eyes heavy, all i can say is... God is good.

a snip-it of headliner photos
lifest website photos

vacation & lifest

ive been home for a few days now and it has been really great. saturday was the big 4th of july 5th pool party, with fireworks to round out the day. then sunday we had some family friends over to eat up leftovers and do some more swimming. today i had some of my old camp buddies stop out and consume more leftovers and swim even more. are you noticing a pattern here?

tomorrow i must go to the dentist, then hopefully to the brewer game (if we can find some tickets!). wednesday will consist of driving up to oshkosh to go to LIFEST! wahoo! i am shooting photos for them, so i will have my hands full (of cameras) trying to capture the moments that we will remember forever. no pressure right? 5 days of camping craziness will ensue, then it will be back to camp and work.

i will try to post a few photos from lifest... hopefully they wont sue me for copyright infringement :)

big ticket festival

got there just in time to see leeland walk off the stage (darn it!), but we caught matthew west, david crowder*band, and newsboys

photos here

a few highlights... make sure to check the link above!

checkin in

2 weekends ago i went home to visit the parental types... and they ended up having some kayaks given to them! so mom and i took em for a spin on the lake. i had kayaked a couple times before on tiny little lakes, but it was pretty easy to get the hang of on a big lake w/ huge waves and strong winds. it was a great work out! my arms were so pumped when we got back!



my brother showing off his puny muscles


one morning i woke up and found my passion:dc wristband hanging on for dear life, so i snapped a photo of it to remember the good times we shared

... and then it fell off. the day that it departed from my right wrist was also the day that passion: kampala started... which was the prayer city for DC. i had to chuckle because i know God has a great sense of humor and wanted to remind me to keep praying for all of those students.



also, some exciting things are happening at westwinds with the start of the "artists guild" ... there are some very experienced people whom i cant wait to get to know and learn from. such a great opportunity awaits! more to come once we have another meeting.

my 10 favorite shots

i thought i would reminisce for a moment, and highlight some photos of mine that have gotten me where i am today. these are some of my favorites... so if you dont like them, i dont care :)

#10
indescribable tour 2006
chris tomlin
pre dslr days... 4mp camera. did i the best i could with what i had! this was when louie was just finishing up the the talk and the picture that was still up on the screen was of the center of the black hole...and chris came back out... he couldnt have stood in a better spot!










































#9
world pulse festival 2005(i think?)
third day - brad avery (former guitar player)
this has some photoshop fun added, but the expression on his face was natural :)










































#8
unity music festival 2006(?)
newsboys - peter furler
i just love this shot. the green behind him is just divine.











































#7
big ticket festival 2007
another peter furler shot... love the contrast.
























#6
third day concert in madison, 2006
this was a pre-dslr shot... taken w/ my (crappy) olympus 4mp camera... but it just turned out perfect w/ them all standing in a row and the angle of the lights behind them... love this one.


























#5
lifest 2007
newsboys - jeff, paul and peter
i was wicked stoked when i was able to "officially" shoot for lifest... which took to me places i had never been before (on the lighting riser for one!). this was when they were out on the runway in the crowd and i was up by the stage shooting into the spotlights.
























#4
how great is our god tour 2007
chris tomlin
nice open mouth shot on the word "like" during amazing grace (my chains are gone). i dig the lyrics behind him and lighting... it was a great night for photos!
























#3
lifelight festival 2007
phil joel
if i had hair like that i would let it fly all the time!
























#2
passion: DC 2008
christy nockles
my second time at a passion regional... life changing for sure! i love this shot because the center is nice and sharp, but there is motion everywhere else. i am also in a b&w faze of life...
























#1
how great is our god tour 2007
chris tomlin
this is my #1. i love this shot. i love the color and the contrast of the blues and white. no cropping... this is as is, a nice, tight shot. this is currently his facebook icon as well... and its on his myspace in a photo album.
























*honorable mention*
third day - mac powell & tai anderson
world pulse festival 2007
mamma gomer voted for this so i thought id add it also. day concerts are fun but lack in the "cool lights and smoke" department. mac's eyes really pop though :)

fun from home

tumble with me

ive been sucked into yet another online time waster. tumblr is fun though - it combines just about everything (blog, twitter, flickr) into one collective spot. why waste time updating 3,274,893 other sites, when all you need is 1? (well... facebook is needed also, since that is the ultimate in useless nonsense and sending flair)

tumble with me

greater things HAVE come

i decided to make this my photos blog. my friends have been calling me trace face for a while now, so i thought that that would make a cool name for my photography habit/hobby/passion.

so here it is... the new blog... trace.face photos

here you will find links to photos i have previously taken, as well as greater things yet to come! i may also post random stuff (what is life without that right?) and be sure to check out the links over in the right side column.

trace.facephotos on flickr
here you will find photos of: third day, chris tomlin, matt redman, michael w. smith, paul colman, newsboys, passion gatherings, festivals and things of the like.

and just a little claim to fame (and an ego boost!), one of my photos is currently being used by chris tomlin as his facebook icon (screencap)... AND there are also 7 of my photos on his myspace (screencap). yay.

if you would like me to shoot photos at your event, please feel free to contact me:

remember ashley

please go here and read ashleys story, because there is no way i could tell it any better... and say a prayer for her family and friends, as this will be a hard day.

use a pen

did you know that you retain more information when reading if you have a pen in your hand? yea, apparently it is proven, at least thats what the pastor said at the church i attended yesterday.

the message went along the lines of:
50% of the people from that church spent less than 1 hour a week reading/spending time with God.
80% of the people spent less than 2 hours a week "

the solution:
1. read the Bible
2. listen to teachers/tapes/cds/etc.
3. study the Bible

make a plan to read - the 1 year Bible plan is hard and feels like a chore (and i agree cuz i did it last year)... instead, start with one book (we chose philippians) and read it once a day for 2 weeks - and make sure there is a pen in your hand. underline parts that stick out to you and write in the margin why - what is being spoken to you when you read it. use brackets around parts that dont make sense. ask the Holy Spirit to give your answers.

im excited to see what happens with this :)


in other news... there is no other news besides going home for the weekend was nice and relaxing (besides the driving through chicago part). i have more responsibilities this week and im a little nervous about it. my hair feels long today. i need to get it chopped. thats it.