-Marcus Buckingham

I was talking with my new friend John this afternoon. He is Director of Facilities and we will not only be working closely with our job responsibilities having a symbiotic nature; but we have already learned share a kindred spirit for philosophy and appreciation of design. He shared this quote that one of his professors uttered on the first day of class when he was in school about how intentional and immersed she wanted students to put their care and passion into visual design!

"When you spit on the sidewalk I want you to worry about what kind of pattern it makes."

-Leslie Wiseman (via John Nowacki @ 1969 University of Detroit Architecture School)

This summer, I’ve done some reflecting on my life since coming to faith and learning to practice it these past 27 years. I grew up in an agnostic family that for my story was really great to never be pressured into attending. When I finally went (with the idea that I’d meet kids my age and get a donut) I remember hearing a compelling teaching about the wide road and the narrow gate. The more I learned about this Jesus of Nazareth, the more I was fascinated with his teaching. The fruit of how I was so authentically loved by people who professed faith, the more I was convinced that I was believing too. When I was shared the passion of his love with the story of the cross, I committed my life to Jesus. I've had the privilege of learning and walking with some amazing mentors and friends over the years. I want to follow Jesus like them and the saints I’ve studied. Every new day I continue to be grateful for the joys in this life that I get to experience as I aim to love God and other with all that I am.

—Sen. John Russcon (1836)

This was shared with me by a man who found me after the service where I was recognized and announced that I was leaving. He wished to share this with me as a thank you and an encouragement to continue cultivating. I am grateful for so many amazing words and gestures from people who thanked me and wished me well.

I sent the following as an All Staff email announcing my change in employment. I suppose it works as a blog announcement as well.

Friends,

I wanted to let you know that I have accepted a position as Creative Director at Ward Church and am therefore sad to announce that I am resigning as Troy's Production Director. It is very bittersweet for me: I am very excited about my new responsibilities; however it is very hard to leave this place and I am grateful to have been a part of with you all.

My last day in the office will be July 24th. It has been a sincere privilege serving with each of you. I will not be a stranger to this place. I'm sure you'll see me around cheering you all on or saying hi to my bride.

Thank you for many memories over the years...since the fall of 1991 when my mom moved me and my brothers to Michigan; since the spring of ’95 when Steve Norman came on staff and invited me to engage in student leadership that summer before my senior year of high school; through meeting Jessica that following year; since Todd Elliott first hired me around the time we opened the new building (when our offices and the old video editing system were on Big Beaver); since leaving to help plant Genesis; since coming back on staff 13 1/2 years ago…Kensington has been such a key through line of my life! I will continue to cheer for you all!

Yours,

Eric

At the conclusion of a wonderful dinner with our dear friends, we realized that it was almost sunset. So we went upstairs to the roof to take in the view and continue conversation. What a treat to not only take in a bit of the game; but better still see the beautiful sunset colors after the storm we missed during dinner. It was also great because the rain cooled everything off and gave a wonderful freshening to the city. We sat and thoroughly enjoyed the scene and each other’s company for another hour. I am still filled up from the evening. This photo isn’t even in the top ten moments of the night.

Let’s try to figure out our answer on the front side, but let’s never be closed to a better decision while we still have time.

I always want to get as much of the shot right when I frame my shot and make my exposure. However, the more I study my heroes in photography, I realize that processing is a vital second act that prepare the art for printing and/or publishing. My goal when processing is to complete and complement the composition. I will check to make sure the image is perfectly level; and sometimes I will reframe the shot to be square or wide depending on format I wish to print or publish. Then especially when dealing with RAW format (which is quite flat and boring without at least the internal camera JPEG processor) I consider what I remember the scene as I shot it and make adjustments to help the image look like what inspired me to open the shutter in the first place. I do not like to "photoshop" things that were or were not in the original frame (though sometimes, I will remove a blemish caused by such things as dust on my sensor or lens that causes a blemish in an otherwise beautiful sky) rather usually my processing is relatively subtle with only minor tweaks to highlights, shadow, and exposure adjustments; sometimes some play with vibrancy and saturation; and perhaps finishing with some contrast I want to draw the viewer into the image, to help make them feel what I felt when I was experiencing the scene live.

Those of you who know me, have heard my passion for helping enhance story by targeting the subconscious. As a cinematographer and photographer, I am quite passionate about using lighting to help the viewer immerse themselves in the scene. I want to "break the fourth wall" (which you’ve heard and read me talk about the scene breaking out of especially with live production) but sometimes (especially with photography) I do by drawing the viewer in closer to the scene… Consider how the shapes of your subject and background elements and how they interact will tell your story. Our brains are designed to seek these things out. One of the main challenges we have as photographers is to demonstrate a 3D world in a 2D format. To do this well, good photographers see (and understand how to capture) the light (and shadows) that interacts with these subjects to make a scene come alive.

I wrote the following paragraph to a friend who shared a eulogy for someone they knew that lived a good life. My friend finished by writing, "...I keep thinking of all the phenomenal people in the world who never make the news, never make a scene, but just faithfully live their lives with Jesus making the world a better place…"

This is really beautiful to read and contemplate what a faithful life looks like. Thank you. Your final sentences remind me of the verse in 1 Timothy that I’ve been prayer breathing the past week: "The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith." I’ve witnessed a few funerals where we got to remember a life well lived; and I’ve also spent time thinking about some of the people that are and have been heroes and mentors to me. It reminds me of what such men as Bob Maravelli (youth leader in Pittsburgh - who shared Jesus teaching of the narrow path being preferable to the wide road) and a young Brett Ray shared in the first year of my barely decided faith. More so than what they shared, but the sincerity that they shared it with and the chance to have seen them live over the years since... I want to live my life like such as you and them.