Written by Roger on Sunday, 25-July-2010
Within our first month in England, Deborah and I attended a “New Arrivals” orientation. It was a one-day orientation filled with various speakers from the military. They provided information and tips on how to get accustomed to life in the UK. As lunch-time approached, we had one more speaker to overcome before we received a much-needed break. That is when a man named Darius from the Human Relations Office gave a presentation that captured everyone’s attention and it was something I’d never forget (I’d have to tell you offline what actually occurred).
After that presentation, he and I talked and become friends. He told me about his project as an author and I told him about my work as a photographer. He wanted me to take some shots for his book cover and we talked about it for nearly a year. After months of talk, we finally brought it to fruition this weekend. Darius Donte’ is “The Ascot Author”. A gifted story-teller and people will find his insight about relationships very compelling.
I was a little nervous because I previously did some studio-like work. Yet, this was my first job in an actual studio. We visited the place a few days prior to the shoot so I could assess the lighting and see what I needed to bring. The studio’s great equipment eased my concerns. Therefore, I knew the only thing needed was my ability to photograph Darius.
We worked for nearly four hours and several wardrobe changes. When we were done, I was pleased with the work we did.
-Roger
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Written by Roger on Sunday, 27-June-2010
When I decided to move to England last year, this past Father’s Day weekend was the type of photographic utopia that I imagined. I went to Salisbury, Stonehenge, Bath, and Oxford during a three-day pilgrimage with my church family here in England. Those of you who have followed my photographic journey know that Deborah, Jordyn and I visited Stonehenge and Salisbury last year. Unfortunately, Deborah and De’Lawren did not attend this event.
It started with a bus ride from RAF Alconbury to RAF Fairford where we stayed during the weekend. Each morning we had breakfast and devotion to start our day. The first stop was to Salisbury where we toured the famous cathedral. Afterwards, we traveled approximately a half an hour to Stonehenge and we stayed there for approximately 1.5 hours (I love to take photos. However, spending nearly two hours walking around large stones is way too much time).
The next day we traveled to Bath. The city of Bath is simply stunning! As we drove into the town, I saw clusters of homes built along the side of the hill. There are breath-taking views throughout the city. This town is indicative of Europe. It is an English town that was built during the Roman’s ruling period. The architecture of several landscapes speaks to that influence. There were some many picturesque sites that I knew I had to return even before I got off the bus.
We started with the tour of the Roman baths. I took the time to listen and read about the history because I often go to places, take some photos, then I leave not knowing much than when I arrived. A friend and I walked around grabbed some more shots before we did a tour of the Bath Abbey. The Abbey like most cathedrals in England has the large bells that chime throughout the day. When we did our tour, we went to the room containing the large bells…and guess what. While the guide explained how often the bells chime, they began ringing!!! Thankfully, we all left with our hearing intact. The day concluded with two fellow participants getting baptized in the Avon River in Bath. That was spectacular to witness.
The third and final day began with an attempt to worship at Christ Church in Oxford. We arrived too late. Therefore, we had a private service in public. We had a short devotion near the church grounds. We spent the day with a guide explaining the various religious monuments and the history of the Protestant church as they dealt with the Roman Catholic establishment and those who died for their faith.
There was much to learn and take from this weekend. It’s difficult to articulate how fortunate and blessed I felt to learn about the English history this weekend and take some photos of the gorgeous landscape. This is what I envisioned when I decided to move to England. I wish more of my family could’ve participated in the event. Nevertheless, I think I took some great images to share with them and you all. Thanks for taking the time to visit.
P.S. If you want to see them in a larger format, visit my Flickr page and click on the image.
-Roger
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