With warm weather comes longer days. Summer officially arrives on June 21, the longest day of the year. After that, Dear Friends, the days begin to get shorter by about 1 minute every 3 days. Still, live every day as if it were truly an Endless Summer. And take those sunset photos!

We've been busy but I wanted to take a moment to wish everyone a Happy Father's Day.

It is not flesh and blood but the heart which makes us fathers and sons. ~Johann Schiller

One of my favorite days on assignment made me look at seafood (the only meat we eat, and always sourced in the the US) a little differently. The days of a waterman are long (from sunup to sundown) and hard but there is always time for a little fun.

It's that time of year when novice photographers take to the outdoors to capture nature. Please be respectful of wildlife's space. Never go near their homes. The below photo of a baby osprey was taken with a very long lens. I was spied, for sure, but I did not encroach into their space. Many states have laws againts disturbing the homes of certain species.

I have a deep passion for capturing candid moments of strangers. Whether I'm on assignment or traveling for leisure, I always keep my eyes peeled for interesting faces. While approaching strangers can be intimidating, I've found that the vast majority of people are more than willing to be subjects for my photography.

One of my all-time favorite photographs was taken in West Virginia, where I came across a man sitting on a curb. I couldn't resist the chance to hear his stories, and he was kind enough to share his experiences working for the railroad. It was a truly fascinating encounter, and it's moments like these that make photography so fulfilling.


Throughout my career, I've had the pleasure of meeting individuals from all walks of life and hearing their unique stories. Even in retirement, I look forward to my next encounter with a stranger and the opportunity to learn about their life experiences. For me, capturing the essence of a person through photography is truly a magical experience.

Fall is a fantastic time of year to dust off your camera and explore the vibrant colors of the season. As someone who has retired from photography, I admit that I've become somewhat lazy during the summer months. The heat can make it challenging to lug around all the gear required for a professional shoot, and I often rely on my iPhone to capture quick moments. However, while camera phones are convenient, they don't compare to the quality of a good digital or manual camera.


In my opinion, there's nothing like a manual camera for capturing the essence of a moment. And nothing can replace the hands-on work of developing and printing the film in the darkroom. For me, that was the most enjoyable part of photography - playing and painting with light. Nowadays, I can simply pop a photo into Adobe Photo and it's done. But it's just not the same.


So, if you have a digital or manual camera lying around, I encourage you to take it out and experiment with the beautiful fall colors. And if you don't, you can still use your camera phone and let your eyes be the judge of a good light.


It's possible that this post will become obsolete in a few years, as camera phones continue to improve. But for those of us who are old-timers, we will always insist that a negative from a manual camera, developed and printed by the artist in a darkroom, will be superior to any machine.

It seems everyone has been watching Ken Burns' "Vietnam War," a stunning look at a war that many try to forget. But we must never forget the brave souls who put their lives on the line in any war. The Vietnam War tore America apart, and no series can ever repair that, but it can aid in the healing process, which is a lifelong journey for combat veterans.

Aurence keeps in touch with some Marines who served with him in combat. From time to time, others pop in and out of our lives. Keeping in touch is sometimes hard, even in this day and age, and though many veterans can remember nicknames (everyone had them in Vietnam), it is sometimes hard to recall a first name. If you served with MAG 16 at Marble Mt or Dong Ha 66-67, Aurence, who served as an air crew door gunner, would love to hear from you.

We requested Aurence's Book of Records, a military book-of-sorts that listed his every step from his induction to the day he received his discharge papers. Since he doesn't talk much about his time in Vietnam, I was able to see all of his official combat missions by date. I never really knew what the Air Medal ribbon or the Combat Aircrew Insignia, both with 3 stars, meant.

Above is a list of Aurence's medals from his DD2.


I encourage all veterans to write to the military personnel office and request your BOR. I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to get and preserve your records and medals for your children. Aurence will be proud to pass his on to our son and grandson.

Veterans can write to

National Personnel Records Center
Military Personnel Records
1 Archives Drive
St. Louis, MO 63138

Be sure to include your service number (or social security number if you can't remember it), birth-date, birth state, full name, branch of service, dates of service, and any other information that can help them identify you. Rather than take a chance at getting a letter requesting more information, give them whatever you think they might need to identify you. And do not forget to sign the letter of request.

Oh, and be sure to state that you want not only your DD214 and replacement medals, but also your Book of Records and medical records. Remember, they will only replace your medals once, so put them in safekeeping.

We have helped over 2-dozen veterans get their service records and duplicate medals. I remember it took anywhere from 3 to 12 weeks, sometimes longer, before they received their packets. Be patient, but don't forget to do it. Your children will be glad you did.

If you need any assistance please feel free to reach out to us.

Your cell phone photos might look good on your screen and as small prints, but blow them up to an 8x10 or larger and you will be disappointed unless you shot in a perfect light. Believe me, there are precious few 'perfect lights' in life and when you come across one, it can be gone faster than you can find your phone.

A good camera and a zoom lens may be your best bet if you are interested in taking some lasting photos. You can always find a good deal on used cameras and the Internet is full of free photography lessons.

The moral of the story first: Always have an arsenal of camera gear in your passenger seat and your press pass around your neck. I was stopped for doing 55 in a 35 after this officer shot me with radar. Also, I was not wearing a seatbelt. After he properly scolded me, he handed me a warning. He was a real sport when I asked him to hold up the radar gun so I could get it in the photo. Kudos to the good cops out there. 

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Nothing better than a beach fire on an empty beach. Too hot for these Dog 'Days' but just right for nights when the wind brings a gentle chill to your bones. Grab a beer, dig up some mussels and clams, and forgot about hundred-degree days.

If you are in Washington DC, don't forget to visit the National Museum of American History. Check out the 3rd floor for the "Price of Freedom" exhibit. You will see this baby there. You can see more photos  at: www.aurbie.com/about-aurence.html

Landing at National Mall.  Aurence is shown in tan jacket. He painted the artwork shown on door after she landed in our backyard. The famous White Dog, along with several other icons that appear in all of Aurence's works, can be seen on the door. For full story click on above link.

 Dogs are easy. Cats, not so much. They belong to a secret club, it seems. When you see a photo op they almost certainly reorganize their bodies by the time you get back with the camera.

The best advice I can give is to always keep a camera handy and make sure you have a good light before snapping. A cat is going to be sleepy-eyed when it wakes up, and there is usually a stretch and/or yawn that follows. If you are shooting with a camera phone you may get some movement unless you have great light. 

The best time to capture your beauty is shortly before he winks out, or is engaged in watching something that interest him enough to be bright-eyed but sleepy enough to not want to get up to investigate.

Look for bright eyes, relaxed poise, and good light. Catch a cat when he is in deep thought.

In this photo, Skipper is getting ready for his afternoon nap but the birds have peaked his interest. He is distracted long enough to give a quick glance towards the camera. Notice that he has a lovely light falling on his face, which is what prompted me to grab my camera. I took this with a telephoto lens.

There was no great light on Khaleesi but her pose were perfect, and there was just enough light to bring out her blue Siamese eyes. Like Skipper, she was also contemplating a nap. She was in such deep thought she paid the camera no attention. I submitted this photo to the 2018 Workman's 365 Day Calendar. She won first place which make her the January 1 calendar cat.

I was organizing some photos and this one cooled me off. 2015 was the hottest on record until 2016 came along. It looks like 2017 is going to beat 2016. If you are sweltering like we are in the South, I hope this cools you off.

Before heading to a fancy dress ball, we donned our 2017 party favors and snapped a photo. Here's hoping that 2017 is a good and prosperous year for all our friends,  collectors, and followers. We so enjoy your emails. Thank you for your kind words and support of Aurence's work over the past 38 years.