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For the majority of my life, I have called Columbus home. Sure my time here has been peppered with little moves to Florida, Mississippi, Michigan, Kentucky and Georgia...but I always come back home to Columbus. I realized the other day that I've seldom actually seen our city. We drive through it a lot...usually on our way somewhere else, but I couldn't remember the last time I parked the car and just took a walk through downtown. So yesterday I did just that! Around lunch time I packed up my camera, a few lenses and memory cards and went on safari! I looked for things downtown that I had never noticed before, and was I ever surprised by what I didn't know!

These rows of pinwheels were on display in the front lawn of COSI

Just a few blocks away..

On a bumper of a car parked at North Bank Park...

For this set, I wanted to get a perspective on the city that was more than just "looking up". When I parked in a garage next to the Leveque tower, I found the perspective I was looking for...

I fell in love with the juxtaposition of the old against the new here...

A Columbus landmark...

Again, I just adore these old buildings downtown. Years ago, the people that built this building probably thought it was pretty big... wonder what they would think if they could see the skyscrapers of today...

It looked like one building was literally coming out of another...

One of the things I was amazed I had never known about our city was the war memorial. On the Statehouse lawn there are two walls with inscriptions of letters written home by soldiers and sailors from various wars... Some of them very nearly brought a tear to my eye...

But this one made me laugh a little...

"Why yes, I do shoot Canon..."

Statues in front of the Statehouse. The one on the right is William McKinley, but I wasn't able to find out who the two on the left were...

As I was headed back to my car, I spotted a man sitting on the Statehouse steps in a Union Soldiers uniform. That didn't quite go with the 21st century I thought we were in, so I asked him what it was all about. Turns out he was taking part in a sort of Civil War re-enactment surrounding the death of Abraham Lincoln. 145 years ago yesterday, President Abraham Lincoln's body was lying in state right here in our Statehouse. The entire statehouse was set up exactly as it had been on that day...complete with Mary Todd veiled in black wandering around the casket (a little creepy...but cool)!

Some views from the Old Post Office which I believe is now a Law Firm. I can remember going to the Ohio Theater and being terrified of this building! Now, I'm able to marvel at it's beauty...

I loved the "stair stepped" effect of this shot... along with the browns and blues...

Paul, one of "Lincoln's Guards"...

The rotunda inside the Statehouse... I still couldn't get over the fact that after spending essentially my entire life here I had never set foot inside the place!

McKinley looking out on progress...

Another fun view from a mirrored vestibule on Broad St. looking back at the Statehouse...

Fire escape on the side of the LeVeque Tower...

So this is my backyard, and all of these places have been here just waiting to be discovered. No doubt there are more, but this was a really fun start!

/div>

The Reason I'm Here...

My daughter had a friend over to play the other day. That's not out of the ordinary, but what caught me off guard was hearing her tell her friend as they went down the stairway, the names of all the ancestors and relatives we have photos of on our wall. "That's my Aunt and Uncle", she said. "That's me when I was a baby, and that's my Great-Great-Grandma and Grandpa". And it hit me that though they had never met (I had never even met her), she felt connected to her because of that photograph! The fact that we have a photo of her on her wedding day proudly displayed in our home is a testament to the tremendous power of photography.

I remember when my grandmother found that photograph in an old trunk in her attic. Our whole family sat in awe as we unearthed treasure after treasure from the time capsule! We found sketches Grandma had done when she was in art school, pieces of her wedding gown (sadly, the moths had gotten to it before we did), and then the photograph. There was my grandmother's mother on her wedding day circa 1915 with her new husband seated beside her. She wore a simple, cotton gown with white gloves and a cap veil. Like I said...I had never met her, but I saw her features in my own face and I felt an instant connection to my family's history just like my daughter does now.

When we think about weddings, we think about things like schedules, locations, menus, flowers and yes, we think about photos too. But when we think about the photos...we don't always think about the fact that those photos will be seen by future generations. Someday in the distant future, a little girl may see her features in the photo of a bride I photographed last weekend. A woman she never knew, but will feel a connection with nonetheless. And that...is the reason I'm here.





The photos in this collage are more photos from my family's collection. Clockwise from the top left: An unknown family member from around the time of the First World War (notice his uniform..he was in the Kaiser's Army). My Aunt Marty (with her twin sister, Bertie as her Maid of Honor), The photo described in the post, my Great-Grandmother, Cecelia and my Great-Grandfather, Julius). Next, one of my favorites...my Great Aunt Albina and Uncle Walter and their Roaring 20's wedding! My husband's parents (who will celebrate their 45th anniversary this year). And the last one, yeah, I know it's not a wedding photo...but it's one I adore! That's my grandmother in front of the flag at a 4th of July picnic sometime in the early 20's.

Eddie's First Communion...

Last Sunday we celebrated a milestone in our son's life...his first communion.

For me, the mere mention of first communion always conjures up images from one of my favorite books, Angela's Ashes. If you want a good laugh, you have to read this excerpt from the book depicting little Frankie McCourt's first communion!

Anyway, on Sunday there was an "official" photographer taking portraits of all the children before things got started, but I wanted something different...a more "real-life" approach. Here's what I came up with...

Here he is offering us the sign of peace now!

Of course, Little Miss Emma had to get a pic too!

Oh, Spring!

Yes, I have tons of editing to do yet...but I couldn't resist heading outside to capture these signs of spring...

Of Valentines and Ski Lodges...

Years ago I “met” my husband on a skiing trip. I say it with quotes because I had already met him…he was my friend’s brother. But it was on this trip that something shifted and I began to see him in a whole new way. This post isn’t about that, though. It’s about the fact that on that trip, I never skied. His sister and I hung out in the hotel staying warm and doing spa-type things while all the boys went and did crazy things in the snow. And so last week as we headed to my husband’s company ski trip at Mad River Mountain, Isaac commented to me, “So, this many years after that trip I FINALLY get to ski with you?” Before you start thinking this is a post about how I met my husband, let me tell you it's not! It's a post about me… and skis. Spoiler alert: We don’t get along.

I was ready! I had my special snow pants, a warm coat, and gloves. Had my hair and makeup lookin’ good (hey, from what I’ve seen on E!, and Access Hollywood you’re supposed to look good on the slopes). I grabbed a pair of rental boots and skis, poles…the whole deal and was ready to rock! I smiled at Isaac and had a vision of what fun we would have. I don’t think I’m delusional, but the picture I had in my head of how things would go looked something like this…




In reality, it was more like this…


Skis I learned, are not just big shoes. It’s tricky to get back up after you’ve fallen down and another news flash…it was cold! Not just cold, but blizzard cold. The wind blew and the snow stuck to my cheeks causing a brain freeze that would have made Ben and Jerry envious. Now, it’s important to note that I didn’t want to take lessons. I was there to spend time with Isaac and have fun. I didn’t have time for “lessons”, so I headed for the hills. About halfway into our ride on the ski lift, I realized we were still going “up”, and that eventually I would have to find my way “down”. I swallowed hard and pretended to be cool with it, but inside…my heart was pounding. The lift let us off and I tucked my poles under my arms… “Whoooo hooo!” I yelled to Isaac in a scene reminiscent of What About Bob, “I’m skiing”! But that was just to the summit.

There were two trails. The one to my left looked intimidating, tree-lined and kinda steep. The one to my right looked better. It was wider and not so steep. I headed that direction just in time to see the headlights of the groomer coming up the hill. Someone got out and stuck a sign in the ground that read “Closed”. If tears wouldn’t have frozen to my face, I would have cried right then and there. To the left I went. It wasn’t 10 feet before I fell, and there was Isaac to pick me up. 20 more feet and I fell again. Again, he picked me up. The pattern repeated pretty much the whole way down the hill and I realized maybe I should have taken that lesson after all. While I tried the kiddie hill, and then that trail that was to the right (it finally opened), I spent most of the rest of the day in the lodge sipping warm beverages. Not wanting to be a wet blanket to Isaac’s fun, I told him to keep skiing…I’d be fine. At one point, I did venture back outside…to the kiddie hill…by myself. And as I slowly descended, another skier rushed past me out of nowhere, stopped in front of me and smiled. It was Isaac. He had seen me from out on another trail and chased me down just to see how I was doing.

This Valentine’s Day, I really don’t really care about flowers, or cards or chocolate (well, maybe chocolate). I care about the fact that I’m blessed to have the most amazing husband who doesn’t care if I can ski or not. He’ll wait for me, he’ll pick me up when I’m down, and he’ll look out for me…always. A girl can’t ask for more than that.

Wishing all of you out there, that kind of Valentine’s Day.

Courage

I have written before that I knew I wanted to be a photographer at a pretty early age. At just 12 years of age, I could see it…literally. I would close my eyes and see myself flying over a herd of wild zebras on the savannah shooting them as they sped along (maybe there were just too many National Geographics hanging around at our house), There were times I would invite my friends over to play dress up, and then “model shoot” (seriously…I still have a few of those shots laying around somewhere).

There were a few years between then and the time I graduated from high school though, And even more before I graduated from college. There were times that vision of me as a photographer wasn’t quite so clear anymore. “Be safe”, other voices told me. So the plan of being a photographer got interrupted from time to time while I completed my degree in that quote-unquote “safe” field. But it seemed like every time I would let myself drift away from the camera, something would end up leading me right back to it…And I am so glad it did.

I do believe that we are all given our special gifts in life, and our job is to figure out what it is and pursue it. Only when we do that will be ever achieve pure happiness. It sounds so obvious and maybe a little cliché, but it is the absolute truth. Believing that is the easy part, having the courage to go out on that limb and actually do it, well…that’s a little harder. Like jumping from a high dive, courage to pursue your passion takes a lot of deep breaths, stepping back and looking at the big picture, and asking yourself some really hard questions. But in the end, we take that plunge; fell the rush of the jump and the splash of that cool water that is justification that we have done the right thing.

Aside from the love of my husband and family, photography is what moves me, it’s what makes me breathe. My job is capture emotions, people, events and the little glances that make up life…and it just doesn’t get any better than that!

At the risk of sharing way too much here, I am posting this photo almost against my better judgment. I found it during a recent trip to my Dad’s place and it really summed up the paths both my younger brother and I chose. It’s a photo I took complete with a blue construction paper backdrop (too look like the sky. Remember…age 12) of a scale-model of the space shuttle my brother made out of modeling clay. He is now…you guessed it, an engineer. If there’s a message in this, it’s “Parents: Encourage your little ones to pursue their dreams at the earliest possible moment”. Because they may just know exactly where they’re headed.

A New Addition to Our Family...

No...not THAT kind of addition!

This kind is the four-legged variety! It's been about five years since we had a pet in the house and while I must admit it was nice to not have to worry about cat hair on my wool coat or letting the dog out on an absolutely frigid morning, I also missed things like the purr of a happy cat (my grandfather used to tell me was the cat's motor), and the warmth that an animal can bring to cold feet in the wintertime! The kids were wanting a pet to play with and take care of (it's never too early to start teaching about responsibility), so when I heard about this kitten needing a home (and the fact that it was going to go to the shelter...aka kitty prison) my heart melted a little. Isaac wasn't completely sold on the idea. "You'll never see me overjoyed to have a cat", he said. But guess who was playing with that kitten the first night we brought him home? :)

So I'm pleased to introduce Leonardo Pepperjack Claypool, Leo for short. Yes...the kids named him.

Goodbye to 2009, Welcome 2010!

So begins the time of year when I do a LOT of scribbling when it comes to dates. And this year is going to be particularly tough since we're changing two digits instead of just one!

As I sit back and contemplate the things I'd like to accomplish in the coming year, I also like be thankful for the year that's passed. 2009 has been an incredible year in so many ways...

Personally, I'm blessed with an incredible family... two children that amaze me and make me laugh every day, a husband who drives me places I can just as well drive myself just so we can spend the extra time together.

Professionally, I get to work with the most awesome couples on the planet. They make my job so much fun, and their smiles make me smile! You can check out those smiles in this little slideshow I put together...The Year in Wedding Photos!

Some fun facts about 2009 weddings:

Most popular bouquet color: A tie between red and white
Average number of attendants: 5
Average number of tiers in a wedding cake: 3
Wedding that took place the furthest from my home office: Brent and Leaha's wedding in Boynton Beach, Florida
Wedding that took place the closest to my home office: Heather and John's wedding right here in Grove City!

Thank you to all my '09 brides and grooms! May 2010 bring you much happiness! :)

A Very Claypool Christmas...

Yeah, my family may shoot me for this, but I couldn't resist.

Initially, I hadn't brought my camera to my family's Christmas Eve gathering. Initially, I thought "what did we ever do with all the pictures we took from Christmas last year"?

Then, as the kids and grownups alike were unwrapping gifts and hugging and laughing...I realized I wanted those smiles on camera! So here are just a few of the faces and smiles that make me so happy to have as my family...

Merry Christmas!

O, Christmas Tree!

Every year I find myself coveting. As in the "Thou Shalt Not" kind. I covet people's Christmas trees. My friends put up the most elaborate trees with matching ornaments. Some are blue and cream, some are gold and red, silver and gold, blue and silver...you get the idea. Some have themed trees. My sister in law once had an M&M tree that was so cool! My mom plans to do a "Blues" themed tree this year. One friend puts up a Penn State tree in one room, and a Disney tree in another. And all I have is this one tree, with ornaments that are a mishmash of years and Christmases gone by. And while I may covet the neatness of other's trees, the fact is that I do love my tree. Each Thanksgiving weekend, I look forward to putting on the Christmas music, rearranging the furniture and unpacking all the ornaments. Each ornament brings back memories, and each memory is something very special. I don't think I'd get that half as much if I suddenly invested in all matching ornaments.

Here is our tree...
And here's a closer look at the ornaments that make it so special.

This is a stuffed "Mountie" that my mother brought back after a trip to Canada. She was traveling quite a bit for work back then and had started picking up little bears for Eddie everywhere she went. We have bears now from Japan, Australia, Singapore, London and of course, Germany.


This isn't an ornament at all. It's Amy...from the Holly Hobby collection. It was mine when I was a little girl. My parents used to put it in their tree to take up some of the empty space toward the back...I kept the tradition...

A friend I used to work with made this ornament for me when I left the company to go to Nursing School full-time. Every year when I unpacked this particular ornament I would feel a little bit of a sting, given that I never finished. I changed gears in a major way, so last year I told my husband I wasn't going to put it up any more. He said I should put it up anyway. It's funny how life moves along and sometimes things come full-circle...more on that in a later post. :)

"Our First Christmas"...as a married couple, Christmas 2000

From another one of Mom's travels...this one from Holland (the windmill really moves)!

This one has been a little bit of a joke between my husband and me. We call it "Santa in the Avocodo". Why? Really, why is Santa in an Avocodo? And why do we keep putting it on the tree?

From Emma's First Christmas...

Another one that isn't really an ornament. Back when Isaac was taking flying lessons, I gave hime the gift of more flight time (Most flying schools and airports will give gift certificates...if you're looking for a gift for the pilot on your list). Rather than just giving him the gift certificate, I wrote it all out on a ribbon attached to this little plane...you know, like a banner... It became an ornament!

From Eddie's First Christmas...

This was from the tree we put up when I was still living at home. Mom and Dad gave my brother and me both a few ornaments from the "home" colection when we moved out.

This one, well...it really has no earthly business being on a tree. What is it anyway? A gypsy wagon? Oh well, it's ours and we like it!

Some people bronze their kids' baby shoes. Not us! Those too, have become ornaments for us!

Isaac made this one years and years ago! Well, he painted it anyway...I don't think he was using a router and saw at that age...

And this one commemorates Isaac's proud service in the US Air Force. Something that has shaped his life and one of the many, many reasons I adore him.

Thanks for sharing a little bit of my Christmas preparation with me! Stay tuned as I document my Christmas shopping adventures (just kidding)! :)