Last year, my husband and I produced a full length documentary, Reparando, on the devastation and hope that is rising Guatemala. This spring we have been on the road screening the film in a variety of cities, attending film festivals and many meetings. Most of the trips we took the boys. We had so much fun. These photos are from our trip to Grand Rapids, MI.  Mixed into the screenings and meetings we had fun with chickens, on a ferris wheel, in mud puddles, and at parades.

Tita is a main character in the documentary.  She was able to join most of the Reparando tour.  It was wonderful getting to spend time with her.

Last weekend I had the opportunity to leave my neck of the woods to join Fellowship Bible Church’s young adult group, Inversion, Front Porch Ministry & The Salvation Arm in East Nashville for their seasonal Kids Club event. It was a blast! The young adults from Fellowship Bible Church lead the morning children’s programs and then hosted a huge picnic for all the kids in the area. So along with some other FBC photo club folks, we joined the party with our cameras. It’s always fun to shoot in situations like this because it’ sooo unpredictable and I learn a lot. First, I shot in a very dimly lit worship center. (I didn’t like any of those photos, so I am not posting them) Second I ventured over the kids rooms. The first classroom below was a large white room with florescent lights and a HUGE mirror on one wall. (maybe for dance classes?) Now… under florescent lights, things have a tendency to photograph green- YUCK! So if you have the capabilities to change your “white balance”, switch it to florescent and your camera will automatically compensate for this awful color. I’ve been trying to get better at using my expodisc which “finds” the correct white balance. It seemed to do pretty well! I still “warmed” up the photos here a little in post production. It was fun to try to capture the kids working, singing and interacting. I’ve been trying to get better at photojournalism – there’s always a tough balance between wanting to be a “fly on the wall” and obviously getting in their faces with a camera. So I tried hard to connect with the kids at the same time encouraging them to still participate in class.

Then I found the teenage boys’ class. I love the shots I got in class, but that class was tough! The boys liked having a gal in class, but at the same time acted a little too cool for photos. Look at this red wall! I love it, but usually red produces energetic (and aggressive) behavior, so I thought it was ironic that someone picked this classroom for the boys…

After class, I followed the boys to the gym where they played basketball. I’ve never had the opportunity to shoot on the court – so that was fun. Sport-shooting in low light situations is extremely difficult! You have to think about lighting, composition, and motion in a matter of a split second (1/500th of a second to be exact). I only got a few good shots – the guys were fun:

Then I welcomed the outdoors – ahhh… it was gorgeous day. There was football, frisbee, hot dogs… and a bounce-house/ mountain-thing. I “jumped” in and attempted shooting while the kids bounced through… so I should really say I attempted holding my camera and not getting stomped on. I captured a FEW good shots… and my friend Vince got this shoot of me shooting.

It was a great day! Front Porch is a grass-roots ministry loving and leading “at-risk” kids by daily living life with them. Husband and wife “team” Michelle & Thom have a genuine heart to allow God to use them in this community. It was a privilege to witness theirs and Inversion Fellowship’s relationship with the community. Check out the Front Porch Ministry or the Inversion site for more ways to be involved.