On December 23rd we had no idea where we were headed. On Christmas eve, around 1 P.M., I received a phone call from Jack at the Native American Gallery in Denver, saying ” I heard you were looking for a new space, let’s talk.” He was talking about the gallery, “The Camera Obscura” formerly occupied by the legendary photographer, Hal Gould, who retired a few months ago. Well, we are here, in Denver, gone again from Littleton. I look out my window and see the Denver Art Nuseum to the left, the Byers Evans House & Museum, directly across the street, and the Clifford Stills Museum to the right. This is a great location, here in the heart of the Golden Triangle. Be sure and stop by to visit our new gallery,
1307 Bannock St., right next store to the Native American Gallery.

December, once again, is upon us. It’s such a wonderful time. I absolutely love when a customer comes to me with a special request. I’ve just done a Mt. Princeton shot for a Littleton couple, standing in the place where he grew up as a little boy. For them, we’re doing a big canvas of that memory to hang on his wall. So folks, if you have any requests, I’m here for hire. It’s a great feeling when someone asks you to do something special and they wind up very happy. So, Teresa and I will be at the gallery every day til Christmas Eve. Both of us are in better health. I hope that it has been a successful year for all of you. We’re so glad to be back in Littleton keeping the holiday spirit. Let’s make this December one to remember.

On November 18th, Teresa and I will be celebrating our one year return to Littleton for our photography gallery. I apologize for such a long stretch since my last blog. The truth is, I had a massive hernia surgery in late July and it’s only been in the past month that I have really felt like doing anything. I”m sure that getting out and photographing, 2 quick trips to the Colorado mountains this autumn and 1 back to New Mexico, especially Taos, has sparked my new energy. My 14 year old Nikki has been with us on our trips and also taking some shots with her digital camera (I’m still using film). That girl has quite an eye. So,we will be introducing the 9 new images at a premiere to be held Thurs-Sun, Nov. 17th – 20th, at our gallery.
However, there is a 10th mage that is actually being introduced this weekend, Nov. 5th and 6th at the Roxborough Community Center. Of course, it is a Roxborough shot, it will also be the signature piece of the upcomg premiere titled “Every Path Goes Somewhere”.
We are offering an extensive line of holiday cards this year. You can actually pick any of my images and we can make them into cards for you. Oh,the
wonders of technology. By the way I am working on three new books, one on
the Southwest, probably a 2013 publication. The other two involve alot of writing. Since I received a B.A. in Journalism, this is a thrill for me. Please set aside some time to join us for our upcoming events and keep us in mind for the holiday gift season. Thank you for your time.

My apologies for such a long break in between blogs. My first visit to the Grand Canyon was on my very first photographic trip in October 1984. I revisited the area in the early nineties, but haven’t been there since. I am in the early stages of planning a next book, a southwestern adventure. It should be a great one, but may not be out until 2011.
After cancelling a trip overseas, we decided to do a shoot back in canyon country. I had sucessfully photographed Bryce and Arches
in Utah and Canyon de Chelly in Arizona last April. Thoughts of returning to the Grand Canyon have been with me for a while. Well, the time had come. We left Denver on Sunday morning, the 18th of October and drove to Moab, proceeding to Arches National Park, where we hiked up the 1 1/2 mile trail to the Delicate Arch for sunset. However the light was blah as are my photos. Monday afternoon we arrived at the Grand Canyon to a cloudless, blah day. Tuesday’s weather report was for a system coming through in the afternoon.
So it did, and the canyon came alive. I have two new shots from there that I will be releasing for the holidays. One is called “Deep In Twilight”. However, my favorite two shots of the trip came from
Walnut Canyon and Sedona. Returning to Denver, we stayed in Santa Fe and I captured two great new door photos that will be in the collection. The gallery premiere will be Dec. 9th and a special sneak peak will be held in Charlotte, N.C. on Friday evening, November 20th at the Southern Christmas Show at the Park.

I must say I was thrilled with the success of our 25th Silver Anniversary
Celebration at our gallery the first weekend of May. With an amazing 30% response to our invitations, our sales were better than I’ve seen in many months. The new canyon country photos were well received. We gave away four gift certificates to Donna Schaeffer, Barbara Knelfec, Dave and Fredda Fisher and the grand prize going to Darrell Schmidt. So now we are into our 26th year and it began with our fourth return to the Wichita Book and Art Fair in Kansas, and once again this show turned out to be well worth the trip. I’d like to welcome aboard our new Wichita customers, especially Sue Wiechman, Ryan Atchison and Maury Edwards. This weekend and third weekend of the next five months we will be participating in Parker’s Art A La Carte taking place in their downtown area. This seems like it will be a great time. For the 11th consecutive Memorial Day weekend, we will be in downtown Denver for the Arts Festival at the Pavillions. This show has made some major improvements in the past few years since a fellow artist, Jim DeLutes took it over. If you’re in town for the weekend, come on down ! It’s great that summer is almost here, the economy seems to be improving and people are beginning to feel happy again. I’ll be announcing an upcoming trip before too long. By the way, Teresa and I are going to be grandparents very soon. Our daughter, Leanne, will be giving birth to baby Jude within the next couple of weeks. We’ll let you know .

This is such a great story I thought I’d share with you. For those of you who don’t know this, I was severly injured in 2004, when a motorcycle ran me down while I was out walking in my neighborhood near my home. My recovery and rehab took place at Craig Hospital in Denver. Without the extraordinary work of the specialists at Craig, I wouldn’t be here today doing what I love to do. Through dark days, I began to recover. My neuropyschologist, Dr Jim Berry challenged me one day to a pick a place in the world I always wanted to photograph and do it within a year of the accident. I chose the Great Wall of China. My research gave me two options,
Bandeling and Mutianyu, both within a couple of hours from Beijing. Searching through guide books and the internet I found Bandeling was closer and more easily accessible, but more commercial. So I chose Mutianyu. Pictures I could find on the web showed rolling hills. I left Craig Thanksgiving week of 2004, going home on a walker, occassional wheel chair and crutches. Thank you Dr. Alan Weintraub for your extraordinary work in healing me. By Christmas it was all cane. Further research informed me that it was alot of steps to the top, perhaps as many as 1,000. So I began to climb steps, first ten, then fifty and finally by the summer in Steamboat, 500. I booked the trip in September, my good friend John Steineger would join me. John and I had previously journeyed to Cambodia and Thailand together. After a long miserable flight we arrived in Beiing.
We spent the first day checking out some of the sights in the city, we had dinner and early to bed for the next day would be our trek up the wall. We awoke to pouring rain at 3 AM. After slight hesitation we began getting ready for our car and driver, who met us just before 4 AM. Through the rain we headed for the wall, where we arrived just after 5 AM. The rain had stopped for all but a very light drizzle. We found the beginning of the steps in the dark. It was very foggy,
and all we could see was a few of the steps that disappeared into the fog. A very erie sight. Looking at the steps, I could see they were big. My heart sank, since they seemed larger than a normal step and I knew I had only done 500 previously.
John looked at me and said “C’mon Andy, we’ve come all this way”. And so with can in hand, we climbed and we climbed, passing 500. How could I possibly not continue, the Great Wall of China was getting closer with every step. After 792, we made it at last to the top. The fog was still thick, but we were there. Sunrise might happen at any time, it was 6 AM. As we stood on the Wall in awe I could see the ball of the sun rising through the mist. I said to John, who was facing me,” look”. He turned to me and said, “no, you look, Andy”. I turned around and saw glorious peaks shining with the first light of day. Later I read that John had written in his diary “Andy was in Heaven”. Within 15 minutes, I fired off 5 rolls of film. I was so blessed with an amazing sunrise, and so came the picture “Journey of A Lifetime”.
Four plus years later,on March 5th, Craig Hospital honored me as their featured artist at their annual Push Dinner. This is their major fundraiser event of the year.
Due to my show in Charlotte, NC, I was unable to attend, but my beloved wife, Teresa, and our friend, Kim, were able to attend. They sat at the same table with none other than Dr. Jim Berry. “Journey of A Lifetime” was used on their beautiful invitation and program. A 30 x 40 canvas of the photo was auctioned off for the hospital, and who got to take the piece home ? Non other than Dr. Jim Berry, which personally
thrilled me beyond words, coming full circle. Thank you, Craig Hospital, for the amazing work you do for all who suffer from brain injury. Thank you for making me whole, again.

I would like to take the time to thank my many loyal customers who turned out for our event this past week. It was so good to feel the excitement of my collectors at the show. Almost everyone who attended went home with something, either a picture or a book. And yes, Jan did show up when we first opened and purchased that coveted # 3 of “The Inward Journey”.
I don’t know for sure but she probably competes with another big collector of mine, Bob Walker, for the most #3s owned. Thanks again to my customers ! I’m thrilled and grateful.

Saturday night my wife, Teresa, and I attended a benefit dance for Jesus Our Hope Hermitage in Deer Creek Canyon. We donated some photographs and books, and raised some good money for a worthy cause, and I was proud to be part of it. Once again, there was hope and excitement in the air.

On March 5th, I will be the featured artist at the annual Craig Hospital Push Dinner. I am so honored to be asked to do this from my friends at Craig. I love you, guys.

Unfortunately, I will not be able to attend that event (Teresa will go) because I will be driving across country to attend my 21st consecutive Southern Spring Home and Garden Show in Teresa’s home town of Charlotte, NC. Every year weather can be an issue on this one, so we’ll pray for clear skies.

If you’ve gotten here on our web-site then you’ve had the chance to see “The Inward Journey”. It’s available in many sizes and price ranges.

Be well, my friends!

On Wednesday and Thursday evenings, February 11th and 12th, we will host a premiere for
a single new picture. Yes, it’s the one I wrote about in my last blog. I’ve decided to call it
“The Inward Journey”. A great customer and friend Jan Buntrock suggested that name to me after she saw the piece at the Colorado Indian Market in January. We did a sneak peak at that
show as a test market, and it sure passed the test with flying colors. What was encouraging to me, was the number of fellow artists who stopped and admired the piece. Jan also said she loved the piece and would have to move around other images she has of mine to make special room for this one. I’m expecting her at the premiere. The show will also continue on Saturday the 14th from 10-6. The image should be up on the web-site on Friday.

Well, all you hear these days when it comes to photography is DIGITAL DIGITAL DIGITAL. Here are some words from a guy who still uses and loves film.

I spend a couple of days earlier this month photographing in my neighboring state of New Mexico. I am not going to disclose the locations at this time. After spending the night in (this I will say) Santa Fe,
I ventured off before dawn to a location where I had planned to shoot at sunset. I had been told by someone quite familar with the area that I needed to be there in the late afternoon due to the sun’s location. I arrived at my destination and headed out into the cold with ice and snow below my shoes.
I found the subject I was looking for and yes, it was correct that it was still in the shade. I looked around and realized that the shade was giving away to sunlight in a nearby area. I felt that within minutes the light would be with me. And sure enough it was. I fired away when it did, and I was quite excited about the shot I felt I nailed. I left the area feeling very exuberant. Actually, I couldn’t stop thinking about it all the way back to Denver. Wow.
Now, if this had been Digital, I would have seen what I had done, and probably been happy about it too, but I don’t believe the thrill would have been there like it was.

Because it was before a weekend that I dropped off the film to be developed at Reed Photo, it took 5 days to see the results. But the anticipation and ecxcitement when I picked up the film and opened the envelope, was wonderful. When the results were better than I had expected, it was like hitting a homerun in the bottom of the 9th to win a game.

So, to me that’s why I love fillm and plan to continue using it until I can’t buy it no more.

Andy

First of all, Happy New Year to all. 2008 is behind us, and most of us, for financial reasons are glad it is. Personally for me, 2008 gave me 24 hours that I will always treasure. It was the short time I spent in Jerusalem and Bethlehem. This was not part of the original agenda of the trip to Petra in Jordan, but
my good friend, Gary Church, insisted that since I was over there, I needed to take one day and visit Jerusalen. And so, my son, Chris and I, did just that. Not only did I get some rewarding shots, but it was a spiritual experience for me that was very fulfilling, and has deepened my faith.

I have photogrphed very little in the past nine months, and I am truly feeling the desire to do so.
Sometime during the first part of January, I will head down to New Mexico to hopefully make some magic with my camera. For those who don’t know, I am still shooting film. It is time to start thinking about my next book project and the southwest may be what I will take on. With the Colorado Indian Market on my schedule in late January, I will have the opportunity to talk with some great Native Americans, who should inspire me. Much of what opens later this year is wide open, as I navigate through the economy’s rough waters. I am feeling hopeful, with a new president and a new agenda, the horizon looks brighter then it did a month ago. May all of you, join with me and carry a positive force into 2009.