Another African Greeting

Hey peoples!

I'm still in Africa. I'm leaving tonight, but we're going to hit the Museu (spelling?) soon.

I ended up sick for about a day, which delayed our journey into the bush. BUT we made it (then Jeanel, my friend and guide became violently ill).

Anyhow, I'm on a public computer at the Peace Corps headquarters, so I can't update photos right now BUT I'll do so really soon. I've got my photos selected for a slideshow and am ready to get it rolling!

Cheers,
Karen

Greetings from Africa!

Well, I'm FINALLY here .... Niger, West Africa. To tell the truth, I've been here for about a week, but have been having so much fun experiencing the culture, I've just found a few spare moments to say hello.

The trip has been AMAZING so far. I can't wait to get back and show off pictures. AH! The stories I have to tell! People here are SO friendly. They will just invite you into their home and chat for an hour or more. It's amazing! (It also helps to be with a Peace Corps volunteer who speaks the language). I'd NEVER have the amazing experiences I'm having RIGHT NOW in Niger without my excellent guide and friend, Jeanel. She has opened so many back doors that tourists NEVER see and I am SO thankful for the experience.

I've been in Niamey, the capital, as well as Konni and Agadez. Each place has its own charms and I'm excited to tell anyone who will listen about them.

Being in a third-world country is interesting. It provides so many different experiences and gives me time to reflect upon our own society in America. There are things I miss such as running water, flushing toilets (heck, toilets in general), trash pickup (it blows EVERYWHERE all over the streets here!) and dependble electricity. BUT on the flip side of the coin, life IS simpler (am I allowed a cliche?). Time moves slower, and it's nice. People have the same essential NEEDS, but the wants around here are not what they are in America, especially with the pre-Christmas rush. Oh, I'm getting on a soap box now. Sorry.

Anyhow, I'm supposed to be back in about a week, so I'll get on updating my photos on the blog then.

Thanks so much for all of your well wishes!
Karen

Pete Souza

While Karen is away to Africa, I took a couple of days last week to go up to K-State to see a gallery exhibit and speech by Chicago Tribune national photographer Pete Souza. Souza completed course work for a Master's degree back around 1980 and the university's Graduate School agreed to award him his degree if he would put on the exhibit and speak at graduation. Souza began his career in Chanute, Kan., in 1981 and went on to work for the White House and National Geographic before joining the Tribune's staff. He's shot pictures all over the world. It was truly incredible to see his work and to hear him speak. Above, he talks about the outtakes that he considered for the event.


Fans of Pete's work stroll through the Kemper Gallery at Kansas State last week. Pete edited more than 100 images from more than 20 years down to 36 for display in the gallery. The centerpiece image was one of President Ronald Reagan, whom Souza spent six years following as a White House photographer.


Pete visits with Jill Chittum, left, and her journalism students from Derby High School.

To see more of Pete's work, **CLICK HERE**

Gordon Samuel

Gordon Samuel was born Monday. He was a whopping 10 pounds! He is with his grandfather, whose name is also Gordon. Can you see the resemblence?



Big sister Rebekah isn't quite sure what this noisy little boy is all about yet~

PS- I'm outta here for a few weeks, so please direct all of your questions to Mike, who would be happy to discuss photography with you!

Winter Weather

The eastern third of Kansas has been swallowed up by near blizzard conditions today. It's been all the talk on the Weather Channel. Schools were closed before the snow even began to fall, which caused me to laugh just a little because no matter how much snow we get in Kansas, nothing compares to what I saw just about six years ago to the date. I spent the last four months of 2000 in western Michigan working for The Muskegon Chronicle. Once it started to snow, it just didn't stop. And before I knew it, there was two feet of the white stuff in the front yard of the house I was renting. Schools weren't closed and businesses didn't shut down. So every time it starts to snow here, I remember Muskegon and think about how they'd be laughing at our reaction. These pictures from the Roosevelt Park neighborhood of Muskegon were made of school children *on their way* home from school. I'm sure if I went out today, I could find a similar picture here, of children *staying* home from school.

Flyin' high

SO, my sister decided she wanted to go flying today. I've never seen western Kansas from the sky, so we headed up. I keep reading about how little water there is, but seeing the snake-like figures where water once ran ... well it was amazing (even if it WAS a little bit cloudy, we could still see the creekbeds).



This is Robin, flying co-pilot.



This is quite possibly the worst photo of me EVER taken, but it shows you how cozy (read: cramped) riding in the back of a 4-seater airplane is. Chris Laws, my sister's fiance was pilot, and Robin, my sister was co-pilot. Thanks so much for taking me up, you guys!

Give Thanks!

In the spirit of the holiday, I thought I'd share a few things I'm thankful for.

— The WONDERFUL couples we've photographed this year so far. Your warmness and welcoming has made documenting your wedding days SO special.

— Cooperative weather for our weddings and events. And especially for the holiday traveling I've been up to.

— The AMAZING other photographers we've met along the way and the mentoring they've provided. I'm especially thankful to T & J Studio for their warm welcome into the Wichita area. I can't wait to work in cooperation more with you guys in the future!

— The love, support and enthusiasm of family and good friends, who cheer us on the way.

— An INCREDIBLE business partner and fellow photographer. Mike, you're the BEST!

— AND the nice people who spend hours and hours making food for community dinners so I can eat a home-cooked meal when I have to be away from my family during the holidays.

Now, tell us what YOU're thankful for! Just post a comment and we'll get it posted.