Jeff captured my joy when I picked the perfect gift (that I did not get to keep, btw).
I have a new camera, a Canon Rebel T1i. It is more complicated than the Kodak Easyshare I have used for all my photos until now. I have also decided to branch out and try taking people pictures and portraits. Friday night I practiced taking shots of people enjoying a Christmas Party at the our parent's church. I felt a little guilty trying to capture shots of people while they are having a good time and being relaxed. However, no one seemed to mind and the party went on. We enjoyed finger foods and the gift stealing game where you get to pick a gift from the pile or steal a gift from someone else. When the party was over and we were cleaning up, the preacher and I talked. He told me he was glad someone took pictures, because that would be a great gift for his wife. His wife has Lou Gehrig's Disease and could not attend the party --probably her first Christmas event to ever miss at this congregation. I immediately felt that I had done a good thing. Saturday I worked on editing the pictures and creating a PhotoStory of that night with his wife in mind. I wanted to help her be joyful in this Christmas season, but something unexpected happened to me... I saw all the smiles, all the happy faces, and all the joy. I watched the project over and over to get the transitions and music just right and so I watched the laughter and smiles over and over. It was ...... an emotional thing to be watching the evening unfold. I also remembered that these smiling friends stole my gift 3 times.
