Julian Gold’s bridal salon has displayed one of our beautiful brides on their billboard near the Quarry Market. Be sure to stop by the store and let them know you saw the display. They again have used one of their valued clients for the ad. This is a very unique and personal approach to advertising. It is a win-win for all involved. The bride is flattered, the salon adds a wonderful personal touch for their clients, and I, David Sixt Photography get to display some of our most beautiful creations. Who knows, if you purchase your gown there, the art director just may choose your portrait for the billboard. If you got your gown at Julian Gold give me a call and let’s create something “billboard worthy.”
category: Personal
There are just a few things in life that give one true joy. I experienced it in my younger years as a watched my daughter, Heather, every year in her dance recital. That was one event I never wanted to miss. To watch her progress from a stumbling little girl as she learned the steps into a prolific sweet dancer as the years went by was captivating. When she graduated college, married, and began a family of her own I thought those precious days were behind me. Oh, how wrong I was! She and her husband have brought into this world 4 wonderful children, two of whom are girls who are now carrying on the tradition of dance. The joy is back! This past weekend both girls performed on the stage at the McAllister Auditorium for the dance recital of The Performing Arts Ballet Studio. It was pure bliss to watch the two of them perform. It was Caroline’s first, and Joy’s 6th. Although they are world’s apart in their skill level, it did not matter to me. Each girl gave me a thrill. This day in the spring is one I look forward to each year. Please indulge me as I post a few of my favorites.
This weekend in Arlington, Tx, the SWPPA will be holding their annual convention and print competition. It is an exciting time for photographers in the 5 state region of the Southwest. Outside of the national convention this one is the largest in the US. There are many speakers giving programs on all of the various genres of photography. Also hundreds of major national photography vendors such as Canon, Nikon, Adobe will be on hand showing the latest and greatest in photography wares. This trade show is a feast for the eye and a definite income depleter. Photographers are suckers for new gadgets.
One of the special highlights of the show is the annual print competition. Each photographer is permitted to enter 4 images to be judged by an international judging panel. It is a great way to test one’s skills against their fellow photographers. Each image is judged on its IMPACT, CREATIVITY, TECHNICAL EXCELLENCE, COMPOSITION, LIGHTING, STYLE, PRINT PRESENTATION, CENTER OF INTEREST, SUBJECT MATTER, COLOR BALANCE, TECHNIQUE, AND STORYTELLING. It is always a highlight to the convention. I encourage all photographers to enter. It is a wonderful way to improve one’s photography skill and art form. I always marvel at the wonderful work that other photographers are doing. This area of the country has some of the finest image makers in the world. Here are my four entries for this year. I hope you enjoy them!
"Light's Sweet Embrace"
"Seafarer's Sanctuary"
"Serene Senorita"
"The Gate To Love"
Nancy and I spent an entire week in the mountains of Colorado with three of the greatest children on earth. We anchored in Denver and then traveled about the area. We visited the Air Force Academy-scaled Pike’s Peak in a cog railway, learned to snowboard at Winterpark, and hit a Denver Nuggets game. We came home exhausted, but fulfilled. I hope the kids had a great time as well.
This is the ski village of Winterpark, Co.
We are at the summit of Pike's Peak--14,000+ feet.
Balancing rock at the Garden of the Gods.
Carter took this picture of his sister, Joy. Great shot.
Snowboarding is not as easy as it looks. Concussions are frequent.
Joy looks like a pro.
I was in awe at these amputees flying down the slopes no one leg. What spirit!!
These boys are rabid Nuggets fans.
Go "Birdman".
Great dunk you "nugget".
We just returned from a great trip to North Carolina. What a beautiful state. We spent the first half playing golf and the second half soaking up the scenery. I thought you might enjoy seeing some of the images.
This was our Headquarters at the Pinehurst Resort.
One can just imagine what the first settlers to America thought when they saw this scene.
Your humble blogger and Nancy.
The color was breathtaking.
And you thought Lost Maples was beautiful.
Peace and Tranquility
Beautiful scenes like these abound all around the Smoky Mountains.
Carl Sandburg's home near Asheville, NC.
As the story goes Mrs. Sandburg called Stuart Udall, Secretary of the Interior a couple of weeks after Sandburg died and donated the entire estate to the National Park Services. She packed her belongings into a suitcase and moved out. The house is exactly as it was when she left. Cigar butts still in the ashtrays.
What a great day yesterday was when I had the opportunity to play the legendary #2 course at Pinehurst! As I walked the fairways with my caddie I could feel the presence of Donald Ross, Ben Hogan, Sam Snead, Walter Hagen, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, and a host of great amateurs who have walked these same fairways. It was a thrill to play such a storied course. Naturally you have to be a true golf fan to appreciate the experience. The day began with a dense fog blanketing the course. I could hear the faint sound of Scottish bagpipes as I strolled down the first fairway reminding me of the beginning of this great game. To top the day off I played pretty well. I shot an 81 playing from the tips and had only 31 putts. My caddie can be credited for that. He knew all of the subtleties of these treacherous greens. I now appreciate the importance of a good caddie.
The day begins in the mist and fog on a chilly fall day.
I faced several bunkers since it was so difficult to hold the greens. If you don't hit the center of the green the ball just rolls off. Often into a bunker. One of Donald Ross' unique design characteristics.
My caddie giving me advice.
The skies cleared for the final nine.
We had two great meals at Pinehurst and Angela, our waitress treated us like royalty. By the end of the evening she was Nancy’s new best friend. As we left the Carolina Room she caught Nancy and gave her cookies for a midnight snack, a deck of cards so she could play solitaire while I slept and commemorative matches for her collection.
Our humble abode for 3 days.
Nancy and her new best friend, Anglea.
Fall off the bone ribs for an appetizer.
Angela's iceberg lettuce specialty for our salad.
Succulent Prime Rib
Salmon over spinach and fingerling potatos.
As a recent West Point grad, Dave received orders that he was going to Afghanistan in December. He and Carolyn had be dating for 8 years. They were going to have a large wedding but military orders changed their plans, so they gathered Carolyn’s parents, and a few other family members and headed south to Pinehurst from New York for a quick wedding. Nancy and I were killing time waiting for our dinner reservations when we came upon this family wedding and noticed they did not have a photographer, so we offered our services. Unfortunately we had missed the wedding ceremony but were able to capture a few images for them to remember their wedding day. It was the least we could do for a couple whose career will be to protect and defend our nation. It was a true honor for us.
We hadn’t seen my niece in several years so when we heard she was bringing her daughter, AnneMarie, to Austin to play in her first national tennis tournament we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to go watch her play. Heather, Carter, Jackson and I couldn’t believe our eyes when we saw this tiny 7 year old girl rip the ball across the net. She was phenomenal! Oh, and did I mention she has juvenile diabetes? YES! She has to stop sometimes 2 or 3 times during a match to check her blood sugar. This little girl is mature beyond her years. She reached the semi-finals in the consolation bracket before losing to a girl 2 years older.
- Anne Marie checks her blood sugar before her match.
Anne Marie with some of her "fans."
- In full stride!
Great grandma gets into the action!
It was a treat for Anne Marie's great-grandmother to see her play.
Carter and Jackson with their Great Uncle and Grandfather. What a treat for the old guys.
Pull her wide and she still gets the return!
- This is Anne Marie’s family. Her coach from Zimbabwe, her brother, grandparents, and parents. All are extremely proud!
Ripping a forehand down the line.
A portrait of concentration!
Nancy and Joy tried their hand at photographing Caroline, Heather’s 4th child, in the Pumpkin Patch. She is a little handful wanting to play in the sea of orange and not smile for grandma. But I think she did a great job and captured some super images.
This was her 1st venture into the pumpkins.
Joy was a great help keeping Caroline entertained.
"I found one just my size."
"This is so much fun!!"