I am writing this on Friday right before I am getting ready to leave for the weekend to go to Oakbrook Valley to go on a father-son camping weekend.

I am having very mixed feelings about this weekend. One good thing is that the weather is starting to look a little better as they are saying the rain may be less of a chance at about 30%. I recall the last time I was camping in West Virginia during a white water rafting weekend.  Can you say soaked? Although the trip was an awesome experience I think it rained about 75% of the time that we were there.  But they are still saying that lows are going to be in the 40s and the highs in the mid 50s.  Cold and wet are definitely not in my vocabulary when it comes to having fun.

My son Cole, who is six going on 20, is so ready for this weekend it isn’t even funny.  He started packing his camo backpack on Monday of this week with about every bit of camo that he owns.  He even packed two pair of camo boxers.  So needless to say that even when he goes to the bathroom he will be hidden.   He packed his night vision goggles, his canteen, and all kinds of other hunting/camping type of things from a smores breakfast bar to a couple of protein bars that I didn’t even know we had. 

My biggest hangup with this weekend is with me.  Yes I said it.  This takes me out of my comfort zone.  This takes me out of my little comfortable world and puts me in a spot that I don’t enjoy.  I hate that I feel this way because I know how much Cole has been looking forward to this.  Spoiled, selfish, and inconsiderate come to mind when I start looking at the reasons that I am feeling this way.  No laptop, no cell phone, no Ipod, no tv, basically no connection to anyone except the 49 dads and 54 sons that will be there this weekend.  The other fact that I don’t enjoy camping out comes to mind, but this still goes back to my comfort zone and it all being about ME.

I have a feeling that this will be an amazing experience for Cole.  I have a feeling for some reason that I might be more amazed than he is after this is all said and done…

We will see what happens.

Kokomo, IN – Charlie Hall was at Oakbrook Church last night and it was awesome!  If you ever hear anyone say that someone has a gift you have to see Charlie Hall.  He truly has a gift from God to do what he and his band does.  Unfortunately he didn’t rap this year, but he did do a pretty good Axl Rose (Guns N’ Roses) impression when somebody yelled out a request.   I am thankful that he has visited Kokomo and Oakbrook now twice.  Once was awesome, but twice is a huge blessing.

I was in Chicago all weekend for a workshop with Audrey Woulard and a bunch of really cool photographers, so I had to zoom back from Chicago to get back for the concert at 6.  I will post more this week on all the things that happened this weekend.  There is too much to post right now and I am actually still soaking up all the information and the whole experience.  I am also trying to catch up on my emails as well as I have not had computer access or email access for three days.   It is really kind of nice once in a while to get rid of all the techie stuff.  But I also understand that I have some emails to get to quickly.  So be patient and I will be getting those out.  I was going to try to get to some of it last night, but I pretty much crashed about 10pm, which is about the first time in a long time that I have been asleep before midnight.   It could have had something to do with the fact that I was up until about 3:00am the previous two nights and up by 7am.

This little guy was just in awe of the bass guitar…He was sitting in the front row and he was quite the ROCKSTAR himself!!

Mike Wise Photography – Kokomo, Indiana

Well…here it is Friday already.  I am so excited for this weekend.  I am shooting a wedding and I am sure that it is going to be a lot of fun with Leslianne and Matt.  So now on to this weeks blast from the past shot…
This was a shot from a couple of years ago from Jaime and Chris’ wedding at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Kokomo.  I always wonder when I am shooting a wedding if the flower girl or the ring bearer will actually do what they are there to do or not.  So many times it is up in the air until the very last second.  I love this shot because you can see the wedding coordinator in the background getting the ring bearers ready for their march down the aisle.  I just remember this little girl being by herself (which is why sometimes there are a two flower girls to keep each other company) walking down the aisle in this beautiful church with everyone watching her.  She pulled it off like a pro.  The look on her face is priceless…

Mike Wise Photography – Weddings in Kokomo, Indianapolis, West Lafayette, Marion, Muncie, Carmel, and Fishers

The title makes sense for those of you who attended.

I wanted to share with you some of the shots that I took from the Christmas service at Oakbrook Church.  I have been attending the Christmas services there now for three years and each year I am just blown away.  What an experience.  My family and I were able to attend on Saturday and then I shot on Sunday morning.  I want to thank all of those involved with the service for making it such a wonderful worship service.

First I had to make sure that my remote camera was ready to go!

If you want to listen to the podcast head over to OakbrookChurch.com (probably after Dec. 27 or so)

Wise Photography – Kokomo, Indiana