I love my country.

I do not love the direction she is headed. More than anything, I would love to see her brought back to her former days, more along the lines of what our founding fathers had intended.

There is always hope. There is another generation and I consider it an honor to raise up my son to be a man who respects God, his elders, and his country. To know what it stands for and why it needs protecting.

The other day my son told me “he wanted to be in a battle” and to “be a hero”. Of course, as his mother I wanted to yell,“stay safe, no!”. But I kept my fears to myself — we need a nation of men and women who are weary of “safe”.

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“Where will our country find leaders with integrity, courage, strength—all the family values—in ten, twenty, or thirty years?

The answer is that you are teaching them, loving them, and raising them right now.” — Barbara Bush

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{ About the Images Below }

These images are dedicated to my God, first and foremost, and to my country. A love-song, in imagery form, as to what it means to be an American. Dare I say a Patriot.

Lastly, my prior military husband helped me with this session and we were sure to protect and respect the flag during the shoot.

© 2011 Skye Hardwick – Do not use without permission

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“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heavenand will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” – 2 Chronicles 7:14

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Stay tuned for more images from this series.

If you are in the San Gabriel Valley  CA area and would like to have your child a part of my Freedom Project, please drop me a line. Especially from those who have a loved one who is currently serving our country.

Furthermore, to the Photographers who may be reading. I am writing an article for my Soulographer Inspiration Blog about connecting your heart to your images using this series as an example. Keep watch for that one!

If you enjoyed this post, I’d appreciate it if you would share it with others who would enjoy it.

Until then.

- Skye xoxo

Below are some images of my little brother (we are 21 years apart) and my son together. We try (and usually succeed) to get images of them together every year. Of course, you know how it can be photographing boys …especially boys who know you well (you know what I’m talking about). And especially on a stinky farm with lots of cows that make all sorts of sounds and noises. Fun times.

Seriously though. I’m bummed I didn’t get much of my son alone this year in PA as his ones from last year are some of my all time favorite images of him, but there’s plenty of warm weather here in California for another shoot.

For this first shot, I’m showing you the version before I edited out my “oops!” moment. We all have them, though thankfully, I have them much less. I left the plastic clothing sticker on his shirt. That will be edited out before printing. {wink}

You would think with all the barns abound one could find one to rent for a wedding reception (there’s only one in the immediate area of Pittsburgh that I can find) — if anyone knows of any farm or rustic places available for rent, please let me know!

My son is pretty easy to photograph; I suspect only due to the fact that I don’t take him out to do “shoots” as much as I did years back. When I lived back east I took for granted how easy it was to find shooting locations. In many places you couldn’t throw a rock without it landing on a potential shoot spot. California makes you work a bit harder; though I will say this, in California I can do outdoor work all year long!

The first one is my absolute favorite. How can I possibly choose which ones to print and how large? Perhaps put a gallery wall together. The blue tractor was at the bed & breakfast we stayed at in NE Ohio — they also had a beaten up old ladder fire truck and a run down property next door too. Loved it!

Here is our Christmas card for 2009.

Front

Top Inside.

Bottom Inside.

Back.

– John Eldredge

“Sing … Sing a Song…”

This first shot makes me SWOON. Total puffy-heart love it …as a photographer, but mostly as his Mom. I used my own textures on the images to give them an extra something, fun fun!