What A Difference a Century Can Make
This tractor in Culpeper County had its heyday in the late teens early 20s of the last century. In 1900 the average yield for corn per acre was 29 bushels. In the year 2000 the average had risen to 145 bushels an acre. And as the world population continues to rise so will the need to continue to increase yields. Thus one of the dilemmas of our age--things like pesticides, fertilizers and erosion from farming are causing one set of problems yet we need them to keep everyone fed. Where do we go from here? Guess we have some more learning to do? Do hope an exabyte or two this year will get us moving in the right direction.

Where Will We Be A Hundred Years From Now?
Today religion is seen as superstitious, archaic and the cause of suffering, bigotry, and hate. Yet in the past it was these same teachings, be it the Bible, the Koran, or the Torah that taught us that compassion, not might, should be the basis of civilization. Teachings that have inspired us and gives purpose to our lives. The teachings have not changed we have. We, not religion, are the architects of our problems. It seems the more we learn the more we question our faith, turning to ourselves for answers, and the message of our faith fades from memory. We are fixated on knowing and seem to have little patience for believing. Wonder where that is going to get us?

There will Always Be Constants in the Universe.

Robbie(?) Stubbs, Born Oct. 4, 1907; Died July 7, 1955
An unusual headstone in that it is made of poured cement. It was sitting in the back of a small church cemetery in Spotsylvania. I know there is a story here but it will have to wait for another day. What we can do is take a look at what was going on in 1955-

--1st presidential news conference filmed for TV (Eisenhower).
--The minimum wage is raised from 75 cents to $1 an hour.
--Tappan sells 1st microwave oven.
--1st World Series color TV broadcast on NBC-TV (New York Yankees beat Dodgers).
--Marian Anderson becomes 1st black singer to perform at Met (New York City)

An Interesting Discovery in Madison County.
Another opportunity for me to enlighten you with another fun fact that will make you the life of the cocktail party! Did you know that British inventor, James Sharp patented a gas oven in 1826? The first semi-successful gas oven to appear on the market. Pictured here rusting away in an old barn was state of the art in the 20s and 30s. It's a Wincroft combination wood/gas stove. You can still see some of the porcelain finish which was a big technological leap forward making the stove easier for the little lady to clean.

After 11 years as a newspaper photographer, eight of which I spent at The Free Lance-Star, I left the paper and took a job at Gannett Government Media, formerly the Army Times Publishing Company, as a picture editor.

It was a hard decision to make and really required me to re-evaluate how I pictured my career path. Of all the people I worked with at my college newspaper, I was one of the few still in the photo business and almost certainly the last to actually be a newspaper staffer. I took some pride in that and I suppose that proves that on some level I’m either dumb or a masochist.

I always said getting paid to be a photographer beat working for a living and I couldn’t think of anything else I’d rather do. Well one day it occurred to me that I was miserable. I found that the majority of my assignments were not telling stories – they were illustrating somebody else’s words. I learned early on that to be successful, at least on a karmic level, you needed the cooperation of the people you photograph otherwise you are just stealing from them. Lately it was a struggle for me to connect with people, to open myself up to their situations. I was cheating them and that was unacceptable to me so I decided to step back for a while and re-evaluate what kind of photographer I am and what kinds of stories I want to tell.

I had been feeling this way for almost two years but opportunities were few and far between. I didn’t really want to go freelance, particularly in an already saturated market like DC. Suddenly this past fall, a bunch of openings cropped up – staff job at another newspaper, a wire service gig, a teaching job at my alma mater. Ultimately they didn’t pan out but the opening at Gannett came up.

I really agonized over leaving the newspaper staffer tribe.  I told my wife that I felt kind of like Ray Liotta at the end of Goodfellas as he’s reflecting on all that he enjoyed as a gangster; the best restaurants, never waiting in line, nice cars, etc and then, entering witness protection, he was suddenly just like every other schnook out there.  (not to suggest i got a nice car out of the news biz!) Perhaps a more apt movie parallel would be to paraphrase Al Pacino in Godfather III: that just because I’m out now, doesn’t mean I won’t get pulled back in.  While I’m not shooting on a daily basis, I can pursue the stories I want to tell on my own terms. I’ll certainly miss the sports coverage (and seeing my sports-shooting friends on the sidelines week in and week out) but not most of the daily grind assignments. And I already miss my company-supplied computers and cameras! So, here’s to 2011 and a new adventure…

Here are a few of my favorite images from 2010. Who knows if they’re my best – I just like them:

It is time that I put childish ways behind me. I promise it shant last long. Give me a moment while I take off my dark glasses, headgear, pocket my cigar and grab the old soapbox and climb aboard. Ready, set, rant......OK enough with the "Happy Holidays" crap! I want to celebrate Christmas!

We are turning this season into a generic, one size fits all celebration of what? Can someone explain it to me? What are we celebrating? What is the meaning behind "Happy Holidays?" In the effort to be non-controversial, inoffensive, (insert favorite PC phrase here) we have not only stripped away the name of Christmas but we have also stripped away its meaning.

I acknowledge there are other beliefs other than my own and I do respect them. And in turn, I would ask that my beliefs be respected. I was brought up to say thank-you to anyone who prayed for my well being, and that of my family, no matter to whom they prayed to. Today, I am told I am offending someone when I pray for them in the name of the God I believe in. Diversity of ideas and beliefs are a gift not a curse. We should learn from this diversity not try to hide it away.

Christmas acknowledges the birth of Christ and through the story of his life and sacrifice, we see the person we should be striving to be--forgiving, compassionate, patient, and humble. Putting the needs of others before ourselves, treating others as we would expect to be treated. Traits, frankly, that run contrary to our human nature which means we have to work hard at it and must acknowledge that we will sometimes fail. And who wants to do that?

So today, we take the message out of the celebration so we don't have to be reminded of our human frailties and our obligations towards our fellow man. Instead we can feel good about ourselves by wrapping a few gifts for family and friends. Our only challenge is to sit in traffic a bit and suffer the inconvenience of standing in line at the post office. As for our obligation to the rest of humanity dropping some loose change into a kettle can cover that.

I know it's a lot of work and frustration when faced with being a better person. So how is acknowledging this message considered a celebration? We are celebrating a gift from God which inspires us to rise above our human frailties. And that we are forgiven if we sometime fail which should encourage us both to be more forgiving ourselves and not allow our own failures to divert us from our task.

In the spirit of the Christmas season I have posted the original verses of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem (and in edited form--a carol) "Christmas Bells" written in December of 1863 during the American Civil War. I would call your attention to the last three verses. As in 1863, so it is today, there is no "Peace on Earth." But with some effort, hope, and a little faith, each of us can help get us a little closer to achieving that dream....If we take to heart the true meaning of the Christmas season. Thus endeth the sermon.....

OK the soapbox has been stowed, the headgear and glasses are back in place and I'm taking my cigar back out of my pocket. Some photos of the season and a few fun Christmas facts you can amaze your friends with as you make the Christmas Party circuit..........Oh, and I almost forgot...from the Kelly family to yours we wish you a Merry Christmas and a happy, safe, and prosperous New Year........."God bless us every one!"


" Christmas is not as much about opening our presents as opening our hearts."

I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

In 1850 Richard Stoors Willis introduced one of the first American Christmas carols, "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear." There soon followed other now popular carols--"Oh Little Town of Bethlehem", "Away in the Manger", "I heard the Bells on Christmas Day" and "We Three Kings."

"To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas."

And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along
The unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

The first documented Christmas tree sale was in New York in 1851. Catskill woodsman Mark Carr and his son sold them for a dollar a piece at the corner of Vessey and Greenwich Streets.

"Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful."

Till, ringing, singing on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime
A chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

On Christmas Eve in 1822 Dr. Clement Moore who was known for writing, A Compendious Lexicon of the Hebrew Language, a biography of the King of Albania, and translated a French Treatise on Sheep Raising, wrote a poem for his children which began, "Twas a night before Christmas..." Embarrassed by its popularity he would not acknowledge writing it until 1838.

"The earth has grown old with its burden of care, But at Christmas it always is young...."

Then from each black accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,
And with the sound
The carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

In the early nineteenth century, American slaves didn't have to work as long as the Yule log burned, so they would choose the biggest, greenest log they could find. If they did have to work while it burned their master had to pay them for the work.