My dad was abusive

“I served in the Marines for four years, I was in Afghanistan,” he told me. So, why did you join? He paused and then stated, “I went to Overton High School in Nashville and my dad was abusive - - I had to get out of that. My mom was sick and she died recently and my dad was there. We got into a fight at the grave site as they were lowering my mom into the ground, it was horrible.”

While overseas he was in a Humvee that received oncoming fire and the end result was shrapnel hitting him in the right side of the head. “I can’t think things out like I use to, I feel like I am slower due to the injury,” he told me. He later added that he visits with a counselor at the VA in Nashville on a regular basis, “The counselor has been great, it has really helped.”

Today he has no family and is alone on the streets of Nashville at the age of 21.

“While we can't begin to repay the debt we owe our veterans for their brave service, we can certainly take steps to ease the physical, psychological and financial hardships they may be experiencing.” - Kirsten Gillibrand, a junior United States Senator from New York

U.S. Marine on route to 300 mile destination

It was a rainy Florida day when I met this U.S. Marine walking down the highway with his bike. He explained he was unable to ride the bike because his chain was bent. “What happened to it,” I asked? “My lock went through the back wheel and then the chain and someone tried to pry it off bending my chain,”  he said.

He told me he was headed about 300 miles into Florida with a destination of St. Petersburg. “I want to see my former Lieutenant before he crokes,” he said with a laugh.  “He’s 86 and kinda’ like Lt. Dan from Forest Gump, but a great guy,” he said with a smile. “I refuse to hold my thumb out or ask for a ride, nor will I fly a sign asking for money – I can make it.”

The bike he was on came from a Destin, FL church. Evidently, the church has a program to help those in need. They recycle bikes from bike rental companies in the Destin area. Each bike is repaired and then outfitted with a sticker that says, “Donated bikes rehabbed by St. Andrews Church, Destin, FL.” Awesome program for folks like this retired U.S. Marine. 

Take Pictures with Anything...

I have heard so many people say, "I don't have a professional camera, I could never take that shot." I also hear professional photographers talk down not so professional photographers who somehow get excellent shots. 

Just for grins and giggles, I shot this with a "Droid Razor Maxx HD" Cell Phone inside a U.S. Marine Barrack on Paris Island in South Carolina. While the picture is not crystal clear and I was unable to control my aperture, ISO and shutter speed, I made do with what I had. The picture is about the angle, your creativity and what is happening within the shot. 

The reason for this post is to simply encourage others to shoot with what you have and share it with friends. Photography is a great escape. 

One of my favorites stated, "“There are no rules for good photographs, there are only good photographs.” -Ansel Adams