Travelog: A Quiet Moment on the Gulf of Thailand

Photograph by Shannon Finney, Pran Buri, Thailand, 2008

During these hot August days, when the heat is unrelenting and oppressive,

it's nice to think of days spent on a beach, enjoying cool ocean breezes.

This is one of my favorite photographs. I shot it on location in Pran Buri,

about two and a half hours drive from Bangkok, Thailand. I remember

the quiet - just the water lapping up to the shore and the whisper of

the breeze through the gauze of the curtains separating the room from

the terrace. It was that whisper I wanted to capture, to freeze that

sound, or at least the idea of that sound.

A Quiet Wedding Day Moment by Little Seneca Creek

The Bride and Groom catch their breath creek side at
The Lodge at Little Seneca Creek (Boyds, Maryland)

At the end of a week that saw near-daily thunderstorms, and a national tragedy that

has gripped this country, it was refreshing to witness two people declare their love

and commitment to each other on a field of green surrounded by their families and friends.

On Sunday afternoon, as Holly began her walk down the aisle in the dress she

made herself, an ominous dark cloud approached overhead. The seated guests

all began to plan their exits should the rains come, but, the rains didn't come.

Instead, the sun began to pierce its way through the veil of clouds, and

Holly and Craig said their I do's under skies that were dry. After the ceremony,

we hiked down to the Little Seneca Creek, and in the quiet and the calm,

standing under the canopy of trees, a little patch of sunlight pushed its way through,

like a scene from an Impressionist painting.



The Dog Days of Summer

Perry the dog takes a break from the heat, photographed at
The Lodge at Little Seneca Creek, July 14, 2012

While all of the east coast has been headed to the nearest air-conditioned car/movie theater/family room, I met Perry the dog resting on the cool wood of a bench on a front porch.

Happy Campers!

Julie Simonton leads Vacation Bible School campers, photographed by Shannon Finney, Grace Episcopal Church, Alexandria, VA



It's summertime, and, for some children, that means a one-week tradition called Vacation Bible School. VBS mixes traditional day camp activities, like cooking and games, with religious instruction, including daily chapel services. With campers ranging in age from three year olds to tweens, and a volunteer teacher force comprised of parents and ministers, this week long intergenerational gathering is pure energy.

Hot, but not Bothered: How One Couple Didn't Fret Over a Heat Wave

The Bride and Groom share a moment in the cool of the shade, photographed June 30, 2012 at Chantilly National Golf and Country Club, Centreville, Virginia


Long before there's a wedding day, there's the planning for the wedding day, and no matter how many hours have been spent selecting the perfect caterer, and finding the most meaningful first dance song, nothing can prepare a couple for those Acts of God which push temperatures into the 100-degree territory or cut off the electricity to the ceremony site on your wedding day - both of which happened to the bride and groom above. Brittney and Todd couldn't have been any happier, and so, as a tribute to their ability to not let a lil ole heat wave get them hot under the collar, or the veil, here are a few fond memories from a wedding day they will never forget!


Let them eat cake!

In case you ever wondered what the ring bearers do AFTER the wedding!



Brittney and shares a special moment with her grandmother

An end of the night party favor in the wedding's theme color

The first dance of many dances to come...

Yeah, Dad!



Charlie and Shane, photographed by Shannon Finney, Alexandria, VA

On Father's Day, we often refer to dads as superheros, as if they

were leaping tall buildings. But, the best dads do their work on the ground,

helping their little ones soar instead. Happy Father's Day! And for

more Father's Day inspiration, check out the Father's Day photo gallery.

Pomp and Circumstance - The Junior Edition

Pomp and circumstance, photographed June 8, 2012, Seabrook, Maryland

June is the month of beginnings and endings - punctuated by weddings

and graduations, and the sound of "Pomp and Circumstance". And while

high school and college graduates get most of the attention, it's the littlest

graduates who grab the spotlight in the photo above.