Cliff Spicer Photographer

This weekend was a really busy family weekend for me. My eldest son Owen had his cub car races and a hockey pizza party which kept us busy all weekend. For most social events we take a small snap shot camera and this time I decided to take something more substantial to Owen’s cub car rally. Editing these photos tonight remindeds me what first drew me and still draws me to photography and that is the way it can evoke emotions like nothing else. When I look at great moments captured in newspapers or magazines or even snap shots I feel some emotion even if I am not part of the event and the image can draw me in. This set of photos of Owen for me remind me how lucky I am and as the kids say “I am keeping it real” Ok, maybe they said it and now only old guys who think they know what the kids are saying use it, but you get it.

Every year I shoot a personal Christmas card using my kids and I had some trouble coming up with an idea this year. With a one year old and a 9 year old getting them in the same shot with a theme can be tricky. We always joke and call Gavin bruiser because he is so rough with things and I got the idea of him pulling down the tree while Owen gives a look of “I can’t believe this is happening”. I have finally finished the photos and the Photoshop work and I am really happy with it. Now to get the envelopes addressed and the cards dropped in the mail. At least I am ahead of the game this year.

After seeing the Cirque du Soleil show Kooza Owen has been inspired to create a Halloween costume of the main character of the show “The Trickster”. He was so into his costume this year he really took on an actor like quality once done up in the makeup and suit. It was so awesome to see him and I was so happy he was creative with his costume and didn’t want to just buy it. These are the small things that make a parent proud.

What an awesome day at the Spicer household. Gavin turned 1 and what would a birthday party be without cake.

Hard to believe that Gavin is already 10 months old and many people have been asking to see a recent photo of him so here he is. In a few more months I will start to teach him how to use Photoshop so we can put him to work. My household is like the modern day farm with the whole family pitching in to get the work done.

Here is a bit of a funny story. My eldest son Owen has been asking for months to get a crew cut because some of his friends recently got them. I told him he could get one at the beginning of summer vacation but he insisted he wanted one sooner so we broke down and took him. So our barber Emilio asks him if he is sure and Owen says “yup” and Emilio goes to town on him with the clippers. When we get home Owen is really upset after spending some time in front of the bathroom mirror and we ask him what is wrong. He says that he doesn’t like his hair because he doesn’t think he looks like himself anymore. Thank god it’s only hair and he would still be asking if we didn’t take him.

Back in January Owen and I went to NYC together and had a great time. I thought I would share a few of my favorite images with you.

Wow, time goes by so quickly. Gavin is 3 months old tomorrow and I can’t believe I haven’t posted an updated photo of him yet. Here he is now and he is awesome. He now laughs and smiles at us and is starting to sleep better which means we are starting to sleep better. You may also notice from the photo that he is losing his hair and has a nice comb-over which we have been desperately trying to style like Donald Trumps. Thanks again for all the amazing words of encouragement with Gavin and for taking the time out of your busy schedule to see how we are doing.

Cliff

I want to wish everyone all the best for 2007 and hope it is the best year ever for you. I know you have all made my 2006 awesome and I just wanted to say a big thank you for it.

Cliff

P.S. I will be away from Jan. 1-8th and will have limited access to e-mail. I am heading to NYC with Owen to see the movie A Night at the Museum and then heading to the Museum from the movie so stay tuned for a post of two from the road.

Here is the photo we used on our Christmas card this year and I thought it might be fun to show you how I made the image. I put together a small slide show that walks you through some of the steps of how it came together and I have to admit that recording the audio was harder than I thought and I ask for your forgiveness in advance as I know that broadcasting is not my calling. Let me know what you think?