The more I get back into film the more I realize I really love working with film. I like the process of loading it, hearing the mechanics of the camera working and most importantly the results! B&W film, I find, has a much larger tonal range than digital. I get the most of both worlds though by taking the images on film then having them scanned into digital format for a little Photoshop “tweeking”.

I would like to thank Phil at Zercher’s here in Topeka for hand developing the film and scanning it. Not many people know that there is now only one place to get actual B&W film processed and scanned here in Topeka and that is at Zercher’s. Yes I know that I can process the film myself (I actually love doing that) and even scan it myself but my paying clients I don’t think want me processing and scanning film instead of working on their images! So I let Zercher’s do the processing part, very reasonably priced I might add!

Our photography studio Harrington’s is also located in the same building as Deb’s cafe so we get to eat in her cafe frequently. She is very gracious to let us display our photographs in her cafe. Next time you are in the neighborhood stop in at the Cafe Holiday, eat lunch, and take a look at our photographs while you’re there!

I certainly won’t miss near zero days but if you dress appropriately thirty degree days are certainly able to be enjoyed walking in the Park. I have actually come to look forward to walking through Gage on these winter days. The solitude is very enjoyable! This is the same solitude and quietness that I experience when we photograph rural families in my role as a portrait photographer. I always comment to the people that I am photographing on how lucky they are to be able to experience peace and quiet just outside their back doors! We can get that same feeling though right here in the middle of Topeka in the middle of winter!

Each spring when all of the people return to Gage Park and I have to dodge cars again on my walks I long for peaceful winter walks though the Park!

Let’s Help provides some of the food, in particular the meat I believe, but it is up to the organizations to add the “extras”. On this particular day there were 451 meals served.

One of the serendipities of volunteering to help with a job like this is getting to know the person much better that sits in the pew next to you every Sunday morning. You can greet each other for years but a bond doesn’t attach nearly as well as if you work with that person. You learn very quickly what they like and what they don’t. Out of this type of relationship real lasting friendships are formed. What starts out as a desire to help others ends up helping you!

I remember reading somewhere once Dr. Menninger was asked what the first thing someone should do if they felt they were having a coping challenge if I remember correctly his response was “leave your house go across the tracks and help someone else!