...he was sitting next to a lotus pond. He saw that most of the lotus plants stayed stuck in the mud, beneath the surface and the light of day, and some were barely breaking the surface, but there were a few lotuses that had broken forth into the sunlight and blossomed. He likened humans to the lotus flowers. Out of the deluded mud of human existence, filled with greed, hatred, and delusion, in a world where wars, oppression, and lust rule the masses, there are those who can and will rise above the muck and emerge victorious against suffering.

hal samples as shot by me

me as shot by hal samples

hal samples as shot by me

This is the life.

"If you become a bird and fly away from me, I will be the tree that you come home to."

Pete Freedman (Dallas Observer music editor) invited me to sit in on an interview with Midlake a few days before they set out on tour promoting their new album, The Courage Of Others. Im a fan and it was a blessing to listen to them explain their history and creative process. Afterwards we shot for about 30 minutes and here is some of what we got. Simple but good. Hope to cross paths with them again in time.

song lists and notes on masking tape in the studio.

Are there little pieces of you keeping you from progress, growth and purpose? More ladders. Hope you find some of your truth within.

Shot for Kirsten Mitchell Of Osgood O'Neil Salon.

Mikayla

Kaitlyn

The Kids

The path to separation and disharmony is often paved with good intentions.