StaddonFamily.com

posted by James on 05/16/09

At 5:45 this morning, I jumped out of bed excited about a photo venture Allen Parfitt and I had planned to a local train yard. But alas, it was not to be; due to an unexpected turn of events, the venture had to be called off. Well, instead of being disappointed, I used the morning to go on a photo venture of my own, right here on the Headquarters campus.

The detail of a delicate flower graced with water-droplets,
accentuated by the defused light of a partly-cloudy sky.

Abstract shots from a neighbor’s garden.

Deep depth of field is achieved by combining a wide aperture,
a long focal length, and close proximity to the subject.

Watch where you focus; it’s the place to which the eye goes first.

1/200 sec, ISO 800, f/8.0; an exposure
barely fast enough to catch movement in low light situations.

A fellow photographer let me borrow her 70-200mm L-series IS lens: an asset without which most of these pictures would not exist.

Let the wildlife come to you; it may take a long time, but if you wait quiet and still, you become part of the landscape before which nature displays.

“O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast
thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.” (Psalm 104:24)

11 Comments » | posted in Photography

posted by James on 05/9/09

Wow! I can’t believe the Big Sandy Conference has already passed! During the Conference, each day felt like a whole week; but now, the whole trip seems like a dream. Regardless of it’s length, it is certain that God’s hand of blessing was upon it. Words could be written without end of the phenomenalities encountered there, but let me just share a few stories of God’s providence from a photographers perspective.

First, I should start by saying “thank you” to the IPS trio who showed up on Tuesday afternoon. Without them taking on the photojournalism aspects of the Conference, I’m not sure we could have made the most of our being there. Knowing that the photojournalism was taken care of, I could set my mind on completing the main objectives of the portraiture project. Thank you IPS!

But now for the stories. When we first arrived, rain was predicted for every single day of the Conference. Now, for a photographer, that is not a very pleasant thing; water and camera equipment don’t go very well together. We were setting up one studio at the Library when, during a downpour, the equipment at the Convention Center for the second studio got completely soaked from leaks in the ceiling. Thankfully, it was still all packaged up so there was no damage. But I didn’t like the idea of unpacking it. How would I know where to set it up where there would be no leaks? It was impossible to know. We just picked a random spot, set it up, and waited. Well, it just so happened that the forecast for that week was completely bogus. It didn’t rain hardly at all! And even when it did once on Thursday afternoon (if I’m not getting the days mixed up), there were only two leaks near our studio set up: one on the right side, and one on the left. Neither were a problem.

The purpose of the studios, and even my presence at the conference, was to help update this year’s ATI re-enrollment forms by taking  portraits of all the students. Now there were a lot of students at Big Sandy; over 200, I would estimate. This job of taking portraits was a big ordeal, and I had never been in charge of something of this magnitude before. Hence, I was sorely displeased when, by the end of the first full day (Wednesday), our total count of student portraits was, well . . . no more than 18. Eighteen? Even after changing our strategy the next day, it didn’t seem like we would make it. So, on Friday morning during the first break, I just announced that “everyone else” come down to the studio. And come they did! We shot over 80 students in that one break, and by the end of the day, we had basically completed our task–just in time.

Another incident of God’s graciousness happened on Wednesday afternoon. I just finished making the announcement that everyone with the last name beginning with C to F come get their picture taken. I walked into where the studio was being set up and was informed that one of the special power cords to the strobes was missing. We forgot to bring it over from the Convention Center: a ten minute walk and at least a 5 minute ride there and back! So, with 5 minutes left, I rushed upstairs to look for someone with a vehicle. There just so happened to be two IMI guys standing there which, to my great surprise, said they had a vehicle! “Could I ask you to take me to the Convention Center and back real quick?” “Sure.” So we were off! But we weren’t off as fast as I would like. As we took our time, I felt myself getting up tight. “Stop,” I told myself, “it really doesn’t matter that much. Relax, and let the Lord work it out.” And work it out He did, for we got the cord back just in time.

“Providence has at all times been my only
dependence, for all other resources seemed to have failed us.”
– George Washington

5 Comments » | posted in Ministry Reports

posted by Donald on 05/7/09

Tengjhih National Forest reaches 1800 meters/5900ft and boasts a mature fir forest that it is not only beautiful and cool in the summer but also full of birds. It was my fourth hike with the Kuo family. It was also one of the only places in Taiwan that reminded me of West Virginia!
The striking birdlife included the White-eared Sibia, Rufous-crowned Laughing Thrush, Yellow-rumped Flycatcher and one that had eluded me before: the Taiwan Yuhina a well-known mountain bird that lives only in Taiwan and looks like the American titmouse that is common in West Virginia. After the hike we found a place to try roasted pumpkin with honey for lunch. Then we visited Mr. Kuo’s relatives in a Hakka village below the mountains. Thank you Kuos for another memorable Saturday!

Many thanks to contributors of the Oriental Bird Club Image Database for the picture references for the birds; the picture of the Yuhina was taken in Ali Shan, Taiwan

4 Comments » | posted in Family News

posted by Michael on 05/5/09

Much has been accomplished on the property this spring thanks to the availability and cooperation of the whole family. In addition to starting the garden, working the beehives, and maintaining the orchard, we had ordered almost 70 new nut trees, fruit trees and shrubs. The plan was to dig a large hole for each one and amend the soil 2 to 3 feet in depth and a similar width depending on the size of the plant. Some of the locations had been prepared last summer but there remained 36 to go. These needed to be completed between the time that the ground thawed and the time the trees arrived in late March and April.

The morning of March 3 the temperature hit 8° F and the next morning it was 10° F – a little too frozen for digging. Two days later it was 70°, and the next day 76°! I began to wonder what kind of spring we were in for! Everyone pitched in with the dirt-pitching and even Robert and James gave it their two shovels’ worth during their short visit. A friend’s backhoe significantly sped the process with the larger holes and every single one was finished before the deadline.

We have tried some new things in the garden including lemon balm, lavender, calendula, shallots, husk tomatoes (“ground cherries”), and purple coneflower (“Echinacea”) – and onions from seed have done decently well for the first time.

Dipping below freezing only about four times since March 4, the spring turned out to be unusually warm. Bloom was good for the fruit trees and some of the beehives are up to three weeks ahead of schedule.

We had to cut a few trees, and a large tree fell across the driveway, affording us an extra dose of wood chips and firewood. Thanks again everyone who whole-heartedly put all their strength into the work, “as unto the Lord and not unto men.” The woods are now green, the grass is growing fast, and summer is just  around the corner. “Praise the Lord from the earth… mountains and all hills; fruitful trees and all cedars: beasts, and all cattle; creeping things, and flying fowl: kings of the earth and all people… let them praise the name of the Lord: for His name alone is excellent; His glory is above the earth and heaven” Psalm 148:7-13. 

6 Comments » | posted in Family News, Possessing the Land

posted by Robert on 05/3/09

I just couldn’t make myself put it down! The story was entertaining and fun, yet the underlying principles were profound and powerful. I starting reading it to a group of friends. They laughed. They listened. Then they asked me to read another chapter!

To be honest, I don’t have the time to read very much these days. But this book grabbed me. I haven’t finished it yet, but if the rest of the chapters are as good as these first ones, I believe The Noticer by Andy Andrews will be a bestseller. It is based on the true story of Andy’s life and the remarkable transformation that he experienced from being a homeless man sleeping under a bridge to one of the nations’ best known and best-loved communicators.

Take a few minutes and enjoy listening to the first chapter.

The Noticer MP3 (30 min)

Read the first chapter

2 Comments » | posted in Book Reports