Engagement Pictures!

First of all, I'd like to congratulate my sister and her new Fiance, Mack, on their engagement. Mack popped the question a couple weeks ago up at Grandfather Mountain and he picked out a fantastic ring. Emily and I asked if they would let us take some engagement pictures of them last week, and they accepted. What follows is a few of my favorites from the shoot. We went out to NC State's campus last Saturday and, although we got started a little late, we still got some good shots in. I hope you enjoy and congrats to Mack and E!

In the free expression tunnel - Elizabeth had to make sure the wall was dry prior to leaning up against it.


Hey now - that's my sister! Just kidding, had to put a little PDA into the pictures - they just got engaged!


On the stairs outside of the English buildings. It was starting to get a little dark at this point.


Outside of Talley. E and Mack brought several changes of shirts for different settings. They call this one "fishing next to the fountain."


We found some pretty flowers just beyond the Free Expression Tunnel.


Mack painting things on the wall to the Free Expression Tunnel.


At the Belltower - I think there was a funny story going on here, but I can't remember.


Mack and E felt embarrassed taking this one. Laying on the stairs outside of Talley Student Center and people kept walking by, haha!


These last two are the more artistic of the bunch, and I really like them.


Again, Congrats to my sis and my soon-to-be brother-in-law. Here's hoping you guys cherish the good times and work together during the bad times. Love you both.

CTK - Lutherock Retreat

On October 8th-10th, Emily and I traveled with the CTK middle and high school youth groups to Camp Lutherock (Sugar Mountain) in Western North Carolina. We had an awesome time and really enjoyed getting to know the kids throughout the weekend. Activities included hiking to Cross Rock and to the Pinnacle of Sugar Mountain, as well as a combination of ropes courses. I took my camera, of course, and some pictures of the trip are below.

Check out Emily's massive backpack.

Maddie was rocking the 80's sunglasses. Yeah, her future is bright.

Corrine with Toren, just before the first hike of the day.

The great thing about hiking is that you're walking along through the woods and all of a sudden you see something that can take your breath away. The sun was piercing through the trees in the image above and it just caught my eye.

Luther Rock was just below Cross Rock, jutting out of the mountain. Look at all the fall colors! We were really lucky to get to enjoy the mountains during this time of year.

Camp Lutherock was visible from Cross Rock. This is the main lodge where the middle school youth stayed at night. You can also make out the Scott Simerly's tent. And if you look really close, you can see Neil's Life Skills Pants...just kidding!

Check out that view!

Push-ups at Cross Rock to prove our manhood!

Second Hike of the day to Pinnacle. I got to hike twice (once with the Middle School Youth and a second time with the 11th and 12th Graders)

This is a picture of the other view point at the Pinnacle.

Group photo time!

Later that evening, looking up at Cross Rock and Luther Rock from the Lodge.

Perhaps the most popular game of the weekend - seeing how long a group could keep the volleyball in the air.

Pastor Brooks' daughter, Molly.

Saturday night, Mr. Simerly built a massive bonfire and we roasted smores and sang songs/had skits. "It's the raisin, that makes the raisin bran so great!"

Some silly dance song around the bonfire.

Sunday morning, we all gathered around the bon fire pit for Worship.

Music provided by Parry and Adam

The only 12th grader to make the trip. He gave a good talk about the advantages of staying involved in youth group.

What an awesome retreat! Thanks be to God!

We really had a great time with all of the kids, and youth advisors that made the trip. What a wonderful way to grow in love and fellowship.

Emily's Birthday!

October 4th was Emily's Birthday and we celebrated with both sides of the family. On Saturday, Emily and I went to the NC State vs. VT game with my family (sans Elizabeth). We had a blast tailgating and through the first quarter, but left the game a little deflated after a loss to a good VT team.

Look at Emily wearing an NC State shirt! I should make this her facebook picture.

Dad eating some brats.

Mom eating some of Emily's chocolate cookies.

Neil Rohrbaugh enjoying the festivities.


Emily and I, with Michael making an appearance in the background. I guess he was "that guy."

On Sunday, we went out to eat with Emily's family (sans Thomas, who was there in spirit - and email) at Tribeca Tavern at the corner of High House and Davis Dr. The food was really pretty good, and they have a burger named for nearly every college football team in the state. And, in case you were wondering, of course I got the Wolfpack burger.

Birthday Lunch on Sunday. Emily is opening up her gifts.

She must of liked whatever that was!

Group photo op
Dr. Robert Adams
I can't tell if Gwen is really happy, or just spitting out some of that spinach dip stuff. You're guess is as good as mine.

There's the motherly love smile.

Bebe was reading an email update from Thomas.

Dessert was delicious.

Playing around with depth of field (focusing on dessert).

Happy Birthday Em!

Street Photography

So, I've started to take part in some photography contests online, against some other amateur photographers. This past month's contest was "Street Photography." For those who don't know, Street Photography basically taking candid pictures of random people in public. I found it really difficult to point my camera in people's faces, so most of the shots I took were from behind, or without looking through the viewfinder, but I managed to take a few and I picked some of my favorites to share:

This first one was taken on Fayetteville Street. I didn't look through the view finder and I really wish I had. This probably would have been my favorite if i hadn't cut off the girls hand and what she was drawing on the sidewalk.

This one was on Fayetteville street too.

At the end of the Free Expression Tunnel on NC State's Campus


One of a little boy bowling.

At the observation deck at RDU. I had never been before, but it was pretty cool to watch the planes take off and land.

At the Kroger, doing a little grocery shopping. I shot this with the camera in the cart. The man is a little out of focus, but it turned out to be a pretty decent photo.

And this is the last one, my favorite and also my submission. A little boy and his mom watching the airplanes take off at RDU.

I got a couple of votes, but my submission really was not a typical street photography picture and I didn't win. Hope you enjoyed though. Thanks for looking.