Well Florida.............

This should be my last post from Naples as I move onto the next thing. Which, if you haven't heard, is a jobby job in Redding, CA. I drive out of Florida on Monday, will spend a couple weeks in New Mexico and then start in Redding on Jan. 21.

There is too much to say in some lousy blog post, but I still want to say something................

I guess what stands out most is all I've learned since I've been here, all I've learned about myself, about photography, about a part of the world I never thought I would get to know like I have. I've missed home like crazy, and I'm excited to go to California, but Florida will always be in my heart. I tell the story about flying in over the gulf one day and looking down at the ocean, the mangroves, and feeling at home. Who would have through some kid from the mountains of Northern New Mexico could feel at home in SWFL, but it happened. I'll never forger what it feels like to be out in the swamp, or float on my back in the ocean.............

And a lot of why I felt so at home here was of course the people. You know who you are, but I can never thank you enough for taking me in and making me feel at home. I can never thank you enough for helping me to grow professionally and as a person. I look back at the work I've done here and I'm really, really proud. I've learned so much as a photographer and I finally, finally feel like I can stand on my own two feet behind the camera. I have so much to learn, but the experiences and skill I've gained here have set the path for me. And don't ya'll think you're off the hook so easy. I am going to bug you for edits from now until my fingers can't press the shutter button any more.

Here's to SWFL, here's to my people..........

This is only see you later.........

Hasta Pronto,

Jakobo

I shot the 50th anniversary of the local greyhound dog track last night and was able to get right up on the track during warm-ups. Elvis and his back-ups were performing at the edge of the field as part of the celebration. Elvis and greyhounds, love it.

I drive past the local IHOP restaurant every day on my way to work. For the past couple of weeks their sign has advertised that they will be open 24 hours on Christmas Eve and Christmas.

I've never been much of a holiday person, and it just made me that much more depressed to think about the people who have to work at 2 a.m. on Christmas Eve. So I showed up last night to shoot a photo column and meet the people who were up working while the rest of the world was asleep waiting for the big day.

Come to find out, the place had a really warm feeling to it. All the employees were resigned to the fact that they had to work and made the most of it. Wifes or husbands came by in the middle of the night to say hi to their spouses at work. The line cook was going to get off by 5 a.m. so he would be there by the time his kids got up to unwrap their presents.

And Jackie, one of the servers, brought her eight month old daughter to work for a while until her husband could come pick her up. She said she wasn't happy about working on Christmas Eve, but she needs the money. And she felt okay because her daughter is not old enough to be disappointed.

I wasn't supposed to take this picture because the manager was not happy about the baby being there. But Jackie said it was alright.

It's funny, I have some news that I will probably be announcing in the next couple of days, good news, but anyone who reads this thing probably already knows :) My circle is small.......

Anyway, stay tuned.

This photo is from the Fall high school player of the year portrait series we just did. Let me just say, I learned a lot. We had to get 11 portraits done in about a week and I decided to do all of them on or around the beach, which meant hauling a generator and all the lighting equipment to the beach several times. My back still hurts......

It would not have been possible without Mr. Greg Kahn (correct spelling), who got up at 7 a.m. the day after covering the Naples High football state championship game to come meet me on the beach and help. He is also the one who thought up this shot and the one who chased the birds. So Greg, this is an electronic shout-out and big old thank you for your help.

Long overdue.........

I was in New Mexico all last week for a memorial we held for my grandfather. The whole trip was amazing to say the least. And it was so, so, so, so, good to see Casey, my family and be back home. I can't even explain.

The pictures of Casey just had to be made. Two different times we managed to be in the car when the sun gods smiled on us and the New Mexico light peaked through the clouds. The first one is on the way to Santa Fe. It had been overcast all day but for about 54 seconds that golden monkey light hit the side of the hill and I insisted we pull over. Casey obliged by being my model.

The second picture is the Sandia mountains that sit right above Albuquerque. Again, the light. Casey held the wheel while I pressed the gas and tried to take a picture.

And the third picture happened right outside Casey's parents house before dinner. Her blue eyes and the light.....

I miss home....

Te quiero Casey, te quiero Nuevo Mexico..........