Callie Ann: Photographic Witness to Life

   Purpose…its one of those evasive pursuits that teases us and taunts us toward all kinds of actions, investments, and never-ending searches on Google, college degree lists, and discussions with friends. We seek to find what it is in life we were meant to do. We try tangible work, service, chasing money, achieving a professional dream. Most often people settle into a less than fulfilled line of work to pay bills, knowing that they have compromised their happiness.

   Not so with Callie.

    Callie studied Fine Arts at Indiana State University. But that is not where she found her passion. Callie happened upon passion; she discovered her purpose while in search of a relatively useful camera at Best Buy about four years ago. While there, looking for a practical camera to begin a business in photography, Callie discovered her dream, her purpose, and made the investment in a rather more professional version of a camera. Turns out it was a wise choice.

   Callie has developed from a hobbyist at photography into a talented and accomplished professional.

   While she can be engaged to photograph many things from antique cars to birthday parties, and the usual events that one would wish to record for posterity, Callie makes it clear that her favorite subject is life. It is the celebration of life. Callie is a witness to the blossoming of life into unbounded purpose and potential.

   We begin with maternity photography: Life becomes not only obvious but expectant as pregnant women approach delivery date. This quality of expectancy becomes a precious moment to capture. Callie loves to pose and capture such moments, not only as a memory or a record of a moment; Callie brings witness to the potential of life as she focuses and snaps. This moment becomes more than a memory. This moment becomes a living impression of love to be framed and cherished upon walls and desktops and tables.

    Callie loves taking newborn pictures. I am a sucker for babies. Each baby is uniquely beautiful and inspiring in their small movements, their small voices and their very large impressions they make on us. With a newborn, it soon becomes obvious, they don’t belong to us, we belong to them. Callie captures that belonging. She brings position and light to bear upon that newborn in a flattering and

  compelling vision and snaps that vision into a heart-warming sigh every time you revisit that picture.

    And of course, Callie loves photographing children. The continuity of life. From pregnancy to newborn to children running and playing. Callie is witness to the full potential that life brings forth. She captures the giggles, the jumps, the ever active moment of childhood.

   Yes, our children are children for such a short period. They laugh and play briefly and then run on to other things in life.

   It is fortunate for you that Callie discovered her purpose, her passion at a Best Buy store while looking for a camera.

    Callie has a “clients first” philosophy toward her art and work. She wants to make sure you are happy with your purchase.

Callie offers witness to life to be framed and cherished upon your walls for years to come.

   If you would like Callie to witness to your life, more information can be found at:

Phtographybycallie.com

www.facebook.com/Cameracallie91?pnref=lhc

Etsy (search for cameracallie)

Julia Baird, The Mersey Beatles, and that Liverpudlian Accent!

    On Thursday, April 23, 2015 on NPR's "Here and Now", Douglas Druick, President of the Art Institute of Chicago, was interviewed regarding a recent $500 million donation. On that program, Mr. Druick affirmed that with a greater number of pieces of art "we can tell a story with much greater nuance and complexity."
   This is how I feel about "tribute" bands. Whether they cover the Rolling Stones, Monkees, Led Zeppelin or the Beatles, I have discovered that I may indeed enjoy these tribute bands more than the "real thing" that they cover.
   These tribute bands have the benefit of looking back on the history of their claimed band and can, in Druick's words, "tell a story with much greater nuance and complexity" than those ephemeral moments which were distracted by poor seating, poor views, less than optimum audio, and any number of unanticipated problems which detracted from what was expected of the originals.
   A tribute band can, with a retrospective view, gather the best of the history, compose a story or a theme and present that to a contemporary audience such that it reminds them of their initial anticipations regarding their band, and brings them along in a magical mystery tour of "how it all unfolded" while affirming the audience's  "almost like being there" sentiment.
   The Mersey Beatles are one such tribute band.

Eric, my son, and I frame a Mersey Beatles poster(also a "Here Come the Mummies" poster) as we sport our VIP credentials

Eric and Sherry, my wife, before the concert

    But before we further discuss the Four Lads from Liverpool, let us give some attention to another making the trip from Liverpool to Elkhart. Let's focus on Julia Baird for a moment. Julia is John Lennon's sister. And though my initial intent was to focus an interview on her, rather than John, it became clear that her focus is indeed John, the Beatles, Liverpool, and the Cavern club of which she is a board member.
    Julia, wearing a "Cavern Club t-shirt, greeted folk with a welcoming smile and a down-to-Earth interpersonal style that made folk feel immediately befriended.
   She was with the band to help promote their tour, to gain attention for Liverpool and the Cavern, and also to sell her book "Imagine This...Growing Up with My brother John Lennon".
    I was with a group of fans waiting to meet her and gain her autograph on a copy of the book.

We were at the beautiful Lerner Theater in Elkhart. And while I don't like waiting in lines, this one seemed quick, and comfortable.
It was a lot like waiting to go backstage to see a rock star. Close enough for me.

Part of the band's entourage backstage

   As I don't like elevators, once we got through the "backstage area", my wife, Sherry, my son, Eric, and myself were escorted down stairs and through a maze of tunnels. It felt very much like back stage living. I overheard Julia telling another fan and autograph seeker that this was her first time in Indiana and that she was very pleased. Julia also commented that the acoustics at the Lerner are great,
   But after I had opportunity to have my copy of the book signed, and I gained a picture with Julia, we left for the concert featuring The Mersey Beatles.

These fellows are a great tribute band. I've heard a couple of other Beatles tribute bands, and I think these guys are the best. The way they position themselves on stage, their gestures and movements, and their sound contribute to an experience that runs almost up to the real thing. The phrase "suspension of disbelief", while applied to a movie-going experience, seems easily acquired here in this concert with these accomplished performers. They sound so close to the originals that if you allow, you can be mentally and emotionally "placed" in the original time period, at least for a couple of hours.

    Yes, it was a good sound. They seemed particularly authentic. And I pondered, as I listened to their expertise, why I felt this band was better than others. Yes, they are technically accomplished. Yes, they have practiced. But there was some other quality which seemed beyond practice and acquisition. It was my wife, Sherry, that identified the quality. It was that Liverpudlian accent.
   And not only that accent, which very naturally made them sound like the Beatles, but all other experiences growing up in Liverpool. These fellows grew up in the same city. They had the same cultural and local customs to mold and shape their language, pronunciations, gestures, and behaviors in general. Of course they so very closely resemble the Beatles, they almost are!

Mike with Julia

   Anyway, it was a great concert. And I encourage you to attend when they play at another venue.
You can find out more about the Mersey Beatles at
http://themerseybeatles.com/
   You can find out more about Julia Baird at
http://juliabaird.eu/

The audience waving lights during "All You Need is Love"