people – Page 2 – A Photo A Day (Squarespace)

07-15-16 Duet

This old piano teaches me something about the meaning of the word “value” . . . (read more)

By Scott Shephard

This old piano has been in Deb’s family for almost 80 years. Deb’s grandma Leah bought it used to liven up their home. Eventually, it went from rural Miller, SD, where Deb’s grandparents farmed, to her parents’ house in Sioux Falls. A few decades later, it came to live with us in Watertown, SD. It has now followed us to three different houses.

It has no monetary value and if I’d have had my way, it would have been left behind two houses ago. But as I look at this photo, I am given a powerful lesson on the meaning of the word “value.”

Deb has always said it had “sentimental value,” and while I never scoffed at the idea, I failed to see how a heavy piano that caused more than one mover to curse could be something we’d hang on to. To me it was essentially a very big, somewhat ragged souvenir.

This photo helps me understand Deb’s attachment. Here our son Brian sits and plays this old instrument with his youngest daughter Irene. Brian’s innate musical ability came from his grandpa Clint, who first played this piano when he was very young. And, if Irene is lucky, she will inherit her father’s and her great grandfather’s talent.

When Irene puts her little fingers on this piano, she is the fifth generation to come in contact with an instrument that has brought music and life to every room its been in. I have a new-found fondness for this piano. But I also hope that before Deb and I move again, Brian or Ibby move it to their house. 🙂

Canon 5DIII 1/20s f/4.0 ISO500 32mm

Here’s an archival photo of Deb playing this very piano. It’s a bit blurry, I’m afraid but that’s Deb’s Grandpa Arie sitting in the background.

07-10-16 Sister Act

We celebrated Irene Bernice’s 1st birthday and Glenyce enjoyed the event. . . (read and see more by seeing the blog)

By Scott Shephard

We hosted Irene Bernice Shephard’s (left) 1st birthday party yesterday and a good time was had by all. There was much that made it a special day but grandmother Mary Brass made very special outfits for the grandchildren. And they were a colorful hit!

Canon 5DIII 1/2000s f/2.8 ISO400 200mm

06-14-16 Inside Looking Out

Glenny enjoys the view from her tiny, tiny house. . . . (read more)

By Scott Shephard

For her third birthday, Glenyce Jane S. got a new house complete with sink, stove, cordless phone. The house is somewhere in size between an oversized doll’s house and a downsized tiny house of the kind you see on TV these days.

She likes her new house, of course, and has no trouble sharing the space with family members, me included. Though I have found it is easier to get in to the house than out.

Canon 5DIII 1/250s f/6.7 ISO320 67mm

A few more. . . (photos by Katie Shephard and Deb Shephard)

06-13-16 Ibby

Here’s looking at you, kid. . . (read more)

By Scott Shephard

My wife, Deb, asked me yesterday if I remembered that I had a photo blog that I used to post to once a day. And, yes, I did remember. She pointed out that I had plenty of good photos to share. And, I guess she’s right. So I’m back! At least for a day. . . .

It seems appropriate that I should return after close to a six week absence with a picture of the youngest member of the extended Shephard family. We know her these days as “Ibby,” though her full name is Irene Bernice.

And what can I say except that I think she’s beautiful. But what grandparent wouldn’t say that about one of their grandchildren?

Canon 5DIII 1/180s f/4.0 ISO640 102mm

05-01-16 No Worry

By Scott Shephard

Deb told me that if I posted this, I couldn’t post another of us the two of us for the rest of the trip “because,” she said, “people can post too many selfies.” So be it. Tomorrow, if I have an Internet connection, it’s back to animals, places and things.

Canon 5DIII

04-14-16 Photographer At Work (Andy O)

Have you seen Andy’s brilliant early morning photo in the LATI photo gallery? (read more)

By Scott Shephard

If you live in Watertown, SD, and haven’t had a chance to see the student photo gallery at Lake Area Technical Institute, you should try to do so. There are some great photos there but one of my favorites is a photo of Lakota Lake in the Black HIlls taken by Andy Olson last summer during the Black Hills Photo Adventure I hosted.

I’ve taken many photos of this lake but I’ve never captured it the way Andy did. But I did manage to get a decent photo of Andy taking the photo. That’s got to count for something doesn’t it?

Canon 5DIII 1/350s f/2.8 ISO400 145mm

04-04-16 Mike & Scott

Simon, set the Wayback Machine to 1955″ . . . (read more)

By Scott Shephard

In 1955 I was 2 years old and my brother, Mike, was about 5. My mom was a stay-at-home mom (as most were back then) and my dad, who was 37, was working at L.A. McKean Auto Company in Sioux Falls. Money was tight for the Shephard family back then. And yet, here my brother and I are in the brand new clothes our mom got us. We are getting our portraits taken at a high-end portrait studio – Harold’s Photography of Sioux Falls.

Our family wasn’t unique. Getting good portraits at good studios was very much part of the American culture back then. And, for the most part, it still is – many parents get professional portraits made of their young children. After a few years, though, for most it becomes a “do-it-yourself” enterprise. It certainly did for the Shephards in the 1950s and beyond.

In fact, as far as I know, this was the last professional portrait done of my brother and me together. I don’t feel sad but I can’t help but imagining a series of high quality portraits of me, my brother and my sister, Barb, as we got older. Instead we have a scattering of average quality pictures taken by the amateur photographer we loved the most – my mother.

Photos are very much a part of our personal and shared history. I have no recollection of the moment this photo was taken. In fact I have have no recollection of most of the moments of my life. So a photo like this brings at least 1/60th of second of my life into sharp focus: on this day we got dressed up, my brother put his arm around me and we smiled. I’d like to think we are looking at our mother, who is very much part of this photo, even if you can’t see her.

(Add 51 years to our lives, dress us much more casually, put us in a beer garden in Berlin and here’s what you get:)

03-29-16 Cousins

Here’s a flashback to several years ago. . . (read more)

By Scott Shephard

I have posted plants and birds for the last few days. So today I went looking for people and this one jumped out at me. It was taken in Mexico.

From left to right are Matt D, Jon S, Brian S and Derek D. At the time, I don’t think any one of them was married but today three are and one will be soon. And the four cousins now have a total of 7 children. Will I be around the get the next generation strolling down the beach? I hope so.

Canon 5D 1/320s f/10.0 ISO400 50mm

03-15-16 Too Cute!

She has me and several others wrapped around her little finger. . . (read more)

By Scott Shephard

I’ve never met grandparents who thought their grandchildren were anything but cute. And I’m one of them.

Irene Bernice has been plagued with ear problems that have kept her parents up most nights since she was born. And yet, during the day, and perhaps most importantly, when I’m around her, she is always charming. And cute. Of course!

Canon 5DIII 1/125s f/8.0 ISO200 102mm