Part 3 - In October, I celebrated two years as the photographer for The Rim Country Living Magazine. As November, a month of gratitude, unfolds, I want to express my heartfelt thanks to the incredible families and non-profit organizations I've had the joy of photographing for the magazine. I am grateful for the connections and moments we've captured together.
In this blog and the one following, I will be sharing some images from these amazing families and organizations, along with fun stories from the photo sessions.
KRIM
KRIM (96.3FM), a local Payson community low-power radio station, was my very first magazine shoot. It was a lot of fun photographing the group and the DJ's. I even got to photograph one of the DJ's working and interviewing the local Hollywood movie reviewers.
KRIM is a nonprofit organization, the Payson Council for the Musical Arts. KRIM is all about the community. They partner with nonprofits and focus on local events and happenings. They also cover the local high school sports and events, announce parades and recognize businesses through sponsorships.
I enjoy listening to the station because they provide a fun variety of music.
Tonto Natural Bridge State Park Rangers
If you have never been to the Tonto Natural Bridge, located 20 minutes North of Payson, I highly recommend it.
I had a wonderful time on this session. I got to go early the morning before the park opened and photographed some of the finest Park Rangers I have ever met.
I was fortunate to receive a personal tour of the park, including a hike below the bridge. Tonto Bridge Ranger Micah generously shared his expertise, not just about the bridge and park but also his extensive knowledge of geology.
In the past two years, a couple of Rangers bid farewell to their roles, and the former Park Manager, Andrew Young, moved on to a new position. The remarkable and beautiful Katie Ferguson, previously the Assistant Park Manager, has assumed the role of Park Manager. If you haven't visited the park recently or it's been a while, consider spending a day there—enjoy some hiking and a pleasant picnic.
The Mogollon Sporting Association
Founded in 1993, the Mogollon Sporting Association is a non-profit organization created by a dedicated group of volunteers with a vision to make a difference in the lives of our community's youth. Their mission statement encapsulates their purpose: "To enrich wildlife, the environment, education, and our economy in the Mogollon Rim Country by endorsing local quality game management, youth initiatives, and supporting our local businesses."
The Mogollon Sporting Association hosts its annual fundraising event every late summer, and trust me, if you've never attended, it's a must. The event is a blast, featuring numerous raffles and auction items—all for a great cause.
For this session, we all headed out to The Cold Springs Ranch, a 156-acre property located about 8 miles northeast of Payson. It was beautiful out there. I was very glad I drove my Tacoma Pickup that day! The property is adjacent to Ellison Creek and will one-day soon become Cold Springs Fish Hatchery. It was very nice getting to go to a place I have never seen before, and all of the MSA members were super to work with.
The Northern Gila County Fair Board
Tina, the former magazine publisher, also served as a board member of the Northern Gila Country Fair. She had a vision for all board members to have individual headshots and requested me to capture a big group picture as well.
The headshot session went smoothly. However, given the July monsoon weather, ominous dark clouds loomed to the east with distant thunder. The approaching storm moved faster than expected. As I prepared for the group image, an immense gust of wind tousled everyone's hair, scattering several pieces of my equipment.
The situation escalated with lightning and thunder, prompting a hasty retreat to our cars. Maneuvering amidst my photography equipment was challenging, but with the assistance of Steve and Tina Smith, we gathered and secured my gear. Once safe, everyone headed home.
All the images I managed to capture were headshots. Remarkably, the magazine designer skillfully turned these into a fun and awesome cover.
This was one magazine session I will never forget! This photographer does not like being out in lightning and thunderstorms.
Payson Guardians
Tim Gallaghar and Kevin Rush lead the Payson Guardians, a vital component of the Community Risk Reduction program, which made its debut in 2022. Tim, a retired firefighter and a volunteer with the Payson Police Department, joined forces with Kevin, a Payson Police Officer, to conduct risk assessments for local homes.
These assessments serve as excellent opportunities to address and discuss crucial aspects of homeowners' personal health, safety, and security both within and around their homes. It's important to note that these assessments are provided free of charge and are not intended as code enforcement inspections. The Payson Guardians aim to empower local residents to play a more active role in safeguarding themselves.
Impressed by their offerings, I had the chance to witness firsthand what they cover during a meeting with a homeowner. Additionally, they generously provided me with a goodie bag filled with helpful gadgets that I can use around my own home. Getting to know these gentlemen was a pleasure, and our session was incredibly enjoyable.
Eastern Arizona Community College - Now Gila Community College
Gila Community College, formally Eastern Arizona Community College, receives generous support from the ASPIRE Arizona Foundation to help pay the tuition for the first three general education courses each semester and the Gila Community Provisional Community College District, which may pay the tuition for any additional courses, Payson High School Students can take college courses without a financial burden.
This session spanned over a couple of days. On the first day, we gathered all the professors for a photo shoot, capturing images intended for the February magazine cover. Despite the chilly December morning, we swiftly navigated through it, securing a pleasing image for the magazine cover.
A few days later, I returned to the college to document classrooms in action. I captured scenes from the Biology Lab, Phlebotomy Lab, and the Cosmetology program. Each session of this nature brings a new learning experience for me, and I truly relished meeting each instructor and some of the students.
The Rim Country Artists
The photo session with the Rim Country Artist will be remembered as the coldest and windiest one I've ever undertaken. Trying to capture a springtime ambiance in February proved challenging, especially with recent snowfall evident in the surroundings. Although the weather was harsh, and I would typically reschedule such sessions, however the group had sent out an email for all members to attend. This session was happening one way or another!
Despite the unfavorable conditions, there was an impressive turnout, and each member never complained about the cold and wind and was happy to be there. It turned out to be the swiftest session I've ever conducted. Three group pictures and 10 minutes later, everyone was headed home to the warmth of their houses.
A week earlier, I went by their monthly board meeting and captured an image of the Board of Directors at a local restaurant where the group had painted a beautiful mural, which is behind them in the photograph.
The Rim Country Camera Club
The Rim Country Camera Club is a fantastic community of individuals with diverse levels of photography experience. As a nonprofit organization, its mission is to promote photographic education for all those passionate about photography and allocate proceeds from photographic projects to support local charities.
I proudly hold a membership in the camera club and have had the privilege of serving on the board of directors. Currently, I serve as the Rim Country Camera Club Charity Calendar graphic designer and photo submission coordinator. This project holds special significance for me, and I've been actively involved in it for the past five years. The funds generated from the calendar sales directly benefit local food banks, making it a cause close to my heart.
We assembled near Shoo Fly Ruins for the photo session. Given that our organization is named for the Rim Country, I deemed it fitting to capture the group with the majestic Mogollon Rim as the backdrop. While engrossed in arranging the group and their equipment, I inadvertently omitted myself from the picture. The realization only struck me when the President called during our drive home. Though personally I was not worried about being in the image, she insisted on my inclusion in the article. I proposed a solution—capturing a photo of me at the computer holding the calendar I designed. She agreed, and the session turned out to be a memorable moment that I'll cherish for a long time.
As I wrap up my three-part blog series on the incredible experiences I've had being the photographer for Rim Country Living Magazine, I'm eager to continue crafting captivating images for the publication. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to Tina McAllister-Smith for the opportunity she provided me. With Tina's relocation from Payson, I'm thrilled to welcome the talented Kim Chittick as the new content writer and coordinator for the magazine. I'm looking forward to a fruitful collaboration with Kim in the years ahead.
Thank you for investing your time in reading my blogs. Stay tuned for more exciting content in the future!
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