Dewitt Jones: Celebrate What’s Right with the World!

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CWR Website The Film from Shervin Communications on Vimeo.

Life (and great photography) is about inspiration as much as it is about information. Whatever it is that moves you to do things is just as important as knowing how to do it. If you aren’t inspired, all the information in the world won’t help you very much. But if you are sufficiently inspired, you will move heaven and earth to find the information you need. It is about vision! This 22 minute video is about finding the kind of vision that inspires your life and your photography.

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Video of Ronald Reagan’s Speech On the 40th Anniversary of D-Day

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President Reagan’s 13 minute speech at the U.S. Ranger Monument at Pointe du Hoc is considered to be one of the great speeches in American History. In addition to President Reagan, these world leaders were present: Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, Queen Beatrix of The Netherlands, King Olav V of Norway, King Baudouin I of Belgium, Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg, and Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau of Canada.

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The Text of Ronald Reagan’s Speech On the 40th Anniversary of D-Day

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Ronald Reagan, 40th Anniversary of D-Day

President Reagan’s 13 minute speech at the U.S. Ranger Monument at Pointe du Hoc is considered to be one of the great speeches in American History. In addition to President Reagan, these world leaders were present: Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, Queen Beatrix of The Netherlands, King Olav V of Norway, King Baudouin I of Belgium, Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg, and Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau of Canada.

The text of Reagan’s speech follows.

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Favorite Photo, June 5

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Jan Kraybill, The Auditorium, Independence, Missouri
Jan Kraybill, Independence, Missouri. June 5, 2005

Jan Kraybill is an exceptionally fine organist who performs all over the world. She is also a friend of mine and she happens to ride a Harley for fun. How can you not like a bike riding organist?

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Favorite Photo, June 4

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The original, uncropped photo.
Kristina, Columbus Ohio. June 4, 2012.

We hit it off great from our very first photo shoot. She in college and majoring in business . We wanted to create some beautiful images. This is one of my most favorite photos for this date and it is one of her favorite images too.

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Favorite Photo, June 2

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Jim and Janae, USMA, West Point, New York. June 2, 1995.
Jim and Janae, USMA, West Point, New York. June 2, 1995.

We were at West Point for the graduation of our son Jim from the United States Military Academy. I took this picture of Jim and our daughter Janae on the way to a graduation banquet. This is my favorite photo for this date.

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Favorite Photo, June 1

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Gossen Luna-Pro F incident and flash light meter.
Gossen Luna-Pro F incident and flash light meter. Columbus Ohio. June 1, 2010.

I needed a manual incident flash meter to use at my first wedding. This is what I bought. I also used it to meter incident ambient light, one of the most reliable ways to meter that is not influenced by the reflectivity of the subject.

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Favorite Photo, May 30

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Camp Chase Confederate Cemetery, Columbus Ohio.
Camp Chase Confederate Cemetery, Columbus Ohio. May 30, 2016.

I was surprised to learn that there is a Confederate Civil War Cemetery in Columbus Ohio, so I went late on afternoon to check it out. Over 2100 confederate soldiers are buried here. More information is at the Camp Chase link below. This is my favorite photo for this date.

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Favorite Photo, May 29

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Blue Jay, Whitefish Point, Michigan's U.P.
Blue Jay, Whitefish Point, Michigan’s U.P. May 29, 2017.

It was a rainy, drizzly day at Whitefish Point in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, but photographers and bird watchers were everywhere. I was leading as photography field trip. This curious Blue Jay got closer and closer and was eyeing me carefully. I kept clicking the shutter as the jay got closer. This is one of my two most favorite photos for this date.

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Favorite Photo, May 28

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Lightning, Lake Michigan. May 18, 2017.

I have so many favorite photos for this date (36 total) in my “favorite photos” folder, it was hard to pick. I finally decided on this one as one of my most favorites for several reasons. One is the actual lightning bolt. Another is the reflection, especially of the left side of the bolt. And I love the clouds which I think really help make the photo. But there is an additional reason.

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Favorite Photo, May 27

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Sunny at the Park, Columbus Ohio. May 27, 2016.

When Sunny and I go for a walk, I usually let him determine the route. Most days he heads for his favorite park. On this walk I got down at his eye level to take a picture with my iPhone. This is one of my two most favorite photos for this date.

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Favorite Photo, May 26

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U.S. Flag, Parade
U.S. Flag, Memorial Day Parade, Worthington Ohio. May 26, 2014.

When I saw this flag comping down the street, I knew what I needed to do. My experience as a newspaper photographer taught me to look for unusual angles and to be bold enough to get in the right spot.

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Favorite Photo, May 25

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Male Northern Cardinal Bringing Food to the Nest
Male Northern Cardinal, Columbus Ohio. May 25, 2015.

May is the time of year to photograph birds feeding their young. A pair of cardinals built a nest in a bush right by our front porch. This mail ;anded on the porch with food in his mouth, looked at me, and then went inside the bush to the nest to feed his young. This is one of my two most favorite photos for May 25.

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Favorite Photo, May 24

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Robin's at the Nest, Columbus Ohio
Robin’s at the Nest, Columbus Ohio. May 24, 2018.

John Weese, one of my photo buddies, called to tell me Robin’s were nesting in a tree in his front yard. We were able to watch the whole nesting process, right through the appearance and feeding of the babies. I was fortunate enough to catch a moment with both parents at the nest as one of them fed the babies. This is my favorite photo for May 24.

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Favorite Photo, May 23

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Bee and Salvia, Columbus Ohio. May 23, 2013.

A bee was busy in one of our flower gardens so I pulled my iPhone out of my pocket and started taking pictures. Catching a sharp closeup of a busy bee with an iPhone is a hit or miss proposition. I got a total of five images before the bee flew away and only one of them was sharp. This is my favorite photo for May 23.

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Favorite Photo, May 22

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Danielle, Columbus Ohio
Danielle, Portrait, Columbus Ohio. May 22, 2008.

Danielle and I were creating portraits in my studio for both of our portfolios. In this image I was going for a classic look with minimal contrast. As you can see from the catchlights in her eyes, I used two studio lights aimed at her face. The main light was up and to camera left and the fill light, which was only dialed down a bit, was up and to camera right. A third studio light is behind her and high to the right, putting a highlight on her hair. This is my favorite images for this date, and one of my all time favorite portraits. I made display prints of this image in several sizes from wallet size up to 16×20 inches.

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Favorite Photo, May 16

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Jupiter and Venus over Big Red lighthouse and Holland State Park, Michigan. May 16, 2015.
Jupiter and Venus over Big Red lighthouse, Holland State Park, Michigan. May 16, 2015.

My photography workshop was out for an afternoon and evening field trip and we ended the day at Holland State Park. Jupiter (upper center) and Venus (lower and to the right) were shining brightly in the western sky. It was a beautiful evening. This is my favorite photo for May 16.

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Favorite Photo, May 15

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Jim and Jennifer, Lamoni Iowa. May 15, 1999
Jim and Jennifer, Lamoni Iowa. May 15, 1999

We were visiting on the campus of Graceland University. I decided to do a casual portrait of our oldest son Jim and his fiancée, Jennifer. Their wedding was 6 weeks away. This is one of my most favorite photos for this date.

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