Last weekend, my parents and I attended the funeral of a family friend's father. Ellis was 98 when he passed, and it was clear how loved he was by everyone in attendance. Pictures of Ellis and his family adorned the room the funeral home had provided. His military history and medals were displayed proudly. Ellis' only grandson gave a beautiful eulogy speaking of Ellis' never-ending adoration and support for his entire family.

From a young age, I've always envisioned myself as making a difference in this world. Not in an egocentric, rule-the-world kind of way (certain politicians' names have been omitted for their protection), but in more of a Steve Jobs/Ansel Adams/Maya Angelou sort of way. I want to be really good at what I do, I want to help people and the world we live in, and I want to feel good about what I'm doing, morally and ethically. I was very much wandering along my life path until a few years ago when photography came into my life in a burst of color and black and white and film and equipment. It struck my soul with such a quite confidence, I knew I had found my life calling.