The Tree That Called Me Back
I first noticed this tree from a distance, and the closer I got, the more I kept thinking, that is a perfect tree. It had so much character that I wanted to photograph it from low to the ground, looking upward, so you could really feel its height and presence. At the base was a natural opening that already seemed to suggest there was something more inside.
Years later, I saw the photo again while my saved pictures were cycling across my TV screen. As soon as it came up, I knew this was one I had to return to. It was calling me back, the same way some of my other photos have.
So I brought it into the creative process and let the tree show us what it wanted to become. The opening turned into a doorway, the forest softened around it, and a small hidden world began to take shape.
What I like most about the finished piece is how peaceful it feels. It has a softness to it, almost like a place you could step into and disappear for a while.
I think I could spend the night there.
Uncle Sam’s October Surprise
I spotted this Uncle Sam display on my walk in early October 2026. Every year, businesses around downtown Dallas create Halloween decorations in front of their stores, and this one was near the city and county buildings. The minute I saw him, I thought he deserved something bigger. Uncle Sam has never really been a small character, so I let the scene grow around him—flags, fireworks, eagles, sunlight, and a celebration large enough to match the personality. Sometimes an ordinary walk gives you something that just wants to become larger than life.
