Colby Files.

Life is full of joy, friends, family, and good times overall. We spend some time on this bluish ball, scampering around and doing exciting things, making more people, napping, eating ice cream, and laughing.

Some times are sad, and they help us look back at those good times to find they still make us warm or help us smile. That we had the opportunity is always something to be thankful for.

My good friend, Colby, officially hung up his camera and turned off his editing station this week.

Colby is a special friend. He started in Photography about the same time I did a decade and a half ago. I think he had done some film years before, but shooting models, doing art with digital cameras, and editing on the computer were new and strange to us both. I can say with some certainty and some evidence that we both kinda’ sucked back in the first few years.

We knew we wanted to get better, and we knew we could. We weren’t sure if we would. We didn’t have a path to follow, and we both fell into a bit of a funk, occasionally, like writer’s block. Fortunately, we fell into a cycle where when one of us was down, the other was on a roll. We encouraged each other and taught each other things we’d learned. It took a few years of that back and forth helping each other before we had the confidence that we just knew it would be okay. And it helped that we got better at our craft. A LOT better.

I found it funny that I was helping him with a shoot one time, just as a third hand and observer that was trying to stay out of the way. He liked to tether, meaning the images would appear on his computer as he took them. After 8-10 shots, we would all run over the computer and see how they looked. He was a slow, steady, and thoughtful shooter. Each was a keeper, in my opinion. What I found funny was that I could look at one of his images on that screen and, in my own imagination, edit it in his style and know what it was going to look like. That demonstrates how much I loved and studied his work.

Without Colby, I’m not sure I could have reached the level I am at now. He was instrumental in my growth.

His art is something to behold—it is the definition of fine art, especially his black-and-white work. I’m awe-struck, and most of his work is in my inspiration folder.

Hey Colby! Time to get together for lunch?

Stay cool and enjoy life. Spend it like you only have the one.

To be a great conversationalist, ask questions and listen. Repeat.

“Be curious, not judgemental” - Walt Whittman

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