Carl Sanford Photography

Combat Water Survival Testing

Its been too long since I have posted – last one being the beginning of September when I left for basic combat training.  During basic I was cut off from civilization for all intents and purposes; not being able to use my cellphone, watch TV, or get on the internet.

However, I just finished my third week of Officer Candidate School and have a regular opportunity to get online and update the site.  Better yet, I have been elected as my OCS Class’s public affairs officer.  In this role I am a photographer, web designer, publisher and all around media geek.  This affords me to take lots of pictures that I can use to publish on the site, which I plan to do on a regular basis.

As many of you know, today I ship out for Army basic training which is to be followed by Officer Candidate School (and BOLC II, AIT training, and hopefully Airborne, Ranger and Air Assault Schools).  It a bittersweet occasion, embarking on a new adventure while being forced to leave family and friends behind.  Although I know in my heart I will likely end up back in West Michigan, I don’t really know where this journey will take me past the next 18 months of training I am expected to receive.  Maybe I stay in the US or maybe I am deployed to a war.

I know many of friends and family still don’t fully understand my reason for joining and I am not sure I will ever be able to truly explain in a way it will be comprehended.  If I had to point to the most concrete of reasons it would have to be an opportunity to reinvent myself, my thirst for adventure, and a desire to prove myself.

Please be aware that I will be out of contact for the next week and will have NO access to the internet or e-mail until November 20th.  As a result, this site will be pretty much static until then.  I have hoping to be able to use my cell phone at least once a week (but there is no guarantee).  Also, I will be using Julia’s cell phone until I am out of training.  Her number is 616-648-8576.  I will also distribute my address once I know it.

I hope to update my site upon my return.

One of the things I hate most about photography is how expensive it is.  Often, anything associated with photography is often double or triple the price that item would be sold anywhere else.  I know its all about what the market will bare – but we are often led to believe that price always goes hand in hand with quality.  I, my friends, am here to tell you different.

I have dabbling in some studio portraiture over the last several months but just haven’t been able to justify the investment into some studio strobes and softboxes.  So I went out and bought a really nice reflector for about $110 and turned an old printer box into a softbox with about $5 in translucent nylon from a hobby store.  The results, in my opinion, are superb for the cost. (see image of Olivia below).

All I did was:

• Take an old printer box and cut out the top flaps.
• Line the inside with aluminum foil.
• Cut out a whole in the back to stick my flash head through (its a good tight fit).
• Use a glue gun to cover the front with translucent nylon.

(click on images to enlarge)

Let me come right out and say what a disappointment this trip was.  Ever since we got married, Kai-Ling has been on me to take her up to see the Mackinaw Bridge and Island.  And after her 30-day post-pregnancy traditional Chinese house arrest enforced by her mother, we were all getting a little cabin fever.  In fact, we were pretty surprised Wu MaMa even agreed to it (but it shows how much even she was itching to get out).

We decided to stay in Mackinaw City and made the mistake of booking a hotel through Hotwire (the site you put in a hotel star rating and location but you don’t know the name of the hotel until you pay for it).  We thought we were getting a two star hotel, which would have been along the lines of a Days Inn, Super 8, etc.  We come to find out that its the Anchor Inn – a local crap hole that probably hasn’t been renovated, upgraded, or otherwise improved upon since its original construction over 20-years.  What a dive.  I can assure you it was certainly no 2-star establishment.  We knew we weren’t going to the Ritz-Carlton, but it was so bad we didn’t spend our second night there.

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Congratulations to Dave and Ting-Ting for commitment to each other.  I am not usually one for weddings, but I must admit it was a beautiful ceremony and fantastic reception.  Although the weather had been threatening to ruin any chances of an outdoor wedding, the weather gods came through and made the lake front event about as perfect as any could hope for.

The following are select photos I took at the wedding: