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Presidents Day – Goodbye to a president…

lobiondo-afbf2016-stallman-lastspeech_0503This year’s American Farm Bureau Convention is over.  5 days and over 75000 steps (my phone kept track)! Also, a new president.  Bob Stallman has been president for 16 years.  His office was in DC but his rice and cattle farm is in Texas.  I’m sure he’s logged many miles over the 16 years representing American farmers around the world.  In my experience, he’s a humble man with a quick smile.  This image is from his last speech during a standing ovation.  But time moves on.  The new president is a farmer from Georgia named Zippy.  Yes, I love the southerners and their nicknames.  But for now, here’s to Bob.  I hope he gets some well deserved rest.

More later…

ML

Final Thoughts from Farm Bureau 14- Location Commercial Photography

Photography by Michael LoBiondo

Alamo St. Market

My recent trip to San Antonio Tx for the Annual Farm Bureau Convention/Meeting was the learning experience I expected.  The farmers and ranchers I meet and interact with are always generous, courteous, and well mannered.  Plus they were some fabulous boots (see photo).  As we do mainly commercial photography throughout the year, this trip always starts the year with good people, good food, and some great imagery.

Photography by Michael LoBiondo

Cowboy Boots on Convention Carpet

Some of the good eats were Bananas Foster (almost caught my coat on fire…exciting stuff) and  little peach empanadas.

Photography by Michael LoBiondo

Bananas Foster

 

Photography by Michael LoBiondo

Empadadas

There’s also a lot of skulls/masks here.  Some are very colorful.

Photography by Michael LoBiondo

Skull Mask

The main speaker of the conference was retired Commander Stanley McChrystal.  This man served honorably for many years and he was a great speaker.

Photography by Michael LoBiondo

Commander Stanley McChrystal

So now a new year begins.  Lots of images to share.  Thanks to Mary and Mike and Ken.  They make the long hours easy to bear and are fun to be with.

Next post…a prison story!  More later…

ML

 

 

 

My favorite Super Bowl Commercial was…

Photography by Michael LoBiondo

Future Farmer, seeder, planter,driver,farrier,milker,rider, etc…

I have a special place in my heart for farmers so my 2 cents for best commercial last night was the Ram Truck “so, God made a farmer”.  Here’s a link in you want to see it again: http://youtu.be/AMpZ0TGjbWE.  I get to spend some time with farmers every year but it’s not enough.  I grew up next to a farm, have cousins and uncles who are farmers, worked at a place that hauled farm goods and produce.  I can’t begin to know what it takes to be a farmer but I know that there’s never enough appreciation for what they do.

So when you look at that apple or head of broccoli or box of cereal, think of the hands and hearts it took to get it to your grocery store.  Eat well!!

More later…

ML

Working in Hawaii…

Photo by Michael LoBiondo

Working in Hawaii at the American Farm Bureau Convention

Yes, I did go to Hawaii and, yes, it was beautiful.  We were shooting a group of 50 or so folks at the Hilton Hawaiian Village and when climbing up the ladder, I turned around to see this image.  This is the only photo of me (really) from the trip but it proves the point that sometimes the most interesting images are behind you.  It also reminds me of something we don’t have here in my neighborhood.  Palm Trees.  There are some here in Charlotte, but I have never seen them.

Photo by Michael LoBiondo

Mokolii-Chinaman’s Hat

I had the opportunity to travel with Mike Danna and his video crew from Louisiana, to Kualoa Regional Beach Park off the North Shore of Oahu to view the island of Mokolii, also known as the Chinaman’s Hat.  At low tide, you walk right over to this smallest of Hawaiian islands (1477 ft) or just take a canoe or kayak.  A storm was brewing so we only had a short amount of time to get the video needed and for me to take a few shots. When I turned around to leave, here’s what we saw…

Photo by Michael LoBiondo

View into Kahana Valley State Park on Oahu, Hawaii

Back home in Charlotte, ready to tackle 2012.  Couldn’t have started any better.

More later…

ML