No freedom till we're equal, damn right I support it..

              

                    No freedom till we're equal, 
                  damn right I support it..

                                     http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65zTJy_pWYg

"Same Love" (with Ryan Lewis) (feat. Mary Lambert) says it the best.........................................
Who are we to play god? Who are we to judge? Who are we to say that it is not right for one woman to love another woman or a man to love another man. 

This blog is a little late but I have to say going to Salisbury pride was one of the best things I have done. I support gays/lesbians how I see it is who am I to care who you love, it is honestly none of my business but.... my best friends are lesbians and they are some of the most caring and warmhearted people out there! So why do people keep crushing them, judging them, and making them a outcast? 

We once had to fight for women's rights and blacks freedom and rights how is this any different all it is is passing judgment on others and damn it WE WILL also fight for the rights of the same love. 

Protesters lined the streets at Salisbury pride but did that bother the gays NO they stood up for what they believe god loves every one and who are they to cast the first stone and try to say that gays are a abomination and that god hates them. They are so worried about sin that they are breaking one of the Golden rules of the Bible... " Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.  {Matthew 7: 1-2}"  Walking the streets my friend said it the best she walked right up to that protester and asked him if he would like to throw the first stone.   

Salisbury pride is nothing but that, PRIDE in who these loving people are. They celebrate in drag shows and show there love to one another and just have fun with no judgement as a matter of fact the host of the show asked how many of us in the audience were straight and at least 33% were I am happy to see that we were strong enough to support the ones we also love as our own family. I was there with Jaxson Moray one of the best drag kings around in my opinion. Also I was there with my friend/ "sister" Kelly.We are members of  the dream team (Jaxson's Cheering squad) who are: her Wing man John, her wife Kelly, and Me :-) 

These are just a few more pictures of pride to show most of the fun loving people you might meet one day. Do me a favor before you judge get to know the people you are judging they might just become your best friend.They may just be your neighbors that you have lived next to for years, who don't want you to think they are not "straight" or your siblings. Don't judge because you are only truly judging yourself!!! I do not judge people who are different in any way, if I did I would not have the great friends I do today. If I could name each and every one of my friends I would but, there are just to many of them out there that are great.

 

Month of MAY and two things that mean alot to me

PLEASE HELP RAISE AWARENESS

I have recently learned that May is both National photography month and Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS) Awareness month. Both of these things mean a lot to me Photography is the one thing that I love to do and well is my addiction.  EDS is on the other end of the totem pole it’s not something that I like at all but both me and my 8 year old daughter are stuck will this Illness and I am always trying to raise awareness.

 I love that photography captures just one moment in time. With the growth of video and its intrusion into our daily lives in the form of TV, movies, YouTube, and even smart phone videos, the notion that you can watch a video of a sporting event for instance, but miss the incredible look of determination on an athlete’s face means we still need a way of capturing a SINGLE moment. That’s what photography does that videography does not. 

I have a REALLY bad memory.  To the point where stuff just disappears; Whole events, years, decades, people just gone.  I think it’s something to do with EDS But when I have pictures things solidify in my brain and I retain some memories, flickering alone in the emptiness of my past. Each slice of our lives is available for memory protection thanks to photography. That’s pretty amazing.

Most important of all it Makes me happy.  When I’ve nailed it I get this lovely glowing feeling of satisfaction.  Even when it’s an accident.  When other people say they like something I’ve done, that’s pretty cool, too. 

WHAT IS EHLERS DANLOS SYNDROME

Ehlers–Danlos syndrome (EDS) (also known as Cutis hyperelastica^[1]) is a group of inherited connective tissue disorders, caused by a defect in the synthesis of collagen (Type I or III). The collagen in connective tissue helps tissues resist deformation. Collagen is an important contributor to the physical strength of skin, joints, muscles, ligaments, blood vessels and visceral organs; abnormal collagen renders these structures more elastic. Depending on the individual, the severity of the mutation can vary from mild to life-threatening. There is no cure, and treatment is supportive, including close monitoring of the digestive, excretory and particularly the cardiovascular systems. Occupational and physical therapy, bracing, and corrective surgery may help with the frequent injuries and pain that tend to develop in certain types of EDS, although extra caution and special practices are advised to prevent permanent damage.   ******http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ehlers%E2%80%93Danlos_syndrome#Other_types*******

    Ehlers Danlos syndrome affects people in many different ways and on many different levels. Some DO have it worse than others would I say i have it worse than others some yes and some defiantly not some people don't have any pain and live a normal life but the majority of us have Chronic pain.

 The most  life threatening type of EDS is type 4 the vascular type and the most painful type is type 3 the Hypermobility type. There Are many types of EDS at least 10.

How does it affect my daughter and I?

Both my daughter and I have the hypermobility type it hasn't effected my daughter that bad as of yet she has dislocations of her fingers and knees without any warning or trauma causing the dislocation  She bruises very easily and her immune system is somewhat weak she is susceptible to ear infections, infections from ingrown nails (that cause her fingernails to raise up and fall off) also, when she was around 1up until she was around 5or6) she had to wear orthotic inserts to keep her ankles and shins from turning inward ( that was the worse hearing her cry every night because her shins were turned in and very weak) 

Myself I have many of the conditions that come along with EDS i am only going to name some of them 

Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postural_orthostatic_tachycardia_syndrome

Raynaud's phenomenon

IBS

Fibromyalgia

Other ways it affects me is 

muscle weakness 

spontaneous dislocations- I currently have 3 dislocated ribs

and many other ways including my memory hints why i cant think right now (sorry)

To learn more about EDS please visit CEDSA@ http://www.cedsa.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=34&Itemid=204&lang=en 

or the Ehlers Danlos National Foundation @

 EDNF.org

PLEASE HELP RAISE AWARENESS

Taking A Stand

           

 April 1^st a classmate and I packed up our camera bags and headed for Hickory N.C. to witness many bikers and other residents take a stand for Marine Lance Cpl. Mason Vanderwork. Mason Vanderwork was one of seven marines killed in a training accident on March 18th in Nevada.People lined the streets holding flags outside of the Bass Smith Funeral home in hopes that Westboro church would not show their faces but prepared if they did. Westboro church is known for protesting at service men and women’s funerals throwing words of hate speech. I was very sickened to hear about the details that the church goes through it seems to be a hate church or should I say a cult.

The sad thing is many men and women are fighting for this country’s freedom and rights of speech in which westboro church would not have the right to create these protest and picket lines making themselves look a fool if we did not have these brave men and women.

                                                                                 We arrived outside the funeral home at around 11am and walked the streets listening to the bikers plan on how they would make a barrier to keep Westboro out. It would have been beautiful to see they had planned on, crossing arms and holding the American flags so that the flags would block the faces of Westboro church. I am happy to say that westboro church did not show and Mason Vanderwork’s family was able to put one of our fallen soldiers to rest in peace.

My First Bridal Shoot

    After stressing out about getting that perfect wedding picture of my cousin in her wedding. I started asking friends/classmates if I could tag along to weddings or Bridal shoots so that I could get as much practice as possible with the skin tones, the reflective white bridal gown, and Black tux all rolled in one, because I know that it is a challenge to get the right exposures with these combinations . Finally I got my chance to take my first  Bridals with a friend of mine in her studio and back yard. No.. I did not get the chance to fight with the black tux, White bridal gown, and the off the wall colors for bridesmaids dresses all rolled into one but I did get the awesome opportunity to meet a awesome bride and have the chance to fight with the reflections bouncing off her beautiful wedding gown. Thank you Jessica for letting me be part of what will be your memories for a lifetime. Also, thank you Kelly for letting me tag along to your photoshoot and help you shoot the photos for this beautiful bride.

Its not as easy as it looks

  When I started school I thought I was getting into something easy and simple. Guess again, Photography classes are not easy and far from simply pushing a button.
     It is not as simple as pressing a button. Photographers take the time to  prep, take the photo, edit, and deliver. Photographers have to have an eye for photos, know how to properly expose, compose, and many more task to make that perfect photo.
   Never sell yourself short always strive for the best that is what my friends and I do.  I have fought everyday to get through almost 2 semesters of college with an A average. Fighting with lighting, composition, finding models and/or subjects plus many more obstacles. It has been a big challenge. Even with all the fighting to get everything perfect (at least to me) Photography has been a challenge a big learning experience and makes me realize this is still what I want to do.

Having a child while in photography classes

Since my daughter was born I have been to school for two different degrees. Early childhood education and now Photography which both are a childhood dream of mine.
     Early childhood education was fun and yes a challenge but it was pulling my daughter and me apart. I was working full time and going to school full time. When in the end i did not find it fair for my daughter to feel abandoned by her mother while I was in school trying to get a education to be with other children.So i had to quit Early childhood education in school and live it with the most important child in my life, my daughter.
      Photography on the other hand, has pulled me and my daughter even closer.When I need a model she once again becomes my number one and when she isn't she is standing right beside me with her little point and shoot camera, trying her best to get the same image as mommy if not striving to do even better.
      I honestly did not know if going to school for Photography was going to be a good idea when it came to my daughter and I, with our relationship, but it also is becoming a dream of hers, which I will support.

Welcome

Taken by Kelly Hill

Welcome my name is R.Loretta Moorehead Photographer for Blue Moon Memories. I've been into photography for as far back as I can remember.My first camera i ever owned was a 110 film camera. I was only 7 years old and always taking snapshots of my family and animals.from the age of 12 up until I was 17 I had a 35mm. I would take pictures of all my friends at school.When I turned 17 I got my first digital camera which was a Kodak Easyshare. In 2005 when my beautiful daughter was born she became my main subject. Now here I am with a canon T3I in my first year of college majoring in photography at Catawba Valley Community College (CVCC) and still loving it.