Pine Wood Derby day was the premier event as a Cub Scout.  We all looked forward to this day when we got to show off our hard work and compete for bragging rights as the fastest cub scout. 

Our troop had a two lane wooden track where we competed head to head with other scouts.  We had a tournament style bracket that we used to determine the winner.  We had an established set of rules to follow or we would be disqualified.  I am not a hard core believe in rules like Sheldon Cooper from "The Big Bang Theory" but they do have their place in games and sports.  

My own beautiful candy apple green car had dreams of victory in the local Callaway 369 troop race. The green flag dropped, and so did my hopes as some scouts made sneaky, illegal tweaks mid-race, leaving me in a frustrating 4th place out of 10 cars.

Determined to prove myself, I took that same car without any modifications to the county-wide pine wood derby competition. With a level playing field and a ton of practice (yes, believe it or not you can practice for a pinewood derby race), I clinched an unexpected 2nd place out of about 50 or so entries.  I'll admit, the feeling of that 2nd place finish was sweet!  It was a testament to my determination, the pursuit of fairness and lots and lots of practice.

Throughout my 51 years I've tried my best to incorporate these lessons into my adult life as well as my photography. Resilience taught me to navigate challenges and not give up.  Fairness and compassion became my compass.

My biggest photography principle is that every client gets a fair chance to shine. Your photoshoot becomes a way to celebrate your unique story, capturing genuine moments that show everyone just who you are and what you had to overcome to get this far.

It's not only about crossing that finish line, but enjoying the journey, bouncing back from challenges and celebrating the unexpected victories.

I hope you have a fantastic week ahead!

Jonathan

Mess E Photos

Text or Call Me! (540-793-0798)

Email Me! (jonathan@mess-e-photos.com)