Evan Robold Photography

Shane just finished Marine Corps Basic Training and got to see his family for the first time in 13 weeks CORRECTION: 5 months! (see comments section).  I can only imagine how awesome it must feel to be hugged by all the loved ones you’ve missed after making such a huge accomplishment.  I could see the pride in his parents’ faces when we met to take some photos with their new Marine.

My brother Andrew is also a Marine.  I am so proud of him and amazed by the sacrifices he’s made.  I believe that it is guys like Shane and my little bro Andrew who make it possible for the rest of us to live comfortable lives without fear.  I’ll always have that gratitude and respect for those who have served in the military.

On a lighter note, I gotta say the Marine Corps dress blues is the sharpest looking uniform in existence.

As I mentioned in Kyle’s preview post, the scenery in Sonoita this time of year is awesome.  On my way down Highway 83, I saw 5 or 6 pronghorn grazing near the side of the road.  It’s so cool to see animals like that in the wild.  We’ve all seen deer, javelina, coyotes and all the usual desert critters, but for someone who grew up in Tucson, seeing those pronghorn in Arizona is kinda rare and very cool.  After taking a few photos with his dog Lucy, Kyle and I explored the area near his home.  I can’t say enough about how beautiful it is there.  I have to say I’m a little jealous about not growing up in a more rural area.  Even the old, abandoned Shell service station and broken down water tanks must have been awesome to explore as a kid.  There is no wall or fence surrounding their home.  As Kyle put it, the “yard” boundary is dictated by how far back his dad decides to mow the (4 foot tall) grass.

Here are some of my favorites from our session.

Kyle and his girlfriend/cheerleader Sam!

Sonoita, Arizona during monsoon season is absolutely amazing.  I’m not sure what I enjoyed more – the drive there and back or shooting Kyle’s portraits.  I’ll be posting more soon!

On my way home I couldn’t resist this panorama.  Click to view larger!