New Website for Terry Daffin Photography

Some of you may know that I've been rebranding my photography business. Well, the project is complete and my new website is up. I've also changed the name from Photo128 (long story about the name) to Terry Daffin Photography (shorter story that make sense). Check it out and let me know what you think. Also, on my last site, I had music. This site does not. What is your preference?

Diamond in the Dunes

On Sunday, I was invited to preview a documentary film, Diamond in the Dunes, directed by Chris Rufo who is part of the Documentary Foundation here in Sacramento. The film is about Parhat Ablat, a young Muslim minority from the deserts of Western China, who leads the fight against racial segregation through baseball. The 10 minute preview had me wanting more of the story not only because I love baseball but because of the passion for which these people embrace the game and what their only game of the season against a team of Tibetans from the Qinghai Province means.

The story documents the struggles between two ethnic groups in the Xinjiang Province that band together to learn the game of baseball and for the chance to play in one game a year. The two groups live in almost total seperation speaking different languages, praciticing different religions, live and work in different neighborhoods and even set their watches two hours apart from on another.

It's a story about breaking the lines of segregation through baseball.... sound familiar?

Stop by the Foundation's site to get more information and buy a pre-sale copy of the film. You won't be sorry.

Walk and Rock for the Kids... and Journey

What an event! Hope Productions, created to provide resources to support youth and children’s charities throughout the U.S., held an inagural event here in Sacramento Saturday, May 23rd. It began with a walk around midtown Sacramento that started at Raley Field, down Capital to the Capitol, up 10th St. to K St., throiugh the Downtown Mall then back to Raley Field. With bands stationed along the route and one at The Hard Rock Cafe, over 1,000 walkers showed up to support the cause of seven charities in their inagural year. They raised over $850,000. The charities that benefited were:

Boys and Girls Club of Greater Sacramento

CASA for Children, El Dorado County

OKIZU

Keaton Raphael Memorial

River Cats Foundation

Wind Youth Services

People Reaching Out

Here are a few photos from the walk....









Then that evening, a concert... Yeah, a concert! It started with a VIP Dinner and Auction, then The Lost Boys played a few songs to get the crowd warmed up and then JOURNEY! What a night! Here a few photos from the event...

The Cross

This a repost from the Veneration of the Cross service from last year... Still very moving

So many of you know that Easter is one of the most important days of the year for Christians and there are many services during Easter week that Christians of all denominations participate in remembrance of the what Christ did for all. But one of the most moving services that Mary and I attend is the Good Friday, Veneration of the Cross at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in midtown Sacramento.

The service begins with the celebration of the Eucharist and then a huge cross is brought into the church where it is passed over the crowd where everyone has the opportunity to touch the cross symbolic of what Christ had to do as he carried His cross to Golgotha. After which the cross is laid on the floor of the church and people have the opportunity to step up to the cross, kneel, pray, and lay hands on the cross out of respect again to what Christ did for all in His death and resurrection. If you have never attended such a service, you are missing one of the most moving and emotional services of the season. Hope to see you at St. Francis next year on Good Friday. Halleluiah! He has risen!