THE SMILELAND...

Sri Lanka has long been known as the country of smiles. Natasha is a great example and reason for many...

 See you soon,
Tom

MY HOMIES...

We are soon heading back to Sri Lanka to be with family for the holidays...
Looks like my homies are missing me...

See you soon, fellas...
Uncle Tom

LINCOLN TODAY...

Once every year we publish this guide to good living magazine featuring the city of Lincoln in Nebraska. 2012 is the 20th edition. Here is a look at the cover and the page advertising my website.

Thanks to Sriyani. She always does a nice job...and to Rayna. Thanks also to Subha, Courtney, Standing Bear and of course, Abraham... all inspirators,
Tom

THEY SAY YOU CAN'T SHOOT THE WIND...

sure you can...

 At least I shoot the breeze a lot...
Here is Courtney just before she blew away.
I love it when things come together...
Here are a few pix (composites) I managed to bring together for nice effects... This is Howard Wolf surveying the herd.

 ...and a couple with Nadeeka advertising the business.
She always makes it sparkle!

It's all about coming together,
If you like this kind of thing, contact me to schedule a shoot...
Tom

MY HERO...

...my Dad

Here is a photo of my father, John L Tidball, posing in front of the B25 bomber he piloted out of the Aleutian Islands during WW2. (I didn't shoot the picture.) Part of 'The Greatest Generation', he and many like him were responsible for the liberation of many countries and the freedoms we've enjoyed since those days. We just celebrated my Dad's 90th birthday! 
We all salute you, Dad...
It's been a great ride!
Thanks again for your sacrifices and all you've done...
And, a special thanks from me for coming home...
Tom

FUN WHILE IT LASTED...

...so, I sez to the kid...I sez, I don't doubt you can climb out there, but are you sure you can get back? 
Kids these days! They just won't listen...
Tom

THE OUTER MAN...

"...unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains alone: but if it dies, it brings forth much fruit."  Yah Shua
One drop...
One stop...
Tom

DOES SWEET COUNT???

If so, Stephanie's the winner!

 Stephanie Siriwardhana is the reigning Miss Sri Lanka. She'll be competing in Sao Paulo, Brazil for the title of Miss Universe on Sept 12. She is a stunning beauty for sure, but having spent a little time with her recently, it's easy to see her beauty radiates from the inside. She is a real genuine person and a great ambassador for the island. Here are a few pix from our little photo shoot we did together. You can see what I mean...

Good Luck, Stephanie!
I hope you win it all...
Tom

WOULD YOU TAKE A CHECK?

Congratulations Steve!!!

With an awesome stretch run finish, Steve Friesen ran away from the field, recently finishing 1st at the Nationwide Tour event, the 22nd annual Price Cutter Charity Championship in Springfield, Missouri (26 under par...not bad!).
On his whirlwind tour, Steve made a quick stop in Lincoln to celebrate with family and friends. Here he is posing with Chiho, his lovely new bride and his big check for his efforts.
See you on the big tour next summer, Steve and blessings to you and Chiho for all your days ahead. You're off to a great start!
Couldn't happen to a nicer or more well deserving guy...
Keep it rolling, Steve...
Tom

SHE'LL TAKE YOU WHERE YOU WANT TO GO...

Rosie is the best darn tour guide in Malaysia!
She knows her stuff, knows how to get you there and back and is a whole lotta fun along the way!
That's all I'm sayin'...
Tom

YOGIC HINDOO TEMPLE MONKEY...

Keep your balance and remember to always use a spotter...
Tom

OK, OK... I LOVE THE GIRLS, TOO

Before breaking huddle a few days ago, we put our heads together for this group pic of the family. I set the 10 sec timer and circled my way into position. Good thing we pulled it off in 10 seconds. That's probably an all-time record for us sitting this close together before the sparks start flying. I thought I'd post this as a tribute to a great family I'm so happy to be part of, and as a record of how we still seem to like each other's company.
Don't worry... I'm not turning my blog into a family photo album.
I just thought the girls should be included. Aren't they pretty! (Sriyani and Subha)  And, where would we be without them?


Love's enough,
Tom

I LOVE THESE GUYS...

...my three sons, Luke, Rama & Govinda

 During the recent special occasion of Subha's wedding in Gallerate, I had the rare opportunity of hanging with my boys in the streets of Italy... places we'd heard of but never visited together...like Venice, Milano, Murano and Burano with spots in between (lots of others ending in 'o'). I think the guys got a bit tired of me doing the tourist thing, asking them to pose all along the way... but hey, life is short and who knows if we'll ever pass this way again. I couldn't ask for better sons or mates to ride this trail with. Here are a few of our pic stops...

 A photo tip... I always consider my background first, being ever mindful of the setting and angle of light. You can always position your models or do your little dance to align things just the way you want. That's what the legs are for.

 Luke just turned 21, so now we're 4 men...boys to men. At least we're working in that direction, me lagging a bit at times, but trying to keep pace...

 ...funny how the bullies quit kicking sand in my face at the beach!

...and then there were four. Welcome to the tribe, Matteo.
Tom

CONGRATULATIONS SUBHA e MATTEO!!!

 Beautiful couple, beautiful day, beautiful Italian wedding...

It was difficult for me being father of the bride and wedding photographer, but here is a quick shot I snatched of Subha and her new Italian family... Matteo with his mother and father, Ambrogina and Giuseppe Grassi, truly wonderful people. What a blessing!

Here is to many happy days together...
You are off to a good start...
Tom

SUBHA e MATTEO retreat to the beach...

...to discuss details of upcoming wedding 

all the best, you two...
Tom

IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE MASTER...

 Luke generously agrees to reveal one of his secret, ancient finger tricks...

Impressive!
thanks, Luke...
Tom

GIRLS JUST WANNA HAVE FU-UN...

On the Trincomalee Beach in Sri Lanka, Jenni and Anna are considering going wild...
That's all I'm sayin'...
Tom

HUSKERS ON THE MOVE...

 Sriyani and I just wrapped up a wonderfilled time leading nine college students from the University of Nebraska on a three week tour of Asia, emphasizing writing and photographic skills. We blasted off Stateside, whizzed through London then invested quality time in Malaysia, Singapore and Sri Lanka. Though we visited newspapers, ad agencies and tour promoters along the way, frolicking on the East Coast beaches of Sri Lanka and mingling with elephants were the consensus favorite activities. All students posted personal blogs describing their adventures. Meet our traveling partners and visit their blogsites to get a glimpse of life in Asia through their Midwestern eyes...

Paige Cornwell 

http://paigecornwell.tumblr.com/

Trevor Hall 

http://trevorhallproductions.tumblr.com/

Ben Kreimer

http://ferallife.wordpress.com/

   

Jenni Schroeder
http://jenwoohoo.tumblr.com/

Calvin Dreyhttp://calvindrey.tumblr.com/

    AnnaWoita http://annawoita.tumblr.com/   

Frank Wandersee http://wanderseeabroad.tumblr.com/

   

ChristinaRodriguez 

http://seemeontheothersideoftheworld.tumblr.com/

                   

Hillary Vrana 

www.hillaryvrana.blogspot.com

Great time...

Great students...

Everything groovie...

Tom