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<p>My wife, Edith, and I just got back from a Christmas visit to the home of our son-in-law and daughter in the Ohio countryside.  They have a small parcel of land (compared to some of their neighbors) with trees, a pond, and some animals (cats, dogs, goats, turkey, ducks, chickens, and rabbits).  They also have six children and are expecting their seventh.  They also have a plot of cultivated land with all kinds of vegetable. It's a well-run operation.  They are also very involved in their local Orthodox Church (if you call a 55-minute drive "local") and a home-school group.</p>
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<figure class="wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default has-lightbox"><!-- wp:image {"id":15990,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} -->
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://christopherhumphreyphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/O3A2617-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-15990"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Gabriel, Ben, and Andrew play with Christmas gifts</figcaption></figure>
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<!-- wp:image {"id":15995,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} -->
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://christopherhumphreyphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/O3A2537-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-15995"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Odie ("the odious") is an old dog now</figcaption></figure>
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<!-- wp:image {"id":15992,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} -->
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://christopherhumphreyphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/O3A2643-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-15992"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Sophie with the boys</figcaption></figure>
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<p>I have found that my Lensbaby Spark 2 lens is great for domestic images rendered in black and white.  It has a flexible barrel that you pull back on, straight back or to the side, so that the focus falls where you want it.  The removal of color simplifies, and the blur in the image keeps the focus on what interests me (and presumably the viewer, too).  While most camera-phones and camera lenses are made to produce sharp images, the Spark is not: even in the in-focus part of the image, it is sub-standard in comparison to professional lenses. The upside is that the general expression in faces is more noticeable when you pull on the lens the right way.</p>
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<!-- wp:gallery {"imageCrop":false,"linkTo":"none","lightbox":true} -->
<figure class="wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default has-lightbox"><!-- wp:image {"id":15998,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} -->
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://christopherhumphreyphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/O3A2512-1-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-15998"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Bruce with Ben and Sophie</figcaption></figure>
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<!-- wp:image {"id":15996,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} -->
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://christopherhumphreyphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/O3A2565-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-15996"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Luke putting on a shirt and jacket for church</figcaption></figure>
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<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://christopherhumphreyphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/O3A2571-683x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-15997"/></figure>
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<p>Bruce and Joëlle and the kids are quite used to me photographing them.  The boys tend to show off for the camera, make faces, and so forth, which is fun -- once.  Sophie likes to be photographed, but she does not clown for the camera.</p>
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<figure class="wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default has-lightbox"><!-- wp:image {"id":16002,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} -->
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://christopherhumphreyphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/O3A2549-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-16002"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Gabriel in clown mode</figcaption></figure>
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<!-- wp:image {"id":16003,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} -->
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://christopherhumphreyphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/O3A2554-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-16003"/></figure>
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<!-- wp:image {"id":16001,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} -->
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://christopherhumphreyphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/O3A2558-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-16001"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Ben is all there</figcaption></figure>
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<!-- wp:image {"id":16004,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} -->
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://christopherhumphreyphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/O3A2579-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-16004"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Sophie poses</figcaption></figure>
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<!-- wp:image {"id":16007,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} -->
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://christopherhumphreyphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/O3A2585-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-16007"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Andrew in the kitchen</figcaption></figure>
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<!-- wp:image {"id":16006,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} -->
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://christopherhumphreyphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/O3A2588-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-16006"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Gabriel notices the camera</figcaption></figure>
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<!-- wp:image {"id":16005,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} -->
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://christopherhumphreyphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/O3A2590-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-16005"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Luke "the Destructor"</figcaption></figure>
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<p>The most fun is capturing everyone, adults and kids, when they are not noticing.</p>
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<figure class="wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default has-lightbox"><!-- wp:image {"id":16013,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} -->
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://christopherhumphreyphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/O3A2515-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-16013"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">"Gramgon" and Andrew at chess</figcaption></figure>
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<!-- wp:image {"id":16009,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} -->
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://christopherhumphreyphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/O3A2522-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-16009"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Dad is helping the kids play a game based on Lord of the Rings</figcaption></figure>
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<!-- wp:image {"id":16014,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} -->
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://christopherhumphreyphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/O3A2526-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-16014"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Fred and Gabriel on the couch</figcaption></figure>
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<!-- wp:image {"id":16011,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} -->
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://christopherhumphreyphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/O3A2528-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-16011"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">"Gramgon" teaches piano in person (rather than on-line)</figcaption></figure>
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<!-- wp:image {"id":16010,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} -->
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://christopherhumphreyphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/O3A2530-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-16010"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Fred and Gabriel on their own</figcaption></figure>
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<!-- wp:image {"id":16012,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} -->
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://christopherhumphreyphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/O3A2534-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-16012"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Andrew gets instruction</figcaption></figure>
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<!-- wp:image {"id":16015,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} -->
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://christopherhumphreyphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/O3A2587-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-16015"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Sophie plays well</figcaption></figure>
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<!-- wp:image {"id":16021,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} -->
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://christopherhumphreyphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/O3A2614-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-16021"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Dad on Christmas Day</figcaption></figure>
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<!-- wp:image {"id":16018,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} -->
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://christopherhumphreyphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/O3A2638-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-16018"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Bad place to set up your Legos</figcaption></figure>
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<!-- wp:image {"id":16016,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} -->
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://christopherhumphreyphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/O3A2641-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-16016"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Wine and games</figcaption></figure>
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<!-- wp:image {"id":16022,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} -->
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://christopherhumphreyphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/O3A2647-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-16022"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Andrew and Gabriel at Uno</figcaption></figure>
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<!-- wp:image {"id":16020,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} -->
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://christopherhumphreyphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/O3A2649-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-16020"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Sophie with her new camera</figcaption></figure>
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<!-- wp:image {"id":16017,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} -->
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://christopherhumphreyphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/O3A2651-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-16017"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Dad with wine, in conversation</figcaption></figure>
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<!-- wp:image {"id":16019,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} -->
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://christopherhumphreyphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/O3A2665-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-16019"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Andrew looking elfin, with Luke</figcaption></figure>
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