Tender whispers – the backstory

Tender whispers was captured in early February of this year just off Hwy 364 in Maryland Heights. There were hundred of acres of grassland that were prescribe burned in order to allow new growth in Spring. As I walked through the charred remains looking for antler sheds while keeping one eye on the developing sky I noticed myself singing these words by Chris Tomlin.

I’ve heard a thousand stories of what they think you’re like,
But I’ve heard the tender whispers of love in the dead of night,
And you tell me that you’re pleased, and that I’m never alone.

You’re a good good father. It’s who you are…

Here I was, alone, walking through this field before sun up singing those words and it’s like the whole host of Heaven was there paying attention to every note – regardless how off I may have been. And, I could hear those tender whispers saying I was not alone. Indeed – I was not alone!

As the sky began to unfold I stopped and set up my tripod in front of the fog layer ahead of me and watched intently as the tiny contrail from the jet above made a beeline for the sliver of moon lit by the pre-dawn sun. Snap, snap, snap I clicked the shutter bracketing the exposures to capture the warm drama in the sky versus the cool tones of the shadowed silhouettes below.

Happy with the exposure and composition I continued to watch as the airplane passed through the crescent moon. It was 7:52am. Sunrise wasn’t until 8:07am. That gave me 15 more minutes to listen to and ponder those tender whispers from a good, good Father.

If you enjoy reading my backstories (many more to come) and would like for your group or organization to see and hear them first hand, please give me a shout. I’m available for presentations, speaking engagement, and other meet the artist types of events.


The aperture was stopped down several stops to capture some of the highlight in the jet contrail.


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