25 Aug 2016 Baby Boomers meet Generation Y

by Brenda McClain

Were you born between the years 1946 and 1964? If so, you are a Baby Boomer.

Boomers felt entitled, but wrapped into that entitlement was full-on respect. We went to church AND Sunday school. We hand-wrote Christmas cards and thank you notes, and we adored music. Family and church were our foundation. 

We also had the Beach Boys, Beatles, Supremes, Temptations and The Staple Singers.

“Pops” Staples was raised in Mississippi and had an affinity for the Blues and Gospel Music. It’s no surprise The Staple Singers began their career in churches. Their breakthrough hit was “Uncloudy Day” in 1956.

Of their 15 hits on the Billboard Top 100, they released “Respect Yourself” in 1971. “Pops” Staples and daughters Cleotha, Yvonne and Mavis were woven into our culture. Their songs became a cohesive element to all our lives. Every single song was a message with a good ending. We need more Staples song singers today.

Segue 1997, Megan Ledbetter and a host of other “Generation Ys” were born. A junior at Harding University, Megan has worked with Art on the Green since high school graduation. (See her occasional byline and photo credit in 501 LIFE.)

Megan is Art on the Green’s newest artist. Her photography stands on its own. She’s worked hard and smart, earned respect and shown discipline accomplishing goals. She has incorporated her love of writing and photography, built her brand and owned her voice.

Now? Megan has a blog. Megan’s words:

“I am a storyteller, using my photography and my words as a joint, unbreakable pair. While I aim to do this with my career and life, right now my avenue is my blog, Megan Nichole Photography (meganicholedbetterphotography.blogspot.com). Ever since my first photography class in high school, the art of photography has fascinated me.

“Throughout high school, I used my mom’s camera and began learning how to use the manual settings, experimenting during my sister’s basketball and soccer games as well as family camping trips and photo shoots with my close friends. Throughout high school, photography was never something other people called on me to do. I didn’t stand out or make my passion for photography known to many others around me. After receiving an Adobe Lightroom license the summer before my senior year of high school, my passion for the process of photography, including editing, grew even stronger.

“In August 2015, I started college at Harding University, began working with student publications on the Petit Jean Yearbook staff and took another photography class. Through academic and personal connections, a friend, Haley Burkhead, helped me create my blog, my very first public outlet for sharing my passion for photography and storytelling. Megan Nichole Photography has debuted Instagram and Facebook.

“Since my first post in September 2015, not only has my blog grown, so have my confidence, abilities and opportunities. Although I still love the photogenic component of nature, especially when captured through macrophotography, recently my focus has been placed more on portraits. The rewards that have accompanied sharing my abilities with families and individuals have been overwhelming. It is encouraging to see other people enjoy the results of what I love to create. 

“At Harding, I am double majoring in journalism and marketing, with plans to pursue a career that allows me to use my storytelling passions (photography and writing) while also being able to focus on my personal photography ambitions. My blog has given me an avenue to share my passion for and investment in enhancing my career skills. All of my posts contain at least one picture (but usually several) and a short story, experience or lesson that accompanies the images.

“While watching my blog views and Instagram likes rise is exciting, I simply want to share my passions and experiences with those who are interested in following me on my journey. God promises HIS plans for us are bigger than we can imagine. My own life is proof.”