?The Unexpected Visitor? collection of prints shares Baroodys life together

July 15--The title for the late N. B. Baroody and his wife Margaret Baroody's book "The Unexpected Visitor" centers around the underpinnings of a pier on a most foggy day.

N. B. sums it up by saying, "It is in God's grace that these images emerge, sometimes in very surprising patterns, people or places. This print is a marvelous example of that grace.

"This photograph was taken during a dense fog, requiring special technical attention to the positioning of the tripod, and the adjustment of the lens. Just as I tripped the shutter, the shore bird walked into the frame, creating the title, 'The Unexpected Visitor,' in my mind.

"Viewing the finished print, Margaret glimpsed another visitor, one at the end of the pier. It is this notion of the photographic visual as epiphany that prompted the title and direction of this book."

"The Unexpected Visitor" is a collection of black and white photographs and inspirational passages that takes the reader on a journey of discovery, surprise and faith.

Baroody, a physician, took the pictures over a 50-year period. He and Margaret traveled the world in recent years doing medical mission work. The book shares moments of their life journey together. It also imparts their bond of connection and love that is both personal and universal.

"The stories we tell all resonate with a sense of the unexpected, even the divine," Margaret wrote. "We plot, even procrastinate, but it is often that unguarded moment, the unanticipated encounter that determines our sense of self, our relationships, our futures, our careers, our hopes and dreams. Is it mystery?"

The book is a poetic approach to some of the most fundamental questions that people ponder throughout their lives. Among them are how do we respond to our tragedies and triumphs? Why do we choose to chafe or cherish? When do we embrace faith or retreat in fear? How do we appreciate the moment and savor it (as N. B. and Margaret often did with his photographs)?

N. B. studied with photographer Ansel Adams. It was an association that left an imprint that is abundantly clear in his work.

In selecting the images for "The Unexpected Visitor," the Baroodys share the experiences and revelations associated with the image. It is a glimpse of their extraordinary life together.

The personal narratives are sparse, but powerful, with accompanying quotes of verse and poetry. The words echo the profound simplicity of the photographed moments, encouraging readers to linger, to know an unguarded moment and to savor the face of grace.

N. B. Baroody was a cardiologist on the teaching faculty of the McLeod Family Medicine Residency Program in Florence. He was a co-founder of Mercy Medical, a local free medical clinic.

As a youth, the technical and artistic aspects of photographic expression fascinated him. He began with the Baby Brownie before progressing into medium and large-format cameras. He honed his craft through workshops with teachers such as Ansel Adams, John Sexton and Bruce Barnbaum.

Margaret Baroody has been a homemaker, foster parent, community volunteer, licensed social worker and teacher. Her passion for art is mirrored in her love of the written word. It was with great care that she and N. B. selected the passages for the book and shared a more personal narrative.

To see more of the Florence Morning News or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.morningnewsonline.com . Copyright (c) 2010, Florence Morning News, S.C. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For more information about the content services offered by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services (MCT), visit www.mctinfoservices.com , e-mail services@mctinfoservices.com , or call 866-280-5210 (outside the United States, call +1 312-222-4544).