Cliff Hike

The Upper Peninsula of Michigan is a beautiful place to live!

With my school schedule this Summer, I didn't accomplish any of the adventures that are perpetually on my Summer-in-the-Keweenaw list, such as visiting Isle Royale or hiking in the Porcupine Mountains. I did have the opportunity to go hiking one Sunday afternoon near where I live, and I was struck once again by the awesome beauty of this place I call home!

We found this old stone tower and a stone foundation. I'm not sure what it is from, but there is a lot of mining history around here. After the hike we enjoyed a nice dinner at the Michigan House.

Andrea & Joel

Photo credit Seth Haley

I met Andrea in 2002 when, through a mutual friend, we ended up on a week-long trip to Colorado and back. 12-hr car rides tend to be a great way to get to know someone, and Andrea and I were immediately friends. We haven't had many opportunities to see each other in the 9 years since, but we've stayed in touch and have always been able to reconnect.

A little over a year ago, Andrea struck up a conversation with a stranger manning a concession booth at a music festival. That conversation led to quite a few more, and a year later Andrea and Joel pledged to love and cherish each other forever. I was privileged to not only attend the wedding, but capture a few memories for Andrea and Joel. 

Until this year, wedding photography was, quite honestly, something I never considered doing. The majority of the wedding ceremonies I attended while growing up began with the officiant announcing that the bride and groom had requested no photography at either the ceremony or reception. When I first was asked to shoot weddings, I felt a certain amount of anxiety: What exactly was "wedding photography" and how did photographers do it?! A highlight of the weekend was observing professional photographer and fellow IPS student Seth Haley at work.

If I had a photo niche...

"A photograph is a secret about a secret. The more it tells you the less you know."

If I would choose one photographic style to pursue, it would be silhouettes. Silhouettes have fascinated me from a very young age. Perhaps it is the aura of mystery the surrounds a back-lit subject, perhaps the limited opportunities for great silhouettes, perhaps the neglect silhouettes receive in the world of professional and amateur photography. 

Natural-light silhouettes at sunrise or sunset are among my favorites. The small details intrigue me, details that would possibly be lost in a full-color shot. 

Sometimes I use poor lighting as an excuse to hide an imperfect photo in a silhouette. The first wedding ceremony I shot this year had one wall composed almost entirely of windows--talk about a challenge! This photo of the bride ended up being one of my favorite shots of the day. 

Greg and Kathy

I've had a camera in hand-or at least within reach- most of my life. I've photographed people of all ages in many situations. This Summer I realized that, in the tens of thousands of pictures I've snapped, one element was missing: an engagement shoot!

A few weeks later, Greg and Kathy asked me to do their engagement photos. I couldn't have been happier! It was an honor to capture their joy. 

Look for wedding photos in March! 

Welcome...

...to the new (and hopefully improved) blog! My goal is that this site will be more user-friendly, have less objectionable content than the host site of my previous blog, and, most of all, be a place where I can share my photos. Stay tuned!