Cool slice

A magical day of kayaing around the bays of Tofino. Love the spray coming off the paddle and the clean lines left by the B&W treatment. The reflection of the sun off the water imbues the sense of magic I felt that day.

Church of Royalty

I've been taking photos at Holocene for almost exactly seven years, which is wild. It's been by far my most consistent photography gig. Starting with Dance Yourself Clean, dj'd by friends I eventually migrated to Emo Nite and get occasionally tapped for other special events. Frankie Simone and her partner Che Che Luna are always a joy to shoot. I can feel the wide grin plastered on my face while taking photos of their performance because the fun they're having is infectious. I like this shot because it feels so still even though they're constantly in motion. It's somehow both intimate and bombastic.

Family values

One of three animal shots from Glacier National Park. The smoke in the valley gives a lovely soft fade to the ridge lines in the background. The goats just have so much personality. The momma's protective glare and the babe's shy curiousness (forgive my blatant anthropomorphizing). The movement added by water dripping from mom's mouth and the slightly larger family of ducks slipping behind them gives the frame some dynamism.

Ghost Boo

Huey evaporates into Lake Michigan. This photo was largely a mistake. Huey wading into the lake at the end of the day with the sun peaking out behind an otherwise stormy sky. I knew there was a photo there so I grabbed my camera to start snapping. This was the first. Two sweet "mistakes" in the lack of focus and overexposure give a dreamy ghosty vibe to my boo.

Sweet whirl

It's the soft sherbet colors and the just past its prime openness of the Rose that really melt me. I like the mix of delicate and full vibes that the bloom gives off and the feeling that it just finished opening up for you.

Moment to myself

Another Holocene shot, this one for "Fleetmac Wood" a Fleetwood Mac cover DJ group. The hardest part of shooting big groups at Holocene is the lack of background control. An otherwise great shot can be made pretty mediocre if the random person in the background has a silly or bored expression on their face. When I can isolate a single person or group, that's the most satisfying and I love finding those singular moments in the crowd.

Cheug-life

A sunset feels like the most of images. Who doesn't love very pleasant colors, a bright ball of fire and an end of a day. It's so easy it feels like a cop out. Like buying a desert from New Seasons, ok, it tastes delicious but I didn't do anything. I like this basic shot because the foreground gives structure to the sun, a lacy frame that gives texture to the colors.

A bear

One of three animal shots in Glacier National Park. It's a bear. All I wanted was to take a pic of a grizzly bear, and I got an ok one. That's it, bliss!

Fragile embrace

This was early on in my exploration of flora portraits and helped to get me hooked. Finding the most expressive "pose" for a leaf or flower can be a challenge, except when it's very easy, like with this clearly clutching guy. The leaf's veins and curls give a perfect sense of age and the shape, for me, is about longing and desperation. But I also enjoy how every time I stare at the image a new projection appears. Wait, is it just super into it's violin playing?

Appy friends

Another one from Holocene - this from my regular gig, Emo Nite. It returned after a 1.5ish year hiatus in September. Photographing an event like this after so long was my biggest nudge towards "normalcy." Shooting people having so much fun is such a treat. This is another example of a moment isolated from the crowd.

Gemstones

I love this cause colors. Yum. This is another shot from Glacier National Park. But it’s a favorite because I find landscape photography quite difficult. Like sunsets, it’s all laid out there for you, obviously beautiful, but so obvious it’s often hard to capture in a way that feels interesting or artful and not merely documentary. This is a rare take that I’m happy with, trying to capture the beauty a little less obviously.

A writter

This feels very soul of John Babbott (human pictured) to me. The conflict of diagonal and straight lines of the lake gives a little tension to the frame while John's smile and posture drip jocularity.

Holy trinity

This shot was taken in Olympic National Park. I rarely get up for sunrise when backpacking even though I love it when I do. It’s just usually so cold outside and my sleeping bag is so cozy. Since we were backpacking in a historic heatwave I could roll out of my bag in the morning in a t shirt and shorts. I love the added bonus of the moon hanging above the glorious peaks here.

Suspect mom

Erica says "take my picture like I'm Leo's mom" and then does some amazing hair flips. Erica's a fave muse, always down to get weird for the camera and see's opportunities where I wouldn't. Leo definitely pulling his weight here too. Pretty unsure of Erica's game here, the pacifier gripped tightly in one paw adds some great personality to the pose.

Naughty allies

One of three animal shots in Glacier National Park. The marmots and goats in glacier were ridiculous. Goats stalked you for pee (they lick it for salt) and marmots munched anything they could sink their lil buck teeth into. I love this shit because I think it captures both of the creatures’ giving off some “caught in the act” vibes.

Wandermins

Ben and Darren in Olympic National Park. The humans give context to the grand expanse. I think monochrome lets the scale and contrast be the focus. A favorite element is Ben and Darren's shadows on the snow.