2015 Communication Arts Photography Annual Award

I'm very excited to share with you that I have been selected to appear in the 2015 Communication Arts Photography Annual! This year there were 4,421 entries and only 157 were selected making this one of the most exclusive major photography competitions in the world of which over 34,000 copies will be distributed. This has been a goal of mine for a long time and I can now cross this off my list. Look for my image in the Photography Annual due out any day now.

About the photo:
This was taken on a visit to the Philippines and is actually the back of my Uncle in-law's home which is on the island of Mindanao. The lighting at that time of day was just perfect as it came through the surrounding trees and the rooster obliged me with a decent pose.

Best Mother in the World

I haven't been a dad for very long. Soon it will be 8 months, however it seems like an eternity. The occasional long nights and the all-too-often tired days seem to go on forever. But I know this is not even the beginning of what I hope will be countless years growing old as a father. I do what I can to pull my weight each and every day. And it is all so rewarding to watch our amazing son grow. But I have no idea what it is like to be a mother.

There's a good chance you would claim you have the best mother in the world. And I'm sure you do. Every mom is the best mother in the world to their own child. My mom makes the best egg bake. And I'm sure your mom does too. 

What surprises me most about becoming a father is finally seeing how truly special a mother is to their child. Don't get me wrong, as fathers we have plenty of great moments and fun times. But the mom is who they routinely turn to for comfort, for security, for nourishment. And mom is always there lovingly providing these desires to their baby without hesitation.

Thanks for all you do, moms. You are exactly the best mom anyone could ask for.

This is for all great moms out there, but a few are worth mentioning: two Lolas, Laken's mom, Marlene (sorry for slacking), my mom and all the greatest moms you've all ever had.

Smashing Pumpkins - The Roy Wilkins Auditorium - 10.20.12

The last time I saw the Smashing Pumpkins was in 1994 at Lollapalooza on Harriet Island. Coming off their release of Siamese Dream the year before, they were at their peak. Seeing that show was one of the biggest pieces cementing my interest in seeing live music.

Fast forward to 2012. I get the call to shoot Smashing Pumpkins for Jam Magazine at The Roy Wilkins Auditorium. Knowing it couldn't hold a flame to the show I saw in 1994, I accepted with low expectations. But any chance to shoot a band whose old music still means something to me, I could not pass up.

The press pass situation for this show was like none other I've experienced. Typically you are allowed to shoot the first 3 songs or first 15 minutes. And unless it's a small club there is usually a photo pit from which to shoot from. There was a pit at this show (and a quite large one at that), but the photographers were not allowed in it at all. The show had to be shot from the general admission audience. The trade off was that we were able to shoot the entire show.
This should be interesting.

Thanks to a small mosh pit (against security's wishes), I was moved fairly close and was able to get a decent spot. The first half they played their new album, Oceania in it's entirety. It was mediocre at best. The second half, much to the crowd's delight, they visited some of their old hits, however left out some of the staples you'd expect to hear. Every time they'd get remotely close to taking you back to a taste of the 1994 magic, they'd play something out of left field. Like encoring with a cover of KISS's "Black Diamond". What?

All in all, it was a fine show. Good to hear a few of those old tunes and a fun experience to shoot a show amongst the masses. I'd do it again.

Extending the Family

I figured I'd give maternity photography a whirl - after all, I had the perfect model to do so. My wonderful wife was more than willing to pose and listen to the direction I gave her which made it very easy on me. Not to mention, she's very photogenic. Over the past eight months she has dealt with a lot changes, emotionally and physically. I can't imagine what it would be like. But she's been a trooper through it all. One month to go and I know she'll do great when the big day arrives. Then I'll have a whole new subject to constantly be shooting!

Phish - Alpine Valley - 06.30.12

In the summer of 1996, after getting shut-out for tickets to Red Rocks, a couple of good buddy's and I made the trek across Wisconsin to Alpine Valley Music Theatre to what would be my first Phish show. 16 years and 65+ shows later, I found myself leaning against the stage of the massive shed with a photo pass pasted to my shirt anticipating the entrance of one of my favorite bands.

Ever since Phish started playing here on that fateful day in '96, immediately I was hooked and I haven't missed a single stop of theirs at Alpine. This venue has been such a special place for me to visit each and every time. The music, the atmosphere and the fantastic friends that gather here from across the country is something I hope to never miss.

Special thanks to ScottyB and Hidden Track for giving me the opportunity to shoot this show. I will never forget this experience and hope to have many more like it.