Lost and Found

I took this photo yesterday. It is of Durand Lake in Rochester, NY.
I decided early in the day to take a walk through the park and check out the trails I have so often zipped passed on my way to where ever. What I found was perfect. The park was beautiful and exactly what I would imagine a "winter wonderland" would look like.
As I walked along with the happy little tails of the puppies leading me, I started to remember my father. He often would walk with us through the woods of our farm or along whatever river was close by and take in our surroundings. He loved to point out trees or animal tracks or whatever other little nugget of "wild" he came across. My father was a very knowledgeable man when it came to the outdoors but he wasn't someone who could identify every kind of tree. He just simply knew what he knew...and he loved to share it whenever he could.
Out in the woods surrounded by nothing but the sounds of my own footsteps in the snow, I realized that I felt at home. I looked out over this lake and thought for a second how much my father would have loved to see it and how proud he would be that I was out wandering and exploring the way he taught me to do. Isn't it funny how a park hundreds of miles from where I grew up could bring me so close to him?

Home isn't something you leave behind ..it is something you carry with you...and have always.

Peace and love
Happy New Year

Off Beat Bride

So Lisa and I picked a date and we are in the process of signing our life away and figuring out what our day will look like. As you might imagine this whole "choosing colors" and centerpieces is quite foreign to me. I am not someone who thinks about these things nor do I care to but I am someone who cares what things look like. I wouldn't be into photography if I didn't. Lisa and I aren't your typical engaged couple. We have been together for over 9 years now. We have a home, a dog, a life together. We have seen each other through the best and worst of times already so our story hasn't just begun, but we are finally able to celebrate our lives together legally.So what does this mean for our wedding? I know that I want it to reflect us much like this photo above does. I know the adjectives I would use...I just don't know how to achieve them. Food for thought.....simple, fresh, clean, fun, happy, warm, refreshing, bright. That is what I want....now go!

What good pictures can do....

So Lisa and I are engaged....as of a week or so ago. We found out about this local photographer Daria Johnson who was looking for same sex couples who are engaged and would be willing to help her build her portfolio. We contacted her and we made a date this past Saturday to hang out in Ellicott City (one of Lisa's and my first dates was to Ellicott City) and take some awesome shots of us being us. This is so far my favorite. I love the color and the look in our eyes. We look good! Thanks Daria and if you are interested in an awesome Baltimore photographer look her up here.

Everything Changes....

This photo I took on June 7th at my favorite place to eat in Old San Juan, Ostra Cosa. Sadly they will be closing this location and moving up the block to a new site. I really love this place. It has a great personality and I feel that the new site is going to not be as intimate and charming as this one is. This restaurant is built into an old home...which was once the governor's house in Old San Juan. It is beautiful and the tables are outside in what was once the court yard of this amazing home. I'll miss it. My partner and I have eaten here every year for the past 4 years on the night of our anniversary. This year was our 9th year together...and it just so happens that we got engaged earlier that day. We are always treated like family here...even if it is just once a year that we stroll through their door. They always remember us and spoil us like we are returning home from a long year away. This lamp is in the hallway of the main entrance. The lighting of this picture is exactly the atmosphere lighting you will get sitting at your table on a hot night in PR. If you are ever in PR be sure to stop by Cafe Del Totem...it is the new location of Ostra Cosa. Order the cheese crisp and an Espinoza (house drink) if they are still on the menu and hopefully you will get a taste of what this great restaurant used to be.

Every Spring

Every spring an animal or a few animals find their way into our home either by chance, accident or on purpose...this time it was kittens.This little baby is Lola. She was rescued Monday afternoon on Towson University's campus. She and three others are now "boarders" (as my Grandma would call it) in my basement. We are getting them to a healthy weight and age and then will adopt them out. Anyone want a kitten or two or four?

Almost a year

This is one of the very first pictures that I took with my new camera. I got my camera almost a year ago on my 30th birthday. I quickly put it all together and then snapped a picture of the roses my sister had sent me. I knew very little about what I was doing but I was hungry to get started on my photo journey. It has been almost a year since I began my quest to record my life through photos. I can't believe all that I have seen in that time. I keep the photos of this year close to me. For somethings they are all I have left.

Just Right

So I have found someone that I love taking pictures of. This is Marsha Becker. She is an actress in the theatre company I am co-founder of and she is great fun. I love her features and I love her expressions. I told her I would love to follow her around and take her picture everywhere she goes! Enjoy!

Drama Queen

I took this photo at a rehearsal on Sunday night for the play In Durang's Shorts. Iron Crow Theatre Company is a new queer theatre company in Baltimore and I am one of the founding members! In this photo Marsha Becker plays Nina in Nina in the Morning. She is a crazy woman who is trying to hold her face lift together with pins until her plastic surgeon returns from Aruba. Love the facial expression here. Marsha is brilliant!

10 things

 My friend just posted 10 things that make her happy right now...so in the spirit of positive thinking I decided to list my 10!

1-My partner's laugh
2-How excited my dog gets when I walk in the door.
3-The Rescue's EP- if you don't know this...get to know this.
4-Digital Copies of movies
5- Hanging clothes outside
6- Getting home from work in the daylight
7- Driving with the windows open
8- My upcoming show! Get tickets! Here www.ironcrowtheatre.com
9- Having off on Friday
10- Iron crow t-shirts come in soon!

Night Castle

This was taken on a perfectly clear night at Disney World. I love the dark blue sky behind the bright orange castle. Very cool!

Happiest Place on Earth

Boys will be Boys

So over Christmas break I went to London to visit family. While I was there we toured through various parts of the city and mostly we stopped a local markets and did a spot of shopping. At the Burrough Market is where I found these stair-step-brothers. They were waiting for their parents outside of this shop and while they waited they got into a bit of mischief. They started hitting eachother. I loved it and thought it was great to see them smacking and laughing. The middle boy was a ginger...which I thought OF COURSE one is a ginger. How cute. You can see the motion and the swiftness of the street and the boys as they play. I love the bustle feeling all of these have. The market was busy with life and these images were just snapped in between traffic.Here is the story of their scuffle in photo form. Enjoy!

and caught by Dad......game over. :)

London at night

This was taken a few days ago in London just outside the British Museum. It came out a bit darker than I wanted it to so I lightened it a bit and I think the turn out is quite nice. Notice the Union Jack flag on the right...love it.