Everybody needs a little time away...

This past week was an incredible experience.  Me and my family haven't had a proper vacation for a few years now and we decided it was time to change that.  Good friends of ours live just a stones throw away from Lake Michigan in the city of Holland and we took a week to go visit.  Having been raised on the eastern side of the state outside of Detroit and had spent time "up north" as well, I had a pretty good idea what Michigan was like.  That was until we went to the western part of the state.  It's a totally different environment over there.  The area feels a lot like an east coast Cape Cod more then part of the industrial nature of the eastern portion of the state.  The Grand Rapids area has a growing economy and a lot of the area around it is reflective of that.  I had always said that if I was looking for a change in the "day job", Pittsburgh or the greater Grand Rapids area would be the place for us.  After this week, the thought was only solidified for wanting to migrate over there.  The natural beauty of the lakeshore as well as the people make it a truly welcoming environment.  

I would hate to give up all the beauty around me here in Tuscarawas County, but, this makes a strong case for change ;-)

(All of the images here are available for purchase on my web store. Click here!)

Back to the blog!

I realized this evening while watching the Cleveland Cavilers play game 5 that I haven't updated this site lately.  So what have I been up to?

First, I've been spending a lot of time posting to my Facebook page when I get out and about taking pictures.

Since my last post, I have gotten out to shoot, but, I've tried to take more time when I shoot being more conscious of what I want to shoot and slowing down.  Of course the ultimate in slowing down is getting back under that stars and trying to capture some of the beauty of Zoar with the stars in the sky.

I've also been continuing my work for the Tuscarawas County Convention and Visitors Bureau capturing many of the fantastic events and places around the county!

I've also taken the camera with me to see a great show!

But what I'm most happy about is that I've been able to continue to grow my business!  I was asked by a local artist group, The Rustbelt Monster Collective to take pictures of their individual panels of their art for a book as well as work on building my portrait business as well.  I'm proud to announce the launch of the "Studio to Go!"  It's more then a photo booth that you see at parties.  It's me bringing the studio to your event.  I bring the backdrops and lights but also my computer and printer.  I'm able to provide you and your guest with studio quality portraits and prints that same night.  No order forms or having to wait for your prints to come in the mail.  So if your having a reunion, dance, formal event or other get together, please feel free to reach out to me for more details.  

 So thanks for stopping by the blog. I promise I will try to get some more content up here soon.  In the meantime, please like and follow along on the Facebook page!

Throw Back Thursday - The Zoar Hotel

Built in 1833, the Zoar Hotel is likely one of the most recognizable buildings in Zoar. It was always a bit of a mystery to me though.  I had always wondered what it looked like on the inside.  The hotels interior had been closed for many years but during the Zoar Harvest Festival in 2013 I was given the chance to explore the building on my own.  Well, my wife was with me too. It's really an interesting piece of architecture and it was easy to get lost in thought imaging what it looked like in its prime. 

Looking for something to do on a cold winters night, I decided to take another look at the images and rework them a little.  This winter is really bringing out the black and white in me.  I promise, that will change once spring rolls around.

(Click on the images to enlarge them)

Starting the new year off with art!

Being that today was the last day of vacation from the "day job", we decided we would spend it right and head up to the Cleveland Museum of Art.  Absolutely love going to that place.  Also it is great that a close friend of ours is a professor of humanities and frequently takes his classes there.  He joined us today on our journey and gave us our own personal tour.  Definitely makes for a much richer experience!

A cold winters morning

Winter can be a tough time as a photographer.  Everything is usually frozen and grey.  But with the sunshine this morning I decided to head back out to Dundee Falls outside of Strasburg, OH to roam around with the camera.  I really do love that place out there, but be warned.  There are no "good" trails to get around.  Take your time and make sure of your footing, especially when hiking down into the gully were the southern parking lot is.  While I love this area, I am also bothered by it.  Seems like the area has a long history of "activity".  When I say activity, I mean, people using it as their party spot.  Since it's not an official park or even in a town, the area is patrolled by the county sheriff and it's pretty obvious that they don't patrol out there much. Trash of all assortments as well as spray paint litter the area.  It's pretty sad.  But that won't stop me from going out there.  Was nice to get away from it all for a while today.  (I know a couple of the shots are double. One in black and white and one in color.  Couldn't make up my mind what I wanted to do with it, so I did both!)
When I was done at Dundee, I headed off to Strasburg to locate a bridge I pass all the time on the freeway.  All in all, it was a good day out with the camera.  Need to have more adventures this week.  Vacation goes by way too fast.