This was one of those days that may never leave my memory. In the forest, the snow fell slowly, steadily, and silently. The steam from the hot springs rose and coated the surrounding trees with a mist that quickly turned to ice. In the open plains, the wind bursted with gusts of up to 35-40 mph. The bison dug through several feet of snow in search of food, and the trumpeter swans swam as though they were unaffected by the drone of the snowmobiles. The hot springs, geysers, and mud pots somehow seemed more spectacular in a season with very few visitors. While I'm enjoying temperatures in the 70's, every winter I remember this unforgettable trip to Yellowstone, and dream about a real winter.
Yoga in the Park
"The moment you say 'I've got it,' you've lost everything you had. As soon as something comes, you have to go one step further. Then there is evolution. The moment you say, 'I am satisfied with that,' that means stagnation has come. That is the end of your learning; you have closed the windows of your intellect. So let me do what I cannot do, not what I can do." ~BKS IyengarMelissa with Yoga Downtown Tampa started the class with this quote, a great start to a phenomenal class.
The Secret Garden
Every day after elementary school, I rushed to the woods surrounding my home to build or protect one of my many forts. As the years went on, my twin brother and I attempted to hide our own forts from each other. In middle school, my best friends and I built a "Fort Knox" of forts that would become our secret meeting ground. In high school, I explored endless acres of tall grassland, that I would later call "The Field". I can't explain the wonder and freedom I felt in these places. But I can say I felt that thrill of discovery and adventure again when I recently read The Secret Garden. The book not only conjured my most vibrant and vivid memories from childhood, but also spoke to the present. Yeah... It might be a children's book, but we all might benefit once in awhile by seeing the world as a child does. Besides, there's a reason it's a classic.“If you look the right way, you can see that the whole world is a garden.”― Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden
Michelle
I wish I could take all the credit for this shoot, but Michelle is actually an extremely talented fine art photographer. She picked the gorgeous dresses, and added some amazing ideas to the concept. You know you've had a successful shoot when three police cars are waiting to escort you off the property. Let's just say we weren't in the best neighborhood. Thankfully it was at the end of the shoot. Thank you for being an amazing model Michelle. 
Meagan
Could Meagan be any more photogenic? The camera certainly loves her, which made the two week wait for the film seem like two years. The wait was worth every second. I hope I get another opportunity to photograph her again soon!
Fourth of July
This is where I spent my fourth of July. Yes, Independence Day is the holiday celebrating our Independence from Great Britain. But my holiday was spent declaring freedom from technology and society. On this day, I knew nothing else except friendship, sweat, rain, and the unbelievable seclusion and scenery of the backcountry of the Smokies. I hope I can spend every Fourth of July the same way.*I will be sharing quite a few more images from my four day backpacking trip on my facebook "like" page soon, as well as behind the scenes images of myself knee deep in the cold stream... in the zone. Check out my page here.
Great Smoky Mountain National Park
Today, I head to the Smokies. As soon as I arrive, I will backpack with two of my best friends for four days and thirty miles. The last time I backpacked in the smokies was in 04', and we got caught in an incredible storm... Check out the story here:I will be away from July 1st - 7th. My assistant Carissa will be answering time sensitive emails while I'm away.(This image was created on the first morning of that trip, just after sunrise. My feet were ankle deep in the stream while I made this on Fujichrome Velvia 50, converted to BW in post)
Ansel Adams
Ansel Adams likened his process to music saying "The negative is the score. The print is the performance." After being in love with his work for more than 8 years, yesterday was the first time I got to see an original performance by Ansel himself, and it was nothing short of spectacular.Any artist will tell you, you must see an Ansel Adams print first hand. Even though I've seen the Ansel Adams PBS Documentary 15 times and I have poured over his images online countless times before, I was blown away. I mean literally standing there with my mouth open.There is something to be said about the quality of his prints. Each one is unique and handmade by him, so rich and full of life. They not only give that immediate "wow factor", but they clearly stand the test of time. Even with today's 50 megapixel cameras, the digital darkroom, and new printing technology, there is no comparison. In my monthly subscription to Outdoor Photographer, the name "Ansel Adams" is on regularly on the cover. Keep in mind, he died in 1984.In high school I found myself visiting my principals office on a regular basis. Not because I was in trouble, but because above her desk were several large Ansel Adams posters (she is also an amazing principal). Today, I have three of my own black and white images in a custom frame next to those posters. While they don't compare to Yosemite National Park in a winter snow storm, they represent my earliest success in nature photography, and the impact Ansel still has on me today.His images will be on display at the Florida Musuem of Photographic Arts in downtown Tampa until July 6th.(This image was made in August 2005)
Landscape Photography
Immediately after clicking the shutter, I knew I captured something special. I wish I could say that happened every time I went out to photograph landscapes, but the fact is, that may only happen a few times in a busy year. Ansel Adams said it best when he said: "Landscape photography is the supreme test of the photographer, often the supreme disappointment". My journey at Hillsborough River State Park started my freshmen year in college, and continues today (although I don't get out to shoot as much as I used to). In college, I spent every Sunday for months photographing until dark. I often only came away with mosquito bites. But I also came away with an intimate knowledge of the river, and got to witness drastic changes in the color of the water, the height of the flow, and vegetation in and around the river. This past Sunday, was the first time I returned with my camera in a long time. I may not have created anything special yesterday, but I walked away knowing the images I created in the past are moments that can never be recreated. They are more than my interpretation, but a record of my journey. The image below was created more than three years ago. I came back the next Sunday after I made this image, and the water was no longer flowing in the same area.
