TJ & Heather :: Part TWO

Back by popular demand!

Drum roll please...Part two of TJ & Heather's Engagement photographs.

TJ said I could share this note with you all. He sent it to me the day after he and Heather saw their engagement photographs.

"I feel incredibly blessed that we have the opportunity to have you capture these moments for us. Me and Heather keep saying choosing you has been one one of the best decisions we have made in this [wedding] process." -TJ

Thanks TJ! And Thanks to both of you for your sweet Christmas notes! We are going to have so much fun at your wedding!

...and a side of Chef please

A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to savor cuisine from one of the world's finest chefs, Eric Ripert. That's French mind you, so add an accent and definitely some prestige to his name and credentials.

The video went live Wednesday December 26th along with a piece in the Food section of the paper about how Ripert taught one lucky student how to make the New Year's Eve meal of her dreams.

Watch the video here

Joyful Christmas

"for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."
-Luke 2:11

"I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life."
-Jesus
John 8:12

I wish you a joyful Christmas.

TJ & Heather

I recently had the opportunity to photograph an engagement session with new friends TJ & Heather. I will be photographing and telling their wedding story in early June. I am so excited about working with them, the location, and most importantly telling their story for them to enjoy and remember for the rest of their lives.


The first thing you must know about TJ & Heather is that they are a ton of fun to be around. They have that type of magnetic personality that draws you in to their joy. Secondly, they are troopers! It was a cold day and they stuck it out! Finally, and most importantly, they have hearts (soon to be one!) of gold which has so obviously been shaped by God.

Here are a few of my favorites from that cold-cold day!





I've got quite a few more that I would like to share here. Is anyone interested in seeing more?

Michigan was cold

Americas most dangerous city, Detroit, greeted me with open arms--or was that just my dear friend Steve's 6-foot 4-inch wingspan? I went to "the GR" (Grand Rapids) as the locals call it to photograph a wedding. It was great--but more on that later!

As I drove to Grand Rapids the snow welcomed me--and kept on keepin' on. So much that the three-lane highway I had traversed on the way there had been transformed into one lane of mostly-clear asphalt. The fierce snowstorm and blizzard-like conditions made the journey back to Detroit on Sunday a slow and cold one.

Malaria with The New York Times

I recently had the opportunity to work on a project with The New York Times. I told many of you a little about it but had to be vague per request by the Times. Well, the cat is out of the bag! Yesterday (Tuesday) the story about a firm searching for a cure for Malaria ran in the paper as well as online. It ran on the cover of the science page with lots of nice photographs by Susana Raab. I shot and produced the video and they edited back in NYC. I am proud of the completed product. You can see the video here. I must say this is the only assignment I have done in the United States where I was read the disclaimer "There is a very remote chance you could get Malaria on this shoot." That's when those questions of "why am I doing this?" and "Is this risk worth what I am being paid?" run through my head. Obviously those questions didn't slow me down too much. I put on the scrubs, sanitized my equipment, and put on layer after layer of new plastic gowns as I entered clean-room after clean-room.




Here I am holding the last line of defense--the fly swatter--with the talented Times science writer Donald G. McNeil Jr. in the mosquito dissection room at Sanaria Inc. in Maryland November 15, 2007. Photograph by Susana Raab for The New York Times.


McNeil also did a fabulous job narrating the video package. This is not my preferred style of visual storytelling. I am very pleased nonetheless.

I am really encouraged by the work Dr. Stephen Hoffman and his team are doing to eradicate malaria. Those of you who have seen someone sick with Malaria will really appreciate Hoffman's mission.

USA TODAY Life section cover photo

I had a wedding client, and now friend, email me today to tell me that he liked my cover photo on the Life section page front in today's edition (Monday) of USA TODAY. I didn't even know it was there! I was on a shoot for The Washington Post all day and things have been so busy (in a good way) that I didn't even notice. You can see the story with my portrait photograph of political thriller writer David Baldacci here



okay. back to work!

Tim's Niece

is the cutest little thing in Northern Virginia. If you would like to file any claims or disputes against that title I ask that you first watch the slide show again--and again until you agree and see the error in your ways.



Oh, and she makes a mean sugar cookie too!

Sharing My Passion with 100 High School Students

Wow. Today was such an awesome day! I had the privilege of sharing a bit of my story with about 100 awesome High School Freshmen at Dominion High School in Sterling, VA. I shared with them why I have a passion for impacting people with visual stories. The students enjoyed the variety of images I showed them from across the street to around the world.

Here are a few photographs of me and my new friends.



Countless people made it possible for me to share some of my story and my passion. I want to thank a few of them here.

Ms. Pierson of Dominion High School who dreamed up the idea of me coming to speak. She has a big heart for all of her students is the coolest English teacher any High School could ask for.
Mrs. O'Rourke & Mrs. Tarrant who made this possible by teaching extra lessons and seting up the great table of food and drink for the students.
All the Dominion Freshman English students who listened, made great observations, asked great questions, and were good to me.
Greg Cooper, Faculty of Brooks Institute of Photography,who helped me bring focus, a headline, and flow to my lecture. He is my former professor, mentor in photojournalism, and good friend.
Eric Strachan, Managing Editor Naples (FL) Daily News, who gave me even more focus and proposed introducing the students to the impact of photojournalism in our lives by showing iconic photographs throughout history. He is my former boss, continuing mentor and friend.
Also, every teacher and faculty at Dominion High School who made this happen. They juggled schedules and rooms to get us space, even after a snow delay. Thanks to all the parents who provided awesome snacks for all of us.

Lastly, a heartfelt thank you to the one young woman who came in after school and told Ms. Pierson that she and her friend were going to get involved in the lives of some kids in Africa by donating their resources as a result of my lecture today. Your response made my day if not my whole week! Maybe you would be willing share on the blog? I know we would all love to hear more.

From the bottom of my heart--thank you. I hope to see you guys on this blog and come and see you again.

***Tomorrow I will post some of my photojournalism photographs the students liked the most***

Let it Snow

It is:
-30 degrees
-Snowing
-Calm

I AM:
-From California (However, from hot & humid Florida most recently)
-Cold
-lovin' every minute of it.

This is the first snow I've seen since my internship at The Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch. I hope you take some time to enjoy it also.