061910 Three Men and a Baby - Build-a-Bear

'Ya ever get one of those crazy ideas where you think... I should relive a part of my college days? Well I did, and I acted on it. I got a two of my old college mates to come up to Cincinnati for a two day lockdown recording session.

(Rocking through the Fog)
When I was in college I was pretty sure that I was going to record and produce records. I had a meager studio and everything. That's where I first met Tristin Morin and Cole Wade. Two of the most phenomenal musicians the world has ever produced. Bot are base near the University of Kentucky (my alma matter).

Cole is an uncanny vocal mimic as well as a prodigious multi-instrumentalist who has been spending most of his creative time with the progressive band Prometheus.

And what an excuse to play with colored Gels! Heck, we had a fog machine!

Mr. Tristin Morin. What can a person say about Tristin that would do this man justice? Tristin is probably the best and most creative guitarist I have ever met. As far as a person, he's above reproach. After a successful album with fellow Lexingtonian Charles Moreland III under the name Tryptamine, Tristin has been hooking up with the people at Moog for some sweet synth action.


The master of Ceremonies himself.


So what did we record?

We managed to complete A progressive track that ends in 5/4 called "Skull the Union" and, of all things, a cover of the song "Wicked Game" by Chris Issac :) Crazy drunken college kids!!

And the Title... When I talked to Cole about attending the session he agreed on the condition that we call the band "Three Men and a Baby." Tristin wanted to call the album Build-a-Bear because all the bands out now have animal names. And there you have it.

Click below to hear Three Men and a Baby's
From the album "Build-a-Bear"

061510 Lightning (Finally)

I have always wanted to take cool pictures of lightening, but after my wife, Terri, took this unfairly awesome photo (note the reflection in the window) it has been on my mind.

Finally after trying for a couple years I get some that look somewhat good.

(Exposures were 30 sec. F-22 200 ISO)
All edited in the new Lightroom 3 with noise reduction.

062410 Julie Ann

Another in the series of free portraits.
This time of my little sister Julie Ann.

She's quite a character. Or as my grandparents say
"A breath of fresh air."


062510 Misc.

I got a new camera for the wedding season and I've been pointing it at all sorts of stuff.


Gross.



061810 Krohn Conservatory's 2010 Butterfly Show Volunteer Day

So about last Friday I volunteered to photograph the Krohn Conservatory's 2010 Butterfly Show Volunteer Day.

Despite 2 weather warnings about the heat I hung out in a greenhouse in 94 degree weather.


The Volunteer Day and party were terrific fun.

This year the show broke all previous records for attendance.
This year's show featured butterflies from Japan and had three full green house changes.

It was so hot that day, when I asked the organizers and speakers for this portrait the superintendent of Cincinnati Parks (I believe) told me to hurry before I melt! Good times.


After the speeches and awards was the show itself!



(All of these portraits were taken with a single 580EXII handheld with a 16" umbrella.)

For the full slide show click the link in the following post

Looking for the Krohn Conservatory Butterfly Show Volunteer Photos?

Well Here's the Link!

061410 WATERFALL SHOOT!!!!!!!!!!!

(!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! There's even a sunbeam in it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
I first heard about this waterfall/run-off thingy from my beautiful bride, Terri. She liked to drive past it slowly and take in the scent of the deep forest. It is a really magical place!

This beautiful woman is Keisha, who was gracious enough to reply to my Facebook post:
"I am in search of a beautiful model who is willing to get into a probably freezing mountain stream for a photo shoot! Any takers? Photos will be amazing!

"Logically it seemed like a place to go explore... and then photograph... then photograph with people... then get rich!

It turned out to be a terrific shoot!

Some people have been asking if I just photoshopped Keisha in to the backgrounds, so here's some conclusive evidence!

The rocks are beautiful yes, but also dangerous! I managed to get this battle wound sliding 20 feet down a muddy hillside and straight into the water in the first 5 min.

061710 Julia's Senior Shoot (BisB)

The highly anticipated portraits of Julia are finished!

In addition to being an amazing person, and beautiful, Julia is also a singer songwriter.


I met Julia and her wonderful mother over the phone a week ago and got the details worked out. Then it was nothing but smiles and fun!



Beautiful model and beautiful locations... I couldn't go wrong!

Thank you again Julia and Margot! You really turned my day around!!

061410 More Scouting (French Park)

The other day my beautiful wife, Terri, and I went hunting for something new and ended up at French Park just outside Cincinnati.

Scouting out your locations for future shoots is crucial to both speed and quality.

I also picked up some Chantilly lace from the fabric store when we purchased the cloth for the waterfall shoot. As fer as the lace... I didn't know it existed outside the song until now. And it's expensive!

Neat for certain looks though!