Sleeping Beauty

Here’s another image of our “furry child”, Mackenzie. She photographs so well in Black & White. I love the “texture” in this image. You’ve probably also noticed the “M” shaped thing in the logo I designed for her. It’s supposed to represent the shape that’s in her forehead. When her eyes are open and she’s sitting upright, it looks all the more like the one in the logo.

Onto another subject, but still about photography; I’ve read some great books on the subject lately that I want to pass on to you guys. “The Digital Photography Book” series, volumes one, two and three by Scott Kelby. If you want to make sure your photographic foundation is strong and take your skills to the next level, this series is a must read. Each page features a photo with a tip or technique. I devoured these books one after the other. I’ve known for years that Scott is a ninja in Photoshop, but recently discovered that he’s also a photographic ninja! The guy can photograph anything.

Another book I’ve enjoyed reading recently is “Within the Frame” by David duChemin. It’s another read that will inspire you and help you take your “photographic vision” to the next level.

I check out these two guys’ blogs as well as Joe McNally’s, a few times a week for inspiration.

This weekend, Sandy and I drove to Franklin, Tennessee for the wedding of some friends. We left Kissimmee, Florida on Thursday night and arrived in Franklin on Friday morning for the wedding that night. It was a 12 hour journey, but worth it.

On Saturday morning, Sandy and I stopped in downtown Franklin for breakfast. While there, I spotted this old church with a beautiful tree in all it’s Fall glory beside it. I shot a few frames of the scene and came up with this image. I have another one that shows all three windows in a landscape format, but I felt less was more for this one.

"Mackenzie"

This is our “furry child,” Mackenzie the cat. She was born on May 30th, 2009 at Sandy's Aunt and Uncle's home. She was a member of a litter of three from a stray that was temporarily taken in while she gave birth and nursed her kittens. Mackenzie quickly became our favorite and came home with us as soon as she was weaned off of her mom.

Sandy and I are very glad that we’ve brought this little short haired tabby cat into our lives. You’ll definitely be seeing more of her on this blog in the future.

Look Up

While at the Boca Raton Resort and Club on a business trip back in 2006, these windows and ornate ceiling caught my eye. I remember people looking up as they passed by to see what I was photographing.

Reflecting the Sun

I would had probably missed this shot at Celebration, Florida, if it had not been for my wife. We were walking to dinner and I had seen a potential shot that probably wasn’t going to work anyway, when I heard Sandy point out this clock that was down another street. When I saw the clock illuminated by the setting sun, I quickly walked in that direction and captured this image.

Life Boat

I took this photograph while on board a casino cruise in West Palm Beach back in 2006. The bright orange in the boats; the steep, wood stairs; all inspired me to capture this image.

I never played any slots that night, but I did get approached by a staff member as I was photographing them. He informed me that I was not allowed to photograph the slot machines.

Hey, I wasn’t trying to figure out how to heist the place or how to build a better machine, I was just trying to create some good images. Oh well.

…I still had gotten two images of the machines before I was approached though ;)

No, you’re not visiting “Country Captures”, my Dad’s photo blog. You’re looking at an image that I took at Lakeland, Florida's Lake Parker in 2006. Although, my Dad was with me photographing the wildlife there as well during that time.

On another note, I want to say “Thank You” to all of you who take time to faithfully view this photo blog every time I post something new. It’s much appreciated.

"Make It Talk"

These colorful plates caught my eye in a Dillard’s department store at the Lakeland Square Mall. I was passing through on my way to the food court for lunch the day before when I first noticed them. Though I did not have a camera with me at the time, I made a mental note of it and came prepared the very next day. The bold colors of the plates and the way they were lit is what inspired me to create this image.

The camera I took this image with is a Lumix DMC-TZ4. I recently got this photographic tool as a means of capturing images that I would have otherwise missed because I did not have a camera with me at the time. I knew I needed something compact yet powerful enough to give me the quality of images I was looking for. After all, my phone has a camera on it too, but I’ve never posted any images here that I’ve taken with it... yet. I mainly reserve those images as “desktop” pictures for my phone’s background which usually consist of cool artwork that I’ve seen when I’m out and about.

So, compactness and quality. That’s what I needed and that’s what I pretty much got in the TZ4. It’s still not my Nikon Coolpix 8800 or the D80 that I use at work, but it serves the purpose that I bought it for.

When I recently photographed my company’s trade show with the Nikon D80, I kept the TZ4 in my pocket as a “secret weapon”. I only used it for about 6 shots, but it was in situations where a DSLR couldn’t get the same image quite as easily. A good example of this is the fountain image in my July 6th post. I achieved that by holding the camera down to the ground and aiming it upwards. It only took a few tries to get it right.

For me, it’s just about creating a great image. Whatever camera you‘re using, “make it talk”.

Shades of Green

I took this image three years ago at Hollis Garden in Lakeland, Florida. I just like the color and pattern.

2009 Tool Dealer Expo

June 26 & 27 was the 2009 Tool Dealer Expo held at Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center in Kissimmee, Florida. The Tool Dealer Expo is a trade show held for resellers in the automotive tools industry. I work in the print media department of the company who hosts this show every year for it’s customers. One of my main jobs for that weekend is to photograph this huge event.

So much time and energy is spent preparing for an expo like this. Before we know it, the show comes and goes almost without a trace, but leaves a lasting mark on the industry each year. It’s a very proud moment for the company I work for and everyone that’s a part of it.

It is because of this that I take extra pride in using my creativity behind the lens to capture our show. It’s an event that deserves to be documented well.

To check out the gallery of images that I captured this year, please click here.

Jag Chrome

I took this photo back in 2006 during a shoot that I was doing for my company at a car dealership. I noticed this Jaguar on the lot and just had to create an image of this iconic emblem. Their sculpture has such fluidity to it.

...In other news, my wife Sandy, has just started a blog of her own. One of her passions in life is motivating and inspiring people. Please be sure to click Here and check her out! She has a lot of great things to share with you.

Saturday Night

Saturday night, I met up with my buddy, Ebenezer, at “Old Town” in Kissimmee, for a “guy’s night out.” The main focus of the night was just to hang out and take in some classic cars that were on display for the weekly “Saturday Night Cruise.”

The orange wheels of this hot rod caught my attention. Another thing that drew me to capture this image was the shadow that the car is casting in the front. The tread on the tires look cool to me too for some reason. Just a beautiful ride.

Celebration, Florida

I took this image Saturday night in Celebration, Florida. Celebration is a living community in Osceola county that was developed by The Walt Disney Company in the mid 90’s. This small town is complete with a hospital, school, churches and of course restaurants and shops.

With it’s beautiful homes and well manicured lawns, Celebration was created to be like a perfect town that only exists in fantasy and film. If you ask me, they succeeded.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

Monday was my wife Sandy’s birthday. This year, Disney is running a promotion where you can get admission to one of their parks for FREE on your birthday. So, since we were both taking her birthday off work, we decided to take advantage of the offer and enjoy our first trip to the Magic Kingdom as a married couple. When we obtained our tickets, they gave Sandy a birthday pin with her name on it. Each cast member of the park that saw Sandy’s pin, wished her a “Happy Birthday.”

As we waited in line for one of my favorite rides at the Magic Kingdom, “Big Thunder Mountain Railroad”, I captured this image. This was the first “roller coaster type” ride that I rode as a kid.

An Image from Shows Past

The company I’m employed by as a graphic designer, is a wholesale distributor of automotive tools and equipment, based in central Florida. Each year we put on a trade show in the summer for our customers who are mainly tool truck drivers and auto part store owners. We’ve been doing this since 2003 and I’ve had the privilege of being the main photographer of the show for almost all of them (I had to miss last year’s due to a huge catalog project my department was working on back at the home office).

I’m currently designing a promotional piece that will be mailed out to our customers to get them excited about the show and to register. I’m enjoying going through my archives of images from shows past to find some great material for the mailer. As I was doing that on Friday, I came across this image from the 2004 show. The first two that we put on in Orlando, were called the “Fun in the Sun Orlando Tool Show”. My friend, David Pentecost, had designed this particular logo you see above. That next year we changed the name to the “Tool Dealer Expo”, to better communicate exactly who this show was geared to. I got to design that logo.

I took this image at the close of the show, which is a dinner and prize giveaway event. That year, one of the grand prizes was a Harley Davidson Sportster Motorcycle. As people were leaving the ballroom, I sat down on the ground and took this shot.

As I looked at this image again recently for the first time in a few years, it seemed more iconic to me; commemorating some of the hard work that my company has put in through the years.

I’m getting excited to photograph this year's show in June. I love taking on the task of capturing the essence of what this event is all about through my own eyes and creativity

A New Beginning

Today, I turn 30. It’s a very content 30 though. It’s a whole new beginning on different levels. I compare it to when I moved to Lakeland, Florida from Pennsylvania in the summer of 1998. I was 19, had just graduated high school, moved to a new state and was getting ready to begin my 20’s. It was the start of a whole new era of my life. My 20’s were great and some of the best years of my life thus far with my 29th year being the best of those.

Now, I’m 30. I just got married to an amazing woman, moved to a new town (Kissimmee, Florida) and am now a part of a new church. I now have different priorities and goals in my life. All these things are blessings and with new blessings, come new responsibilities.

One of Sandy and my biggest goals this year, is to purchase our first home. It’s an exciting time and I’m glad to be where I am right now in life. I’m content.

I captured the image of this painting while on my honeymoon in Tampa. It was hanging in the entrance to a Nordstrom at the Mall. The first time I saw it, all I had on me was my camera phone, so I captured an image for it’s wallpaper. The next time we visited the Mall that week, I had my real camera, that’s when I captured what you see above.

My passion for photography really grew in my 20’s, I want to take it even further in my 30’s.

Where it all Began

My wedding was everything that I always wanted it to be. The people that I wanted to attend were there. The guys that I always wanted to be my groomsmen were. And, most importantly, I married the kind of woman that I had been waiting for.

Our wedding ceremony was held outdoors at the Royal St. Cloud Golf Links in St. Cloud, Florida. It’s a brand new place that Sandy and I fell in love with as soon as we saw it.

As I readied to walk down the isle for our 4:00pm ceremony, I noticed how beautiful the evening sky was. You may remember a previous post of mine where I talked about times when I would pray to God while walking under an evening sky. Many times, I’d talk to Him about the woman that He was going to guide me to eventually. Thanking Him for what I knew He was going to do. Now, I was getting ready to walk under a similar sky, preparing to receive that very woman I prayed for all those times in the past. It was a serendipitous moment that I never could have predicted.

As I found my spot on the platform, my best man, David Pentecost, looked up at me and said with true enthusiasm in his eyes and with a grin on his face, “This is nice, man!”

Of course, when the time came for Sandy to make her entrance, she looked amazing. As I stepped down from the stage to receive her from her Dad, I shook his hand and gave him a hug… and almost began to cry at that point… but I held it together.

Before we knew it, we were being pronounced Husband and Wife!

The reception that followed was held indoors at a venue that is right beside where the ceremony took place.

I really believe that the love that Sandy and I share, showed through and everyone could sense it. I had so many people come up to me during the reception and tell me how much they were enjoying our wedding. Some even said that it was one of the nicest ones that they had ever been to!

We spent our first night at the Grand Bohemian Hotel in downtown Orlando and then ventured down to Clearwater, Florida for the remainder of the week. It was a carefree time and everything a honeymoon should be.

The following Saturday night, as we were slowly making our re-entry into our new normal lives together, we stopped by Downtown Disney before returning home. After we watched “Yes Man” at the AMC theatre, I got my camera and tripod out of the car. I had to capture the image that you see above. It’s Sandy and I standing outside of the “Pop Gallery” at Downtown Disney. This is where we first met face to face on December 22, 2007 after finding each other on Match.com.

Once I met Sandy, I never looked back. I had no reason to.

Off Getting Married...

I haven't had time to post any images lately, but I just wanted to let everyone know how I appreciated you sharing in my joy as I approached this day. This day is an answer to prayer. God has brought me an amazing woman; A woman who I have prayed for since I was a teenager. Sandy possesses all the characteristics that I have wanted in a woman. God is so good and has showed me once again how much He loves me by bringing Sandy into my life.

As I'm typing this, I'm listening to "Amazing Love" (You are my King) in the background. This song will be played today while Sandy and I take communion during our ceremony. The song talks about Christ's amazing love toward us. I can't help but think of how He's made one of my biggest dreams come true today. He loves me that much.

I know that me and Sandy's union is a powerful one. I truly believe that God has lots of things in store for us.

Thank You, Jesus.


"I waited patiently for the Lord; He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God."
- Psalm 40: 1-3


"...and I will sing, sing a new song"
- U2 "40"

What It Felt Like To Fly

When I was 15, I reached the pinnacle of my jumping ability; I was now able to grab a 10 ft. Basketball goal. It wasn’t “dunking”, but it was the next best thing for this 5’-11” dude. I don’t think I could quite do it right now, but maybe if I got back in shape, I could reach those heights once again?

Above is one of my most favorite images that I’ve taken thus far in my life. It’s very iconic to me because of all the meaning that it represents. For all of my teenage years, I was in love with Basketball. It still holds a dear place in my heart, but those were the intense years. This image was taken at the start of that season of my life, when I was around 13 or 14 years old. As I looked at this image recently, I was inspired to write the following.

What It Felt Like To Fly
With speed, I approach the goal. In one continuous motion, my body prepares for take off as both feet take plant on the ground and my knees bend. Momentum is changing directions. As this happens, my arms swing upwards, thrusting me into the air like a rocket off a launch pad. I’m airborne. My body feels free for that moment. In a split second, my hand is at the rim, my head at the level of the netting. A place that once seemed so far away and unattainable is now within reach. The laws and rules in my own mind are broken.

I grab the rim with authority! The break-away spring action of the hoop gives way. I hang for a moment. As I let go, the rim snaps back into place and creates a thunderous sound that echoes throughout the gym, evidence of where I had just been.

My feet then return to solid earth, the place that is my world. But for a few split seconds, I had gravity defeated. It could not keep me from visiting the space where the hoop lives. Oh yes, the lofty hoop; It stood defeated as well! It no longer could stand in defiance of me, mocking my every attempt to reach it’s height...for I had reached it.

This is what it felt like to fly.

Right Place, Right Time

I captured this image the night before Thanksgiving last week. I looked out the window from Sandy’s house and saw that the sky was amazing. Thankfully, I had my camera (I had just photographed Sandy’s Christmas tree). So, I hurried across the street and went behind her Aunt and Uncle’s house to capture this scene from their dock.

Fortunately, I also had these subjects fishing, silhouetted against the warm hues of orange. I was in the right place at the right time.

The Color of Now

When I got this phone a few months ago, it came with two different face plates. One set of dark blue and one set of red. Since blue is my favorite color, I went with that. But, now that it’s December, the month of Christmas and the month that I’m getting married, I’ve decided to change up the plates to be a representation of the magical month that I’m now living in.

I guess that’s just the way I am, I attach meaning and significance to a lot of things in my life. That’s something that became very apparent to Sandy the first time she saw my apartment. I showed her my photographs that I have on my walls and explained where I acquired different items or why I was displaying this or that. She later stated to someone, “When I saw the way he had his apartment decorated, everything had meaning and purpose behind it.”

I never really noticed that about myself, but when she pointed that out, it definitely rang true.