Monday, November 27, 2017

Spring Blossoms

Spring Blossoms

This awesome couple happened to have their nuptials on a day the apple blossoms where in full bloom. It was an early spring time wedding and the weather had become warmer a little earlier than expected. The lovely pastoral scene was the perfect setting for capturing their happiness.

#wedding #weddingphotography #weddingphotographer #bridal #weddinginspiration #madisonweddingphotos #weddings #instawedding #weddingphoto #theknot #weddingplanning #weddinginspo #weddingdecor #wisconsin #wisconsinweddingphotographer #wisconsinphotographer #madisonweddingphotographer #wisconsinbride #wisconsinbridemag #wisconsinwedding #madisonwi #madisonwedding #lovemadisonweddings #appleblossoms #springwedding #bride #weddingday #weddingdress #groom #theknotweddings

Wednesday, November 22, 2017

Wedding at St. Bernard

Wedding at St. Bernard

While I adore all the barn, and quaint little country church weddings I have to admit sometimes it's nice to photograph in a grand church. This is a ceremony I captured at St. Bernard Catholic Church in Pittsburgh, PA. It's an absolutely stunning building!

#wedding #weddingphotography #weddingphotographer #bridal #weddinginspiration #madisonweddingphotos #weddings #instawedding #weddingphoto #theknot #weddingplanning #weddinginspo #weddingdecor #wisconsin #wisconsinweddingphotographer #wisconsinphotographer #madisonweddingphotographer #wisconsinbride #wisconsinbridemag #wisconsinwedding #madisonwi #madisonwedding #lovemadisonweddings #chapel #church #catholic #stbernard

Tuesday, November 21, 2017

Stage Fright

Stage Fright

The Ring Bearer decided that he just did NOT want to walk down that isle. No amount of coaxing could convince him. It's the laughs and simple, shared human moments like these that add so much to a ceremony.

#wedding #weddingphotography #weddingphotographer #bridal #weddinginspiration #madisonweddingphotos #weddings #instawedding #weddingphoto #theknot #weddingplanning #weddinginspo #weddingdecor #wisconsin #wisconsinweddingphotographer #wisconsinphotographer #madisonweddingphotographer #wisconsinbride #wisconsinbridemag #wisconsinwedding #madisonwi #madisonwedding #lovemadisonweddings #ringbearer #rings #weddingrings

Monday, November 20, 2017

Hyde Chapel

Hyde Chapel

One of my favorite weddings that I've ever photographed was at this quaint little countryside chapel. Built in 1861 Hyde Chapel was a "Congregationalist" church where people of various Christian faiths would gather to worship. It's a perfect setting for a small, intimate ceremony. While it lacks in modern amenities such as AC it provides a touch of old fashioned charm and romance. I snapped this on my way to go meet with the Bride & Groom on their big day. It was late in September and I happened to pass the Chapel, which is just north of Ridgeway, Wisconsin. I'm glad I stopped for a quick photo too as it soon became overcast rainy.

#wedding #weddingphotography #weddingphotographer #bridal #weddinginspiration #madisonweddingphotos #weddings #instawedding #weddingphoto #theknot #weddingplanning #weddinginspo #weddingdecor #wisconsin #wisconsinweddingphotographer #wisconsinphotographer #madisonweddingphotographer #wisconsinbride #wisconsinbridemag #wisconsinwedding #madisonwi #madisonwedding #lovemadisonweddings #hydechapel #chapel #church #countrychurch #Congregationalists

Barn Weddings

Barn Weddings

Wisconsin loves barn weddings! So many venues are all around me that had once been farms. I find it fascinating when I am booked to cover a ceremony and reception at a barn venue. Some are super simple in their set up while others are very elaborately designed facilities. Either way it's the couple themselves that make these ceremonies so special.

#wedding #weddingphotography #weddingphotographer #bridal #weddinginspiration #madisonweddingphotos #weddings #instawedding #weddingphoto #theknot #weddingplanning #weddinginspo #weddingdecor #wisconsin #wisconsinweddingphotographer #wisconsinphotographer #madisonweddingphotographer #wisconsinbride #wisconsinbridemag #wisconsinwedding #madisonwi #madisonwedding #wisconsinwedding #lovemadisonweddings #bride #groom #barnwedding

Friday, November 17, 2017

Natural Poses

Natural Poses

There are times as a wedding photographer that you simply have things fall into place naturally. As the Bride & Groom walked to their reception at a local winery they paused to take in the setting sun. All I had to do was pay attention. Sometimes it's nice to just know where to stand.

#wedding #weddingphotography #weddingphotographer #bridal #weddinginspiration #madisonweddingphotos #weddings #instawedding #weddingphoto #theknot #weddingplanning #weddinginspo #weddingdecor #wisconsin #wisconsinweddingphotographer #wisconsinphotographer #madisonweddingphotographer #wisconsinbride #wisconsinbridemag #wisconsinwedding #madisonwi #madisonwedding #wisconsinwedding #lovemadisonweddings #bride #groom #weddingportrait #naturallight

The Shared Love

The Shared Love

I shot this photo at a small wedding ceremony that was held in the living room of a modest but comfortable home. Surrounded by their friends and family this couple had a very intimate vows renewal ceremony. How loving they were to each other and how close knit their family seemed was very inspirational. They didn't need a big venue, or an elaborately decorated reception hall (not there's anything wrong with those). All they needed was to express their love for each other. I found it very touching.

#wedding #weddingphotography #weddingphotographer #bridal #weddinginspiration #madisonweddingphotos #weddings #instawedding #weddingphoto #theknot #weddingplanning #weddinginspo #weddingdecor #wisconsin #wisconsinweddingphotographer #wisconsinphotographer #madisonweddingphotographer #wisconsinbride #wisconsinbridemag #wisconsinwedding #madisonwi #madisonwedding #wisconsinwedding #lovemadisonweddings #bride #nuptials #ceremony #weddingrings #vows

Thursday, November 16, 2017

Time to Let Go & Have Fun

Time to Let Go & Have Fun

This morning I was reading on an online forum for wedding photographers. There was a discussion about how much they all hated covering the reception. They're tired and just want to go home. I was stunned. I am usually really disappointed when I am released soon after the toasts or whatever and don't get to cover the fun! I love seeing folks cut loose and enjoy themselves with their friends and family. Fast paced dancing in dim halls with crazy lighting is no barrier for capturing images. In fact I once had a string of four weddings all related to one another. It was due to a large group of friends who all loved dancing so much. They liked the way I shot the first couple's reception, especially the dancing and being alive!

#wedding #weddingphotography #weddingphotographer #bridal #weddinginspiration #madisonweddingphotos #weddings #instawedding #weddingphoto #theknot #weddingplanning #weddinginspo #weddingdecor #wisconsin #wisconsinweddingphotographer #wisconsinphotographer #madisonweddingphotographer #wisconsinbride #wisconsinbridemag #wisconsinwedding #madisonwi #madisonwedding #wisconsinwedding #lovemadisonweddings #bride #weddinggown #weddingreception #weddingdance #party #reception

Wednesday, November 15, 2017

First Kiss at the Pfister Hotel

First Kiss at the Pfister Hotel

One of my favorite moments to photograph during a wedding ceremony is the First Kiss. Usually by this point in the proceedings I've been around the bridal couple for hours. I watch them as they nervously anticipate this moment. They may not be actively thinking about that first kiss but it's when I usually see a lot tension released as the big moment happens. After all the planning, and then negotiating all the little things that can make a wedding day fly by they have this clear moment in time. They've done it!

#wedding #weddingphotography #weddingphotographer #bridal #weddinginspiration #madisonweddingphotos #weddings #instawedding #weddingphoto #theknot #weddingplanning #weddinginspo #weddingdecor #wisconsin #wisconsinweddingphotographer #wisconsinphotographer #madisonweddingphotographer #wisconsinbride #wisconsinbridemag #wisconsinwedding #madisonwi #madisonwedding #wisconsinwedding #lovemadisonweddings #bride #weddinggown #firstkiss

A Mother's Tears of Joy

A Mother's Tears of Joy

The mother mother of the bride reacts as they repair her clothing. It had torn in all the hugging after having seen the Bride in her gown for the first time. This is a perfect example of the moments I try to capture. The personal interplay of emotions during a wedding can be so powerful. While I admit there are times that photos do need some good staging generally there are so many emotions flying around, especially in close knit families, all I need do is be present in the moment. Honestly, there's nothing more rewarding than being trusted to photograph these intimate moments.

#wedding #weddingphotography #weddingphotographer #bridal #weddinginspiration #madisonweddingphotos #weddings #instawedding #weddingphoto #theknot #weddingplanning #weddinginspo #weddingdecor #wisconsin #wisconsinweddingphotographer #wisconsinphotographer #madisonweddingphotographer #wisconsinbride #wisconsinbridemag #wisconsinwedding #madisonwi #madisonwedding #wisconsinwedding #bride #weddinggown #bridetobe #motherofthebride #candid #candidphotography #candidshot

Friday, November 10, 2017

Hope

Hope

This morning a local artist posted some new content to their social media. It was photos of some freshly created prints. I met them this year while photographing The Spring Art Tour here in Mount Horeb, Wisconsin. I spent extra time at the artist's studio so I could literally bask in the creative energy. It was as if there were unseen ribbons of "something" boiling around the property like the super heated waters found around deep sea volcanic vents. As I looked at the new pieces of art this morning I remembered my family & I had also gone to a picnic there. It was late summer. While my wife & daughter ran around the property I just relaxed, taking it all in. I'd brought some camera gear but only took a few photos. Seeing those images today I realized I still hadn't shared one of them. Hopefully I'll get to do some creative work there again? Here's hoping so.

#marketweightpress #driftlessregion #driftless #driftlessarea #wisconsin #wisconsinlife #discoverwisconsin #thedriftless #driftlessart #wisconsinphotographer #travelwisconsin #madison #madisonwi #danecounty #mounthoreb #wisconsinartist #contemporaryart #artsy #instaartist #fineart #redditig #redditphotography #outdoorlife #getoutside #liveoutdoors #getoutstayout #getoutthere #naturelover #lifeoutdoors #optoutside

Sunday, November 5, 2017

Right Cross!

Right Cross!

Jerusha "Honeybee" Hassell lands a right cross on Maria "The Problem" Loy during the 2nd annual White Collar Boxing event. Organized by the Bob Lynch Boxing Foundation with an aim towards raising funds for training Olympian & Golden Gloves boxers. The fighters were well paired resulting in some very entertaining clashes. The action was fast paced. The fighters were mainly all local folks so the crowd was full of friends and family that came to cheer them to victory. As for me, I had an AWESOME time covering this. I decided earlier to really focus on the actual boxing. I picked what I thought was the best vantage point and worked it. I used tandem cameras hung from a Black Rapid double strap. Keeping my lens trained on the action the whole time, using my thumb to control the focus, and trying to time busts of RAW data writing to the buffer was really fun! Now I have almost 7000 photos to sort through, most of which are going to be garbage. Taking photos is fun. Sorting them not so much...

#boblynchboxingfoundation #boxing #boxer #boxingheads #boxingfans #boxingday #boxingnews #boxinghype #boxinglife #boxinggym #boxingtraining #boxingislife #boxingworkout #boxingjunky #boxingfanatik #boxingtalk #boxingmatch #boxingfit #boxinglove #boxingteam #boxingworld #boxingmemes #boxingnight #boxingcoach #fighter #redditphotography #redditig #stayfocused #stayhumble #stayhungry

Thursday, November 2, 2017

Life Modeling

Life Modeling

For the past few years I've done a bit of art modeling for the UW art department. I try to do as dynamic posing as possible while tying to stay perfectly motionless. It's not easy. I begin with a series of 30 second quick poses in which I try to convey action. By the end I'm holding motionless for up to 30 minutes. This particular sketch was done while I was holding a 20 minute pose while standing. I take these frozen moments to really practice my meditation and mental focus. For instance during a 30 minute pose last night I began to play around with how I perceived the very space around me. While keeping my eyes locked on a specific spot I began to pay attention to all the dark areas in my peripheral vision. Once I have them defined I began to focus on all the lightest areas while holding onto the dark patterns. Then I began to reverse the light & dark. I'd then let it all go back to shadows being dark but now all the mid tones would be more evident. Everything within the direction I was facing then would snap into a hyper 3D awareness, including the subtle motions of the artists drawing me. I'd then return to "normal" vision. Once that returned I'd begin the process all over. Each time it became easier and easier to control my brain processing how I viewed my surroundings. It felt as if I was literally training my mind just the same as when I lift weights to train my physique. I became so engrossed at times that I'd forget about even having a body!

#art #draw #drawing #sketch #lifedrawing #figure #figuredrawing #figurativedrawing #figurativeart #figurestudy #figuremodel #pencildrawing #pencilonpaper #model #artmodel #artmodeling #artistmodel #nudeartmodel #nudeart #lifemodel #lifemodelling #bodylanguage #nudedrawing #contemporaryart #postcontemporaryart #artistsoninstagram #artcollector #art_spotlight #artoftheday #contemporaryartist

Wednesday, November 1, 2017

Monstrous and abominable eyes they were...

Monstruous and abominable eyes they were...

"But still, she was there, who was there before Sauron, and before the first stone of Barad-dûr; and she served none but herself, drinking the blood of Elves and Men, bloated and grown fat with endless brooding on her feasts, weaving webs of shadow; for all living things were her food, and her vomit darkness."
—The Two Towers

This is an old photo I captured in 2009. Canon EOS 10D + Ef 100mm f/2.8 Macro (the OLD model)

#shelob #thetwotowers #tolkien #lotr #spider #spiders #spiderweb #arachnid #spidersofinstagram #web #arachnids #macro #macrophotography #macro_perfection #macro_captures #macroworld_tr #macroclique #macro_vision #macro_freaks #macromood #macros #top_macro #macro_brilliance #bns_macro #igbest_macros #macroworld #macro_highlight #macro_secrets #macro_spotlight #macro_holic