Thursday, December 4, 2014

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Earning Her Rank

The kid has really been applying herself to learning at Infusion Mixed Martial Arts. We're seeing some really nice changes in how she handles herself, both physically, and mentally. Most importantly, even though we encourage her, she still has to do this on her own. We can't earn her belts for her.

Freja prepares to demonstrate Muay Thai punching and kicking during her belt advancement test. Her favorite part? Getting to wear her mouth guard.

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Sunday, September 21, 2014

It All Comes Together

The sun was low in the sky as the bride finished the "sand ceremony" at the end of their nuptials. This is a totally candid moment, I don't even think she noticed when I slipped to the side of the gazebo. Sometimes, you just have to love it when the natural light plays in your favor.

WI; Wisconsin; the; Abbey; Resort; Song; Danjue; Chinese; wedding; marriage; nuptials; ceremony; Asian; style; fun; love; happy; happiness; portraits; portrait; formal; Fontana-on-Geneva Lake; lake; Geneva

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Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Some Tough Mudders

It was a real nice change of pace to photograph the local team from Infusion MMA as they ran the Tough Mudder obstacle course.

Brandon; Tracy; Plymouth; WI; Wisconsin; Road; America; Tough; Mudder; obstacles; obstacle; course; mud; dirty; Elkhart; Lake; Mudders; events; event; sport; sports; action; Infusion; Mixed; Martial; Arts; team; friends; compete; competition; competitor; action; athletic; athletes; run; runs; teammates; camaraderie; pain; group; 09-06-2014

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Sunday, September 7, 2014

At Z & Zz

Teri & I had a date week while the kid was at school. With the new school year beginning last week my wife had taken it off from work. It gave us a chance to just spend time alone, just the two of us.

At the corner of Z & Zz we found what appeared to be a store. I friend in our new neighborhood had told me that it was in fact NOT a store. It turns out it's one of more interesting placed one could stumble upon during a sunny weekday before noon. We basically had the place to ourselves, had a really great lunch. Not only was the meal good, but we were having such a great day just being together sans being a parent at the same time. I can't tell you how happy we are school has started.

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Wednesday, September 3, 2014

A Perfect Day

I shot two weddings this past weekend, both were awesome. The second though had an amazing venue, the church designed and attended by Frank Lloyd Wright! It even had a small patch of restored prairie! It was a perfect combination of nice folks, great locations, and really nice light.

WI; Wisconsin; First; Unitarian; Society; of; Madison; WI; Lloyd; Wright; church; meeting; house; Universalist; Shorewood; Hills; Marshall; Erdman; prairie; flowers; wedding; ceremony; portraits; marriage; Iles; Voegele; Caitlin; Chad

Please click the photo above to see.

Friday, August 29, 2014

Wildcat Mountain

We had a chance to explore a new part of Wisconsin for us. We went camping/canoeing at Wildcat Mount State Park.



You can see more photos by clicking the sky above.

Friday, August 22, 2014

End of a Season

Today the three of us went to the pool for the last time for this season. The Mount Horeb Aquatic Center closes tomorrow until next spring. Summer is coming to an end.

Ever since she passed the test that allows kids under eight to play in the deep end of the pool that's where she spends most of her time. The diving board is her favorite things to play on. The waterslide, and the shallow end no longer seem to have much appeal for her. Today was the last day of this season that we'll be going to the pool. It will close tomorrow until next spring. In ten days school will begin, and summer vacation will come to an end. As usual Teri & I have mixed feelings. On one hand it'll be nice to have her back in school, on the other it's one more season of fun times coming to an end. This was an especially busy summer with Freja attending a number of activities. Swim team practice three mornings a week, tennis lesson sandwiched in between, both followed by swimming classes, and our days ending with her martial art training. She's growing into a very active, self confident, and intrepid child. We're so proud of her.

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Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Young Eagle

While canoeing at Governor Dodge State Park we spotted a juvenile Bald Eagle. It let us drift pretty close, and didn't seem too disturbed by us.

Governor; Dodge; State; Park; Western; Coulee; Ridges; Wisconsin; WI; eagle; bald; bird; haliaeetus; leucocephalus; raptor; young; juvenile

Please click the image to see a larger size.

Thursday, August 7, 2014

Summer Fun

The kid knows how to have fun. Summer's going by way too quickly.

WI; Wisconsin; Mount; Mt; Horeb; art; fair; main; street; lutz; vendors; Freja; fire; fighters; hose; water; fight; barrel; team; contest; competion

Just click the image to see a larger size.

Friday, July 11, 2014

Camping in Door County, WI

We took a five day camping trip in Peninsula State Park. We all had fun, and I shot some of the best vacations photos that I've ever taken.

WI; Wisconsin; Peninsula; State; Park; Fish; Creek; Lake; Michigan; shore; beach; trail; camp; camping; Door; County; recreational; outdoor; nature; forest; bluff; Tennison; Bay; Freja; Lutz; Teri; Newport; Ellison

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Friday, June 27, 2014

Earning Gold

Last night Freja earned her gold belt. The pride she felt in doing this is easily seen on her face.

Mount; Horeb; WI; Wisconsin; Infusion; Mixed; Martial; Arts; MMA; karate; school; dojo; training; train; skilled; fight; Freja; Lutz; Master; Tracy; classes; Self; Defense; Phyisical; Fitness; Muay; Thai; Jiu; Jitsu;

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Friday, June 20, 2014

Wyalusing "Adventure"

We went on a camping trip to Wyalusing State Park. I had a little "incident" with a hole in the ground...

Wyalusing; State; Park; Wyalusing; Glenn; Lake; boat; landing; sunset; water; Mississippi; River; WI; Wisconsin; camping; Freja; Lutz

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Friday, June 6, 2014

The Spring Show - 2013

Last night I spoke with the owners of Forte Studios, where Freja attended dance classes last year. It reminded me to create a page talking about that experience.

Forte; Dance; Studio; class; classes; performance; performer; Freja; Lutz; stage; theater; Spring; Show; Mount; Horeb; WI; Wisconsin; Madison

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Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Fun @ Twin Valley Lake

Our first canoe trip of the season, and Freja's first time fishing! It was a perfect Sunday, it truly felt like Summer is here. I took my family to Governor Dodge State Park where we spent time on Twin Valley Lake.

For us, it's now officially SUMMER! After a pleasant day of canoeing, and fishing, we headed over to the beach. The beach at Twin Valley Lake, in Governor Dodge State Park, while slightly covered in Goose dung is still a really great place to play. The water was pretty clear, and the kid had a great time playing in the water.

Just click the photo to see more.

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Blossoms of Love

The wedding I shot this past weekend was a perfect mix of really nice people, amazing scenery, and perfect weather! It all came together to make for some beautiful wedding photography.

Madison; wedding; Deer; Valley; Lodge; spring; May; flowers; tree; bloom; apple; blossoms; Rebecca; Barefield; Tim; Timothy; Gregory; Blue; Mounds; WI; Wisconsin; photo; photographer; photography; Dane; Iowa; County; country; rural; scenic; Barneveld; ceremony; nuptials; gazebo; outdoor; portraits; rolling; hills; Mount; Mt; Horeb; Dodgeville

Just click the Image for a Peek!

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Bee - My Favorite Dancer

One of the things I think I miss most about living in Pittsburgh is working with my favorite dancer.

Bee; Law; bellydancer; belly; dancer; dance; performer; artisit; Middle; Eastern; veil; bra; model

Just Click the Photo to View

Friday, May 16, 2014

Tynkers by the Lake

One fine afternoon Clan Tynker came down to my campsite. We took photos, snacked on Animal Crackers, and made the kids laugh.

Pennsic; War; 40; XL; SCA; society; creative; anachronism; of; middle; ages; medieval; reenactment; garb; period; party; Tynkers; juggling; lake; Clan; Tynker; mirth; magic; Vaudeville; circus; Rebekah; Elijah; Whippo; Sam; Santiago; Serendipity; act; performance; performers

Click the Photo to see the gallery.

Monday, May 12, 2014

Tynkers at the Temple

One of my favorite shoots was when I got to spend time with Clan Tynker. It was a warm, magical day! Click the image below to see the gallery.

Pennsic; War; 40; XL; SCA; society; creative; anachronism; of; middle; ages; medieval; reenactment; garb; period; party; Greek; temple; Ajax; pan; Tynkers; juggling; audience; gathering; lake; Clan; Tynker; mirth; magic; Vaudeville; circus; Rebekah; Elijah; Whippo; Sam; Santiago; Serendipity; act; performance; performers; la; familia; gladiatoria; Athena; Nike

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Measured in Florets

Raising the kiddo has really made the passage of time very tangible. Click the photo below to read more.

Today is the first of September and I cannot help feeling like Summer went by too quickly. As we waited to pick up a lunch order on our way to the park, I finally captured an image of her blowing a dandelion seed that I like. All summer she’s been huffing and puffing these seeds when she finds them. Is it just coincidence then that this photo sums up how I feel about the passed Summer? ~ 09-01-2010

Friday, May 2, 2014

Backyard Pool Party!

I just completed reprocessing photos from 2010. Freja and I would spend hours playing in our backyard during those hot summer days. Seeing those photos reminded me of how special it was to be able to just relax with the kid, and enjoy being home. You can see a few shots by clicking the photo below.

Freja; Lutz; Greensburg; PA; Pennsylvania; pool; party; inflatable; kid; play; playing; backyard; back; yard; garden; composite

Monday, April 21, 2014

What a Great Easter

Having a little kid is what makes Easter morning so fun. Freja and Teri love to color eggs, and then the bunny loves to hide them. Freja's hunt for eggs makes her so happy! Click the photo below to see more about the event.

The Easter Bunny seems to sneak into our home, takes the eggs the kid colored the day before, and then hides them all over the house! Freja loves to hunt for them, collecting them in her little basket.

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

A New Level

Freja advanced to a new belt level last night. We're very proud of her, and more importantly, she seems proud of her accomplishment as well. You can read a little more about it, and see a few shots by clicking the photo below.

Freja, Lutz, Mount, Mt, Horeb, Infusion, MMA, Mixed, Marital, Arts, kid, class, belt

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Octobaby

Yesterday someone reminded me about back when Freja was always drawing octopi, and then telling stories about them. I remembered this video I'd shot of her when she was three, and imagined our home was being invaded by a GIANT OCTOPUS!



You can see the clip here.

Thursday, February 13, 2014

Mommy & Daddy Time!

A combination of being stuck in the house for weeks, and Teri having been gone for a week, illnesses in both girls, and not getting out to shoot anything has made me sort of GRUMPY! We've come up with a solution though! We've planned a "Daddy & Mommy Date!" It's amazing how having an excursion with your wife planned, sans-kid, can improve your outlook!

SO thankful we found a sitter! I can't wait to go!

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Frew Mill Fireball

In 2009 I had a chance to work with an amazing fire-performer. We traveled to a rock formation I've played around since I was a kid. There's a small waterfall feature where a tiny, spring fed stream trickles off the rocks. On rainier days it also gets some drainage from the hemlock forest that surrounds it.

There, he blasted fireballs up at the rocks, and the tiny trickle of water for a while. In the pitch darkness it was a bit of challenge to find the right exposure settings, but doing so was still a LOT easier than what he was doing. Precariously perched up in the rocks, blasting fireballs into the underbelly of an overhang, I thought his face would melt.

Aaron, Straub, fireball, fire, pennsic, war, frew, mill, pa, Pennsylvania, fire-performer; breath, breathing, rocks, rock, formation, waterfall,