Fólkvangr

I met her in 2006 right before I thought it was the end of delusion. It was actually the beginning of a new dream.

Hyde's Mill Portrait

It was late September when this lovely couple planned an elegant, old fashioned style wedding at a small chapel in the countryside. Close to the chapel is an old flour mill, a perfect place for a wedding portrait. As we arrived the sky began to quickly darken with rain clouds. Using my cell phone I was able to call up NEXRAD weather radar. We could see we had about 10 minutes before the storm hit. I very quickly set up my flashes and began to photograph them. Thankfully they were very relaxed with each other and it didn't take long get some nice shots highlighting their loving nature. We'd no sooner all packed up and gotten into our cars to leave when it began to downpour. Thanks to modern technology we were able to perfectly time things in order to stay dry.

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Late Summer

I love end of summer, outdoor receptions. This particular couple had their's on the family farm, so it was more of a giant family picnic than a formal affair. As the sun began to set I snagged them from all the family fun and we took a few quick shots in the nearby prairie. The only down side to an outdoor wedding reception are the mosquitoes.

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Friends Sparring

This is a photo I took of two of my best friends and teachers sparring a couple of weeks ago. I've known the guy getting his face pressed by Thales for over 5 years. He was an assistant instructor at my first martial arts school and now teaches at Rise Up. He's now a Brown Belt and though young he's one of the most down to earth folks I know. I love partnering with him as we both like to get into the physical mechanics of how moves and submissions work. I've been his practice dummy a few times over the years as he'd prepare for various tests. By doing so I have learned when techniques I don't even really know will work on me or not just by how they "feel" when being applied. At the seminar I'd have the main person showing us stuff do the techniques to me and would memorize how it all felt. Then when the two of us would work I could give proper feedback and we'd iron out the details. I wish I could explain it but as we'd sort things out, and figure out how to use body mechanics to be effective we'd actually get "giddy." I do love this South American Ground Karate.

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Mary Me Under the Willows

As I write this post in February of 2018 it's a very cold, damp, gray day. After a week in bed with the flu I needed to remind myself that Wisconsin can indeed be a lovely, lush, green and sunny place. What better way than to revisit this wedding I photographed at The Barn at Harvest Moon Pond? The willows there offer such an amazing spot to take your vows. I feel all warmed up after reliving this sunny afternoon.

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A Giant's Jiu Jitsu

After the @alybjj seminar put on by @thalesblaso this past Saturday I took all day Sunday to just relax with my family. I woke feeling surprisingly good with no real aches or pains! As the day unfolded I absorbed everything I'd seen and practiced the day before. My very biggest takeaway was clearly seeing my path to Black Belt laid out before me. During the early morning sparring with a handful of upper belts I watched this giant of a fighter patiently control things. As I photographed the action I saw how he used his timing, size and strength in conjunction with very strategic planning on positioning himself. I've thought about how I want to progress further into BJJ for a while now. While I LOVE the "Flow Like Water" methods I've been exposed to they are tough for an old man who's also a beginner. I'll not stop trying to learn them, that's not what I am saying. I still want to move "like water" when I roll with folks, only sometimes water can come in the form of an implacable glacier.

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Minutes to Go

This is an old photo I took at a wedding nearly a decade ago but it's one of my favorites. I'd just traveled to the wedding venue with these awesome women after they'd dressed elsewhere. There were only minutes between our arrival and the ceremony but this bridal party had it all together. As the bride applied a few last minute touches to her makeup her mother and Maid of Honor checked her veil. While they were all gathered around her I simply kept moving and trying to find an angle to capture all of them, including the flower girl.

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