Low-key Adventure Sunday

Javi, Mallory, Julie, and Nathan

Independence Day

Although we have a heinous, unfit president in office, it is still important to recognize the freedom that many of us have in the USA.  People immigrate here from all over the world to share that freedom, and I can only hope that we continue to welcome these humans with open arms.  On July 4th 2017, many people gathered in solidarity to share their anger with the current political state or celebrate our freedom in Columbus's lefty, punk-rock Doo Dah Parade.  I marched with the impromptu Doo Dah Drum Corps (which I have been referring to as the Drunk Corps) to celebrate this holiday.  July 3rd was a special night as well with fireworks, flat tires, doubling up on a bike with a six pack of beer, bottle rockets, anticlimactic sparklers, and an undertone of romance.  These two photos are from Red White and Boom.

Comfest 2017

Hugs & Kisses, Neswordz, etc. etc.

Non-Wedding Photos

Here are a few additional photos from Molly & Phil's wedding last month.  See the rest in the "narrative" directory.

New York & Upstate with Talia

We heard bluegrass through her window, saw a fraction of the city through thick fog, corners and rooms lit up by Dan Flavin, and multi-colored pine trees. 

Christmas in June

Kahlil, Erin, & Maisie

Maisie

Maisie is a natural with those twisty turny body moves. This shoot was inspired by the color blue and Maisie's blue tea cup.

Dreams like Lynch & Mangum

Yesterday I saw the David Lynch documentary.  I was surprised to find that his artistic roots lie in painting and sculpting.  I was not surprised to find that he has a dark sense of humor and a very dark and repeating theme of fear in his upbringing and artwork.  I find overlapping themes between the work of Lynch and the work of Jeff Mangum, who has openly described the nonsensical nature of his work and the inspiration coming from his dreams (see Pitchfork interview ca. 1997).  Horror is erotic and fascinating to me.  This element resonates in many of my photos, in a subtle way.  My dreams generally take place in familiar places,  homes to be exact, usually of people that I know.  I am crawling through the walls of these homes and squeezing my body into unknown passages.  Lately, I am focusing on just photographing suburbia.  We all build these boxes that we live in, build connections in, face horrors and realities in, and in the suburbs, two drastically different stories sit just a few feet away from one another.  While my photos are colorful, they feel underscored by darkness.  Perhaps this has to do with my own upbringing and dark childhood memories that were contained in my home.  However, we all have these memories.  One of my favorite Neutral Milk Hotel lyrics reads:

Blister please with those wings in your spine
Love to be with a brother of mine, how he'd love to find
Your tongue in his teeth in a struggle to find
Secret songs that you keep wrapped in boxes so tight, sounding only at night as you sleep

And in my dreams you're alive and you're crying
As your mouth moves in mine, soft and sweet
Rings of flowers 'round your eyes and I'll love you
For the rest of your life when you're ready

Courtney

I got to spend the day with two very inspirational women today, Courtney & Kate.  They work together to create magic, over and over again. After watching them play with lemons and flowers, we walked around the neighborhood and stopped in front of some strangers' homes.

The Winter Flea

Julie and I shared a role of expired slide film at the WInter Flea back in February.  I think that these are all photos that I took, but regardless, they captured the spirit of that day pretty well.

The Ungodly Hour with Emily

Thank you Emily for waking up before sunrise to shoot with me.  Your face is stunning and your natural standing pose is artistic.  I love being up and out on the streets when no cars are around, while people hit snooze on their alarms, when the street lights turn off, when the realization of a new day begins.

Erin Steelydanceparty

Erin and I met for the first time tonight after virtually knowing each other vicariously through Instagram.  I opened up to her about a few personal items and gave those things away, but I am ok with it.  We gave a few pieces of ourselves to each other, and the photos reflect some of that magic.  I am excited to spend more time with her/be creative with her again.  Erin Steelydanceparty ILY.

Dallin in the 'Burbs

Dallin and I have been trying to get together for awhile to take some photos.  He's got a look that is begging to be photographed.  We wandered around the quiet suburbs of Clintonville, potentially creeping out anyone who saw us taking photos outside of their home.

Turmeric Tokes & Turf

Yesterday was jam-packed with good times.  Mallory, Julie, Katie, and I went to Hocking Hills and had a secret waterfall and creek all to ourselves.  We spent hours dancing around and laughing.  Later we met up for the Rise for Reagan Block Party, supporting the change for legislation (particularly involved in the treatment of rape cases) and raising awareness about safety.  We drank in support of the good cause.  At night, we went to a little house show to watch Xavier perform his poetry on his racial identity and struggle, Field Sleeper singing in an extension and exaggeration of his already easy voice, and Suther (I think that was her name) sing in smooth and unpretentious melodies.  I've now got Ohio on my ankle and Ohio in my heart.  It's not common to have this sense of community, and I feel lucky to be a part of it.  Thank you to my friends, to Columbus, to the community for inspiring others to do good and to be a part of one another's lives.

Either/Or

The appeal of digging up the past is the facade of better understanding the present.  The reality of such an action just leads to more digging.  We can understand the major events and how those might shape who we are or who they are, but what about everything else that has slipped through the cracks?  What about that one time that you felt afraid to go down a water slide alone? Or that time that you kissed a stranger at a Chicago rave?  Do the smaller pieces of the past get dissolved and washed away or are they part of soil beneath our feet that help us stand?  Do each of those tiny grains of dirt keep piling and piling to outweigh the major events?  

Alayna

Alayna and I met just a few weeks ago.  She is very easy to get along with and very fun to photograph, so I think the result speaks for itself.