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Yesterday on the train ride from Portland to Seattle I met this woman who reminded me of myself when I reach her age. She was 73 but didnt look a day over 50. I was amazed. Showed me her license and everything - born in 1937. It was sort of uncanny how much we had in common. She was a psychologist for years, loves art and Europe and grew up in Ohio. She travels all over and said she wouldnt get married and had broken off 4 engagements. She said; "i'm too independent and I dont think I could ever live with anyone. Dont get me wrong sex is great and I always have a male friend for that but i'm not interested in anything else." More power to her. I have a feeling i'll be the same.


I had the most enlightening conversation recently. Mainly about art but mostly about life. Why does everyone have to do things that everyone else does? Why do we have to do certain things to achieve a certain status of something as if that's what we wanted in the first place? Perhaps i'm just thinking out loud as if we've evolved past this pack mentality we have that in order to figure yourself out you need to do what society tells you to.... I generally find unhappy people do this.

I like my friends, that 73 year old lady and wine.



candid image from a shoot in Portland. We'll call this; "October".

A Looking In View

Alice in Chains new album rocks. HARD.

I'm heading to Kalamazoo Monday afternoon then onto Chicago/Milwaukee/Minnesota for the week. I'm pretty positive I'll put 200k miles on my car before the year is up.

I hope to go camping in October in the U.P. of Michigan. Showing people the beauty of this place the way it was shown to me makes me incredibly happy.

Aidan is saying; "yuck" on a regular basis now. But typically when he does say a word he'll never say it again. So we'll see...


here he is watching his girlfriend;



and about to drink the water;

Shiny, Happy, People

I'm getting ready to head out the door to drive to North Carolina. I dont have much to say other than i'm incredibly happy in my life right now and I had one of the best days i've had in a long time yesterday.

I'll leave on that note... and perhaps take some self portraits this week....




John Green Portland Oregon

Volunteering

I had a very serious conversation today with one of my best friends about myself, my son, and my family. Everyone goes through times in their existence on this earth where they dont know what they want to do with their lives. I'm at that point currently. I'm aware I cant be a model forever but I know I am an artist and a photographer. I feel like I have so much artistic talent and I care a lot about people.I suppose I just want to take my experiences and talent and do what I can to make the world a less horrible place.


The backstory in my photography is what i want to touch people and make them think and be aware. So having said that, my first step is to get involved in nonprofits and outreach groups related to things I think need awareness and my help. The first two are obviously Fragile X Syndrome and Autism. I'm going to put all my efforts in this as well as publishing a book on Aidan and his struggles and achievements. My hope is that people will relate to images and think and be well, human. I'd like to photograph a lot of these events as well and hopefully a huge goal is to photograph the Special Olympics.

This world sucks and I want to at least put a dent in the humanitarian effort. Not just to do my part but to make a difference.




Walk with us;



http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fragile-X-Awareness/134533923207?ref=mf

Thank you Lauren, for being you.

Wish Me Luck

I'm driving in this tomorrow.

West Coast Adventure

I'm currently in Vancouver, BC. I've been on the west coast for about a week now. I arrived in Seattle last Sunday night then off to the Northwest coast of Washington for Shi Shi Beach for a couple of days. We arrived after some delays around 5:30. After hiking for an hour and finally figuring out where we were supposed to be we sat up camp about 8pm. Camping for 2 days there was amazing... except we never saw the sun, unfortunately but it was still an amazing site to see.

Then off to Portland. 3 shoots later, the Columbia River Gorge, mud, sand, dirt, frigid waterfalls, and people always gawking, along with a Guinness and some wine Portland was a success. I really love Washington and Oregon a lot, i'd venture to say they are my favorite states so far... but alas must move onto Vancouver.

A relaxing day ahead then two shoots then home to my little guy on Thursday. Ah how I miss him and his kisses.

This trip, aside from the lack of sun, has been amazing. I got to see and show the best parts of these two states and of course do what I love to do, model and photograph.

Oh and thanks Nicole for the thermos of wine at the airport. You're alright.


This is an image taken by a shitty POS in a cave overlooking tiny tidepools and a couple examples of the wonderful Point of the Arches;

Lost World

I'm currently receiving kisses from my baby love (Aidan)... i'm going to miss him. I wont see him for two weeks.

The bright side is i'm finished packing for Shi Shi Beach/Portland/Vancouver all in 11 days. I'm so excited I havent been here in nearly a year yet I havent shut up about it since then. I remember the crashing silvery waves rumble over sand and stones, interrupted only by looming sea stacks and towering bluffs fringed with sitka forests. What could be a scene from a land before time is real now, part of Olympic National Park and considered the Northwest's purest stretch of coastline. Having gained notoriety as the most gorgeous of the beaches in the US and even hemisphere... because it is.

I cant wait to see it again. then off to Portland for a few days seeing the most talked about Oregon coastline while shooting in it. Then of course what northwest trip would be complete without seeing my good friend/photographer Michael and shooting there? Ah it's all so exciting. I remember why I love the summer now.




This photo is taken by a more talented than he knows photographer, Mike, in Indianapolis just two days ago. My first visit to an Observatory which has been abandoned for many many years.