I had a lot of fun creating this look. I created or styled the pieces. The wood flagon is by a local woodworker friend of mine. I cast Kory because I thought his look was perfect for the concept. With the winter in full swing in Michigan, we had to push the session out by one week. It appears we are in for another snow storm today. Glad Kory and I were able to make this happen between snow storms.

I'm also glad my commissioned sessions were scheduled on the least snowy days this week! I would hate for clients to have to trudge through snow and bad roads to get to a session. It's always best to be relaxed and enjoy yourself during a session, but that's hard to do if you had to drive white-knuckled through a snow storm to get there. 

A big thank you to my clients and to Kory for braving the Winter. I love meeting all of you!

The more I photography people, the more I love the in-between moments. I think those are the moments that really present who that person is. The perfectly posed portraits are nice for hanging on the wall, but the most memorable ones, the most intimate ones, are the portraits with expression, body language, and unguarded moments.

Since it was first detected in New York in 1999, West Nile virus has spread to 45 states and the District of Columbia. The virus has affected more than 300 wild and captive birds species.

West Nile virus is transmitted to most birds through the bite of an infected mosquito. Predators, such as hawks and owls, and scavengers, such as crows, become infected after eating sick or dead birds that were already infected with the virus. Great Grey old are especially susceptible to the virus.

Birds infected with the virus appear disoriented or lethargic, have head tremors or seizures, loss of defensive behaviors and overall weakness. West Nile virus causes swelling in the brain and can affect other organs including the spleen, kidneys, liver and eyes.

In most cases, by the time these birds are weak enough to be found, the virus is so advanced for wildlife rehabilitates to treat.  Most birds brought in for care die within 24 to 48 hours of arrival.

Above, a Great Grey owl perches on a stump and looks for prey. Fortunately, this Great Grey owl is not affected with the virus. However, raptors are very susceptible to the disease, mostly likely because they have two ways of contracting it: mosquito bites and eating carrion already infected with the virus. Raptors in Ohio and midwestern states seem to be hit the hardest. 

In the Winter, bald eagles hunt for ducks along the waterways around here. There is plenty of wildlife locally. While I enjoy trips on occasion, I enjoy staying local and studying the amazing local wildlife. I don't think we appreciate what we have in our own areas. It's the "grass is always greener" syndrome. 

A snowy owl  has migrated from the tundra to my neighborhood this Winter.

I've mentioned before that 2018 has been a tumultuous year for my family. The one thing that remained constant and helped keep me from going completely mental was my photography. It grounded me and helped me work through the pain of loss. Photography has connected me to other good people, to my surroundings, and to the natural world. It is an extremely personal endeavor for me. I enjoy being alone with my camera and observing everything. Yet, photography has also made me more social. I've met many good people through it and I've also kept some great friends over the years who I met through photography.

I'm ordering these images backwards through 2018. I'm also not numbering them because there is no order of "least and most" favorite.

​On to the images...

Of the Pere Marquette images, this one is my favorite. For me, the coal smoke and the flare from the light make the image. I also love this image because my dad loved trains so it was a nice way to remember him by going out for the day and chase this particular train.

The armour and the painterly style are two elements that were personal favorites this year. 

Again, the painterly style, but in this image, it's the subject. I've been wanting to photograph my friend for some time. I've always envisioned him in such wardrobe from this period in time. He fits the look so well!

The eagle, the raven, and the deer carcass are not beautifully presented or composed. I hate the branch running through the image, but with nature, you sometimes have to act fast and photograph what you can. The later image from the same set is composed beautifully, but the action is missing. Therefore, the action image is my favorite from the set.

I'm not into "ruin porn." A lot of people love it and that's okay. We should not all like the same things. However, I did enjoy photographing this junkyard. I think it harkens back to my "reclaimed" series where I explored natural spaces that were ruined, but then nature took it back. Of the junkyard shoot, I think this teal bug was my favorite. The other thing that made this work for me is that i was particularly proud of the fact that when my original plan of shooting with my macro lens was ruined when the lens broke, I quickly changed plans and did a different take on the junkyard. It's always a good thing to think on your feet and troubleshoot a problem. I love coming up with solutions that work.

Ben as Prometheus is another favorite. In this case, I love it because I stretched my studio "divinity" series out into nature. 

I was very excited and happy to photograph the endangered piping plover on their breeding ground. It was even more special because my son joined me on the adventure.

I had the honor of obtaining a permit for my bird photography on private property. It was a haven for birds. I loved every minute spent at this place. One of my favorites from one of my visits was this spotted sandpiper chick.

I spent hours watching this juvenile great blue heron fishing. It was a fascinating study of blue heron behavior and it was a test of patience, both the bird's and mine. 

The female red-winged blackbird in mating display because blackbirds were the first birds I started really noticing mating behavior. In all my hikes, I focused on the larger birds and mammals. I don't know why. This year, after my dad died, I seemed to become more in tune with my surroundings. It's probably coincidence, but I'd like to think that in grief, we find something in ourselves that raises empathy and awareness. I mean, death is a part of life, but it's difficult to face. There has to be a lesson in there somewhere, right?

Kory helped me to express my grief and for that, I'm forever grateful to her. This image that we created is a personal favorite.

I love that I'm seeing more of these magnificent raptors all over Michigan. We have one living in our residential area. There were a couple who nested on top of the office building where a used to work. I always see them while driving, either soaring in the air or perched along the roadside, looking for prey. I also see them while on hikes, soaring over fields looking for their next meal.

2018 saw the end to my macro lens and the beginning of the end to my camera body. I can't complain about either. I've been using them heavily since 2008. However, it does reinforce the statements made by professional photographers about the cost of doing business. Every time you actuate the shutter, you are degrading your equipment, which in turn will need to be replaced at some point. Photography is not a cheap endeavor.