I spent the weekend at a friend’s cabin in Maine surrounded by several feet of fresh snow. A suggested theme was “light” for anyone who wanted to explore the idea with their camera. What we found, not surprisingly, is that everyone had their own take on the subject matter.

There was abstraction: a golden patch of light on a wooden floor, marked with a web of shadows from branches outside. Landscape: snow covered trees highlighted by light from the early morning sun. And more literal interpretations, like the flame from a candle.

In the end there was a good discussion about what the photos “should have been” and whether light should necessarily have been the focal point of the image, or simply an integral part of it. Personally, as a photographer I like this sort of exercise to get you thinking outside of the box and trying new things. And I especially like the idea of it being completely open to interpretation.

New York State Fairgrounds

Tried something a little different at the SU/Villanova game this weekend. Four hours of shooting (about 600 photos) condensed into one minute of stop motion video. Let me know what you think! At last year’s Villanova game I used a slightly different technique to make a time-lapse from start to finish, capturing the record breaking attendance of 34,616. You can still view that here on Syracuse.com.

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There’s something about a plate of steaming eggs in the morning that just makes everything right with the world.

This is one of those photo opportunities that I almost walked right by. Actually, I did walk by and had to turn around and go back! I thought it would make for an interesting picture, but almost let myself think I’d catch it on the way back from where I was headed. That’s one of the worst things you can let yourself do when you have a camera in your hands. Who knows what the conditions would have been like an hour later? Or if someone would have disregarded the sign and walked through that perfectly untouched slope of snow. It was a good reminder to never pass up a photo when you see it. The first time.

Onondaga County Courthouse, Syracuse NY

Just before Christmas, I had the pleasure of photographing a super small wedding at the Belhurst Castle. Super small as in my signature appears on the marriage license! It truly turned out to be a beautiful morning, be it a bit brisk, just after the sun came up over Seneca Lake. You’d never guess it was as chilly as it was with how cozy these two looked along the lakefront. Congratulations, Garrett and Jennifer! And thank you for entrusting me with capturing each moment of your special day.