Happy Christmas to everyone!

Happy Christmas Eve to all, and for those of us in the drizzly 38 degree Pacific Northwest, Here’s a photo from Christmas Eve, 1999, taken at sunset in Salome, AZ. It was about 75 degrees outside! Camera was a Nikon F100, 17-35 f2.8 lens with Fuji Velvia 50. I rested the camera on a rock as my tripod was in the Scout and the color was changing so fast I had time for one shot.

There is nothing average about Cindy and Will and we just had a blast shooting with them. Also on the scene was Sacha Hrabar and the 4 of us gelled so well that Sacha said she would shoot at their wedding. OK, so we’re geeks and crash other photographers weddings, we still had a total blast!

Here we go. When you see a crunched bench with caution tape on it, it’s a no brainer.

I was all about climbing on this giant and antiquated hunk of machinery that said stay off, which is as invitation to climb on. This was a very precarious shot.

Yet a again risking life, limb and lyme disease for a cool shot. Here I am shooting from above and hoping like hell that my foot doesn’t break through the rusty floor or that the railing doesn’t fall off. Photo courtesy of Sacha Hrabar.


This was a fun shot, it was just a moment where they were into each other and I saw it with a longer lens. I punched out the sky and parts of their shirts to give it an ethereal look.

And into the water we went!
One of my favorites…

What a fun and goofy couple. Kate was off to ride the STP and James was itching to go rock climbing. We did learn one important thing, do not touch the art. They have strategically placed security guards in foxholes as well as a very Big Brother array of cameras, stun guns and tear gas and they weren’t afraid to use it. Thankfully, we escaped without violation to our persons.

The sculpture park was a great time and I’d waited years to see it open- I understand why the art is off limits, but at the same time, think that sculpture of this kind is meant to be touched.

I love these rusty installations, they drew me in like moth to the flame. So much fun with shadows and bright orange rust.

Shadow Dancing…



More rusty fun.


A very serious couple mind you…



Off into the sunset they went…

Driftwood Dancing…

Two takes on a similar shot. First one is by me, second one is by Sacha.


And the parting shot of the day - infrared so the grass goes white and the space needle is against a dark sky.

I love summer because it means strawberries - this year produced an abundance of them, enough for Christina to make the best pie I’ve ever had and me to make four batches of freezer jam. It’s great on waffles, ice cream or just about anything but my all time favorite is good ol’ Adams Peanut Butter and fresh freezer jam. It’s been my favorite as long as I can remember and the two together was one of the first photos I took - I’ll have to dig that up…

A bowlful of berries

Mashing the fruit. Careful here or you’ll get berry juice everywhere. Contrary to what it looks like, orange is actually my favorite kitchen color.

Stirring in the pectin, it’s at the point that it’ll stick to anything. Just got to keep on stirring…

Pouring the jam into jars. Must be very carful here, can’t waste a smidge! Of course I’m trying to do this with a camera in one hand. How geeky is that?

First round of finished jars - one batch down, three to go!

Raspberries are coming into season so they’re next!

It’s been a long time since I was in a wedding, but my nephew Andy asked me to be a groomsman in his so how could I refuse? It was an experience I’ll not forget and I saw what really happens during that week before the wedding - only this time I was involved directly.

The wedding was in Columbia, SC and we stayed with my brother in Augusta, GA. We hit every possible travel problem on the way there and back. Delayed flights, broken aircraft, lost luggage, secuity checks, you name it. A lot of fambly rolled in from all over, including one of my two brothers named Larry (yes, it’s true - don’t ask) from Maryland and a whole crew of us from Washington.

It’s also been ages since I was in the South. Something like 1987 and Ft. Gordon was one of my last stops so it was strange to see it again. I did notice the regional differences, mostly that people actually put their shopping carts away and chicken reigns as the sustenance for the masses. We have seafood, the midwest has beef, the South has chicken.

Of course I toted one of my trusty D200s and a couple of lenses, but I didn’t go overboard. I was a guest after all and fellow wedding shooter Crissy Bayless was on the scene to handle the pro side of things, so I wanted to stay out of her way and enjoy the evening.

Here are some of the photos I can get away with showing you..

The long, boring flight out there - I slept as much as I could. This is somewhere over Texas.

No fambly get together is complete without Bubba Burgers. Think premade patties in the shape of Christmas trees. Strange but tasty.

Father of the Groom meets the Father of the Bride at the rehearsal. I can’t tell you what was said, but it sure relieved some stress.

One thing that can be said is it was hot. Very hot. Brother Wayne’s pool was a source of much social activity, even late at night it would stay above 80 degrees in the pool. I ended up with a nasty sunburn, but being from Washington, nobody told me that sun actually could do such a thing.

This was the beginning of a long, long night. The girls stayed up in Columbia after the rehearsal and the guys and girls not in the wedding returned to The House of Wayne for a night of drinking and such. It ended about 4:30 am and we were up at 7:30, looking forward to a 105 degree day with no wind. Here’s Wayne instructing us not to drink near the pool or do cannonballs into it. Or something like that.

Gymnast + alcohol + pool = crazy stuff. The great flying Rachelle.

A hungover Ryan, brother of the groom, nephew, best man and fellow mountain biking enthusiast, writes his speech on the way to the wedding.

It was hot enough to be caught with your tongue hanging out. I’m sure he’s thrilled I’m posting this.

When not in the wedding, I was trying to grab some photos, like my brothers with their tongues hanging out. I even had my two sidekick bros on the scene. Photo courtesy of the hungover best man.

Andy, the Groom, cooling off the best way possible before the ceremony.

Andy, Megan and Ryan

Ryan losing his marbles, probably from too many biking impacts to his skull.

The happy couple after cutting the cake.

It was a great experience and I did wonder why I stood there and looked at family I didn’t know, that being Laura’s side. I had a great time and learned a new respect for the stress that goes into wedding planning, even if you’re on the groom’s side.

The return trip was just as belabored and difficult. Our cab broke down on the way to the airport, the plane broke a couple of times and they eventually put us on a non-stop to Seattle - which I was greatful for. We arrived to 55 degrees and light rain.

Just the way it should be.

Heidi and Jesus had a small but very cool ceremony at Delille Cellars near Woodinville. I have too many favorites to post, but when the groom and his sister start herding sheep on a whim, you know you’re hanging out with cool people!

The Best Man, Michael, shaving with his tux on. I mean, a guy has to prioritize. Tux first, then shave.

Jesus - hanging out and waiting to see Heidi.

Heidi with the brightest eyes I’ve seen in ages - no contacts or photoshop to enhance the color either.

Heidi’s twin sister Heather

Jesus and his sister Catalina herding the sheep.
Josh and Aaron hanging out.




The garter hovering…
The Gauntlet of Rice and one fast escape afterwards!

We spent a fun afternoon at Gasworks Park and the Ballard Locks just hanging out - Mikhail is a goofy guy and Jessica has a smile that never stops, super people and tons of fun.

A link to The 100-Year Old Photo Blog was sent to me by Ashley, and while we share a mutual love for photography, she didn’t know that Higginbotham was a family name on my mother’s side.

Read more about Shorpy’s Story

Shorpy Higginbotham, an oiler on the tipple at Bessie Mine near Dora in Jefferson County, Alabama. December 1910. Photograph by Lewis Wickes Hine. Shorpy is the one in front.

Because we all need a little Mahna Mahna, from the first Muppet Show, #101 with The Snowths and Mahna Mahna, who is not to be confused with Animal. Mahna Mahna made his first appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1969 and still kicks ass today.

“Used shovel, five dollars”

And so, in the desert outside Las Vegas, began the project now known as The Traveling Shovel , where photographers are on a long list to photograph The Shovel, I’m Number 40 on the list and the super cool Amy and JP Prutch of AJs Studio and their notorious basement get togethers aren’t far behind me. Rumor has it one is coming up to celebrate the amazingly talented Cory Ann Ellis of S. Dakota coming to Portland because she’s super cool as well.

What?

Back to the Traveling Shovel.

After a very cool desert shoot workshop (your humble narrator was not in attendance but has it on good word that it was indeed very cool) with Las Vegas photographer John Michael Cooper and the Altf team, a photo was produced and then said shovel was offered for sale for a mere five dollars, Joel Weibner of Lancaster PA, didn’t hesitate to whip out five bucks and thus the Traveling Shovel project was born. Read the blog to follow it’s progress and see the amazing photos being taken all over the world of The Shovel.

Stay tuned for my shot at The Shovel, though it might be a long wait, with conspiracies involving people mentioned above.

Kristen and Ryan had a fun ceremony at The Canal in Ballard, and tons of great people, great weather and with the Ballard Locks next door, you couldn’t ask for much more.

Ryan on the tracks - just before seeing Kristen for the first time that day.



Gaggle of gorgeous girls.





First moments of being married.


The little guy wants in on the toasts

The great sweets debate continues - me? I had to agree with both. I love both dark chocolate and chocolate and peanut butter!

And the night continued with craaaaaaaaazy dancing!

Thank you Mr. Railroad man,
I want to watch your trains roll by.”
Standing on a platform,
Smoking a cheap cigar
Waiting for an old freight-train
That carries an empty car.
Well, l pulled my hat down over my eyes,
And l walked across the track,
And I caught me the end of an old freight-train,
And I never did come back.

-Woody Guthrie, The Gambler