Preczewski/ Gibb wedding

 File this one under the 'Simple weddings.' The chapel was lovely, but small, and the reception was in the couple's  backyard, in a heated tent. It was one of the most clever weddings that I've seen.

I've never shot this before...

Libya Approaching

I'm going to Libya. 


By Thanksgiving, I'll be an international journalist. 


By Thanksgiving I'll have been in two north African countries, eaten Libyan food, drank Libyan water, and walked through an alien country understanding maybe 5 percent of those around me.


By Thanksgiving I'll have completed reporting on a more exciting, difficult, frightening project than most journalists will ever undertake, and I'm still a new journalist, by most measures.

This isn't a recent decision. The idea came to me in June, and I had convinced myself, (or decided to ignore all fears and warning signs,) and decided that I should go. I should go cover a family from a small community near Flint. The video has the basic rundown of what's happening.


To date, I have my passport, have applied for a Libyan Visa, have made contacts for transportation, bought a laptop, started learning Arabic, and created a kickstarter account to raise funds.


I still need to secure a visa, get my equipment ensured, and nail down a location to meet the subjects of the story- an American/ Libyan family living and working a midst a smoldering revolution.


I plan for this blog to be the main source of stories an information while I am gone. I've been back filling this blog to get caught up before I start filling it with hopefully very compelling images, words and video.




Basically, I'm crossing fingers, and  everything I have, hoping I can pull off the trip of this part of my career. I still need a plane ticket, and I still need to convince the family I'll be safe.


Much more to come- including details of how this got started, and the stories I've already written.

This is what we are, this is how we do it

Those are the words long time Flint Journal photographer Bruce Edwards used to describe the job a photo journalist has.


He was writing on the dry erase board, it was late 2008, in a University of Michigan, Flint, classroom. 


"Photojournalist" was written, before the class during intro to photojournalism.  "This is what we are," he said, underlining the word 'Journalist.' He circled the word 'photo.'
"This is how we do it."


I am a photo journalist. People like Bruce inspired me. 


I've been in development, in reality, since high school. That's 12 years of trying to keep a camera in my hand, and thanks to friends and family, a camera was never too far away. As a professional, I've been learning since 2007, and I can finally say after three internships, countless projects, stories, successes and failures, I am competent. I can teach others, but God, I still need to be taught. 


Currently, I work for the Tri-County Times out of Fenton, Michigan. We're a damn good paper for being so small, and it's been my role to improve and build up the photography of the paper, and also teach them about ethics, while they taught me how to cover a small community, filed with numerous residents that DO care what you say, and WILL write you when you get it wrong. I'm a community journalist, and that's where the industry still has a heart, and a pulse.

Simple Weddings

 Simple weddings make up the bulk of my wedding photography. These are people that need simple, no-frills images on a disc, and perhaps a few prints.  I shoot journalistically first, and also get the traditional photos they want. And, they can afford me.

Obviously, I end up focusing more on the bride. I also like the juxtaposition between the beauty of the ceremony, against getting ready, oftentimes in a regular public restroom.

I'm better learning to make messy compositions work, that can in a way, express the chaos that can surround the best planned weddings.

Even in the Deerfield Township hall, elegance can be achieved. 

The amazing Tunde Olaniran

I live with an international electro-star. Very soon, I think, that won't be hyperbole at all. Tunde has toured Europe, played big festivals in Canada and the U.S., and played showcases in New York City. 

We've known each other for around seven years, and my own musical aspirations aside, Tunde's amazing musical and creative ability has developed over that time, and I've also developed my skills as a photographer. I'm not known internationally, but this musician and good friend has trusted me to take photos for two of his albums, and hopefully more in the future, not to mention numerous live shows.

Portraiture with freelance work

These are recent examples of freelance work I do for non-profit organizations, and local businesses. In this case, Raise It Up! youth performers/educators, and Brown CPA, all from Flint.

Working with shadows can reveal the graininess of those middle tones in my D300's.

Brown CPA

Dangerous Lee

Dangerous Lee

This is my latest edit from a project i am catching up on, that was shot in 2009. 
Dangerous Lee is a local author and AIDS awareness advocate. 
I learned that editing photos that were shot with less experience on lesser equipment is annoying, 
but makes for an interesting challenge. Like getting the damn formatting right in this blog.

I did enjoy adding the highlights and shadows by brush.

My amazing uncle Tedd

This is my uncle Tedd. He's pretty much my space-cadet future self, doing what he wants, traveling in an awesome RV, and playing music.

This is an impromptu shoot we did at a park in Centerline, Michigan, during my families annual late summer get together. The mural was perfect, and the artist deserves credit. I'll have to update it with a name later on.

This shoot is an example of understanding that simple is always better. I was able to pare my uncles many many ideas down, and we ended up doing this. I picked the outfit, and the guitar, and lit the scene with two Nikon strobes, editing the photo on a  park bench.