Chicago

Over the Fourth of July holiday I took a spontaneous trip to Chicago with my family to visit relatives I had not seen in many, many years.  Though my family lives outside of the city, we found time to take a train downtown to wander around. 

Winterhymn

I have been using the down time I have before wedding season kicks in to get out of the house and have a little fun!  As you can tell from my previous posts, this fun involves taking pictures of really cool people. :)   I was introduced to this band, Winterhymn, by Jill, the  beautiful ice goddess from this shoot.  Her sister, Kate plays violin in the band.  As soon as she told me they were folk metal, I was dying to see what it was all about.  They are competing in the The Greater Cincinnati Band Challenge at the Mad Hatter so I went to the show last Sunday.  They are too much fun and full of energy.  I was super stoked when they did a Dio tribute at the end of their set.  They made it to the final round which is March 5th at the Mad Hatter, be sure to check it out! 

Jeremy's Perm

Remember my good friend, Jeremy from the Rock and Roll themed photo shoot I did a few months ago?  Well Jeremy and I come up with the craziest ideas when we are together.  When he told me he was going to get a perm I asked if I could come along with my camera.  What guy still gets perms in 2010?  And what chick wants to get pictures of the entire thing?   Jeremy does, and I do.

Guess who Jeremy's hair stylist is...Ashley, the smoking hot red head that was his "bride" in the Rock and Roll shoot.  Ashley works at Pinnokio's Hair Studio in Northside. The salon is so cute with eye candy everywhere.  Special thanks to Ashley and to Tina, the salon's owner,  for letting me wander around with my camera. :)

Go Reds!

My friend Jon got asked to throw the first pitch at last Saturday's Reds game.  He asked me to come along to take pictures for him.  What a cool experience.  I just love what a winning team does for the city.  It really comes alive, people are happy!

Keep it up Reds! :)

Oktoberfest MainStrasse Village

This past weekend was Oktoberfest, a little German festival that hits Covington every September.  Of course I went out exploring with my camera for a little photo journalism.  I strolled through the festival on Friday to take some night shots and again on Sunday afternoon before a shoot so I could indulge in some of the great food.  The theme of the festival is simple..drink more beer, eat more food, and buy more stuff. This is Lemongrass Potpourri from the Potpourri Patch.  Thanks to them my house smells lemony fresh.   This my favorite from Friday night, oh that light! :)Below is my favorite image from Sunday.  A perfect moment captured, YES! You can go here to see pictures from Maifest earlier this year.

Warped Tour

The past two years I have taken my little sister Olivia to the Vans Warped Tour for her birthday.  She leaves to go hang with her friends and I wander around with my camera all day.  It has become one of my favorite things to photograph.  I don't know many of the bands and that is ok, I am more interested in all of the crazy people running around.  The piercings, the mohawks, the tattoos,  I love all of it!

Rock and Roll!

Maifest

Last weekend was Maifest,  a little German festival held in the Main Strass village of Covington, KY every year.  Since I am living in that neighborhood now, I had to go out with my camera for a little while to check out the festivities.  Just me and my 50mm out on the streets. :) These are my favorite kind of pictures to take.  Real, raw, documentation.  The more contrast, blur, and grain the better for me.

Nurse Nina

My sister Nina graduated from one of Cincinnati's best nursing schools today, and I am so proud.   She not only graduated with a 3.2 GPA,  she did it while being a wonderful mother to one teenager and three little boys (one of which she had while on summer break) and while going through a major surgery.  She worked hard. With the support of her husband and family she did it,  Nina is a Nurse. :)

Watching my sister go through nursing school has given me an even deeper appreciation for the job nurses do, a job that far too often goes unnoticed.    Nurses take care of us from the moment we enter the world until we take our last breathe.  They are the caregivers of humanity.   It takes a heart of gold to do what they do. The next time you are at the hospital remember to thank them or at least give them a warm smile, I know they will appreciate it. :)

Congratulations to the entire Good Samaritan College of Nursing class of 2010!

A letter I got from my sister when I was nine after having my appendix removed.  It is so special to me.  She has always been so caring and selfless. She smiled like this the entire time.

Her nursing buddy, Judy. She did it!   Why am I the only one laughing?  Must have been my joke! ;)   With her husband, Kevin. Here she is with my oldest nephew, Austin.  Smiling in a picture with your mom can be so difficult as a teenager huh,  Austin. ;) The little boys are home with their uncle. Nina you are a beautiful mother, a caring wife, a loving daughter, and my best friend.  Your heart is so warm and strong.   I am proud of the positive impact you will have on so many lives as a nurse.

I love you Sis!

xoxo