the Mississinewa

It's been a few years since Kelsey started this project. To remind viewers, He is writing a book for Patagonia books on regenerative agriculture and invited me along on some of the journey. We were in Colombia and Patagonia and traveled in the States as well. This summer we took a few days and floated the Mississinewa river just right here in Kelsey's backyard. The idea was to carry a kayak, paddleboard, food and gear from his house through his woods then through his neighbors field and put in the river and paddle down to see the Seven Pillars that are located east of Peru Indiana. We used Google earth to plot out our route, mileage, and islands in the middle of the river where we would camp. I was at the time still recovering from a pretty bad bout with the post Covid symptoms, which included severe headaches and dizziness. This type of trip was probably not recommended from my Dr but I forgot to ask! The half mile portage from Kelsey's house was pretty grueling as we slogged our way through swamp and thicket. Kelsey later told me that there was a spot to drive the boats straight down to the river right up the road but what fun would that be? The river was really high that day, it was super fast and to be honest a bit sketchy. If you have done any significant paddling you know that fast water even in the midwest can be quite dangerous at times. Within seconds of pushing off the fin of my paddleboard got caught up in a tree that had been sunk and was unnoticeable by eye above water. Somehow I managed to stay afloat and pushed myself off the log. This was not a great start. The river was bending and winding as we flew around the corners. Pretty soon the river straightened out and the speed of the water was welcomed as we had lots of paddling to do the next three days. Within minutes we saw a blue heron and a deer crossing the river and other woodland creatures playing on rocks and going for a swim. We had planned on paddling around 18-20 miles a day which is a hefty paddle in a boat especially a paddleboard. I knew I would be slower on my board but was not prepared for how much slower. Each paddle was heavy and painful. Luckily Kelsy had room in his kayak for a few more odds and ends to lighten my load. The funny thing about Google earth is it will tell you where islands are in the river from a certain point in time, however it does not show what has grown up all over the island or how big the island is on a particular day. After about six hours of really beautiful paddling we pulled up on our first stop. The island looked amazing so I pulled out my hammock and started setting up camp when I heard Kelsey say. "Hey I think this is poison ivy." I looked down at my feet and realized that it was not grass I was standing in. In fact the entire island was covered in Poison Ivy. I delicately found my way back to my board and we decided to push on and we luckily found a better spot a few miles down river. The night was shared with the river and all that surrounded its banks. It's always amazing to me what exists outside of our everyday life. What sounds and what sights are just a few miles away and such life that exists out our back doors. Yes even here in Indiana! Each day was better than the next and the adventure came in folds. I'll let you read Kelsey's book for the rest of the story but I'll close with saying that it was not an easy three days as I'm feeling my wrist still sore today from the paddle but it was an incredible memory and I hope to paddle it again with my good friend Kelsey.

The Farmers Market

Saturday is market day. The farmers load up the weeks produce and bring it to the small adjacent town of about 500 people in total called Puerto Guadal. This town sits on yet another unending lake of turquoise blue held in by snow peaked mountains. The town culture is what you would hope, very quaint. Dogs run freely and everyone knows each other. Smiles and laughter are the primary currency on market day while locals catch up from weeks past and search out the perfect ingredient for the evening's meal. We had a brief conversation with a man who is visiting from the States but most of the conversation is in the local language. I notice a gentleman with silver white long hair wearing thick black rimmed glasses that could have come from Elvis Costello's personal collection. He had a black turtleneck on with jeans and was making conversation with Javier and Vicky. There was something about him that I was immediately drawn to. Perhaps it was his artistic nature or just his jovial disposition. After he left, I asked Vicky who he was. “Oh that was Lito, a film director!” Vicky replied. Lito Tejada-Flores directed the documentary “Mountains of Storms” along with Robert Collinson which catalogs Doug Tompkins, Yvon Chouinard and Dick Dorworth as they journey from California to Patagonia to climb a mountain called The Fitz Roy. This is a cult classic film from 1968. Every serious climber knows of this film and most have heard the names Yvon Chouinard who started the company Patagonia and Doug Tompkins went on to start the first ever Patagonia National Park. I told Vicky it would be cool to meet him, and she said with good confidence that we will see him tonight at the pizza place for beer and pizza. After a long day in the sun and selling vegetables I noticed that I was getting quite hungry and hoping that pizza was coming soon. After cleaning up the stand we start to make our way to the local joint. Though my stomach was hungry, it was not quite time to eat yet. Beer first! The local brew was incredible and I chose a hefty IPA but took small sips to keep my faculties intact for the moment. Midway through my beer Lito and his wife arrived as expected and I was politely introduced and pleasantries were exchanged as they made their way inside. I was noticing at this point that the choice of beer and the time for dinner were becoming at odds. Suddenly a jeep pulls up and it's Francisco who started the farm and runs a huge portion of the program. He had just arrived that afternoon from a trip into Coyhaique for business. They supply some of the restaurants with fresh produce each week. He then informed us that it is time to go to the Waterfall! Things aren’t really scheduled here in Chile...when it's it's time. I tell them that I probably should eat, but I am assured it is a short journey. I finish my cold beer, grab my camera and hit the road with my new crew. After a 20-minute drive ,we park on the side of the road and start our ascent, or for me a tipsy scramble. After about 20 minutes of steep uphill hiking we see the most beautiful clear glacier pools that cascade down the mountain. The fellas strip down and jump in the freezing water. I take the time to make a few photos of our moment in the clouds and sit in amazement that I could really be here in this moment, in this place that I’ve dreamed of visiting for as long as I can remember. The descent back to the jeep was much clearer, shorter and safer and that evening I ate almost an entire pizza myself and yes just one more beer.

"My People"

As we fumbled our way around the gardens, I noticed perfect rows of cabbage, carrots, strawberries, kale, and arugula. My first thought was that this is so beautiful and ornate but came to find out that this perfect row and spacing was actually quite practical and needed for the type of farming the Argentines practiced. Among the turning heads and awkward stares, we found Javier. He had a slight bewildered look on his face when he met us as if he was not aware that guests were to arrive this day, but at the same time not too surprised by this either. He was very polite and spoke English very well. We found that most of the community spoke fluent English. We were instructed to find a spot to pitch our tents and then meet up for dinner. We found some tents and noticed that they were all tucked away behind bushes and trees that I had guessed offered protection from the wind, so Kelsey and I followed suit. As we approached the.. I'm not sure what to call it but dinner tunnel/outdoor kitchen the smells overwhelmed my senses, and I quickly became excited to eat and make new friends. The smiles and Spanish chatter ensued around a large table of workers and friends. I found myself trying so hard to keep up with what little Spanish I knew, but it didn’t matter because I found myself joining in the laughter at stories I didn’t even understand. There was just a joy and magic in the air and a lifestyle that was enticing. Large bowls of fresh produce were set out on the table, hands diving in from every direction taking massive amounts of greens and stuffing them directly in their mouths. No utensils needed for this dish! Almost everything we dined on during our two weeks came straight from the farm to our table each night and it was all fantastic. We explained that Kelsey was writing a book, and I was taking pictures this week, but that we wanted to help with some of the farm chores as well. The next morning we suited up for a day of labor and getting to know the community. I will say that this was not easy work and it is not for everyone. There is a reason many farmers over time succumb to pesticides and large farming equipment. It’s because it is back-breaking labor. Although personally I think it's worth it. The dirt was rich and dark and it felt so good to plant seedlings into a home that I knew would be well suited for growth. I was helping plant rows of carrots that afternoon and I saw Javier looking down at my rows. He said in a funny voice that it looked like a snake. I laughed and said you get what you pay for! But it's important to keep them spaced properly because the next day would be weeding in which we used loop hoes and blades to work between each plant to keep them clean. After 8 hours of back pain and dirty hands we made our way down near the beach for a cookout. An outdoor fire was made for cooking vegetables and beautiful steaks. Cold beer and stories were shared that night until the stars appeared over the glacial lakes and snow peaked mountains that surrounded our paradise.

"Is this heaven?" No, this is Patagonia.

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Trying to explain in Spanish that your final destination in Patagonia was "La tienda de Patagonia" proved extremely difficult at 3:00 am in the morning as we attempted to pass through the border. All of this after about a day of travel from Colombia, which included a slightly unnerving drive back to Valledupar. Guerilla forces brought road travel to a halt. F.A.R.K. stated that public transportation would be stopped if attempts were made to travel during their protest. Rumors of buses being set on fire and a few shootings were in the back of our minds as we timidly boarded our vehicle. I felt surprisingly safe though. Perhaps it was that I felt protected by the Ahrauco and Miguel or perhaps it was because I felt that I could have passed as Arhauco myself with my long curly hair and dark eyes or perhaps it was because I had become Arhuaco!!!
The Security officer, I’ll be kind and say was not helpful. He just kept staring at me with an annoyed, impatient look and kept asking the same question over and over and over. Finally google maps rescued me as Kelsey came over and showed the address of the store. Yes, we were staying in the back of the Patagonia clothing store in Patagonia. As we finally arrived in Coyhaique tension released and we were met with such kind and welcoming people. Some beer, pizza, snow capped mountains and an extra day in our new town made for the perfect renewal of our spirits. The next day was a four-hour local bus ride down a dirt road where the only view was incredible snow peaks and crystal blue lake water untouched by any form of tourism or comers. “Is this heaven?” No its Patagoinia the voice said! We were dropped off on what seemed to be a random stretch of road. It met with a long hidden driveway we had hoped led us to the Four Seasons Farm. What we found was actually some contemporary version of the garden of Eden. Where Adam and Eve were replaced by Argentine hippies. I was home, I had finally found my people.

"The land communicates to us.”

The Arhuaco believe that the land communicates with them. During their time of waiting and asking they receive answers for questions like when they should plant or if they should allow visitors. They are quite slow to make decisions which implies that the process of listening is taken quite seriously and patiently. They used the example of a cell phone and satellite to explain how it works. Their sacred spots have good signals, Miguel explained. At first read I know it can feel like a stretch for our western minds to imagine but I’m reminded of how my small plants communicate with me. Today we noticed the basil looking quite yellow. Are they getting too much water? Are they not getting enough water? Are they lacking nutrients? Upon further thought and research we came to find that they prefer warmer nights similar to tomatoes. The plants physically change to alert us as to what they need. I am even more bewildered at the idea that at some point in time humans received information and learned how to cultivate the land. Was it intuition? It must have come from close watching and listening probably similar to the Arhauco process.
I sometimes take for granted such magical principles because I've had them handed down from the generations before. Water + sun + nutrient rich soil = tasty veggies.
When I choose to slow my life down and submerge myself in nature something happens. It’s hard to explain but I know others are out there experiencing the same sense of peace. It makes me wonder what more I could hear and how I might feel if I listened closer and more often.
See what @kelseytimmerman wrote. #travelphotography

This Tree

“This tree. For you it’s just a tree. But for us it is the home for 20 birds. If you cut it down, you’ll make 20 birds homeless. That’s only one example. And then there are the butterflies.” - Arhuaco
I recall sitting around the outdoor table the first night with Miguel and his family. The sandy earth at our feet and our faces illuminated by the green-orange color of the flood light. Fresh veggies sauteed with eggs and a side of plantains were gobbled down quickly as it was a pretty long day of travel. As we sat together I noticed this huge tree to our left that seemed to be filled with birds. We talked about the different variety of life that lived in the tree. It was notable the amount of time the Arhauco spend thinking about the life around them. When they eat something they are present to where it was harvested and the life that surrounded it, the hands that gathered it and prepared the food and how it arrived on their plate. There is a sense of compassion and empathy for the nature around them and true appreciation for what they have. As we have been slowed down quite a bit I’ve taken more time to be present specifically with my food. I watch with great anticipation as my small plants grow, anxious for their harvest. The time and energy it takes for life to grow for our nourishment is something quite incredible. We started the seeds in February and last week had our first plate of lettuce. It will still be a month for many of the other veggies to be ready. Lately I feel my grandmother with me as I save each scrap for another meal. The left over rice from last night goes perfect in black bean soup. The left over potatoes will go perfect in some morning eggs. My Grandmother was a professional conserver of food. A way of life that many of us have forgotten in times of plenty and when we just simply go to the store and get more or perhaps just lack the energy to put the leftovers in the fridge for a second meal. My favorite memory of my grandmother was the day I realized she scraped the syrup from our plates back into the bottle because she didn’t want to waist the extra…a true conservationist!!!

Amongst the Reeds

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This photograph was taken the morning we started our adventure up the mountain to visit an older Mamu and his family. We drove on extremely washed out dirt roads with huge boulders and ruts that would swallow up most vehicles. At the end of this road we were dropped off in what seemed to be a village. One thing I love about these types of trips is the unpredictable nature of the adventure, never quite knowing where we are going to end up. All I knew is that we were going to be sleeping out on a mountain in maybe a “hammock”? Soon a small boy with long hair rode up on a donkey. Miguel and Fredy started loading supplies and we grabbed our backpacks and camera gear then started walking higher up the mountain. The vistas grew bigger with each step. About 45 minutes later we reached our final destination. We dropped off our things in a clay built hut then headed down to a very special area amongst the reeds for more conversation with the Mamu. The light poured in behind the reeds illuminating the leaders as we sat. My deepest desires wanted to capture this image with my camera but I was not permitted at this point to take any photographs. The image will forever be burnt into my memory and perhaps best to live there beside the magic of the moment. Kelsey managed to sneak a guitar along for the trip and I was coerced to play a song the next day called "Sleeping Princess", which is about a mountain range in Indonesia. Though they did not speak English there was something special that translated beyond words and a bond was formed. The once stoic skeptical older Mamu was now warm and open and I was then permitted to take photographs. The little girl in the picture hung around anytime I pulled out the guitar. This is one of my favorite images from our time there in the mountains. See what @kelseytimmerman wrote #indyphotographer #travelphotography

Asking Permission

Our first full day with Miguel was spent primarily in long conversations with the spiritual leaders of their tribe called Mamu. We sat barefoot on rocks for many hours. The Arhauco believe that before they make any important decision they need to ask permission. In the beginning of this meeting I was not permitted to take photographs. We were asked a series of questions in which we were to sit and think and reflect. Their first question was, “What are you here for?" They were concerned that we were here for oil or to try to change their culture and customs. It was pretty clear after talking to Kelsey and I that we were definitely not there to change them but to learn. My response was, “I’m just here for the Magic!!!” Shortly thereafter smiles and laughter were exchanged with our new friends and I was invited to photograph the rest of our time in conversation. See what @kelseytimmerman posted. #travelphotography#indianapolisphotographer

“Why are churches sacred and rivers not?”

Several months ago I started a journey with Kelsey Timmerman, author of the New York Times best seller called “Where Am I Wearing.” He is currently working on a book for Patagonia Books. You know the 'super cool' company that if you’re a backpacker, climber, mtbiker or outdoors enthusiast you probably have something from their brand? The book is on regenerative agriculture. In February we traveled to Colombia and Patagonia to meet some people who care greatly for their land and their environment. In the next few months we’re going to do our best to tell our story. The quote above is from our new friend Miguel. He is a member of an indigenous tribe called the Arhuaco. They reside in the northern region of Columbia called Nabusimake. They believe that their region is in the heart of the world and there are certain spots in this region where there are “good vibes” and a clear connection to Mother Earth. They are primarily coffee farmers but they are so much more. Their love and respect for the earth are quite compelling and inspiring. We sat with Miguel and several spiritual leaders from his tribe over the span of six days and talked at great length about their belief and way of life in respect to the earth. This is a picture I took of Miguel as he was explaining to us that this was a very sacred place on the river. See what Kelsey wrote @kelseytimmerman #sustainablefood#patagonia #regenerativeagriculture#impact #sustainability #permaculture#soilhealth #sustainableagriculture

Beginning & End

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The past several weeks I have been on an incredible journey with @kelseytimmerman who is working on a book for @patagoniabooks. I have had the fortunate opportunity to travel this leg of the journey and capture some of the landscape and stories. From the meditation in the mountains of Columbia with the indigenous spiritual leaders of the Arhuaco tribe to the breathtaking vistas of Patagonia visiting local farmers, this trip will be tough to describe. In the next month we will be posting some pictures and writings but for now I thought it best to include the first shot of the trip and last. #patagoniabooks #travelphotography#indianapolisphotographer #patagonia

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Hidden Worlds

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I can still remember getting my first camera. It was an all-manual Vivitar film camera with a 28-70 mm lens. It was all black and had some weight to it. As I opened the package I was like a giddy like a kid on Christmas.  I loaded the film that day and headed down to the park to photograph a very icy White River in Anderson.  I didn’t know much about photography then and in my excitement chose to shoot on a bright sunny day. Unfortunately, with all of the white snow the images did not come out as I had hoped, but what I was drawn to was the idea of capturing nature.  As long as I can remember I have loved being outside and getting dirty. When I was a kid I would create dirt tracks for my mini machine trucks, which were the  little cars with the big wheels.  If you were a boy in the 80’s you probably had them.  I can remember distinctly the smell of the dirt and the pine trees that surrounded us.  After college I was invited by my good friend Matt Toth on a few I’ll say…Adventures!  We took some kayaks to a remote Indian village in Mexico and paddled for several days on the Sea of Cortez. I woke up eagerly each morning and captured the beautiful early light on the ocean.  Some of the images from that trip are still in my portfolio.  As a young photographer I watched documentaries on Ansel Adams and dreamed of having a career in Fine Art.  After my first show I quickly realized that there was not much money in this business for me.  It wasn’t long after that show when someone in the commercial world hired me to photograph an event. I then sold a few images to an architecture firm and a few musicians had me take there album cover image. I realized that I was probably more valuable in this commercial world than in the fine art industry.  To be honest, I have enjoyed every bit of learning commercial photography and I love working with people and creating marketing materials.  It brings me great joy to see my images on someones website, magazine or sometimes billboard!  Most of the time when I head out in the back country these days the camera is left behind.  I deliberately separate my “work” from my time off.  I find that I am more present in the surroundings without my camera.  However, on occasions I decide to pack my old friend to see what I might see.  My wife and I set out this fall to a beautiful place in Michigan called Nord House Dunes. We backpack in for a few hours and set up camp on the beach. We typically don’t see a single person for days.  Most of the trip was just spent relaxing, throwing rocks and trying to stay in the water as long as we could stand because it was 60 degrees.  I took a few photos here and there but mostly just enjoyed my time with Jules.  However, as we were hiking out I noticed the sand.  It had this really amazing texture and shapes that appeared like mountains.  I grabbed my little camera and started capturing these images.  They looked like hidden worlds to me.  I was transported back instantly to that young giddy kid with a camera.

SineWave Audio

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One of the great things about my job is working with people I know and respect.  I am lucky to be good friends with the fellas at SineWave Audio.  Not many people probably know that in the little town of Anderson, there is a company that goes out weekly and provides production for some really huge national acts.  Last week I got a sound bite from my buddy Ben at the Philadelphia Symphony featuring Steve Martin on the banjo.  I met Ben and Micah at Anderson University many years ago and have continued a friendship with them throughout the years.  Ben and I traveled for many years in several bands, he as a sound man/road manager and me as a singer and guitar player.  We drove thousands of miles together in vans and then buses.  We started out using home made speakers and pigtailing boards together to get sound.  He now has much better equipment!  Ben called me several weeks ago and asked if I’d like to photograph a production his company was in charge of at Bankers Life Field House. It happened to be with Chain Smokers and Back Street Boys.  The job was to photograph the production and the overall "wow" factor of what their company provides.  They have lots of big speakers and cool lights! You’ll notice that my interest in these images are not with the bands but with the overall technical direction of the event.  Thanks Ben and Micah for the cool work and a great night. 

Pen and Paper

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I’d like to reflect and explain the inspiration behind some of the drawings I have been posting to my instagram feed lately.  Many years ago while I was in school I tended to have a difficult time staying focused while sitting in a lecture.  I would often times find myself getting lost in my thoughts and it didn’t seem to help to “try harder”.  I remember experiencing frustration in classes as I would tend to miss out on most of what my professor was teaching and I always seemed to be behind in my classes.  I remember a Teacher in High School mentioned some letters to me, A-D-D… and informing me that there was medicine to help this focusing issue.  I had no desire to take a drug to fix my “problem”.  As I continued my education however, it didn’t just get better or go away.  Because of my not so incredible GPA when I reached College I was awarded the opportunity to take a course for the underachievers.  Lart 2000.  However, in this class someone actually took time to talk with me about different styles of learning and gave me a few tips on staying focused in a lecture hall.  I remember specifically someone suggesting that I doodle on a piece of paper. I didn’t quite understand why this would help but I gave it a try.  While I loved drawing, I had always felt frustrated with my attempt at what I thought was art at the time.  I compared myself to my brother who was an Incredible realist and when you’re a kid you tend to get things written on your DNA.  So Art in drawing form was not a talent that I had.  I leaned into music and decided my brother was the artist in the family, I was the musician.  Later on in life I pursued art again and found a love for drawing and painting.  Though I was not an accomplished realist like my brother, I enjoyed impressionism very much and enjoyed taking courses in College learning about lines, shapes, lighting, and color.  These principles have helped tremendously in my pursuit of Photography.  Still often times while drawing I would experience anxiety and feel pretty worn out because I put so much focus and pressure on myself to make something interesting and accurate.  These drawings that I have been posting do not feel the same. Over the years I have been doodling all over homework, books, and whatever is available to help keep focused.  I don’t understand the science behind this practice but it actually seems to work for me.  In the last several years I’ve decided to keep some order to my scribbling.  I have dedicated journals for these unconscious drawings, without them once again I am easily districted by my thoughts.  I believe in all things we can look at ourselves and make judgments.  I am attempting in my older years to accept my challenges and my “disorder” in a different light. I don’t really know what Art is but I know that the process of being present in a learning environment and also being free while making these drawings have been life changing and maybe that pursuit, in and of itself, is the real art. 

Indy On The River

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One of my favorite clients to shoot for is Visit Indy.  Though many people would know me as a bit of a country boy who tends to keep things simple and slow, my wife and I love to take a trip to downtown Indy, especially to shoot some photos.  This particular job was to highlight people enjoying the White River downtown.  If you don’t know to look for the river you might not know that it runs right at the edge of the City and is quite beautiful.  I hope some of these photos will inspire you to get down to Indy and ride a bike, take a walk or just sit and enjoy both water and skyline! 

Black & White

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I got the opportunity to work with Marisa for her new album, produced and recorded by my good friend Rick Singleton of Slick Studios.  I wanted to post and write a bit about black and white photography today.  These days with the use of digital cameras I typically will shoot in color then decide in post how to tone the image.  All that said, I still love to see in black and white.  Many times when I'm looking at a shot I will actually shoot the image with the intention of turning it black and white.  These shots are good examples of this process for me.  I would say my favorite of these three images is the top vertical image.  Composition and context are extremely important to me when making an image.  I had noticed that the shadow created by the falling light acted as a reflection to the adjacent building.  This totally makes the image for me!  Finding these little gems are what makes photography really fun and worth coming back for.  The black and white tone really enhances the mood of theses photos for me.  Thanks Marisa for a great shoot and being so laid back and fun to work with. 

Family Photos

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I often get asked if I shoot family portraits, my typical response is, "only when asked."  The truth is I love working with anyone who is up for having fun and being flexible and it also helps when people are up for something maybe a little different.  I'm happy to shoot smiling faces of kids looking at the camera but it really is fun to try and capture them in their environment...moving, playing, and being a kid. This session was with some of my favorite friends, the Noel family.  We started off shooting pictures of the kids just being themselves then went inside to photograph their home life. When shooting a family portrait I am often perplexed on how to make the photo look interesting.  Dad goes here, Mom sits here, and the kids go here….. blaaaa.  I had this idea in mind to conclude the session...Ryan is an avid music lover and I had the idea of creating their family portrait subtly based off of an album cover I remembered from the Beatles.  This set of images is meant to be displayed in a block of 4.  They happily obliged my idea and these were a few of the images from this session. 

Jon McLaughlin

Todays blog is about one of my favorite people… Mr. Jon McLaughlin, who is playing this Friday in his home town Anderson, IN at the Paramount Theatre!  He has been a good friend for years.  I have played music with him, shot photos for him and spent much time laughing about things that probably aren’t that funny.   Yes he is exactly who you hope he would be…talented, funny and just simply a really nice dude.  This image was shot several years ago at his house.  It’s one of my favorites because of it’s simplicity.  Simple lighting and a cool idea go along way.  Best luck on Friday Jon.

the Kissing Rocks

“Why do we love the sea?  It is because it has some potent power to make us think things we like to think.”  -Robert Henri

Hilton Head Island, SC was the destination of my first trip of the year…Hint if you desire less crowds Hilton Head is a great place to be in February amongst the friendly retirees and scarce beaches.  This shot was taken early morning after a sketchy bike ride at dawn with little available light…and yes, coffee in hand.  There is a spot left untouched by the large surrounding hotels and condos, home to many Osprey, Blue Herron, and Egrets.  Myself, my wife, and daughter Bella arrived at this spot called "the Kissing Rocks” just as they were turning blue.  The legend goes that if you kiss the rocks it brings one good luck.  However, I think if you kiss your loved one on the rocks you already have good luck… Most of my time this morning was spent watching my 9 year-old study the land scape, watching the birds and learning how to compose a photograph.  I took this photo in the meantime.

GX

I have had the privilege of working on several shoots for GX Magazine. This article features Sergeant Linsey Williams, who is making her way in the MMA fighting circle. She was photographed on location at her gym in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This issue also features a page on contributors to the magazine, including myself. This is what they wrote:

"Cliff, who lives in Markleville, IN [population: about 500], has photographed among others, Jim Irsay, owner of the Indianapolis Colts and Josh Kaufman, winner of season 6 of "The Voice." Starting on Page 84, you can see his shots of another rising star: Sergeant Linsey Williams, who, Cliff says, "is the type of person you want serving your country." At the photo session, her power was on display. "Shooting some action shots, I asked her to give me a sequence at about 70 percent of her actual force.  It was not long before I realized I needed to ask for 20 percent," Cliff says.  He was also struck by Williams' humility and depth in talking about topics such as philosophy and bioethics. "Sergeant Williams is more than the sum of her ferocious uppercut," he says."

 

To take the camera, to not take the camera?

This is one of my favorite shots from Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming.  I wrote this blog years ago in reference to this photo and thought it was worth posting again here...

The Question: To take the camera or to leave it home? This is something I really thought through for this trip. Sometimes I just need to get away and have time to relax and enjoy myself. To fully engage in in the place and, for lack of better expression, be one with my surroundings. The other more practical issue is weight... I am a bit of a minimalist on my adventures. Now, I have yet to resorted to cutting the tags and straps off my bag and equipment but I do try to keep things simple and lightweight. If you haven’t done any backpacking it may not sound like much but a few pounds means quite a bit over several hours of hiking. To take a full camera with lens and tripod is a significant weight to my pack. Knowing that I may not get this opportunity again I decided to take both. It also helped when I realized that doing so could make the trip tax deductible!!!
Lesson learned: My typical routine is to pack my bag then go through and decide which items are essential and which items are comfort items. I had brought two batteries but last minute decided to discard the extra. We had hiked in on Friday through Cascade Canyon which is the valley at the Northern base of the Tetons. We would be supporting ourselves for the next four days. The trail was moderate but the newness of the pack always takes a bit to get used too, “Pull straps tight to for weight on shoulders loosen for weight on hips.” A mixture of snow and rain made for beautiful scenery and a pretty cold hike. About seven miles in on the first day we turned to the south fork trail and made camp a mile in. As we made our way up the hill snow started to gain intensity. We made camp on a bed of snow packed down by numb feet. A warm but quick dinner followed by an early retreat to the sleeping bags. As I laid my head down I noticed the illumination through the top of the tent, it was still light. I felt my feet start to warm up going from numb to tingly then I was out. Rumors of bears kept me light with sleep. It’s not so much a fear of bears but the fear of being eating by a bear that seemed to be present in my much active mind. Morning came and the weather broke making it clear and chilly. Coffee.... Thank you starbucks for your one shot coffee packs. Light weight simple and ooo so good. After breakfast I pulled my camera out and noticed the light would be perfect for a few shots of the canyon. Light was shooting through the canyon, hitting the side of the mountain in front. Clouds diffused the light perfectly. As I put my rickety cheap tripod up and turned the camera on I noticed the my battery was reading ONE BAR. How could it be? It showed full power the day before and I had yet to shoot anything. I ranted for a bit then gathered myself and realized the opportunity I had. One of the reasons I debate taking my camera is that it monopolizes my thoughts. I spend so much time looking for a perfect shot that I loose focus of just seeing and looking around. I can shoot too much!!! With only a small amount of power I would not be taking many shots. I would be forced to be patient. I would also be forced to conserve power by not looking at that o so tempting screen on the back. No this would have to be shot the old school way– without the quick viewing of the image–Bringing me back to the days of film. I took three or four images making sure to bracket my exposure then turned off the camera. Making do: Saturdays hike was a day hike we took only the essentials. We continued on the south fork to Hurricane pass. The maps we had were very basic and tough to determine distance. We had estimated two hrs to get there and two back. After trekking through a foot of snow for three hours and several conversations of stopping short, we reached the base of hurricane pass. As we sat and looked at the intimidating climb we decided to fuel up a bit before attempting the final push to the top of the pass. As we ate our lunch we noticed a speck of a person slowly making their way to the top. We had been following his size 11 prints most of the morning. Well his and a few large bear prints... We finished eating then decide to give it a go. The trail was steep and each step sunk deep into the packing snow. there were roughly five big switchbacks that made the assent possible. Im not sure how the guy ahead of us found the trail but we followed each step. The last bit of trail was very thin but after about forty minutes we had reached the top. You could see for miles and miles. It made every bit of the trip worth while. I set my tripod up and looked for a good composition paying attention to our time. Shooting with bright sun is never the best option but thats all I had. I had trouble finding a composition that I really desired but I would have needed to hike half way around the ridge and another hour for that shot. Sometimes you just have to make due... Snow had turned to slush on the way back to camp. We sat on the rocks ate our dinner and I watched the sun change color on the rocks. Orange then a cool blue the the light was gone. The stars were brilliant that night.
The waiting game: Sunday worship was spent engaged in the sounds of nature. Water was rushing from the mountain and forming streams to our left and right. The Picas were gathering leaves and grass for winter storage. This was our short day. We got to our camp early and the sun was blazing! We were in shorts and t-shirts and looking for shade. A welcomed contrast to the previous day. We pulled our gear out and started to hang sleeping bags shirts wet socks and boots on the surrounding trees. Dry cloths are a great luxury in the back country. Half way through our routine. I laughed and sang a christmas carol. Our cloths looked like giant ornaments Hanging from the jack pines. After an afternoon of resting in the sun we made the decision to hike further to Solitude lake and make our dinner on it’s banks. As soon as we got there I hiked around the lake looking for a good shot. I found a few compositions but the light was too harsh and the contrast was too much. I made a few mock shots through my lens and anxiously waited for the sun to go down. After about an hr I realized that I was no where near the time it would be for appropriate lighting. My stomach was growling and I made the decision to abandon the shots and get some dinner. After worrying that I would be taking too much time and not wanting to keep the guys waiting I simply asked if they would be ok waiting a bit longer so I could take the shots I had planned. What else did we have to do. The guys patiently walked around and waited on me to finish the shots. It was still a bit early but I knew I would be able to bracket the exposures again and get what I needed. After obsessively walking back and forth lining rocks and trees up with reflections. I finally found my shots.
That’s all she wrote: We knew that we would be pushing it to get out on time so we decided to hike the next day over paintbrush divide and finish our tip at String lake where we started. It was a difficult day. The divide was at 10,700 ft and we descended on some rather slippery technical areas. Slowly but safely we made our way down to dry trail. On the way down I finished out my battery taking some fun shots of the guys and the terrain. Nine miles and several blisters later we were at the car finding relief by removing our packs. We drove through the night a total of thirty hours and were finally home! This is the first image from the trip took the morning after the blizzard.