4.1.24Belle RidgePhotographed a designer house in Bellevue off Covert Run. These are new builds that utilize high end finishes and fixtures with a modern-inspired architectural style and the ability to modify the house to include an elevator into the floor plan later if the owner wishes. The green marble island and backsplash with the stained poplar woodwork were especially eye-catching and something I haven’t seen before.

4.2.24Hunkering DownWhen the NWS warns the country several days in advance that weather conditions will be severe, it’s not a good sign. On Sunday, we started hearing rumblings about how bad it could get on Tuesday evening. On Monday, the threat persisted. By this morning, both local and national meteorologists were stressing how bad the 5-6 PM hour could be for Cincinnati.I began charging my devices, moving critical paperwork and hard drives to a safe location in the basement, prepping our storm shelter area in my workshop, and battening down the hatches on the porch and deck. By noon, I was more or less ready for it.At 5 PM, we turned the TV to one of the local news stations to keep tabs on the storm as it filtered into the area. It didn’t hit us until about 5:30 or so, and Ashley and Myrtle eventually made their way to the basement when it started getting rough outside. I stayed upstairs and watched as the street outside turned to a river with the buckets of rain we received all at once. It was tense for about 15 minutes, but the storm passed faster than I thought it would.Afterward, a brilliant sunset lit up the front of the house. We walked to the B-List for a post-storm drink.

4.3.24AM Leafy-oIt’s that time of year when the AM radio-capable device finds a more accessible location in the office since the MLB makes it impossible to watch games without spending a bunch of money. This year, though, it has to share space with a houseplant who has agreed to share its 8”x8” area of the credenza.

4.4.24K A R A T EWhen I lived in Mt. Washington, I entertained the idea of learning karate for all but 12 seconds before laughing at the idea of myself in a gi.

4.5.24New MugGiven to me as a gift by a friend of a friend. It kind of resembles my Zfc!

4.6.24Game Show Battle RoomThere’s this really fun attraction in Sharonville right now called Game Show Battle Room. It’s in the same complex as Microcenter. You and your people split into teams and play renamed-for-legal-reasons versions of Family Feud, Wheel of Fortune, Price is Right, and Plinko. The room is led by a professional host, it has a producer manning the lights, music, scoreboard, and game screen, and each team competes to earn the most points across all four games. The whole thing lasts an hour.We played guys vs girls and had an absolute blast. The girls beat us by a single point in a truly neck-and-neck game of skill and luck. We held our own for the majority of the game, but a game-winning Plinko disc drop by Rachel at the very end put the girls over the top and earned them the trophy.It was honestly so much fun and I’m already ready to go back for another game.

4.7.24Lunar CapitalismOne of my favorite things is when makeshift markets pop up in parking lots and along roadsides to shill topical wares in an effort to squeeze a few coins out of an event, especially when it’s for something like an eclipse. Part of me desperately wants to support them because they’re dumb and schlocky, but the other part of me almost always says ‘no.’

4.8.24TotalityWitnessing a cosmic event with boots on Earth isn’t something that happens many times in one’s life. While this wasn’t my first eclipse (I documented the 2017 one in a blog post), this was my first time seeing it from within the full shadow. I can’t accurately describe how strange and beautiful it was, but I can say that it was something I’ll never forget.We decided to go up to Hueston Woods—the place where Myrtle’s swam and played several times—to see the eclipse. The news warned of horrible traffic, so we left at 8 AM. That turned out to be well before everyone else left, apparently. When we arrived at 9 AM, practically no one was there. We set up camp out of the back of our car, poured a couple of mimosas, and waited patiently for darkness.People trickled into the park until about 3 PM when we noticed it was quieter than it had been. No cars were running and everyone was in position, glasses on, staring up at the sky. “It's an orange moon!” A bespectacled little girl said to her mother who replied to her in a language I didn’t recognize. People from around the world came to the path of totality to see this. It was awe-inspiring.I set up a camera to shoot at a 10-second interval and pointed it toward where Ashley and I would be (we put Myrtle in the car with the windows down). Since I didn’t have a filter for my camera, I didn’t bother shooting the eclipse itself until totality. An hour leading up to the eclipse, we felt like we had ever-darkening sunglasses on. When darkness finally fell, the ground looked like it rippled and a cool wind rushed through the woods. The horizon looked like sunset and the void where the sun should be looked wild. It was in that moment that I understood why ancient civilizations without an understanding of this brand of science would be concerned. I stopped the interval and took a photo at 40mm during totality next to a tree to give the composition something unique.Three whole minutes. That’s all it was. But I will say there was more emotion and excitement in that three minutes than many others I’ve had in my life. I’m not sure I’ll ever see another one of these in my lifetime, so I’m thankful I experienced this one.

4.9.24Outer GlowPhotographed one of those high-end Bellevue houses at night for the listing because it had special exterior lighting.

4.10.24New AcquisitionsNew acquisitions arrived at CAM recently and the curators hosted an event for Founders members.

4.11.24Liberty HillWent to record a quick interview with John Yung for a CNU project up at his house. The way these streets ramp up the hill at such a steep grade is reminiscent of the way so much of San Francisco looks. Of course I dig it, but I also wonder how accessible any of these homes are if they’re accessible at all.

4.12.24Fruit StripeIt wasn’t often that we got sugary gum as kids, but when we did, I remember absolutely loving Fruit Stripe gum. The cartoon zebra on the package, the green-yellow-red packaging, the aroma released straight out of the paper wrap, the way it folded effortlessly when it was fresh and the way it shattered like chalk when it wasn’t; it was a whole experience. Even talking about it right now is making my mouth water. It lost flavor within about 10 chomps, but those 10 chomps were magical. I have a memory of standing in the middle of the back yard during summer, staring at the tree line in the distance, chewing this gum while my dad mows the grass.All of that is to say this rainbow reminded me of that gum.

4.13.24Staining and PaintingPhew! The potting bench and outdoor bar top is almost finished. Spent a long time staining and painting this sucker today before going to Travis and Allie’s for a tiki drink night where I shot film and recorded on VHS, removing the ability to post anything from that here.I got dirty and gross, but I think it’s turning out well. Also need another row of shingles since the pack I bought was barely short. I also need to add rocks to the base to help with drainage and keep the contents inside the cabinets up off the dirt beneath. The finish line is ahead.

4.14.24Sunday EveningThe only images I made today were on a roll of Kodak I’m trying to finish, so I quickly documented my Sunday evening. Ashley’s back in Minneapolis for work, so it’s just me and this little fluffy nerd.

4.15.24Skyline JayJay’s in from Philly. He came in a few nights ago and we made lunch plans at the 4th Street Skyline. He got a 5-way with a coney all the way. I got my 4-coney all the way standard. We caught up and it was nice to see him again. He’s getting a second dog this summer!

4.16.24220 WallaceToday’s real estate job was straightforward enough, but I think the thing that keeps me coming back to the exteriors is the perfect lighting and the feeling that we’re at peak spring at the moment. Spring feels like it’s fully shaken off the lasting tendrils of winter that keep snaking back into the forecast, and photographing the pastel yellow house under a brilliant blue sky while lightly sweating reinforced it.

4.17.24Born From AwkwardnessI went over to Steve’s house to watch a movie. He planned ahead and DoorDashed wings for the time I’d arrive. When I got there, the Dasher was in the process of ringing his doorbell to complete the drop. Instead of awkwardly interrupting the exchange by standing behind the Dasher, I ducked around the corner of Steve’s building to burn 60 seconds and let that transaction complete itself. The only reason this image exists is because of my awkwardness.

4.18.24Purple People PerspectiveI had a shoot at Aqua on the Levee this morning, and while photographing the rooftop communal space, I snapped a photo of the Purple People Bridge from a perspective I’ve never seen before. It’s always a thrill to get up in the air and photograph something you know well from a new vantage point.Side note: I hope they figure out which paint swatch works best soon so they can finish repainting the bridge. It’ll look incredible once fully lavender’d.

4.19.24Rum for PresidentThe only acceptable version of this sign.

4.20.24Evening GameWe went with Chelsea and Vince to the game this evening. Before walking over, though, we hit up The Galley at the Levee—the food hall and bar they opened late last year. The cheesesteak I got was delicious (with actual wiz!), as were the mixed drinks we all ordered. After a day spent working in the yard in the sun, it was nice to sit and relax in the sun with the promise of a baseball game we were sure to win ahead in the schedule for the evening.After we got there and found our seats, we stayed put for about 6 innings before abandoning our seats for hot dogs. We watched as a food service worker accidentally dropped what was probably $100 in nacho chips out in the fan zone, get visibly angry, and storm away with what remained in the plastic container before another worker casually walked up and started sweeping the pile into a tiny dust bin. Before leaving, I stopped at the pro shop and bought a hoodie to help keep me warm for the rest of the game and the long walk home.It was a good day.

4.21.24Profitable RideThe unmistakable yellow-green of crumpled US currency flashed by in a blur as I kept my eyes glued to the pavement looking for pot holes beneath my wheels. I quickly weighed whether or not traffic was heavy enough to double back and get it before ramping both wheels up onto the curb and speeding back to the spot, hoping what I saw was real and still there.I thought it was a five at first, but was delighted to discover it was four times more. Without thinking, and worried someone would yell at me for stopping in the street, I pocketed the crumple and raced home.When I got there, I looked at it again to confirm what I found was real. Myrtle wanted to inspect, too. It pays to ride your bike!

4.22.24Mycelial NetworkYesterday while drinking bourbon on the porch, Kevin told me about a park up the street that I didn’t know about. Tonight I persuaded Ashley to walk up there. We scoured the trails with an off-leash Myrtle, found a wooden bridge, a clearing with deer, and an orange tennis ball that Myrtle enjoyed chasing. It made for a good Earth Day evening.

4.23.24Purple RewardMy photoshoot got pushed to tomorrow, so I spent the day working in the garden. I removed more grass from the left side of the yard and planted tulip bulbs for next year, transplanted some small greens, and put a large purple smoke bush in the corner of the yard where our compost bin used to be. I also laid down more pine straw in the front yard, mowed the little bit of grass we have, and edged it all with the trimmer after moving fresh compost to the raised vegetable and spice bed.While I was working in the yard, my purple clematis bloomed a second time. It felt like a little reward for taking care of everything.

4.24.24Mt. HopePhotographed the third floor of this beautiful building in Price Hill. It’s one block west of Oldenview Park and shares the spectacular view of Downtown from the turret. The day was full of sunshine and blue skies, making for better images and a more enjoyable afternoon when reviewing everything later on the computer.When spring shows up after months of working around grey skies and naked trees, it’s a creative relief.

4.25.24Return of Art In BloomEvery two years, Art in Bloom returns to the Cincinnati Art Museum. The exhibit pairs custom floral arrangements with selected works of art on display throughout various galleries in the museum, all made by creatives in Cincinnati and beyond. With well over 50 arrangements scattered throughout two floors of the building, there’s a lot of new brand stuff to enjoy paired with artwork you’ve seen on display before.Prior to the show’s opening to the public on Friday, the museum held a private event to kick everything off. In addition to food, drink, a live band, costumed dancers (pictured), and access to the entire building to see the show early, invitees got to see the entire exhibit looking its absolute best—these are floral arrangements, afterall, wither slowly with every passing hour. To my untrained eye, I likely won’t notice, but to Ashley’s, I’m sure it will be.We plan to see it together on Saturday morning before Asian Food Fest.

4.26.24Changing of the GuardTo celebrate the Red Door Project’s 10th anniversary, the initiative was passed on to ArtWorks during a ceremony at the Art Academy’s SITE1212 that involved the literal red door being handed to ArtWorks’ CEO, Colleen Houston.While I’ve never participated in Red Door due to a lack of believing in my own work, I was able to support it by purchasing one of my friends’ prints during a show a couple years after it kicked off. It’s a great way to pick up something unique and original when you’re looking to jazz up a room.The show’s founder, Barabara, received a bouquet of flowers as well as a beautiful turnover cake (get it?) that Dominique made for the occasion. I spent about an hour and a half grabbing stills of people hugging, cheersing, admiring the artwork that was up for bids, and the ceremonial hand-over.

4.27.24Market MorningWe spent the morning eating breakfast at Goose & Elder, perusing the market, drinking coffee, climbing the steps to the Art Museum for Art In Bloom, then went to Asian Food Fest with friends in the early afternoon.

4.28.24First Cookout of 2024Worked in the yard for most of the day planting new plants and flowers in the garden, as well as getting our tomatoes and herbs into the raised beds. By evening, we were ready to break in the new outdoor bar with a proper cookout. Chelsea and Vince dropped by with an appetizer and some delicious homemade slaw. We cooked hot dogs, mets, and brats to go along with maple-bacon baked beans and a macaroni and cheese recipe I came up with a few years ago. The bar was big enough to hold everything with ease, and dishing up was easier than it ever was indoors. Really glad we have this amenity in the back yard now.

4.29.24Vinny da ClimbahVince was hired by the city to take down a massive tree that’s causing issues to nearby infrastructure. It’s a shame this beautiful tree has to go, but I get it. After watching two trees narrowly miss my own house after falling during the last 3 years, I don’t blame anyone for wanting to be proactive. Since it’s about a block and a half from my house, I walked down to check it out after hearing the chainsaws buzzing in the distance from my office.As I approached the scene, he was in the perfect position for a good contrast-y photo.

4.30.24The Photo Worth $3000A photo of the moment I began to realize I was about to save myself $3000. No, this isn’t staged.Back in September of last year, I got a Macbook Air with the M2 chip to use as my mobile editor and “big” screen in the field. Using Lightroom Classic’s tethering option, I’d take a photo and it would blow into the editor so the client could view what I was seeing on the bigger screen. The only problem is the laptop could barely handle Lightroom Classic without beach balling with every action. When you have to make the client wait for your laptop to do a basic task, it’s not a great look.It was obvious I needed more than 8gb of RAM (or as Apple now calls it: Unified Memory). A quick trip to Apple’s website to look at what a MacBook Pro with a beefed-up M3 chip cost resulted in a thousand-yard stare. I weighed my financial options. It was possible, but I’d be hurting afterward.Flash forward to a couple hours of research later and I loaded NX Tether—a tethering software designed for Nikon cameras by the company itself—to my Macbook Air. I took my first test shot (pictured) and it ran flawlessly without any hiccups. Blowing it into NX Studio, the software’s companion editor, was smooth as silk and nearly instant. I didn’t need to used Lightroom Classic at all. I could keep my $3000. NX Tether and Studio completely solved my issue for free.