6.1.20ReunitedThe police are currently arresting a bunch of people on McMicken for breaking the 8 PM curfew. They even arrested a journalist by mistake, then let him go as soon as scores of people online yelled at city council, the mayor, and the police chief on Twitter. Last night, they arrested hundreds for doing the same thing, and today they were slowly released throughout the course of the day. I could see them coming out of the jail every 20 minutes or so. Ronny tweeted a photo of a man who was released from jail and I recognized him as the fiance of a freelancer who I regularly work with. The tweet said he was waiting on his fiance to be released. I kept an eye on him for 3 more hours, waiting for her to walk through the giant metal gates. Every time those gates would open and protestors were released, the crowd across the street would cheer. I got my camera ready, cracked the window so I had a clear shot and could hear the crowd, and waited. At 6:39 PM, the crowd erupted, she emerged from the jail onto the sidewalk, and I got this photo of them embracing in the street.

6.2.20CSX LineJust some tracks that run between Grandview and Taylor in Bellevue.

6.3.20A Break in the CloudsI can’t tell you about this photo. Not now, at least. It’s just the only good thing happening in our lives at the moment and I feel simultaneously guilty and proud of us.

6.4.20Moline CourtHad a shoot in Northside today and stopped on Moline Court before going back home. It’s always great for a photo.

6.5.20Washington Avenue, BellevueTook a walk with Cody, Chelsea, and Vince tonight. We wandered around the neighborhood and got ice cream. It was relaxing and much needed.

6.6.20Art on MainAs we walked through Downtown this afternoon, I noticed Down to Mars Vintage had colorful boards on their windows. Because of the riots last week, many businesses Downtown and in Over-the-Rhine have placed boards on their windows and doors, and nearly all of them have art on them now.

6.7.20Justice for GeorgeProtests have been happening for a week and a half now, and while there was a significant amount of violence in Cincinnati last Friday, the danger from protesting dwindled over the ensuing days. Cops stopped tear-gassing people and it became safe to peacefully protest again. Today, Aaron and I went to Fountain Square to show our support of BLM and justice for every black American who has been murdered by police. Thousands of people packed the Square with signs held above their heads. I’m not photographing these protests right now because I don’t know what the etiquette is, but also just because I want to participate without photography. Pointing a camera at others can be perceived as hostile, and I do not want to make anyone uncomfortable, especially now. So, I took this one iPhone photo of the back of a sea of heads to chronicle the protest without worrying about ruining someone’s privacy.

6.8.20A Grand ViewGrandview Avenue in Bellevue. I like these three identical houses a lot, and if you go up on the hill where the elementary school is, you can see this view.

6.9.20The VistaShot the new Lytle Park Hotel today, and the top floor is an indoor-outdoor rooftop bar that can be adapted to the weather. Sliding doors open to let fresh air in on temperate days, and stay shut when the weather isn’t cooperating. Today they were shut because it was humid and hot. There’s an additional outdoor area beyond the glass that is always open to the elements.

6.10.20The Lytle Park HotelI went back to the Lytle Park Hotel this evening to get a better exterior and ended up with this panorama.

6.11.20Weaver DetourI got coffee at BlaCk Coffee this morning, and as I was walking home, I took a detour down Weaver Alley. The sun was shining on the brick in the best way.

6.12.20The Big PeachWe drove south for 12 hours today on our way to Florida. The drive was long and I’m tired. Being in a car that long is tortuous, but with a pandemic happening and wanting to travel with the dog, driving is the only option. The only remotely interesting part of the drive was when we entered Atlanta for 45 minutes and got stuck in traffic. This is an iPhone photo through the windshield. It’s not a great photo, but I didn’t have many other options.

6.13.20Beach DogAfter what felt like a billion hours, we finally made it to Ft. Myers. Surprising no one, Myrtle got to experience the beach for the first time in her life and nearly died of excitement. Lead a water dog to the Gulf of Mexico and she’ll hop around in the sea until you literally have to reel her back in.

6.14.20Calm Down, CloudsFort Myers in the summer is a different Fort Myers than the one I’ve known in years past when we’ve gone in the spring. The torrential downpours are as intense as they are unpredictable, sneaking up on you before you have much of a chance to react to them. Thankfully, every time they’ve popped up, we were near our rental car or at the Airbnb. This was one of the moments when it wasn’t pouring buckets.

6.15.20The FishermanDuring a sunset walk on the beach, I was trying to take photos of pelicans diving into the gulf without much luck when I ran across this dude fishing. I was using my Tamron 150-600mm, so it was anything but inconspicuous. I took this photo and started to walk away when his wife, who I didn’t realize was with him and nearby, made eye contact and asked if I’d taken his photo. Not knowing which way this interaction was going to go, I admitted to it and walked toward her. “Website"?” She asked. Not feeling like trying to tell her where I’d be posting this and already giving myself points for honesty to the first question, I replied, “Just a hobbyist trying to take photos of birds.” It’s wasn’t untrue, technically speaking. She seemed satisfied with that answer.

6.16.20A Fish Crow PondersWe went to the Fort Myers Pier this morning and I saw a fish crow standing on the railing. I used my 150-600mm Tamron to take a photo of it. The light reflecting off the water many feet behind it gave the photo a dreamy bokeh effect I liked.

6.17.20Beach HouseWe left the rental beach house this morning. I took a photo on the way out. 5531 Palmetto Street.

6.19.20GrasshopperWe went to the Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve this afternoon and didn’t see a single living creature except this grasshopper, a dragonfly, and a cardinal. I mean, I guess it’s at least a colorful grasshopper?

6.19.20Embassy Suites’ Sweet AtriumLast week at this time, we were staying in a Hampton Inn in Adel, GA that smelled like mothballs and had a stained toilet. This week, we’re staying at an Embassy Suites in Atlanta with a sick atrium. They upgraded us to a suite room for no extra charge and it rules. Good way to end our trip since we’ve been sleeping on small beds for the last 7 days.

6.20.20One-Stop-ShopTruly a one-stop-shop here in north Georgia. Everything you could ever want in one exit off I-75. Posting this at 10 AM because it ain’t gettin’ better than this on this godforsaken drive back to Cincinnati.

6.21.20FatigueI’m very tired. I think all the driving wore me out. I was able to have a regular full day today, but as I sat down for the evening, the fatigue swept over me. Forgot to take a single photo today, so I made this intentionally blurred image to reflect how I physically feel.

6.22.20Window PainterI so desperately want to be a street photographer who captures people doing interesting things or in various emotive states, but it’s nearly impossible for me to aim a camera at a stranger, especially when they’re facing me. I captured this guy painting the shop window at 8th and Main earlier. When zoomed in, it’s hard to distinguish the year, and that’s why I gravitated toward the scene when I passed it.

6.23.20Hello, FriendWe rode our bikes over to Bellevue this evening. Our leisurely pace took us all over the non-Fairfield Avenue streets of the neighborhood. While on Center Street, Ashley heard the blowing of a train horn. We quickly legged it down Lafayette, up Grandview, and hoisted our bikes up the public steps on Taylor just in time to catch a glimpse of the engine flying through a break in the woods. For a good 10 minutes, we stood there watching it whip the trees with wind as it rumbled over the tracks, the sunlight scanning us with every boxcar gap that passed. It’s a moment I don’t think I’ll ever forget.

6.24.20An Urban MaskThey’re building a new structure behind this facade on Elm Street, which abuts 1710 Elm Street. According to the GC, they were required to keep this historic facade intact even though the rest of the building was beyond salvaging. He says they’re going to be high-end condos. I figure they’ll become Airbnbs at some point like the rest of them.

6.25.20The Bellevue BarbershopPacked my equipment and rode the bike over to the Bellevue Barbershop for a story this afternoon. The guys in there made it clear the barbershop was a comfortable place for men to gather and relax. It was more than just a place to get a haircut. Being someone who hasn’t stepped foot inside a salon/barbershop in months, it was personally appealing to me. I was the only one in the shop with a mask, so I don’t feel super comfortable getting my haircut just yet, but when I do, I think I’ll pay these guys a visit.

6.26.20Drum AlleyDrum Alley looked good this morning.

6.27.20Lonely & BlueAs I walked through the kitchen, I saw Myrtle’s blue ball sitting beneath a night light, and I couldn’t help but internally chuckle at how on-the-nose the metaphor was. It’s alone, it’s blue, and it’s surrounded by darkness under a single cone of light. Maybe it’s not funny to anyone else, but I got a kick out of it.

6.28.20A Dusty Saharan SunsetSaharan dust blew over to the States this week and it made tonight’s sunset look especially nice.

6.29.20“CASINO”The casino is in the process of changing ownership and the previous sign was removed, so right now the building looks like it belongs as part of the scenery of an open-world video game.

6.30.20Pop-Up Showers ImminentA pop-up sprang out of nowhere this afternoon with lots of lightning and thunder. I set my camera up on interval to try to catch a bolt of lightning, but it didn’t work out. Instead, I got a few frames with activity in them and made this photo. It’s a composite of three frames.