6.1.24A Wet Oxford Beer & Wine FestivalTravis’ band, The Last Scouts, played a show on a much larger stage than their first gig at MOTR. This one was in Oxford, OH at the Craft Beer & Wine Festival. They sounded great, as usual. It rained on and off the whole time we were there, so I didn’t grab many photos, sadly.

6.2.24Combining Two Hobbies Into OneTiffany and Steven randomly sent me this Lego camera set. It was such a pleasant surprise. I cleared my evening to build it and had an enjoyable hour of relaxation snapping together bricks and listening to a podcast about ghosts. Finally got around to photographing it on the white backdrop.

6.3.24Airbnb DecorJust some decor from an Airbnb I photographed today.

6.4.24RiverwalkThe work I had lined up for today fell through. Seems to be happening more and more lately. Hopefully my luck will turn around sooner than later.

6.5.24A Slow Dismantling of Something HugeA few months back, I treated myself to the enormous 40-inch-long Lego Saturn V rocket. It was the first set I’d bought in probably 20 years. Putting it together was a joy; even though I could’ve totally knocked the whole thing out in one night, I spaced the experience out over a few days. I took photos of it in stages today.The way the Saturn V rocket broke apart in stages to reach the moon was wild. The set does a good job highlighting each of these stages in the build, and that thoughtfulness was one of the reasons I was drawn to it. The disposable sections worked so hard for such a brief time, designed to be cast aside after use. They just kept getting smaller and smaller, providing stepping stones into space until humanity achieved what was thought to be impossible for ages.Long story short, I feel like the Saturn V rocket breaking apart at the moment. It’s been another truly frustrating day of cancellations. From canceled doctor visits to losing that portrait job to someone else that I was banking on later this month, I am feeling increasingly small while careening into unfamiliar territory. I just hope that there will be something big that will make this rough trip worthwhile.

6.6.24OopsThis project has been dour lately due to myriad career-based issues. It will turn around eventually, but I’m still in the thick of it for now. If there are any regular readers out there, hang tight while I navigate everything.After a successful photoshoot for Model Group this morning, I went home and mentally prepped to photograph an event at a local museum this evening. When I got there, I set up, talked to staff, and started doing my thing. Then, someone came up and asked if I was certain I was supposed to photograph the event. Questioning myself, I quickly checked my email and realized I had the date wrong. Tonight wasn’t my night. They invited me to stay and enjoy the exhibit, but I was too embarrassed.I went home. When I got through the garage door, Myrtle greeted me, and I sat down on the floor to give her a few good pets. Then, I lay down and observed the ceiling for a while.

6.7.24Full DayA lot happened today. I started working as an assistant to a local photographer I admire. Her studio is in Mohawk. I ran a few errands for her, including going to Kenwood to pick up a brand-new M3 MacBook Pro for her. Watching someone with a different process do their thing in a controlled space is fascinating. I learned a lot about how she lights her subjects, and I’m interested in learning more as I continue working with her whenever she needs me.Unfortunately, I blasted my head on a door about an hour into the job. The knot on my forehead stings to the touch, but the skin didn’t break. The slight headache doesn’t seem to be serious enough to seek medical attention, though.Anyway, when I got home, I took Myrtle on a walk. As we made our way up the street, I noticed the open lot where she likes to run was dug up, and the large magnolia tree that stood on the corner was gone. I guess they’re beginning construction up there. I think we’re both disappointed that she can’t enjoy the lot anymore.

6.8.24R&RAfter briefly getting a few things done around the house, fatigue overtook me, and the head injury I received yesterday seems a bit worse than I thought. I have a minor sensitivity to blinking light, and I cannot explain why I’m so sapped for energy. Of course the knot hurts, but that’s to be expected.The plan to celebrate a friend’s birthday tonight wasn’t in the cards for me. I texted her and apologized for canceling, and explained my situation. She was understanding, of course. The rest of the evening was spent laying on the couch, watching TV and resting.

6.9.24Went On a WalkMy head is on the mend. Ashley thinks it’s a mild concussion, but I don’t. Anyway, I think I’ll be back in working order by tomorrow.

6.10.24TextureI’m still feeling slightly exhausted due to the head thing, but I was well enough to photograph two spaces today. One was an elegant, beautifully decorated condo full of natural sunlight in Covington. The other was a dark, empty, dilapidated former law office (pictured). I liked the texture and color of the second floor. The owner said her father, who passed away in April, once ran his firm in this building. After he retired, he would infrequently come to the building to do desk work, but it was otherwise empty and unmaintained for about 20 years.As I considered my age and how quickly time passes, I realized this space was likely in good condition the year I graduated high school in 2004. In what still feels like a short amount of time, it took a dive.

6.11.24Dumb ProjectI’m building something very dumb for Kevin. It’s a board that holds a single beer on top and suspends three beers beneath it using lid snaps screwed into the bottom. He saw someone make it on Instagram and asked if I’d make him one using materials found in his garage.

6.12.24New BabyMy nephew was born on Monday. They took him home last night, so we visited him for the first time tonight. I snapped a few photos, marveled at the tininess of a 3-day-old baby, and played with Kiran and Esmeray.Kiran took a moment to feed and gently bounce her baby brother when he fussed. It was very sweet.

6.13.24Green FriendThis is the Zf I’ve been shooting with lately. It is all black by default, but I chose to go with the moss green variant to give it a little personality and separate it aesthetically from my other bodies. Plus, I really just love green equipment (my iMac is also green). I really loved the contrast of the silver and black of the Zfc, so I wanted something similar for this camera.Overall, I’m super happy with how this thing handles. It has all the character I loved about the Zfc with the functionality of a full-fledged Z-series camera. It’s not a substitute for the Z9, but I feel like it’s the perfect companion. I’ve used it multiple times as a second body when shooting events, and it’s served me better than I could’ve imagined.

6.14.24Central ParkwayA scene from Central Parkway.

6.15.24Can't Pass Up Good LightWe’ve been keeping the blinds closed in the evenings lately so our bedroom isn’t sweltering by the end of the day. While walking past the doorway this evening, I caught a glimpse of the room lit with filtered golden hour light.

6.16.24Deer Have ReturnedIt’s been awhile since the deer have been seen hanging out across the street in the vacant lot. Tonight, though, this doe made a comfortable little spot for herself near the tree line and sat quietly in the shade. I haven’t used my Tamron 150-600mm in a long time, but I slapped it on the Zf and snapped a few frames. After using S-series Nikon glass, and after fiddling with this Tamron lens for years, I just have to face facts that it’s just never going to be as sharp as I want. That’s okay, though. It’s a hobby lens.

6.17.24QueensgateA shot looking east on Gest Street toward downtown from Queensgate. This pocket of fast food and USPS mail vans surrounded by barbed wire fencing with faded skyscrapers in the background caught my eye. You can see the smog and heat advisory in this photo if you look long enough.

6.18.24Beauty in SimplicityI thought this sewer grate surrounded by lush vegetation was strikingly beautiful. Something about the muted, warm metal colors contrasting against the soft, verdant leaves that envelope it. Maybe this isn’t relatable, but I stood and looked at it for longer than normal.

6.19.241000 & 1 ColorsArtWorks are moving to a new building on Gilbert Avenue in Walnut Hills. They’ve been renovating it for some time now, and they wanted a quick in-process shot of the exterior (and some interiors). I stood in the median and got a decent shot straight on without any cars.

6.20.24Hand ModelsDean Zaidan, owner and founder of Dean's Mediterranean, and Nicole Holloway, Findlay Market Center Associate, each have a literal hand in the creation of this mural by Greta McLain at 1810 Logan Street in Cincinnati. The artist used their hands as models for this beautiful new four-story piece a block from the market. Photographed today for ArtWorks.

6.21.24Salvation ArmyWhile on an errand run to Kroger, I stopped and admired the view from the parking garage. Also, I kind of love the Salvation Army building’s exterior. It doesn’t look like anything else in the neighborhood near it. Hope it sticks around.

6.22.24River of TearsAshley and I went to Roebling Books this morning for coffee and a breakfast sandwich. As we sat down, Rock Neelly (pictured) approached us and introduced himself as a local author whose novel was for sale. He outlined a thriller set in Cincinnati that sounded interesting, and since I’m currently between books, I thought it made sense to pick it up.Then I briefly explained my daily photo thing and asked if he’d be my subject for today.

6.23.24Remembering My FriendsThis photo has nothing to do with what I want to talk about. I just didn’t know what else to photograph to mark a 20-year anniversary of a tragedy.On June 23rd, 2004, four of my friends were in a car accident in New York. Two of them, Tyler and Craig, succumbed to their injuries and passed away. Ryan survived, but was badly hurt and spent a long time in recovery. Mark walked away from the crash because he was the only one who had a seatbelt on at the time.We’d just graduated high school. To kick off summer vacation, they all went on a trip together. They asked me to go with them, but I didn’t due to working a summer job. It was the first time I’d ever lost anyone I was truly close to, and it was nearly impossible to process that loss in a mature, adult way. Being 18 and largely a dumb teenager, I did my best to understand and manage my grief, but it was confusing and horrible in a way I can’t really describe. Some of the extended friend group stuck together for a while because I imagine none of us wanted to be alone with how we felt. But after the initial shock became a “normal” part of our reality, I started feeling guilt and shame for not being better and more present during that time. That shame never left and it still ties my stomach into knots as I write this.The details of the days afterward are a collage of awful snapshots. Visiting their families and seeing them weep, participating in their funerals, asking Mark about the specifics of what happened at his house when he finally made it back, visiting Ryan after he was moved out of the ICU, looking up at the stars and trying to find meaning in any of it.After the first few years, I stopped talking about it on social media because it felt attention-seeking and shameful, exacerbating my perpetual feeling of guilt. I didn’t want to make it personal in a large public forum. Sometimes I worry my lack of public acknowledgment will be perceived as forgetting about them, but I have to remind myself that everyone processes loss in their own way. Some want to shine a spotlight on it for others to see, and others prefer to quietly observe. This is a quiet space for me and the only place I feel some measure of comfort speaking about it.Thinking of everyone today. I miss Tyler and Craig. None of us will ever know who they would’ve grown up to be. I am supremely ashamed of myself for not keeping up relationships with Ryan, Mark, or Tyler and Craig’s families. I think about all of them often despite being an awful individual.

6.24.24The HighwayA view of I-471 from Highland Avenue bridge, looking toward downtown.

6.25.24Dining Room TablesPopped into Single Batch to photograph some new tables they created. I like the darker one in the foreground the best. It has a really nice round bevel on the underside that separates it from the 90º angle the other one has. I also really like the contrasting stripe of the wood on the leg.

6.26.24A Moment Too BeautifulCouldn’t believe how beautiful this moment was upon leaving the Art Museum this evening. I had to stop and park for it. I made a larger panoramic photo of it, but this 16x9 slice showcases the main highlights of the full image.

6.27.24NaivetyMyrtle in her element. She ran around this field and had a blast before laying down to catch her breath. I’m very sad and stressed at the moment about the state of my country, but seeing her enjoy her off-leash freedom without a care in the world was the moment of reprieve I desperately needed.

6.28.24Coffee With JustinJustin and I met up this morning for coffee at Collective Espresso in Newport. I wanted to check out the custom soft shutter release buttons that he put on his cameras because I’m thinking of outfitting my Zf with one but needed to see how they felt in person. I think they add comfort to the snap, but I’m not sure I have the money at the moment to drop on a frivolous purchase.

6.29.24The Importance of CommunityReading the news and posts from people online has driven me into a very fearful place. I’m not sure I fully grasp the severity of our situation in this country at the moment, but I’m growing sicker over it.I had to photograph another event at the Art Museum tonight. 30 minutes before going in, I had a panic attack because of this boiling fear. It was difficult pulling myself together enough to continue with work, but I managed. As soon as I went in and started seeing people having fun and smiling, the anxiety I felt subsided. It's astonishing how good for the psyche it is to just be in the same space as a bunch of other happy people.

6.30.24RiversideThe weather was too exquisite to not enjoy a bike ride this evening. I am still quietly grappling with the dredged up grief of the 20th anniversary of my friends passing away (see last Sunday’s post), as well as fighting back the terror I feel as a result of the developing current political situation in our country. This bike ride was an attempt to exercise and get my mind off all of it. I paused here because I thought the image of these two sitting together by the river without a soul in sight was a moment of authentic zen.