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3.1.23
3.1.23A HaikuThe weather’s divineStretched legs, sniffing everythingSunset with a view
3.2.23
3.2.23A ThomassonBellevue has a boatload of “Thomassons”—leftover bits of architecture that once served a purpose but have been made obsolete by redesign or demolition of the structure they originally serviced. These types of clues about the built history of a place are really fascinating. Clearly these steps once led up to a house that’s no longer there and now they angle up to the broad side of a fence without a gate. They serve no purpose, but they remain like a scar on the landscape, reminding passersby of what was once there. The coolest thing about these artifacts from a different time is they aren’t intentionally created in the form they eventually assume. An authentic Thomasson is only the byproduct of change, progress, tragedy, and/or mistakes. That misdirected intentionality is weird and uncommon and, as I said, really fascinating to me. While not beloved and protected like many historic buildings, I believe these obsolete relics from the past add a gargantuan amount of flavor to a place since they cannot be authentically replicated.
3.3.23
3.3.23The Start of a Bad DayI’m writing this entry on Sunday the 5th because Friday into Saturday wasn’t ideal. At 4 PM on Friday, we delivered tables to Fifty West despite inclement weather and had to unload everything in the pouring rain and assemble it all under a tent that wanted to blow away with every strong gust of wind. While I internally disagreed with the timeline of delivery, I wasn’t in charge and quietly did what I needed to in order to get the job done. Assembly of the tables took longer than I expected, and I was released about 6 PM—well past the time I was supposed to be at the pub with my buds for Bockfest. On the way home, Ashley informed me that we lost power due to the storm and we were one of 13 people in all of Bellevue without it. Feeling no sense of solidarity and realizing I would have to stay home in the dark so as to not abandon my dog alone in a pitch black house during high winds, I shriveled into frustration. Though Bockfest was cancelled for the evening, I felt an incredible sense of FOMO as my friends still (rightly) enjoyed going out. My clothes were soaked, my spirit was dashed, and the uncertainty of when electric would return forced an early bedtime. There was no point in prolonging this bad day further and I looked forward to hopefully getting power back by morning. (I didn’t get it until late Saturday.)
3.4.23
3.4.23BockfestI’ll quickly skim over the bad bits and get to the good stuff. Woke up, no power, no shower, no productivity like I’d planned, and ended up going to Bockfest to try to enjoy the festival despite the previous night’s foiled plans. Met up with Travis and Allie with bock beer in hand, ate a big pretzel, and absorbed more friends into the outdoor party as they trickled into Findlay Playground over the afternoon. The day shift folks went home around 5 PM while the rest of us hit up Kanji for dinner (pictured). I didn’t mean for this photo to be a long exposure when I set it up, but I like the accidental effect regardless. It reminds me of how a memory sometimes appears as it’s rendering the finer details in my head. Chris is flipping me off as Rob takes a drink of his beer. Travis stands up off his stool, other Rob turns to face the camera, and Ronny continues telling a story, oblivious to the prolonged shutter snap. Spending quality time with these dudes honestly made up for the previous days’ misfortunes and I felt a lot better. We stayed out late into the next morning and I walked home to avoid paying $30 for ride share.
3.5.23
3.5.236th Street at the DECC“Old Cincinnati” to me isn’t Over-the-Rhine’s well-preserved architecture. It’s not 4th Street’s enduring role as a channel of M-F business, nor is it the riverfront’s refusal to move on from riverboat iconography. “Old Cincinnati” to me is more that 1960s-1990s aesthetic that can still be found all over Downtown. It’s what I remember most from being down here as a child. The convention center is a good example of that outdated and untrendy visual style. The surrounding area still has bits and pieces of that era stand, too, from the cerulean blue Skywalk system maps that are hilariously incorrect as of 2023 to faded indoor and outdoor artwork, like Shapes Park. While it’s an eyesore to most, I personally find it endearing. Yes, nostalgia is a toxic impulse and I know my love of these outdated things is fueled almost entirely by it, but I cannot deny my feelings. When I see that style in other cities, I don’t have the same love for it. It’s recognizable, but it’s devoid of the emotion I feel for it when it’s in Cincinnati.
3.6.23
3.6.23Marco’s MarketI’ve purchased unwanted but enjoyable beef jerky just to meet the $5 amount for a Diet Coke in this place. It’s as you’d expect it to be inside.
3.7.23
3.7.23No One’s AroundI saw a guy I know at Bockfest on Saturday. During our conversation, he described himself as an “extroverted introvert.” What he means is he’s able to be social and have a good time with others, but his natural inclination is to hang by himself. That resonated with me as I knew this was also true for my own personality. Anyway, while I feel like my shoot at The Rye for Rookwood Properties went well, I only spoke to one person face to face all day. Very few people live in the building at this point, so I didn’t run into a soul while inside. Ashley’s in California for work, I only spoke to three people over text, and even on my walk with Myrtle this evening the streets were light with pedestrians. This image, which was taken at noon on 7th Street, is even devoid of life. It just seemed like I was floating through the world totally alone for hours. I’d been fighting a weird anxiety all day brought on by mistakes I’d made within the first hour of being awake, but as I sat with my thoughts about everything later on, it struck me that the anxiety was more likely caused by loneliness. I didn’t recognize it initially because I rarely feel that emotion. Maybe I’m less an extroverted introvert and more an extroverted part-time introvert after all.
3.8.23
3.8.23The Relentless Sickness of 2023Not sure what’s happening, but I feel like I’ve been sick more this year than the last several combined and it’s only March. I missed work today as a result of severe body aches, fatigue, and fever with coughing and nose-blowing as attending symptoms. Yesterday I had a sneaking suspicion something was coming, so I went to the store and got fruit, meds, and Gatorade to ward off the coming illness. I feel like a third Ohio train derailed and launched over the river onto my face. The photo is of an apple I weakly consumed after splitting it with a handy slicing tool.
3.9.23
3.9.23Inner LightSince Ashley’s gone and I’ve only left the bed to re-medicate and re-hydrate, Myrtle is itching to do anything but rest. I feel horrible for her because I know she’s antsy, but I literally cannot move around for very long before getting exhausted and feeling worse. So as I sit and watch Captain Picard experience a lifetime on Kataan over the course of 25 minutes in order to preserve a lost people’s history and culture, she stares at me with her ball in her mouth, silently begging for a toss. I gave in at some point, but in my weakened state, it led to a strained muscle before having to go back to resting.
3.10.23
3.10.23On the MendI don’t have a test to use to confirm, but I think this was COVID. The body aches lasted three days—something I’ve never had happen before. This would explain the symptoms, too. If this was COVID, this would be the first time I’ve experienced it all pandemic. It’s very on-brand for me to be late to the party on most things, so getting it way after it’s popular isn’t shocking. Drawing back the blinds to see outside, I was thankful a beautiful spring day wasn’t taunting me as I laid recovering. Thankfully, by midday I’d gotten a large amount of my strength back and the body aches disappeared. Think I’m on the mend.
3.11.23
3.11.23The OutsideI’m 80% back to normal today and managed to get outside for a bit. I did a little bit of yard work, cleaned the kitchen, and worked on some small stuff in the basement before becoming winded and having to sit down. I took it easy the rest of the day. This will be the last time I talk about this specific stupid sickness on here. I’m tired of it demanding my attention.
3.12.23
3.12.23Season FinaleToday was a lazy day of couch-sitting and TV-watching as I build strength to return to the shop tomorrow. Because the weather was cold and dreary, the choice to do nothing was made easier. I watched the Last of Us season finale and was surprisingly lukewarm on it. I don’t really know what I was expecting; I’m familiar with the source material, and it stayed true to that, but with a runtime of not even 45 minutes, it didn’t quite scratch the itch like I thought it would. Quantity doesn’t mean quality, but I can’t help but think maybe a little extra meat on the episode’s bones would’ve helped guide it into A+ territory. I hopped on Reddit soon after watching it to see what everyone else thought, and only a few have mentioned being disappointed by the short episode.
3.13.23
3.13.23Tiny Wormhole ProtectorA couple years ago, I got this Deep Space Nine ornament for my Christmas tree. I liked it so much, I kept it in my office after the tree went back in its box. It’s detailed enough that I thought it could pass for the “real thing” at first glance if placed under the right lighting conditions. I set up a tripod and off-camera flash and proceeded to toss it into the air 128 times before I finally got a frame I liked. Now if I could just figure out a good way to put a wormhole, some color definition, and maybe a sliver of Bajor peeking into frame without digitally editing them in, maybe I can go back in time and work with the model makers and directors of photography to work on an actual episode.
3.14.23
3.14.23Return to Spooky NookBusiness took me out to Hamilton where I photographed a hotel, a sporting complex, and a mixed use space for Spooky Nook today. I worked with them mid-last year to create images for their hotel, but additional photos of two other spaces needed to be handled for that side of the project. The sporting complex, in addition to a massive food court, fitness center, arcade, and additional undeveloped space featured two enormous gymnasiums—one that was 90,000 square feet and another that was a whopping 100,000 square feet. The bigger of the two had 14 basketball courts lined back to back with a second story observation deck. The gym was so large, we had to keep triggering the automated lights by running to the other side of the floor because they were on short timers to keep as energy efficient as possible. Their website claims it’s the largest sports complex in the nation and second-largest convention center in Ohio, and after seeing it in person, I believe it. As the buildings were once home to the Champion Paper Mill, it’s still a very industrial space despite the renovations that’ve taken place over the last five years. If you ever find yourself in Hamilton, you’d do well to check this place out. As far as adaptive reuse goes, this one’s pretty wild.
3.15.23
3.15.23Roberto LugoThe Cincinnati Art Museum’s artist in residence at the moment is Roberto Lugo, a well-known and respected potter, social activist, and educator from Philadelphia. An event in his honor was held this evening in the Great Hall and adjacent gallery. While photographing the event for the museum, I was lucky enough to grab a quick portrait of Roberto while he wears a CAM hoodie in his workshop during his time in Cincinnati.
3.16.23
3.16.23Francis LaneI worry quite often about what I’m doing with my photography on a week to week basis. I don’t get to walk around for hours as a hobby photographer because I have so much on my plate each day. Taking care of work, catching up on house projects, running errands, taking care of the dog, exercising, being social, and so many other things cut into that time I used to have. It worries me that I’m not feeding my soul with photography as often as I used to. But a large part of that worry is greatly minimized when I’m able photograph someone else’s project, give them the images, and they confirm they’re pleased with what I’ve done. A simple “we’re happy with these” is all it takes to remind myself that even though my career’s changed over the years and I don’t have the life I used to, I’m still able to do something genuinely useful for somebody else. In this case, I feel good about delicately capturing the work and effort two people put into transforming an old house with outdated finishes into something new.
3.17.23
3.17.23St. Patrick’s DaySt. Patrick’s Day is the Santacon of late winter and going out to popular bars on the holiday isn’t something I overly enjoy. Despite that, in an effort to be social and accommodating, I drank Irish beer and went to the B-List with coworkers during the day. I enjoyed their company but didn’t especially dig being in the bar with the standard St. Patrick’s Day crowd. I could feel myself slowly shutting down during the course of the day, so I briefly sought refuge in the bathroom to have a minute to myself so I could plan a graceful way to leave—ironically, the opposite of an Irish goodbye. This photo is from when I stood studying the graffiti by the toilet.
3.18.23
3.18.23A Model PupContinued my photo work at The Rye this morning. I needed to get a photo of the dog wash station, but I thought it would be better to have someone model it for the image. Found the perfect little furry face for the job.
3.19.23
3.19.23MeatballMeatball is the Unataza Coffee mascot as far as I’m concerned. He’s almost always there on the weekend when we go in for our weekly coffee and breakfast. It’s to the point now where when I walk in, he sees me and stands up because he knows I’m going to come right over to pet him. He’s a sweet little guy with a handsome wardrobe and I love him.
3.20.23
3.20.23SunshineIt’s always so wonderful when I come down the stairs in the morning and the room is filled with sunshine. The bay window in our dining room lets in loads of morning light and it’s one of the best things about our house.
3.21.23
3.21.23Enjoy This NeonI didn’t have a burger, but I did have a delicious carne asada rice bowl. Met up with the guys for a little vacation planning in May at Bebo’s on Court Street. We’re going to San Francisco before making our way down to LA. It should be a very fun trip and I’m excited to see new places.
3.22.23
3.22.23Trestle Bridge BuddyOn today’s dog walk, we stumbled upon a herd of deer on the public steps. They scattered in two directions when they saw us: one group went back into the thick of the woods while the others leapt onto the train tracks to avoid us. The train track group wandered toward the trestle bridge to put further distance between us, so we quickly made our way down the stairs to avoid making them more anxious. After we’d descended the stairs, the deer confirmed we were no longer a threat and backtracked to the steps. The “caboose” of the procession of deer made her way over to the edge of the trestle bridge before joining the rest and gave us a hard stare from above. I figured at least one of them would eyeball us from the high ground and made sure I was in place when they wandered into frame.
3.23.23
3.23.23The Rye Ribbon CuttingA photo of my friend, Annie, shaking hands with the mayor of Cincinnati, Aftab Pureval, as Rookwood Properties president Fred Kanter stands in the background. The official dedication of downtown’s newest apartment building, The Rye, was held today and a ceremonial ribbon cutting took place in the lounge on the first floor. Food and rye whiskey were served one floor above in apartment 205—one of the largest units with a great view of the corner of 7th and Main Streets. Quite a few people came out to celebrate the building’s transformation and take a tour of several floors and units. In other news, I managed to accidentally utilize a wide variety of different travel methods in a single day: I drove my car, took a bus, used ride share, rode my bike, and walked a bunch to get everywhere I needed to go.
3.24.23
3.24.23Ash TableThis ash table will be sent to a home in Wisconsin. One of the few round tables we’ve done while I’ve worked in this shop. I was going to post one of the detail shots I like better than this overall view, but I think the overall view is critical to appreciating the details in the long run. Without context, the details don’t have the same punch. We reinforced this particular piece with three c-channel steel beams countersunk into the bottom of the piece, which will prevent it from cupping/warping. I actually learned about that exact issue the hard way when I made that mobile counter top late last year out of ash; it warped almost instantly and I had to harvest some thin steel from my old desk legs to provide support.
3.25.23
3.25.23Sunset PerchShe likes to sit on our bed and look out the window at the people walking by. This evening, while I went up and down the stairs working on an office project, she sat and stared out the window at the street below. She folds her paws, cuddles up between pillows, and simply exists in a comfortable, safe space.
3.26.23
3.26.23Built-InsFor the longest time, I’ve wanted to turn this weird little unusable nook in my office into built-in shelving. Yesterday, I finally did it. Measuring and cutting pieces was surprisingly difficult because the wall, in typical old house fashion, isn’t at all straight any way you measure it. Cutting the custom pieces (no right angles) for each level took hours of fine tuning until they managed to fit snugly in place. I cut a 1-inch hole at the back of each shelf so electronic cables could be run through the levels without showing in the front. Painted them the same color as the walls so they blended in. I’m happy with how they turned out and glad to have this project behind me. Also, I like having the TV within view for those heavy editing and exporting days.
3.27.23
3.27.23The High GroundIt’s not unusual to see a cat on a walk where I live. Strays will lay on the sidewalk and only move if you have a curious dog with you. Outdoor cats who belong to someone in the neighborhood strut around with their collars on and act like you’re in their way (they aren’t wrong). No matter what’s wrapped around their neck or whether the tips of their ears are still intact, cats are everywhere all the time stalking the streets of Bellevue. This evening, as I walked Myrtle down Taylor toward the park, I heard meowing. Looking around, I didn’t immediately see where the sound was coming from. Every porch was empty, but the meowing continued, growing louder with every step. I craned my neck to see up into tall bushes, then arched down to see if there was a cat in the landscaping. As the meowing grew louder, I became more deliberate in my search and equally unnerved that the phantom meowing seemingly belonged to no one. Then, as the meowing crescendoed, I stopped in my tracks and jokingly looked upward in desperation despite the absurdity of the situation. To my surprise and amusement, peering back at me over the gutter above was a black, fluffy cat jabbering away.
3.29.23
3.29.23The 2nd Best Photographer in Cincinnati, Says CityBeatTravis, my barber, submitted me for CityBeat’s Best of Cincinnati annual voting event this year. I didn’t know he was doing it, and when he asked me if I was going to vote for myself in the Best Photographer category, I didn’t know what he meant. He explained and I thanked him for being kind enough to do that despite my personal belief that I don’t belong in the top three in that category considering the monumental talent around this city. When I saw Catie was in the running, I made the decision to vote for her because she’s wonderful at what she does. Of course, I threw myself a vote every few days just to prevent myself from receiving an embarrassing single digit total by the end. After voting closed and over a month passed, I’d honestly forgotten all about it until, while working in the shop today, John yelled from his office, “Cincy Phil, number two photographer in Best of Cincinnati.” I thought he was joking, so I asked him to show me. When he did, I couldn’t believe my luck. There are so many photographers I’d put well ahead in that category (namely all of my friends), but I’m going to just be thankful and enjoy this moment of recognition, however misguided it may be. It feels great to be surprised like this.
3.30.23
3.30.23Impromptu H&HJames from Hierophany & Hedge reached out to me yesterday about doing a few quick photos of the shop for an online travel guide listing. After doing headshots at Luminaut and before heading to Welcome House for Hub+Weber, I squeezed in the trip to H&H for a quick little showcase of the space and its visually complex wares. I cannot begin to describe how fun it is to photograph a place like this. The whole day could be allocated to making images in this space and I’d still not be able to get everything I’d want. He said they’ll want a longer, more formal shoot down the line, so I’m looking forward to returning at some point. He and Jordan are such passionate, interesting, visionary people. It’s always a pleasure getting to talk to them and work on their projects.
3.31.23
3.31.23End of an EraI didn’t plan to go out this Friday, but Justin mentioned it was his last day co-owning The Drinkery, so I couldn’t help but brave the stormy weather and go spend some time with him and the others in the space one final time. After the bar became increasingly crowded after midnight, we ended up wandering around before ending at Youyu in the Hard Rock Casino. The food was surprisingly good—I’d never eaten there before.
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