10.1.23Porch DecorPut the Grim Reaper out on the porch this year next to the string lights. Thought the contrasts on its face were neat!

10.2.23East Row WalkI walked almost three miles this evening. From my home to the East Row in Newport and back. It’s always a good idea to keep an eye on that part of Newport as autumn begins because the trees start turning quicker than you’d think, and catching them at their peak is a simple pleasure I look forward to every year.Though the trees have yet to really turn, this odd piece of architecture stood out to me while perusing the neighborhood.

10.3.23Vintage HalloweenChelsea and Vince have this incredible vintage molded-plastic statue in their front yard. She said it once belonged to her grandfather. We have almost no extra storage space for Halloween or any other seasonal decor, but if I found this in the wild for a reasonable price, I wouldn’t think twice about getting it and finding a place for it in the basement for 11 months out of the year. It’s just too fun.

10.4.23Quiet BlockWe’ve been eating at home a lot lately to save money and be healthier. Ashley got this fantastic cookbook written by an influencer she follows on Instagram, and his recipes are wonderful. Nothing we’ve eaten out of this cookbook yet has been anything but delicious.That said, we do crave the opportunity to go out to eat. Tonight, we walked down to the Avenue, found a bench, and waited for Chelsea to join us on our walk to Los Potros—a Mexican joint that opened up over the summer in Dayton. I wasn’t inspired to photograph anything at the restaurant, but I liked looking at this corner as we waited on the bench. It was busier than this photo suggests; I just waited for a split second of emptiness to get my frame.

10.5.23Shop SmallI think I’m in a little bit of a creative funk. I haven’t found a lot to photograph lately that’s not Myrtle. I hope I'll figure this out as I get back to physical photoshoots for work. Whenever this happens, I remember all the other times it’s happened and feel relieved that it will eventually pass.

10.6.23Fall FestRemember two days ago when I posted a photo of the empty street corner? This photo from tonight is one block south of that corner. Scores of people showed up to Bellevue’s Fall Fest for drinks, food, live music, hay rides for kids, and local goods vendors. Even beyond this closed-off portion of Washington Street, the sidewalks were packed with people wandering from shop to shop and bar to bar, many with DORA cups in hand. It was heartening to see so many come out, and I’m not sure I can think of another time when Bellevue was this busy.

10.7.23Halloween HouseI cannot remember the last time I had nothing to do on a Saturday night. Ashley was out, and after texting three friends to see if they wanted to get together without any success, it was time to stay in and catch up on some of my shows.But being someone who cannot sit still and has had an abundance of sitting still time lately, I needed to get out. With fully pressurized bike tires and safety lights glowing brightly on the front and back of my bike, I set out to ride to one of my favorite Halloween locations: The J.C. Baum House.The owners started putting up a killer Halloween display a few years ago, and ever since seeing it for the first time, I’ve made a mental note to return to see it each year. As expected, this year’s display was incredible. From the oversized monsters to the dynamic, colorful lighting, I’ve seen no other house in the area that does Halloween as lavishly and fun as this one. None of it is gory and horrifying. It’s tongue-in-cheek without being goofy.I hope whoever lives here does this for years to come.

10.8.23Autumn Is Finally HereThe weather’s cooled, the leaves are falling, and the smell of bonfires fills the air all around the neighborhood. I hope this season lasts as long as possible before winter.

10.9.236 Years OldShe went to Pets Mart and got two treats, then she got a pup cup and a little bit of chicken at the drive-thru, then we went on a walk and ran around the empty lot up the street. Not a bad birthday celebration for this little pup! Glad I got the top image when I did because the bottom image more accurately illustrates her mood this evening.

10.10.23Skyline ShotGBBN sent me to Louisville this morning for a shoot inside a hospital. We only had two hours to get everything we needed before we had to be out, and today was the last day possible to get in and grab photos before they started using the space full-time. Despite the pressure to get it right in so little time, I think we did well overall.Afterward, I headed toward downtown and stopped at Royals Hot Chicken for a tasty sandwich and mac and cheese in a neighborhood called NuLu. I haven’t looked it up at the time of this writing, but I suspect it’s one of those marketing terms used to rebrand a gentrifying area.Despite the few times I've visited, I didn’t have a skyline shot of Louisville. Before heading home, I drove across the bridge and stopped at Ashland Park on the Jeffersonville side for a photo. Unfortunately, it was noon, so the lighting wasn’t ideal. I don’t think Louisville has an especially impressive skyline compared to nearby cities.

10.11.23Back At ItIt’s been a little bit since I’ve done a proper real estate listing photo shoot. Rebecca needed this beauty in Wallace Woods photographed, so I did my thing and returned later for a night shot. I’ve adopted a new-to-me thing recently where, instead of increasing clarity on my shots, I actually reduce it by -10 to give elements a slightly ethereal glow. This image benefitted from it, I think.

10.12.23Yard’s 5-Year AnniversaryYard & Co. made it five years and built a new headquarters on Pleasant Street recently. This evening was the celebration for both the anniversary and the new digs. The party was well attended despite what this image suggests; I got an early start photographing it then shifted from documentarian to party-goer as more and more people showed up. Half of Bellevue’s local government showed up (Kevin and Joe are Bellevuians) which was nice to see.

10.13.23Friday the 13thWe were supposed to camp this evening, but forecasted rain convinced us otherwise. It was a bit of a relief for me. Ashley’s the only one between the two of us who wants to sleep outside. Knowing I had a bed waiting for me at the end of the evening was a nice feeling.Instead, we went to Chelsea and Vince’s house for a bonfire in 80-degree weather and ate Indian food. We successfully made it back to the house without getting rained on, too.

10.14.23Happy Birthday, AnnieMy friend Annie had a 35th birthday party at her house this evening. It was 1960s-themed, so I wore a suit, broke out the old Raybans, and did my best to fit in. Everyone else was dressed much more period-appropriate than I did, including Ashley.The party was a lot of fun. They had an open bar with a bartender who kept making me tiki drinks and Old Fashioneds all night. Dessert was a delicious cake of some sort. Overall, it was one of the best birthday parties I’ve attended in the last several years. While I usually scoff at costume parties like this (I hate buying stuff I’ll only use once), it ended up being uniquely memorable, and I get why switching things up this way elevates the experience.While I’m not yet ready to reveal it, the fun of this costume party has emboldened me to construct another one for two more parties later this month. It’s going to be much more elaborate than simply putting on a suit…

10.15.23Sunday BrunchWent to brunch with friends this morning. One of them is moving to Germany to be with his partner, and that partner is currently in town one last time before the move. We had brunch at Alcove on Vine Street. I guess I should’ve photographed them this one final time, but I think that would’ve made me feel a sense of loss. I know I’ll see them both again, and I’m genuinely happy they are finally going to be together permanently, but I am quietly sad I will see less of them going forward.

10.16.23Secret ProjectThere are two Halloween parties I’m scheduled to attend at the end of the month. To participate, I’m building a costume out of wood. If I can make it work the way I want it to, I think it’ll look pretty awesome and make people laugh.

10.17.23NeedyAshley’s out of town on a work trip, so this one is extra needy. We throw ball, play tug with her toys, and I give her endless pets, but it’s never enough. Unless I direct her to go lay down, she will just stand and stare at me like this.

10.18.23Ashamed of MyselfHad an errand to run in Oakley and was influenced enough by some guy on Instagram to want to try the Burger King Ghost Pepper Whopper—you know, the one with the orange bun and black sesame seeds for Halloween. But, to my surprise, the east side of Cincinnati within the loop appears to be a Burger King dead zone, so I opted for nearby Swenson’s instead.Long story short, my meal wasn’t great, and after eating a sub-par burger, I didn’t feel remotely sated. That stupid orange bun Whopper was still weighing heavily on my mind. My urge to try it hadn’t been distracted by throwing the Swenson’s stick in the other direction. Knowing Ashley was out of town and no one would notice, I resolved to drive to a Burger King, get a second dinner, and finally scratch the itch.It wasn’t good.

10.19.23Thanks, Dumb LuckSteve and I drove to Nashville to work with his video production company on a piece about a family with an important story about Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. I won’t go into the story's details here, but it’s a good one and I’m excited to see how the video turns out when it’s finished.After filming the family all evening, we decided to go down to the river to get b-roll of Nashville’s downtown with the drone. When we arrived, weather conditions weren’t optimal, so he postponed the flight. Under spitting rain and flashes of lightning, it wasn’t a good idea to risk the drone for a night shot. But since we were already there, I thought I’d get a quick night shot from the pedestrian bridge. It wasn’t clear when I’d be back in Nashville again, and this seemed like a good photo op.I set up rather quickly and programmed a 13-second exposure on manual. Removed my hat and placed it over the camera's body to keep it out of the rain, hit the shutter, and squinted through the tiny drops that began collecting on my glasses. I turned to talk to Steve for a second and thought I saw a flash in the distance out of the corner of my eye. The sudden realization that I might’ve just gotten something special struck me like a jolt of electricity.When the exposure was finished and the screen refreshed with the latest image, I couldn’t believe what I’d accidentally gotten. I wish I could say I’d planned this and figured the storm in the distance would yield the perfect image-maker at that moment, but my ambitions weren’t that high. I’ve only been a photographer for about a decade, and I’ve rarely gotten lightning in any images during that time. It’s hard enough to time it right, but making it fit perfectly into a composition that makes sense is even more complicated.This is one of my favorite images I’ve ever made, and I have dumb luck to thank for it.

10.20.23Kentucky StonehengeSteve and I stayed the night in Nashville, woke up early to do more filming, and began the journey back to Cincinnati around midday. Along the way, we decided to stop in Munfordsville, KY, to see something called “Kentucky Stonehenge.”We briefly looked at the Google listing but didn’t want to ruin the surprise. It seemed more fun to know it existed without knowing any details beyond the address. Since it was along the route home, it made sense to stop and check it out. After all, stopping for roadside attractions in small towns is the hallmark of an American road trip.When we got there, Kentucky Stonehenge revealed itself to be situated in someone’s yard. Feeling a bit awkward and like we were intruding, I questioned our decision to stop but ultimately ignored my reservations about it. Steve parked the van next to the hand-made “parking” sign and what I can only describe as a donations urn.Apparently, this unique place was built at some point by a man who passed away in 2022. According to a news report detailing his passing, the builder said he was initially told by God to build a cross out of rocks, then moved on to building Stonehenge sometime thereafter. The domain for Kentucky Stonehenge is no longer active, unfortunately, so I don’t know the entire history of the place. All I know is WNKY reported that it took him five years to build it, he was very interested in rocks (obviously), and the Facebook page for Kentucky Stonehenge was created in 2013.Anyway, check it out if you’re ever passing by Munsfordville.

10.21.23Leo’s and DominoesSometime after seeing Kentucky Stonehenge, Ronny texted to say he and the guys were going to Uncle Leo’s to play Dominos and drink beer into the wee hours of the morning. Though exhausted from traveling and working over the last two days, I am not accustomed to saying “no” to friends when spontaneous plans arise. Since my folks were watching Myrtle and Ashley was still away, it seemed like a perfect night to go out without any responsibility.Hopped in the car, picked up a Crave Clutch of White Castle sliders, and hit up Leo’s. We played 20 rounds of Dominoes late enough into the night that this image was taken sometime around 1 AM—two hours before I’d eventually go home. Though the image was spiritually October 20th, the time code makes it an October 21st photo. I’m counting it as such.

10.22.23Work PrepGot a late start today. Yesterday, I avoided being social and just worked on some projects around the house while I had it entirely to myself. My costume is coming along, finished some leftover photo work, and repaired something for my sister. After Friday’s nearly 23-hour day, I was ready for some downtime.Today was much the same. I have to go to Indy tomorrow to do headshots for an entire office of architects, so I devised a plan: use my laptop and tether the camera straight to it so I can show everyone their headshot before they leave. Ideally, this will ensure everyone comes away from the experience feeling like they contributed and had some creative influence on the process. The tether method allows me to show them a live feed of what the camera sees and how their headshot will turn out after taking it. Hopefully, that means they will be satisfied with how they look overall.Loaded up the cart with all my gear, and ready to get this done tomorrow. Fingers crossed, this process goes smoothly.

10.23.23Successful ProcessShowing everyone their headshot as they were taken proved to be a success. One person complimented the setup and was vocal about how much she liked seeing the headshots live. That went a long way to getting people loosened up and comfortable enough to be themselves and not worry about what they’ll look like later.Many asked to do several versions before getting the one they wanted, tweaking their poses bit by bit until they found a frame they liked. Only three people didn’t seem overly enthused about the results, but I chalk that up to them not enjoying getting their photo taken more than anything else.The best part? When I got home, all the images were loaded and ready to make final adjustments. All rejected frames were removed, and only the flagged images were saved. The process cut down on time, ensured people were as satisfied as possible with their headshots, and allowed delivery of these final images to the client later that evening.

10.24.23Wally LunchMet up with Wally for lunch and he took me by his studio at Curiosity on Main Street. We chatted about tech and process, eventually ending up on the differences between DaVinci Resolve and Adobe Premiere Pro.Their office is moving next year and Wally’s pumped about how the new studio space will be set up, so he made this foam diorama to scale as a way to visualize where everything will go. “Better than drawing it out,” he said.

10.25.23Costumes“Can I take your picture?”“Sure!”(Snap)

10.26.23EgyptIt was the final Tiki Night of the year (and apparently for the foreseeable future) at Japp’s this evening. Travis, Rob, and I met up for some tropical cocktails and, through the deployment of mutual friends texting him, coaxed Ronny out to meet us. He brought his very sweet and happy little dog, Egypt.

10.27.23Bob’s Not a Dog GuyWe went to a Cincinnati-themed costume party at Caitlyn and Brendan’s house in CUF this evening. Everyone had creative costumes that alluded to several Cincinnati things, from brands to murals and more. My costume was a cumbersome Carew Tower outfit that involved a 2D version of the building with a hole my face could poke through and shoulder straps on the opposite side that I wore as a reverse backpack.Bob and Erin-Marie joined the party at some point in the night, and Caitlyn’s pup (dressed as a cheese coney) stood patiently by Bob’s feet as he snacked. Bob is unabashedly not-a-dog-person, making the moment even funnier to me. I wish I’d gotten a clearer photo of it.

10.28.23Halloween ShenanigansWhat an evening! Mike and Maria hosted a killer party at their place, complete with spooky decor and loads of food and drink. Everyone showed up in costume and had a blast, including us. I made use of my Carew Tower for the second night in a row, which probably covers the cost of making it at this point. As the night descended into increasingly un-sober silliness, we made the collective decision to head out to Longfellow to finish out the evening.Mike dressed as Leatherface. Before the evening was through, Maria managed to snag his mask and try it on for size. I would be willing to bet money she doesn’t remember taking this grainy photo.

10.29.23Sky Roof SightsJust a moment during my day when I looked up and saw something out of the ordinary.

10.30.23Truly UnnervingPhotographed a doctor training session this morning. They were using these dummies as a way to get the hang of doing CPR and fitting breathing apparatuses. I find them unnaturally creepy.

10.31.23Only Treats, No TricksIt was something like 40ºF outside, but dammit, I passed out candy to any kid brave enough to wander through the unseasonable cold. Ashley and Myrtle shivered on the porch above while I stood at the base of the stoop with the bowl of treats so no one had to climb up to us (and risk tripping in a costume). We only had about 30 people show up this year due to the weather. That means I need to eat half a bowl of Snickers, Almond Joy, and Twix for the next month. My life’s so hard.Thus ends another Halloween. I’m sad to see it go this year—more so than usual. This month’s busy schedule makes me feel like I didn’t soak it in like I have in the past. There’s always next year.