Featured Reviews
Something Special
What kind of photographer brings a keyboard around with him? This one, that’s who. I’ve always been a firm believer that you should always bring along one thing that you absolutely don’t need when you go on an adventure. Everyone you go with will always have the same necessary things, but you are unique, because you have something that nobody has. It’s important to be yourself no matter what you are doing, and bringing along something unnecessary is a great way to take some pressure off of yourself and potentially set yourself up for future success! Perhaps you need an excuse to pack something that you are unsure about needing, if you realize you need more space the second before you leave you can always take out the thing you don’t need, and most importantly, it’s nice to have a decision all to yourself with no risks involved whatsoever, especially when you are caught up in something as stressful as packing. I mean, the entire point is to bring something you don’t need, so you really can’t mess it up. It’s these little things that have made my life so much more enjoyable, both for myself and when I get to spend time with others. So from my backpack to yours, I hope you find something cool to bring on your next adventure.
When It Rains…
“Bold ideas, unjustified anticipations, and speculative thought, are our only means for interpreting nature: our only organon, our only instrument, for grasping her.”
When It Rains...
I chased a storm last night, and boy did it run. My trusty RAV4 and I tore through the empty streets of downtown Lafayette just before the sun hit the horizon. Occasionally peeling my eyes from the road to glance up through the sunroof, tracking the clouds as they rushed overhead. The shadows of the city around me began to show the tell-tale blue tint of a storm, and as the air started to cool I knew my window was closing. I flew up parking garages, sprinting down hallways and up stairwells while changing lenses and exposure settings all the while; trying desperately not to slip in the puddles of rainwater I left in my wake. Bursting out onto the roof, my eyes darted left and right, hunting for contrast in the softly beveled canopy above. Time was just an idea in the back of my mind as I watched the wind repaint the clouds against the vast tapestry before me. Fighting tirelessly to keep my eye focused through the viewfinder as the rain began pelting in around the rubber seal from impossible angles. “Just one more minute” I kept telling myself as my raincoat began to keep more water in than out. Suddenly I couldn’t see the roof next to me, or anything for that matter. Everything was white, then black with little dots of haze as my mind struggled to piece together what had happened. The rooftop next to me had just been hit by lightning, and it was at that moment I realized that this storm couldn’t care less if I lived or died trying to capture it. Reluctantly, I gathered my gear from the radius in which it had been scattered. In my haste, I had more or less ransacked lenses from my bag one after another, gently discarding them to the driest puddle I could find whenever a new angle presented itself. I wouldn’t allow for a moment to be wasted, as the storm was relentlessly beautiful. However, all good things must come to an end, and my time hunting for the perfect image was through. I remember following the water trails back to my car, listening intently to my wet sneakers penetrate the otherwise silent hallway as they slapped along the linoleum corridor, chuckling to myself, “there’s nothing like a squeaky shoe to remind you how long a walk you still have left in front of you”.
Big Trails, Little Tails
The Little Adventurer
What a treat to run into such a curious little squirrel on my first trip down to the Celery Bog Nature Area in West Lafayette. I was spotted shortly after snagging a few quick shots, and I was sure that he would scurry off, but to my pleasant surprise, my new friend decided to stick around and was even nice enough to model for me! What a trouper, I look forward to our next meeting.