This gorgeous human being is so inspiring. Lydia is 6'2" and conveys a sense of confidence and strength with her very presence. She is proud of her curvaceous body and shows that women of all sizes can be beautiful. And she's a pure joy to work with.
Here are some images we made at Eitel Apartments on Loring Park. A very cool setting for a very cool shoot.
A beautiful family + a gorgeous pastoral setting + lovely golden hour light = one of my favorite family photo shoots to date.
(Disclaimer: the subjects in question are my sister-in-law, brother-in-law, and two nephews so I might be a little biased.)
Last week, I shared my experience from the beautifully isolated, picturesque Lost Lake, home of Lost Lake Lodge. Well, the lodge also has a gourmet restaurant, which serves up local fare, Asian-inspired dishes, and delicious cocktails. In addition to eating this amazing food, I got to try my hand at shooting it, both in the kitchen as it was being prepared and the dining room. I think I could get used to this whole food photography thing.
Thanks again to Lost Lake Lodge for inviting us up for a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend.
( c l i c k t o e n l a r g e )
After being serenaded by a symphony of tree frogs and falling asleep to the sound of gentle rain falling on the water, I was awakened that first morning by one of my favorite sounds: the long, haunting call of a loon echoing across a glassy lake.
Later that morning, Andrew and I - each with a kid nestled in our laps - paddled out into the middle of the placid lake in kayaks. We caught a glimpse of white about 20 feet up in a majestic red pine on the shore and instantly knew it was a bald eagle. As we paddled closer, it took flight, soaring overhead for a minute before joining its mate in another tree down the shore.
As the eagles made their presence known, the male loon that had been tracking our path from a safe distance, called out loudly. Almost frantically. And it became readily apparent why: nearby a mama loon sat on a nest in the marshy grasses at the edge of the lake.
Thankfully, no circle-of-life scenes unfolded before our eyes. Instead, we just drifted in our kayaks - the kids being remarkably quiet - and watched two pairs of our state's most striking birds in their natural habitat. We were guests on their turf and for those few moments, we felt like the only humans in a world we are fortunate enough to share with these creatures.
I have written before about the mystical quality of Minnesota lake life. "Up North" is more than just a place; it's a state of mind. A way of life. Something we feel nostalgic for even while we're in the midst of it. It's where we go to relax, recharge, and reconnect with nature.
For me, there is a direct correlation between the remoteness of the location and the quality of that unique Up North experience. Hence the appeal of true wilderness like Minnesota's State Parks and the Boundary Waters. Realistically, though, those spots aren't always easy with small children.
Enter Lost Lake Lodge. My friend, Jill, and I were invited up to this small family-owned resort with our families over Memorial Day Weekend (filed under: amazing-experiences-that-have-come-my-way-because-of-photography). Lost Lake Lodge has all the modern conveniences of any major resort on Gull Lake and then some: pontoon boats, fine dining, even wifi. It's a great place for families with kids, with an old-school summer camp vibe and all of the activities that go along with that: campfires, fishing, scavenger hunts.
But tucked behind the cabins that face Gull Lake, the Lodge has its true hidden gem: Lost Lake. The private lake has no boat launch and no motorized watercraft. Save for the resort's small beach, the shores are completely undeveloped, meaning no fertilizer run-off from manicured lawns, no real signs of civilization, and the old growth forests along the banks are still intact. It's as authentic a wilderness experience as I've had in the BWCA, but we were able to stay in a comfortable cabin instead of a tent and eat farm-to-table salads and braised short ribs for dinner.
I am grateful for the opportunity to visit and photograph this magical place. And I'm already lobbying my family to go back. I have the feeling I'll succeed.
Below are some of my favorite photos from our stay.
( c l i c k t o e n l a r g e )
It never ceases to amaze me the opportunities I am afforded because of Instagram and specifically because of my involvement with @Minnstameets. This week, along with 9 other Instagrammers, I got an up-close and personal look at Target Field with the Minnesota Twins and staff photographer, Brace Hemmelgarn. Over the course of two days, we toured the stadium, observed batting practice FROM THE FIELD, and watched the games. We experienced torrential rans, blazing sun, epic clouds, and lovely golden light. The stadium also provided symmetry, leading lines, and skyline views.
Here are some of my favorite shots I took during the two-day Instameet. To see the other photographers' images, check out the hashtag: #Twinstameet. And stay tuned to @Minnstameets this summer for your own chance to win this very cool opportunity!
( c l i c k t o e n l a r g e )
I was recently invited by the Minnesota Orchestra - via Minnstameets - to attend a small, private mini concert inside of the Surly Brewery. It was like nothing I've ever experienced before, both musically and photographically. The musicians sounded amazing, even with the ambient noise of the active brewery. Visually, the brewery provided a very cool backdrop for the performance. Here are a few of my favorite images from the evening:
U2's The Joshua Tree album was released in 1987. I was 7 years old and I have been in love with it ever since. Early on, I also became obsessed with Joshua Tree National Park, thinking that visiting the place that inspired the name of my favorite album would somehow bring me closer to the music and band I so dearly worshipped.
I finally made it 28 years later, and the park was truly magical. And of course the album provided the perfect soundtrack to the adventure. Inspired by this connection, I created a photo series pairing my favorite shots from the trip (not just of JTNP, but the greater Coachella Valley as well) with songs from the album as titles.
Track 1. Where the Streets Have No Name
Track 2. I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
Track 3. With or Without You
Track 4. Bullet the Blue Sky
Track 5. Running to Stand Still
Track 6. Red Hill Mining Town
Track 7. In God's Country
Track 8. Trip Through Your Wires
Track 9. One Tree Hill
Track 10. Exit
Here are my favorite images from Part 2 of my rad photo shoot with David Maxwell of Upperclassmen.
( c l i c k t o e n l a r g e )
I met David Maxwell last fall at Northern Grade and I instantly liked him. You know those people whose enthusiasm for their art is contagious? People who effortlessly inspire those around them and make them better at their own craft? That's David.
He speaks 5 languages, founded his own lifestyle site and production collective (UPPERCLASSMEN.), records and performs dope music, AND has one of the coolest Instagram accounts I've seen. And he's only 23.
So, obviously I was stoked to collaborate with him on a sunrise photoshoot (at a top-secret Twin Cities location). Below are a few of my favorite images from the day. You can check out more on David's blog too.
( c l i c k t o e n l a r g e )
Natalie and Michael love to travel. And they're expecting their first child this summer. They wanted to convey both of these important things in a whimsical pregnancy announcement and asked me to take their photos. There is nothing more fun than working with people who are down to brave freezing temps and indulge my creative whims for the sake of cool photos. Here are some of my favorite images from the shoot with them and the resulting announcement which Natalie and I worked together to design.
( c l i c k t o e n l a r g e )
A month ago on the North Shore of Lake Superior, my brother and his wife donned their wedding clothes and allowed me to photograph them as a way of commemorating and celebrating their 5-year wedding anniversary. They are both beautiful people (inside and out!) and the setting was, well, the most perfect place on earth. The resulting images are some of my favorite ones I've shot to-date.
It doesn't get much better than fall in Minneapolis. This week I ventured out to shoot photos for a piece on Citinerary in which I wrote about my top five ways to celebrate this marvelous season. Hint: it involves drinking really good beer.
Check out the journal article here and scroll through a few of the images for the article below.
( c l i c k t o e n l a r g e )
I've recently had the pleasure of taking photos of two families who are very near and dear to me. I've known both for over 20 years. And both happen to be highly photogenic and fun to photograph.
( c l i c k t o e n l a r g e )
Our @Minnstameets event this year for Instagram's World Wide Instameet weekend (#WWIM12_MN) was a huge success! It is always so fun to meet new people, put faces to the profiles I've followed for a long time, and connect with those who have now become old friends. This year's event - in honor of Instagram's 5th birthday - was all about portraits. Below are some of my favorite ones that I was able to capture through the (epic, 12-hour, 5-location) day. I also wrote about it for Citinerary here.
Every year, my family and I go to the Minneapolis Monarch Festival, a wonderful celebration of the connection between Minnesota and Mexico - the starting and ending points of the monarchs' yearly journey. And, yes, the butterflies are beautiful and the food tasty and the environmental conservation efforts valiant, but the real draw for me is always the Aztec dancers. This year, a new troupe had their festival debut and the result was no different than in past years: I was moved to tears. I'm not saying I got a little misty; I had to straight up stifle sobs. I have no idea why, year after year, I have such a powerful visceral reaction to this particular indigenous dance, but I do. And it's rather intoxicating.
This year, for the first time, I documented the performance. Here are a few of my favorite images:
I was recently hired to photograph Cuban painter, Roger Toledo Bueno, at Studio 1660 - where he's been an artist in residence all summer. Studio 1660 is the brainchild of Zoe Kosieradsk, who first met Roger while studying abroad in Havana. I also shot photos at a backyard exhibit of Roger's work.
I wrote about the project for Citinerary here and have included some of the photos from the article below.
This week in a special Citinerary, "Weekend Explorer" piece, I shared some photos from our family vacation to the Brainerd Lakes area and I attempted to describe (to the journal's international readers) just what makes cabin country/up north/lake life so special.
Check out the journal article here and see some of the photos from it below.
A yoga retreat on an island in Wisconsin? Yes, please. Hone my photo skills by taking some shots for Align by Adrienne? Ok.
I didn't even realize how much I needed this time to recharge and actually exercise for the first time in years until I got there. The setting (at Stout's Island Lodge) was idyllic, the workouts grueling, and the company wonderful.
Here are some of my favorite images:
True Story: when the Mall of America first opened in 1992, I was almost 12 years old and I was obsessed with it. I vividly remember poring over every single word of the Star Tribune's Variety section pull-out feature prior to the grand opening. I knew, before even stepping foot inside its walls, the color of the (then) carpeted floors of the South Avenue wing of the mall and best entrance to use to go straight to the movie theater.
If you had told me that I would someday be offered the opportunity to stay, shop, dine, and play there with my family and get paid for it, my 12-year-old self would have been blown away. In fact, my 35-year-old self was sort of blown away when the offer came in a month ago to do just that in exchange for some photos of the experience. I knew my kids would absolutely love it. I also knew the Mall has come a long way since 1992 and recent updates have made it highly photogenic. Having a press pass - and the authority and confidence that comes with it - was an added perk to the gig and one I wish I'd used even more. Here are a few of the DSLR images I snapped while there.
