I traveled back to Cincinnati for Thanksgiving this year (first Thanksgiving home for awhile!) and before I left, I had thrown out a quick solicitation on Facebook for my services – and of all people, this guy responded. Say hi to Casey and his new family. Ive known Casey since 6th grade, which makes us about 86 years old, give or take. Oh how time flies. Casey has an incredible sense of humor which is only topped by his loyalty in friendship. I havent seen him in years, so it was pretty awesome to reconnect, if not for a few short hours, and meet his lovely wife Lauren, and their new kiddo Owen. Of course, as is traditional in Cincinnati, it was cloudy and raining all day (all month) but that didnt stop us from hitting up Ault Park & Mariemont Bluffs for some outdoor shots. I think the shot of Casey holding the umbrella after the wind tore us a new one, pretty much sums up his humor.

Casey, it was so great to see you again and meet your fam. You’ve done pretty well for yourself, my friend. and Lauren…the tall vertical B&W shot of you holding Owen by yourself at the Buffs is my favorite. I can tell you’re going to be an incredible mother. Now you guys need to come out to Denver and visit!

Dia de los Muertos! Day of the Dead! Colorado has a vast Mexican population, and as such, many of their traditions are celebrated here, such as this one. Many Latin American countries have their own versions of this holiday, based on the Catholic days of All Saints Day and All Souls Day, but all revolve around the celebration and remembrance of deceased family and loved ones. Traditionally, people will adorn altars at cemeteries (or build shrines in their homes) with gifts of flowers, food, toys, tequila, and other crafts for the dead to enjoy. Often there are processions with many of the people dressed in the style of the famous calaveras (sugar skulls) and catrinas of José Guadalupe Posada, a Mexican illustrator.

The art style that emerged from his drawings have influenced many other artists over the decades, such as Denver’s own Enrique Lazaro. Coming from a family of artists and born and raised in Mexico, he embraces his heritage and tradition by evoking a vivid color pallete and mesmerizing punch to the senses in his artwork. Tattoos, paintings, skateboard decks, and tshirts – Enrique continuously pushes the medium in expressing his art. Check him at Lazaroart.com (The last photo in this post is him).

This year, El Camino restaurant hosted a Dia de los Muertos celebration, complete with artwork by Enrique Lazaro and sugar skull face paintings by the lovely Indie Six ladies. You might remember them from such fun calendar release shoots like this ONE. TPL offered up a photo booth for their end result.

Technical note on lighting:

Key: 1 x Profoto Pro-7B mounted high slightly left of subject on a c-stand with 22″ beauty dish and 20 degree grid.

Fill: 1 x 580 EXII mounted high right of subject in a chimera speedring and a Photoflex 12×16 softbox.

Bounce: Flexfill 38″ silver reflector below the subject aimed at face (I actually had the subjects hold the reflector).

The location had us in a very tight corner in terms of space, so I literally had subjects up against a wall, with little room for back-lighting them, but it all turned out quite well!

Many, many thanks to Brian Rossi for having us!

Awhile back I shot “The Rapture” for the Denver Post’s music blog Reverb. Opening band was “Snake Rattle Rattle Snake”, one Denver’s most recent rock bands to gain popularity. Lead singer Hayley Helmerick’s ethereal voice combined with dual tribal percussionists lends a sound that can only be described as ” a vital combination of spooky surf band, haunted carnival rock and Siouxsie Sioux fronting a pre-synth-driven New Order.”

The Rapture, touring off their latest album release, brought the dance party. For the better part of a decade, they have been blending electroclash synth rock with notes of funk and jazz. The band has been through their share of highs and lows, and while they haven’t really lived up to their fanbase exepctations, they still can blow your ear drums out with groovy punk revival dance rock.

This is Tom & Haley and their awesome kiddos, Stephen & Reina. Rewind time for a moment: I’ve known Haley since 4th grade and became close friends with her in high school. Parting ways for college, we dropped communication for awhile, and during that time I became fast friends with Tommy after we studied in Luxembourg together. Now in Denver, Tommy is one of my best buds and together, with their new additions, make the pretty exceptional family. If there’s one thing to be said about the Nemann’s, it’s their outwards positive energy. Haley is very sweet, kind, and patient while Tommy can make a room full of funeral mourners burst out in laughter. Both have a perpetual smile that is infectious and, moreover, welcoming. They truly are good people to have in your lives.

As for the little ones, Stephen takes after Tommy with his rambunctious, curious, and giddy nature. Reina is more like her mother; sweet, contemplative, and endearing. Together, they are a pretty loveable brother and sister. And, well, that’s not too surprising seeing as the apples don’t drop far from the trees.

I’ve been meaning to get these photos up on the blog for some time. Some select shots of my niece, my brother, and his wife when we went back to Cincinnati for Christmas. The house I grew up in is kinda like a mini nature preserve. Hundreds of birds flock to the dozen or so bird feeders to compete with squirrels and other wildlife for the food my parents put out every weekend. Deer and wild turkeys love to make impromptu appearances too in our backyard. It’s bitter cold but quite peaceful, especially next to the fireplace on a winter evening. Can’t wait to go back!

One of Denver’s favorite iconic bands over the past 2 decades has been Slim Cessna’s Auto Club. While members have changed over the years, the band centers around Slim Cessna with Jay Munly, Rev. Dwight Pentacost, Chadzilla, Ordy Garrison, Shane Trost, & John Rumley as ongoing members. While broadly labeled as alternative country with strong styles of americana, country blues, southern gospel, and gothabilly, they are the archetype for the alt country rock scene flourishing in Denver.

Known for their engaging, riveting, and often humorous live performances, they have been labeled by punk rock legend Jello Biafra as the “country band that plays the bar at the end of the world.” Their charismatic front men often reach out for audience participation as they sing their jubilant and/or sorrowful anthems on everything from alcoholism, violence, depression, salvation and growing up somewhere between heaven and hell. If they ever come to your city, this is one live show not to be missed.

These photos were from two live shows that they asked me to shoot awhile back, at both the Bluebird Theater and the famous Redrocks Amphitheater.