1.1.25New Year, Old HobbyYears ago, I used to paint. Aside from a brief flirtation with it again in 2018, I gave it up after I got into photography because I liked the control and immediacy of that medium more than I liked the trial and error of consumable paints. It’s hard to envision something and create it without the aid of an imaging system. I envy those with a firm grasp of analog art; I wish I could do it with ease as I feel like it’s a more challenging skill to learn than others.My sister asked me if I would paint her daughter something from a cartoon she likes. I agreed and picked up my paints for the first time in years. I didn’t get far (I’m very out of practice), but I made a little progress on the sky. It’s far from finished, and I have a lot more to do, but I think it’s an adequate initial effort.

1.2.25The ‘Returning From Lowe’s’ PerspectiveIf I had a drone, this would’ve been photographed already. This view of Cote Brilliante in Newport, with a tiny cameo from the Wiedemann Hill Mansion juxtaposed with the Cincinnati skyline behind it, is nearly impossible to photograph accurately due to where you must stand to capture it. But that’s the thing: unfortunately, there's no good place to stand, and driving is the only option.Before you judge me, I wasn’t driving. Ashley was. I sat in the back seat of the car with a 250mm strapped to my Zf, and I burst-fired as we crossed the Grand Ave overpass—the only public spot with a direct line of sight to this.There’s an apartment building further up the hill in Fort Thomas that would likely offer the optimal frame, but I don’t have access to it. Seeing this every time I come back from Highland Heights or from the 275 loop has taunted me for years, and even though I have an image now, I don’t even think I’ve gotten the shot I want with this. But, it’s a first attempt.There’a another one of these along Columbia Parkway that’s taunted me for even longer. Maybe I’ll see if she can help me work on that one next.

1.3.25The Tricky BonfireI finally got back to work today. This morning, I did a product shoot for a children’s toy brand, but I won’t share those images as they involve child models, and I don’t have permission from the client/parents. I tested my new moonlight setup to see if the results would be better than the last time around. Thankfully, the investment was worth it, and the shoot went smoothly. I think I made some solid images during the session. Excited to put the finishing touches on them and send them over.Afterward, I drove to rural Kentucky for a photo shoot at a rental. A guy I know put the place together after purchasing it last year. One of the big things he wanted to capture was this outdoor fire pit area since one of the perks of staying here is the big yard. I had to wait until the sun set to get the image he wanted, though. The brisk winds made it nearly impossible to light, so we crammed a bunch of cardboard and paper towels into the pit, lit it, and nabbed a few frames before it quickly petered out.

1.4.25Scuba + SteveWhen Ashley said she was going out with the girls, I hit up Steve and Erica to see if they wanted to get together. Their dog, Pippin, is having back issues, so instead of leaving him alone in their house, I drove out to spend some time with them.They live in Fairfax, right around the corner from the since-shuttered Frisch’s Mainliner. Nearby is a place called Tristate Scuba that I’ve always wanted to photograph at night because it has a unique neon sign in the window that lights up a large portion of the front window. It’s gorgeous, in my opinion. The way the colorful tubes illuminate the textures and surfaces of the surrounding equipment and the mannequin in the window is mesmerizing. I feel like a moth to bright light whenever I drive past it. Wanting to finally scratch that itch, I made a pit stop before going to their house to grab some photos.

1.5.25A Colorful SurpriseLast night at Steve and Erica’s house, they presented me with this incredible gift: a custom painting of Myrtle done by Canadian artist Jordan Perkins!Steve, Erica, and Erica’s best friend, Casey, had it commissioned in October as a gift to me after I commented on how much I loved his work when I saw Erica’s portrait of her dog on their wall. Little did I know they would be scheming to gift me one of my own.Of course, I had to set up the backdrop and studio lights for a side-by-side today. I can’t thank them enough for this.

1.6.25A Snowstorm For the AgesOver the last 24 hours, we received nearly 10 inches of snowfall. The city essentially shut down while Winter Storm Blair blanketed the Midwest with more snow than we’ve seen in one day in a long time. We’ve had some decent snowstorms over the last decade, but this one was the biggest.I am of two minds when it comes to snowfall like this. On the one hand, I love how it makes an otherwise average day exciting. It forces us to stay cozy in our homes, make a big meal, and wear sweatpants without intending to go outside. It’s a reason to slow down and enjoy existing in a space cultivated specifically for our comfort and enjoyment. There’s no pressure to go out and worry about anything. Afterward, we get to go outside with our neighbors and dig each other out, further fueling that strong sense of community that attracted us to this neighborhood years ago. Plus, it visually changes the landscape in a beautiful way.On the other hand, it presents challenges that impact the less fortunate. Those without homes and people living somewhere not adequately equipped to handle cold temperatures and 10 inches of snow suffer. People who have to go somewhere, like a vital hospital job, during a blizzard risk their lives. It impairs accessibility for people using wheelchairs and those of us who have trouble physically getting around. Not to mention the economic impact it has on struggling businesses post-holiday season.It’s a double-edged sword. I hope temperatures rise so people aren’t uncomfortable for long, and I hope road crews can clear streets and sidewalks for everyone, but I think it’s going to be a while before that happens. For now, I’m going to appreciate what I like about it and do my best to help neighbors in any way I can.

1.7.25A Small SampleThis is a sample of how much snow we got. I measured it deeper than this on the deck, but this is still quite a bit.

1.8.25Shoveling the ParkwayHelping out at the photo studio in Mohawk for the rest of the week. It’s a pre-light day, so I’m getting tasks done before clients arrive tomorrow. One of the things on my list this morning was to shovel Central Parkway so we had parking spaces for them in front of the building.I cleared five spaces of snow and the loading zone, taking about an hour and a half to finish. About halfway through, I removed my coat and hat to keep from overheating, and my hair ended up freezing when the sweat met the cold air. I didn’t mind the workout, and I was getting paid for it, but I could’ve done without all the cars racing by at 45 mph in the lane right next to me. I kept telling myself that I hoped it would be quick if I got hit.Anyway, I took a photo of some of my work.

1.9.25No ServiceI’ve been wondering about this fake Gulf station for a while. I found the owner on Facebook and tried digging up an email address to ask him about it, but no luck. I need to message him through the site if I want to easily talk to him about it. I’m debating whether or not I want to do that (I really, really hate Facebook). Based on what I read on his profile, this may be a fun retirement hobby for a guy who worked with cars.I made an uncropped version with the orange Gulf sign in the shot, but it deemphasized the snow around the gas pumps, and that’s what I liked best about the image.

1.10.25Old ReliableIt snowed again. I was in Marlene’s studio all day and knew it was coming, so Ashley dropped me off with the intention of me finding my own way home. No sense in her driving back over the bridge to get me if the roads were bad. Plus, finding a place on the street amidst the ever-growing snowbanks squished up along Central Parkway is increasingly difficult.We had plans with the friend group to go to the West Side for dinner, but that was postponed due to snow. After boarding an empty bus, I took a blurry selfie and made it to Bellevue. As I jumped off the Southbank Shuttle to avoid stepping into another snow bank, I heard someone yell my name from a car. When I turned, I saw Rob and Rachel’s iconic Chevy Sonic idling right behind the bus I’d just deboarded. They were headed to the Frisch’s in Bellevue for a final visit to the chain before it closed. Since I was already halfway into the parking lot, I joined them for an impromptu Big Boy dinner, possibly for the last time.

1.11.25Rural DriveThe scene while driving through rural Ohio coming back from my sister’s house. Ashley was at the wheel, allowing me to take a photo.

1.12.25I Barely Know Her!A neon sign in Ludlow, KY.

1.13.25FrostA scene from the third story of a building I was photographing on McMicken. I thought it looked neat in B&W.

1.14.25Architectural VerticalityPhotographed this stack of different architectural styles while picking Myrtle up from Maria’s house today.

1.15.25Good Light OpportunityI couldn’t help but photograph Ollie’s and the building next to it while the light was so golden. Say what you will about winter—it has phenomenal sunsets.

1.16.25He’s Got a Chickeny RideThat Beatles’ song was blaring from a speaker nearby and I couldn’t help but Weird Al the lyrics in my head while I took this photo.

1.17.25Optical PitstopI had a job in Louisville today. The job didn’t start until noon, so I went down a couple of hours early to check some stuff out. One of the stops on my list was Murphy’s Camera on the city's east side. I didn’t buy anything, but I admired what they had. Much of the shop appeared to be a museum to old cameras.

1.18.25AlejandraA portrait of my friend and favorite coffee shop owner, Alejandra.

1.19.25TWINS!Myrtle and Maggie (Steve and Erica’s doodle) have matching 80’s-inspired sweaters.

1.20.25Incredible MuralMA Design sent me back to WAVE Foundation’s new space at the Levee to photograph two areas that includes a massive mural painted by Lusso Studios. It spans two hallways and ends in this nook, making it impossible to photograph all at once. The mural depicts beach and underwater scenes filled with marine wildlife, all intricately painted in every color of the rainbow. The attention to detail is truly astounding. If you ever have the chance to visit WAVE for any reason, ask to see this mural. It’s something else.

1.21.25Birthday TreatWhen CityBeat reported on the Art-O-Mat, I didn’t even finish reading the short article about it before I emailed ArtWorks to set up my appointment to use it. The colorful, repurposed cigarette machine is filled with mystery artwork, all at a $5 price point. You pay for a token, slot it into the machine, and pull the plunger for the desired artist.I chose an artist I didn’t know: Judy Isaksen (Never 2 Bold Art). After I made my selection, this beautiful little green block with a floral design dropped into the trough below. A nearby yellow table in the sun made for a nice contrasting background for a photo. I couldn’t decide which photo to include for today’s entry, so I made a collage instead.Also, I’m 39 today. My birthday hasn’t historically been a day I relish, but I needed something to look forward to this year. Considering everything that’s happening in the country, a self-indulgent day filled with art, cheese coneys, a haircut and beard trim, and a nice dinner out with Ashley and two of my best friends was the temporary escape I needed.I cannot believe I’m now staring down the barrel of 40.

1.22.25From MemoryMarlene tasked me with repainting several areas in the studio. The cyc and laundry needed a fresh coat of white paint, and the client area floor needed to be repainted with a grey color that closely matched what was there. I took a chip of flaking paint off to match the color but foolishly forgot to take it with me when I left. Once at the store, I realized I didn’t have the chip and would have to match the color from memory.Matching colors has never been an easy task for me. After looking at the samples for several minutes, I guessed that this swatch most closely resembled what was there. Returning to the studio, I held my breath and placed the chip onto the swatch to see how good my visual memory was. I couldn’t believe I’d gotten it right.

1.23.25A Portrait of John FahertySpent the day photographing the Mercantile Library. I got there at 9 AM and spent the next several hours photographing the library itself. The renovation added a second floor that has loads of beautiful areas to sit and read, study, work, and relax within. Those were the primary areas I wanted to capture since I’d already photographed the library extensively years before.After finishing, I spent the next few hours working on what I’d shot. Around the 4 PM mark, they began opening their doors for an event that would eventually host around 600 hundred people. A band played, poetry was read, drinks were served, dancers performed, and the programming schedule for the upcoming year was revealed to excited library members.This is a portrait of Executive Director John Faherty during his first speech this evening.

1.24.25CSOI’ve only ever photographed Music Hall’s interior twice: once during the renovation, and once after it was completed. I remember both times being somewhat rushed, getting what I could in the limited amout of time I had. Both times were for the website back in 2017—long before I understood the principles of professional architectural photography.Today, though, I got to photograph a show for Music Hall itself. I primarily concentrated on close ups of the conductor and the symphony members because that’s what was asked of me. However, I couldn’t help but go wide for a couple of shots for myself. They let me into the sound booth at one point, and I was able to snap a symmetrical angle from the second story.

1.25.25Not PhotoshopJay sent me a Bloomingfruits sticker that, when hit by direct sunlight through a window, produces a circular rainbow beam pattern on the wall behind it. When I took a photo of it, the image looked like I added a filter over top of it.

1.26.25Baby ShowerWent to Annie and Justin’s baby shower at Alcove today. They got some good stuff to help with raising their upcoming newborn, Archie. Happy for them!

1.27.25Bridge DramaA high-speed chase ended in a collision on the Brent Spence Bridge, then the suspect being pursued jumped down from the deck and onto the lower bridge structure to hide from police. They shut the entire bridge down for hours while they tried to safely remove the guy. Eventually they did, but not before someone with a live feed of the action streamed it on YouTube.The bridge drama in Cincinnati over the last several months is my least favorite thing about it.

1.28.25Goodbye, DoorOur drafty, old alley door is being replaced today. I have mixed feelings about it. On one hand, it’s most likely original to the house and I want to preserve it. On the other hand, it’s bad at being a good door. As mentioned previously, it’s drafty, and on sub-zero days, the cold air seeping through the frame is awful. It’s also not going to stop anyone from kicking it in if they tried.We’re having it replaced with a steel door that promises to keep both possible intruders and cold air out. I decided not to save the wood because I already don’t have storage space for it, so I’m making the executive decision to let it go. However, I did peel off the old Radio Shack sticker that someone put on it at some point. That’s too good to throw out.

1.29.25Floral ArrangementI’ve been in Marlene’s studio all week, so my own photography hasn’t been a priority. (I photographed a sticker on a door yesterday and my iMac screen the day before that.) Today won’t be much better.This is a floral arrangement from the shoot today that I took home to Ashley. It’s the only image I made all day.

1.30.25Mystery & Benevolence A still from my time documenting the opening of the Mystery & Benevolence exhibit at the Taft Museum this evening.

1.31.25Unseasonably WarmIn stark contrast to the month’s bitter frigidity, today felt like spring in the best way possible. We took a walk down to Darkness to enjoy a beer before meeting some friends at Loyal. I stopped to photograph the building at the corner of Taylor and Route 8; it has windows now, but I can’t help but feel annoyed that it’s not finished yet. The sidewalks are still closed.