Merry Christmas from Schmitz Excavating

Or, how to pour some awesomesauce onto your ride

Went home to my wife’s family, and two of her brother run an excavating business. They rolled up in this rig for Christmas Eve. Pretty slick. The tree even rotates! If these two guys know anything, it’s how to destroy, fix, or make stuff.




Merry Christmas from Schmitz Excavating




Merry Christmas from Schmitz Excavating

 

Peppermint Truffle

Christmas Chocolate Tastiness

One of my first photos of Gail’s chocolates, “way back” in 2008. I shot this, not having ever heard of Gail Ambrosius or her chocolates. But my tastebuds had sincere motivation. It wasn’t until 2009 that I actually met Gail and started working with her and her wonderful crew.

Anyway, Merry Christmas! Get some Peppermint Truffles!

“Some co-workers had brought back a box of chocolates from a local chocolatier. Since yesterday’s chocolate covered cherry was such a smash hit, thought i’d add another one, a simplified shot. I’m not sure what it was called, but it was most excellent… those are crushed peppermint sticks on the outside.”




gail ambrosius peppermint truffle

 

Jordan and Alissa’s Wedding



Pop Goes the Champagne bottle

Sometimes the wedding photography is in the details

Worked Second Shooter for Matt Kirk at Jordan and Alissa’s Wedding. It was a very interesting wedding, from mosquitos to horse-drawn carriages, rain, dancing, and great food! Matt was the primary shooter, and i hovered around getting candids and details, and filled in as VAL (Voice-Activated Lightstand). Very friendly folks, even as a paid-vendor, I felt like a guest. Made shooting easier, that’s for sure.





It was sunny, cloudy, rainy, cloudy, sunny, cloudy, rainy...all day. Tough shooting exposure. Here's a shot of a rain cloud over the gazebo





Some great lemonade was avilable. Pink or yellow.





A bow detail with the wedding party in the background.




Mosquitos were fierce!




Alissa standing on the porch during the rain (after the wedding).





Bubbles were released! Fly away bubbles, you're freeee!





Matt shot some classic wedding party jumping





A rare moment to themselves. Except for the guy with the 24-70mm lens stuck in the their face.





Table decoration detail, candles and pearls and rose petals.





Wedding cake detail, with rose.




The First Dance





The bridal party had a crazy time at the reception! Here we have the groom leaping over some of the other guys.





Shooting in the dark. No really, we were. They turned the lights out for the dance. This is the Head Table.





Alissa and Jordan, alone in the crowd.





This group knew how to party. Didn't take long for the glow-sticks to show up. I danced my way through the crowd a couple times.





Car Noir. Just Married.

 

Jody and Kristen’s Wedding



Let me get this straight, you DON'T want your picture taken?

Or, a lesson in Child photography

Let me get this straight, you DON’T want your picture taken? Seriously though, what a crazy wedding. Flew out the Pennsylvania for my first inter-state wedding for a long-time friend of mine.





Jody and Kristen's wedding...





Jody and Kristen's wedding...





Jody and Kristen's wedding...





Jody and Kristen's wedding...





Jody and Kristen's wedding...





Jody and Kristen's wedding...





Jody and Kristen's wedding...





Jody and Kristen's wedding...





Jody and Kristen's wedding...




Jody and Kristen's wedding...




Jody and Kristen's wedding...




Jody and Kristen's wedding...





Jody and Kristen's wedding...





Jody and Kristen's wedding...





Jody and Kristen's wedding...





Jody and Kristen's wedding...





Jody and Kristen's wedding...





Jody and Kristen's wedding...





Jody and Kristen's wedding...





Jody and Kristen's wedding...





Jody and Kristen's wedding...




Jody and Kristen's wedding...




Jody and Kristen's wedding...




Jody and Kristen's wedding...





Jody and Kristen's wedding...





Jody and Kristen's wedding...

 

Isthmus from Lake Monona




Isthmus from Lake Monona

A Blue Afternoon on Lake Monona

A beautiful afternoon on Lake Monona turned a little choppy when a small storm blew in the area. We didn’t get it, but it shoved some nice clouds over the downton Madison Isthmus.

Isthmus from Lake Monona
11" x 14" Print Only $175
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11" x 14" Framed $225
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John and the PrairieMoon

Small Flash, Big Moon

Went to a large hill in Middleton overlooking the city and Madison one evening. Wanted to do some night city-shots. invited anyone out as well. John came along. As we waited for sunset, we took some nice portrait shots, as well as some sun-setting shots. While John was taking some photos of me in sort of a product shot kind of setting with the sunset behind me, i was watching the moon-rise behind him. Once he got the shot he liked, we turned the tables and I shot him in front of the moon.

I used a corded flash reflected into the ground for the fill flash, which also triggered a blue-gelled flash behind him for the “moonlight” rimlight.

We also went on to get some nice city night-shots as well.




John in Moonlight

 

Tex Tubb’s

A Man’s Meal

Several weeks ago, i had one the greatest meals in a loooong time. It started with “real” Coke (Coke with real sugar, imported from Mexico), and the steak sandwich at Tex Tubb’s. Texas Toast, grilled steak, cheese, onions, and i requested a side of their Dr. Pepper bbq sauce. wow is all i could say.

Today, upon a return trip, i found out they were going through some entree changes, and was sad to see my fav didn’t make the cut. (although the Dr. Pepper bbq sauce was available). A lot of my favorite TV shows get cut too, so maybe it’s just me. I mentioned it to the Manager, Patrick, who shared my sadness, but assured me there were some new great menu items “ten times better” coming up shortly.

Here is a photo hommage of that great sandwich. I look forward to more culinary tastiness from one of my favorite fooderies.




Steak Sandwich at Tex Tubb’s

 

Imperfect Perfection II – Sunflower




Sunflower in Pope Farm Park

The End of Summer

Spent some time doing end-of-summer sunrise photos of the city. This Beauty of a sunflower caught my eye as I was leaving Pope Farm Park, Town of Middleton. It was not in good condition, but the light was shining so warmly upon it. This seven foot flower that laughs in the face of gravity was hanging on while thousands and thousands of its fellows had withered and died. I felt i had to record the struggle a little bit, and this flower reminded me that beauty is not always flawless.

Pope Farm Park-6611 Imperfect Perfection II
11" x 14" Print Only $175
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11" x 14" Framed $225
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8" x 10" Print Only $100
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Tim and Stephanie Get Married



Beautiful window-light formal of Stephanie

Tim and Stephanie’s Wedding

We had a blast doing Tim and Stephanie’s engagement photos 10 months ago, and now I present to you their wedding:






Tim hanging out on a pew after some portraits
Stephanie finishing some last minute touches



Tim gazing upon his Bride as she walks down the aisle




The Rings




Center Aisle view




A-whew-we-made-it kiss


The Reception was at the Bonfyre Grill. I had a nice Cuban Sandwich. Great Fries too.




Forbidden Fruit: Reception Cupcakes are The Best Cupcakes




After the Reception, we went to Pope Farm Park for pictures. The girls spent a little energy.




Tim and Stephanie, semi-formals at Pope Farm Park




Wedding Party, semi-formals at Pope Farm Park




Tim and Stephanie, semi-formals during National Mustard Day, outside the National Mustard Museum, Middleton WI




Tim and Stephanie




Stephanie against the Middleton Visitor Center

 

Blackhawk Natural Light Workshop




Blackhawk natural light portrait workshop. Jason torso facing light (big window), looking towards me.

Jason

Saturday we had a great workshop on Natural Light. Matt out did himself and we all (I hope) got some great shots. We worked and discussed diffusion and direction, composition and exposure. There was a little math (which glossed over my eyes), but not for long. After a presentation and some examples, we jumped right in.

In this shot, Jason’s torso is facing the light (a big window), and then looking towards me.

You can see a couple more pics in my Flickr stream.