Waking Up in Michigan

Lake Michigan Recreation Area Photography

I close my eyes and all I hear are the leaves being slowly pushed by the wind. This is where I am most at ease; the most myself. I enjoy it. Waking up with the trees above your head, cooking a meal over a fire, listening to the wood crackle as it burns while breathing in the fresh air. A couple of weeks ago, I drove up to the Lake Michigan Recreation Area. There was no reason in particular, I guess it just seemed like a good opportunity to get away for a day; to keep it simple, no distractions and to just be. I knew I was getting close as both window seats were filled with views of endless trees. A bumpy, dirt road gently carves it way through the forest as to leave the least impact of it ever being there. Once I opened up my door, there seemed to be a sense of relief. The air carried the soft sounds of laughter with a backdrop of the lake meeting the shore. I smiled with every step closer to the beach, and as my feet hit the sand I felt like a child again. Whenever I road trip, hike or just wander by myself, I always feel like I’m at peace, like I have the world in the palm of my hands. Maybe because I can clear my head of every thought and just live in that moment. Here are a couple of those moments that made me smile.

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See More Travel Photography:  Living Under the Stars | Pictured Rocks | A Nature Walk

    

As the Sun Goes Down | Engagement Photography

Ciara + Mike | Patriots Park Engagement Photography

I had recently been asked if I could do a wonderful couple’s engagement photography which I have been fortunate enough to be friends with for quite some time. I of course couldn’t have been more delighted. We chose to do the session around a small lake at Patriots Park in Downers Grove, IL. The weather was perfect and as the sun was going down, it filled the park with a beautiful, warm glow. The whole time felt like just a couple of friends hanging out, laughing with the occasion snap of the camera. I couldn’t have been happier to not only be part of this momentouis time for them but more for what lies ahead for the both of them.  As they say “We take photos as a return ticket to a moment otherwise gone.” I hope that they return to this moment someday, and smile. 

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See More Photography:  A New Chapter | Chicago Winter Engagement | Set the Sky on Fire

    

Living under the Stars

Driving through the pitch black woods at 12 am until I see a faint light at the end of the road, well not a faint light I guess just less darkness. I reached the end and I can hear the waves. Beverly Shores Indiana is quite a hidden treasure. This was my second opportunity visiting this beach and it’s about an hour drive from Chicago. Beverly Shores is a secluded little oasis right off of Lake Michigan, but what makes it truly beautiful is that it’s the #7 dark sky community. Walking down the steps to get to the beach is a task in its own if you do not have a flash light but once you reach the beach you instantly feel like your hundreds of miles away. Being from the Chicago area, I get happy when I’m able to look up and see the big dipper, but here… here the sky is alive. It’s pitch black with only the stars to offer you light and the waves to play you music. Enjoy your weekend!

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See More Travel Photography:  Exploring Iceland | Pictured Rocks | The Mountains Were Calling

    

A New Beginning

Wow, It’s been quite sometime since I’ve wrote a post and I absolutely have no idea why. It’s not as if my photography has hit a stand still, or that I have nothing to share; it’s more the connection of the story with the photograph(s). I look at my other social media that I use and it seems too easy to just post a picture and let it loose in the world. Flickr, Instagram, Facebook; it’s so easy to get sort of trapped in these platforms where I feel more comfortable posting a picture with no explanation. Maybe I’ll come up with a witty saying, a lyric to a song, or a quote that seems fitting to the picture that I posted but really has no depth to what I was thinking/ or feeling the moment I actually pressed down the shutter button. It’s so easy to get caught up with that fast pace of the world around you that you don’t even second guess what/ why you’re actually doing something; it just seems like second nature. I started this blog as a way to explain myself through photography; I’m not going to lie, I’m sort of an introvert and it’s easier for me to type than to talk. As I write this and look at this image, I can’t help reminisce of how beautiful/ important traveling is. Although I just started, it’s an eye opening experience; it makes you want to drop whatever is in your hand and just hop on a plane and live & that is why in early January I booked my ticket to Norway in fall. I honestly wake up every morning thankful for the opportunities that I’ve had and able to do because it’s the little things in life that makes you feel alive.

So where do I go from here? I guess, exactly where I left off from.

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See More Travel Photography: | South Iceland | West Iceland | A New Chapter

    

Exploring Iceland: The North

In my last post Exploring Iceland: The East, I traveled along winding roads where I found myself walking through a beach of glaciers, picturesque landscapes, and crashing waves. In this post, I want to share my Iceland photography from my road trip around the ring road, where we explored the North. Our first stop was a beautiful spot called Myvatn. It truly offers some of the most unique and beautiful experiences of Iceland. From hiking up a volcano to watching the smoke emerge from it’s geysers to the beautiful blue water in the Viti Crater. Shortly after that, we visited two breathtaking waterfalls, Goðafoss & Dettifoss (reputed to be the most powerful waterfall in Europe). Although this was our last days of the trip, it wouldn’t of been completed without waking up to one of the most amazing sunrises that I have ever seen. This is my last post from my road trip, which now as I look through my photographs and previous posts, it’s still hard to believe that I was ever at this country. This was my first time flying over seas and I couldn’t have asked for a better experience. From the people that I met to the places that I slept, it was truly an unforgettable experience and I would urge anyone who has a chance to discover for themselves a little place called Iceland.

See More of my Iceland Photography from My 8 Day Road Trip Here: Iceland Road Trip Photography >

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See More Travel Photography: East Iceland | South Iceland | West Iceland

    

Exploring Iceland: The East

In my last post Exploring Iceland: The South I was overwhelmed with waterfalls in almost every direction and overcame by the silent landscape. In this post, I want to share my Iceland photography from my road trip around the ring road, where we explored the East. After hitting the south, we quickly ran into Jökulsárlón, which is a large glacial lake on the edge of Vatnajökull National Park. We strolled along it’s black sand beach, weaving through the glaciers that visited us from the coast. From there were traveled along East Iceland‘s winding roads, taking in it’s breathtaking picturesque views, roaming reindeer and crashing waves.

See More of my Iceland Photography from My 8 Day Road Trip Here: Iceland Road Trip Photography >

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See More Travel Photography: South Iceland | West Iceland | The Mountains Were Calling

    

Exploring Iceland: The South

In my last post Exploring Iceland: The West I talked about how in August I went on a trip on an unbelievable trip to Iceland. I traveled around the ring road for 8 days in a camper car. It was truly amazing and an experience that I would never forget. In this post, I want to share my Iceland photography from my road trip around the ring road, where we explored South Iceland’s natural landscape and waterfalls. The south was an absolutely magical place. It was quiet and quaint. Unlike the west, people and houses became more scarce as we traveled along highway one but that was the best part about south Iceland; it was about being outside, surrounded by something wild, unexpected, and beautiful. Here’s some of my photography from South Iceland.

See More of my Iceland Photography Here: Iceland Road Trip Photography >

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See More Travel Photography: West Iceland | The Mountains Were Calling | Pictured Rocks

    

Exploring Iceland: The West

In August I went on a trip that I never thought that I would have ever gone on. Iceland. I traveled around the ring road for 8 days in a camper car. It was honestly the most amazing experience in my life and none of the pictures that I took truly do justice to the beauty of Iceland. I look back, reminiscing on each picture, while writing this post and I think “Maybe it’s sad that this is now a memory”. But hey, maybe it’s not. It’s like they say, we take photos as a return ticket to a moment otherwise gone. I remember each and every moment it still sends chills down my spine. I can’t wait to go back. On another the other hand I think I may have over done it with pictures while visiting Iceland. I went through 3 memory cards, 3 batteries in about 8 days so I’m happy to share some of my Iceland photography from an unbelievable trip. Here’s some of my photography from road tripping around the Golden Circle, Reykjavik, & West Iceland.

See More of my Iceland Photography Here: Iceland Road Trip Photography >

Set the Sky on Fire

I could see in the sky that a storm was approaching quick. The air even had a different smell to it. I was on my way to Chicago to do some night shooting, thinking that just as long as I keep driving that Mother Nature wouldn’t be able to catch me. In that instant I saw a part in the clouds, light came shining through and just like that, the sun set the sky on fire. It lasted  a couple of minutes before one raindrop turned into two and two in billions. Mother Nature caught me.

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See More Nature Photography: Garden of Waterfalls | At the End of the Day | Somethings Never Get Old

    

Face to Face

While making my rounds through the zoo, I was fortunate enough to get a picture of the African lion named Sahar! Located in the heart of Lincoln Park right along Lake Michigan is the Lincoln Park Zoo. It’s funny to think that one second you could be walking along the beach surrounded by the Chicago skyline and the next moment you could be face to face with a lion. When I was younger, I’ve always wanted to let all of the animals free. I guess I went through my Jumanji phrase, hoping one day I would see a stampede on Michigan Ave. while I watch a gorilla climb the Willis Tower and hear the roar of a lion in the distance at Millennium Park. Well that’s enough of nostalgia for one day.

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See More Animal Photography: Showing Your Stripes | Underneath it All | Tail Feathers