Available Light

Aryan + Chris at the Hotel Monaco in DC on August 14, 2010

admin — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 18:49:51 +0000

Chris and Aryan’s wedding at the Hotel Monaco in DC was another first of sorts: my first wedding since coming back from Mexico in early August. Thank you guys! I couldn’t think of a better crowd with whom to have spent the day. Everyone was so alive! I can’t remember the last time I stuck around at the end of the night to party with the bride, groom, and guests!

Tammy + Lynn at the Old Stone House in Georgetown, 6.19.10

admin — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 15:09:43 +0000

Although not my first same-sex wedding shoot, Tammy and Lynn’s ceremony at the Old Stone House in Georgetown was my first since same-sex marriage became legal in the District of Columbia this past March. Part of the National Park Service, the Old Stone House is located on M Street, on the western edge of Georgetown and is open to the public. Adjacent to the house, a lush garden sprawls behind a white picket fence. Family members, including Tammy and Lynn’s 4-year-old daughter, Dana gathered for a few portraits before the ceremony. With temperatures hovering around 90 degrees, Robert, a homeless man wandered into the garden to rest and cool off. For some, the sudden appearance of a shirtless, grimy homeless man would have been a disaster-an unexpected blemish marring a picture-perfect scene. Tammy and Lynn, allowing for life’s serendipity, shrugged and smiled.

Now that is a DC wedding.

Lauren + Marc 06.26.10 at the Chesapeake Bay Beach Club

admin — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 17:11:52 +0000

Ali + Cisco Dahlgren Chapel in Georgetown 6.12.10

admin — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 18:11:34 +0000

Anna + Tim at the Carnegie Institute 06.05.10

admin — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 23:24:13 +0000

Dvora + Eric at Daughters of the Revolution 5.30.2010

admin — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 15:32:37 +0000

Claire + David, May 22, 2010

admin — Tue, 25 May 2010 19:40:07 +0000

Here are some scenes from Claire and David’s ceremony and reception at the Textile Museum in DC. The afternoon downpour held off until the end of the ceremony, although if you look closely, you can see rain slanting in some of the photos. Beautiful light, though.

Washington Animal Rescue League Gala at Union Station

admin — Sat, 01 May 2010 02:40:32 +0000

I began volunteering at WARL in January, walking dogs and assisting in the clinic. When I learned about their big fundraiser event, the annual Rescue Me Gala held at Union Station, I offered to shoot it pro bono. WARL receives no taxpayer dollars and relies exclusively on private support. What impressed me most about the organization is its cutting-edge approach to rehabilitating animals that have been neglected and abused. Their entire facility, which includes a state-of-the-art veterinary clinic, four or five outdoor dog parks, and a cageless cat kennel (take my word - it’s cat paradise) was designed with the perspective of the animals in mind. I’m not talking about day spa for pets. This isn’t a load of anthropomorphic bull: it’s good science.

The evening began up in the V.I.P room

The lovely Diane Rheme (little Maxie was at ground level)

I normally work behind the scenes, quietly and unobtrusively. It’s a little like bird watching, or fly fishing. It requires a lot of patience and stealth and a Border Collie-like obsessive fixation. I wanted to try something different for a change, so I set up a small portrait studio downstairs in the ballroom. I thought I would casually wander into the ballroom and pull people into the studio. I wasn’t sure if people would want to pose or how the dogs would react, but from the second I stepped into my little alcove studio, I had a line of people the entire night. One dog reached into my camera bag and pulled out an envelope with a stack of my business cards! You can not make this stuff up! I had so much fun interacting with the people and their pets.

Riley, the three-legged dog

Yesterday, I jumped on my olive-green scooter and in the blazing sunshine of a glorious spring afternoon, rode down to WARL to deliver the CD with the photos. I hadn’t realized when I was taking the picture that the puppy only had three legs. Riley was one of three puppies rescued by WARL on a cruelty case. The owner had left a rubber band tied around her leg, which became embedded in the skin as she grew. The resulting injury was so severe that the leg had to be amputated. Sometimes, I think I take pictures because if I didn’t, I would be consumed with rage and despair, or incapacitated by the creeping numbness I feel when I think about all the stupid cruelty associated with our species. I find some comfort in the fact that an organization like WARL exists.

The end of a wonderful evening

Sonora, Texas, 2004 (from the series, Borderlands)

admin — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 22:26:02 +0000

Man and baby goat

Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, 2000 (From the series, Borderlands)

admin — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 17:15:19 +0000