Baltimore Comic Con 2008

I'm a "Fan Boy". I said it. I love comic books. You know, Superman, Batman, Spider-man, Green Lantern, the Justice League to name a few.  Well, on September 28 I took a trip to Baltimore to attend the Baltimore Comic Con. It's a once a year "fan boy" get-together. Thousand comic book fans ascended on the Baltimore Convention Center to meet our favorite publishers, writer, and artists. Above I'm standing with Dan DiDio, he runs DC Comics (my favorite publisher). He's the one all the Fan Boys complain to when DC Comics kills off a character. It's a tough job but somebody has to do it. 

Here I got to pose with Jann Jones. She also works for DC Comics as a Coordinating Editor for"Johnny DC" a line of comics that are geared for younger readers. Some of the titles include "Tiny Titans", "Super Friends", and "Billy Batson and the Magic of Shazam". 

This is Amanda Conner. She is a great artist and she told me at the Con that she was working on a new ongoing "Powergirl" comic book for DC Comics. She's draw a ton of other characters including Batgirl, Supergirl, Catwoman, Black Canary, and Painkiller Jane.

The above Supergirl print was done by Amanda. She sold them at the Con. I loved it so much I purchased one for my office. She even signed it for me. Thanks Amanda! 

This is Jimmy Palmiotti. He's a writer, artist, editor (jack of all trades). He is currently writing that "Powergirl" series with Amanda Conner. He is also writing "Johnah Hex" (with Justin Gray) for DC.  (I think he and Amanda Conner are married but you can't believe everything you read on Wikipedia.)

This is Geoff Johns. He is one of the hottest writers in the business. Geoff has written "The Flash", "Teen Titans", and "JSA" for DC Comics, and "The Avengers" for Marvel Comics. Currently he is writing my favorite character Green Lantern. The stories so far have been amazing. He is also writing Action Comics which features Superman. It's a great read so pick it up. In 2009, Geoff will be focusing on the return of Barry Allen in "The Flash: Rebirth" which I am sure will be a fan-boy favorite. 

Next years Con will be on October 10-11, 2009. I've already marked it in my calendar. I'm such a Fan-Boy.

Charlie's Angels

One of the great things about shooting an event (like a wedding) is interacting with all the people in attendance. From time-to-time you run across a few that love to pose for the camera. Such was the case at the Flynn Wedding. While in between the wind, rain, and formalities, I found these three women huddled in a doorway. They began "mugging" for the camera when someone shouted, "You guys look like Charlie's Angels". Thank God for the classic 70's TV shows! Can't you just hear, "Good morning Angels"?

Sunrise Yoga

On Sunday, September 21st, over 70 people descended on the North Beach Boardwalk to celebrate the Fall equinox with a (free) sunrise yoga class. The sunrise over the Chesapeake Bay was amazing and the weather was perfect!


The class was lead by yoga instructors Loretta Dove and Beth Cory.


For more information on the next Sunrise Yoga (or yoga in general), please visit Beth Cory at www.yogaall.com. She's planning another Sunrise Yoga class for the Summer. Hope to see you there.

The Flynn Wedding

On Saturday, September 6, Hurricane Hannah (or what was left) made it's way through Maryland. This was the same day I was asked to shoot a wedding. For most of the day it poured rain and the winds gusted up to 50 miles per hour. Not ideal conditions for an outdoor wedding but a large tent was set up in the back yard (which overlooked the Chesapeake Bay) to keep everyone dry. The day was taken in stride by the bride Kara and her husband Thomas. During the ceremony, Pastor suggested to the couple, "If God blesses you with children, and that child happens to be a girl, perhaps you would name her Hannah". 

Here is Kara being a good sport outside in the wind. 

The Bride and her girls moments before making their way to the tent. 

The Father of the Bride (Steve) walking Kara down the isle. 

The first kiss at the reception.

The mother of the groom crying during the "Mother/Son" dance. 

The bride and groom had a wonderful wedding and reception in spite of the weather conditions. Thank you Thomas and Kara for making me a part of your wedding day.

Mad Science

I took my daughter to a birthday party (it seems to be the season for them) where we were entertained by a Mad Scientist! The Mad Scientist showed the kids how to make a vortex, a polymer, gave them a ride on a hover craft, and showed them how to use Mom's finger nail polish remover as an explosive device. Basically, they gave the little kids the knowledge to blow up my home with common household products! MacGyver would be proud! (Note: for those who said "Who's MacGyver?", google for the answer.)


I take my camera to most birthday parties to capture the children in a very candid setting. I can be sitting far away with a zoom lens and get the most amazing images. Sometimes I'm not so far away and I can still get a great image. 


But my favorite images to capture are the ones with the parents and children. Can't ya just feel the love?

If you want a Mad Scientist for your party visit: www.madscience.org. (They were pretty cool!)

My Wife

Leanne, my wife, has told me in very specific term not to use a photo of her on my blog. She tells me it's a "woman thing" and I just nod my head like I have been trained to do. Since I can't post a photo of her, I'd like you to meet Stella. 

Stella is a Brother PR-600II embroidery machine and man does this baby hum. She has 6 needles and has stitched over 22 million stitches in the last 2 years.

Just look at those needles! Gotta watch your fingers when they are moving. 

Leanne owns her own business which she calls Lighthouse Embroidery. She is a very clever and talented woman that makes really cool things from left-over designer fabrics. She makes headbands, pony tail holders, key fobs (whatever that is), and other fun stuff with Vera Bradley and Lilly Pulitzer fabrics. 

One of her top selling items is a travel mug stuffed with designer fabrics. All these cool items (and many more!) can be found on her web site www.lighthouseembroidery.com (you can also find a photo of her there too). 

Summer Sunset

Just a few more days of the "Summer of 2008" comes to a close. This image was shot tonight along the Patuxent River.

The Tooth Fairy

Today was a great day for the 2nd daughter. You see, over the past few weeks one of her upper teeth had become loose. She has been wiggling that tooth everyday in hopes that it would come out and she would receive a visit from the tooth fairy. During our day in the pool she was playing with her little sister. While playing "Mermaids" little sis accidentally kicked big sis with her mermaid tail (read: right foot). The 2nd daughter caught the kick with her wiggling tooth, how lucky! She came over to me with a paper towel and for medical attention (this is a brave kid). The tooth area was red and bleeding and when I applied the paper towel that little tooth popped right out! I have never seen a child so happy to lose a tooth. Now, the tooth is safely tucked under her pillow for the tooth fairy to find.

I just hope the tooth fairy has some money left after filling up his/her gas tank!

This is the little sis with the wicked right kick. She's happy for big sis too!

Upward Soccer

Today we began our new Upward Soccer season. Upward is an evangelistic sports ministry designed for boys and girls (K5 through 6th grade). Upward sports are designed to reveal the winner in every child. Every child play. Every child learns. Every child is a winner! Let's go girls!

Babies and Birthdays

The family went to a birthday party over the weekend where I took this picture. I just love the look on the girls face, her eye peering through the curls of her hair (love the curly hair!), and the little pouting lips. I think she was about to say something when I clicked, perhaps she was thinking, get that camera outta my face. Babies and birthdays, gotta love 'em.

No Worries

The other day I was hanging with my girls by the pool and I snapped this pic of my youngest. The more I look at it, the more I think I'm in big trouble (like I don't have enough gray hair now).