A quick Saturday visit to Davie's Bamford Sports Complex playground with Elena, before the typical afternoon storms rolled in...
personal
Family of 8 | Fort Lauderdale Beach Photographer
On a crowded day at Fort Lauderdale Beach, I got to hang out with three generations of a family I've known my whole life... including the two little cuties that I hadn't even met yet! I'm not sure when we all grew up, but its great being close enough to catch up and get them some updated family photos in time for the holidays!
South Florida Sunrise | Dania Beach Photographer
Since I'm past the age of watching the sunrise on my way home from the clubs, the only time I am really awake in time to enjoy them anymore is when I have a morning beach photo session. I should maybe consider waking up early enough to enjoy them more often...I definitely live close enough to the beach... Eh, but I do love my sleep.Maybe this photo I took of last Saturday's sunrise at Dania Beach Pier will fulfill my need for a while. Until the next morning session, of course. 
Battle of Siam: News-Journal Center | South Florida Event Photographer
Something a little different. I had never even been to any kind of fight before, let alone shot photos of a fight. I figured the lighting and the movement couldn't be THAT different from concerts, which I have plenty of experience doing... (as seen HERE, of course). I was somewhat right. As far as setting my camera's ISO/aperture/shutter speed and following moving subjects to focus, it was similar. But behind my camera at a concert, I feel the music and let the beat and the energy of the performers direct my shoot a bit. In this case? I felt like I was missing opportunities for good shots, because anytime anyone got a good punch or kick in, I'd pull away from my camera and cringe. Some of it was painful to watch. I'm sure the fighters involved would love to remind me that I don't have any idea what true pain is, so I'll just stop talking now.The fight took place at the News-Journal Center in Daytona Beach on February 19, 2012. Although the event was made up of several fights, I was there to focus on getting photos specifically of Joe Miller of Dynasty Martial Arts & Fitness - fighting Muay Thai against opponent Kegan Otey. The fights are made up of 3 rounds, but I quickly realized that when I'm behind the camera concentrating on photos, I'm not seeing the fight objectively enough to have any idea who's in the lead. Not that I know enough about fighting to know who should win anyway, but in this case, I'm glad it was Joe - it made the concluding photos that much happier.
Art Miami: Wynwood | Art Basel 2011 in Photos
For a few days every December, the artists outnumber the non-artists in Miami. Two words: Arts. Basel.If you're unfamiliar with Art Basel - its a giant art playground for people like me. In other words, its an international contemporary art fair that only happens in Switzerland and Miami. We stayed away from the convention center in South Beach and hung out in the art/design district for the day, where there were still a ton of events going on. Here's a glimpse into my day - starting at Wynwood Walls, all through Midtown and then ending at Art Miami and Red Dot...
Pumpkins | South Florida Lifestyle Photographer
"Pumpkin patches." Just one of the many things very different down here than it is in Chicago. In Chicago, October was one of those times of the year that you had to leave the city and remind yourself that you do in fact live in the Midwest in Illinois... and you're surrounded by nothing by farms. And corn. A whole lot of corn. Before Halloween, we'd drive an hour or so out to one of the many farms in the suburbs that grew pumpkins. The idea of visiting a pumpkin patch included much more than actually visiting the patch and picking your pumpkin. It was a an entire day's event. Hay rides, caramel apples, face painting, corn mazes (yes corn mazes), apple cider, etc. So this year, when we were invited to the "pumpkin patch" in Miami, I was confused. There aren't pumpkin farms in Miami, are there?! Turns out a South Florida pumpkin patch is actually just a pile of bought pumpkins piled in a Church parking lot. Nothing really to keep you there for more than 30 minutes except maybe the indecisiveness of the kids choosing pumpkins and the very urban playground right next door. Oh well, still a fun day!