American Investigations summer 2017. Two cities, three views

Three streetscapes that caught my attention.

The Bail Bond / Texas Wiener Restaurant is in center city Philadelphia, PA.

The Buffalo Baptist Church is just a bit past the DC line, on Rhode Island Avenue in Riverdale MD.

The green storefront is on 18th Street NW in Washington DC.

Relaxing with family in the Poconos

Ruth and I visited Mountain Springs Lake in Pennsylvania's Pocono Mountains over the weekend, along with Marjorie, Drew, Sean, and Drew's good friend Daniel Shanahan.

Of course the star of the occasion, Miz Adele, was there.

A lovely time was had by all.

Portraits- husband and wife

I made these portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Harris on commission this past weekend.

Lovely people.

Fallen leaf

Gathered from Glencarlyn Park, July 29, 2017.

Twelfth Anniversary | Loving Ruth

Ruth and I met exactly twelve years ago today, at a Thai restaurant near Falls Church, VA. (Thank you Sherri Shunfenthal for creating the shidduch, the match!).

Under ordinary circumstances we celebrate by returning to that restaurant to relive the moment and to renew, but as we're currently in Alaska, this, instead...

By the banks of a glacier-fed river.

I love you Ruth. Here's to many more years of continuing to grow in life and love together.

Anchorage , Alaska

Ruth and I arrived in Anchorage today after a long flight.

We walked around a bit. It's a pleasant and plain city surrounded by water and mountain ranges.

And the sun is staying up late. Time for us to rest up, though.

North, to Alaska... Off to Denali tomorrow.

SUN magazine cover- 500th issue

The upcoming August 2017 issue of the SUN magazine will have my photograph serving as their cover. I am humbled and honored to have this image grace such an extraordinary publication.

I also appreciate the kind note from publisher Sy Safransky about how pleased he is regarding this photograph being paired with the anniversary issue.

The photograph was made at a fierce and righteous protest in Washington DC on January 20, 2017 against the inauguration of Donald Trump. A variant of this photograph was also included in the recently published book "UnPresidented."

Rawan Saleh at SkillsUSA / strong woman

Rawan Saleh is a recent immigrant to the United States from Jordan. She attends Fern Creek High School in Louisville Kentucky, and she has won numerous competitions for public speaking, and recently competed at a national level at SkillsUSA.

She is a bright, fierce , and highly articulate spokesperson for her ideas and identity.

Salaam aleikum, and much continued success to her.

SkillsUSA Conference 2017 / Louisville KY

I just documented my 32nd SkillsUSA National Leadership Skills Competition, held again this year in Louisville, Kentucky. Sixteen thousand-plus people attended, and many of these competed in their trades for national-level medals. 

Thanks as always to the great SkillsUSA staff: Tom Hall, Ann Schreiber, Craig Moore, Tom Kercheval, Jane DeShong Short, Karen Kitzel, Darlene Helena, co-photographers Clay Allen, William Fambrough Jr.,  Janet Cantore Watson, and the whole terrific SkillsUSA communications team. We survived yet another interesting year of Hell Week.

Here are a set of my favorite personal images.