Urban Bounty

It doesn't get much better … on a slow summer day … to forage for fresh fruit in the city. Mulberry trees are near the end of their production this time of year. You know these trees … when you walk under them the ground is stained purple with its berries. Well, we went on a three person mission ; ) on foot, for these sweet treats. And we hit the jackpot … and then stumbled upon some black raspberries … and then I found a cherry tree! I'm afraid I'm unable to reveal the location of this Oasis … but needless to say all parties involved were satisfied.

American Ingenuity ...

... or as my neighbor calls it an "Old Hill Billy Trick" used on a water pump off a 1973 Firebird, to protect the flange belt from its hose.

Lemonade Stand

4/30 - Paradise, MD: Small-time entrepreneurs Emily Bardle (10) & Kelly Bochamp (11) sell lemonade, water, and freshly baked brownies with their friends on the corner of Frederick & South Symington in Catonsville. I found if you buy enough stuff from them, you'll get a free freeze-pop. They won't be putting themselves through college with their profits, but it's a great way to spend a beautiful Saturday.

Lucky 3 Barbershop - Paradise

Micah and Valerie Stanovich independently own and operate Lucky Three Barber Shop & Salon, the newest eclectic business in Paradise, a community in Catonsville, Maryland. These are images accompanying my Focus on Business piece, a continuing series of independent projects for the Paradise Community Association.

My Best of 2010

This year I continued to attempt "off-peak" images to balance a sometimes overwhelming volume of game action. So I've filed my favorites chronologically & separated them into two groups.

Sports

These Sports images contain game-action shots, including a few from new attempts such as Crew and Water Polo, as well as the ever challenging (for me) Squash.

Editorial

This second group's focus is away from peak action. I've used the Editorial classification loosely, assembling images taken on & off field as well as some Commercial and Personal projects that I really like. Also this year, I began experimenting with Lightroom and there are a few enhanced examples here too.

It was an overall good year of challenging work that sent me all over the mid-atlantic and brought some new leads and adventures.

Thanks for stopping by. Feedback welcome.

“In Her Element”

Louisa Anne Meekins owns and operates L.A. Hair Salon and second hand clothing shop in Paradise, a community in Catonsville, Maryland.
These are images accompanying my Focus on Business piece, a continuing series of independent projects for the Paradise Community Association.

Paradise ... Oh Thank Heaven!

Joe and Pam Chilcoat are owner's of the Paradise 7-11 and longtime Catonsville residents. Here are some images from Focus on Business, a continuing series of independent projects for my Paradise Community Association.

Ferguson's Flowers

Ron and Nati Young's Hardware store comes to life every spring. The colorful bounty attract patrons from all over southwest Baltimore county. The revenue generated from their spring flower sales help carry them through tough times.

One in a series of independent projects for the Paradise Community Association.

Sure Things

Death, Taxes, 7-11, and the Bar

Snowed In

Just like everyone else in the Baltimore/DC metro area, we're snowed in bigtime. And just like everyone else life slowed down a bit. Friday night we opened the blinds in our front sunroom, lit some candles, and just watched the snow fall onto Paradise.

Life was different with so much snow. It wiped clean all other priorities and demands. And when the sunrose there was only one focus, freedom. The quantity of snow was overwhelming, but it helped bring my neighborhood together. It was nice to just work, outside, with people, no cars, no TV, walking on Frederick road, and snow above my knees. I was sad a little when it stopped snowing early afternoon Saturday, I knew the simplicity was fleeting. I like breaks.

Ferguson's Hardware

I spent the afternoon with Ron Young at his hardware store in the small Catonsville neighborhood of Paradise. It's been in his family since the mid fifties and there's still a taste of the period when you walk through the door. Classic, nostalgic, eclectic, I heard some great stories about the neighborhood, travel, life, he even showed me how to tie a Tugboat Bowline. Next to the gorgeous ambient light, I couldn't ask for much more.

This is the second in a series of independent projects for the Paradise Community Association.

Lucy's Paradise Cafe

The first in a series of independent projects for the Paradise Community Association.