Charleston Parks Conservancy

As a professional photographer, I’ve always been drawn to the vibrant landscapes and historical charm of Charleston. Recently, a select group of photographers had the incredible opportunity to collaborate with the Charleston Parks Conservancy, capturing the essence of some of the city’s smaller, lesser-known, pocket parks.
From the lush greenery of Tiedemann Park & Nature Center to the colorful blooms at Susie Jackson Freedom Memorial Garden, to the formal structure of Theodora Park, each location offered a unique canvas. The Conservancy’s dedication to preserving and enhancing these green spaces is truly inspiring, and my goal was to reflect that beauty through my lens. I used a variety of tools, capturing aerial drone shots with the DJI Mavic 3 Pro, colorful details with the Nikon Zf, and unique black-and-white shots with the Infrared-converted Nikon Coolpix A.
Working alongside the Conservancy allowed me to explore the intricate details of each park…from the historic black iron gates to the carefully curated gardens. It’s a privilege to contribute to the mission of promoting these precious spaces and encouraging more people to experience their beauty.
I’m excited to share these images and hope they inspire others to discover the wonderful parks that make Charleston truly special. Many thanks to Darlene, Kellen, Sam, and Ali!!!

NAEGA Conference in Winnipeg, Canada

I’ve never been to Winnipeg. It’s a beautiful, walkable, picturesque city, that seems to be plaqued by inclimate weather. This was also my first time in Manitoba…which is the 5th province of Canada of been to.

I was in town to photograph the North American Export Grain Association conference at the Alt Hotel. NAEGA is a not-for-profit industry trade association promoting policies, rules and commercial practices that support efficient international trade in grains, oilseeds and their derived products. Established in 1912, NAEGA’s members include private and publicly owned companies and farmer-owned cooperatives that export agricultural production to customers around the world. Their work benefits consumers, farmers and people working the trade.

I had previously worked with Alejandra, the president of NAEGA, at a former organization. So it was an absolute honor to work with her again and photograph the NAEGA conference for her!

Wailin’ Wayne Weekend

When I travel with the Moto Photo Adventures team, we stumble onto some pretty interesting sights. Whether it’s the town of Mt. Airy, Andy Griffith’s home town, and where the town of Mayberry is based on…the abandoned Athens Lunatic Asylum…or the ghost town of Thurnton where a once booming coal industry has long since dried up…there’s always something interesting to photograph along the way.

I carry a pocket-sized Nikon Coolpix A, that has been converted by Kolari Vision Infrared to “see” infrared light. Plus I always bring my trusty Nikon Zf, a retro-styled full-frame mirrorless camera with impecable image qualtiy. For aerial shots, I carry a compact DJI Mini 3 Pro drone. And of course I’m always grabbing snapshots with my phone when neither of those are handy. 🙂

Here are a few of my favorite shots from our latest trip to the Wailin Wayne Weekend in Ohio. We had an AMAZING time, catching up with old friends, and making new ones along the way…

ICGA Annual Grassroots Summit

Iowa Corn Growers Association (ICGA) is singularly focused on supporting sound policy development and pro-farmer legislation to support long-term profitability for corn growers. ICGA works to support state and federal policy on increasing blends and access to renewable fuels, decreasing regulatory burdens on Iowa’s livestock industry, improving Farm Bill programs, promoting trade policies and so much more.

It was a real honor to photograph this year’s ICGA Annual Grassroots Summit, which is one of the many opportunities for delegates to get involved and make their voices heard. Attendees get an in-depth look at the issues facing the corn industry, debate key policies that impact their farm, help set the direction for the organization moving forward and get to know other corn growers from across the state. This year’s event was held at Prarie Meadows Hotel & Casino in Altoona, IA. Keynote speakers included Secretary Mike Naig and Governor Kim Reynolds!

Many thanks to Shannon, Amanda, and Rachel from the ICGA communications team for bringing me on board to capture all the energy and excitement of this amazing conference!!!

Riverside Apartments for Seamon Whiteside

I picked up another project to photograph for Seamon Whiteside in Greenville this week…which was great since it was still overcast and “gloomy” in Charleston!

Riverside is an 8.3-acre site in the Water Tower District of Greenville, SC, along the Swamp Rabbit Trail. The development includes 200 multifamily units. Operated by Woodfield Development, the first tenants took occupancy in the 3rd quarter of 2021. What I love the most is all the amenities Seamon Whiteside put into the plans…dog park, pickleball court, fire pit, pool, frizbee golf, workout room, yoga studio, bocce ball, bicycle garage, and so much more!

Many thanks to Jennifer for helping organize everything for this assignment!

Greenville County Square for Seamon Whiteside

I hadn’t seen blue skies and puffy white clouds in DAYS!!! So I was super happy to be photographing in Greenville this week! I was there to photograph the new Greenville County Square, with its stately Veterans Memorial Plaza out front, and gorgeous landscaping out back.

A city ordinance that was passed in February 2020 approved the conceptual plans for a new Greenville County administrative building, which would be located at the northwest corner of University Ridge and South Church Street. The administrative building and adjoining parking deck have been completed. But there’s still a lot to go! Ultimately, the 40-acre site will be redeveloped into an urban environment designed to complement downtown with a mix of commercial, residential, public/institutional and service/industrial uses. It will also feature two central plazas and three dog parks and include multi-use trail connectivity on the east, north and west boundaries to better integrate the development with the surrounding areas and provide convenient access for residents in nearby neighborhoods.

Many thanks to Jennifer for helping me coordinate this photo shoot…and getting me out in the sunshine for a few hours! 🙂

Swamp Rabbit Trail for Seamon Whiteside

With all the doom and gloom that descended upon Charleston during Hurricane Debby’s visit, I was very glad to have a photo shoot in Greenville this week. I hadn’t seen blue skies and puffy white clouds in DAYS!!!

I was there to photograph promotional photos of the new Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail extension for Seamon Whiteside, the engineering group that did the site surveys and project developement. It extends the original Swamp Rabbit Trail even further north of Greenville, from Unity Park all the way up to Trevelers Rest. Since opening in 2009, this 28 mile (and growing) network of paved trails offers fun, fitness and community transportation throughout Greenville County. To read more about this awesome hike/bike/run/rollerblade trail, and plan your visit, check out: https://greenvillerec.com/swamprabbit/.

Many thanks to Jennifer for helping me coordinate this photo shoot…and getting me out in the sunshine for a few hours! 🙂

US Grains Council Salt Lake City Board of Directors Meeting – Reception at Hogle Zoo

It’s been a real pleasure photographing the USGC’s annual Board of Directors Meeting each summer. This is their 64th annual meeting!!!

The U.S. Grains Council develops export markets for U.S. barley, corn, sorghum and related products, including distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) and ethanol. With a full-time presence in 28 locations, the Council operates programs in over 50 countries, as well as the European Union. The Council’s work is vital to global economic development, and to the profitability and sustainability of American farmers.

This year’s conference was held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Salt Lake City, UT. Cami and I flew out a few days early to explore Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks. But we also enjoyed the sights and sounds of Salt Lake City, including the Utah State Capitol, Temple Square, the Tabernacle at The Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints, the Conference Center, and Hogle Zoo.

But the main event was of course the USGC conference! With a welcome address by Mike Mower from the Utah Governor’s office, a motivational speech by Matt Booth, a CEO outlook by USGC President and CEO Ryan LeGrand and keynote presentations by the likes of Carlos Suarez (USGC Director of Global Sustainability), Lloyd Day (Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture), and Keneth Smith Ramos (ARGON), the schedule was absolutely packed! In addition to the conference speakers, there were a variety of panel discussions, tons of Advisory Team meetings, Sector meetings, and of course the Board of Delegates Meeting. Needless to say, I was kept quite busy capturing all the action!

Many thanks to the team at the US Grains Council for inviting me back and trusting me to capture all the key moments of this important conference!!!

US Grains Council Salt Lake City Board of Directors Meeting – Day 3

It’s been a real pleasure photographing the USGC’s annual Board of Directors Meeting each summer. This is their 64th annual meeting!!!

The U.S. Grains Council develops export markets for U.S. barley, corn, sorghum and related products, including distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) and ethanol. With a full-time presence in 28 locations, the Council operates programs in over 50 countries, as well as the European Union. The Council’s work is vital to global economic development, and to the profitability and sustainability of American farmers.

This year’s conference was held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Salt Lake City, UT. Cami and I flew out a few days early to explore Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks. But we also enjoyed the sights and sounds of Salt Lake City, including the Utah State Capitol, Temple Square, the Tabernacle at The Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints, the Conference Center, and Hogle Zoo.

But the main event was of course the USGC conference! With a welcome address by Mike Mower from the Utah Governor’s office, a motivational speech by Matt Booth, a CEO outlook by USGC President and CEO Ryan LeGrand and keynote presentations by the likes of Carlos Suarez (USGC Director of Global Sustainability), Lloyd Day (Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture), and Keneth Smith Ramos (ARGON), the schedule was absolutely packed! In addition to the conference speakers, there were a variety of panel discussions, tons of Advisory Team meetings, Sector meetings, and of course the Board of Delegates Meeting. Needless to say, I was kept quite busy capturing all the action!

Many thanks to the team at the US Grains Council for inviting me back and trusting me to capture all the key moments of this important conference!!!

US Grains Council Salt Lake City Board of Directors Meeting – Day 2

It’s been a real pleasure photographing the USGC’s annual Board of Directors Meeting each summer. This is their 64th annual meeting!!!

The U.S. Grains Council develops export markets for U.S. barley, corn, sorghum and related products, including distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) and ethanol. With a full-time presence in 28 locations, the Council operates programs in over 50 countries, as well as the European Union. The Council’s work is vital to global economic development, and to the profitability and sustainability of American farmers.

This year’s conference was held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Salt Lake City, UT. Cami and I flew out a few days early to explore Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks. But we also enjoyed the sights and sounds of Salt Lake City, including the Utah State Capitol, Temple Square, the Tabernacle at The Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints, the Conference Center, and Hogle Zoo.

But the main event was of course the USGC conference! With a welcome address by Mike Mower from the Utah Governor’s office, a motivational speech by Matt Booth, a CEO outlook by USGC President and CEO Ryan LeGrand and keynote presentations by the likes of Carlos Suarez (USGC Director of Global Sustainability), Lloyd Day (Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture), and Keneth Smith Ramos (ARGON), the schedule was absolutely packed! In addition to the conference speakers, there were a variety of panel discussions, tons of Advisory Team meetings, Sector meetings, and of course the Board of Delegates Meeting. Needless to say, I was kept quite busy capturing all the action!

Many thanks to the team at the US Grains Council for inviting me back and trusting me to capture all the key moments of this important conference!!!

US Grains Council Salt Lake City Board of Directors Meeting – Day 1

It’s been a real pleasure photographing the USGC’s annual Board of Directors Meeting each summer. This is their 64th annual meeting!!!

The U.S. Grains Council develops export markets for U.S. barley, corn, sorghum and related products, including distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) and ethanol. With a full-time presence in 28 locations, the Council operates programs in over 50 countries, as well as the European Union. The Council’s work is vital to global economic development, and to the profitability and sustainability of American farmers.

This year’s conference was held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Salt Lake City, UT. Cami and I flew out a few days early to explore Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks. But we also enjoyed the sights and sounds of Salt Lake City, including the Utah State Capitol, Temple Square, the Tabernacle at The Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints, the Conference Center, and Hogle Zoo.

But the main event was of course the USGC conference! With a welcome address by Mike Mower from the Utah Governor’s office, a motivational speech by Matt Booth, a CEO outlook by USGC President and CEO Ryan LeGrand and keynote presentations by the likes of Carlos Suarez (USGC Director of Global Sustainability), Lloyd Day (Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture), and Keneth Smith Ramos (ARGON), the schedule was absolutely packed! In addition to the conference speakers, there were a variety of panel discussions, tons of Advisory Team meetings, Sector meetings, and of course the Board of Delegates Meeting. Needless to say, I was kept quite busy capturing all the action!

Many thanks to the team at the US Grains Council for inviting me back and trusting me to capture all the key moments of this important conference!!!

National Ethanol Conference – San Diego (Day 3)

The National Ethanol Conference (NEC) is the most widely attended executive-level conference for the ethanol industry. With numerous networking opportunities, more business meetings are conducted and contacts made at this conference than at any other ethanol event in the world. Past events have welcomed industry leaders from across the United States and 20 other countries. Since 1996, the Renewable Fuels Association’s NEC has been recognized as the ethanol conference for the latest trends, most timely information, as well as all the legislative and regulatory issues facing the industry.

This year’s meeting was held at the beautiful Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel. Day one had me covering a pump promotion with Pearson Fuesls, staff headshots, a women’s leadership reception, the PAC Auction, and a welcome reception. Day two found me photographing more headshots, the general session, keynote presentation by Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, a state of the industry report by President and CEO Geoff Cooper, and a networking reception. Day three included final staff headshots, various panel discussions, and a keynote address from Chief Agricultural Negotiator Ambassador Doug McKalip.

It has been my pleasure to work with the RFA over the last few years, capturing all the important highlights, marketing promotions, keynote speakers, staff headshots, team photos and every detail of this important annual event!