Bird Songs at the Avian Conservation Center

Last night I had the honor of photographing the annual Bird Songs event at the Center for Birds of Prey!

The evening known as Bird Songs, now in its eighth year, has become one of our most anticipated social events in Charleston.  Featuring some of Nashville’s most talented singer/songwriters, it’s an intimate experience combining cocktails and dinner with music and stories.  This year’s headliners were Matt Alderman, Aaron Goodvin, Phillip Lammonds, and Nicole Croteau.  But of course the REAL stars of the show are the owls, hawks, and other beautiful birds of prey that mingle among guests, soar overhead, and coo softly in harmony with the music!

A particularly special feature at this year’s program was the releasing of a Bald Eagle that had been injured and brought to the Avian Conservation Center for surgery and rehabilitation.  It was so moving to watch Jim Elliott, the center’s Founder and Executive Director, release this majestic creature back into the wild!

Presented in the round, in a relaxed and comfortable setting in the Owl Woods area of the campus, this event has sold out every year!  Make sure to check their website early to get a seat for next year’s performance:  https://thecenterforbirdsofprey.org/events_calendar/.

Park West Recreation Complex

It was another fun day to be outside, flying the drone, and capturing photos of a fantastic Mt. Pleasant park!

Seamon Whiteside did an AMAZING job, engineering this space to incorporate so many different sports fields. The Park West Recreation Complex has been around for a few years. But they just resurfaced the track and made a few additions. So I was asked to get some updated drone shots and still photos of the facility.  It was fun to see people out enjoying the sunshine!!!

* Nikon Z9, Nikkor Z 14-30 f4, Nikkor Z 24-120 f4, DJI Mavic 2 Pro

The Battery Soccer Stadium

Soccer holds a special place in my heart! I grew up playing soccer in Zaire (DRC), played midfield for the TASOK team that won the Kinshasa championships, and went on to receive a scholarship to play at Spring Arbor University.

So it was with great excitement that I received the request to photograph the new Charleston Battery Soccer Stadium for Seamon Whiteside!!!  While I was there, I got to meat Christian, the head coach of the College of Charleston women’s team.  So that was pretty cool. But other than him, I had the place to myself!

If you haven’t been to a game at the new facility, it’s pretty awesome.

The Hawks Nest – A New Public Park in Hannahan!

What a GORGEOUS spring day!!! The sun was out. The sky was blue with giant puffy clouds floating through. And the new public park in Hanahan was my “playground” for the day!

I had the honor of spending the day photographing The Hawks Nest, which is a new sports complex and public park in Berkeley County, SC. Seamon Whiteside is the engineering firm behind this picturesque park. They were responsible for designing the park and all it’s amazing amenities.

I got to photograph a wide variety of shots to showcase the many aspects of this beautiful property, as well as showcase how much the public is loving it!

Headshots for Fifth Third Bank

It was a pleasure photographing headshots for the group at the Fifth Third Bank yesterday!

Berkadia Conference at Hotel Bennett

It was an absolute pleasure photographing the Berkadia Leadership Conference at the Hotel Bennett last week!

“Berkadia is a leader in the commercial real estate industry, offering a robust suite of services to our multifamily and commercial property clients. Powered by deep relationships and industry-changing technology, our people sell, finance, and service commercial real estate, providing support for the entire life cycle of our clients’ assets. Our unique ownership structure allows us to put our clients’ interests first and create a marketplace that delivers a superior experience.”

From cultural presentations by Gullah historian, Corey Austin Sweetgrass…to interviews with the CEO of Salamander Hotels, Sheila Johnson…to networking opportunities with Berkadia CEO, Justin Wheeler…the entire event was jam packed with access to knowledge and information you couldn’t get anywhere else in the industry!

Many thanks to Jenna at KLH Group and Meredith at Berkadia for bringing us on board, and making sure everything ran perfectly!

National Ethanol Conference – Orlando, Florida

Ready. Set. Go!

The National Ethanol Conference (NEC) is the most widely attended executive-level conference for the ethanol industry. Industry leaders from across the United States and countries from all over the world are drawn to this annual event. Since 1996, the Renewable Fuels Association’s NEC has been recognized as the most important ethanol conference to attend for the latest, most timely information on marketing, legislative and regulatory issues facing the industry.

It was an absolute pleasure to photograph this year’s conference at the incredible Rosen Shingle Creek Resort in Orlando, Florida. With keynote presentations from the likes of Medal of Honor Recipient Sal Giunta, Governor Kim Reynolds of Iowa, and Geoff Cooper, President & CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association…it was a remarkable experience to be a part of.

Many thanks to Mary Giglio and Ken Colombini for bringing me on board! It truly was an honor working with the amazing team at RFA!!!

Seamon Whiteside Headshots

It’s always a pleasure photographing headshots for Seamon Whiteside! They are a fantastic organization, and always hire the nicest people. Here are a few favorites from my latest session with their newest team members…

* Nikon Z9, Nikkor Z 70-200 f2.8, Manfrotto tripod *

Siemens Medical Sailing Regatta

Every day is different! That’s one of the best parts about my job!!!  🙂

Yesterday I got to photograph a fun sailing regatta for Siemens Medical. Being out on the Committee Boat with Captain Mike and Captain Dave, the Professional Race Official, was a real treat. The weather in Charleston Harbor was perfect with a steady wind, a balmy 75 degrees, and blue skies!

Many thanks to Lee at www.experienceholycity.com for bringing me on board (pun intended)! And CONGRATULATIONS to Angela and all the winners from Siemens Medical!!!

* Nikon Z9 (x2), Nikkor Z 24-120 f4, Nikkor Z 70-200 f2.8 + Z TC 1.4X (98mm-280mm equivalent), DJI Mini 3 Pro

USGC 20th International Marketing Conference – Reception Dinner

Attendees and staff arrived in Savannah, GA, last week for the US Grains Council’s 20th International Marketing Conference and 63rd Membership Meeting. These annual events are an important time for everyone to focus on challenges and opportunities around the world, and celebrate the Council’s rich history!

The winter meeting is an annual opportunity for corn, sorghum and barley farmers, as well as members of agribusinesses, who make up the organization’s membership, to meet with Council staff, working together on behalf of U.S. producers. The guidance and information each member contributes during this meeting, combined with input from A-Team leaders, helps to guide the roadmap for the Council’s near-term strategy.

At the end of an intense second day of meetings and presentations, it was time to unwind and network at the eclectic Service Brewery. Everyone had a great time, the food was delicious, and the live music was outstanding! It was an honor and a pleasure catching up with everyone, and capturing all the key moments of another USGC event in such a beautiful old historic city!

* Nikon Z9 (x2), Nikkor Z 14-30 f4, Nikkor Z 24-70 f2.8, Nikkor Z 24-120 f4, Nikkor Z 70-200 f2.8 *

Chairman’s Reception at Churchill’s

It’s been an absolute pleasure getting to know Chad Willis, capturing all his accomplishments as Chairman of the Board of Directors at the US Grains Council.  Chad has been farming since 1997 and has worked in both the corn milling and feed industries. He was a member of the Minnesota Corn Research and Promotion Council before serving on its board. After joining the Council, he served on both the Value-Added Advisory Team (A-Team) and was a vocal advocate for creating the Council’s Ethanol A-Team before serving on the Council’s Board of Directors.

So when Minnesota Corn Research sponsored his Chairman’s Reception at Churchill’s Rooftop Bar in Savannah, I jumped at the chance to cover it! The event space was filled with a “who’s who” of leaders in the world of grain commodities. Ryan LeGrand, President and CEO of the US Grains Council, shared anecdotes and accolades on a job well-done.

CONGRATULATIONS, Chad!!!  May you have plenty of time to rest and recuperate from all your long days and tireless efforts….

Hatfield Temple Law Firm

I had the pleasure of photographing Hood and Alec of Hatfield Temple yesterday for an upcoming article in Super Lawyers Magazine. The attorneys and staff were nothing but kind, sincere, and professional. They were an absolute pleasure to work with!

“When an unexpected tragedy turns your life upside down, the decisions you make after will spark a chain reaction, impacting the rest of your life. Of those decisions, choosing your legal team may be the most important. Our team of experienced, caring, and dedicated attorneys are prepared to advocate vigorously on your behalf.” – https://htlawsc.com/

Mounted to one wall of their conference room is the original façade to the old historic Florence Courthouse that was torn down to build the new judicial complex. What an iconic location for their portrait! I set up a “wall of light” with 4 Nikon SB-5000 flashes shooting through 2 Westcott 60″ umbrellas at camera right. The image was captured with a Nikon Z9 + Nikkor Z 24-70 f2.8 lens at ISO 400, f4, 1/60 sec.

CONGRATULATIONS to the team at Hatfield Temple!