It’s been a week.

It hasn’t been a week of bad stress, anxiety, or a generally terrible week.

But it’s been a week nonetheless.

Last week I hinted that there was potential for good news and that potential came to fruition.

While I was still living in DC I was fortunate enough to participate in the Armed Services Arts Partnership’s Comedy Boot Camp which gave me the kick in the ass I needed to try stand-up comedy.

I loved every second of it.

To be funny is one thing; to be funny on purpose is a completely different cricket match.

It wasn’t just the new skill I was learning or the response I received from some of my jokes, it was the community ASAP had built.

That community was one of the most supportive I’ve been a part of.

This week marked one year since I got on stage at the DC Improv and made a room full of people laugh. Now, I’ve never tried cocaine but if it’s anything like getting an applause break from a joke, I understand its appeal.

Anyway, my graduation show was the last for the founder and then-head of ASAP, Sam Pressler. Apparently building and running a successful non-profit can really take a lot out of you and at some point you just need a long vacation.

With his vacation finished, Sam apparently got restless and decided he wanted to start a podcast. You know, the thing sane people like to do.

Long story short, I’m the new Communications Director for the In Stitches podcast.

It wasn’t so much that it’s a podcast or that Sam is a cool guy— I mean, he has a flip phone so how cool could he be— it was the idea of the podcast: finding the connection between humor and coping/dealing with life.

Essentially, the podcast is about finding the common humanity in humor.

I’ve always said some people collect stamps, some collect coins, I collect stories.

The funny stories are my favorite.

So if you like stories and you like funny people and you have forty-ish minutes every couple of weeks, give the podcast a listen and follow it on Instagram, Twitter, and/or Facebook— even if you don’t like any of those things, you should follow it so I can brag to everyone involved in the podcast once it gets popular.

On top of the podcast, I got a new camera and I absolutely love it.

For the past six years I’ve been using a Canon Rebel T3 and, while it was reliable and worked well, it was time for an upgrade. I bought a Canon 7D Mark II which is like going from a Camry to a Camaro. It just has so much more depth and character to it.

In terms of photos, I kind of became addicted to flat lay shots. There’s just so much you can do and such a great story you can tell with a handful of images and a simple set up. This style really combines well with my storytelling style brain.

So buckle in, because there are about to be a lot of flat lay photos on your collective social medias (as we speak I’m planning about ten different ideas for the coming weeks).

All this on top of wrestling trees into wood chippers— I’m not bragging; just helping to explain the title.

Finally, with no context or explanation, take Bob Barker’s advice and get your pet spayed or neutered and don’t wait too long to do so….

Keep Your Feet Moving

Frames this Week: 1, 179

Total Frames: 2, 430

Day 15- May 10

While I was searching for props for the previous day’s shots, I noticed an old, heavy sewing machine amongst a bunch of boxes. Naturally, I decided it would be fun a flat lay for something old and, most likely, not in production anymore.

My mother is a big quilting fan so I borrowed a bunch of her stuff and played around with a few different shots.

It really is like a puzzle that only you can see and solve.

Filling spots that look empty with something, deciding that doesn’t work there and moving it but then having to replace it with something else, etc. It’s structure and flow out of chaos and ambiguity.

It didn’t turn out quite the way I wanted but I wasn’t really sure how to fix it and fill in the gaps I thought I saw.

Eventually I’ll get it down and understand just how to make everything flow just a little bit better.

Day 16- May 11

Surprise! Another flat lay.

I really like the brand of beard care products (wow, that sounds really douchey) I buy and thought it might be fun to throw in all the stuff I have for my beard hygiene (that sounds worse).

I decided to go simpler on this shot because I felt the sewing machine was a little too busy and there were too many small things getting lost in the shot.

It might have been a bit of an overcorrection but overall I was happy with the way this shot turned out.

I’m also going to be a brand ambassador for them so be prepared for more flat lays with their products.

Day 17- May 12

This day was all about Remmy.

Her new collar and leash from Pack Leashes came in and, since she’s now a brand ambassador (GOAT20 for 20% off) for them, figured I should probably hold up her end of the bargain and actually get some shots in her new swag.

Two things: she doesn’t like sitting still and she’s faster than most Auto Focus servos I have. Might have to get a different lens for doing shoots with her.

Or she could just sit still for like two seconds… that would be nice.

She’s cute though.

Day 18- May 13

I’m a big fan of bourbon and a big fan of Larceny in particular. One of my previous shots captured at Heaven Hill’s Distillery (where Larceny is made and bottled) was taken in one of their rick houses after the tour group I was with had been locked in. I was personally not too upset to be locked in with tens of thousands of barrels of bourbon but apparently it was a “safety concern”.

Anyway, I played around with the theme already on the bottle with some old looking keys and a glass of the good stuff.

I’d like to say the background I used was from an actual barrel of bourbon that had been cut up but alas, it was simply a cutting board with a cool looking wood grain.

Since it’s a prop, the bottle should be tax deductible… right?

Day 19- May 14

The day I got my new camera.

I didn’t really know what to shoot and I spent a lot of time playing around with the mechanisms and settings on my new camera.

Then I thought, I might as well show people what I’ve been working with for the past half-decade.

The T3 will still be my climbing camera for sweet arborist and rock climbing shots but the majority of my remaining photos will be taken with the 7D.

Day 20- May 15

The governor decided to have a restricted reopening on Friday and I got off work early which meant it was time to go for a drive.

Due to the reopening, Barn Door Brewing was open and serving pints. It had been way too long since I ordered and enjoyed a pint (or two) at a brewery I've never been to.

It was so refreshing albeit a little anxiety-inducing.

In the back of the brewery there was an old International flat bed that had been converted to a smoker or small, mobile kitchen of some sort.

It looked like it was in great shape and still runs so I figured why not capture what made it such a beautiful work horse in the first place.

Day 21- May 16

This was honestly my best day of shooting.

Early in the week I thought about what I could shoot in the flat lay style and it hit me (after way too much time), why not take pictures of the gear and equipment I’m around everyday.

I went into work ON MY DAY OFF and spent at least an hour playing with different set ups of chain saws, climbing gear, ropes, different tools, and all the things arborists and tree services use on a day-to-day basis.

My goal for the shoot was to get a shot that my boss would want to hang at his house or in the shop. Something subtle and simple but representative of his passion and career.

He loved two of the shots I sent him.

Challenge complete.