A little night photography with my son and our friend Ryan, where we decided to mix it up with some steel wool photography in the Old Navy Shipyard in North Charleston.

I always enjoy a challenge and there’s often a first time for everything, so imagine my surprise when I was contacted to shoot a house (and neighborhood) that was being submitted for a national-level award for green/sustainable building standards. Oak Terrace Preserve is a damn nice neighborhood, one that I would seriously consider moving to if we didn’t already own a home.

I was hired by Google and the Coastal Community Foundation to photograph some training courses that were being provided to the members of the Lowcountry Senior Center on James Island. While you may not think of it as an exciting photoshoot, it was a lot of fun! The great attitudes of everyone as they learned stuff that most of us take for granted, not to mention the expert instruction provided by Tina Arnoldi, made it one of my more enjoyable shoots.

I’ve been involved with Brewvival from the very beginning – photographing it, shooting video, and designing/hosting the website each year. We dodged the weather bullet for the first three years, but this year made up for it… it POURED rain the entire time. Just when you thought it would ruin the event, people show up with their rubber boots, rain gear, umbrellas, plastic garbage bags (you name it) and had an absolute BLAST. Some say that it was the best one yet, which I’m sure had nothing to do with the ~200 craft beers available, excellent live music, mud wrestling, etc.

I couldn’t pass up an offer to shoot the opening dinner at The Green Door, Charleston’s latest restaurant that everyone has been buzzing about. Chef Cory and his wife Becky (from Roti Rolls food truck) opened up in the side room of Big John’s Tavern and have been absolutely killing it. If you’re in the neighborhood (even if you’re not) definitely stop in and check them out!

I was beyond happy to hear that Beer Advocate, the #1 craft beer magazine out there, had decided to run an article on Morgan & Edward Westbrook of Westbrook Brewing Company in Mount Pleasant. I’m honored to call these two my friends, and as luck would have it I already had some fun photos of the two of them that we took during a CHARLIE Magazine photoshoot.

Congrats to such a fun and creative couple!

You probably already know that this month is Movember - where kind-hearted gentleman around the globe take part in raising money and awareness for male prostate and testicular cancer. I’m already growing a ridiculous ‘stache, and am the captain of a great local team, but I want to do even more. I especially want to do more to fight all types of cancer since receiving a phone call yesterday informing me that my mom has cancer - again. It’s been over two years ago that she was diagnosed with breast cancer and went on to beat it. This time around the doc is confident she can kick cancer’s ass once again. I know she will, she’s one strong woman.

So, what can little ol’ me do to get you to donate for a good cause?

Well, I happen to love taking photographs (in case you couldn’t tell) so I want to offer you something in exchange for your hard earned cash.

Here’s what I’m thinking:

$50 donation

I will personally mail you a 8×10″ print of one of my favorite photos of all time. It’ll be a surprise, but I think you’ll like it.

$150 donation

I will arrange a private photoshoot with you and take as many shots of you – you & spouse, kids, you & family, you & dog/hamster – as you’d like. I’ll meet you somewhere in the vicinity of Charleston (outdoor setting is preferred) or you can come over to my own little garage studio (see photo examples below).

Oh, and if you do decide to donate – Thank you!

I had the privilege of being asked by my friend Timmons to shoot the photos in a new book that he was writing on the history of beer and the present day beer culture in Charleston. Visit and shoot local breweries and pubs? Seriously, tough choice!

Well, it’s finally been published by History Press and is available there, as well as Amazon and Barnes and Noble. I think it really turned out well – the amount of research that I saw him put into the book is really amazing. Before, I would not have thought there would be enough material to make a book (until recently we only had two breweries) despite Charleston being one of the oldest cities in America. Well, I was wrong – he dug up some excellent facts, including beer news dating back to 1732. As for photography, most of the 65+ shots are mine (except for the historical documentation), including a 16-page color insert and the cover, which I think turned out really well (no stress like the idea that your photo will be on a book cover, so better make it a good one!)

Timmons is now off on author events, book signings, etc. If you get a chance, go to one and chat him up!

As for me now, I’m working on a new website with him that will feature everything beer-related in the Charleston area – from info on all of the breweries and beer joints, to beer events, festivals (there can be only one), local beer, news articles and more. Stay tuned!

Holy City Brewery, the latest microbrewery in the area, had it’s first official brew day today, and guess who decided to show up and wish them success! Mayor Keith Summey, from the City of North Charleston, dropped in to say hello and get a tour of his city’s second brewery (along with COAST Brewing Co.) and sample a little craft beer.

Unfortunately, the only thing we try was a bacon & jalepeno porter, which co-founder Chris Brown readily admitted wasn’t so much for consumption, but rather something they concocted for the guys at Hello, My Name is BBQ, for an upcoming Food Network special on Charleston food trucks. I can, however, say that I’ve had the pleasure of trying their standard porter, and it’s damn good.

They’re already brewing, so look for their beer in restaurants around town. They should be open for tours & tastings in the August timeframe.

Check them out: www.holycitybrewing.com or on Facebook.

Just a little update on what I’ve been up to since launching this blog, for my single TWO readers out there (hi Heather & Mom!)

I’m currently shooting photos for an upcoming book, “The History of Beer in Charleston” which is being authored by my beer buddy Timmons. We’ve been out shooting at Westbrook Brewery, COAST Brewery, Palmetto Brewery, Charleston Beer Exchange and Holy City Brewery. I’m excited by this project which has been a lot of fun – it’s great to see the craft beer culture growing like crazy in this area.

I’ve also been shooting video for Westbrook Brewing Company that will be featured in their brand spanking new tasting room, with another edit being used online. As seen in the photo above, I’m using my trusty ol’ Canon 5D Mark II, which shoots amazing 1080p HD video at 24fps. For audio I went ahead and picked up a Zoom H4N, and for some additional lighting I grabbed some new LED lights, which will work well for the video interviews. Bonus points for not melting the face off of Edward and Smith!

Additionally, I’ve been building a e-commerce site for the newly opened Coastal Coffee Roasters, as well as shooting photos at their new location and planning a video as well. Another new website for the Center for Complex Operations in DC, a two-week work assignment in Stuttgart, Germany, as well as other stuff at my full-time job, and some days I don’t know if I’m coming or going.

All-in-all it’s good to be keeping busy…