L.A.'s Crematorium

I've been working on a series for years on where we go when we die. Not so much about death but the mechanics of where our bodies go at various stages of post life. It's not all about cemeteries, you'd be surprised. Here's the latest installment from Los Angeles County's crematorium.


The Los Angeles County crematorium


The gravesite marking the ashes from the unidentified people cremated in 1999.


The smell of burning remains filled the air around the facility.


The crematorium used to sit on the adjacent Evergreen Cemetery.

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Dr. Wagreich, the Photographer?

Photography is a lot like being a doctor. Really. Patients step into a sterile white office and just as a matter of course, reveal an intimate and sometimes private part of themselves to a complete stranger. Something they wouldn't even share with a friend of spouse.

And yes, there's an odd parallel with photography. A brief window into a subject's soul opens up and I am gifted with an intimate moment with a complete stranger. It doesn't happen with everyone but when it does it's a wonderful part of what I do. Knowing folks and learning about what makes them tick is a draw for me to the profession. That's about as close to a parallel as I can draw to my grandfathers who were both doctors.

So after weeks of navigating the turbid waters of e-mails and voice mails with his handlers and PR folks, I managed to carve out 15 minutes and four setups with Steve Forbes at the Forbes headquarters in Manhattan. For all the hype and hullabaloo that was created I managed to forge a brief connection for a few minutes chatting with and photographing this highly personable and sensitive individual full of passion, and yes opinion, about the world.







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The Aftermath

Will all the excitement about the snow I took a breather and headed out to some favorite spots in the George Washington National Forest for some quiet time.





Happy shoveling!

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Bridget and Chris

Bridget and Chris' wintery wedding was a fantastic collaboration between bride and groom as art directors, photographer and mother nature at the Briar Patch Inn in Middleburg, Virginia. While Chris shared his artistic eye and playful spirit, Bridget called on mother nature to grant her wish of snow and ML and I were there to capture so many unique and wonderful moments. Most brides would shudder at the thought of a snowstorm on their wedding day but we all had a little twinkle in our eyes for the good fortune it brought us in pictures. Or perhaps it was the Natty Boh! Thanks to all the stars that aligned it was a memorable Saturday.


Chris put his talented skills as an illustrator onto a pint glass party favor - a rendition of a photo from our engagement session!


For about 10 minutes nobody breathed as we hijacked the bride's dress about 100 yards out to the barn in a snowstorm.












Yes, that's a Steeler's garter.













When we contacted the owners to let us shoot at the barn they thought we were a little crazy




Bridget's sister crafted this cake, rolling thousands of sugar balls.


Natty Boh (3rd from left) and friends


Post-dollar dance mayhem



Thanks all for a great day.

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Bring it on Darryl and Ron!

Talented artist musicians Darryl and Ron rocked the studio recently with a fresh look for their marketing and album art. It was such a pleasure to work with motivated creatives and we brought down the house during an awesome session. Thanks guys for giving me your trust and your best!























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Capitol Blizzard 2009

It was a rare event to have a foot and a half of snow on the ground before Christmas in DC (not to mention the Senate being in session) and I took the opportunity to capture solid holiday and winter imagery at the Capitol. Surely they'll be seen in holiday cards for years to come!

Merry Christmas all and thanks for a fabulous 2009!















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A Capitol Engagement

She didn't have a clue.

It began with a private tour of the innards of the U.S. Capitol Dome, then an amazing and romantic sunset over an exclusive view from the roof of the U.S. Capitol down the National Mall (all by themselves). And then he popped the question. Well done Marc because she really didn't know it was coming!

I was privileged to shoot the engagement (well it was really a reenactment only seconds later) of Marc and Amanda on top of the U.S. Capitol on a very brisk Fall afternoon recently. The journey to the top of the U.S. Capitol is a historic and hard-to-get guided walk that begins at the base of the old dome, climbs steep stairways and catwalks between the outer shell and the inner exterior of the Dome (called the Interstitial) with a stop 150 feet above the floor of the Rotunda before ending up at the Cupola below the State of Freedom on the exterior.

There Marc's picture-perfect planned expedition came to fruition when he asked Amanda to marry him. I was privileged to be invited along and wish them both a life of happiness and love.

And by the way, she said yes.





















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