Spiritual Wanderer Blog - Page 3 of 31

Dec

My Best Pictures Of 2024

Forty Favorite Frames

I am incredibly lucky and amazingly grateful for my year of adventure, work and family. Here are some of my favorite photos, taken from as nearby as right here at this computer and as far away as the Southern Hemisphere, 600 miles out to sea or a couple miles high, yet somehow still standing on the ground.

My granddaughter jumped onto the chair, raised the blinds and waved bye-bye to Mommy who promised she’d be back within the hour … (she was!)Read More

Nov

Dick’s Last Hurrah

Arriving on the ship for our Galápagos expedition, my dad’s cousin, Dick, takes a break, relaxing after our long journey to arrive here.

“I’m not getting any younger,” he said as we were sitting in his Chicago home, readying to fly to South America. “This may be my last hurrah.”

Nov

Sea Lions and Tortoises and Boobies, Oh My!

A photo expedition to The Galápagos

A sea lion rests atop a rocky climb on South Plaza Island in The Galápagos while frigatebirds fly overhead.

The sea lion couldn’t have cared less about me. It was as disinterested as the iguana that I almost stepped on while photographing my cousin getting off the plane. That tortoise I took a dopey picture with? Yeah, as indifferent as they come.

I wasn’t expecting that down here on The Galápagos, just a touch south of The Equator and 600 miles out to sea.

Oct

People Don’t Really Talk About How To Actually Get To Machu Picchu

Only about 500 people lived at Machu Picchu at its peak. That’s incredible, considering the built-out area is about one million square feet.

Machu Picchu is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an overall really cool place to visit.

HOWEVER, people really don’t talk about just how involved it is to actually get there. I wrote about my recent visit in some detail here, but I thought it was important — for those considering the journey — to lay out a bit more detail about all the moving parts of the expedition.

Oct

Machu Picchu and Pisco Sours

Yep, that’s me doing the iconic tourist shot of Machu Picchu. (You have no idea how many tries it took this professional photographer to actually get it right!)

I’m sitting in a courtyard 11,000 feet up in the mountains. Breathing is difficult, especially since our tour guide pressed us to climb even higher into the Andes to see the impressive stonework of Incan ruins. I’ve sucked in several minutes of hotel oxygen, provided in the lobby. And I’ve downed cups and cups of coca and mint teas to combat altitude sickness. Every website warns against alcohol consumption.

I order a drink.

Sep

A Chaldean Catholic Celebration

Our friend Shamamta celebrated her 90th birthday over the weekend. She’s the matriarch of some good family friends and I was lucky enough to be invited along to hang out, eat some great food and snap some photos of her family and friends at the happy occasion.

In my favorite photo from the day, her daughters take their mother to the sanctuary of the Church of the Transfiguration in Southfield, MI.Read More

Sep

Squeezing The Last Drops Out Of Summer

We squeezed the last drops out of summer at a dear family friend’s cottage on the shores of Lake Michigan this past week. Here are some of my favorite images; cold plunges, beach buddies, fashionable headwear, chilling out and vibing on the ridiculously unbelievable colors — day and night.

Marci emerges victoriously from a cold plunge.

Jul

There’s Food Back Here!

I use both my countertop compost container and a bigger bucket to feed my compost pile out back.

“There’s food back here!”

At first I didn’t understand what she meant, but then I let loose a laugh when I heard my granddaughter’s young friend yelling to her mother, shocked and intrigued by my compost pile out back.

Jul

A HOT Ann Arbor Wedding

Here are a few scenes from likely the HOTTEST wedding I’ve ever shot. Although the wedding day was sweltering, Peter and Melissa were COOL customers!

The bride and maids wanted a snap with their bridal jammies.

Jun

A Fun Outdoor Wedding in Ypsilanti

I was thrilled when my buddypal’s daughter, Brie, asked if I would shoot her fun outdoor wedding to Eric. I’ve been friends with the family for decades and it was such a joy to be part of their celebration. It took place at the couple’s old farmhouse in rural Ypsilanti. Here are just a few of my favorites from a June wedding in Ann Arbor’s cool cousin, Ypsi.

Brie peers through Eric’s ring, just like she did during the ceremony.

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