Snoop Dogg (Lion) is in the house

I love the variety of experiences I get as a photographer.  This particular evening I had the opportunity to be on stage with Snoop Dogg.  He wasn't in normal performance mode, but instead was acting as the DJ for the evening.  This was an event put on by Adidas and I was hired to document the event.  Snoop creates an energized party atmosphere and plays a range of music that spans different genres.  While most of his music was hip-hop, rap, and R&B he also snuck in some more mainstream pop music to round it out.  He's got a pretty good sense of humor too and got me laughing pretty hard at some of his unexpected choices like Cindi Lauper's "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun".   The opening act was DJ Baby Chino who is dubbed as the world's youngest DJ because he's been DJ'ing since he was 5 years old. Most of what HE was playing was hip-hop from the 80's.  I should go now so I can find my shell-toe Adidas shoes and my Run DMC cassette tape.  

 

Reason #782 Why I Am Anxious For Summer: 'Cause it Ain't Winter

It's cold, folks.  Miserably so.  In case you hadn't noticed.  Ever the optimist, however, I have combed my recent projects in search of the perfect images to help conjure the essence of growth, warmth and sunlight of summer.  Because believe it or not, summer is right around the corner.  Sort of.

I photographed the below sunflower field on a perfect, sunny, 80-degree day in August last year.  Located in Franklin, Indiana, the J.P. Parker farm is known for its annual crop of more than 300,000 sunflowers.  Established in 1986, J.P. Parker Flowers has retail florist shops in both Franklin and downtown Indianapolis.

As you peruse the images below, go ahead and take a minute to pretend you are standing in the sunflower field, your upturned face feeling the warmth and light of the summer sun.   Remember that barbecue, shorts and flip flops weather will be here before you know it.  Until then, just keep repeating this mantra...

Old Man Winter, don't go away mad.  Just go away.