When I originally sat down to write this blog I thought I would give you a blow by blow account of what would happen. Then I went through 4,556 photos and picked my 40 favorite photos and planned on telling you about every single one. BORING!

Here’s what I’m going to do instead. I’ll show you some photos and tell you about why I’m ready for a huge worldwide trip.On my most recent trip I was able to visit Portland, Olympia, Seattle, San Francisco, Sonoma, Point Reyes Station, Santa Barbara and Los Angeles.

My trip was a mixture of travel, a flight from Charlotte to Portland, a train from Portland to Olympia, a flight from Seattle to San Francisco, another train from San Francisco to San Luis Obispo, a car ride down the Pacific Coast Highway from Lompoc to Los Angeles to Venice Beach and one final flight from Los Angeles to Charlotte.

Previously the furthest out west I’ve been was my trip to Denver. Jetlag wasn’t a problem them, I adjusted nicely. The west coast threw me for a loop. My first day in Portland I was abruptly up at 5:30 am with absolutely nothing to do. My body thought it was 8:30 and I had overslept. I was able to catch my first sunrise at Willamate Park.

The weather on the Amtrak ride from Portland to Olympia was exactly what I always imagined it would be. Cold, wet and dreary, just like in The Goonies, which was actually filmed in Astoria. To me there’s something very romantic about riding on a train. It envokes a feeling of exploration like what I imagined people who took their first train ride across the U.S. must have felt. This train had power outlets, reclining seats, TV’s with maps and WIFI, so you know, it was a little more comfortable.

The Seattle Shoreline at night

For days I was unable to see Mount Rainer until we took a boat ride to Blake Island from Seattle. What an amazing site!

Carolina Beach in Wilmington, North Carolina is one of the more interesting beaches in the ILM area. It’s a mixture of old and new, eclectic and stale while somehow retaining the old school charm of a boardwalk spot at the beach.

If you’ve never been, I recommend you go even if it’s just to check things out. Be sure to stop at Britts Donuts while you’re there and pick up some of the best donuts in the world! (not intended to be a factual statement, I just really like them!).

Now that summer is almost officially here, there will be more trips to the beach, mountains and so forth, so I hope you’re looking forward to more posts about my photo adventures.

Enjoy the new photos.

A few more photos from last night’s celebration at the White House in Washington D.C. following an announcement from President Barack Obama that Osama Bin Laden had been killed.

What an end to an amazing weekend!

This morning started out as a very cold and dreary day, but ended with the announcement by President Barack Obama that Osama Bin Laden had been killed.

“For over two decades, bin Laden has been Al Qaeda’s leader and symbol,” the president said in a statement televised around the world. “The death of bin Laden marks the most significant achievement to date in our nation’s effort to defeat Al Qaeda. But his death does not mark the end of our effort. There’s no doubt that Al Qaeda will continue to pursue attacks against us. We must and we will remain vigilant at home and abroad.”

So after reading the news on facebook and twitter and following the Presidential address, I grabbed my camera and headed over to the White House. A short trip in a cab and I was ready to join the mob of people already assembled near the White House.

People were already gathered from the gates and filling most of Lafayette Square. Here’s what the New York Times said about the event downtown:

The news touched off an extraordinary outpouring of emotion as crowds gathered outside the White House, in Times Square and at the Ground Zero site, waving American flags, cheering, shouting, laughing and chanting, “USA, USA!” In New York City, crowds sang the Star-Spangled Banner. Throughout downtown Washington, drivers honked horns deep into the night.

Photos from a recent shoot with Aubrey and Ryan.

Texas sure does have beautiful light in the evening. You know, the nice golden light that every photographer loves.

Pedicab on Trinity.

The balcony at Iron Cactus.

Downtown Austin.

Texas State Capitol Building.

Side streets in Austin.

Local band at SXSW.

Just a quick post of photos from my first trip to South by Southwest in Austin Texas.

See the rest of the photos here: