Rare orchid

 A wild calypso orchid grows in a heavily forested area on our ranch near Kellogg, Oregon. The orchid is also know as the fairy slipper or Venus's slipper. The species range of the calypso orchid is circumpolar. They're found is the northern United States, Canada, Scandinavia, Russia, and Japan. The species is considered threatened or endangered in several U.S. states and Sweden and Finland. It is virtually impossible to cultivate the calypso orchid due to a specific beneficial fungus associated with its roots.

 My mother-in-law, who grew up on the ranch, says she grew up calling the little orchids "lady's slippers".  She said as children they would pick bunches of the flowers.

Cats, cats, cats

I know the world has more than enough cute cat photos, but here are a few more.  Enjoy!

On the forest floor

A wild morel mushroom grows in the Umpqua National Forest near Glide, Ore., on Monday, May 9, 2011. Edible morel mushrooms, with the distinctive honeycomb-like upper portion, are highly prized by gourmet cooks, particularly for French cuisine.

You sometimes see some interesting things if you slow down and look down while hiking in the forest. I first spotted the snail, but soon saw the mushrooms and more snails.

A large Pacific sideband snail crawls slowly over a mossy log in the Umpqua National Forest near Glide, Ore., on Monday, May 9, 2011.  The Pacific sideband snail thrives in the moist forests of the Pacific Norhtwest.  It feeds on fungi and vegetable matter.

Looks like items from the menu at a fancy french restaurant.

Turtle dreams

A great blue heron takes to the air near a sunbathing western pond turtle in a wetland in Roseburg, Ore., on Friday, May 6, 2011. Nikon D3s, 600mm f/4, 1.4x converter.

Killer in red

I found this rather angry looking spider on a crimson clover this afternoon near our home in rural Douglas County, Oregon.  She was waiting for a meal to land and I was getting in the way. 

Portrait of an artist

New portraits of my lovely and talented sister-in-law Christiane Cegavske. She's beginning work on a new film project and needed a updated head shot.

Short video explaining Christiane's new project...

High school prom

Teens dance the night away at the Glide High School prom in a ballroom at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Ore., on Saturday, April 30, 2011.  About 300 students attend the rural southern Oregon public high school.

I set up my studio lights and backdrop for portraits. 

I'm a commercial, portrait, wedding, and editorial photographer based in Roseburg, Oregon. I'm available for weddings, senior portraits, and special events.  Check out my website to see more of my work.