It’s  been cold outside for too long to remember what a warm January feels like. So, to remind myself, I pulled a frame from a warmer day at Hoover Reservoir. My toes are warmer already.

Hanby Magnet School janitor Steve Casto wears a smile and a moose-shaped hat as he clears the front steps and sidewalk in preparation for school to resume Friday after two days of no school due to the winter storm.

Casto has worked at the school for 30 years, has missed just a few days due to illness.

Given the choice of art or news for today’s strong winter storm, I chose art. Guess that comes from so many years of having to cover storms with the intent to make the front page of the New York Times. This was a lot more fun.

He’s no coal miner stepping out of the shaft elevator. But he’s the next best thing.

Michael’s Pizza ws destroyed by a fire seveal months ago and insurance is now beginning tomake repairs so Michael can reurn to making his fine eggplant parmesan.

Removing the soot and smoke covered walls and partitions is the work of this man whose face was darkened by the fire’s residue.

Nikon D300, 70-20mm f2.8 @ 175mm f4.0, 1/50, ISO400.

Another frame for the month-long project named “Interior View.”

Another frame for the month-long project named “Interior View.”

Combine receding horizontal lines and a very foggy morning and you get this.

Nikon D2X, ISO 100, 12024mm f2.8 @ 12mm f4, 1/320, RAW.

From a personal project about a year ago where I spent the month shooting “interoior View,” more than 30 photos inside looking out. This frame was from a visit to a Catholic artifact museum near downtown during a tour by a group of home schooled children.

The lighting was an SB800 inside a small Photoflex softbox at the end of a lightweight monopod so I could place the strobe above and slightly behind the statue. Used Nikon Creative Lighting System to fire the strobe and help set the exposure.

D200, ISO 400, 1/500, 12-24mm f2.8 @ 12mm f9, aperture priority, RAW.