I am currently the editor of Phototuts+, a photography education website. The site is part of the Tuts+ network, which included Psdtuts+, the renowned Photoshop tutorial site.

Prior to being the editor, I wrote for the site for two years. You can see a complete list of all my articles on my author page. (more…)

I have been commissioned to write several article for Lomography.com. I’m a film enthusiast, and I still use it for anything I can.

I’ve written articles about scanning, a “Photo Paper Bible, and several piece about individual cameras. You can see all my article on my author page. (more…)

This story was originally published in CityBeat, you can visit their site to read the story, too.

Kevin Allison wants you to listen to his podcast, and he will tie your shoes to his balls to do it.

The Cincinnati native left town in 1988, and his comedy career launched into overdrive even before he graduated from New York University four years later. Allison now runs a storytelling podcast out of New York City called Risk!, which encourages people to tell stories “you never thought you’d dare to share.” Enjoying an average of 225,000 downloads a month, it began in 2009 and includes stories that are often edgy and occasionally riddled with profanity. Unlike The Moth and similar podcasts,Risk! tries to focus on this central idea: people stepping out of their comfort zones. (more…)

This story was originally published in CityBeat, you can visit their site to read the story, too.

A few weeks ago my roommate was asked to entertain two West Coast business associates. He frantically texted me asking if I knew about any sushi joints near his workplace in Fairfield. My response was one word: Akira.

Having developed a taste for sushi in college, I avoided the long-standing West Chester establishment for years after I returned to the area. To use a real estate term, let’s just say that the place does not have curb appeal. Akira is tucked in a strip mall with a Big Lots, the Twin Dragon Chinese buffet and a Radio Shack manned by the least enthusiastic employees on earth. (more…)

Harshad Shah grinds a mixture of saffron and water on a special wooden plate made from the Chandan tree. The mixture is used to make the red Kashar dot placed between the participants’ eyes. Non-violence is one of the most important principles in Jainism, so those performing the ceremony wear scarfs to prevent the accidental damage their breath may cause to microscopic airborne organisms.

This story was originally published in CityBeat.

The suburban home in Amelia looked similar to any other Ohio home hosting a gathering. Cars lined the driveway and the chatter of children drifted from the backyard. But this wasn’t a birthday party or a family reunion.

More than 2,500 years ago Lord Mahavir, the 24th and last Tirhankara, or spiritual leader of the Jain religion, was born. After 12 years of meditation, Lord Mahavir had a spiritual realization and spent the next 30 years preaching in India. Now his followers are known as Jains, and on July 17 dozens of local Jains gathered for a ceremony, called puja, in the home of Sam Patel of Amelia. (more…)