Ryan's Fall Session | Preview

Even with a 50% chance of rain, the day turned out to be beautiful at MSU's Hidden Lake Gardens. Ryan and her mother Jeri were very easy going, and totally awesome to work with. Ryan loved laughing, which made the time a lot of fun.

One more day in Michigan, and then to Mexico on Sunday.

Enjoy the weekend!

Haarlem, Holland | Ten Boom House

I spent Friday morning in Haarlem, while waiting for my flight to Detroit. Since I arrived there by train early in the morning I was able to see the city wake. There was something very calming about the city. The streets and bicycles took me back to memories of "The Hiding Place", a movie about the powerful story of Corrie Ten Boom and family. The Ten Boom family provided refuge (illegally) for the Jews during the Holocaust were later sent to work in concentration camps when they were caught. Corrie survived the painful years and "The Hiding Place" tells a bitter, yet beautiful story of the hope that sustained her throughout the journey.

I cherished my visit to the Ten Boom Musuem in Haarlem. I toured the house one-on-one with Mr. Peter, a king and knowledgeable local who volunteers as a guide. Below is a picture of Corrie's room and the actual hiding place, which saved the life of six jews and became the title of Corrie's book.

What a great reminder that sometimes doing what is right and good hurts. If you want to find out if it was worth it, read "The Hiding Place".

Have a great weekend.

Performer in India | Two photo sessions available in the USA

Last night I had dinner at a restaurant that is set up like a typical village. Everything glowed in the aura of candlelight. There were no chairs; guests simply made themselves comfortable on the floor. While waiting for dinner to be served, this performer balanced sticks on his upper lip as he maneuvered them with his tongue to enter the hollow balls, forming them into a circle. It was amazing.

Because of the lowlight, I was glad for ISO 3200 on my Nikon, enabling a decent handheld exposure.

Next Friday, the 30th of October, I will be making a quick trip to the USA, before heading to Mexico to photograph and participate in Dave Ramsey's EntreLeadership® conference.

During my week in Michigan I will be able to schedule no more than two photo sessions. If you would like to book one of them, contact me directly at info@jonathandurling.com

Have a great weekend!

Katie & Ryan | Grand Rapids, Ohio | Nazareth Hall

Photographing Katie & Ryan's wedding was very enjoyable. We had a colorful engagement session earlier this year (with one ice-cream break) in the village of Blissfield, and after getting to know them, both Sarah and I were really looking forward to their wedding day. They chose the Nazareth Hall Estate for their ceremony and reception. I had never been there before, but I fell for it. The 400-acre property, elaborate brick mansion, huge glass windows, and old-world beauty combined perfectly. Every aspect of the day went as planned. The only exceptions was the 'blowing up sparklers'. Thankfully no one was hurt, and it made for some emotive images. See below.

Haridwar, India | Evening Aarti

Haridwar is one of Hinduism's holy cities. Every night huge crowds gather by the Ganges River for the Aarti (evening prayer). Pilgrims who have traveled often release diyas: small floral floats with candles. The woman in the above images is preparing and placing her diya into the river.

India reverberates with vibrant reds and rich blues. Color and ancient tradition mix and leave no room for dull moments. I am excited for what is to come in these next few months as I dip my toes into this subcontinent, explore its culture, and pursue wedding photojournalism.

Have a great day everyone!

The Bakers | Family Session

Greetings from India! These last three weeks I've been very busy wrapping up some amazing jobs in the US, and getting ready to head East. Needless to say, the blog has suffered some hard times of neglect, and I hope to make up for it with some quality TLC. No better way to start then with the Baker's session. My parents and Donna graduated from high school together, and have been long time friends. For two years I had the fun privilege of driving Sarah, Jake, Mark, and Adam to school. Through sleepy eyes, coffee, and granola bars we learned to appreciate each other (and we only had one flat tire). Busy would be an understatement for the Bakers, but their fun loving attitudes and commitment hold them together. I was excited that we found a date for their session. We used their farm fields, country roads, red barns, and lake house for the pictures and what fun we had!

More to come. Have a great Wednesday.

Maddie | Senior Session | Schaffner Farm

Here is a sneak peak. Have a great Labor Day.