Hello! Happy Holidays to all who celebrate!

I'm currently leading a nomadic life doing a year of National Service (AmeriCorps NCCC) and it's taking me to some very interesting places. I'm based in Vinton, IA which is a lovely little town about 30 minutes from Cedar Rapids. Our admin offices and transitional housing are with the Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School, which was kind enough to house us starting in 2008.

So far, I've travelled to the small town of Coon Rapids, IA (pop. 1,300) to work with the Whiterock Conservancy doing Oak Savanna restoration. My most recent photos are from our housing and work site. The area provided ample opportunities for photographic exploration with gorgeous landscapes and extreme weather conditions. I enjoyoed broadening my horizons and wish that I could have better captured the true beauty of the area.

In true AmeriCorps form, our next assignment is in a completely contrasting location. My 10-person team will be serving in Detroit, MI, living downtown and helping low-income families with their taxes. I'm looking forward to the change of scenery and, being that I'm from the Detroit-area, I'm excited to explore the city through my camera lens. I've always found it easier to take photos of landscapes and nature, so an urban setting will be an intersting challenge.

So, yeah...that's what's up!