A large part of our identity, our profession, is largely unknown to those closest to us, our own relatives. I have started this personal project to document my entire family in their individual places of work.

Series One is in Belleville, Michigan at Accurate Transmission, Inc. ..on 41251 East Huron River Drive.  The business was kick-started by Louis Jeffery, my maternal uncle, and his long-time friend, Darrell Ciaravino.  My grandfather, Charles Jeffery, Sr., the patriarchal automotive whiz, helped them launch it.  [...]]]>

A large part of our identity, our profession, is largely unknown to those closest to us, our own relatives. I have started this personal project to document my entire family in their individual places of work.

Series One is in Belleville, Michigan at Accurate Transmission, Inc. ..on 41251 East Huron River Drive.  The business was kick-started by Louis Jeffery, my maternal uncle, and his long-time friend, Darrell Ciaravino.  My grandfather, Charles Jeffery, Sr., the patriarchal automotive whiz, helped them launch it.  Later on, my other maternal uncle, Charles Jeffery, joined forces with the team.  While Louis and Darrell are responsible for transmission and drivetrain repair, Chuck takes care of the general repair of the rest of the car.

The business celebrates its thirteen year anniversary today, Friday April 13th!  Congratulations Accurate!!

A lovely spring day with vibrant flora and a beautiful family.  Thanks Erin and Krys for this opportunity!  It was a great day spent photographing you and yours.  Kiernan and Stella are simply wonderful.  These images are my favorites.  Click on thumbnails for larger view.

“Do you like rollercoasters?”-said our pilot Mark Taylor as we approached the Devil’s Slide—what seemed an impossibly narrow clearing between two thin slabs of rock on the face of the Cinnabar Mountains.

Without hesitation, I said, “YES!” and we suddenly dropped, weightlessly gliding in our cherry red Raven II, rock walls on either side of us, stomachs down to the floors of the copter.  We all erupted in laughter and relief as we neared the Yellowstone River valley on our way [...]]]>

“Do you like rollercoasters?”-said our pilot Mark Taylor as we approached the Devil’s Slide—what seemed an impossibly narrow clearing between two thin slabs of rock on the face of the Cinnabar Mountains.

Without hesitation, I said, “YES!” and we suddenly dropped, weightlessly gliding in our cherry red Raven II, rock walls on either side of us, stomachs down to the floors of the copter.  We all erupted in laughter and relief as we neared the Yellowstone River valley on our way back to Belgrade.  Then I gasped in disbelief as a golden eagle graced us with his presence, as if guiding us back home.

We spent two and a quarter hours up in the air over Montana and Wyoming with Rocky Mountain Rotors.  Departing early in the morning on the second day of 2012, we cleared the hilly farms and ranches and crossed a series of high Rocky Mountain ranges en route to the Yellowstone caldera.  What we saw along the way was a treat that could only be appreciated from the air.  The landscape undulated smoothly and gave way to new textures and unsuspecting inhabitants.  In the lowlands, buffalo could be seen drinking from frozen creeks, while perched high atop a plateau, a herd of elk cows one hundred strong were sunning themselves, with bachelor bulls interloping nearby.  As the elevation of the land increased, the thin snow became thick and farms gave way to   forests of dense Ponderosa pines.  We felt the turbulence of the windy mountain air.  Mark showed us acres of trees downed by microbursts.  It looked like God spilled toothpicks over the snow.

Eyes peeled for more animals, our bumpy ride over the mountains revealed pristine snows, dispersed by wind and back lit by the morning sun, but alas, no mountain goats.  Flying this close to 15,000 foot peaks was humbling to say the least.  I was awestruck.  We then came up on the lands of the filthy rich, private ski resorts and secluded mountain homes.  Skiers on chairlifts and mountainsides alike were easy to spot in their brilliant parkas.  Snowmobiles had carved out fresh tracks in the deep powdery snow and we were getting closer to Yellowstone.  Animal spotting #3–moose!  Two bulls and a cow were hiding amidst some pines in a low valley clearing.  Off in the distance, sinking, dense clouds in the blue skies were starting to obscure the view.

The hot springs dotting Yellowstone territory were spewing out steam that clogged the air above them.  A dramatic fog engulfed parts of the landscape.  But the effect was magical.  After leaving the geothermal regions of the park, we saw black serpentine rivers stark against the soft fluffy snow, new growth pine forests reclaiming the land once ravaged by the wildfires of 1988, the golden rocky bluffs for which this park gets its name, and the Upper and Lower falls of the mighty Yellowstone River.

All through this flight, I was in heaven.  The turbulence caused some slight nausea but the 360 degree glorious vistas made up for it.  Aerial photography is my favorite discipline.  And with these shots, I think you’ll see justice was done to this breathtaking part of the country.

Heading west in South Dakota, the grasslands are eventually replaced by large mounds of granite, called the Black Hills for the dark pines that cover them.  This area was once surveyed by miners in the late 19th century, brought in by rumors of goldfields.  The nearest town is called Custer, in commemoration for the general.  He encouraged the arrival of the white man into the territory inhabited by and sacred to Native Americans.  For this land was not filled with [...]]]>

Heading west in South Dakota, the grasslands are eventually replaced by large mounds of granite, called the Black Hills for the dark pines that cover them.  This area was once surveyed by miners in the late 19th century, brought in by rumors of goldfields.  The nearest town is called Custer, in commemoration for the general.  He encouraged the arrival of the white man into the territory inhabited by and sacred to Native Americans.  For this land was not filled with mineral wealth, but living, natural riches–buffalo, deer, eagles, bighorn sheep, old growth pine forests…

Here, it’s interesting to see the two monuments that make their homes here in the Black Hills–one in honor of some of the USA’s founding fathers, and another (still under construction) memorializing an icon of the Lakota people.  Mount Rushmore vs. Crazy Horse.  Crazy Horse was known as a fierce warrior and also a strong arm in preserving the Lakota tradition.  While one group was striving to keep their way of life sacred and protected, another group was expanding and claiming land that wasn’t theirs.

Traveling west is such an immersive experience, not only for the dreamy, gorgeous landscapes that leave one stunned and awed.  But also for the history.  The landmarks, photographs, artwork, personal accounts, and stories that exist from the times of westward expansion are so telling.  It is best classroom for learning the real past.

This part of the country has to be one of the most underrated. But it’s stereotypic–in it’s ‘American-ness’.  Amber waves of grain, “cowboys and indians”, silos, longhorns…  Being in the Badlands is like being in a wide open house of worship, “God’s country” if you will.  There’s a sense of magic that one feels when in the midst of it’s vastness.  If you close your eyes and let the wind whip through your hair, you can hear the ghosts of [...]]]>

This part of the country has to be one of the most underrated. But it’s stereotypic–in it’s ‘American-ness’.  Amber waves of grain, “cowboys and indians”, silos, longhorns…  Being in the Badlands is like being in a wide open house of worship, “God’s country” if you will.  There’s a sense of magic that one feels when in the midst of it’s vastness.  If you close your eyes and let the wind whip through your hair, you can hear the ghosts of the millions of bison grazing through the sweet grass.  You can see Lakota communities, their buffalo hide tipis dotting the plains.  You can hear German and Slavic tongues of the homesteaders in their soddie homes.  But when you wake up from your daydream, get into your car and leave the barren beauty behind in order to reach town, you’re confronted with everything that comes along with having a destination frequented by tourists.  The tourist trap.  In this case, it would be Wall Drug.  Let the photos speak for themselves.

I’ll dwell instead on the natural, the romantic otherworldly quality that exists in this national park.

Here’s an excerpt of what I wrote about the Badlands while sitting on a subway bench:

Playground for prairie dogs, rugged and razor sharp, this landscape has been sandblasted, carved and smoothed by wind and rain.  Once verdant and lush, teeming with peculiar mammals, it is now desiccated, craggy and vast, yet still alive.  Home to animals as grand as the bison, as enduring as the eagle, and coy and elusive as the black-footed ferret.  Topped by undulating prairie grasses, striped sandstone strips of earth, sprawling, stretch like fingers across an open table.  The Badlands are the heartland of the USA.  They were traipsed upon by many a pioneer, farmed by homesteaders, and still cherished by the Lakota–the First People.

Badlands, invite me back…

La Crosse was not just a mere sleepover stop-off. Before blazing the trail to South Dakota, we took advantage of some of this Wisconsin border town’s offerings.   The cooperative supermarket’s  most memorable parts were the walls of cheese and miles of ice cream, and the county fair photos of prized hogs and beef cows.  Yes, it was a slice of pure farm country.  Next we drove through run-down river neighborhoods until we landed in historic downtown La Crosse.  A [...]]]>

La Crosse was not just a mere sleepover stop-off. Before blazing the trail to South Dakota, we took advantage of some of this Wisconsin border town’s offerings.   The cooperative supermarket’s  most memorable parts were the walls of cheese and miles of ice cream, and the county fair photos of prized hogs and beef cows.  Yes, it was a slice of pure farm country.  Next we drove through run-down river neighborhoods until we landed in historic downtown La Crosse.  A gem of an antique shop was found–a three-story building that dated back to 1861.  We spent two hours just getting lost among the stereoviewers, portraits, and other cherished family treasures.  With some turn of the century photos in hand and cheese curds and pretzel buns in the other, we made our exit.  We crossed the Mississippi River and gazed on it’s vastness from rocky rolling hills.  We were now in Minnesota, ‘land of 10,000 lakes’.  From the interstate-90, we never gazed upon those lakes.  Instead, the southern girth of the state was a swaying sea of farms.  A patchwork quilt of grain fields hypnotized and enchanted.  Each family parcel was outfitted with it’s barn, silos and trusty harvesting machinery.  We were now in the heart of the bread basket peppered with wind turbines, power plants, and Christian pride.  The lazy winter sun began to sink and the latter half of the journey, some 300 miles into South Dakota, was done in the dark.  The moon was nearly absent and the starry skies were vast.  We could only imagine the winter prairiescapes that awaited…we hung our hats in Wall and dreamed of buffalo herds and ‘badlands’.

Our Winter Crossings 2012 trip has officially begun!  Today we crossed Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin!I look at the clock at 3am and think to myself, documenting this is the labor of *love*.  But who am I kidding?  This is my pride and joy!  Sharing yet another journey through my lens (and a few descriptive words).

Whisked away, from the warm and cozy home of my parents in Northville, Michigan to the Hwy Microtel in La Crosse, Wisconsin and everything in [...]]]>

Our Winter Crossings 2012 trip has officially begun!  Today we crossed Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin!I look at the clock at 3am and think to myself, documenting this is the labor of *love*.  But who am I kidding?  This is my pride and joy!  Sharing yet another journey through my lens (and a few descriptive words).

Whisked away, from the warm and cozy home of my parents in Northville, Michigan to the Hwy Microtel in La Crosse, Wisconsin and everything in between.  The 9 hour trip was wonderfully smooth.  No traffic, no inclement weather, just lazily watching the scenery gradually change through our windows as we traverse the good ole’ Midwest US.  The wintery sunlit day was a vibrant debut for a promising cross country trip–our second in two years.

In fact, we’re nearly mimicking our summer 2010 voyage, aptly named Crossings, with a few minor detours and bypasses.  Tomorrow we leave dairyland for some South Dakota Badlands.  Hungry for snowscapes, let’s see what the forecast brings.  Until then, I hope you caught a glimpse of our first day.

This collection is a big’un but how else do you showcase a week full of activity and visits with the fam?  Shucks, if only you could hold these in your hands and pass them around…  A couple snaps from my Fujifilm Instax make me reminisce about just how great it is to hold a print.  This digital stuff is for the birds.  Naw, just kiddin’.

Christmas 2011 was a blast as was the week leading up to it.  Peace, heart-to-hearts and [...]]]>

This collection is a big’un but how else do you showcase a week full of activity and visits with the fam?  Shucks, if only you could hold these in your hands and pass them around…  A couple snaps from my Fujifilm Instax make me reminisce about just how great it is to hold a print.  This digital stuff is for the birds.  Naw, just kiddin’.

Christmas 2011 was a blast as was the week leading up to it.  Peace, heart-to-hearts and just pure enjoyment with my clan.  Antiquing, book-binding, bonsai, Lonely Island laughs, Phase 10, Turner Classic Movies, morning visits from–get this, a new record–14 deer, well, these are just a slice of the myriad activities that we had together.  Behold, family, here’s to you!  I love you very much!!  I burn the midnight oil in Onalaska, Wisconsin while Patricio saws logs and gather these holiday memories to share with you all…  Enjoy!

With a festive farewell to Greenpoint aglow, I kissed both my honey and my Brooklyn digs bye bye.  …at least for a little while.  ‘Tis the season to be with my family in the Mitten (for those of you non-natives, that’s the landing pad, my home state of Michigan), honey will join in a wee bit, after the workin’ days are done.

I finished up my bidness for the semester along with some fun photo jobs and I’m off!  For the [...]]]>

With a festive farewell to Greenpoint aglow, I kissed both my honey and my Brooklyn digs bye bye.  …at least for a little while.  ‘Tis the season to be with my family in the Mitten (for those of you non-natives, that’s the landing pad, my home state of Michigan), honey will join in a wee bit, after the workin’ days are done.

I finished up my bidness for the semester along with some fun photo jobs and I’m off!  For the next five weeks.  Stay tuned for the jinglin’ fun times…

Who:  photographer Orestes Gonzalez and the LIC Arts Community

When:  Opening Reception:  December 3, 2011: 6-9pm  Exhibition through the end of January

Where: LIC Market, 21-52 44th Drive, LIC, NY

What:  “LIC Artist”, opening night of a photography exhibition featuring over 30 local artists in the places where they create

Why:  to celebrate the thriving community of artists in Long Island City, Queens.

Saturday night’s opening featured stunning portraits of artists from many disciplines and their spaces.  It was hosted by the warm, communal atmosphere [...]]]>

Who:  photographer Orestes Gonzalez and the LIC Arts Community

When:  Opening Reception:  December 3, 2011: 6-9pm  Exhibition through the end of January

Where: LIC Market, 21-52 44th Drive, LIC, NY

What:  “LIC Artist”, opening night of a photography exhibition featuring over 30 local artists in the places where they create

Why:  to celebrate the thriving community of artists in Long Island City, Queens.

Saturday night’s opening featured stunning portraits of artists from many disciplines and their spaces.  It was hosted by the warm, communal atmosphere of LIC Market and received a lot of well-deserved buzz and attention.  It even caught the eyes of NY1, coverage available here!  Congratulations to the gifted photographer and close friend, Orestes!