A Very Mills Christmas Card /  by Michael Durr

Since 2010 I have been photographing my good friend’s Christmas card. Every year we don’t think we can top the previous year and every year we tend to set a new bar. It has become an extremely fun holiday tradition and it has reached the point where I send their card to my family. Not only is it fun to send these out, but it is equally as fun discussing ideas throughout the year and of course the shoot day is a blast.

Take a look through the holiday card archive and let us know which one is your favorite!

2021

Merry Christmas!

Love,

Matt, Gina & the Durrs

The Tiny Whoop Fireball /  by Michael Durr

f/8, ISO 200, Approximately 25 second exposure

Michael Durr, @instadurr, and FPV drone racer Paul Nurkkala, @nurkfpv, wanted to create a light painted scene in camera.

To achieve this Michael had a Canon 5D MarkIV set to bulb with a trigger he set to hold at the start of the scene. He then popped a Godox AD400 flash on Paul posing. After the flash, Paul walked over to The Pixel Stick and painted the fireball while Michael took the flash head off the stand and walked behind the camera. Once Paul finished painting the fireball he then flew a Tiny Whoop drone through the scene and Michael popped the flash again at the appropriate location to illuminate the drone. After that, Michael walked back to the camera and closed the shutter. We were very happy with how the two of us were able to achieve this scene in one frame.

Check out the BTS video below. We shot this video on an iPhone with the lights on so you could see how we made our moves. The final image was captured in complete darkness.

This was the image captured in the BTS video with the lights on. This shows how accurately we had this choreographed.

This was the image captured in the BTS video with the lights on. This shows how accurately we had this choreographed.

Cotton Carrier /  by Michael Durr

_DSC4863a.jpg

Cotton Carrier G3 Harness

Have you been wanting to find a way to carry multiple cameras without the traditional and sometimes cumbersome neck straps? Well, I have found a solution.

I recently took the Cotton Carrier G3 Harness for a little test spin and I really enjoyed using it. The weight distribution and easy access to two cameras is terrific. The vest is highly adjustable, making it very customizable and comfortable for the user.

Whether your hiking, biking or just out for a long photo walk this harness would really take the strain off of your neck. It’s built incredibly well and has a good aesthetic. It certainly seems that this vest is marketed toward the adventure photographer, but I think anyone looking for quick and easy accessibility to your cameras while also having the ability to holster them to free up both hands would really like this product.

Cotton Carrier SKOUT

In addition to the G3 Harness Cotton Carrier has also released the SKOUT.

The SKOUT is a downsized version of the G3 Harness and is really designed to be used while doing something more active, like bicycling.  It can secure one camera or a set of binoculars using the same connection system as the G3 Harness.  This makes it easy to quickly access your camera while also keeping it secure while you are on the move.

Visit Cotton Carrier online to learn more about these products.

Ross and Jackie Wimer /  by Michael Durr

RandJ_Durr_1122.jpg

It was an absolutely perfect fall day. Ross and Jackie Wimer said “I do” at the beautiful Nedihammer, located at 2102 E Washington Street in Indianapolis. The morning hours and ceremony were beautiful. We had plenty of time for an intimate portrait session at Garfield Park Conservatory and Sunken Garden and made it back to the Neidhammer before the cocktail hour ended. It was great to work with such a fun and easy going couple. Thank you both for selecting me to capture your special day and I wish you the best as you continue to build your lives together.



Jamie and Aaron /  by Michael Durr

My cousin Jamie and her new husband Aaron proclaimed their vows at Top of the Pines in Ridgeway, CO on July 14, 2018. I could not imagine a more perfect backdrop for this adventurous couple. Although there was a little rain during the ceremony, Jamie and Aaron took it in stride as I am sure they have done on countless treks in the past. As Jamie said, rain on your wedding day is good luck. Below you can watch the video that shows just how amazing this ceremony was. Just after the ceremony, the clouds parted and it was a beautiful night for their outdoor reception in Ouray, CO at The Secret Garden. I was happy to be apart of this amazing event and to be able to witness a love that is truly unique. I wish Jamie and Aaron the best as they continue to hike their way through life.

Love you both,

Michael

Special Thanks to Alexi Hubbell Photography for providing me images to include in my video.

Also, because I have an inability to put my own camera down I captured some images from the event as well.