Orange County

Orange County, it's got a ring to it. It sounds warm and famous. movie stars ...swimming pools

I had the pleasure to work a corporate event in Irvine Californina ... Orange County a few weeks ago.

Somehow I expected to see Tom Cruise or Sylvestor Stalone or maybe Julia Roberts driving by. But no, no one drove by, I didn't do lunch or "have my people call your people"

There were a lot of palm trees though. And that was nice.

Pastor

My Father was a pastor, I never knew him, he died many months before I was born.

I was however surrounded by his memory. Actually it was more like a feeling. To this day I still feel that he is with me.

I have a certain comfort when I am around some pastors I have known. These are the people that don't act as if they know God personally, because I certainly don't.

A pastor is a human afterall, just like you and me.

I get photograph the pastor at my church quite often as I am photographing various events there. These are usually the ones where the children involved. I like photographing children, flowers and fruit ... now there's a great tag line!

and now here's Pastor!

An Apple's Life

Photographers "document", we "capture" and we do other nobel things. Yes, we are fine human beings! We are also full of ourselves sometimes. OK, most of the time.

Me? I like apples. Actually I like photographing them much more than eating them.

October 2005 I was given an apple by Sk8rGurl (my Daughter). I photographed it (of course)and put it in the back of the fridge.

A year later ... I photographed it again . It still looked good, enough to photograph anyway.

And then October 2007 ...yes, out of the fridge and on to the table ... it's time for your close up.

This apple is not an apple, it's something that my Daughter gave me. It is something that I document, something I capture ... it's something nobel. Well, in my own scattered mind anyway.

Here is an image I took last night, three apples in different stages of life.

Make A Quiet Little Circus Difference

I don't claim to understand the pain of a disease such as AIDS, or the dedication of those who are trying to cure it, or those who are trying to help make a difference in any way that they can.

"Equity" is a professional actors organization. Among a number of worth causes, Equity has taken on the job of helping inform the public about AIDS through their craft.

I attended one such event in Boston last December 2007 and just now I am at a point where I can write about it . It was a mixture of acting and music. the four actors from Emerson College had interviewed AIDS patients and then created a monologue to present to the audience.

The performances were moving, sad, real, comical, offensive, they made you angry ... all the emotions at the same time.

I stood in the back of the dimly lit room and shot a few images just to document the event. I have also attached a short video of the program at the end of this blog. You should watch it.

After the presentation, there was a reception. You see all of the people portrayed were there, they were there to see their story told and to share that evening with the actors. But there wasn't much saddness in the room. It was a more a feeling of respect.

Remember ... watch the video , the link is below.

http://current.com/items/88793862_becoming_quiet_little_circus

Sk8rGurl and Northrup

The theater ... ah the theater! Actors and the theater

I spend a fair amount of time capturing theatrical productions. Yes, that's me - in the back of the hall with a long lens snapping hundreds of images. Beautiful costumes and lighting, striking poses and expressions make memorable images.

But the images that I capture after the production, when the actors have left the stage often produce some incredible candid shots. Because actors just keep on acting.

Recently I photographed a production by the Prospect Players, a community theater group in Norwood MA. After the show I was speaking with two of the actors, snapping a few more shots and they just couldn't come out of character.

I think it was more an appreciation of each other's talent. But for me, it was an opportunity to capture some magic.

The Portrait Party

One thing I like to do when shooting an event in bring along a nice background and capture some simple formal portraits as the guests arrive.
Everyone loves the images they receive and I get to meet everyone in 5 minute segments.

But then later in the evening, groups come back for some less formal, OK, a bit goofy shots that just make the events so much fun.

Please let me know if you want to learn more about how the Portrait Party event is structured.

Orange Flowers

Spring has sprung!

The flowers are blooming, the birds are singing, the flowers are blooming (lots of flowers), and I am on a personal mission to capture that perfect spring time image.

These flowers caught my eye and I so I thought I take them into the studio for a quick session. They posed beautifully! Not a word out of them.

They are now happily back in a vase of water and are doing just fine. And as for that drooping one in a number of the images? It came back to life and is standing as tall as the rest. Must be my fine horticultural skills ... or luck ...

Hey, let me know if you'd like a copy of any of these. These images and many more can be found on my PhotoShelter site - http://pa.photoshelter.com/usr-show/U0000ecSYcI.FT3I

Moments Rush

The bond between children and their parents is incredible. And I am so honored to be there to capture it.

They may be laughing or cuddling or just sitting with each other, but it's always special.

And then later when we get together to view and choose the images they would like printed, I can see how special these moments are to them. And how thankful they are that the images will be there to enjoy forever.

My favorites are the candids, when they are enjoying just being together.

Brianna

Brianna walked into the session this past week with her Mother and I was surprised to see how much she had changed. I hadn't seen her since last October when I photographed an event that she had attended with her family.

She was more mature as you might guess, but more focused as well. We started by discussing clothing, possible poses and the purpose of the images we were going to capture that day.

Brianna is an aspiring actress and singer so she needed some basic headshots. This is something I do all the time.

Then we thought that it would be fun to just relax and see where it went. She was great, it seemed that everything she did was perfect and natural.

Then I asked if we could do some shots that were a bit different. I put some bubble wrap up as a backdrop and took a few shots. It's a harsh look and very trendy. Just what I wanted.

Thanks Brianna, it was a great shoot!

The White Board

Unless you add to it

It's empty, so this is what I wrote.

The White Board has been a part of the family for many many years,

This was on the board for about two years. Longer than any thing before.

now it's been erased ...FINALLY

So why now?

Cause I finally realized what to write.

Sk8rGurl Gets a Ring

Sk8rGurl ... my fav Sk8rGurl just got a ring

It's a small ring, as you can see, but a ring all the same

I'm in this business for a reason, it's simple and nobel. Hey! it is nobel.

Sometimes you capture the image and do the best job that you can so that it will be forever, to share and enjoy ... and sometimes, so that we can look back and say "Did I really do that?"

Yes, Sk8rGurl, you really did that.

A note to Self

I know we wait

we watch and wait

see the snow fall and gardens grow

and time pass

and then one day, we realize that the wait was too long. That what we expected to come never did. And we can't take it all back and try again.

You know, "This time I won't wait, I'll take adavantage of everything and enjoy life"

Great, glad you shared.

Confucius said " There is great chaos under heaven ... and the situation is excellent"

Yes, it's wicked excellent