The Family Tree

I was asked recently to help a friend document the original settlement of her family that came to this area from Nova Scotia

She had found the general area and with my camera in hand we went looking for the exact spot. You see there was a lone apple tree on the land and that was the most important thing for us to find. Could it still be there after all of these years?

Well, we not only found the tree but also the foundation of the original house and what looked like the road which once went infront of the house.

It was quite a find. My images were sent back to Nova Scotia where I'm sure they are in a fine glass case in the town's historical society ... or maybe they ended up on the refrigerator... HA!

Accidentally Perfect

"A Mother's Love is Blessing" ... it's a song and it's a reality. I don't expect that you know the song, it's a bit obscure.

I am blessed to be a photographer, as you can see from the images below. I get to share in the moments that are reserved for only a few.

These images of a Mother and her Daughter were shot on Mother's Day 2008. It was actually a very casual shoot and ended up quite powerful.

A Mother's Love is a Blessing.

New Years Eve Snow Storm

When it snows, you just have to take some pictures, I think it's a law or something.

Across the street is a road that leads up to a housing development, I've never been up the road, I think they shoot you if you are a trespasser. But there is a bench near the main road where the kids wait for the school bus, it's got padding, nice.

So there I was walking through the neighbor's yard once again, looking for some classic snow images

I think I got next year's Christmas card image, so it was a successful trek.

The Dons - A Rock and Roll Band - Portraits - II

Photographing a band such as The Dons can be like corralling cats. " Stay Still!" "Don't pinch his butt!!" but all the while we're cracking up.

This pose was one of those where I just said, give me that serious face and they did!

The Family Squeezed In!

Capturing a family reunion is such a joy for me. The generations all gathered together. Adults become the children as their parents tell them what to do. The kids running everywhere. It's GREAT!

I set up in the living room for the "whole family" shot and then everyone poured in. ..."Squeeze in" I just kept saying ... "squeeze in". Finally I got a few shots, even those are cray portraits, believe me, this is about as good as you can hope for.

Everyone was laughing, the kids couldn't understand what was going on.

But I knew. The love in that room was simply infectious.

It's a good kind of infection though ... Hey! you! squeeze in! ...a little tighter.

The Dons - A Rock and Roll Band - The Portrait Session

After a number of years of photographing The Dons in performance they decided that it was time for a studio session.
I'd like to say that the guys are comfortable with out their instruments ...but my Mother told me not to lie ...HA!
We had a great session, watch for future images from the shoot in future posts.

The Dons - Never Promised They'd be Pretty

I get rev'd when I photograph performers. Partly because I've been a musician my whole life and partly because I love to see the bands that are the real deal.



















I was doing a back-room-at-the-club portrait session before the band went on and I said, "Guys give me that pretty face" ... the guys just laughed .. we don't do "pretty". They tried something, It was more comical ... I asked them to stop.





























But they sure do Rock!
PS. They didn't like my "we never promised pretty" tag line ... go figure

The Old Triangles

Sometimes you just have to get out and shoot some shapes ... don't ya think?

I was up one morning with the roosters and went looking for something to shoot ...with my camera that is.

The sun was just coming up and I noticed how it was shinning through an wooden structure and making these neat shapes on the ground.

Now I just have to find someone who wants to buy these images ....

The Beast From ...

I admit, I am very, very lucky to be a photographer and to capture the images that I am blessed to have taken.

When it was said that the eyes are the window to the soul they were right. And when the actor is wearing a mask it is even easier to see how deep the soul really is.

It was actually a few years ago that I was asked to photograph Beauty and the Beast. The costumes and performances were great of course, but when I was looking through the images I was stopped dead in my tracks by this single image of the Beast.

It was "deadly" as they say. That one image that wasn't posed, couldn't be posed, will never be repeated and shouldn't be.

The actor was in the moment and that makes us as audience members shiver.

I still to this day look at this image and think how lucky I was to be there. This is one of those images where we as photographers laugh and say "I wonder who stole my camera and shot that one?"

One Image - Many Captions

When you shoot as many images per week as I do, you can tend to see multiple things in them.

This single image is of The Colonial Boys, a fife and drum marching unit who because of their generosity to the community are one of the most respected groups of their kind. But as I was preparing this image I couldn't help but think of a couple of funny captions for what "could" have been happening.

And in my own twisted way, I had to share them with you. One is blank ... so what's your funny caption?

The Dons - A Rock and Roll Band - Workin' It

I've photographed The Dons many times, I seen their performances mature and the members gain confidence. But this night I noticed something, the band was Working, really working for the audience. And the audience was eating it up.























You know it when you see it too, the band actually smiles a little less and that my friend is a sign of confidence and concentration.

This is a great band and a real treat to photograph

The Dons - A Rock and Roll Band - In Color

We all know a performer that is over the top ... maybe just a bit too much. And we also know when we see the real thing.









































I love everytime I am asked to photograph The Dons, a rock and roll band out of the Boston area. They love playing music for their audiences and it shows. I just hold on as tight as I can and hope that I catch all the great images.

















There's lots more images from my sessions with the Dons coming

Sk8rGurl's Senior Prom

Yes, it was three years ago when Sk8rGurl had her Senior Prom. And there I was as they prepared to jump in Hummer and head out.

It's a happy and a sad time at the same time.

But Sk8rGurl was happy and for me, that's all I need.

The Dons - A Rock and Roll Band - Serious

Photographing a rock band is a small dark club can be a challenge. First of all, It's Dark! Think high ISO and large aperature. Steady hands etc...etc.

Second I'm usually right in the middle of a bunch a dancing-screaming girls ... wait a minute, that's a plus ... anyway. Lost my train of thought.

This night, about a year ago, I was asked to photograph the Dons both performing and for promo use. This "reverse black and white" image ended up as the band's business card. I give bands and other performers an image release as a part of the session costs.

We do try to have some fun too.