Today is Martin's Birthday

Today is Dr. Martin Luther King Day here in the United States.

A country that was built partly by slave labor. But saddly, has a lot of company in the world.

This is a photo of one of the guests at a reception I was honored to shoot for a young man who had just joined the police force.

I like this image for a number of reasons, mostly because of the quiet confidence in his eyes and another because it reminds me (this white guy) of what I don't know about people.

I have so much to learn about people. I'm just happy that I'm a photographer. I get to look into their eyes and see the truth.

What is it with days like these?

The morning starts, the day goes on and soon here I am.

I just keep telling myself, "the harder I work, the luckier I get" , which usually means, I'll watch another half hour of TV.

This photo is from "It's a Wonderful Life" .. you know that movie with Jimmy Stewart. Here George has just found that he is getting blamed for everything that has gone wrong

I do hope that as in the movie, I'm just wrong and Hey! It's a wonderful life.

I'm Back

After thirteen months, I'm back.

I was lost, but I have been found, been seeking and thinking and well just out. I had my "away message" up and forgot to hit the " I'm Back" button ... which now I have.

I have so many photos to share. Lots has happened.




I'll be here .

The Girls

Here are a few more photos from my Girlfriends series.

It was hot evening in August, the girls were all heading back to college and wanted a portrait.

Guardian of the Pumpkin Patch

31,128 lit pumpkins

That's how many pumpkins it took to break the Guinness World record. I met this woman as she guarded one of the many patches of carved pumpkins at the Life is Good Pumpkin Festival held on the Boston Common.

They are already planning next year's festival and will break the record again. That's a lot of pie!

Ray Ray

Ray Ray

I meet quite a few characters as a photographer, well they appear to be characters anyway. We are all in the end wearing our own costumes to get us through the day.

I met Ray Ray recently at the Life is Good Pumpkin festival in Boston. I asked him if he was working ...he said "no, I'm just here for the festival". As we talked I found out that his background was in fashion ...yes, fashion ...you know, clothes. We discussed the clothing that people were wearing, how that color was a bold choice etc. Which really caught me off guard.

I wanted to get more information, but it wasn't going to happen.

So I never found out if Ray Ray was an avid reader or the real thing. Interesting how you really can't judge a book (or person) by their cover.

Today is Halloween here in the US. So happy Day

Halloween

We've begun the holiday season, see the smile? That's the smile of Halloween. That's the smile of "I'm gonna get a big bag of candy" Twelve pounds of candy ... if the kid is smart he'll hide all the good stuff before his parents "check the bag just to be sure that it's all OK" ( wink wink). As his Dad says " Oh look ...I love this candy bar....you have so much can I have it???" "sure Dad, knock yourself out ...no really Dad, go right ahead, it's way too much for me"

And parents wonder why the kids stuff as much candy as they can into their bodies before they get home from Halloweening.

Come to think of it, I used to eat a one pound chocolate Easter Bunny before church ... no wonder I felt so sick

Soon the stores will be in the holiday spirit. Stay happy and forget all your troubles

Look behind

I have no idea what they're talking about

But theres a lot going on around us, in the background, behind the main event, at the rear of the room.

And that my friend is one of the most important things taught to photographers, turn around and take that picture too

Two People that I Admire

Of all of the kings and Nobel prize winners, Presidents, teachers, ...photographers and musicians that I have known ... well known of anyway. Two people stand out as those I most admire.

My children were born considerate and caring. But after all they are brother and sister, so publicly they hate each other. But without any fanfare they are persuing their careers. My son (the hockey player/teacher/science wiz) is in grad school studying to be a nurse practitioner and my daugher (the actress/hockey player/redhead) is in Europe studying acting.

Do it without a fanfare. That's what they taught me. Make a difference, persue your dreams, give a gift that is so deeply special that the recipient is speechless. The fanfare is such a waste of time and energy. All it gets you is false adoration. which is something both of them steer clear of.

I hope that the fanfare finds them, I'd like them to have it all. The money, the fame, the cover of Newsweek. But they'll avoid the press conference I'll bet.

A Race for the Cure

Recently I was asked to photograph the Susan B Komen - Race for a Cure which was held at the University of Massachusetts in Boston. It's a 3K road race where the focus is on raising the awareness of breast cancer.

After picking up my official tee shirt, I headed to the survior's tent. The closer I got, the more excited I felt ...there was a familar smell in the air ...Coffee ...Starbucks coffee. This was going to be a good day! Wait a minute, I wasn't there for the coffee...OK, I'll just have a cup (or three) and then get back to work. Which I did.

As I was walking around the tent I saw such a sea of pink. Hats, wigs and of course the pink tee shirts worn by the survivors. I came across this couple. He was pinning on her number for the race and they were laughing a bit because he was doing such a bad job.

After talking with them for a few minutes about the day and the cause, and the coffee... I said that I had to get going and I told the woman that I hope she wins ... with out missing a beat, the husband leaned over to his wife and giving her a hug said.."We already did"...

and that was the last time I made that mistake ...that day anyway

Jester

She entered the park wearing

A jester's hat, bright red and blue scarf,

a florescent green tutu, ice hockey pads

and stilts strapped on with duck tape and an ace bandage

I asked her if she was an actress. She answered "All the time"

Nikon Hat

Rosanne Pinnella

Last Saturday I attended a Nikon Master class led by world famous travel photographer Rosanne Pinnella.

Travel and people photography is all about getting the subject comfortable with you taking their picture or in getting to the right place at the right time to get a magnificent photo that will end up on the cover of National Geographic.

Rosanne's photos are full of rich colors, sharp focus and excellent composition. Well the ones that end up in magazine's, on billboards and travel sites are any way. But you ask her something technical about her camera and she'll tell you "I learn what I need to know and bring the manuals for what I don't remember". Hey, just like me ...I said to myself.

I like being around "masters", they are excited to have reached where they are. Most also realize how far they still must go.

As for the Nikon hat they gave me ... I'm a Canon shooter, and that's like being a Democrat, which I also am. But I think I'll keep the hat so that I can wear it if I ever need to enter "the enemy camp" again.

Heaven

I was born a minister's son, Yes, I am a son of a preacher man

Much closer to God for sure, you know, just like the Pope's kids

...that is if he had any,

But don't call me with questions about heaven, hell, purgatory, etc. Cause I was just kidding. Not about being a minister's kid, just about being any closer to God.

Oh, this is an actual picture of heaven, maybe

Grace

Grace is a lost art. But this is it.

It's quiet and slow,
and soft and comforting
and calming.

Grace makes us strong because it takes the time to tell us
to be kind and caring.

Grace is such a lost art.

Make grace ... not war

Roses are red and pink and blue

These are Lori's roses, she let me borrow them to photograph. I think that she knew that I'd never give them back.

I still have them. Each day they wither a bit more.

I'm doing what I can to keep them alive, but I'm not God you know.

Roses are red and pink and white and blue. And like us all, one day they will die.

The Actor's not Dead

I am currently photographing a theatrical production of EVITA. If you don't know the story, it follows the life of Eva Perón, who rose to power in Argentina as the wife of President Juan Perón.

In the end Eva dies and becomes immortal in the eyes of her adoring fans.

During the production I noticed that members of the audience were crying. It is so sad to see a life wither away. It is a credit to a theatrical production that can actually pull the audience in so deeply that it becomes real.

Why are you crying?
It's not over yet
The show's just started
The actor's not dead

You'll soon feel much better
The music will swell
There's a scene when it happens
It will be easy to tell

The actor dies later
It gets dark and she's alone
Everyone's left her
She sits and just passes away

girlfriends

Four girls, best friends, One last picture to remember the summer before going away for their second year at college.

Will one choose a family
and Will one choose fame
Will one leave forever
and will one
bring them together again

We all have a purpose, a calling and a place in the puzzle.

Family

Family is like iron
It's stronger than the pain
Even the years can't hurt it
You can go home again

With family, there's lightning in my veins

Losing

It's so easy to lose yourself,
You'll never even see it happen,
They'll wake you up to tell you that you're missing,
then leave, and let you find you own way home again

Secrets

Little known secrets

Always just there

Out in the distance

Far away from here

You'd be much better

Off and unaware

Away from all this malice

because I know you don't care

Dancing

What makes you happy?

What sets you free?

and how do you find that focus?

That finally lets you see

Skippy

Yes, this is Skippy; the dog.

My pal. Skippy was always smiling ... Actually this is fairly serious pose for Skippy.

Skippy is no longer with us.

Years ago, when I was just a wee pup myself, there was another Skippy. He was the original Skippy. I still remember the day my Dad took Skippy to the vet for one last visit. I was numb as we said goodbye, as I watched the car pull away.

But this time it was my turn. If you've never taken that drive, that last drive to the vet with your pal, your Skippy. It's beyond words. Walking up to the door of the animal hospital, the same door that Skippy had gone through so many times before. The young Vet tech behind the counter with a cheery " and hows Skippy doing today?" and then she checks the book and she just looks away...

Skippy was always smiling, he gave me a great smile when we said good-bye that day

Cold Dark Deep and Wide

It's gonna be cold
and it's gonna be dark
and grey and lonley
for the rest of your life

Or, it's gonna be a beautiful day full of possibilities and success.



Message to self: The Harder I work, the Luckier I get. now say it again...

Patriotism - in the flesh

This is one of my favorite photos, it hangs on the wall of my living room, right beside the 11X14's of my kids.

The photo is part of a series of photos that I took of a fife and drum group called The Colonial Boys at a Memorial Day celebration held at the town cemetary.

The group has been performing for over 50 years. I remember trying to find their WEB site ...there is none, then I Google'd the name ...no listings. Now that's frustrating.

So on the Fourth of July there they were again, marching in the parade. So I gave them some of the photos that I had taken of them and asked if they wanted more taken. "Maybe, ... but probably not"

It's funny, they've never called. I think they say what they want to with their presence at town events and that's enough.

Patriotism is a quiet thing. Kind of like one's religion. Some stand on the street corners with your American flag ties and tell the world how patriotic they are ...while othere just stand with their flags and be proud.

I like this photo, it hangs in my living room, right next to the 11x14s of my kids

In the Eye of the Beholder

I have zero talent for drawing. Not even in the eye of the beholder. No, my Mother did not put my "artwork" on the fridge.

It appears that my Daughter on the other hand does have talent. This is a painting that she did at college in her set painting class. (she's a theater major) It measures about five feet tall by three feet wide and hangs in my home office.

I had heard about this when she was doing the painting, but come on, you don't really think your kid is going to produce a mammoth piece of art like this. And it looks like real objects and people.

How many talents do we all have hiding ...untapped. The un-discovered plethora of abilities. OK, so writing is not a talent of mine either ...I'll make a list.

C ya