The 4th of July Parade 2010 - Norwood MA - The Main Event!

Where do I begin to explain a town parade? The way it brings people together, helps them slow down for a day and remember what is really important.

The Fourth of July parade in Norwood MA is an event. It's a quiet event in some ways and so LOUD at the same time. The parade is led by fire trucks and other emergency vehicles from all the local towns. And these guys blow every horn that they have as they slowly ... oh so slowly drive through town. The sound makes such a statement and the townspeople applaude.

(this guy is not a real fire man ... HA!)

And the bands that march come from all over the US and Canada.

But it is the baseball teams ... riding on the floats ... waving at the crows that line the streets that make this parade so special. This is a town parade ... we love our town parade.

Here's a link to a slideshow of images I shot during the parade.

Paul Akl - The Headshot Session - Pure Attitude and Truth

I recently did a headshot session with Paul Akl. a fine actor and singer. I hadn't seen him for years. In that time he had matured ... of course, his hair was shorter, he had really worked on his body and so I thought that he was now focusing on modeling.

We did the typical headshots and then I thought that we should get some body shots as well.

Even though it looks like Paul is all attitude ... he's not.

I actually posted some of the images to the WEB and mentioned that Paul was a "body builder". Next thing I get is an Email from Paul to let me know that that was not the case.

People may mistake confidence, pride and maturity for "attitude" ... not so

The 4th of July 2010 - Norwood MA - The Kids Parade

Few events in this world can rival a children's parade. I remember marching in parades as a child ... seeing the town's people line along the road made it so special.
In norwood MA, the 4th of July festivities begin at 1:00 PM when the main street is closed off and filled with hundreds of children and their parents walking, riding their decorated bikes and pushing decorated baby carriages,

The parade is led by The Colonial Boys fife and drum band.

and the newest addition, the Junior Colonial Boys band.

You can feel the excitement in the air as the kids parade around the town's gazebo with the hope of winning a prize.

But everyone wins. There is a tee shirt and ribbon for everyone.

a few lucky ones are chosen as the best and they get to ride in the main parade later in the day.

I'm there each year tying to capture the spirit of the day, but mostly because it helps me remember how important family really is.

Here's a link to a slideshow from the day

Quilts - A lost art that will keep you warm

Quilts ... you don't hear that word much any more. Why sew a quilt when they are on sale this week-end for 70% off! run - rush - trample - claw ...
My Grandmother made quilts, ladies would come over to her house and sit and talk and sew. These were Pensylvania Dutch quilts. Bright colors, crazy patterns, tiny.. tint stiches that would never ... ever come out.


Recently the ladies at my church returned to the art of quilting and they had a dedication of the quilts last Sunday. What a proud day, these quilts were going to be boxed up and sent to people that couldn't afford to ... COME ON OVER for the 70% off sale!!

You see, these were made by hand and the stitches ... made by hand ... had love built into every stitch. And that alone will keep you warm.

West Side Club - Living the Green

I played a gig in Cleveland not too long ago and brought my camera. I usually don't becasue, well, I'm busy here .. playing music.

This night the West Side Club was celebrating their heritage and the "People of the Year".

It is quite the event, but in my opinion the event was secondary to the people and their love of life.
They had a marching band ... (Yes, it came marching through the hall) and a kind of beauty queen and lots of honor.

I can tell you, these people are happy. Simple happiness.

Look at that smile ...

Yes, honor, pride, love, caring, non-judgement ... well maybe they do judge ..

It was a cool night, and I have to slow down and enjoy life.

A Mother's love is a blessing, one that even a soldier holds so dear.

Heal Thyself - Busler and Home Remedies

I just got a new light ... no one was around to be my model ... I was forced into it by a band of angry ... forget it - I got nothing ...

For that ring that just won't come off ... here's your tool...

The truth is I did get a new light and I had to get used to it. I saw the tools and thought " Hey, that would be funny!" I crack me up!

When the asprin just ain't cutting it ... here's your tool

and for that ear ache ... here's your tool ..

this is an image of the screw driver on the way out

don't try this at home ... come on, it's just pretend

Guitarist for the Love of it - Walpole Coffee Shop

I guess that's a good title for this one. "Guitarist, for the love it".

I was shooting another artist at this coffee shop in town and this guy just happened to be on the bill as well.



I thought that his songs were fine, simple as they were.

But then that's just the way he wanted it.

Picasso Einstein and Elvis - Norwood High

What would happen if Albert Einstein, Pablo Picasso, Elvis and a cast of crazy characters show up together in a small French bar one evening ? Steve Martin .. yes, that Steve Martin wrote a short play about this possibility - called Picasso at the Lapin Agile.



Norwood High School recently presented the play and I was there to capture what I could. The dialogue is all over the place and so are the characters



It was a great show to photograph because the kids were having so much fun

Here a video / slideshow - try to keep up ... HA!

One Night Stand - Bad Abbots - Busler in the Shadows

One Night Stand aka Uno Nightstand is a Quincy MA band that I recently shot during one of their performances at Bad Abbots .

This was my first time meeting the band, so I just shot a few images of each member so that they could get a taste of my work .

This could be the start of something good.

Sunglasses - Gotta Stock up for Senior Season - Busler

Senior Season, that time of the year when this year's Seniors in high school "have left the building" and the Juinors get a taste of what it means to be king of the school. A job they will take over permanently in the Fall.
This is also when I begin capturing those Senior portraits. This year I am locked and loaded with new backgrounds and new lights and my secret weapon ... sunglasses.



Yep, I saw these beauties in red and blue and purple ... I think and said " hey, look, sunglasses ... buy twelve pairs " so I did.


You can never look bad in a great pair of shades ... well I can, but you can't.

Liberty Mutual Golf Outing - Busler Slices again

I was asked to shoot a golf outing for Liberty Mutual last week which was held at The International Golf Club in Bolton, MA .
The place is incredible and it is the longest golf course in the world. .. yes really. I still wonder why someone hasn't moved their tee box back a few feet so that they could boast that they had the longest golf course in the world.?


As you might guess, my job was to shoot those "threesome" and "foursome" pictures of the gophers, I mean golfers out on the course and and then get back to the club house and print and frame the images before those pesky gophers ... Golfers ... got back.
Of course I can't show you any of the images from the day because I am sworn to secrecy ... and because I signed a release. Which I will honor following the code of the photographers .. which is "stay out of jail" ... HA!



During dinner I did get a few shots of some hearty souls that were determined to finish their round even if it was pouring rain.
Golf is the only sport where you shake long ( very expensive, finely balanced) metal rods at the stormy skys and yell " Come and get me lightening ... just try" !

Memorial Day 2010 - Norwood MA - Busler

The Memorial Day celebration in Norwood MA is based around family - we remember the family that has died and those who are with us.

The parade which begins at 10:00AM is simple and not overly "military". The cub scouts and girl scouts march, the fire fighters and police department honor guards, the Norwood High Marching Band, the Colonial Boys fife and drum band ... and we honor the veterans, the retired and active duty

"Honor" is a good word for it too in my opinion. You see, we know everyone in a small community such as ours. The young soliders ... marching in their uniforms were (it seems) just on the high school ice hockey team and here they are in miltary uniforms.

Memorial Day for the childern is a holiday, a day when Mommy and Daddy are home from work. But for some, we pause and remember the Mommies and Daddys that didn't come home.

The King of Hearts

I got to shoot The King of Hearts - a nice ... zany musical at the Walpole Footlighter's in Walpole MA.
It's wartime and evryone has left the town, well that is everyone except the residents of the local insane asylum. A soldier ventures into the town and the next thing he knows ... they have crowned him king.

The actors were great to work with and it was all I could do keep up with all the action on stage.

Check out this video/slideshow.

The King of Hearts

The Dons at Bad Abbotts with Mike Macchi

I've been photographing The Dons; a rock band from Boston, MA for a number of years. Originally the line-up included Mike and Matt Macchi and two of their friends , but Mike left the band about a year ago and moved to California. Matt took that opportunity to start fresh with new members .



One night recently the Dons welcomed Mike Macchi back on stage for a performance at Bad Abbotts in Quincy MA. This was a place very familiar to The Dons, seeing that they still play there about once a month.



I think that the Dons audience miss Mike Macchi. Mike is a performer that has a mutual love affair with his fans. The best performers do in my opinion.

There was no introduction that Mike was on stage ... the band just launched in their first song and we all sat back ... well I went into action ... shooting images of Mike and the band.

I knew that I wanted to capture this night. I knew that it was going to be special. And the funny thing was that it didn't feel special, it just seemed great.

Here is a link to a slideshow/video of images from the night. Now you can sit back and enjoy.

The Dons at Bad Abbotts with Mike Macchi

Willy Wonka - Ursuline Academy - Busler in the Shadows

Last night I shot a performance of Willy Wonka that Ursuline Academy in Dedham MA produced. I am amazed at the quality of the shows, the girls do such a good job and they have a great time.

As usual, there I was "standing the shadows" shooting actors. Just wishing that they'd give me more light on the stage and hoping that the actors would stay in one place so that I could get the shot ... but noooooo. HA!

" Come with me ... and you'll be ... in a world of pure imagination" The world is a stage ... and some days the play that we are in can be so challenging. Sometimes I think that it would be nice to be cast in Willy Wonka and relax a bit.

Here is a link to a video / slideshow of the images from last night.
Willy Wonka - Ursuline - Dedham - Busler

Event Photographer - Busler - Norwood MA

Shooting a corporate event can be a big crap shoot; what kind of lighting will I have to work with? What do they expect ? ... will the people want to be photographed? Will they smile?

Well I just treat everyone like a rock star ... and that they are the greatest thing since sliced bread and that works!

I recently shot a corporate meeting of a vendor and their customers. Lots of people talking to each other, speakers at the podium, executives ... customers ... sales people etc.

As you can see from the images and video/slideshow, the lighting was ALL OVER THE PLACE ! So I'm dealing high ceilings, people that won't look at me or look annoyed that I am taking their picture ... HA! But that's my job ... I am an event photographer.

Well, at least that day I was.

Click on this link to see a video of the day
HOW 2010 - Dell Services

Matt Brown Gala - Ray Bourque - Mike Eruzione - Celebrity Photos with Fans

I volunteered to take photos at the Matt Brown Gala Event ( gala = costs a lot to get in... ). Matt is a Norwood (MA) High School ice hockey player that was paralyzed during a game a few months ago. This event was set up to raise much needed funds for his hospital costs.

Lots of sports and political celebrities were expected to attend the gala . So I told the event committee that I would set up a booth and take shots of the celebs with their fans and print them on the spot as a fundraising effort. This was well received and I was in.

That night as I'm driving to the venue it hits me ... What if no celebs are willing to stand there (in my booth) for pictures with their fans ? I'll just be standing there ... alone ... in my booth !

Upon my arrival to the venue I am escorted to my area and told "OK Dan, we'll start with Ray Bourque and then other celebs will come by during the night" ... Well OK, ( I said to myself) this is going to be great!

Ray Bourque showed up right on schedule ... they announced from the stage that Ray is in MY booth and the people lined up for a photo with Ray ... over a hundred people are in line within a few minutes ... YES! Did I mention that this was my booth? A couple hours pass and I'm still shooting photos of fans with Ray. I'm thinking that any celebs that might be in the area can't even get close to my booth, that is unless they want to pay for a photo with Ray ... HA!

Then I'm told that Mike Eruzione ( Captain of the 1980 USA Olympic Ice Hockey team ... the Miracle ) is standing on the sidelines and he can take over for Ray and the shooting just continues,

Look at poor Mike in this image ... posing with fans is hard work!

Between these two sports legends we raised thousands of dollars for Matt's fund ... This was a great night.

I was so thankful for their participation. You see, they know (as ice hockey players) that what happened to Matt can happen to any player.

Click on the link below to see a video/slideshow of the images.
Matt Brown Gala - Celebrity Photos with Fans