Saturday, February 6, 2010
Women’s Expressive Theater has an ongoing series to help teen age girls accept who they are and not try to match peer expectations. It is called the Risk Taker’s Series. About once a month during the school year a group of about 150 teen agers gather to watch a film that relates to their experiences growing up. One Saturday recently, I had the privilege of documenting the girls gathered to ask questions of and listen to the actress, Ally Sheedy. The film that day was “The Breakfast Club”. The girls had spent the morning watching it and talking about what the movie brought up for them. The photographs express how inspiring this day was.
Using the word ’safari’ might seem strange for a walk in Prospect Park, Brooklyn, NY. However there are three families of swans along with many varieties of ducks, geese, and gulls in the lake in Prospect Park.
Wikipedia has a good description of swans and their habitats. Swans usually do not battle each other for territory. They even form flocks to harness food resources. They do not migrate even in winter once they have found their home.
Revered by many cultures, swans are considered to be one of the most beautiful and graceful of birds.
What is not understood by many is their vulnerabilities when they share our environs. Recently, two cygnets, young swans, had fish hooks caught in their bodies.
People fishing in the park should pick spots away from the swans. Parent swans are very protective of their young. When people paddle boat in the lake they should avoid going close to the swans. Garbage does not belong in the lake for us and the water birds.
Such a wonder for our children to see these amazing birds so close to home. If we respect them, this safari will be ours.
The top two photographs were done by Thomas Maloney. The others I have done over the several years that I have admired these swans.
Recently I was reminded how clearly babies perceive and how intensely they feel.
I was spending time with a friend and her 8-month-old baby girl who is happy and always ready to play. Talking to her is a lot of fun as she listens and responds as if she could already speak.
While her mom was preparing tea, she pooped in her diaper. She didn’t fuss and continued to play. The tea was ready and her mom wanted to finish the tea before tending to her daughter’s diaper change. When her mom reached for honey, she found that the honey had spilled in the cabinet. No sooner had she reached for a washcloth when her baby started to cry loudly as if she had been hurt.
Her cries startled both her mom and I. We checked. She was fine. She was saying “What about me?! You are cleaning and not taking care of me!”
Her happiness and calm returned with the diaper change. How present and vital babies are.
Telling the stories of our lives is best done with photographs that inspire our memories and bring back cherished times. Recently, I did many photos of a simple afternoon of an 8 month old. We chose outdoors–the Brooklyn Promenade and a nearby playground. These were everyday sites that his mom and nanny frequented with him. Of the many I did, I chose these for his family, to highlight the time when this little one had sprouted his wonderful first teeth and was starting to stand up. One of the packages that I offer is to document a baby’s development during his/her first year where I photograph every two months. I also edit a parent’s photos and combine the selection with my documentation to make a wonderful archival album of a child’s first year. One kind of album, an accordion fold, is displayed here.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
I like to think that a portrait, for use in conjunction with your business, should say more about you than a “head shot”. Recently when the colors of fall were at their most brilliant, I worked with Joyce of NYC School Help. The oranges, reds, and golden yellow were perfect for her business. Most people think of autumn when they think of the beginning of the school year: perfect for her professional services.
Sometimes a portrait can be simple yet mysterious as this one of a musician.
I felt that a yoga and dance teacher who works with children as well as adults is best served with a welcoming portrait.
An actress has to be photographed full body as well as close up. An artist can be seen thinking about her art. A dancer, who we see mostly in movement, can reveal her art through a simple portrait suggesting her work.
In a recent conversation with Amy Abrams, one of the founders of In Good Company Workplaces, she stated, “My children are over documented but there is no storyline to the photos–just a mishmash.” She went on to say that her children aged 4 and 2, love looking at her wedding album with its organized prints. “I would love for someone to help me sift through all of these digital images and help create albums that will house lasting memories.”
No sooner did she say this that I thought I have been doing this editing work for a long time for my clients. Helping people with the editing of their digital images, printing photographs that have meaning, and creating albums is now a service I offer.
Here is a sample edit telling the story of one bride’s wedding preparations.
Monday, December 28, 2009
Recently I photographed a wedding that is featured on “Married In Manhattan” on TLC. The wedding and reception took place on a boat that circled Manhattan. Because of the boat’s size the number of guests was limited to very close friends and family members. The amount of love shown Margot and Silvio that afternoon couldn’t have been magnified more by a crowd of 200. Here are the photos. We start with the getting ready at Margot’s parents home.
The bride and groom needed sound wiring so their vows could be heard for the television filming.
All the guests and the film crew crowded around Margo and Silvio and their officiant, Gino Filippone, on the narrow bow of the boat.
The reception left no dry eyes when the bride danced with her father and then was serenaded by her groom.
What a day surrounded by love and riding the waves around the island of Manhattan.
Monday, December 14, 2009
In addition to working with so many wonderful clients in 2009, I am pleased that recent artworks have been exhibited in two New York galleries. Earlier this fall one of my platinum palladium diptychs was exhibited as part of a juried show at Soho Photo Gallery in Manhattan. This work was part of my ongoing exploration of the landscape and particularly the traditions of Vermont and New England.
In addition a series of my work was awarded an honorable mention in the prestigious Px3 photo competition. This series is titled “A Vermont Homestead”.
One of my silver gelatin prints is now exhibited at Gallery 440 in Brooklyn. The juror for this show is artist Charles Long.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
I am writing this post to let everyone know about an organization, Choices in Childbirth, a not for profit organization whose mission is to help women make informed maternity care decisions.
I recently photographed Milon, a writer and editor of the Guide to a Healthy Birth, who is planning to give birth in her own home with her husband, Neil, by her side. She will be assisted by her midwife and a doula. I am sure her baby will be welcomed into the world with care and love. Even now I feel her baby feels welcome. Here are a few photographs from my session with her and her husband.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Katherine and Jason chose a wonderful vineyard, Raphael, located on the North Fork of Long Island, to celebrate their wedding.
Katherine and her wedding party also got ready on site.
The sun shone for their ceremony which took place in back of the main building with the acres and acres of grape vines behind them.
All the delicious food and even the cake was prepared by the staff at Raphael. The flowers were by James Cress of Smithtown, LI.
The tall vases of flowers with the orchids floating in the water added grace to the spacious Raphael dining room.
A treat for Katherine and Jason was to venture down to the wine cellar where the wine is produced and stored.
For Katherine and Jason this was a beautiful day to confirm their commitment and love.
