Merry Christmas 2006

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year everyone!

We'll also be away for vacation until January 6, 2007.

The Bishop Girls

Actually mom and the girls. We spent about an hour on their property and got some amazing images, very relaxed, very natural, walkin' in the woods, checking out the places the girls enjoy. What a sanctuary. The photographs are a surprise for Dad.

Doggies

OK I am trying to pull together a New Year's Card, and want to do something with my two pups. Do you know how hard it is to photograph doggies? Two of them at the same time. Yikes. Give me toddlers any day. Well, I got one of Lucy today, but I really want both dogs in the same pic, so I'll have to try again.

Hey, everyone out there have a Merry Christmas & a Happy Hanukah!

By the Way, the U2 video below take a bit of time to load, be patient, it's worth it.

U2

I found this video, and just think that it's amazing. "Window in the Skies"

A Great Movie!

I just watched this film. Wow! I mean no matter what you think of Al Gore, this movie will make you think, and even more importantly it will make you act. Rent it today. Amazing!

Cover Boy!

That's what Tracey Becker of Southern new England Weddings called me, with this photograph from Lourdes and Tyler's wedding. The flowers are by Nancy Birch of Grandi Floral. The reception was at Linden Place in Bristol, RI and the ceremonay at Brown University. It was a rainy day last May, but who cares, it was an awesome day, with great light for photographs.

Thanks SNEW for putting me on the cover.

The Relaxed Family Portrait

Well, the Christmas/Hanukah season is upon us, and everyone's calling for gifts, even if we did the session this summer. I must say, I really love the family that likes a relaxed photograph. This one from July was taken on the beach near my house. I love it. I mean, I just love this photograph. This is the kinda stuff I want to create.

We went to the beach after sunset, great light, nice and soft, the best time of day to make photographs. We spent about half an hour, walking, talking, doing images, the family, the daughters. Then I just had them walk toward me, Stop, ok lean on each other, lean more, fall on each other, they just did this cool relaxed hug. I could see it in the camera. This image really communicates what this family is all about. It helps that I know them really well, and that's a key in photography, and in life. I've almost thought of making sure that I meet with people before I do any portraits, just so we can develop a repore. But even if we don't meet, I guess I think it's one of the things I do well. I'm able to put people at ease and develop trust fairly quickly.

"The camera looks both ways" Rick Samon.

Ivan & Betsy

Ivan and Betsy were the last wedding of the season this year. In addition, to all the regular formals that we do, I experimented with some new lighting techniques. My friend David Williams calls it Hollywood glamour lighting. How does it work? Well, I can't tell you cause it's a secret, and if I expose all the secrets then - well, no one will hire me.

All right. We find a lamp with a removable shade or a bright bulb, and we light the couple with a Lamp. Yes, an ordinary house lamp. Can you believe that? Cool stuff. Doesn't give that Hollywood Glamour lighting effect from the 1950's?

Megan strikes again!

OK. Here's a new idea. Let me pay for your Honeymoon. Huh??? megan entered this photo in a contest, that included a romantic story about her and Dan's meeting. She won a free Honeymoon to the Bermuda Islands. As Dan said, "James photos sure have paid for themselves many times over."

Wow, I should go into business.

We made the Cover!

Southern New England Weddings had a huge party last night at the Biltmore. They unveiled the 2007 edition of their magazine, and to my pleasant surprise, my photograph of the Floral Arrangement by Nancy Birch of Grandi Floral was on the cover. Plus the inside of the magazine has a double page spread of Lourdes & Tyler's Wedding at Linden Place.

Unfortunately, I was not able to attend the party because I threw my back out over the weekend - this meant I was in bed all day Monday with ice packs, and I've now made two trips to the Chiropractor. But, I am slowly getting better. Just bummed I missed my coming out party!

I'll post photos as soon as I get my hands on a copy.