Engagement Photography Heating Up

Janice and Lauren And Lisa all contacted me today about setting up Engagement Photography sessions for this spring. Something in the air? Wow, We were looking at April dates, and it was hard to find something that worked for everyone. But we finally did.

Every couple is different, and as you can see, every couple yields different results from their engagement photography session. It usually runs about an hour, and I try to make it fun. Come with some of your own ideas, and together we'll make it a creative session.

Plus this year, we are having couples select 8 images from their e-session and making a very cool guest book, which makes those old fashion white guest books, with lines, well, just so 1999.

Len Levy 1924 to 2008

Len Levy, my first photography instructor and mentor passed away yesterday. He had been sick the last few years, and to be honest with you, I was so surprised this morning when I learned of his age. Len was one of those guys who looked and acted like he was 20 or even 30 years younger. I would have guessed the he was in his 60's, not his 80's.

Len was one of those men from the 20th century who lived an amazing life. Born here in the US to Jewish immigrant family, he also served in World War II, and participated in the landing at Normandy, France to liberate Europe. After the war, he settled in Salem, MA, where he operated a very successful photography studio for 40 years. But, it was through his teaching of both photography as a craft and business that made him one of the most loved photographers in New England, and around the US.

When I took my first photography class with him, he spotted me right away and invited me to lunch. He was so interested in my life and my work. This gets said often, but for me, it will be true. I will never forget Len.

He was also one of the best joke & story tellers, I ever knew.

Another Favorite

Here is another great image from 2007, more to come. Marrisa on the bed at her home. Actually, my wife Lisa took this great image. I need to give credit where credit is do.

Kirstin, Bride and M.D.

I was just reviewing some photos from last year, in preparation for updating the slide show on my website. I have to say this is one of my favorites from 07. A smart and beautiful bride. That would be Dr. Kirstin. Yup, she's an M.D. in Boston, and so is her husband, Juan.

Audio Diary of a Day in Tela

Click the title above to listen.

Don't Worry, it's not 24 hours long, I've just condensed the day down to a few minutes.

Learning Video

So I am starting to learn a little bit about shooting video. First off, I've interviewed two candidates for being my assistant videographer. I wonder which one I should hire?

Seriously though. I've had great fun with the online slideshows, and this has lead me into some creative work with an audio recorder. I picked up a book by Hillman Curtis called, Making Short Videos for the Web. He has amzing ideas, and continues to do some wonderful work on his website. www.hillmancurtis.com Very creative and inspiring stuff. Soooo, I bought a used Sony Camcorder a month ago on ebay. (Warning don't do this, I needed to send it in for repair as it had a malfunction - just buy a new one)

I am not intending on doing professional work with the camcorder, so all my Videographer friends can rest easy. I won't be cutting in on your client base. For me this is about experimenting with a creative medium. I'll post my samples, as they unfold.

Children of our World

Published! Yes, the long awaited publication of Children of our World is now complete. OK OK, so it's on Blurb Press (self-publishing) but hey, in this world of go go marketing and hype... etc, so forth and so on.

Anyway, the book is finally ready. You can order a copy at Blurb Press. Just click the title of this post above.

Plus, if you can make it, I'm having a Gallery Show at the University of Rhode Island March 3 to April 3, with an opening and book signng on March 10th at 6:00 p.m.

The Story of Stuff Teaser #1

Check the whole story out at www.storyofstuff.com

Kate & Paul

Remember Kate & Paul. 2005 at OceanCliff in Newport, Rhode Island. Kate emailed this pic of their new baby Boy, Lukas. he was born Feb 10th. She wrote to ask about baby pictures this summer.

I'm Back from Central America

Here is a mix of photographs from the last two weeks of my trip in Central America.

Caribean Town of Tela

I´m about halfway through my trip, and I´`m now in the Caribean Town of Tela in Honduras. It´s been a great trip so far. Just enough espanol to make it from mini-crisis i.e. events of note - an unexpected bus change, a canceled hotel reservation, a brief encounter with Montezuma, and many conversations that could have been more in depth had I a better grasp of the language.

Photos will have to wait until I return due to the slow internet connection at this cafe.

P.S. Rainy day in this beach town, so I headed indoors.

Out of the Country Feb 1 to Feb 17

I'm away for the next two weeks, so if you are wondering why I haven't returned any emails or phone calls between Feb 1 to 17, well, now you know. Where I'm going, heck, probably won't find out who won the Superbowl for a few days.

Publication News

I have had some recent success in getting published.

Harcourt Press wanted an image of the old Colonial structure in Portsmouth, RI for a text Book.
The Monthly magazine for the Methodist Church is looking for images of Teenagers shopping.
I did some work for Newport Life Magazine, and the next issue includes some work I did for them on Adults mentoring kids in Newport Schools.
Still waiting to hear on the West Coast publisher of a book on Native Americans who asked for some of my Pow Wow photos, see below.