Cape Cod: Fourth of July and some Photos

This year I spent my fourth of July at the Cape. I was just out there a few weeks ago, and was back to celebrate the birthday of our America. American flags flew with pride and splendor. Towns were filled with people showing their pride with reds, whites, and blues. Flag tee shirts, flags, stars and stripes, and any other fashion accessory that you could imagine was displayed in a patriotic manner. I had unfortunately needed to return on the 4th and was unable to make it to any fireworks that night. However, on Monday night I had the privilege of seeing them from First Encounter Beach in Eastham Mass. Having spent and hour as Chef Jeff, grilling and cooking, I prepared a picnic to eat beachside while we waited for the sun to set. It was beautiful. It was a bucket list item, thats for sure. I have always wanted to put together a "fancy" picnic to have on the beach and watch the fireworks. Along with my grilling, we were joined by Amherst Farms Winery. A great little start up winery in Western Ma, (Amherst to be exact). It was a great evening and an even greater sunset. The fireworks were a slight distance away, but nevertheless, they were spectacular. Until the Friday before, June 29th, I had never turned my camera to the fireworks displays that I attended. It never really interested me as much as it did to just watch them. As I am fascinated by light and the different ways light is created, in this instance, by things that explode and blow up. Now, I realize that sounds kind of bad. I do not like things being blown up nor do I use explosives. But come on now, its fireworks. If you dont like fireworks, then you have some weird phobia that is kind of unconstitutional. Or you dont like loud and obnoxious sounds of explosions, which that is ok.

The display that we watched went of from Rock Harbor. Rock Harbor is a nice little harbor. It has one rock in it that stands up right just off the shore. But they know how to light a mean firework. I am sure the hundreds of others that lined the beach to watch would agree. Below are a few photos from our time out there.[gallery link="file" columns="4"]

Autism: Social Documentary

I haven't been able to post much over the past few weeks. I have been incredibly busy with shooting weddings and other business related projects. But I did make it a point to capture a few images of my brother when he was in the studio with me two weeks ago. "This Is Autism" is the project I began with him as a subject. Well, in April he fell at school. It was determined that it was negligence that lead to his fall. He suffered a broken wrist and nose. My brother has already spent enough of his life in physical pain, pain that was not directly caused onto him, but rather the pain that life handed him. He is a child that requires special care, supervision, and attention. He did not ask to be left alone nor ask to fall. But through the lack of proper judgement, that very thing happened. I've witnessed my brother cry over a multitude or reasons. Be it a bad day, a migraine headache, pain from a surgery, or just general pain of being disabled. No matter what the reason, it always evokes a level of sympathy in me that I can not contextualize in words. It is very hard at times to watch him tear up when he is in pain, but when he laughs and smiles, it out weighs those moments that tear through you as sharp as the pain he is enduring. Fast forwarding to today, he is nearly healed from the fall, but it is a notch in his little belt.

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Boston Mass: Some Photos

On Monday of this week, (June 11th) I was in Boston. I will be there tomorrow Wednesday, June 13th. Monday was for pleasure and Wednesday is for portraits, a tour of the State House, and dinner. On Monday I made some photos, like I typically do when I travel to the city. I hate when you're in a place that you're familiar with and it just so happens to be a place where millions of tourists visit and you're seen with your camera. Photographers with cameras aren't always tourists. Sometimes they are though. But as for me, I am a wandering photographer with specific subject matters. People sleeping on a bench, now that is a photo I like to see. Old toilets left under a wall with graffiti and some car parts, another composition that engages me. Wednesday will be a good afternoon in Boston, like every other day I am in the city. [gallery link="file" columns="4"]

Wedding Photography: Sunsets and Such

I have photographed weddings in the rain, the sun, the morning, the evening, in mid-summer heat and winter cold. But when you can make images at sunset and capture that light, you are truly blessed. It gives you the ability to share that moment with the newly weds and give them photos that capture the beauty that is them, as well as the beauty that is their day. [gallery link="file" columns="4"]

Wedding Photography: Bridal Fashion

I love capturing the attire that is worn at weddings. Every wedding has its own unique fashion, especially with the bride's dress. I always try and be as fashionable as the wedding itself. You'd be surprised how couples respond to your attire, even when the day is about them. [gallery link="file" columns="4"]

Wedding Photography: A Happy Bride

Wedding Photography and weddings in general are pretty special. I know some will that is an understatement, which is true. It is very hard to use words, sometimes, to convey the real emotion that a wedding can ensue. There are not time weddings that are ever the same, even if it is in the same venue, same church, or if they have similar ideas. Every wedding is just its own unique day with two special people. Moments before the first dance, literally just as the bride and groom were about to be announced, my business partner came running up to me, "she is going to run in, jump in the air and click her feet together." He wasn't kidding. The bride and the groom came walking towards me and she jolted forward and sprang into the air. She is a Happy Bride!