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Thinking out loud Thursday #3

Proud parent alert!!!!

Well, this week was our Daughter’s Spring concert with the school band. She’s been involved with the school band for three years now and this will probably have been her last appearance with the group. She made her schedule for her Senior year already and band is not on her list. She told me that her college prep courses will not allow her time to take part in the school band. She may change her mind however, we’ll see.

This being the last appearance of the band for the year, they also had an awards ceremony. Ashley really ‘cleaned up’!

She took four awards, among them most improved and most dedicated! Mendy and I couldn’t be more proud!! Way to go Ash…….!!

Here are a few of my favorites of the evening:

On a different note, Tonight is Survivor night again. There are only two episodes remaining. Tonight and the final one on Sunday. At this stage, I have no idea who will win it. The bigger question is – do I care? I’m not a big fan of any of the final people in the running. It's just fun to all get together to hang out and watch it.

I want to continue my series of photos of my little puppy – Mi Mi.
She looks like she had a hard day in this shot…….. however, I know better!!

Have a great Thursday - The weekend is almost here!

…. Paved with good intentions…

“I think I’ll get up early tomorrow and go make some photos.” I said to Mendy before going to bed Saturday night. “Yeah, what time.” She replied. “Well, I want to get an early start, beat the sunrise, maybe 5:00 or 6:00.” She just looked at me and said, “Have fun.”
We didn’t actually get to bed until about 1:30 AM, we were working on the images from the last Wedding that we shot. So, 5:00 came a bit too early and then 6:00 – it wasn’t looking like I was going to make it. Around 8:00 AM our little dog Mi Mi came busting into our room to get me up so she could ‘do her morning business’ – as they say. As I walked down the steps from our back deck, I knew that I’d really be mad at myself if I didn’t take advantage of the great weather that was awaiting me. It was unseasonably cool for this area of the country at this time of year, and not a cloud in the sky!

I’ve been wanting to take some photographs of the Destrehan Plantation House. Although, to be honest, I’ve never been and had no idea how to get there! The town we live in has a drawbridge that connects us (the most direct route) to the rest of the New Orleans civilization – of course on this morning, when I’m racing the sun – it was broken! So, I had to circle around the LONG way! After driving for while I realized that I needed to figure out where I was going. A little search on my trusty iphone revealed that I was headed in the right direction.

Once I found the Plantation I took a few shots from outside the fence. Then decided to go ahead and take the tour. To say that it was ‘slow’ at the plantation house would be an understatement – it was just a couple from New Jersey and Me!

I followed the ‘group’ for awhile and then just struck out on my own – again not wanting the sun to get too high in the sky before I got the shots that I came to get.

A couple shots of the front of the house:

The front porch area:

One of the bedrooms inside the house, looking like it did back in the 1800s:

There are many other structures on the property,
this one that caught my eye - for some reason:

Thinking Out Loud Thursday #2

Thinking out loud Thursday #2

Well, not too much going on this week. We have a bit of a “photo-break” coming up. I’d like to take advantage of this time and get some stuff done - I'm sure that Mendy will have a 'honey-do' list for me.... (just kidding Babe).

I'd like to shoot some ‘artistic’ images during this time off– photos that are just for fun…. Kind of spread out a little. Stay tuned for those. I think it’s important to do this whenever possible
in an attempt to keeps things kind of ‘fresh’.

I don’t like posting without uploading an image to view. This one is of my favorite little dog of all time. I know that she’s not a big, scary - “manly” kind of dog – but she has the best little personality – she looks you right in the eye and really seems to understand just what you’re saying. We've had her for a few years now and I wouldn't trade her for anything!

Here is our little Mi Mi:
Tonight is Survivor night, we have some family members over to have some dinner and watch the show. Even in the beginning of the season, when the show is kind of slow and you don’t know the ‘players’ yet – it is still a good time and great chance to catch up on what everyone in the family is up to in this busy life. So, I think I speak for everyone invloved when I say that I really look forward to it.

Also, I can’t wait to check out the new IRON MAN movie – we’re supposed to go this weekend – I’ll play the role of amateur movie reviewer once I do see it…. I know everyone can’t wait for that!!!!

"May I never miss a sunset or a rainbow because I am looking down."

They planned and planned; they knew exactly what they wanted. You could see how it was going to look just to hear them talk about it. Monica and Matthew had it all laid out. It would be a Ceremony under the awning outside the Country Club. It would be late in the evening, the sun not quite setting, but close. As a photographer I was really looking forward to it – we love the soft glow of setting sunlight.
They made lists, who will walk with whom, who would be the first to walk. Lists and diagrams, they practiced it. They agonized over the details. This is NOT at all what they had in mind. Mother nature had a very
different idea of what the weather would be that day. No matter, Joel and his staff at Stonebridge Country Club set them up right. It sounds cliché to say it, but they took the lemons they were given and certainly made lemonade! Mendy and I said 'Wow' to each other when we walked in, not knowing what to expect after everything had to be changed due to the weather.
Luckily, there was a suitable ‘behind the scenes’ area where the Wedding Party could dry off and prepare themselves to walk down the aisle. Of all the Weddings that we’ve done, we’ve learned something. NONE of them ever go off without a hitch. Something will always happen. The good news is, no matter what unexpected thing takes place, so long as the Bride and Groom are there with someone to perform the Ceremony – the end result is that they will be married by the time it’s over. One thing about Monica and Matthew, they didn’t let the necessary change in plans get them down. They were both smiling, laughing and generally just happy the whole night.
Here are a couple of my favorite shots of the new couple. Congratulations Monica and Matthew – Mendy and I want to wish you both the very best!
"May I never miss a sunset or a rainbow because I am looking down. " Sara June Parker

Thinking Out Loud Thursday.....

So, this is the first edition of “Thinking out loud Thursday.”

One of the things on my mind this week is the Movie
“No Country for Old Men.”

I’ve asked everyone I know what they think about this movie. The reactions and answers are very telling. In all honesty, most people haven’t seen it yet. It just came out on DVD within the last couple of weeks. I’m not going to spoil the movie for anyone who hasn’t seen it, but I will say that it is NOT the usual Hollywood ‘feel good’ type of story that we’ve come to expect. I think that’s a good thing. I’m really tired of unrealistic and predictable movies. What about the human ‘Superman’ movies where the star just can not be killed – I just saw the latest “Die Hard” movie where, in one scene, Bruce Willis actually jumps off the wing of a hovering Harrier jet (whose pilot has ejected) and LIVES! In fact, not only does he live, but he is able to run away from the scene and (of course) save the day……….. Well, you won’t get ANYTHING like that in No Country for Old Men. If anything it is VERY realistic. I feel that the directors and producers just decided to take a block of time and show us what happens in the lives of the people involved in the story. When the block of time is over that’s the end of the movie. There is no ‘sunset’ or (like I said) a Hollywood type of ending. The things that are great about this movie (in my opinion) are the things that the movie makers usually get wrong (at least lately) like character development, Realistic interaction between the characters; the dialogue is also very realistic. Some of the people you come across in this movie just look like they would really be there. For example; the lady in the Trailer Park office, the guy in the Gas station, the woman in the Motel office – they really look ‘real.’ There was no attempt made to ‘pretty them up’ – that’s for sure!

Anyway, if you’re up for something different – the movie is rated ‘R’ for violence – so be prepared for that – I have to say that I would recommend this Movie – it is certainly worth a rental. Then if you like it – go buy it.

By the way, it Won 4 Oscars – so, it can’t really be all bad, can it?

Lori and Lex - Engagement session

This weekend Mendy and I had a really great time out at a local park shooting an Engagement session with a fun couple. Lori and Lex will be married this September but it was great to get out with them, before it just gets too hot, and shoot some relaxed portraits.
Below are some of the images that are ready for viewing.

This great little church isn't 'real' - it was part of the decor
of the park and made a really nice backdrop for our couple.

I was able to get Lori off to one area for some
single head-shot type of portraits - nice work Lori!!!

There were a lot of little areas perfect for intimate portraits. Mendy and I agree that we will be back to this park and the surrounding areas often. Look how happy Lori and Lex look. They've been together for quite awhile and really seem to have a very close relationship.

This last one has a kind of 'dreamy' and romantic feel, which was
totally on purpose of course! :-)

Thanks for being such good sports Lori and Lex, we can't wait for your Wedding this Fall!