Wilderness – A Poem

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The desert appears to be a barren, desolate place, especially to someone who has never experienced it intimately.
It doesn’t take long to realize that it is teeming with life. For someone experiencing it from a lush environment, it may be remarkable that so many living things can not only exist, but thrive.

Many years ago I wrote one of my favorite poems, inspired by my impressions while traveling through the Southwest. Though not truly about the desert, its theme of survivability against great odds relates very well to this peculiar landscape. What I like most about this poem is the repetition of sounds in each sentence when spoken.

WILDERNESS

Heated winds whip stinging sand.
Intense midday sun consumes this forbidden environment.
Yet thrives life!
Sustained by springs beneath parched earth,
beyond the eyes of the puzzled observer.

While stirring up memories perhaps best forgotten, the poem reminds me of how far I have come in my wanderings, no doubt by the grace of a loving Father in heaven. Fitting for this time of year, as I recall the wanderings of a young Jewish girl about to bring forth the King of kings, the Prince of peace, the One who sustains me.

Posted in Meditations, Poetry

Do You DoodleDo?

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After months of research, discussions, debate, networking, and a lot of hard work, DoodleDo, Inc. has been launched! Formerly Bellissima Design Solutions, DoodleDo is the new name and identity for the album design company established by myself and fellow photographer, Robin Pesa.

DoodleDo specializes in fully customized album solutions for professional photographers and their clients. We’ve successfully established some great affiliations that add even greater value to our popular menu of options. We recently created a set of exclusive designs only available through KISS Wedding Books. We are working on similar collaborations with other industry leaders. You can keep up to date by visiting the Home page of our new site.

DoodleDo also plans to offer incentives and contests to enhance your experience. We recently submitted a client album to WPPI’s International Album Competition which was awarded an Accolade of Excellence!

Visit the new site often to keep abreast of all that we will be offering. There’s plenty of information in the FAQ’s, but don’t hesitate to contact us for specific information and requests. And be sure to check out some of our latest designs in the Design gallery. Finally, click on the image below to check out the beautiful album that won the Accolade of Excellence for our client Tim Halberg, a phenomenal image maker based in Santa Barbara.

Posted in Albums, Weddings

Oakland E-Session with Michelle & Scott

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I recently photographed the engagement session of Michelle & Scott. Locations are a very important part of a successful shoot for me. I love capturing wide scenics using the couple as one part of a larger environment, evident to those who follow my work or view my portfolios. I like variety without having to cover great distances. A location that provides natural environments, architectural elements, interesting shapes and contrast, isn’t always easy to find when you have to keep your subject obvious and central to the theme. A critical factor to pulling it off is the direction, intensity and quality of the light. Let’s examine one of my favorites from Michelle & Scott’s collection.

A common composition for me, the kind my couples really enjoy. It was pretty easy keeping Michelle a focal point in a scene this wide because of her white sweater. But Scott’s is a dark brown, making placement of him more critical, especially knowing the background would go dark. Fortunately, I had that intense, late afternoon sunlight to work with, and it provides great rimlight on Scott to bring separation from the dark background tones and define his body. The result wouldn’t have been nearly the same if Scott was also wearing white. They would have stood out all the same, but the beautiful quality of the light may have been missed.

I love the lines, contrast and gorgeous light in this image. However, it might have been a little more effective if I had Scott & Michelle trade places. Notice how his form gets a bit lost in the dark tones of the tree trunk. That might have been the perfect place for Michelle in her white sweater, and Scott’s form would have been better defined by placement over the bright background. Of course, I’m really nitpicking, and it’s a lovely scene nonetheless.

This hillside was a good spot for creating a composition with dynamic lines further accentuated by the variation of sunlight and shadows . It adds interest to my usual set of walking shots. I always get pics of the couple walking towards and away from the camera for use in the slideshow. These don’t always make for exceptional display images, but I believe this one could. It’s lively, the light is beautiful, and the body positions of Michelle & Scott are pleasing. Their expressions are wonderful!

When photographing couples from the side while face to face, I often ask that they bring their hips together. The guys seem to like this for some reason :) but more importantly, it often results in some very natural positioning as seen in these two images. Michelle had a lovely way of bringing back one foot, which also added a pretty curvature to her back. Sometimes you have to coach this, but when it just happens as it did here, the photograph is much more pleasing. The interior shot is natural light. Notice how my placement of the couple brings out their form in relation to the light and dark areas. Do you see?

Here again, light plays a critical role in the feel of the image. The sun is very low, but behind a very thin layer of clouds, softening all the shadows and tones. Yet Michelle & Scott are wonderfully lit and nicely separated from the muted background elements. The leaning tree and slanted foreground make for a well-balanced, exciting composition.

These same qualities contribute to the success of this similar scene further enhanced by toning. Monochromatic images can become lifeless when created without respect for the tonal variations that will keep the subject emphasized. This might be my favorite image from the session.

Now here, I’m facing the shadow side of the scene elements, but the couple is beautifully lit by the setting sun. This emphasizes their faces and joyful expressions. This is what makes the shot.

The ability to visualize a final result while shooting and make adaptations on location provides me with images in-camera that allow me to achieve my artistic goals for each shoot without resorting to excessive post-processing. Critical to this success is quality of light. A photographer must be able to recognize the subtle qualities of light and tonal variation as seen by the eye, and interpret that information into the limiting qualities inherent in photographic output.

Posted in Engagements

New York City Engagement Session

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So much has taken place since the move to Pittsburgh making it tough deciding where to begin. So I’m starting with my most recent assignment, and then fill you in on other exciting developments.

I returned to New York City after a 19 year absence to photograph the engagement session of Debby and Greg. The lovely couple wanted to contract me for their wedding in October, taking place in Scottsdale at the fabulous Royal Palms Resort and Spa. However, I’m shooting my first Pittsburgh wedding the day before at Heinz Chapel. So I offered to photograph their engagement session in Manhattan, knowing it would be an excellent opportunity to both visit the city once again, and create some awesome new portfolio pieces for my east coast presence.

With my long-time friend, Ken, providing valuable assistance and companionship, we met up with Debby & Greg near Central Park West. Here’s a shot of the great lawn so often seen in photographs of this area of the park.

And here is the happy couple in that same area from a very different perspective. The goal was to avoid the large crowd of people milling about while still keeping the NYC look to the image.

Not far off to our left was a gorgeous spot with tall trees and a massive rock, and I noticed how beautifully the late afternoon light was filtering through. I love the way the dark trees frame the couple in the sunlight.

My favorite image from this session was challenging due to the large number of people in the park on the Sunday we were there, especially the crowds walking through this particular passageway, a very popular attraction.

I captured a number of these compositions in various ways, another favorite in this composite of vertical shots. The image on the right is, of course, the Brooklyn Bridge, where we finished up our session just as the sun was setting.

It was exciting to be back in New York City after so many years. I experienced once again the energy and vibrancy I felt the very first time I moved there back in 1988. And spending the day with my friends Ken, Debby and Greg was enjoyable. I’m very happy for the opportunity to create these engagement images.

Thank you, Debby and Greg. I wish you the very best!! And thank you, Ken, for your assistance, your generosity and hospitality, but above all, your sincere friendship!

Posted in Engagements, Friends

Rocky Mountain High!

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The Colorado landscape can be breathtaking. I crossed the border late Friday evening after a beautiful sunset drive through Santa Fe and the Land of Enchantment. If you have ever visited that area of New Mexico, you understand why it has always fascinated poets and painters, photographers and free-spirits.

Yet Colorado is awe-inspiring. I woke up Saturday morning to the San Juan mountains and the smell of freshness. Arizona smells like dust, and Phoenix in particular has the unpleasant scent of dust, exhausts, and hot concrete. Colorado tells me to breathe deeply, to draw in all that freshness and be revitalized.

I almost forgot how green and blue it is here. The drive from Colorado City, where I spent the night, through Colorado Springs and into Denver, was beautiful. I asked myself why I ever left. Denver is one of my favorite cities. These next several days with great friends in the cool Colorado Springtime will be so satisfying. And a perfect layover before my drive across the Midwest.

Here’s a shot of Pike’s Peak, which towers above Colorado Springs about 50 miles south of Denver. Majestic!

Posted in Friends, Travel

Leaving Arizona!

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I left the East Coast in the Summer of 1990. I was burnt out and desperate for rest and recuperation after a wild ride through the world of fashion photography. I left Manhattan in a rented, raggedy van with the few belongings I decided worth saving for my new life in Arizona. The idea of living in the desert filled my mind with images of wonder and magic after two crazy years trudging through the concrete jungle. I swore to myself, and often out loud, that I would never go back.

Tomorrow I leave the desert for the long, lonesome drive to Pittsburgh. I was born just outside of the Steel City, where I longed for the day I could leave. And now I’m going back. The reasons are personal, and important enough to justify breaking the promise to myself. There are certainly some very exciting and promising ventures in the works, and I’m positive about the potential for developing new business opportunities. Yet I’m a little nervous, a little more anxious, and a lot on edge. It’s a big move. There is great risk. Anything can happen. God be with me!

Posted in Friends, Meditations, Travel

Fashionable Wedding Portraits

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My background in fashion & beauty portraiture has provided me skills that translate well to the wedding event. One of these is the ability to develop a rapport with my subjects. Another is the eye to see light in all its subtle forms within any given environment, especially in relation to people placed within that environment. Arizona can be difficult in this sense, but the bright sky also offers great opportunities for photographers who know how to use it properly. Yet weddings can be most difficult, since we don’t always have the ability during the event to work in a controlled environment. Many of these events are outdoors, often in full, blazing sunlight. To begin, here’s one of my favorite ceremony shots from the wedding of Michele & Sergio.

Michele & Sergio were married at the Desert Botanical Gardens, which can be very challenging. Not only does the sun beat down in most areas of the Gardens without relief, but many of the weddings are outdoors, including the reception. Plus, the desert landscape is quite dense, so finding areas to photograph portraits isn’t easy when you prefer uncluttered, open spaces as backgrounds. But all that sky does provide a great amount of luminance in shady areas. These portraits of Sergio are a good example.


The Bride and Bridesmaids portraits offer a different example of open-shade portraits. The girls were getting ready at the retro-chic Hotel Valley Ho in downtown Scottsdale. Along with my Second Photographer for the day, the fantastic Laura Siivola, I decided to use the lobby area to capture some fashionable portraits. Michele was simply stunning! And I loved her gorgeous gown, which she wore very well.



Keeping in mind that this was a typical cloudless Arizona day, Laura and I took advantage of the open shade just outside the lobby area to capture awesome portraits of Michele and her girls. Not every wedding affords us the time and location to do this, but we had both at Valley Ho. We captured so many incredible images, too many to post, but here are a few more of my favorites of Michele.

The top left image is actually inside the lobby under tungsten lights with some natural light spilling in. Some Photoshop work made it a lovely profile portrait. Admittedly, Michele’s exquisite beauty is what really makes the shot! The details pics below I am especially excited about.

Some of you know that in 2004 I was honored to win in two categories of the prestigious Top Knots New School of Wedding Photography competition hosted by Photo District News and sponsored by Fujifilm and Elegant Bride. One of my winning images was a detail portrait of a bride’s veil. I have been wanting to capture a similar photograph ever since, and believe the shot on the right may be it. I just might enter this in the next Wedding & Portrait Photographers International Print Competition.

Considering the landscape challenges of the Gardens, I am very pleased with the bride & groom portrait images. With the sun getting low in the sky, our lighting became very dramatic while offering us more shaded areas to work, important for getting the fine detail of Michele’s gown.



Outdoor receptions can be a unique challenge, having no walls or ceilings to bounce the much needed flash for lighting. I find that light modifiers are a perfect solution, as these final pics will show.


I hope this post gives my fellow photographers some insight into capturing fashionable wedding portraits, and a brief look at how I manage these important wedding day photographs.

Michele & Sergio, I so very much enjoyed being your photographer. I was honored to be there capturing your lovely wedding. I wish you both a lifetime of abundant joy and overwhelming love!

Posted in Weddings

Album Designs Now Available!

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This is exciting! I am now partnering with Bellissima Design, a unique wedding album design studio, to provide one-of-a-kind designs for my clients. Bellissima Design has been providing beautiful wedding album solutions for some time now, and I have entered into an agreement to team up with founder, Robin Pesa, to provide these same services to my current and former wedding couples.

I love the design process and believe the creation of custom albums completes the artistic process for me as a wedding photographer, but especially for my clients who should have the visual story of their wedding day preserved in a beautiful book. In fact, my first two years photographing weddings I created designs for my clients, as well as for two other pro photographers. When I relocated to Arizona I no longer offered personal designs in my packages, leaving the task to the various album companies whose books I offered. But over time I realized that the designs coming from them were uninteresting. I was hesitant to again do the designs myself because of the time involved. Until I met Robin.

Robin is an extraordinary talent! She is also a wedding photographer who not only captures beautiful images, but provides those images to her many happy clients in gorgeous albums. I am inspired by her abilities and accomplishments, and through her encouragement and mentoring I decided to completely change my business model, and the primary focus of my new packages is the custom wedding album.

So what does this all mean for my clients? For new bookings, my primary package now includes a custom design from select wedding images. But for all my past clients, they now have the opportunity to receive the same design services and album options. Many of my former wedding couples have no album, and sadly, many have never done anything at all with their images! I want to change this. I want them to have the opportunity to acquire a unique, custom designed book of exceptional quality. This will become the cherished family heirloom, the visual record of their wonderful day!

I have begun the process of contacting all my past clients with this exciting news. So here are several pages from two select books, as well as the links to online presentations of the complete design for each.

Carlye & Joseph’s Minimalist Album Design

This first design is from the wedding of Carlye & Joseph. I chose this as an example because of its clean, minimalist layout, which I prefer over the cluttered work often provided by the album companies. Keep in mind that this is actually the opening page. Though designed as a two page spread, the left half does not appear in the final album. In other words, the right half of this layout is page 1 in the album.

Next is a two-page spread of the girl’s getting ready. Notice the colorful key-line surrounding the set of small images. The key-lines and borders will often be a color pulled from the images, though once the color is decided I will usually use it throughout the design.

I prefer to group black & white or color images together on a page or spread instead of mixing them up. I think it’s pleasing to the eye and prevents the color images from dominating the layout on that page or spread. The black & white pics can easily be de-empahasized when surrounded by color pics.

A Stunning Album Design for Lindsay & Josh

This next book was created by Robin and is simply gorgeous! I sat with her from start to finish and was amazed at her design skills and sense of space. This book beautifully tells the story of Lindsay & Josh’s celebration.

I just love this first page. The bridesmaid’s bouquet tells us right away that this wedding was all about fabulous Autumn colors. The bold opening image is complemented nicely by the highly-stylized text.

Two elements Robin will use in her designs are leading lines and low opacity background image as shown here on this spread. Together they create a very elegant look when a layout has multiple images competing for attention.

Robin is bold in her use of images, often filling a spread with one, eye-catching image. The repeated section in the background adds an extra touch of visual excitement. A stunning layout!

This is a wonderful new development in the evolution of my business. For those clients who have taken the time to visit and view the samples, know that I am always available to answer all your questions and get this process going for you. My desire is for each of you to receive the perfect wedding book that features your unique celebration in a one-of-a-kind creation that you will cherish and love to show to everyone!

Posted in Albums, Weddings

Botanical Gardens Wedding

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Rika & Mark were recently married at the Desert Botanical Gardens in Phoenix. The gardens are a fabulous wedding venue, offering both architectural and botanical variety for creating wonderful Southwest-style scenics, though at this particular event I attempted to produce some images with an Asian feel. Here are three of my favorite photographs.

I believe I accomplished that wonderful Asian feel I was hoping for in this first image, despite the desert environment and foliage. I wanted to capture something very much like this for Rika and her relatives from Japan, believing they would appreciate the gesture. Without having been to this part of the Gardens before the wedding day, there was no way for me to know if I could find the right spot to capture what was in my mind. I was very pleased when I found this location not far from the ceremony sight. While the color version of the image is pretty as shot, I went into Photoshop and started playing with black & white tones and was excited by the results. I finished by applying a warm filter to the converted image, just a hint of warmth for a subtle effect. Some selective burning & dodging helps lead the eye around the composition, though Rika in her gown remains central as planned. Her posture and the way she is holding the train of her gorgeous gown is so beautiful!

I like the hip feel to this next image of Mark and his groomsmen. The textures and tones of the wall were perfect for a black & white conversion. Can you tell which one is the Groom (he is not the guy in the center)?

Finally, I wasn’t quite sure what to think of this ring shot. I liked the concept when I was shooting, but once I saw it during my post-processing, it just didn’t do anything for me. Yet, I decided to play around with it. After the black & white conversion, some vignetting and selective burning, and a peculiar crop (I rarely crop my images), it became another favorite.

Congratulations Rika & Mark! The wedding was a great time and I hope you are both as happy with the images as I am.

Posted in Weddings

Noche the Cat!

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An exciting project I have begun is fine art photography of pets. This is a completely new venture, and one that I am so enthusiastic about. It’s kind of funny because when I first started exploring photography as a profession many years ago, I imagined I would be a wildlife photographer. Well, that certainly never happened, but here I am now exploring the much more tame pet market.

I am thrilled to share my very first pet project, so to speak. This is Noche the Cat! Yes, that is his name. Noche was a very unwilling, difficult subject, but I love this one shot I captured. My good friend, Marcus, a mighty fine shooter himself, helped me grab the shot by placing, taunting, coercing, schmoozing, and finally, completely irritating Noche. A really fun first assignment, and a very important one, as this image will be used for my initial marketing campaign. And I must admit, despite the enjoyment of pulling this off with Marcus, I got a good taste of what I’m in for!

I wanted to capture a very stark, graphic image of Noche, almost completely black & white, while allowing the color and luminosity of his eyes to really stand out. I’m happy with the shot, and I love that I was able to retain highlights in the body. For a first attempt, I’m so pleased and feel ready for more. Photographing pets will be challenging yet great fun!

Posted in Fine Art