Where does she come up with this stuff??

Star in Your Own JibJab! It's Free!

This is too funny!!! I had to share it with all of you.

What a riot. I don't know where you come up with this stuff Kel, but I'm sure glad that you do!!

Local BuZZZZZZzZzz...

Hey y'all!!!

Here's some exciting news!!!

If you live in Western NY than you are probably familiar with The Rochester Insider. They recently ran a feature on me that is running in this week's edition. You can check it out in print or in their online edition. Here's a screen shot of the front page of their website. I'll set it up as a hyperlink so that you can click on it to be re-directed. This is kinda cool as it is running on the heels of the release my feature in the nationally distributed Destination Weddings & Honeymoons 2007-2008 winter edition.



No rest for the wicked, though. This weekend is gonna rock!!! I'm partnering up with my good buddy Erich Camping to shoot a wedding in Cape Cod, Mass. So pumped to work with Erich again...it's been too long.

Have to get packing.

All the Best,
t

Down by the Sea...

Hola!!!

For those of you who haven't been there yet...and i stress the word YET, Cabo San Lucas is a small city at the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula, in the municipality of Los Cabos in the state of Baja California Sur, Mexico. It's population is on a sharp uprise but is currently roughly 60,000 people. To the east lies the Sea of Cortez (or the Gulf of California) and to the west is the mighty Pacific Ocean. At this point you may be wondering..."um...ok...and???". Truth is that I have no idea why I wanted to give that little geography lesson, but if it got you thinking about taking a vacation out to this tropical paradise, that's good enough for me!!! If and when you decide to go, be sure to give me a holler, as I will gladly stuff myself and some camera gear into your suitcase to accompany you!!!

Lesley and Silvio decided that there was no better place to tie the knot. Surrounded by a small group of friends on the 'straight-out-of-a-fairytale' setting of Pedregal Beach in Los Cabos, they exchanged vows, shed tears, laughed heartily and created one of the more memorable wedding celebrations that this photographer has ever had the privilege to witness.

A million thanks to you guys for this experience. I will never forget it!!! Here are some snaps...















Live well y'all...you deserve nothing less!!!

All the Best,
t

The Light that was Tony Cavagnaro (a memorial)

It is with a heavy heart that I write this blog...

In 2004, Pearl Jam released "Rearviewmirror (Greatest Hits 1991 - 2003). I can still vividly remember the day when I first saw it's cover art. I was in Bologna, Italy visiting family and enjoying some much needed downtime. I was walking the narrow streets in and around the University District and nearly stumbled upon myself when I saw the poster in a music shop window. It was at that moment that everything changed. For whatever reason, that image made me believe in the possibilities. It somehow inspired me to stop longing to take the road more frequently traveled and to veer off into the unknown. You see, I grew up with the notion that 'artist starve-that is no practical way to live'. Well from that moment on, those rules no longer applied, and a photographer was born. (Special thanks to Lance Mercer for capturing this monumental image)


Over the years, I have photographed hundreds of people. Couples, bands, models, everyday folk. In retrospect, none of that would have been possible if it weren't for the first band that I ever worked with...The Buddhahood.

Rick Whitney-Kivett is a dear friend of mine whom I work with at Hogan's Hideaway in Rochester. It just so happens that he also happens to be super-talented bass-man in The Buddhahood. One evening, Rick invited me to come around to the practice space to take some snaps in the hopes of gathering some images for inclusion in an upcoming press kit release. I can remember how nervous I was. I mean, the only time I had ever seen them before was at a show that they had opened for Little Feat!!! They were awesome...everyone was so into it!! So with my Canon 20D in hand and a stomach full of butterflies, I went down to 'the space' to do whatever it was that I was supposed to do. What ensued was pure magic. On that evening a connection was made...a connection that was anchored by creativity and respect. Over the past 3 years, I have worked with The Buddhahood on press kits, CD's, live shows and more. I was even named an official 'Buddhahood-lum' by the band.

Yesterday morning, though, all of that changed. I awoke to the news that Tony Cavagnaro, lead singer/guitarist, and one of the finest human beings that I have ever met, had passed away the night before due to injuries sustained in an automobile accident. This news was absolutely devistating, my friends. For any of you who knew Tony, you know why. Bigger than life, with a boundless energy and kindred spirit that was all his own. Tony was hope. His aura, his smile, his lyrics...they all gave us hope that the world can be a better place. I remember when T pulled me aside to tell me that the work that I was doing was the best he'd seen. That meant (and continues to mean) the world to me. That's who Tony was...encouraging, kind and full of hope. He was what you want a person to be.

So on this sad occasion, I hope. I hope for Tony's wife Jan and his son, Calvin. I hope for his bandmates and their families and friends. I hope for the fans. I hope for all of you who read this that we can stop for a second to recognize what is really important, to revel in the love that we share and give thanks for the people that make living livable. I hope that this finds you all well, with hearts illuminated by Tony's light.

I love you all.

Here are some photos from that first session back in 2005. Wow...it's like a lifetime ago. I still feel that day when I look at these images.

I have high-res copies without the copyright if anyone would like a print. Just let me know.







This one still makes me smile every time that I look at it!!
Rest in Peace my brother. You are missed dearly.

I spoke with Rick and Andrew from the band last night at the candlelight vigil and plans are already in motion for a benefit concert for Tony's family set for late October/early November. We will be debuting the "Live from Park Avenue 2007" Concert CD at the show with all revenue generated going to the family. If you'd like to help in anyway, please let me know and I will find a way to get you involved.

be well,
t

Two Photographers, One Sequence

Howdy!!!

Lots happening over here at flint headquarters. New logo design was unveiled this week (more on that in my next blog - check out my website in the meantime and please, feedback!!), a profile in a local magazine, the insider, coming out next week, and one super-amazing-fantastic wedding after another!! Busy in an understatement...good times nonetheless.

A couple of weekends ago, I had the pleasure of working with Nichole and Mike as they tied the knot in a quaint little ceremony on Seneca Lake at the stunning Geneva on the Lake Resort. If you haven't been to Seneca Lake, it is the largest of NY's Finger Lakes & represents the heart of NY's wine country. I brought along a second professional photographer (as I always do), to help me in the documentation. There are many reasons that I do this...security, stylistic diversity, personality, etc., but the number one reason is that I simply cannot be in two places at once. As the primary shooter, I've learned that establishing a loose strategy for camera placement can greatly benefit your end results.

So here's what we had:
-Primary Photographer: yours truly
-Second Photographer: the richly talented Kelli Marsh
-3 cameras
-1 ladder
-complete creative control
-fired-up-ed-ness
-a balcony view of the ceremony site
-a burning desire to create an interesting sequence of Nichole's entrance
-one shot at it

Here's the site:So the thought was...get Kelli in the balcony since she will be with the bride during the moments before. I planned to be down on ground level shooting the guys, officiant, family, friends, etc. I won't post those as they do not pertain to this sequence but overall, you get the picture. Anyway...with Kelli in the balcony, I had to be aware of her shot and therefore, give Nichole room to breathe. Then the plan was to rush behind the groom, get the over-the-shoulder shot, leap down the 5 or 6 steps to retrieve the ladder that I had stowed away in the bushes, set it up and, using the 3rd camera w. the fisheye, get the wide shot of the ceremony with the resort in the backdrop. Here's how it played out:

Entrance...safe, sweet
Kelli top down - one of my favorite shots of the entire day...well done Kel!!!
detail shot...same moment from the second perspective...

another 'safe' shot as i retreat to behind the groom/officiantbride approaches...you can see me as I bunny-hop the bush-thingy!!!
over the shoulder...just moments before the barrel roll down the steps
kelli fills with a killer landscape capture. Again, awesome!!!
Ladder set up, tommy on top step, camera change...success!!!
Now those of you who have worked with or around me know that I do not try to preconceive any aspect of the day. I function on the premise of 'revel in what you got and don't beat yourself up over what you missed'. From time to time though, I do see an opportunity and set forth a challenge to myself and my crew. In my opinion, this is a shining example of why I bring a second professional photographer along with me. Not just a second photographer, but a second professional photographer. These moments are once-in-a-lifetime and deserve nothing less.

A giant thank you to Mike and Nichole Jones for trusting us with this momentous day and to Kelli Marsh for your tireless dedication to stunning imagery. A couple more pics before I go. What would the day have been without little Benjamin??? ...and how handsome he looked in his little tuxedo!!!

cheers guys!!!Till next time...

be well,
t