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Sunday, October 31, 2010

The Wedding was FABULOUS !!!!

The wedding was a great time !! t was held at the Dresser Mansion here in Tulsa and it was a great venue to shoot in. The Bride was stunning and the Groom looked very dashing. We got some really fabulous images of the wedding party, as two separate groups and together, plus a multitude of associated shots and combinations. As I have mentioned before, photographing everything before the wedding has distinct advantages. The guys were first as they were all together and it just doesn't take them that long to dress. However...one of them forgot his tux. He was a professional DJ/radio personality and had the responsibility of getting all of the audio and lighting equipment to the event....the tux just slipped his mind. He was thinking of other things. Because we started two hours early with the photography, the problem was discovered and the hour and a half round trip to get the tux was not a problem. Once again-saved by starting ahead.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Reach for the sky !!!

I had a family session this past Sunday and the topic of weapons came up and it reminded me of a story.In 1987 I spent a month in The Peoples Republic of China with Kodak as an ambassador for them. Our group traveled throughout the country meeting with Professional Photographers and discussing our work and techniques. While there I met Joe Young from Saskatoon, Canada, and we hit it off well. As it turned out he was former Chairman of the Board of Kentucky Fried Chicken Canada and he invited me to Saskatoon after we returned to do Family portraits for him. It was fun and I produced some really fine work for him, he was pleased. While I was there his son Gordie and I were talking and as it turned out he was into marshal arts. He had some friends that he trained with and wanted to be photographed with them. Rather than go to the gym and do the ol' standing around lifting weights shot, I suggested that they dress kind of roughly and we go to the train station and do some "tough" shots. That lit him up and we set the appointment.

Joe and I drove to the appointed spot the next day to meet the guys. There were a couple of pretty tough looking guys standing around about half a block away from the appointed spot and I ask Joe if these guys were part of the group. He said he didn't know, he had never met any of them, adding that they sure looked rough. In a minute or two Gordie drove up and a gal and guy hopped out of his car and waved at the other two guys we were wondering about. They walked over. We had the round of introductions and I got my equipment ready. Just before we started to go to the location by the boxcars a guy walked up, dressed in a Mountie uniform. We all stopped and he asked" Do any of you have a gun ?" One of the guys said "Well yes", and reached behind his back. At that immediate instant a very loud voice from behind us shouted " HOLD IT !!!!".

It is really amazing how immediate reactions can become. I instinctively reached for the skies and froze. In what seemed like an eternity I noticed that I was not alone in trying to touch the clouds. Another Mountie was behind us, GUN DRAWN !!! POINTED AT US !!!! The first Mountie was in slow motion as he walked around and pulled a gun from the jeans of one of the guys. It seemed as though the guy with the gun said in a voice coming from a slowly played 45 record..."iiiiitttttttssss aaaaaa sssstttttaaaaarrrrrrrtttttttttiiiinnnggg ppiissttollll."

The mountie pulled it out, examined it, and noted that it WAS a starters pistol, we could put our arms down. Then came the twenty questions.....What's going on.....everyone looked at me.
I'm a photographer from the States and we are photographing for a Record album cover. Seemed logical......to me. "Why the gun,"he said. I went into a long story about reality in appearance
but wanting to be safe....blah blah blah. I was then dressed down for not calling the authorities and letting them know what we were doing. I profusely apologized promising not to ever let it happen again. We were then left alone.

The guys looked at each other and the QUESTION came up...How'd they know? After some discussion we put the story together.The two guys that were early had gone into a bar and asked for a drink of water....as none of them drank alcohol. Evidently, as the guy reached for his billfold, he moved his shirt which wasn't tucked in, and the bartender saw the gun. He said the water was free so the guys left........and the Bartender called the cops thinking he had averted a robbery.

AAAAAHHHHHHHHHH..... the life of photography........it's just a movie....

Friday, October 22, 2010

Wedding bells are ringing again..

Kind of a catchy title for the Blog...no pun intended, but I have a wedding coming up weekend after this and I'm looking forward to it. Yesterday I did the formal portraits of the Bride and she'll view them this afternoon. It was a kick to do. The couple is getting married in the Dresser Mansion here in Tulsa and it is going to be a great time. The grounds are fabulous, the interior is spacious with large windows and the feel of the elegance of the "20's" when the building was built. We will have late afternoon sun to work with and, as usual, we will do the majority of the portraits before the wedding. This will include the Bride and Groom, families, and attendants. By photographing everything ahead of time, with exception of the cake cutting and other reception shots, the Bride and Groom can spend time with their invited guests instead of missing them because of pictures. I'll keep you posted as we get closer to the day.

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Being There...at the Maple Leaf Festival

It's better than waiting for Christmas.........it's warmer, you get to see more friends, the walk down Grand Avenue is a head on with old times and friends. It just can't get any better. I don't think that there is an event I look forward to more than Maple Leaf. Given that this event is now 44 years old and going strong, I guess it is the premier event in town. It seems as though all small towns seem to have a homecoming of sorts, and Maple Leaf has become Carthage's.

The local perspective given it runs the complete range from "so what" to mine of "can't wait". My lock on friends I guess is the determining factor in my looking forward to it so much. I will see many people that I haven't seen for a year or more and in most cases, will catch up on where we've been, starting with our last conversation. It's really a kick. I heard Sam Platt will be playing Saturday night at Jim's so that is must see. His group is fantastic and the crowd will be fun.

The car show on Saturday will have over 400 cars so that also is a gotta see. In fact, I will be covering that for one of the Car Mags that wants pictures. Yeeeee Haaawwwww...gonna be fun.

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Childrens' Portraits

Childrens' portraits always need a different approach depending on the client. I have done many specials over the years in collaboration with schools, preschools, and my own specials. It has built a rather nice following for me and has allowed me to watch my clients grow up. It has also led to sessions with the clients on a one to one basis. The following image is an example of a one on one session that came about through one of my specials. I had photographed these two girls on several occasions in different specials and Mom and Dad decided that the time was right for an individual session for them. I previewed the location during the consultation I had with the patents and knew what additional equipment I would need to complete the shoot. At the appointed time I arrived and set the lights and camera and waited for the girls. Soon they came out dressed to the "9's" and we started to work. Although the youngest knew me she had suddenly become bashful. Sensing this, it was obvious that she needed the comfort of being "connected" to her sister and we made that happen. The resulting portrait to me captures the essence of childhood and the fragility of age. I really like this portrait.

Monday, October 11, 2010

Weddings and what I look for at them...

A wedding is probably the the highest tension event most of us will ever go through. It seems to be a self-generating combination of what ifs, how comes, and OHHHH MANNNNNNNNNN's! But...in spite of that, by the time the dust clears, in most cases they are a really great time. Today I was going through some files and came up on a wedding I shot in Crested Butte, Colorado. It was one of my most memorable for a multitude of reasons. I have found that through the years I have had incredible customer loyalty and generally remember my clients, if not by name, by the images I shot of them. In many cases they are still floating in my memory. I had photographed this family in the early 70's when the children were young and Dad was just starting his career. The home I photographed in was in Neosho and a wonderful place to be, warm and inviting.

This particular wedding was going to be outside overlooking a fabulous meadow filled with wildflowers in Crested Butte where the couple had met and presently lived. The view was a spectacular John Denver kind of thing outside and the weather sparkling. The deck was large and easily would give everyone a good piece of the view and yet create an intimacy for the wedding we all could enjoy. The mountains, which surrounded us with white tops and tree laden slopes did however contribute to a weather pattern that could be pretty unpredictable. As we were getting ready to shoot the first Claps of thunder rolled through the valley.

That started the fire drill with all of the guys and dads scrambling to save the flowers and other decorations on the deck. Through the following rumbles and cracks of lightening I started the formal portraits inside. In what seemed an eternity to me, I photographed the groups, individuals, couples and family members silently wondering how special the wedding could have been if the weather had cooperated.

In Missouri, when it starts to rain it generally lasts a good part of the day. Not having spent much time in the mountains I figured the day was lost and we would have to accept the fate that was stareing at us......INSIDE WEDDING. The Bride didn't seem to be too concerned and I was amazed at her acceptance of the hand she was dealt. What I hadn't considered and didn't realize, WE WERE IN THE MOUNTAINS !!! It almost always rains in the mountains daily in late July early August. Soon the clouds broke, the sun came out, the deck redecorated, and the wedding was a complete success.

I have several memorable images I would like to share with you from that wedding. There are so many imagers that present themselves that unique to the event.

Sunday, October 10, 2010

The Bat Mitzvah I photographed last night

Last night I had a fabulous time capturing the dinner and celebration of one of my clients, Isabella. It started with everyone gathering, family and friends, and socializing. After seating and the prayers, breaking bread, and dinner, the fun began. Her Dad and Mom spoke and then a slide presentation was given, narrated by her father. It was a riot. We in the audience got to see her grow up before our eyes, what a fun time. Soon after the show, the dance floor was cleared and the dancing began. I had forgotten how much a really great time a party can be for a group of kids. Many relatives were present and I was able to collect many memories for her album of the night, that will only increase in personal value as she gets older. A really great time for everyone.

Friday, October 8, 2010

Maple Leaf One Shot !!!

It's happened again, the Maple Leaf Festival is approaching. As has been a tradition for a number of years...frankly more than I would have ever assumed, I am having my One Shot again this year. It will be held at the same place we had it last year, 401 Belle Air, one block east off of Grand Avenue. We will be shooting Sunday morning October 17th, from 10:00 until 2:00 in the afternoon. If it is raining steadily, we will have to cancel it. However, if it is cloudy, we will be in great shape as that is my preferred lighting.

I really enjoyed shooting at that location as the background is fabulous with the colors of the Maple trees, complimented with a rustic wood fencing, and the soft green bushes. Of course family groups, individuals, friends, and pets are all welcome, with no reservations required. Payment is due at the time of the order, and because of some streamlining of our ordering process deliver has been simplified and the prints will be back sooner. If these times won't fit your schedule please contact me at 918-760-1575 and we'll see if I can schedule a different time for you on Saturday.

I will have the same pricing as last year with packages ranging from $25.00 up. Once again you may create your own custom packages with our Ala Carte packages. I hope to see you there and help you continue the family tradition of the morgan Portraits on your walls.

Saturday, October 2, 2010

Time Machine-Fast Forward !!

I was expecting to get a couple of images published in Ol'Skool RODZ-THE HOT ROD KULTURE MAG from last year. They concerned my trip down the road of memories of growing up in Carthage and going to Mo Kan drag-strip in Asbury Missouri as a kid. It was a day of "Nostalgia Drags", featuring cars that were pre-70's with the majority being custom low riders, custom Mercs, Fords, Chevys,Plymouths, Rat Rods and classics. I wrote a bit about the day and the flood of mental images of the times and people I've known. That all came back to me because of the trip. They published the whole story with 8 images. As we used to say in the late 60's...Farm Trout. I never expected the article to be published,just the images. Cars were a big part of the teen years and as I got to Mo Kan it all came back. I'm returning tomorrow and on the way I've set up a shoot with on old hot rod friend of mine that has had some of the quickest cars around.

Even more amazing is the fact that in the same issue there are several pages dedicated to Mickey Thompson. Mickey was a hero of mine growing up as he set land speed records, had a line of Hot Rods products, and raced in about every area you could imagine. As fate would have it, he was my wife's first cousin. It is amazing how things roll out. The issue I have is the January 2011 issue......I've gone into the future !! WOW...there is time travel!! I'll keep you posted. Zoom Zoom