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Monthly Archives: April 2009

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Senior pictures, Newmarket, NH

April 27, 2009 – 12:44 pm

A few months ago there was a story about me in the local newspapers – I had been named the 2008 Innovative Artist by ArtWorks NH. I was taken totally by surprise – and felt really honored. Not long after I was contacted by a person who had seen the article and wanted to know if I would be interested in doing some photos of her son in the Spring.

Sunday, Dave and I headed out into the woods in Newmarket to shoot – a beautiful day, only downside being that the black flies felt the same way about it having been a long winter…they hatched and were very very hungry. So Dave and I meandered, moving on when either the photos were working, weren’t working or when we needed relief from the bugs.

We ended up by a swamp that had as residents a couple of nesting ospreys and to the tune of their wonderful calls shot some pretty cool photos. Dave was an excellent subject – putting up with my crazy ideas, throwing in a few of his own and not making fun of me using an off camera strobe to supplement the light.

Here’s a few of the photos from out hike.

4-26-09 DAVE PAZZANI4-26-09 DAVE PAZZANI4-26-09 DAVE PAZZANI4-26-09 DAVE PAZZANI4-26-09 DAVE PAZZANI

By Jay | Posted in portraits, senior pictures | Tagged , | Comments (0)

Surprises

April 22, 2009 – 2:48 pm

One of the things I like best ( and there’s plenty to like) about being a photographer is the fact that when you set out to photograph one thing you often end up with an unexpected treat if you’re not so locked into your preconceived notion of the outcome. Maybe that’s why so many photographers are accused of being cases of arrested development!

That’s what happened yesterday when I went to Cory and Julie’s to shoot more of their baby daughter Nola. My sense was that I would still concentrate on just the baby, leaving the photos of the family for later. Babies change so dramatically in the first few months that I wanted to make sure that those changes were documented. Julie was in a bit of a panic – where should we shoot, what should she wear… – which is so unlike the lady who is so cool during the mad dinner rush at Zampa. I guess it’s about being a seasoned chef as opposed to a first-time Mom. But I was certain that this would be a baby session, not family photos.

So, to try to get her to slow down and breathe, I just suggested she sit in the chair in the dormer and relax. The light was incredible – and I supplemented it just a touch with a snooted strobe off to the side.

The rest of the shoot was anti-climactic for me. I was so excited about this photo – and its really unusual for me to get “the picture” at the beginning.

Goal – photos of Nola. Result – uneventful.

Surprise – this photo of Mom and daughter in a world of their very own. Result – one very happy photographer!

[caption id="attachment_355" align="aligncenter" width="545" caption="Julie and Nola 4.22.09"]Julie and Nola 4.22.09[/caption]
By Jay | Posted in babies, infant photography, portraits | Tagged , , , | Comments (1)

Grand Chandeliers

April 15, 2009 – 11:17 am

Last week I traveled to Washington, DC to photograph the installation of four chandeliers in the US Senate caucus room. What an amazing assignment – witnessing a crew of 8 people from Acu-Bright working like a well-oiled machine, working with confidence even while using pipe wrenches above delicate glass structures, swaying in the air as they worked some 40 feet above the floor. All the while being surrounded by the history and power that is in the room.

John F. Kennedy and his brother Robert announced their Presidential candidacies in the ornate room with chandeliers and vaulted ceiling. . Although originally intended for party caucuses, the size and grandeur of the room made it a likely site for major public hearings. For the past eighty years the Caucus Room has served as a stage for some of the most dramatic Senate investigations such as the sinking of the Titanic, the Teapot Dome scandal, Pearl Harbor, the Kefauver Crime Committee, the Army vs. McCarthy, the Vietnam War, and Watergate.
And in the face and force of all that history my task was to light and photograph the installation – and more importantly, the room and chandeliers. No small task since the room is about 75 feet long, 50 feet wide and nearly 50 feet high.

Four monolights and a lot of experimenting later and here are some of the results.4-8-09-acubright0258___tonemappedrt4-8-09 ACUBRIGHT4-8-09 ACUBRIGHT4-8-09 ACUBRIGHT

[caption id="attachment_342" align="aligncenter" width="900" caption="The Acu-Bright team poses for a team photo after the last chandelier is installed."]The Acu-Bright team poses for a team photo after the last chandelier is installed.[/caption]

4-8-09 ACUBRIGHT

By Jay | Posted in commercial photography, interior photography | Tagged , , | Comments (2)

NOLA

April 10, 2009 – 7:39 pm

So if you’ve ever been to Zampa ( one of the Seacoast’s great restaurants), the guy behind the bar is Cory – and the woman responsible for the incredible dishes coming out of the kitchen is his wife and partner Julie. If you haven’t been to Zampa (http:// www.zampa.com) – rectify that mistake —now! Zampa is located on Route 27 at the intersection of Route 125 in Epping, reservations – a good idea as the place becomes hugely popular – can be made by calling 679-8772.

So, what does that have to do with this blog post you wonder??? Well Cory and Julie just had their first child and I was given the honor of hanging out with Mom, Dad and baby Nola. Cute doesn’t begin to describe this little girl who before you know it will be hanging out at the restaurant herself.
Here’s a few photos from today’s shoot.4-10-09 NOLA4-10-09 NOLA4-10-09 NOLA4-10-09 NOLA4-10-09 NOLA4-10-09 NOLA4-10-09 NOLA4-10-09 NOLA

By Jay | Posted in babies, infant photography, portraits | Tagged , , | Comments (0)

Spring morning

April 6, 2009 – 10:10 am

Out with the dog for an early morning, see the sunrise, take the camera because who knows, walk in the fields. The sounds of waking geese singing on the pond, the squish of mud as winter slowly thaws away. No coffee just the early chill of the false dawn to pop open the eyes. Life really is good!

And if you can’t get out of bed for it, here – enjoy the sunrise!_jay1970

By Jay | Posted in Fine Art, inspiration | Tagged | Comments (0)

Willing subject, NH portrait photographer

April 4, 2009 – 12:19 pm

I had the opportunity to borrow a great lens for the last week or so from good friend and colleague Al Wood. He was good enough to part with his 12-24mm Tokina so I could shoot some cottage interiors ( they will be the next post) and then I took a little time to play with the lens for fun. Good friends – and having a great kid who is a willing subject for her Dad’s experiments with lights, lenses and other craziness is a wonderful thing. So when I saw her in her “nest” chair and asked what she was doing, I got the answer “Meditating.”
Hey, when you are 12, there’s no sense wasting enegry on extra words – get to the point and get out!
I climbed onto the top bunk, get one of those great “what in the world are you doing looks”…and started shooting.
The light was really weird but I loved the angle and the perspective the lens brought – here’s a couple of the photos.
Breaks my heart but I have to return the lens today.
Bummer! But I do get to keep the 12-year-old, can’t complain about that.4-1-09 ELIZA MEDITATING4-1-09 ELIZA MEDITATING

By Jay | Posted in Personal Project, photojournalism, portraits | Tagged , | Comments (0)