Creating a Different Point of View

Add caption

I attended the Grass Roots Music and Dance Festival near Ithaca, N.Y. recently and because there were so many photographers taking the same record shots of the musicians and colorful characters in the audience that I decided that I wanted to shoot something completely different.  During the “Happiness Parade” I moved in close and concentrated just on hands and the colorful costumes.  This was a rewarding experience and will make great mementos for me.

Action Dancing At Weddings

The great photojournalist Robert Capa once said, “If your pictures aren’t good enough, you’re not close enough.” Capa wasn’t advocating the use of longer lenses; he was telling us to physically get closer — to become more involved and intimate with our subjects.   It is the philosophy I use when I am shooting dancing at weddings. I am literally just a few feet away using the widest angle lens I have. Its close, its hot, and its intimate!

Scouting Portrait Locations

Scouting locations is so important.

I had an opportunity to take a family portrait in West Danby, NY.  This is central new york farm country and what better location than outside near the pasture scheduled at a time of day when the light would be right.  Since scouting locations is so important to me I made a Sunday afternoon drive to the location and found a patch of grass and a tree to add to the design. On the day of the shoot I had an assistant to help wrangle the dogs and hang a huge white fabric reflector just out of view.  I am extremely happy with the results.