Bahamian Rhapsody

Bahamian Rhapsody

Rhapsody in music is defined as a one-movement work that is integrated, free-flowing, with highly contrasted moods and color. It has an air of spontaneous inspiration and a sense of improvisation. A perfect description for our recent trip to the island of Exuma in the Bahamas. I was invited to join Kara Bingaman and Vicki Meany of Evolved Home Design to photograph their client’s home. With a few final touches remaining, this island respite was almost complete. These talented ladies incorporated a very organic, natural feel without distracting from the panoramic blues of the water. A serene and calming rhapsody...just what the client ordered.  Click here for more photos of this peaceful retreat.   When our work was done, we headed to Santana’s in Little Exuma to sample some of the best lobster on the island. We were not disappointed by the food or the views. The owner, Keturah was busy cooking up some delicious food while we soaked in the views and Bahamian...
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Dishing with the Dogs

Dishing with the Dogs

What's better than a day at the spa or even just a mani/pedi?  Our four-legged friends have the same idea...ahhhh a bath, a clip and a blow dry!  Here's a typical day at the Groom Room in Ridgefield, CT.  These images capture some very happy dogs who are truly enjoying the pampering!   As a long time customer of The Groom Room...it was great  "dishing with the dogs" about what kind of pampering goes on in the back room. Canine smiles all around and some were not the least bit camera shy! Thank you Bridget Miller and your wonderful staff for sharing your day and giving me access to some very cool dogs. Check out The Groom Room on Facebook.      ...
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SoNo

SoNo

This is the second field trip that my friend and fellow photographer Peggy Garbus and I have taken together.  Last year we headed to the Garden of Ideas in Ridgefield, CT and had a great day of shooting.  Peggy describes our adventure in her blog: Garden of Ideas. This time we chose some basic elements of design: color, line, texture, and set out in South Norwalk to see what we could find.  Joined by Peggy’s high school intern Devin Benison, we were armed with our cameras and blank memory cards. On a weather perfect morning, we were eager for a visual adventure and Sono did not disappoint. Water, sculpture, some steel and rust...all provided us with great imagery.  What a wonderful exercise for photographers to shoot the same subject and inevitability capture something different...not to mention a great opportunity to get out of the studio, explore and hunt for a good lunch destination!   Here are a few images from that afternoon. Look forward...
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Inspirational Spaces

Inspirational Spaces

A few years ago, I clipped a photo from a magazine that embodies my ultimate working environment.  It’s a small space with a drafting table, windows on three sides overlooking the dunes and ultimately the ocean. Pretty sweet! I can’t imagine anyone not liking that set-up.  Maybe you have a real or “dream space" of your own. No matter where you work or what you do...it’s important to be inspired by your surroundings.  I had this in mind while creating a plan for the conference room at Northwestern Mutual - Stamford's new office.   The room had a good start, a blond wood conference table and a beautiful blue accent wall.  But it needed some energy and inspiration.  So here is the end result: Many thanks to Lisa and Phil Bender of Northwestern Mutual for the opportunity to transform this space into a creative work environment. Thank you Kara Bingaman of Evolved Home for your hanging expertise. Maybe your office or workspace could use...
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When to Hit the Reset Button

When to Hit the Reset Button

When my hair dryer shuts off, there’s a button you push to get it started again.  A small, red “reset” or "test" button on the cord that restores power. It might be a pretty good metaphor in life. We all have some kind of ritual or practice that helps us to re-charge.  Last week I found myself at the beach on several occasions, shooting photos or walking my pups.  After the first visit,  it was so peaceful and restorative that I was enticed to go back a few more times.  Maybe I just needed it..   Recently I worked on a photo session for yoga and fitness instructor, Kathy Drake of Wellbeing Yoga Fitness. I have been practicing yoga and working with Kathy for many years.  It is a restorative, energizing and positive experience that I need to achieve balance in my life.  So I guess that’s a button too. Whether it’s down dog or a run on the beach, we all need some balance.  So...
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Dog Portraits: More than just a Pretty Snout

Dog Portraits: More than just a Pretty Snout

Inspired by this pose, courtesy of my girl Ruby, I set out to begin a series of dog portraits with special emphasis on their “noses” or “snouts” as my husband calls them. After a few photo sessions with my canine friends and “their humans," I began to see or maybe not see something. As I cropped with the camera and later with the images, it became clear that something was missing.  Capturing images of a nose without eyes, I was truly missing their personality. The spirit, twinkle and even a little attitude, just wasn’t there. So the eyes are back in the picture.  Click here  to look at Dogs Volume I and let me know if you agree. Maybe Volume II will be titled: "Heads or Tails"... check back for more dog photography!      ...
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The Art Connection

The Art Connection

Six degrees of separation is the theory that everyone and everything is six or fewer steps away, by way of introduction, from any other person in the world. On our way to grab dinner before our opening reception on Saturday, Nanci Hersh and I talked about how often this rings true in our lives.  Our reception that night was all about introductions to new faces and reminiscing with old friends but our connection to everyone was through the art on the walls. In her blog “See For Yourself” Nanci Hersh talks about the energy of the evening, "Our work spoke to each other from across the room while the non stop flow of people mingled, mixed and reunited."     Transformations Gallery is a great venue to showcase Nanci’s koi paintings and my photographs. If you missed us this weekend, I will be at Transformations at the Old Franklin School in Metuchen, NJ on Sunday, October 13th for a Gallery Walk.  The show runs through November...
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Air and Space

Air and Space

Air and Space makes me think of the museum in Washington DC.  It’s a great place to see the largest collection of aircrafts and all things in-flight. When my son was little, he loved the planetarium and IMAX movies. But “air and space” took on a whole new meaning for me this summer while vacationing near the water.   Let’s just say I took to the skies and pointed my lens upward with some very cool results. Living in a rural suburb with an abundance of trees, you miss out on what that big horizon has to offer.  So every night as sunset approached, I studied the sky.  My personal planetarium or IMAX movie...if you will.  It was pretty amazing how quickly changes took place and the relationship of color and space. In one hour, I shot every 10 minutes with varying exposures. It's always breathtaking when the sun finally meets the horizon, but what I captured in the minutes before was even more spectacular. Click...
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