East Coast Living in Pictures - Faces in Photos

Koren Reyes Shoots Cancer in the Buff

2008-09-05T09:31:00.000-07:00

When I first had a conversation about Vivienne's migraines, I couldn't believe this young, attractive woman hadn't found a solution.

We became friends over the next three months and one day Vivienne spilled the truth that she had much more than a solution. She had anaplastic astrocytoma (grade 3 brain cancer).

This lithe, beautiful young woman said it with such calm reserve that it seemed too unreal to take in.

How could a 23-year-old who looked so great be so sick? Her doctors, and she's had almost too many to count, wish they had an answer.

Vivienne hasn't yet found a neurosurgeon who will take her case, so she started the next best thing: chemo and radiation.

In only her second week of treatment, Vivienne chopped her massive mane of curly, blond hair down to an adorable bob.

It didn't last.

Two weeks later, the rate at which her hair was falling out drove her to the hair salon for a more painful visit. It was time to shave her head.

She cried.

And cried some more.

Vivienne's hair meant more to her than something to mindlessly twirl while flirting with a young man. It was a shortcut to self-expression.

Her thick curls were useful in the same way that women with long legs and big boobs push the world around.

Vivienne sucked it up, alone in the ways all of us fear. Her judgmental family in Florida wasn't in a rush to come to her side. Her erratic boyfriend didn't believe she really was sick.

Growing thinner every day, Vivienne's already large, limpid eyes grew even larger. But I wasn't seeing fear behind her look. I saw a resolve to hang in there no matter how bad the prognosis, no matter how alone she might feel.

As her reactions to treatment progressed, I looked for ways to support my friend and feel useful to her. Seven weeks into her treatment, Vivienne finally gave me a really good opportunity. She asked me to take some nude photographs of her.

I knew this was going to be a great thing for both of us because of her understated, sophisticated gift of expression. I had a feeling this shoot might alter the way she saw herself no matter how ugly and unattractive she felt being bald, pale, drawn and thin. I knew this because I already saw her as an incredible beauty with shapely cheekbones and killer eyes.

I was right.

Vivienne tells me that whenever she's feeling exhausted and ugly, she looks at her photos for a reminder that she IS still beautiful.

We got to thinking that this might be a good thing to offer other women in her shoes.

As of today, I'm launching, "Koren shoots cancer in the buff." It's a beauty shoot for any woman dealing with any humiliating, demoralizing cancer treatment.

It's free, it's fun and it will change a woman's outlook not just for a day, but possibly forever.

For more information, please contact the studio.

Before and after photos. What Photoshop can do.

2008-08-27T08:32:00.000-07:00

Before and after

Mouse over the images to see the before and after effects
This was a great image to begin with, but the black and white conversion really makes it spectacular. Note the effect of the vignetting (darkening) in the corners.

Ok, so what's the big deal? It's just another black and white conversion. But it's not. Note how the detail comes out in the shadowy lower part of the image. Mouse over the two below to learn more.

Need a little uplift? Want to change your shirt color? Eyes need a little brightening? It's all possible. Look your best. Film will never give this to you.

There's nothing really wrong with the original image, but the finished image has some proprietary color adjustments (black becomes blue, some desaturation, etc.) and I've added some grain to give the background some texture.

She looks great, right? Well, she looked great in the original image, but why not do a little body sculpting to enhance the work of art? Notice the shape changes in her feet, shins, rib cage and behind.

Need I say more? Photoshop is an incredible tool in the hands of the right artist. This is magazine-quality retouching, which I know isn't for everybody, but isn't it nice to know you have the option to look as glamorous as any cover girl?

Blue channel

Red channel

Green channel

Lab color

Grayscale
Speaking of black and white, there are many ways to convert an image. Most of them are really ugly. To make a great black and white print, I take a look at three different ways, and then combine some red and a little blue channel to get the best darks and the most forgiving lights.

The finished photo. Note that my black and whites are rarely cold. My taste is to always make them just a little warm.

Is film better than digital?

2008-08-27T07:59:00.000-07:00

I chose to switch from film to digital for two reasons, a) because I saw that the technology gave photographers the ability to produce an image with the personality and characteristics of film, and b) the physical prints are now rated to last just as long.

Some photographers say that people switch to digital to save money. This couldn't be farther from reality. And the photographers who say this are either a) afraid of new technology, or b) unable to afford the enormous costs.

The very sad truth is that great digital photography costs a fortune.

Not only do you need to spend a lot on cameras, but you spend a fortune on all the peripherals.

You need to transfer digital images from the camera to a big, fast computer that only lasts two years. You need to store images in multiple redundancy because of high probabilties of failure. You need to buy software to work on images. And lastly, you need to take lots of classes to keep up with the constantly changing things the new software can do.

All of these components cost money and all of them have very short life spans.

Can you get the same quality digital print versus a silver print?
The short answer is it depends.

A film purist will make a print directly from a negative. There's no "quality" debate; you get a great quality print that lasts a long time when you print like this, especially if you're an expert at burning and dodging and you rinse forever.

However, today's "film" photographers are often scanning their negatives. This effectively throws them back to par with the digital photographers because all of a sudden, the "quality" now depends on what equipment they're using and how good they are at using it.

The reason I say "it depends" is because what we're able to do with digital technology allows us to mimic the characteristics we love in film. Photoshop gives us the ability to impart a particular film's personality into a digital image and high quality pigmented ink jet inks combined with acid-free papers are rated to last hundreds of years.

Second, today's digital world has introduced infinite creative opportunities for artists. When you take a great digital picture, you've just begun the creative process with zero boundaries limiting what you can create in terms of color, texture, mood, emotion and look and feel.

If creativity is important to you and you have a creative photographer, this should open a number of really exciting opportunities.

But what about the print quality?
This is a really important question.

I don't create any ink jet prints for clients; I send everything to a professional photography lab that has been tested and vetted by me to meet reputation-dependent client expectations.

I deal with some of the most demanding clients out there; clients with lots of expertise (magazines), clients with lots of contacts (wealthy New Yorkers) and clients who know photographic quality (fine artists themselves).

Vermont fall foliage photo workshop 2008

2008-08-12T09:03:00.000-07:00

Hi all,
It's back! We had such a great time last year that we're doing it again.
Join us for four great days of Vermont fall foliage. We'll hike, eat, learn, laugh and kick a bunch of leaves around in one of Vermont's most charming villages.

This photography workshop is suitable for all levels. Bring a point and shoot or bring a medium format camera. We'll shoot early, hike mid-day and shoot late.

If you like the outdoors, this Vermont photo workshop is for you.

Please join us!

Cost: $995

For more information, please visit:
Vermont Fall Foliage Photo Workshop

I create sensuous landscapes, but what I really specialize in is Pregnancy and Maternity portraits.
To view some work, click here to see the pregnant photos.

Hiking to Gertrude's Nose in the Shawangunks

2008-08-11T22:08:00.000-07:00

I took a flyer with my buddy Susannah out to the 'Gunks. We met up with an avid hiking group who thinks nothing of going all out all day. I bonked with ninety minutes left to walk and almost cried the last steps down to the lodge.

Some of the best hiking around is only ninety minutes north of New York City at the New Paltz exit. We headed right for the Mohonk Preserve and, after checking in, were on the trail with 28 other, mostly very fit, very retired hikers, at 10am.

We straggled in at 5pm on the dot; a time I'm quite sure of because they very kindly let me into the lodge to use the ladies room even though the door was locked.

We then met up with the gang at the Brauhaus where the Teutonic-looking waitresses even braid the blond hair. The Spaten Oktoberfest hit the spot. I was starving and exhausted and so glad to be sitting down.

Uncluttered web design and elegant newsletters

2008-05-29T11:38:00.000-07:00

Yes, I'm plugging the design stuff now. It's beautiful stuff.

Please visit:

KorenReyesDesigns

And of course, don't pass up looking at my maternity and pregnancy photography:
Maternity by Koren

Spring in New York City

2008-04-28T13:09:00.000-07:00

Spring is here - finally. I think the gloves are put away for good, even though it's raining and 50 degrees today.

Warm Mineral Springs

2008-03-06T19:26:00.000-08:00

I suffer from a rare but annoying form of eczema that gets really bad sometimes. In January of 2008, it got so bad that I did two radical things: I went to yet another New York City dermatologist who gave me a ton of prednisone and said not a whole lot more.

Never one to find a more natural healing method, I went in search of mineral springs where I could soak my troubles away. I really wanted to go back to Pagosa Springs, CO, but I didn't have a lot of time and it would be a day of travel on either end to get there.

After a little more digging, I found Warm Mineral Springs in North Port, Florida.

Newborn family photography

2008-01-20T13:35:00.000-08:00

Newborn and infant photography after the prenatal maternity photography!

Russian beauty and maternity photos

2008-01-14T15:46:00.000-08:00

A Russian beauty and little Charlie. So cute!

Visit my family photography site, too!

Pro athletes and pregnancy photography

2008-01-12T16:21:00.000-08:00

Yes,the pro athletes do it, too.
Handsome couple, right?

Elegant new maternity photography

2008-01-10T05:57:00.000-08:00

This lovely Russian belle had the most amazing hair in the world.

For more family photography, see my happy kids shots here: Children's photography.

Maternity photography for NY

2008-01-06T10:37:00.000-08:00

I've got a lot of new photography work up for the new year. Have a browse through my maternity site, especially.

The family photography site is here: Family Photography
and my maternity work is here: Maternity Photography

New maternity photography for 2008

2008-01-05T06:02:00.000-08:00

Here are some of my favorite photos:

For family photography shots, please visit FacesinPhotos.com

New York Family Photographer

2007-12-17T09:13:00.001-08:00

Family photography for New Yorkers!

Visit my family photography web site here

New York Family Photographer

2007-12-17T09:13:00.000-08:00

Family photography for New Yorkers!

Charlie loves crispy paper

2007-12-09T18:49:00.000-08:00

Yup, he's a little nut case, aka Coco Loco.
But he's so cute!

Please visit my best work, MaternitybyKoren.com

Charlie graces maternity photos

2007-12-02T13:03:00.000-08:00

Charlie loves my photo gear bag. In fact, he loves every bag I place on the floor. It's so funny.

Don Cornelius violates plagiarism law

2007-11-27T19:58:00.000-08:00

Don Cornelius Ridgecrest, CA photographer plagiarized the maternity photography images belonging to Koren Reyes and refuses to immediately remove the images from his web site.

Ridgecrest, CA photographer Don Cornelius violates US copyright law

2007-11-26T13:21:00.001-08:00

Highdesert-Photography of Ridgecrest, CA violated US copyright law by stealing Koren Reyes's images.

Highdesert photographer, Dan Cornelius, violates US Copyright law by unlawfully using Koren Reyes's images on his web site.

An anonymous tip led Koren Reyes to discover that Don Cornelius of Ridgecrest, CA stole and then posted her images on his web site in clear violation of US copyright law.

He did this with the purposeful intent of deceiving viewers into thinking he had created this imagery.

What makes this even more incredible is that as of November 26, 2007, Don Cornelius was a current member of PPA, one of the premier trade organizations that supports, trains and teaches high ethics standards to photographers.

Town & Country Bride

2007-11-20T11:43:00.000-08:00

Courtney and I did a bridal portrait session with Charlie, aka Coco Latte, aka Coco Loco. Can I have a dog with three names, depending on how cute he is at the moment?

Please support my maternity photographer and maternity photography work here: Best maternity photography and pregnancy portraits

Little Charlie at home in NYC

2007-11-18T07:25:00.000-08:00

We're getting along famously. He loves to play, poop, pee & sleep. He follows me around everywhere.

Please visit my maternity photography site when you get a chance.
Here it is: Maternity photography

I got a Havanese

2007-11-14T07:17:00.000-08:00

Little Charlie was born on September 12, 2007 to Kim Way of Weathersfield, CT. He is a bundle of love and is the cutest little thing I have ever cuddled.

Kim Way took this picture. Didn't she do a good job?

Time Warner holiday light show

2007-11-11T06:36:00.000-08:00

I exited the subway at Columbus Circle late Thursday night and as I turned left toward my street, holiday tune wafted over the night. I went right instead to follow the tunes. There, in the black of night when only the cockroaches roam the streets, was a crew of bulky men hanging the giant stars over the main entrance to the Time Warner building.

Yoga Works in New York

2007-11-07T06:35:00.000-08:00

I'm a member of the Upper West Side YogaWorks; a place I have a love-hate relationship with. I love the hard workouts that Marco demands, I hate how my shoulder complains. I also really like Arana's class - she has this cool, detached style that somehow diguises the difficulty of her class.

I'm always interested in shooting extraordinary athletes. If you know of any yogis who would do yogo for photo art, let me know.

or visit my site, Maternity by Koren

Holiday family photography

2007-11-05T08:10:00.000-08:00

This family couldn't have chosen nicer colors for their holiday photography card.

To view more holiday family photo ideas, visit Faces in Photos

Rape Prevention

2007-11-01T12:24:00.001-07:00

Through a Rapist's Eyes (No Joke)
How to prevent a rape
Rape Prevention
Survive an attack

This is important information for females of ALL ages. When this was sent to me, I was told to forward it to my lady friends, but I forwarded it to almost everyone in my address book. My men friends have female friends and this information is too important to miss someone. Please pass it along.

A group of rapists and date rapists in prison were interviewed on what they look for in a potential victim and here are some interesting facts:

1) The first thing men look for in a potential victim is hairstyle. They are most likely to go after a woman with a ponytail, bun, braid or other hairstyle that can easily be grabbed. They are also likely to go after a woman with long hair. Women with short hair are not common targets.

2) The second thing men look for is clothing. They will look for women whose clothing is easy to remove quickly. Many of them carry scissors around specifically to cut clothing.

3) They also look for women on their cell phone, searching through their purse, or doing other activities while walking because they are off-guard and can be easily overpowered.

4) Men are most likely to attack & rape in the early morning, between 5:00a.m. and 8:30a.m.

5) The number one place women are abducted from/attacked is grocery store parking lots. Number two: is office parking lots/garages. Number three: is public restrooms.

6) The thing about these men is that they are looking to grab a woman and quickly move her to another location where they don't have to worry about getting caught.

7) Only 2% said they carried weapons because rape carries a 3-5 year sentence but rape with a weapon is 15-20 years.

8) If you put up any kind of a fight at all, they get discouraged because it only takes a minute or two for them to realize that going after you isn't worth it because it will be time-consuming.

9) These men said they would not pick on women who have umbrellas, or other similar objects that can be used from a distance, in their hands. Keys are not a deterrent because you have to get really close to the attacker to use them as a weapon. So, the idea is to convince these guys you're not worth it.

10) Several defense mechanisms he taught us are: If someone is following behind you on a street or in a garage or with you in an elevator or stairwell, look them in the face and ask them a question , like what time is it, or make general small talk: "I can't believe it is so cold out here," "we're in for a bad winter." Now you've seen their face and could identify them in a line-up; you lose appeal as a target.

11) If someone is coming toward you, hold out your hands in front of you and yell STOP or STAY BACK! Most of the rapists this man talked to said they'd leave a woman alone if she yelled or showed that she would not be afraid to fight back. Again, they are looking for an EASY target.

12) If you carry pepper spray (this instructor was a huge advocate of it and carries it with him wherever he goes) , yell I HAVE PEPPER SPRAY and holding it out will be a deterrent.

13) If someone grabs you, you can't beat them with strength but you can by outsmarting them If you are grabbed around the waist from behind, pinch the attacker either under the arm (between the elbow and armpit) OR in the upper inner thigh VERY VERY HARD. One woman in a class this guy taught told him she used the underarm pinch on a guy who was trying to date rape her and was so upset she broke through the skin and tore out muscle strands - the guy needed stitches. Try pinching yourself in those places as hard as you can stand it - it hurts.

14) After the initial hit, always GO for the GROIN. I know from a particularly unfortunate experience that if you slap a guy's parts it is extremely painful. You might think that you'll anger the guy and make him want to hurt you more, but the thing these rapists told our instructor is that they want a woman who will not cause a lot of trouble. Start causing trouble and he's out of there.

15) When the guy puts his hands up to you, grab his first two fingers and bend them back as far as possible with as much pressure pushing down on them as possible. The instructor did it to me without using much pressure, and I ended up on my knees and both knuckles cracked audibly.

16) Of course the things we always hear still apply. Always be aware of your surroundings, take someone with you if you can and if you see any odd behavior, don't dismiss it, go with your instincts!!! You may feel a little silly at the time, but you'd feel much worse if the guy really was trouble.

1 . Tip from Tae Kwon Do: The elbow is the strongest point on your body. If you are close enough to use it, do!

2. Learned this from a tourist guide in New Orleans. If a robber asks for your wallet and/or purse, DO NOT HAND IT TO HIM. Toss it away from you....chances are that he is more interested in your wallet and/or purse than you, and he will go for the wallet/purse. RUN LIKE MAD IN THE OTHER DIRECTION!

3. If you are ever thrown into the trunk of a car, kick out the back tail lights and stick your arm out the hole and start waving like crazy. The driver won't see you, but everybody else will. This has saved lives.

4. Women have a tendency to get into their cars after shopping, eating, working, etc., and just sit (doing their checkbook, or making a list, etc.) DON'T DO THIS! The predator will be watching you, and this is the perfect opportunity for him to get in on the passenger side, put a gun to your head, and tell you where to go. AS SOON AS YOU GET INTO YOUR CAR, LOCK THE DOORS AND LEAVE. a. If someone is in the car with a gun to your head DO NOT DRIVE OFF, repeat: DO NOT DRIVE OFF! Instead gun the engine and speed into anything, wrecking the car. Your Air Bag will save you. If the person is in the back seat they will get the worst of it. As soon as the car crashes bail out and run. It is better than having them find your body in a remote location.

5. A few notes about getting into your car in a parking lot or parking garage:

A.) Be aware: look around you, look into your car, at the passenger side floor, and in the back seat.

B.) If you are parked next to a big van, enter your car from the passenger door. Most serial killers attack their victims by pulling them into their vans while the women are attempting to get into their cars.

C.) Look at the car parked on the driver's side of your vehicle, and the passenger side. If a male is sitting alone in the seat nearest your car, you may want to walk back into the mall, or work, and get a guard/policeman to walk you back out. IT IS ALWAYS BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY. (And better paranoid than dead.)

6. ALWAYS take the elevator instead of the stairs. (Stairwells are horrible places to be alone and the perfect crime spot. This is especially true at NIGHT!)

7. If the predator has a gun and you are not under his control, ALWAYS RUN! The predator will only hit you (a running target) 4 in 100 times. And even then, it most likely WILL NOT be a vital organ. RUN, preferably in a zigzag pattern!

8. As women, we are always trying to be sympathetic: STOP! It may get you raped or killed. Ted Bundy, the serial killer, was a good-looking, well-educated man, who ALWAYS played on the sympathies of unsuspecting women. He walked with a cane, or a limp, and often asked "for help" into his vehicle or with his vehicle, which is when he abducted his next victim.

9. Another Safety Point: Someone just told me that her friend heard a crying baby on her porch the night before last, and she called the police because it was late and she thought it was weird. The police told her "Whatever you do, DO NOT open the door." The lady then said that it sounded like the baby had crawled near a window, and she was worried that it would crawl to the street and get run over. The policeman said, "We already have a unit on the way, whatever you do, DO NOT open the door." He told her that they think a serial killer has a baby's cry recorded and uses it to coax women out of their homes thinking that someone dropped off a baby. He said they have not verified it, but have had several calls by women saying that they hear baby's cries outside their doors when they're home alone at night. Please pass this on and DO NOT open the door for a crying baby ----This should be taken seriously because the Crying Baby theory was mentioned on America's Most Wanted this past Saturday when they profiled the serial killer in Louisiana.

I'd like you to forward this to all the women you know. It may save a life. A candle is not dimmed by lighting another candle. I was going to send this to the ladies only, but guys, if you love your mothers, wives, sisters, daughters, etc., you may want to pass it onto them, as well.

Carnegie Hall

2007-11-01T06:52:00.000-07:00

How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Sing with any one of the many NYC choruses.
I'm singing as part of the pick-up choir with Dessoff tonight. We're performing Prokofiev's Nevsky at 8pm.

Check out the new images I put up in the Studio section of my web site:
faces in photos

Where to shoot a car commercial in California

2007-10-30T19:39:00.000-07:00

If you're a commercial photographer with an assignment to shoot a car in a spectacular landscape, chances are this location is on your list for the perfect landscape for automobile photography.

This is the ideal landscape for a car shoot. This is also the ideal location for a car commercial.

If you want to know where it is, well, you'll have to visit my web site, Faces in Photos or call me up. I'll share! Be sure to book the hose-'em-down.

Molyvos Restaurant is wonderful

2007-10-29T12:58:00.000-07:00

I had lunch with friends today in my neighborhood at an amazing Greek restaurant very close to Carnegie Hall. It's called Molyvos and it was a delight on every level. Service was tight and professional, the food was beautifully presented and the price is fair. Go there.

If you're looking for a Greek Restaurant in New York City, visit Molyvos in Midtown West, just steps from Carnegie Hall.

Molyvos Restaurant
871 Seventh Ave between 56th and 55th Streets

Mrs. Firefighter with a bun in the oven

2007-10-26T15:54:00.000-07:00

I traveled to my old haunt, Sausalito, for a maternity shoot. This woman takes the cake in terms of props. She brought her husband's firefighting helmut and his jacket. He couldn't be there because he was down in Southern California fighting one of the 13 fires near San Diego.

Black and White fine art photography of Marin County

2007-10-23T08:20:00.000-07:00

I liked this work so much that I made an entire gallery just of my favorites. The images are all priced at $765 plus shipping. To see more, visit the fine art section of my web site.
Here's an example:

This champ made Institutional Investor Magazine

2007-10-21T13:07:00.000-07:00

It's not easy to do, but this oil & gas hedge fund analyst got top picks from II Magazine.
Congratulations, John!

Kitchen Art Series of Herbs

2007-10-19T05:22:00.001-07:00

I have a six-piece set of kitchen herbs beautifully framed and ready to give as gifts. I have lavender, rosemary, basil leaves, thyme and sage. Here's a sample:

Class in Search Engine Optimization for Photographers

2007-10-18T12:25:00.000-07:00

I'm teaching a class at Adorama for ambitious photographers and designers who want to understand the basic principles of Google's search engine.

I will share the Seven Secrets of Search Engine Optimization that will help you optimize your site to target your optimal clients.

For more information, visit Adorama's web site

Photo Plus 2007 VIP Code

2007-10-18T07:36:00.000-07:00

If you're still looking, this one is good for all : VIP Code XAAE1

Enjoy - and never stop learning!

My site: Portrait Photographers

What to wear to a photo shoot

2007-10-17T20:57:00.000-07:00

I've written some guidelines to help you choose what to wear for a solo or family photo session.
Feel free to email me with any questions. If you're wondering how to dress for a portrait shoot, this will help a lot.
What to wear to a photo shoot

Showing work at Sierra Photo Club in NYC tonight

2007-10-17T09:17:00.000-07:00

Hey all,
I'm the opener for tonight's photo presentation at the New York Chapter of the Sierra Photo Club.
All are welcome.

St. Paul the Apostle
Parish House
405 West 59th Street (between 9-10 Aves.)
2nd floor, at 6:30 PM

Here's a sample of the work I'm showing:

Portrait of a Leaf

2007-10-16T11:23:00.001-07:00

I do fine art portraiture of nature, too.

Hikes in Harriman State Park

2007-10-14T05:39:00.000-07:00

First thing I did after I peeled the feathers off me was shut the wide open window. It was in the 40's outside, it was a crystal clear and gorgeous fall day, finally.

I was up at 6:30am on a Saturday for my third hike with Outdoor Bound. It was labeled a 10-mile, challenging hike with nine peaks, stops at an old, abandoned mine and and a ghost town with a "ghost" cemetery.

We left New York City in Richard's rented hike-mobile at 8:15am and headed up the Palisades Parkway. We took Exit 19 (Seven Lakes), then parked in a small parking lot about one-third of a mile up on the right.

For a map of these hikes, visit the NY NJ Trail Conference site.

Now, the previous two hikes had been moderate and easy. I was wondering how hard the challenging hike would really be...well, it was the longest, most challenging hike I had ever done. It was a seven and a half hour day with one short stop for lunch. I was at the back of every long, steep ascent, huffing and puffing and wondering if my heart was going to explode out of my chest.

At some point, Richard lost track of how many peaks we'd climbed, but we found the abandoned mine at six and a half hours into the hike. Skip it. It's a hole in the ground, filled with water, smells bad and is off the trail. Doodletown was a bit bizarre; lots of signs point out what house was where with photographs of the houses, but not a single piece of house remains except an occasional bit of concrete foundation. Why they razed all those homes is a mystery to me.

We were five hikers and Richard, the guide. We had Eric, a Canadian and owner of a PR company who wants to live in the Bay Area, Babel, a German-born art therapist who has lived in the US for eight and a half years, Aleesa, a twenty-something whipper snapper account executive at Ogilvy who works on the Morgan Stanley account, and a woman whose name escapes me, but she occasionally spends time working at the Four Seasons in their catering area when she's not touring the globe. I don't know how she does it, but she is always taking adventure trips. Her last trip, last month, had her climbing the steep hills around Machu Picchu. She said it was the best trip of her life: she'd been training with the Stacy of Stacy's Boot Camp in Central Park for six weeks beforehand. AND she has a really cool iPhone.

And this is Rockefeller Center's Ice Rink in the rain

2007-10-13T04:30:00.000-07:00

Yup - it was pouring down. Looks more like a swimming pool than an ice rink.

Shooting in the Rain - NYC wet and wild

2007-10-13T04:26:00.000-07:00

It's a big pain, but it's totally worth it. When it's pouring, go out and take pictures. If you're in an urban area, look for lots of lighting in the background.
I used a flash on this, set at -2/3.

Two Glasses of Wine

2007-10-12T07:34:00.000-07:00

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle,
when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the
mayonnaise jar and the 2 glasses of wine...

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some
items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly,
he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and
proceeded to fill it with golf balls.

He then asked the students if the jar was full.
They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured
them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles
rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then
asked the students again if the jar was full.

They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it
into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else
He asked once more if the jar was full. The students
responded with an unanimous "yes."

The professor then produced two glasses of wine from under
the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively
filling the empty space between the sand.

The students laughed.

"Now," said the professor, as the laughter subsided, "I want
you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things; your family, your children, your health, your friends, and your favorite passions; things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full."

The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house, and your car. The sand is everything else; the small stuff.

"If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "There is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you."

"Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out to dinner. Play another 18.

Do one more run down the ski slope.

There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first; the things that really matter. Then the pebbles. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the wine represented.

The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of glasses of wine with a friend."

I'm teaching Search Engine Optimization for Photographers

2007-10-11T07:21:00.000-07:00

I'm teaching a class at Adorama on November 13. It's geared toward photographers who aren't afraid to tackle html and update their own websites. It's also about how to properly code your site to place properly in a Google search.

Here's the link to my class info: Adorama Workshop

Digital Photography Workshops

2007-10-09T12:12:00.000-07:00

Don't miss the latest planned trip! This is going to be a creepy one...well after Halloween.
On Sunday, November 18, we're traveling down to the Eastern State Penitentiary for a day of shooting an abandoned prison.

Read more about the trip here: Abandoned Prison Photo Workshops

It's charming, squeaky clean Grafton, VT

2007-10-08T15:14:00.000-07:00

I'm still in Vermont and am still loving it. Sorry to be off track of the maternity and pregnancy photography, but this is lovely stuff...

Day Five: Vermont Fall Foliage Photo Tour

2007-10-08T07:50:00.000-07:00

It rained all night and was raining in the morning, so we met at 8am all packed up and headed for Grafton. Our first stop was the Grafton Village Cheese company.

Don't expect much in terms of learning about cheese. The salespeople are downright surly and unfriendly and all you get to see is a guy behind a plexi window doing something in a vat.

It was thickly overcast and sprinkling, so we wandered around the charming village, took a few photos, then said good bye.

I drove through Newfane on a circuitous route back to I91 because it was supposed to be a charming town. I missed it. I would skip the town altogether. Route 30 meets I91 at Brattleboro where traffic was stopped dead. It was a long drive home that I started in 60 degrees and ended up in 91 degrees by the time I hit mid-Connecticut. It was hot and humid in New York City - this is really weird for early October.

Still not quite yet maternity photography, but VT is still cool...

2007-10-07T19:25:00.000-07:00

Yup - we found these browsing cluster of cows. At $85 a piece, you, too, can have a stuffed cow park.

Day Four: Vermont Fall Foliage Photo Workshop

2007-10-07T07:41:00.000-07:00

It was warm and muggy and very cloudy, so we skipped the morning shoot and met at 8am to do the Cornish Colony trail.

We hit four covered bridges, #20-23 and then spent some time in Claremont, NH. The diner there is not to be missed. The owners are friendly and if you sit at the counter, you'll marvel at how beautifully the cook-owner flips her pancakes. It's the Tumble Inn Diner, also known as DaddyPops. The family has owned it for 11 years; the mom cooks, the dad washes, the daughters wait tables and the cousin helps the mom. These folks are youngsters! The mom and the youngest daughter (16yo!) look like sisters and they are adorable! Food is terrific!

After Claremont, we headed over for the 2pm boat tour on Lake Sunapee. We learned about the different villages around the lake, the history (how trains brought hundreds to the lake steamers and the huge, old hotels), and that the lake is spring-fed and very, very clean. It lasted about an hour and forty-five minutes and cost $16.

On the way back, we drove all the way to Woodstock in search of a good sunset spot. It was crystal clear! We ended up at the long covered bridge just east of Woodstock and got some so-so stuff. Sunset is a tough time to find the right place to shoot.

We stopped at a convenience store on the way back. Dinner was a crummy salad and beer, but we talked the hotel front desk into letting us use the meeting room to set up my projector to share work.

Scars on a tree struck by lightning

2007-10-06T17:50:00.000-07:00

This white birch was struck by lightning many years ago. Note how the tree scar wraps around the turnk.

This was shot in Marsh Billings Rockefeller State Park in October 2007. There are many wonderful examples of other trees that have been struck by lightning in this park.

The most photographed farm in Vermont

2007-10-06T17:28:00.001-07:00

Craig Ferguson says if it's on the internet, it must be true. So, this morning I took my photo workshop to the most photographed place in Vermont, the Jenne Farm just south of Woodstock, VT.

I have to admit, I don't know what's so great about this shot and location or why this is the most popular spot to photograph Vermont. I suppose if the light had been right, meaning clear, low humidity and cool, this would have been better, but....here it is.

I know many of you traversing Vermont in the fall will see this, so when you visit Jenne Farm, make sure you look around. There are many other beautiful scenes!

We're not in Maternity Photography land any more...

2007-10-06T16:04:00.001-07:00

and we're not in Kansas, either. We're in central Vermont and the foliage isn't great this year. If you read the Vermont fall foliage reports, they'll probably play down how bad the color is this year. Can't really argue with that; it's still better to be here for even a little while than where ever you're from.

I happened to catch this corn chopper in action. Apparently, the corn stalks are chopped up and the entire plant is fed to animals.

Day Three: Fall Foliage Workshop in Vermont

2007-10-06T07:28:00.000-07:00

What photographer in central Vermont can skip Jenne Farm? This morning we headed over to see the gaggle of photographers there to capture the morning light. There were about twenty people already set up and it was pretty light by the time we arrived at 6:45am.

I'm not sure what the big deal is about this farm, but it sure is popular. After the shoot, we headed back towards Woodstock and stopped at the South Woodstock Country Store for breakfast. Their blueberry muffins are outstanding and the coffee was pretty good, too! We had an interesting conversation with the guy who is developing the wind power farm in Nantucket sound and got the low-down on how Ted Kennedy and all the uber-rich are opposing it. For the life of me, I don't understand this operation. With blades turning at 16mph, they're unlikely to kill birds. Planted in on a shallow shelf, it's unlikely to be in the way of boats. With reef-like habitat for fish, it's likely to attract fish. At 13 miles offshore from Nantucket, you'll need high-powered binoculars to see them. Once they're up and running, this wind farm will provide over 70% of the Cape and Islands' power. It's completely green, no omissions, no run-off, no nothing. Who could oppose this?

We then headed for Kent Pond which is at the junction of Route 4 and Route 100. It's a true find. The stream is perfect for placing leaves and there are several waterfalls to work with. It's a good place to go when the sun is high. It's also on the Long Trail.

We headed back to Woodstock for lunch at Bentleys which was a zoo, but we got seated and were able to eat in just about an hour. Great place!

After lunch, we went to the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller State Park for the three-hour, guided ranger tour up Mount Tom. Great tour - and an easy, 3.5 mile hike. The views down onto the town of Woodstock are great. Highly recommend this!

We stopped for sandwiches at Maplesfields (skip it - the food is fast and bad) and headed home.

Vermont photography in the fall

2007-10-05T18:59:00.001-07:00

Gotta admit, I miss the pregnancy photography and the maternity photographer in me, but the landscape work isn't a bad substitute.

Day Two: Fall Foliage Photo Workshop

2007-10-05T07:12:00.000-07:00

We began the day by leaving WRJ at 6:15am. It was mild and very, very foggy. We headed to the head of Quechee Gorge and took photos of the misty reflections on the pond. It was just ok.

We then headed over to the Farmer's Diner in Quechee. This popular draw was worth seeing...the food was fine.

We then headed up to Rock of the Ages in Graniteville. We got a jolly introduction to the world of granite, paid our $4.00 fee and got on the first bus to head up to the observation platform. It was a Friday, so the place was a-buzz with workers. About 40 workers toil away in the quarry which measures 10 miles wide, 1 mile deep and two miles across. The tour guide says if they continue to quarry stone at today's rate, they'll use it all up in 4,500 years. Now, technology will have to change; as of today, they're unable to lift blocks out of the quarry from more than 600 feet.

Rock of the Ages is a giant, publicly-traded company with other quarries in PA, NC and Ukraine. They are the grandaddy of headstone production.

After the quick tour, we walked to the nearby abandoned quarry which was filled with water. It's kind of spooky to look over the side straight down and see algae-covered, submerged trees.

We left Graniteville for Morse Farm, a sugar house, in Montpelier. This is a major tourist bus stop, so be prepared to see a small barn full of chachka. It also has a charming video featuring Burr Morse.

We then drove back down to Barre and found our way to Pierre Couture's Millstone Lodge in Websterville, VT. Pierre provides detailed trail maps for the 1,500 acres of hiking and biking trails that criss-cross a slew of abandoned quarries, most of which are filled with water. This is a spectacular place. Loved it.

We headed for home in the dark and went back to the Seven Barrel Brewery. It was packed - food is pretty good.

The Cornish Colony Trail near Claremont, NH

2007-10-04T06:54:00.000-07:00

The photo workshop starts tonight at 7pm, and I needed to nail down the agenda.

I headed east after a morning's worth of work and followed the Route 12A trail through the Cornish Colony. Everything you need to know about this lovely area is here:
Cornish Colony: Trail 6

You'll find three covered bridges that are sort of on the main drag, and all are worth stopping to see.

I wanted to see Claremont, the mill town in the midst of renovations that don't really look like they're still under way. This jewel of a historic town is filled with huge, brick warehouses on the Sugar River. The surrounding area isn't so great, but I hope they do fulfill the sign's promise of "Luxury Condominiums."

I then drove through Newport, NH and continued on to Sunapee Harbor. That lake is magical. It is so clear and clean - what a wonderful spot to visit. There was a lake boat tour on the weekends at 2pm and I made a note to include in on the agenda.

Well, it's Vermont and fall is falling...

2007-10-03T11:17:00.001-07:00

It's quintessential Vermont, red barn, open field, and nearly 80 degrees in October. Er, what?

First full day: Woodstock, VT

2007-10-03T06:22:00.000-07:00

I dragged my sorry self out of bed at 6am and hit the road a little later. I headed west for Woodstock, the charming, very upscale town known for its well-heeled, gentlemen farmers, and meticulously restored downtown buildings.

At 6:45am, the sun was just about to poke above a local horizon and quiet town was filled with blue light. It was about 65 degrees already and a little hazy.

I shot the covered bridge in the middle of downtown and it, too, is in perfect condition and is adorably cute.

I wandered around a little longer then slipped into the bustling Mountain Creamery for breakfast. The place was filled with folks over sixty, and the talk was all local. If you're sensitive to bright light early in the morning, the over-abundant fluorescent light won't thrill you.

The coffee was plentiful, the veggie omelet passable. The toast was completely soggy, but the runny homemade strawberry jam was ok.

During breakfast, I watched the local bookstore owner across the street create her fall display. I strolled over to buy a map and chat with her about where to find a swamp or other likely color hotspots.

She sent me to Garvin Road and Knapp Pond, both of which were charming, but not necessarily photo worthy. I ended up on Morgan Road and found some horse farms....

I made my way back to camp by stopping at the Quechee Gorge (pronounced kwee-chee). I drove to the top of the gorge, parked, then hiked to the pond and all the way down to where the gorge opens up and spills onto a giant spread of rock. It's only about a mile top to bottom and is a very easy walk.

It was too early to get to bed, so I drove over to Hanover, NH to see the Dartmouth campus. After aimlessly driving around, I decided on Murphy's on the Green for a little dinner and a beer. It's a good place; 11 South Main Street, Hanover, NH. Great beers on tap, a friendly crowd and a smug bartender.

Hiking in the Hudson Valley and visiting a Hudson Valley Winery

2007-10-02T08:41:00.000-07:00

I hiked with Outdoor Bound. It was billed as a strenuous hike, but in reality, it was too short and not all that hard. After the hike, they bused us over the Warwick Winery which was a zoo and a half. The place was jammed, the pourers bored out of their minds.

Some of the scenery was rather pleasant on the hike, however....

I drove to Vermont today for a Fall Foliage Workshop

2007-10-02T06:07:00.000-07:00

I left at the crack of 3:00pm today for the four hour and forty-five minute trip to White River Junction. I was dismayed by how much green there was nearly everywhere.

Leaf peeping is big business in the Northeast, but especially Vermont. The fall foliage season of 2007 has been one big disappointment. Not only has it been dry, but it has been unseasonably warm. My first day saw temperatures in the eighties.

I dropped the bags and headed over to the Seven Barrel Brewery in West Lebanon, NH. There were three customers and the waitstaff just waiting for the clock to tick to closing time. I had a mixed salad (not bad) and the cock-a-leekie soup with two giant puff pastries (mostly air) on top. The soup was fair - a little too much cornstarch for my liking.

I was staying at the Hampton Inn at White River Junction because it was central, less expensive than the B&Bs, and the reviews on TripAdvisor were pretty good. Well, the bed was so-so. It felt like a little mound; if two people had to sleep in it, both would be on their way to their bums half the night. The linens are standard - no luxury here.

The hotel did offer 24-hour coffee which wasn't bad, and they give away breakfast bags for those leaving before the official breakfast hour begins at 6am. The breakfast bag contains a bottle of water, an apple and a granola bar. The official breakfast consists of several cold cereal choices, instant oatmeal, eggs and ham, and a lot of bread product with negative nutritional value and Smucker's packaged peanut butter which is loaded with partially hydrogenated oils which I won't eat.

A cool Nantucket picture of a very dead place

2007-10-01T06:45:00.000-07:00

This is the Nantucket graveyard where my grandparents, Jose Formoso Reyes and Betty are buried. It was a beautiful day...and I gotta admit, I'm strangely drawn to cemeteries.

Cool kid, indeed!

2007-09-30T15:07:00.000-07:00

This six-year-old stole the show. How cute is he? Talk about Mr. Personality!

They wanted a dramatic, high impact portrait...

2007-09-30T07:43:00.001-07:00

and this is what we created. They couple was on the sweet side, so the smile snuck out to the side.

This is a width test

2007-09-29T07:20:00.003-07:00

I'd love to show bigger images, so I'm experimenting with increasing the width.

Sweet, adorable and yes, with a family fur...

2007-09-29T06:12:00.000-07:00

Now this was something I'd never worked with before! This woman brought her mother-in-law's fur...it was gorgeous! And, well, so is she...

Not quite a nude, but beautiful all the same

2007-09-28T07:32:00.000-07:00

I worked with this woman who wanted tasteful nudes photographs as a surprise for her husband.

Look how the trees crossed over these people watching me

2007-09-26T13:58:00.000-07:00

I was at the end of the hike and was so ready to put the tripod down, when I saw this young mom and kid watching me. I swung the camera around and took a picture of them and was rather surprised by the symmetrical crossing of the logs over their heads.

A fine art posting from the trip to Cazenovia, NY

2007-09-26T13:48:00.000-07:00

I took a long hike through the Highland Forest, a ten-minute drive from the busy, downton Cazenovia center. This lovely park extens over 2,300 acres and is well worth the visit.

I thought the hiking map was incredibly confusing because so many other trails crossed the mapped trails, yet they were NOT marked. I inadvertantly ended up walking clockwise when I thought I was going the other direction. This happened because it wasn't clear that I had to cross a rather large, paved parking lot shortly after starting the trail.

Anyway, I'm happy with some of the photography.

Happy birthday to you

2007-09-25T06:09:00.000-07:00

It's amazing how complicated a six-year-old birthday can get.

I attended a wedding over the weekend

2007-09-24T07:04:00.000-07:00

Ah, to be young and in love. There's nothing finer.

Headshot of the week

2007-09-23T18:46:00.000-07:00

I LOVED this photo session!

Vermont Fall Foliage Photo Workshop

2007-09-14T07:08:00.000-07:00

It's almost here and there's still room for attendees.

If you're interested in hiking in Vermont, taking and sharing photos, then join us for four days in the prime of fall.

Learn more by clicking here

Nauti Gear by Ella Vickers makes some fabulous gear

2007-09-12T15:05:00.000-07:00

I had the good fortune to go up to Newport, RI to shoot a product line for Nauti Gear.
We got to hang out at yacht clubs, the rocky shoreline and then, of course, Castle Hill at sunset.
Here's my favorite image from the day.

To check out more of her work, visit the Nauti Gear site.

I launched a new web site!

2007-06-24T07:17:00.000-07:00

What turns that frown upside down more than a madly wagging tail at your front door?

Check out the new website, PetsinPhotos

An Angel in Great Sand Dunes National Park

2007-05-21T19:39:00.000-07:00

First of all, I don't really believe in angels or symbols or mystical messages. Well, I didn't until the day I took this image because I really thought I was going to die that day.

Last month, I was alone and in the middle of a cross-country drive taking me from San Francisco to New York City.

Everything up until this day had gone well; I'd seen good sites, my car was running fine and I'd felt adventurous and blessed. Well, blessed in my own way that probably isn't like other people's.

I woke up this day in Pagosa Springs, enjoyed the hot mineral pools for an hour, then hit the road. My first stop was Great Sand Dunes National Park because, as a photographer drawn to vast landscapes, I couldn't pass it by. It is also one of the least-visited of all our national parks because, well, you can see why.

The dunes are brown and big. Really big. But not really beautiful. The surging stream is pretty cool, but hey, who's going to drive 50 miles out of the way to watch water go by with a heartbeat?

Well, there's spirit in them thar hills. I am not a religious type, but I might have to re-think that after experiencing this park.

I kicked around some sand, took some photos and several hours later found myself back in the car headed for I70 East. I was planning to spend the night as close to Kansas as I could get.

I headed northeast on 24 and as I left the Rockies behind me and the great land rolled out completely flat in front of me, to the north of me and to the south of me, I watched a giant storm system completely take over the northern half of my view. The direction I was headed was clear, so I nervously pressed on.

Fewer and fewer cars passed me going the opposite direction.

The wind started to pick up. The purpley-black cloud just grew and I began to get more than a little nervous.

I am NOT a fast driver, but my foot got a little heavier. I drove 70. Then 75. Then 80.

Then somewhere between 6pm and 7pm, the entire angry storm was on top of me. Giant cup-clouds dropped out of the sky. These terrifying, udder-like clouds fell with a beautiful, luminescent white against a backdrop of blackness.

My skin crawled and my palms sweated.

I grew up in Minnesota and knew that those cup-clouds are dangerous. What I didn't know was what to do.

I didn't know if you're supposed to drive away from a tornado, pull over, seek shelter....I was near panic.

In a blind, scared kind of haste, I dialed all the AM stations for Weather Information posted on those blue highway signs.

All I got was static. Loud, unfriendly static.

The one FM station I could get was KCME and they were serenely playing some violin concerto featuring Josh Bell. There were no interruptions. I couldn't understand why. This weather was dangerous.

I snatched the cell phone and called at least ten friends. All I got was voicemail. I needed someone to check the weather in my area and then tell me what to do and I couldn't find anyone!

Now the wind was screaming and there was NOBODY on the road. No cars in front, none in back. There were no side roads, no towns, no shelter. I didn't think I should be on the road. But now, what was the alternative?

I was really scared.

Then I hit I70 and saw a little humanity in the tiny little town of Limon, CO. All good judgment had evaporated from my brain and instead of pulling off the road and getting some live advice, I hit the highway.

That's when the fun really started. For some reason, I never seemed to find wind blowing the same direction I was driving. It was ALWAYS blowing perpendicular! And that night, giant, washing-machine-sized tumbleweeds were tearing across the highway helter skelter in front of me, on me and under me. I avoided some, but I probably drove over a whole lot more.

Oh, my poor car.

Every crunch, thud and smack scared me into a tighter, tenser ball. Now I started to feel pretty stupid, but I still needed information! Was it going to get worse? Were there warnings out? I decided to break out the hand-held CB radio my dear friend Megan gave me.

I pulled onto an off-ramp to set the thing up. Even though I knew that antenna had to go on the OUTSIDE of the car, I was really hoping it would work just a little from the inside of the car. No such luck.

I opened the car door a crack and felt the surge of that ominous wind. I shut the car door and grabbed my temples thinking maybe it wasn't worth it.

But I still needed information and nothing else was working.

So I forced the door open, ran to the other side of the car, slapped the antenna onto the roof just over the passenger side door and ran for cover.

Even the truckers were concerned! But silly me, I got encouraged by the Westbound traffic saying it was a lot better east.

The cell phone finally rang and it was a friend of mine's mother who knew I was driving through that area. She looked up what was going on for me and said the worst of it was to the West and not to worry.

Even though I believed her, the reality seemed determined to prove her wrong. I said It's getting dark! She said good, then you won't be able to see any reason to be scared.

I pulled into Burlington, CO shortly thereafter and checked into a Comfort Inn. It was wonderful. I felt safe, finally.

I am a photographer and I have to look at the work I do every day before I go to bed. That day, exhausted as I was, I began to look through my images.

I started to cry when I saw the angel. Now, I'm not really a believer, but it was as clear as day to me that this beautiful creature, facing east, had been with me and had watched out for me throughout that scary ordeal. I never saw the shape when I took the picture, but apparently some things you can not see when you do not know what purpose they serve.

On checkout the next morning, I learned that we had had sustained winds over 60mph and that tornadoes had touched down just east of me. I had squeaked into the right place at the wrong time with just enough of a sober reality check to count my blessings and keep me reverent.

For the record, I now know that you're supposed to get OUT of your car and slink down into the wet, muddy ditch and get as flat as possible when there's a tornado bearing down on you.

I thought some of you might appreciate the story and might get some use out of the Great Sand Dunes National Angel. Clearly, she doesn't discriminate between those who believe and those who don't and, while she's not that pretty, she sure is powerful.

Family Portraits

2007-05-16T06:50:00.000-07:00

There's no greater joy than young, exhuberant families.
Family photography lasts forever - and when they're young, they change all the time. Take pictures - lots of them.