A Wedding on the Beach: Bystanders

About the time I took yesterday's image, a large number of people gathered at the top of the stairs and began walking down to the beach. 

There was someone in dress blues.  There was a lovely bride in white.   There were beaming friends and relatives.

And, there were spectators.  We were all polite and kept a respectful distance.  I actually brought a longer lens to try some images from 200 yards away.  But, I didn't like them much.

While I was standing there shooting away, the young lady below asked if I was the wedding photographer.  I certainly wasn't.  But, she mentioned she LOVED photography and wanted to learn more about it.

So, I gave her, and her sister/cousin/friend (I am not sure of their connection) a brief lesson.

First, the common portraits!

 

 

And, then together.

The trick with photographing people together is to get their heads close...touching is OK!  Dead space between people's heads is very distracting.  And, that statement could be taken a couple of different ways!

My sincere thanks to the lovely ladies (and their parents) who let me take the images.

Good luck with your photographic career!

Thanksgiving: 2013

There are many people more eloquent, even poetic, than I.  I don't have the gift to put words into verse that can make a person weep as they read them.

I am, I guess, a more simple person.   Maybe just more visual.  I actually have no idea and am a bit too old to do such introspection.  It just....is.

This thanksgiving, I thought about what kind of image would be appropriate. 

Turkey?  No.
Dinosaur in a turkey hat?   No.   But, yes, I have that image!
Food?   No.

Finally, it occurred to me.  The image below is what I want.

To be fair, this is just a symbol.  Certainly I am thankful for this young lady.  But, I am equally thankful for her brother and her two cousins. 

It is more than that.  She is/They are innocent.   She is/They are happy.  She is/They are healthy.  She is/They are...the future.

And we need a future better than the one I see given our world.  We've lost innocence, tolerance, and joy. 

I am thankful she still has it.  And, I will fight to ensure she keeps it.....for a long time.
 

Getting Away: A Beach

Over the last year, I have been swamped with a new job.  With that, there are new people to meet, new challenges to understand and address, budgets, travel, etc.  I didn't really get much time off.

I was able to take the family away this fall for a trip.  It's been a long time since I've done that.  The last time, there was only one grandchild.  And, he wasn't even a year old.  So, this was a big event squeezed in between everyone's busy schedules.

The cold of early winter is settling in.  I have firewood.  But, I may think about this image when the snow is 3' deep and I am waiting for a train at 6:10 AM in -10F weather.

I sort of wanted to run down the stairs and yell at the people walking on the beach to get off the beach for I could take the photo.  But, I figured they had as much right to be there as I did. 

Patience and tolerance are good things.


 

Wrapping up Oktoberfest!

Meet Caroline!

She was the last image I took as I was leaving.  She was "manning" the "Yelp" booth by herself and was VERY busy answering questions.  Yelp is something like Angie's List.  Check it out here!

When I asked what I could say about her, she said that she is a world traveler and loves it.  She's been to 13 countries already.  It helps that her father is from Chile. It is a bit more common to study abroad in some countries.  And, she just returned from Ireland!

Thanks Caroline!
 

More Music: The Blackberry Boys: Part 2

And, the rest of the Blackberry Boys.

They also had a female singer.  But, I could not get a clean photograph of her when she was tucked back behind a keyboard (if I remember correctly).  I owe her a photo!

Thanks guys!
 

More Music: The Blackberry Boys: Part 1

This band was getting set up to play.  There are a lot of people in the band.  So, I will break the photos into two groups.

Additionally, I had a hard time getting close so there are some shadows I don't like, at least one red eye, and the occasionally microphone and chord in the way.

But, they were sounding good!

I miss playing.  I need to get back into it.  

Thanks guys!

Another Artist: Paintings and Portraits

There are a variety of artistic styles and talents.  I've run into artists that only work with sculpture and those in a variety of materials.  I've met photographers.  And, I've met painters.

Since I can't draw a decent stick man without a ruler, painters and sketchers are amazing to me.

Meet Shell.

Check out her website.

And, meet her friend, keeping her company.  He was playing guitar.  It's not easy playing guitar when it is 50 F and raining. 

Thanks Shell and friend!

Craft Beer Suppliers

If you are going to get into the craft beer and wine business, you can always start out as a small hobby.  So, Midwest Supplies can get you started!

 

Meet Ben

 



And, meet Randy.

They were a wonderful source of knowledge about what you needed to get started if you wanted to craft your own beer or venture into wine making.

Thanks guys!

Jewelry Artist

Meet Sara!

 



First, I liked her hat.  Second, she is an artist specializing in jewelry and soaps.  Check out her website!

Thanks Sara!

Craft Beer Junkies and Animal Lovers

Meet Peter and Janelle!

 

they were having a great time just listening to the music and enjoying the various craft beers.  They are dog lovers and have 2 greyhounds and 2 dachshunds.  And, they are craft beer junkies, too!

Thanks Peter and Janelle! 

The Jolly Huntsman Polka Band in Action

These guys were having FUN!

 

Drummer!

Accordion!

Tuba?  OK...NOT a tuba.  Not a French Horn.  I will take suggestions!

Thanks guys!

Oktoberfest: Artisans

Sharing a booth with Mike (aka. Scott) was Claire!

See below for some of their sales items!

Tie dyed shirts!!

Refreshed candles.   The idea is to take older candles and melt them down into NEW candles!

And, this was Scott's handiwork.  LOVED the flute.

Oktoberfest: Vendors

This particular brewery had a number of vendors selling various things.   Meet Sharon and Linda.

They were sharing a booth and Sharon was representing Second Mile Haiti.  She makes and sells necklaces and bracelets with the idea of contributing to Haiti's children.

My sincere thanks to you both!

 

Oktoberfest: Customers, Friends, and Another Server!

I am not sure who the woman is below.  She was gracious enough to let me take her photos.  But, she wanted to remain anonymous. 

I thought she had a wonderful smile.   And, she, like everyone playing a support role, was BUSY.



 

Oktoberfest: Customers, Friends, and Servers!

If my notes aren't too messed up, and they certainly could be, this should be Jodie! 

She had a wonderful smile.  And, she was BUSY pouring beer for thirsty customers.

I actually felt sorry for her.  It was cold.  But, she didn't complain even when I asked for a photo.

Thanks Jodie!
 

Oktoberfest: Customers, Friends and Lovers

Meet Gail and John!

They were sitting together, under a tent (it was rainy and cool) and just enjoying one another's company.  So, I asked to take their photographs.

It turns out that they dated for 5 years and have been married for 29 years!  They enjoy the craft beer festivals together.   They obviously enjoy one another.  And, they seemed to enjoyed watching strange photographers, too!

Thanks Gail and John!

Artists and Friends: William Defoe?

I saw the gentleman below and thought he looked a lot like William Defoe.

Meet Mike (I think!!).  I've rather lost track of names and images again.  I've been a bit busy with work and traveling for the last 6+ weeks.  

CORRECTION:  This is Scott!   I sorted out the mess of names!

Regardless of my schedule, I liked the white glasses.  I don't think I could pull them off. They aren't quite my style.  But, they looked great on him! 

He was sharing a booth with another artist. 

Thanks Mike Scott. 

Oktoberfest: Mark's Mom!

When I first photographed Mark, I had no idea who he was.  As I wandered the crowd looking for people to photograph, I noticed the woman below and asked to photograph her.

Meet Nancy!

She was quick to point out that Mark should be the focus (no pun intended) of my photos.   And, she told me that she was his mother and who he was.    But, she was still gracious enough to let me take a photograph.

Thanks Nancy! 

 

Oktoberfest: More Music: 2

Meet some of the band that was with Mark!

It amazing me how good two guitars and a soft drummer can sound.

 

Thanks guys!

Oktoberfest: More Music: 1

I pay close attention to guitar players and singers.  I am probably a horrible singer.  I have been on a road/plane trip for a while and yesterday, while driving to another city, I cranked up some tunes and sang.  It wasn't pretty.

So, I was very pleased to see the gentleman below.

Meet Mark Andrew!  I typically don't include last names in my posts.  But, Mark is pretty well known.  He was on "The Voice" and turned two chairs.   He was eventually eliminated in the second or third round.   Still, he has an extraordinary talent that I will never have.    It was a pleasure to listen and photograph him.

He is selling CD's of his music.  Check out his website!

Thanks Mark!

Oktoberfest: Polka Music and the Jolly Huntsman: 2

A good Polka band needs an accomplished accordion player.

Meet Tom!

He was just delightful and couldn't wait to start playing.  

Thanks Tom!
 

Oktoberfest: Polka Music and the Jolly Huntsman: 1

There were a number of signs up showing the various entertainers.  County.  Country Rock.   But, a few gentlemen caught my eye.  They were in lederhosen.   Now, you don't see lederhosen very often, so it sort of catches your attention.

Meet Dan!

Dan is the drummer in a band called the Jolly Huntsmen.   And yes, they are a polka band.   He is still working part time and a government contracts support for Lockheed. 

 

You can tell Dan LOVES playing for the Jolly Huntsman!  Thanks Dan!

 

A Brew Fest: The Support Team: 2

Meet Caleb!

It was hard to get a few minutes to photograph Caleb.   There was a long line of people who needed him to fill empty glasses!

He's been an employee at the brewery for about 10 months.   He grew up in Michigan and ended up in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area because of a passion in music.

Thanks Caleb!

 

A Brew Fest: The Support Team: 1

It is October and time for Oktoberfest!  With the advent of increasing numbers of breweries, there are always a variety of festivities to enjoy. 

I noticed that a local micro brewery had a full day's celebration.  And, it seemed like a perfect time to get photos and enjoy a cold one...or two.

Meet Adam!

I got there just as the doors opened.  It was cold and raining.  But, there were a number of large tents set up.   Adam was inside an open warehouse and he was busy setting up the sound system for the entertainment.

He was the sound engineer!  Who knew sound engineers liked beer? 

 

Besides sound systems, he is an avid biker!   It may be time to put the bike away soon.  Snow is not far away!

 

Thanks Adam!   Love the hat!

 

Halloween: Super Hero's on the Loose

In that spooky night of Halloween, it is good to know there are Super Hero's out there willing to protect us.

First, mom needs to help get the costume on.  Can't save the world without a good costume.

Then, it's good to practice hiding so you can spring out in a moments notice to capture the bad guys.

Then, practice the scary look!

Then, get a nap before going out to save the world.

Thanks Big J.