PICTURE OF THE WEEK!!!

This week's picture is one I took in Miami on Ocean Drive at about 10 PM.  As we were walking along I saw this table set up outside a restaurant. It was displaying some of the cocktails that they served. I guess they thought at night, when people are partying up and down the street, this would entice some into their place!! Well it worked for me, kind of. I didn't even think about having one (well maybe I thought about it) but I did like the different colors of the liqueurs and shapes of the glasses. 


It was not a very well lit spot and I knew I would need to use flash. I took one picture and didn't like it, too much was showing in the background. I then thought I would try it without flash. The light was coming from a food stand about five feet away and provided enough light for me to make this picture. With a little bit of work in Photoshop I thought the results were pretty good!!! 


By the way those are real cocktails not the results of someone cleaning off a table. They take two open bottles of Corona beer and turn them upside down in a large glass of margaritas!! Sounds like fun !!! No I didn't try one!!

WHAT ARE THE KIDS DOING AT ART DECO???? BY PHYLLIS

Hello, all. This is Phyllis and today I'm doing a blog on some of my favorite images from the Art Deco Weekend in Miami.

Even when Jim and I are shooting from the same location, what catches our eyes are often completely different. Jim is incredibly talented and can find a unique and interesting image in a variety of places. When I'm shooting, what often gets to me are relationships: the relationships that people have with their environment, or the ones that people have with their belongings or more often, the relationships that people share with their loved ones. But what always catches my eye and makes me glad I have a camera are the faces of children.

When you're involved in a multitude of activities for three days, you can't help but notice children's faces. Whether they're laughing, talking, eating or just staring, children's expressions are true. They make no excuses for their feelings and they let you know without hesitation if they're hungry or tired or unbelievably  happy. It shows on their faces. The images you're seeing today are just a few of the faces I've seen.

I hope you enjoy them and can feel what they feel.

         
       These last two images show the faces of children but not of the human variety......Many of the
       people we saw during this weekend had their own versions of 'my children'.

JUGGLING WITH A CHAIN SAW, GET BONKED !!!

Did your life ever get to the point where you're juggling so many things that the pressure feels overwhelming? I think there are times when we all feel pressured by the many facets of our lives, when we're afraid we're going to drop something! How would you feel if you were actually juggling a chain saw? You think you have pressure at your jobs???


We saw (unintended pun) this gentlemen in Miami performing in front of a pretty large crowd and he is one of the best street performers I have ever seen. Not only for what he does but also his personality. Throughout his whole act he never drops the saw or his pretty funny monologue. I'm not sure what is more impressive!!
This is what is on his web page!!  

Get Bonked!  Aaron Bonk is a unique entertainer with a twisted sense

of humor who risks his life to make ‘em laugh.  With original artistry,

extraordinary skill and crazy personality, he gives your guests the

laughter and awe of a world-class performance.

                                          http://www.aaronbonk.com/home.html


Here for your entertainment pleasure is Mr. Aaron Bonk.






        Here Aaron is showing us that the saw is turned on!!

  

                  Notice the woman on the right side. Look at her                                   
            expression. It never seems to change during his act!! 

                                  

                 OH, here's a good idea. Let's add a few balls to the act???

                  

   Aaron I would celebrate after that act, if I were you!! Especially if I had all my limbs!!     

    I guess Aaron's mom never told him not to play with sharp objects                   or fire!!

              Don't forget to check out Aaron at his web page!!

                                 http://www.aaronbonk.com/home.html

                      

 

IMAGE OF THE WEEK!!!

I am going to start posting one image a week, that I find interesting.  I could post it because it makes me smile or think or just because I really like it. Remember I am always shooting so I take lots of images!!! I am also thinking about starting up my collaborations again. If you would like to collaborate with me, please email me or leave a comment.


My image for this week is of the ocean after the sun has gone down. I  really love looking out at the ocean especially here in Florida. Why more here? I am not really sure, maybe because I can watch it all year without freezing !!!! Plus Florida is a penninsular so we are surrounded on three sides by the ocean, it literally surrounds us.

I find the ocean at night to be poetic in it's beauty!!!

THE BEAUTIFUL LADIES OF OCEAN DRIVE IN SOUTH BEACH, FLORIDA

As a photographer there is a lot to love in Florida and that includes Miami Beach. The beaches in all of Florida are wonderful and Miami is no exception.

You also have hotels that are great examples of the Art Deco style. One of our favorites is the Breakwater!! If you're looking for a hotel to stay in on Ocean Drive, do yourself a favor and check it out!!

There is another reason to love South Beach if you're a photographer or people watcher and that is the people you see. Many great looking people in great shape makes it a photographer's dream. We photographed most of these people as candids but sometimes we were seen by them and they asked us to take their photographs. We enjoyed photographing everyone on the drive but you might notice that most of these images are female. Well, I am a photographer but I'm also a guy!!!!!!


I hope you enjoy seeing these as much as we did taking them. If you see yourself or a friend in an image, please leave a comment telling us!!!


Some of you might recognize one of our favorite people and    models: it's Amanda!

If you're a women wearing a red dress and there is photographer around, you are probably getting your picture taken!!

                               See, I included some men!!!!

               The Junior Orange Bowl Queen and Princess!!

This image was shot from my hip, to try and make it candid. I really like the composition and the expanse of white behind her head.

THE MIAMI DESIGN PRESERVATION LEAGUE'S FASHION SHOW

Phyllis and I were honored to be the photographers for the MDPL'S annual Art Deco Weekend. The Art Deco Festival was started in 1976 by the Miami Design Preservation League to attract visitors to Miami Beach's Art Deco Historic District and to raise awareness and appreciation of the arts and culture of the Art Deco era (approx. 1925-1945).

Art deco weekend draws close to 300,000 people for the three day event (in the middle of January each year). It features more than eighty-five events, including: guided tours, film series, lectures, antiques, art and collectable vendors, a variety of food vendors and a classic automobile parade among others. This is the second year in a row that we have been the photographers for this event and it is a photographic highlight of the year for us.

The MDPL is a non profit organization devoted to preserving, protecting and promoting the cultural, social, economic, environmental and architectural integrity of the Miami Beach Architectural Historic District and all other areas of the City of Miami Beach where historic preservation is a concern.

This year the fashion show was held at the Clevelander Hotel on Ocean Drive after sunset. Photographing a event like this is fun but challenging. We knew that it would be pretty impossible to move from a spot once we found one because the place was packed. We could not stand in the front of the stage because the stage was over part of the hotel's pool and if you were not on the stage, you would be in the pool!! 

When we arrived (about an hour before the show) we were lucky to find an empty table on one side of the stage. We had spoken to one of the men setting up the stage and found out where the models would be coming out. We based on which side we would setup from that information. 

Shooting after dark and without the opportunity to set up lights around the stage, we were left with on camera flashes. One of the problems shooting after dark with flash is making sure you do not get the 'black cave' look. This happens when person is well lit but everything around them is pitch black. The settings we needed to use created a challenge in getting sharp images but we pulled it off.

So here are some of the images of the fashion show.

We arrived about an hour early and as you can see the place was packed with people enjoying themselves and waiting for the show.

                            Here is the announcer of the event.

                                           
                                        The three judges.

                                    Now, the show begins.

This being a celebration of art deco, we tried to convey that era in some of our images.

          I love this image! The flash going off gives a real feeling of    
       excitement to me plus the back of the dress in wonderful!!

         These were the three winners starting out with number three.

                              Then the second place winner...

   
    And finally the model and designer who finished in first place!!

We love our profession but on a night that we're on Miami Beach photographing beautiful women and handsome men, well it is hard to top a night like this!

                            We know the crowd loved it, too!!!