DESTINATION: PHILADELPHIA!

I remember when this beautiful bride...


was just a bridesmaid...

summer 2005!

Oh how quickly they grow up!!!

I can't even begin to tell you all how happy I was when I received a call from Danielle asking me to photograph her wedding! Not only had she been a bridesmaid in one of my most defining and sentimentally favorite weddings but she was to also have it in Philadelphia, a favorite city of mine to photograph in...
When we first arrived Danielle and her family were in such a great mood and they greeted us so well that it was a bit daunting... I think we got offered drinks about 20 times in the first 10 minutes!
From the outstart I was entertained by the Dicerbo's and their humor. Danielle made me laugh so hard when I first started shooting when she noticed how her dad would always smile and and look at the camera every time I would point it in his direction, and seeing that I didn't say anything to him, she just went ahead and blurted out "Dad! stop posing...it's supposed to be candid"! (everyone laughed... even dad)
Ah, but his smile never disappeared... you could tell he was extremely happy...and very, very proud.
And who wouldn't be? Danielle looked SPECTACULAR!
Stunning, I think is the word her French groom Bertrand used. Damn those French and their gift with words...
What great people, I am very happy to have met you all especially Danielle, her family, and her really cool Bertrand!

Despite the fact that this was to be my first nighttime wedding ( not something to be taken lightly) I think we were able to get some really spectacular photos and some amazing moments.
I hope you all agree!


















If you would like to see more pictures, there is a SLIDESHOW presentation here (please have patience while it loads and be careful with your volume).


Maria Mayer and Amber Johnson thanks for coming along with me!
PS. Heather and Joe (and Debbie) Thank you again for such a wonderful first wedding in Philadelphia. It has brought me many great moments, images and weddings, it is like I said in the post, a sentimental favorite.
PS2. And of course thank you my dearest Cynthia for always recommending and believing in me!

Slideshows

If you have been following my blog you probably noticed that I started adding slideshows to my entries...
-'bout time (I can hear some of you say).
In the online news world, slideshows have been going on for a while. However, instead of just having music accompany their images they add narration (think NPR but with pictures). The main differences between a traditional slideshow -like the ones that I and most people make- and a news centered photojournalistic one is that there is narration and a story line... not just a timeline.
As shamelessly self promoting as this blog is, this entry will not make reference to any particular slideshow or picture of mine. In fact, the slideshow I want you all to view is somewhat different than most, it is presented "flip-book"style and although it is reportage, it is a slideshow with no narration...just many story lines.
It is like watching a movie with only the soundtrack playing. Making it, in my view, an incredibly powerful and unique presentation; unique in the sense that you make it your own... it becomes personal, intimate... there is no one there. No one to tell you what, or how, to think, feel or react. No outside voices, just yours...
Listen to the beautiful music as well (I am a big fan of traditional music, especially middle eastern and Persian) see how well they go together...


For the flip-book style presentation of Iraqi Kurdistan by Ed Kashi go here.



Weep for Joy...help others.

DESTINATION: HOUSTON!

A few weeks ago I was off to Houston to shoot my first Indian wedding... well the first one under my name.
And I was very excited. Indian weddings are colorful, rich, vibrant, happy and filled with beautiful people! And the music is so alive.
I had not met Anu before the wedding but had met Hitesh at my studio. He told me that Anu was beautiful but I didn't expect her to be so much so!
The first part of the day was a bit tough for me because Anu's family is bit
traditional and they did not want me phtoographing them getting ready. But in the end, I got some really amazing shots and had a great time with everyone there.
This was also the first time that I photographed some obvious wedding crashers that came in the form of teenage girls in shorts and t-shirts... It seemed no one in the wedding really minded, some were even laughing and talking with them. Can you believe that event the father of the bride was getting down with them?
Great people!

enjoy!!!

The wedding crashers have fun with the father of the bride!

For a slideshow presentation go here. Watch out for the music and have patience while it loads (9mb).

QUE VIVA COLOMBIA!

I'm wondering how many of you know I'm Colombian. because if you did know, then you would begin to understand why a Colombian wedding would be extra special for me.
I'm wondering because then everyone will understand why this entry will seem a bit biased.

Natalia was my first Colombian bride...
And she was beautiful, and was so proud of being Colombian.
There was the moment when she knelt before her mom, and then her dad to receive a benediction and words of love right as she was about to leave for the religious ceremony...
My favorite moment however, was when Natalia at the dinner party took out candles she had brought just for this occasion, passed them around to all the guests, lit them and then told the history of the Cumbia dance in Colombia while everyone held the candles and prepared to dance with them!
Then the dancing began, and boy did she dance! (I remember looking over at Stefan and he was -put simply- mesmerized!)
It's hard to put in words how moving and beautiful this wedding seemed to me...

One of the reasons why I love shooting weddings is that I get to see and experience so many different traditions, cultures, rituals, people... But with Natalia's wedding it was a bit different, only because it reminded me of my childhood, my family, my life... I felt awed, proud and humbled, it was hard at moments to hold back my tears.
But alas, I did!!!
Thanks guys!
Enjoy...

For more images go here for the slideshow! (careful with the music! and have patience as it may take a minute to load). Enjoy!

A PARK'ED LIFE

OK see if you can follow this:

My good friend Kevin introduced me to Jane.
Jane introduced me to Sean.
Sean introduced me to David.
And David introduced me to his lovely Karaoke skills on the lower east side.
Now,*
Jane is Kevin's cousin, who -by the way- happens to be in love with Sean.
Sean in a way is David's brother but is not a Park.
David is both Jane's brother and Kevin's cousin...
and Kevin? Well, Kevin is a cousin, a cultural interpreter and a Park!
Got it?

Good!
...

The Bride with her father

The Groom with his mother

The Groom with his beautiful wife
The triplets of Bellville

Jane and Sean I am eternally grateful to you both for not only allowing me photograph your wedding but for the new experiences that it brought me. I had never shot a Korean wedding before! This is one of the reasons why I love to do what I do. It's the exposure to the world and it's people...and you guys just gave me a piece of that.
And don't think I forgot about the walk from the Staten Island Terminal up the hill to your place! But it was worth it. My assistant and I had a great time!
We should do Karaoke again soon!

*Litereray trick I learned from Dave Egger's "A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius".

BARNABY DID WHAT ?

Only in New York folks, only in New York.
When I found out through Jason Groupp (whom had asked me to come photograph this wedding with him) that Barnaby (the groom) had promised his bride a perfect day for their wedding, I could not believe it!
I mean, a promise of A PERFECT DAY,... that's quite a promise!
Think about it!

Well, if you are wondering if he kept his promise,
take a look:

What do you think?

Enjoy!

Barnaby's beautiful mom

Barnaby's -not so beautiful- dad

Some of you may recognize this church from a prevoius post...

A princess gets ready to walk down the aisle...

she just needs a little encouragement!




Does being part of the "Barnaby Train"...

allow you to walk anywhere, anytime?!!!

Thanks Jason for inviting me to tag along!
And hey Jeff it was really cool that you joined us -That whole accidental burning of my jacket incident... forget bout it! ;)

-To see more pictures of the day check out Jason's and Jeff's blog-

PS. Barnaby how about you share some of your secrets with me? I could have used them on my Bond shoot...

KIRSTEN & KEITH

This wedding was a bit different for me, a lot shorter than I am used. I was hired to shoot the ceremony and the formals only, so in a way it was a great gig since it was in the middle of the busy season for me and I could definitely appreciate such a job. I appreciated it so much that I rented a Mini Cooper convertible for the drive!
Well, I had a great time, everyone was nice and cool and many of the guests were laughing and joking around. I made some new friends and despite the short day I got many great images AND most importantly I captured some really great moments...

Here one of my new friends strikes a smile!