Having fun at the Opera House

For the last five years my daytime job was Communications Officer at Sarasota Opera. There is a certain energy that is in the air when we are getting ready to open a production. Singers, musicians, artistic staff,  make-up and wigs designers, costume designer and staff, lighting designer, stage crew – everyone comes together. It is special to watch. Of course, my charge was to create a buzz and generate interest in our company and our productions.
The most fun part? The rehearsals. And photographing them.
We opened La Cenerentola (Rossini’s version of Cinderella) last October.

Here, Heather Johnson (Cenerentola) pleads with her mean (they ARE SO MEAN and SO FUNNY)  step-sisters, Abla Lynn Hamza as Clorinda and Melissa Treinkman as Tisbe.

Stefano de Peppo plays Don Magnifico, Cinderella’s step-father.
Yep, Rossini’s version includes a step-father rather than a step-mother.

Every mean step-sister MUST have ugly shoes!

Another great contest

ColorInc Professional Labs is having another great contest giveaway to photographers of all levels.
Check it out here:
http://colorinc.typepad.com/color-inc-connect/2010/10/weekend-giveaway-chasing-dreams-photography.html#tpe-action-resize-322

Vote for me!

Well, the competition is on! My photo "Reflections" is one of many photos taken worldwide as part of Scott Kelby's Worldwide PhotoWalk on July 24. One photo from each group around the world was chosen and are now being judged by you - the people!

You can find mine at http://worldwidephotowalk.com/peoples-choice/page/12/

Just scroll down the page to Sarasota. Mine is the one pictured here. If you like it, please vote for it by clicking on the five stars! There is a very nice git certificate for Adorama.com on the line! And the recognition doesn't hurt either.

I humbly thank you in advance!

Waiting for the Meteor Shower

On Thursday evening I decided to check the Internet to see where the best place and time in Sarasota might be to catch the Perseid Meteor Shower. I discovered that a group was meeting with a county parks guide just before midnight at the Red Bug Slough Preserve and immediately signed up for the event. Called a friend to join me. "Hey, what plans do you have for midnight?" LOL. NOT your everyday message. Turned out he was excited to come along.
What fun - groups of friends, families, couples - you name it - with blankets, and lawn chairs, and sleeping bags. Of course, I brought my tripod. The sky had a heavy cloud cover - big, gray clouds. There were occasional openings of starry skies, but then the clouds would move in again. I never really saw anything more than a flash or two - certainly never managed to capture any of it for posterity.
But, sitting out there (covered in bug spray 'cause I am no lover of insect bites) with a good friend, in the dark, listening to the thousands of frogs singing while watching the sky was something special. (Of course, the possibility that we were sitting there disguised as gator food crossed my mind as well, since the area is marshy).
Sometimes the experience isn't taking the photos. Rather, the experience is in just being.

I'm so excited!

Well, last post I told you about how I participated in the Third Annual Worldwide Photo Walk. Our group in Sarasota, FL area walked through Myakka River State Park for hours shooting photos, exchanging tips, laughing and just having a ball. That experience was in itself, the reward.
Then lo and behold, I get an email from our group leader that my photo, which is in the post just below this, was chosen as the best of our group and will go on to compete at the next level.
My first thought, as it is whenever I have won an award for anything, was "There must be some kind of mistake." However, I will humbly accept the honor.
Thank you fellow photographers for the great time we had.
'til next post.
Patricia

Third Annual Worldwide Photo Walk at Myakka River State Park

I, along with more than 33,000 photographers, participated in Scott Kelby's Annual Worldwide Photo Walk this weekend. Our walk (one of two in Sarasota) was at Myakka River State Park. Anyone who knows me is aware that this is one of my favorite haunts. But spending several hours trudging through the jumgles and flats of this beautiful park with a group of photo enthusiasts was something I'd never done before. It was exciting to be part of something so far reaching.

There were a total of 1,111 photo walks scheduled to take place around the globe. One of the women in my group is married to someone who was leading a group in Đà Nẵng, Vietnam!

We had a great time, sharing stories, marveling at nature, and capturing it as best we could. We had all manner of cameras and equipment and we were all at different skill levels. To be able to share our common love of photography was so special. After hours of exploring the park we all gathered at the concession area to have some lunch, a cold drink, or some ice cream.

I'm looking forward to seeing the work of my fellow Sarasota photographers from that outing. Here are two of mine.

The sky relected in the waters of the Myakka River

The view from the Birdwalk at Myakka River State Park

Happy Birthday, Dad - wherever your spirit might be

We lost my Dad in 2002, a week after his 80th birthday. And although he is not constantly on my mind, I do stop and think of him now and then. Fortunately, I had decided to surprise Dad - and Mom too - and flew from Florida to New Jersey to be there for the grand celebration.
He was quite ill - he'd been battling cancer for so many years - and we all knew this would be his last birthday.
Daddy was so happy - I think he was surprised he made it that far - and having most of the family around him made him actually enjoy himself. He ate, had birthday cake - even had a beer. He looked better than he'd looked for some time.

I brought my camera along. (Not so unusual, I usually always have it with me.) The photos from that day were happy - no - joyous! There was no sense of sickness or death, we were just any old family having a party.

At the time, I had no idea I'd be taking that flight north again the following week.

The best part is that the last time I saw him he was happy and feeling good - and instead of saying "good-bye," we said "hello." How wonderful is that?
Hello Dad, wherever you are - Happy 88th birthday - July 20, 2010.

Having fun makes the best family memories!

When we're on vacation with family or good friends, we plan those group shots (we all do it) - you stand here, you stand there, let's make sure we get that building in the background, etc. But it's the candids that make the real memories - people having fun! Those are the times you want to remember - so why not make those memories last?

The photos here are from a family vacation in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. We're all spread out in different parts of the country and decided to rent a house in a place where none of us had ever been before.

We were planning one of those family beach shoots where everyone is in the photo, including the photographer (me). However, as I was setting up my equipment, I noticed my family rambling around on the beach - exploring their surroundings and enjoying each other - having fun! Snap! Snap! These are among my favorite shots from that trip!

Make your photo memories and you'll be able to live those moments over and over again.

Come visit Paris with me!

Please take a look at the slideshow from my visit to Paris. Enjoy!

New twist on some old shots

I've been playing around with some older shots - all taken at one of my favorite places, Myakka River State Park, near Sarasota, FL.

Here's the Myakka River - peaceful and beautiful - but don't put your toe in - the river is chock full of alligators.

This is a view from the birdwalk, although there isn't a bird in sight. In summer the Myakka River often overflows its banks so the boardwalk here is more like a bridge over the river - with lots of gators swiming around where the tall grass pictured now grows!

Back again!

It's been a long time since I've posted anything here. Last weekend I attended a friend's wedding and took a couple of shots. Since I was not the official photog, I stayed at a respectable distance (thank goodness for long lenses!)