Old School Social Network. . . .

Do you remember when social networking was actually social?  PLEASE for the sake of our families and friendships, MAKE time today to be social... in person.... and experience life with each other..... talking, laughing, working side by side.... we can learn a lot from our children... there will be plenty of time for cell phones and computers. Life will never be without them... but what would life be like without human contact?

The Luckiest Man . . .

Today, as I celebrate my Birthday.... I am truly the luckiest man alive. . . I have been blessed with the most precious gift any man can receive.... a family that loves him.  (And I'd like to give a huge thank you to my wife for taking the B-day pics.)

Making Your Workflow Work. . . .

Here's video from fellow photographer Chase Jarvis on workflow... I found it very interesting, helpful, and inspiring... for those of you overwhelmed by the process of downloading, processing, and storing your photos, this video is for you..... enjoy

IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE WEATHER. . . .

THERE'S AN OLD SAYING FOR THOSE LIVING IN THE NORTH EAST.....

"NEW ENGLAND.... IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE WEATHER.... WAIT FIVE MINUTES...."

JUST A REMINDER TO ALL MY FELLOW NEW ENGLANDERS OUT THERE..... DON'T PUT
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         THE SHOVELS AWAY JUST YET!

                                                            HAPPY SNOW DAY !!!

When I Was A Child....

When I was a child I remember playing like a child.... building forts, running, jumping, laughing.... Imagination was the mother of invention and we were everything and anything we wanted to be.... it's nice to see some things haven't changed....

Here is a picture of my daughter taken last weekend.... I heard her and her sister talking about the "fort" and I just had to investigate.... boy I'm glad I did.

If you have the opportunity, do something "child like" today..... you won't regret it.

Never Forgotten . . .

This past weekend I traveled down to my home state of NJ to honor my Gram "D".  Agnes D'Andrea was an incredible woman, mother, and grandmother.  We often times forget the importance of Grandparents and the influence they have on our lives.  As children, they are the most important "pillar" that we have to lean on.  Always there to help us, spoil us, and enjoy us even when we are not at our best.  I fondly remember spending every Sunday at my Gram's house.  The smell of roast beef, potatoes, and fresh baked pie filled her home and the sounds of Sunday football were all that could be heard coming from the living room.  A devoted wife, mother, and grandmother, she would open her home to her entire family and their friends.  Every Sunday meal would host 20-25 guests (and that's a conservative guess!) Holidays were no different. Baking Christmas cookies with Gram was a tradition that my mother and mother-in-law have decided to carry into the next generation.  My children bake cookies with their grandma the same way that I baked cookies with my grandma.  From Christmas, to Easter, back to Thanksgiving, and the occasional stop on Halloween, Gram was always there, always inviting her family to get together.  That is something that her family still enjoys doing.  Of all the incredible attributes Gram possessed, the one that stands the tallest was her Faith in God.  Gram's faith was like none I have ever, nor will  I ever see again.  She was in constant prayer.  Constantly asking God to bless her ever growing family and asking for whatever was needed for each family member.  Her prayers often extended beyond her family and friends as well.  I have often used her faith as a role model for my own and will continue to strive to live out my life as she lived hers.  Loving God above everything and loving her neighbor as she loved herself.  And so, I'd like to leave you with a few pics of my beloved Gram D. Second to no one, she will forever hold a very special place in my heart and in the heart of her family.  We love you Gram!

Here is my Gram D talking to my Gram G. (Gram G is 95 years old and still going!)

Always the life of the party. Gram loved to be with her crazy family and often times she partook in the craziness.

Here is Gram conducting the Twelve Days of Christmas.  Our family sings the twelve days of Christmas as a tradition after every Thanksgiving Day meal.

Vivian Maier.... A Hidden Talent

I came across this artist's work tonight while searching the web and found it fascinating.... A very talented woman who deserves a place in history along with all the greats....

Tomorrow is Today....

We are facing desperate times... the demand for success is greater now more than it has ever been.... success at work, success at home, success with finance, school, sports... the list goes on and on.  Success occurs when opportunity meets with preparation.  How many of us are setting ourselves up to succeed?  Do we prepare ourselves mentally and physically for the challenges presented to us daily?  Do we use good judgment  when making decisions considering what is good for the whole or do we jump into different situations for our own self advancement no matter how it affects others?  Are we so afraid to fail that we shy away from the challenges that are sent our way everyday? We must always remember that failure is a huge part of success.  Failure allows us to continue to refine our efforts and strive toward the goals we have set. Ultimately, failure leads to success.... And so, I would like to urge all of you to continue to do today what you have planned for tomorrow.  By striving to accomplish your goals today, you will ensure success for future generations. If procrastination has stolen your time, it's time for you to steal it back and finish what you have been putting off for so long.... I'd like to thank Seth Godin for placing this on his blog today and sharing it with all of us.  Politely reminding us of what is important....
As Martin Luther King Junior spoke about a half a lifetime ago,
"We are now faced with the fact, my friends, that tomorrow is today. We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now. In this unfolding conundrum of life and history, there is such a thing as being too late. Procrastination is still the thief of time. Life often leaves us standing bare, naked, and dejected with a lost opportunity. The tide in the affairs of men does not remain at flood -- it ebbs. We may cry out desperately for time to pause in her passage, but time is adamant to every plea and rushes on. Over the bleached bones and jumbled residues of numerous civilizations are written the pathetic words, "Too late."

The Creative Process . . . .

There are times in every artist's life when the creative juices cease to flow.  It is during these times that we must first relax, and then wait.... and wait.... and  wait...  While sitting in my home visiting with family today, I heard giggling coming from the other room. As I walked in to see what was going on, I was reminded of the creative process and how it starts...  My four year old and seven year old had built a fort out of a blanket.  They had draped it over the couch and an adjoining chair and were having the best time in their "make believe" world.  Just having fun... just being creative.... Later this evening, while having coffee and dessert for my brother's birthday I took the dog out for a short bathroom break.  While on our walk I couldn't help but notice the moon and the trees, and the snow.  The beauty around me transformed me into my very own "make believe" world.... upon returning home, I grabbed my camera, a tripod, and a flashlight to capture what I had seen.... the rest is now a memory.... We have to always remember that we do not create anything as artists.... rather, we reveal the creation around us to others as we see it.... When we have a "dry spell" in our creative process, we have to open ourselves to new roads, new processes, new ideas and allow ourselves to be moved by them.... I hope you take some time today to let yourself be moved.... let yourself be creative....

"Fallen Comrade"  This shot was taken of a tree that fell during a storm this winter. The tree was painted with a flashlight taken with a canon 5D and 17-40mm f4 lens mounted on a tripod.

At Every Man's Feet....

Every night you wait for me to come home... as my car pulls up the driveway, you are waiting at the door, tail wagging, eyes wide...  Always happy to see me, even when I'm not so happy to see me.... and every night, you look forward to sitting at my feet as I work on photography related tasks.... Although I don't tell you often enough, I love our runs, our wrestling time, and our early morning walks... As I watch you grow and mature, and your first birthday approaches.... I can honestly say, You're a Good Boy!  Happy Birthday Hondo.......

Winter White....

Today, in preparation for the next "big" snowstorm, I have decided to post a pic of our last snowstorm.... with a twist.... that ghostly figure outside is actually my wife inside.... I often work with reflections this way as it is a non-traditional reflection in the sense that you can see both what's outside and what's inside... see if you can tell where she is standing.... I hope you enjoy it.....

Project 365: Snow Day....

Today I will reveal a little sneak peak into the next personal project I am working on.... it's called 365 and as you probably guessed, it involves pictures taken every day.....  Today I decided to take advantage of the New England winter and get out for a bit.  I grabbed my X country set up and hit the trail for a day of skiing.  I forgot how peaceful the woods are in the winter... just you and the occasional animal on the trail.... to me, time well spent catching up with myself is critical for growth and development.... I recommend you do the same. So go ahead, get out and enjoy!

The Trail Head

Solitude...

Self Portrait...

Break Time...

Heading Home

The Sartorialist . . .

I'd like to take a minute to give props to Jasmine Star.  International wedding and lifestyle photographer who continues to stun the world with her most fabulous images.  Recently while connecting on the net I came across this site (Jasmine had posted it online) and I was impressed by the work being done here... I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.....

Winter Day Dream......

As we prepare for the first snowfall of 2011, I can't help but think about the beauty of Spring.... Don't get me wrong, I love the magic of winter white but there's something about spring flowers.....