Best of 2010 - Part 1

By original intention was to do a "Top 10" for 2010 but I soon realized that it would be imposable to do.  Since I take on such a large variety of gigs from weddings to Bar Mitzvah's and beyond, it's not really realistic to make those images compete against each other.  I mean, a really great picture of shoes is a really great picture but it can't compete agains a baby or a bride.  Still, it deserved recognition.  I may spend most of my time as a wedding photographer but that doesn't mean that's all I do.

So, instead of a "Top 10," I've decided to simply pick the best images by category.  Some of the categories will be serious, some not so much.  :)

So, without further adieu, here's the first category:

Best Bar/Bat Mitzvah Temple picture

This image was taken at Temple Beth-El in St. Petersburg FL.  It's a beautiful temple and it's the only one I have ever worked in where I felt there was room to take a shot like this with the subjects sitting on the steps.

Best Dance Picture

I love everything about this image.  The pose is perfect and the background light was reflecting off the white vinyl just enough to give me a little kicker light on the model's face.

Best Special Assignment Picture

A "special assignment" is something outside of the norm.  Like when I get asked to shoot a company or in the case of this photograph, a school play.

This image is from Carrollwood Day School's production of "Beauty and the Beast."  I actually shot this from the back of the stage so that I could get the dark background of the hall.  This isolated the actors better.
I'll post "part 2" soon and we'll start looking at wedding images.  Stay tuned!

Bat Mitzvah at Temple Beth-el in St. Petersburg

I had a chance to photograph a Bat Mitzvah at Temple Beth-el in St. Petersburg last week.  Everyone was just wonderful to me the entire time.  The Millers are a great family, two girls just like our family and both as cute as can be.  Rabbi Torop was especially nice while I was photographing the rehearsal.  I always try to make sure that the Rabbi knows how much I appreciate there patience when taking what is, for them, one of thousands of pictures that they have taken of them.

There were so many great shots from the temple and the party that night but I just want to post a few that are personal favorites:

Choosing a print to enter in PPA competition

Next month is the 'Main Event" so to speak, for members of the Professional Photographers of America (PPA).  It's the annual print competition.

Each member can submit four images in two categories (8 total).  The categories are "Open Images" which is pretty much anything and "Electronic Images" which is for images that are judged for the photoshop skills involved.

The big question is how do you pick out four images to enter?  The entries can be pretty much anything you have shot.  How do you pick four? (or eight if entering both categories)

The other big question is whether to enter at all.  The problem I have with most print competitions is that there's usually an entry fee.  In this case it's $95.  5000 people paying $95 (more if you aren't a member) and no monetary or physical prize.  Nice gig they have going there.

So, the jury is still out on whether or not I will enter this year.  I do think that if I decide to enter, the picture with this post will be one of my four choices.  It was shot just last week at Sunken Gardens in St. Petersburg for a Bat Mitzvah Guest Book.  I think the composition is good, the exposure is right and the lighting is perfect. Keep in mind that her face is in shade because of the hat.  Her face is actually lit by a flash with a shoot-thru umbrella and a 1/4 CTO gel to camera left.

It may not be dynamic or exciting but I can't take my eyes off it.  That's enough for me. :)

See more of my Tampa and St. Petersburg Bat Mitzvah photography on my website.