Miscellaneous•
October 9th, 2008•
As a photographer, we face challenges every time we pick up the camera. From lighting to posing and into post-production retouching, we’re constantly working with things that are sometimes out of our control. This past weekend was no exception.
Friday night was filled with footballs games. The first was between the Junior Varsity teams for Minisink Valley and Middletown at the Minisink Valley High School. With the sun beaming brightly and very low in the sky, we had to contend with harsh shadows on all of the players. We were constantly adjusting our settings for the optimal shot. Later that night was the game between the Varsity teams for the same schools on the brand new Middletown High School field. While the lighting was perfect, the night was cold and keeping our fingers warm was enough of a challenge!
Saturday morning brought the same cold air as we set out for an entire day photographing the Minisink Valley Youth Soccer teams – all 900+ kids! As the clouds peeled back and let the sun shine down, things began to warm up … but gave us those harsh shadows that we love to hate.
Sunday morning followed with much warmer weather and a family session in New Jersey. With an energetic kid, a 7-month old baby and two extremely nice parents … there was nothing challenging about the day … until we packed up and got ready for something we knew would be tough for the both of us.
Our final shoot for the weekend was a portrait session. Not of a family or a child in the traditional sense – but of one family’s dog, Zeus, who was very much a child to them in his own right. Unfortunately, Zeus was dying of cancer. We had been asked to take some portraits of him (since he had never had them done) before his time came.
Knowing that you are taking some of the last shots of someone is an honor and a heartache at the same time. Having experienced this same feeling personally a little over a year ago, I know how hard it can be. So as we arrived, this incredibly massive Great Dane greeted us by the car and as we got our gear ready, settled down in the backyard under the shade of trees. As we maneuvered around each other, Zeus seemed to pose every so often and allow me those few short moments to capture him as if he were a perfectly crafted statue.
The hardest part of the session came when I needed to put down the camera – wondering if I could just get one more shot. We eventually packed everything up and headed home to try and take care of any last minute things before the weekend ended.
However, I was informed today that, sadly, Zeus was put to sleep yesterday to avoid any further suffering and pain. Our hearts and wishes go out to his parents.
Here were some of the shots from the best session all weekend …
Miscellaneous•
September 21st, 2008•
Franklin Sussex Automall, one of our local commercial clients, always has some type of incredible event going on. Whether its a day with a celebrity (John Schneider), a huge Halloween party or a crazy monster truck crush, they create events that draw people in by the thousands.
This weekend was no exception as it was their third annual Safari Of Savings where they bring in all kinds of animals for the public to touch, pet and explore. Two of the biggest features are the free camel rides along the front of the dealership and the snake/reptile display by the Urban Tarzan.
Loretta and I stopped by for a couple of hours to capture some of the days events. After some small chat with the Urban Tarzan, we grabbed two of the most dangerous snakes and setup a small photo shoot on the hood of an $80k+ Dodge Viper they had in the showroom.
The first of the two snakes was the easiest to capture as it just laid on the hood and cautiously watched all of the spectators behind me …
However, the second one wasn’t as easy! According to the Urban Tarzan, this Albino Cobra was a little on the unhappy side. It kept slithering back and forth on the hood, snapping at its owner a few times – which made me back up just a little bit. I tracked it as fast as I could and snapped a couple shots when I saw the opportunity …
Once our little photo shoot was over, Loretta and I walked around and grabbed a few other shots of the animals on display – like this wolf …
… and some lucky rides atop a camel …
Miscellaneous•
September 1st, 2008•
Wanamaker Photography has experienced some incredible growth over the last year and we’re looking to add members to our team. We are looking for photographers who enjoy sports and event photography, can provide high-quality action/event photos and who meet the following basic requirements:
- Submit a portfolio of at least 15 action photos to determine your skill level
- Have good knowledge of processing images for print/web
- Know how to use FTP
- Be at least 18 years old
- Pass a standard background investigation check
- Have the photo gear required to take quality images
- Personable and able to deal with the public
- Be willing to work hard and sometimes long hours shooting at various events
If you meet these basic requirements and are interested in joining our team, please use the “Contact Us” button at the top of our page and tell us a little more about yourself!
Miscellaneous•
August 30th, 2008•
JohnSchneiderOnline.Com, the offical website for the original Dukes Of Hazzard star, now features a couple images from our recent photo shoot with John at the NJ Hazzard County Fair!
With 13 albums and 18 singles to his name, it seemed appropriate for them to post one incredible image that we captured of John after he signed a fan’s guitar. To check out the image, be sure to visit the music page of JohnSchneiderOnline.Com!
Miscellaneous•
August 17th, 2008•
After weeks and weeks of planning, the big day finally arrived for everyone at Franklin Sussex Auto Mall. As we pulled onto the lot, we saw that all of the employees were dressed in orange shirts, a few General Lee’s were parked in front and there was already a line formed waiting for John to arrive. And it all began because this …
It’s the brand new Dodge Challenger SRT-8. With a few phone calls, the talent manager for John “Bo Duke” Schneider had secured this incredible vehicle as his own. In exchange for the incredible deal that the dealership worked up for him, John’s manager agreed to have him come out for a day of autograph signing. This was the start of NJ’s Hazzard County Fair at Franklin Sussex Auto Mall.
At this point, we were called in to take some promotional shots of the car as well as one of the dealership’s employees – who was to be our Daisy Duke. To check out some of those shots, check out one of our past blog posts about Daisy Duke and the Dodge Challenger!
Once our uniquely designed flyers were handed out, displayed on the website and broadcast to the rest of the world … the dealership started getting calls from all over the country … and even all over the world. It was going to be a big event!
Loretta and I grabbed our gear and got setup for the day. Along with everyone else, we patiently waited for John to arrive from his overnight flight. When he did set foot on the lot, they quietly snuck him in through a side door and into Bill’s office for a special VIP session with friends, family and a few of the General Lee owners.
Meeting John for the first time was like saying hello to someone you’ve known for years. He’s an extremely nice, outgoing person who you would never guess as the hollywood type. As the VIPs streamed in, we snapped a few shots of everyone and their personal autograph session. The dealership’s own Daisy Duke snuck in for a shot …
As did Loretta … who is still glowing from the experience …
Once the VIP session was over, John and the rest of us headed out to the side lot to film a TV commercial in front of the Dodge Challenger. After a few funny outtakes … they had enough footage and sent John into the crowd of adoring fans who had been waiting in line since earlier that morning!
The first person to meet John was a Make-A-Wish patient who had labeled John as her boyfriend. She toured the numerous General Lees on the lot and was excited to be in the middle of all of the Dukes Of Hazzard stuff. However, she had no idea that John was there and her reaction as they wheeled her over was something I won’t forget …
As the day got under way, the line to meet John never shrank. From early in the morning until late in the afternoon, John signed anything and everything … non-stop. No lunch break. No bathroom breaks. And he talked to every single one of his fans about something. Not once did he just sign something, have his picture taken and push them away to make room for the next.
And some of the stuff he signed was just incredible. From this child’s model General Lee …
To a mother’s pregnant belly …
And even this General Lee bicycle …
All in all it was a very long … but incredible day. John stayed until the last autograph had been signed … and even signed a few just before getting in his limo to head back to the airport. The icing on the cake for the day was what started it all … the purchase of the orange Dodge Challenger … and here is the official photo!
To see some more shots from the day, check out our homepage and the featured work section. We’ll also be posting more on our blog as well as the dealership’s website!
Update: Here are some more shots that have since been removed from the homepage!
