Picturesque - someone out there for you

Oh I have been tired! Tired I tell you! Tired! But... I was re-invigorated by a lastminute.com visit from a close friend from abroad. It was great to see her and we spent oodles and oodles of time chatting and catching up.

Now, I generally try not to work when I'm chatting to people unless I have something very time sensitive to finish. And unfortunately, I had one of those days. I know I know it's bad and I really try not to do it much. I was putting the finishing touches on a swimsuit type Sports Illustrated inspired image and she neatly interrupted me to have a peak at some of my other images that for one reason or another, can't be displayed online. It's unfortunate when it happens, but such is my life. Top secret images. Non-Disclosure Agreements. Threats of a beating from an angry client. You know how it is.

A woman smoking by Gordon McGowan

I also showed her some images of people I really look up to, people like Gordon McGowan a wedding photographer who (rightly) charges top dollar for his fantastic work and a few others. I look over, and she was, shall I say, thoughtful.

Food by Bob Towery

"I don't understand people who have some of this stuff in their houses."

Okaaaaay... "What is it that you don't understand?"

Buildings by Martin Stavars

"I mean, that's just an image of people by a bush. And that one, it's... Yes I can see they are by the water but why would I want that on my wall?!"

"Well, when you put it like that...!"

Sunset by Yaron Silberberg

The old "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" issue.

What beauty is in the beholder's eye? What is it that makes one image good, gorgeous, captivating... while a similar image just doesn't touch you on that level? It doesn't engage you and it doesn't seem to have the almost inexplicable depth that you've sensed in other images.

A child crying by Jill Greenberg

Fashion? Current trends? Music? Childhood memories? Aspirations? Belief? What your boss said to you yesterday and how it made you feel?

A splash of water, from the series "If Fire Were Water" by Platinum FMD.

I grew up learning science and psychology as a side hobby, so I could talk all day about this. But the truth is, I can't really tell you the answer. But I can tell you we should all be very thankful that we don't all find the same thing beautiful. It means there is someone out there for everyone.

Stay blessed. Enjoy your week.

Angus D

I have a confession to make - part 2

Wedding over (yes I skipped a bit). Reception. Again outdoors. Again overlooking the marina. Again perfect.

The food. Oh my gosh. I never knew octopus legs could taste so good. I would never have normally... Again, the "never normally" part comes up. This is getting to be a habit on this trip! But damn there was some tasty seasoning on that gently stewed cephalopod. All the food was tasty. Too tasty. I couldn't get enough. Literally. The mood was high spirited. I lost count of the amount of random guests I would turn around to and just start merrily chatting about nothing in particular. I was always greeted with a smile and a "heeeeeey!" Followed by the Greek special "Angoose!" That's what my name sounds like "translated" into Greek tongue. To be honest, I now find it cute. Only when it comes from the Greeks though!

Then the music started. Klelia and her model of a husband, Adonis, took to the floor to show us what the day means to them. It really was a great sight. 

As the sun went down, guests stood up and threw shapes against the setting sun and into the night. Now, by this point I am already swaying to the music. I was tricked into dancing when the DJ played some pop music and people grabbed and dragged me onto the dance floor. 

I didn't mind. It was fine. It was great fun. And for the first time, we could be energetic and no one was sweating buckets - blessings of the nigh time coastal air. It felt great. I began to lose myself. I mean, who wouldn't. It's not every day you get to go to a wedding like this. Even if your job is to go to weddings! Hands were being thrown up. Waists were twisting to the beats. People were jumping. I believe this is what you call a good vibe. And it was good.

Then, like the start of dawn, there was a veeery smooth change in music. I didn't realise it was coming and by the time it came, it was too late. The dance music. In my primal instinctive state, I only heard the beat. I really did. I promise! By the time I recognised what was happening, it was like dancing with a great looking partner when the music turns ugly - you don't dare stop because then your time with the sexy dancer stops. And you don't want that. Except, I felt like I was dancing with everyone. And I wasn't going to be the one to let the side down. So I kept the vibe and kept dancing. 

Till 6 in the morning. Exactly 6am. 

Once again, bodies cast silhouettes on the sun. Beamings smiles all around. The shine in everyone's eyes told you all you needed to know about how good the night was. A magical night not soon forgotten.


ADP

I have a confession to make - part 1

To those that know me, I'm really sorry. I don't know what came over me. Well, actually, I do. And I feel a little unrepentant at the same time. But hopefully you'll find it in your hearts to see me as the same person. It's hard for me to say this. But I, Angus, danced, to dance music.

I know I may have said words to the effect of "never ever everevereverever would I dance to it", but I did, and the truth has been choking me for a while. Before you all, I would like to confess and free my soul from this burden. Let me explain:

I was invited, as a guest, to a good friend's wedding. In Greece. I love that place. If I ever need a break, my Greek friends are always happy to see me. I think. And it also meant that I wasn't working so since I haven't had a holiday in quite a few years, I was more than happy at the idea of turning up, eating and drinking, and generally not having to worry about who looks good in what environment! A no stress trip!

We landed in Thessaloniki to meet some very good friends, then had a TWELVE HOUR trip to our hotel in the island of Aegina where the wedding was to be held. Pool at the hotel. Beach, 5 mins away. Not so bad. :-)

As a side note, our taxi ride through Aegina showed the island to be a truly beautiful mix or rolling lush hills, small villages kept in serene beauty often a stone throw away from a marina full of small weathered boats tied to the moorings. It was like a mental breath of fresh air. I loved it.

The first night there, we didn't even get a chance to check out the surroundings, I was told there was a small get-together for close friends with the bride and groom and family. (With the Greeks, "small" could mean absolutely anything!) I can tell you two things about our first night: 1. There was a BBQ with some seriously juicy chops. 2. We didn't leave until 5am. 5am! After 12 hours travelling! Did I say this trip was going to be relaxing? The precedent for doing things I don't normally do had been set.

Wedding day. Big day. Hot day. I started off the day doing some lengths in the pool. Think of it as topping off a beach bod. A good beach bod is also a good suit/dress body. (Not that I would wear a dress!) There is a method to my madness. From the pool to a frappe. Frappe to seafood lunch. Lunch to shower. Shower to chapel. So far so good.

The chapel. Gorgeous place. Small white chapel overlooking the waters. Everyone looking suave, sexy and cool under the afternoon sun. Which is good because the wedding was outdoor, but the late afternoon sun and evening breeze kept us feeling warm to the core. Or was that the wedding? 

Klelia, the beautiful bride, arrived on a small boat captained by her father. Now, it was definitely a beautiful scene - Klelia, slowly drifting into the port, standing holding the boat mast, waving and looking excited. ... However... However... The potential for it to go wrong, was not small. :-) 

The little boat above, enlarged. Still little. :-)

Fortune smiled on us that day, Klelia disembarked and made it to the chapel without incident, keeping composure as if she gets off small boats in wedding dresses for a living!

It was at this point more than any before that I starting getting that yearning to be working and not spectating. 

Off to the reception we go, where I saw a side to myself I didn't want to know I had.... 

ADP

Not what I wanted to say

Not the words I was going to post. Not even what I wanted to say. Such is life.

As I quickly mentioned on facebook, this weekend has been a terrible weekend for news. In the order that I heard about things, there was Norway bomb, shootings and death of (I think) 92, Amy Winehouse's death, China train crash killing 35, and the Texas shooting of 5.

Since the death of someone close to me some years back it changed in me something unexpected. It's like I saw and felt empathy to death and loss in more dimensions. I actually cried at a film. Me?! Crying? At a film? (I hid it well!) I originally thought it was a temporary thing due to the obvious. I was wrong.

The Norway sadness is multiplied when people found out it is the youth that were the majority of those that died. I remember the first time I heard "you should never outlive your kids." It's not the way life should proceed. Or to put another way, it's unnatural. Maybe that is why it hits us so hard.

The other thing these news stories do is make me feel a heavy heart for all the sad, demoralising events not being reported. Some because they are so regular we loose interest. The kind of events we would like to stop being told about. The kind of events that, if we thought about it, would make us turn away or simply bring us to tears.

I was reminded of something I heard when watching Batman Begins the other day. To paraphrase,

"we fall so we can learn to get up"

With every bad, sometimes crushing, event, there are opportunities to learn and make things better and construct a new life. There is hope. Hope is probably the last thing we cling to after we have nothing else. We sit on a world of potential. And I hope I am not "inspired" to cry at any more films!

Stay hopeful

(By the way, as some people were interested, the tears in the first two images above are actually for the end of one life and the beginning of another. Such is life.)

ADP

Woooo! Blog is back up!

I've had to jump through some hoops in the last few days. Jump through hoops, spend some late nights online reading similar problems, playing a bit of blues through the night while I sat at my computer with only the glow from my computer monitor for warmth. It's ok. You can shed a tear for me.

But we are back! So please check out the last blog post which went up as the blog went down. The kids are now truly alright. I'm off for a walk in this beautiful summer weather. :-)

ADP

Kids!

A real conversation I overheard at a wedding:

"I don't know if I'll be able to come. My little girl can scream down the place."

"Bring her! What's a wedding without life? And kids are life."

Whether people like to have kids at weddings or not, is completely up to them. I just make sure I can do my "James Brown dodging the kids" dance when they are there! Present or not, they are beautiful. Balls of energy that have an uncanny ability to drain you of yours. But they still make you laugh.

I once gazed at my nephew for about 20 minutes, watching him explore. His hands. His feet. All the bright things in the room. Everything was to be investigated. Kids must experience everything with all the senses they have. Which unfortunately also means trying to eat everything!

There is also what kids represent. Babies aren't born thinking "I know enough, I don't have to develop anything." They want to learn everything they see. Babies aren't born with prejudice. They are born with open minds. Babies aren't born with malice. Every move they make is honest.

The funny thing is I'm not even the mushy type. But no matter which way you look at them, you will see life reflected back at you.

ADP

If you go down to the woods tonight...

Where would we be without friends we have made? A while back I found myself having the pleasure of shooting high class clientèle. If you know the hoops that I had to jump through! Lady Gaga would have been easier! I sometimes think it was like trying to photography a Bond femme fatale. 

Well, some seasons on, and the femme fatale decided to stop destroying men, and decided to marry her own James Bond instead. :-)

Bond Girl finds her Bond - and doesn't try to kill him!

It was a pleasure to fly out to Sweden, and take a beautiful walk through the trees with the gorgeous bride and groom. And a laugh! I ended up driving them from site to site, deeper and deeper into the enchanted forest while throwing out ideas of images, the bride and groom chucking ideas back, creating a big amorphous idea pot, and doing a whooole lot of acting.

Jennie and Andreas, it was great to be blessed with creating your images!

Now, is it just me or does the bride look reminiscent of Sandy from Grease???

ADP