This is a shot from the FestiFools parade on Main Street in Ann Arbor today. It's a exuberant event and that's why I like this shot that is completely different in its atmosphere.

For those who don't know, FestiFools is an annual event, during which hundreds of giant papier-mache puppets are paraded down the street with music and dancing. Anyone can (and does) join. Lots of kids and color. It's a zany event and one of the many reason why I love living in Ann Arbor.

Tai chi sword

Over the years I have seen older people from China practice tai chi in the parking lot of a senior housing building in Ann Arbor. It has never worked out for me to photograph one of them until yesterday.
I was sent by me editor to look for, what we call, a "feature." It's a photo that can be published without an article, since it looks compelling enough just based on its visual properties. I know this is kind of a "heavy" explanation, but I think it gives you a good idea of what it is.
Just on a whim, I decided to drive by that place and bingo! - one guy was there doing his slow and graceful movements. I immediately ran over to him and after he gave me his permission in halting English, I started shooting.
To my extra luck, after doing his "regular" tai chi, he switched to "tai chi sword," as he called it.
Later I asked him why he practices tai chi and he said that it keeps him healthy. "I don't eat medicine," he said.

Dusty morning

Here's a shot I like from a recent morning on East Liberty Street, looking east at the Barton Tower.


Some construction workers were doing something that created this floating dust. As soon as I saw it, I wanted to capture that. Since I was in my car, I drove forward across an intersection with Division Street and stopped when the tower was framed between the two traffic-light poles. I had my emergency blinkers on and started shooting when this woman ran across the street and made a nice shot into a much nicer shot.

A street scene

Here's something from Saturday in Ann Arbor...




What caught my eye is the contradiction between this young woman in her nice outfit and the not-too-clean stoop she chose to sit on. And something about her wearing heels, while holding her feet in a somewhat childish pose.

Jordan and Elliot

Here is Ann Arbor News' former staffer and current freelancer Jordan Miller with her four-year-old son, Elliot, hanging out in beautiful downtown Ann Arbor.



Elliot is definitely wise beyond his years. When I asked him how old he is and he answered "Four and a half," he added seriously, "I'm tall for my age."

As we were walking down the street he chatted... "I like you camera," he said, "how many buttons does it have?" Two seconds later, "I like this van." Two seconds later, "Can we lift the world?" Jordan answers, "The world is the planet we're on, so we kind of cannot lift it."

They're so cute together!

Today my self-assigned challenge was to create photos while driving (actually while stopped at red lights). Just another way to keep the creative juices flowing.

Here are some of the results...

This is a scene from downtown Saline, Mich. It just says "spring..."




Here is a sign of the times (literally) from Ann Arbor.



Having a camera on the passenger seat as a drive between assignments for The Ann Arbor News, makes me keep an eye out for interesting shots. No more "I wish my camera wasn't in the trunk right now!"

A photo workshop in Santa Fe

Just came back from a week-long workshop in Santa Fe. I'm still trying to wrap my mind around all the pieces of information I picked up there. It was good to get away from my routine and spend some time with (mostly) other professional photographers.
I basically went to create some contacts in preparation for the demise of my employer, The Ann Arbor News. It's supposed to call it quits at the end of July and my 10th anniversary is in June. I hope that they'll keep me 'till then.
Anyways... Here's a photo I made at the plaza in Santa Fe.

I am back!

Sorry for the long hiatus from blogging. It has been a very busy few months.

I want to share with you this amazing wedding of a very fun couple I photographed on Halloween weekend.

After shooting around 100 weddings, this one still managed to surprise me...



This is Julie and Dave in front of a giant pumpkin at the Detroit Zoo.




Not your typical wedding portrait, right?

The ceremony and the reception took place at the Butterfly House at the zoo.

As you can see, in addition to butterflies, it has all kind of birds in a tropical setting.




Every detail of the wedding was different, whimsical and fun. Check out the special pins they made:



And the centerpieces:




and the amazing cake!!




The bride and the bridesmaids carried colorful fans instead of bouquets.




The setting provided quite a few unusual backgrounds for portraits (in addition to the giant inflatable pumpkin).




To top it all off, Julie surprised Dave, who is a huge Elvis fan, with a visit from an Elvis impersonator during the reception.




I really enjoyed the fact that they went out of their way to put their personal stamp on their celebration. Definitely a wedding to remember!

The Blue Dress Barn

A few weeks ago I shot a wedding near St. Joseph on the west side of Michigan.

The location is called the Blue Dress Barn. I am not sure why it's called that, but it's beautiful and rustic.

It's a real barn converted to a reception hall, as you can see.






Outside, there are nice touches, like this mermaid in front of the little room where the bride gets ready.






The interior of that room is very whimsical and colorful.

Here's Jennifer in the room during a brief quiet moment before the ceremony.







There were lots of poignant and funny moments at the wedding. This one is one of my favorites:


Kids always provide the best moments and I always try to keep an eye out for that.


In addition to the beauty of the place and how warm and nice everyone was, I was also impressed by a new twist on the old "make the bride & groom kiss when guests knock on glasses repeatedly" tradition. This couple announced that during the reception they will kiss only if someone comes up to their table, grabs a mike and tells a story about the newlyweds.

That brought out quite a few people who told funny stories from the bride & groom's past. It was great, because all the guests got to know the couple more and had a good time listening to the stories.

An offbeat couple

Recently I shot a wedding of a very fun couple, Gretchen and Jim. Both have an offbeat sense of humor, which manifested itself throughout the wedding day.

By the way, the wedding took place on the stage of the historic Gem Theatre in downtown Detroit, right next to Comerica Park, right when the Tigers were playing.

Now to the fun parts...

With the guests assembled and the groom waiting on stage, the bride walked in wearing sunglasses. The music was the old Soviet anthem, complete with lyrics about the unbeatable union of the Soviet republics (I was born in the former USSR, so I knew and understood the words). It took all of my willpower not to burst out laughing and to continue taking pictures.

Part of the vows the couple exchanged, were done in Dr. Seuss-like rhymes. Here's an example:

Officiant: "Will you love her when you’re glad and sad, will you love her through good or bad?"

Jim: “Of course I’ll love her glad and sad, and always for both good and bad.”

Later on, the officiant asks the bride: "Now, tell me please, if you will, can you love him healthy as well as ill?"

Gretchen replies: “Yes, I can love him when he falls ill, and I will even pay the bill.”

Etc. etc.

During the cocktail hour, the mother of the bride, as a surprise, gave out Groucho Marx glasses to everyone, which just showed where the bride got her sense of humor.




But it wasn't just hilarity... There were beautiful touches throughout, like the reception room with a lighted fireplace, the wedding hall with its deep-red decor and the bride's bouquet, which contained not only flowers, but tiny antique earrings, that, I believe, belonged to the bride's grandmother.




It's was a fun wedding!

Some of my favorite 2006 photos

I wanted to share with you a small sample of photos that I particularly liked from 2006. So, here goes!





In this photo I love the expression on the bride's face and her body language. She just finished getting ready before the ceremony and she is glowing with excitement. I also like the adoring gazes of the bridesmaids.







In this shot it's clear that the three friends are having fun! I wish I knew what they are seeing on the screen of the digital camera. Or maybe it's better not to know?








I love weird juxtapositions! A bag-piper in a nursery? Awesome!

In case you are wondering, he was just practicing before the ceremony.







All I have to say is -- color, color, color!







A comforting touch between two young wedding guests... It makes me smile, because you don't expect this kind of mature behavior from little kids. Is there some kind of social commentary here? Are they already performing certain stereotypical roles of the comforting "woman" and the sulking "man?"







I like the mood of this image. The classic country church at dusk in early December with the moon shining above, combined for a strong image. This is the West Mound Church, which is located inside the Heritage Park in Taylor, Mich.







This is the newlyweds "private" moment in the back room, right after the ceremony. I stood quietly by the door, trying to give them time to be with each other and to realize that they just got married. When they kissed, I made sure that they were reflected in the mirror. I think the photo captures their tenderness toward each other.

A wedding in Charlevoix!

Just got a booking for a wedding in Charlevoix on October 6. I am excited, since it's a perfect time of the year to visit northern Michigan. Fall is my favorite season and the colors should be at their peak and provide a great background for photos. I might bring the family and make a mini-vacation of it (at least for them).

A new addition for 2007

I'm starting 2007 with an addition to the Web site -- a blog.

I've always shared my impressions from a wedding with my wife as soon as I come home from a day of shooting. Now I will have a chance to share it with many more people.

Every wedding has some memorable moments. It could be a touching speech by a proud (and teary) father, a beautiful and unusual location, a sunset, or a very kind and thoughtful bride, who manages to stay relaxed on her wedding day.

Right now, I am excited about being hired to photograph a very unusual wedding of a very cool couple, Jodie and Guillermo. They are getting married on the bride parents' apple orchard. The ceremony will be in the woods, with the guests sitting in a circle around the bride and groom. The trees will be decorated with colorful fabric by one of the friends, who is very much into Christo.

The reception will be in a tent in a field. Some guest will stay in tents that will be placed around a pond. The bride and groom will stay overnight in a "bridal tent" along the same pond. There will be rowboats for guests, a bonfire, and even a taco truck that will arrive in late evening from Mexican Town in Detroit, for those guests who worked up an appetite while dancing.

It promises to be a blast and I can't wait to be able to shoot this wonderful event!