Archive for the ‘Photography’ Category
Thursday, July 2nd, 2009
Kenny G JazzFest 2009
I had the opportunity to cover the 2009 Syracuse Jazz Fest at OCC last week and see Spyro Gyra and Kenny Gorelick (aka Kenny G.) I’m familiar with some of Gorelick’s work, and maybe my favorite cut is “Hi! How Ya Doin, ” which was produced by Kashif. If you check out the video, you can see Kenny G before he had the long curly hair and you can even see his dance moves.
What I didn’t know about Kenny G is that he has sold over 50 million albums, he started out playing with Barry White’s Love Unlimited Orchestra and his wife is photographer Lyndie Benson.
Before Kenny G took the stage I had a wonderful conversation for the Jazz Fest’s piano tuner Kenneth Williams back stage. I know Williams from a previous job and we’ve had brief conversations about his vision (he’s legally blind) his hearing (he has what he calls “good relative pitch.”) and his love of music (he doesn’t own a piano but he is actually a trumpet player).
Kenneth Williams, piano tuner
Williams is a jovial personality who does some of the best impressions I’ve heard outside of Hollywood. He does a great John Wayne, Pearl Bailey and Jimmy Stewart. I asked him how long would he continue to work (he’s been a piano technician and tuner for longer than I’ve been alive). I’m never going to retire, he said. I’m having too much fun.
Tags:2009, Arista Records, Best-selling jazz artist of all time, Breathless, Duotones, Frank Malfitano, Kashif, Kenneth Williams, Kenny G, Kenny G Live, Kenny Gorelick, Louis H. Everding Main Stage, Lyndie Benson Photography, Piano, Smooth Jazz, Spyro Gyra, SUNY OCC, Syracuse Jazz Fest, Syracuse Jazz Festival, Syracuse Piano Tuner
Posted in Art, Media, Music, Photography | 3 Comments »
Monday, June 22nd, 2009
Earlier this month I covered the Syracuse University VPA School of Design Senior Fashion show in New York City. The show was held at the JP Morgan Building on the 50th Floor above Park Avenue.
Following the show designer Henry Grethel was presented with the Icon of Style Award and he said orange has become the new black for Manhattanites with connections to Syracuse University and SU Athletics.
Tags:Anthony J. Palmieri, Ayaka Matsui, ChanMi Park, Christa Johnson, Dean Ann Clarke, Dress My Nest, Elisha Beinart, Emme, Henry Grethel, Icon of Style Award, JP Morgan, Juried Senior Fashion Show, Kristin Hollins, Lacey Ryan Seltzer, Laura Zailac, Lindsey Scarlatelli, Meredith Banzhoff, NOLCHA Fashion Business Network, Randi Spoon, Sara Efron, School of Art and Design, Stephanie Latocha, Syracuse University VPA, Tara Strobach, Thom Filicia, Tom Filicia
Posted in Fashion, Photography, Travel | No Comments »
Thursday, June 11th, 2009
“We take pictures because it makes us feel good to know that years later, when nostalgia for that moment comes around, we’ll be ready.”
-Seth Godin
Mateo Baker, Kindergarten Ceremony
Tags:Seth Godin
Posted in Photography | No Comments »
Wednesday, January 21st, 2009
“We are motivated to become what we imagine ourselves to be.”
-Ed Cole
Tags:44th President of the United States, Barack H. Obama, DC, Inauguration, Pete Souza, President Barack Obama, The Rise of Barack Obama, Washington, White House Photographer
Posted in Media, Photography, Politics | No Comments »
Friday, November 21st, 2008
Is it possible to sell snow at the North Pole? in Syracuse? During a recent meeting (panel discussion) in New York City, I saw a presentation by Mary Virginia Swanson where she talked about making the most of marketing efforts and having clear goals. Continuity and sustainability were two of the points that caught my attention. Swanson’s portion of the panel discussion was so impressive, I can’t remember the name of any of the other presenters (nor the firms they represented).
Tags:Business, Marketing Photos, Mary Virginia Swanson
Posted in Business, Media, Photography | No Comments »
Friday, November 14th, 2008
Photographer Marjory Wilkins shows us that aging gracefully can become a work of art. She has spent most of her life documenting life here in Syracuse. Her gallery show (curated by historian Nancy Keefe Rhodes) opened last night at Light Work.
The show was attended by family members, friends, artists and members of the photographic community. I spoke with her brother Raymond Werts and he said he and Ms. Wilkins playfully argued over the date of a photo in which he appeared. Mr. Werts also pointed out that in one of the photographs (cir. 1940s) there were new cars that cost around 400 dollars.
Ms. Wilkins’ work reminds me a lot of the photo-documentation done by Pittsburgh’s Teenie Harris.
We photographers can learn from her vision and her work, but we could learn more from her giving spirit.
Tags:Light Work, Marjory Wilkins, Nancy Keefe Rhodes, Photography, Syracuse University
Posted in Art, Photography | No Comments »
Monday, November 3rd, 2008
A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to meet and gain insight from two pillars of contemporary photography: Chester Higgins, Jr. and Timothy Greenfield-Sanders. I thank Mr. Higgins for meeting me on the way to an editing session and for the gifts. Earlier during my NYC trip, Greenfield-Sanders suggested an alternative route for my next business venture. Thanks also to my business advisors Alton Ritter and Marc Mayo for their hospitality.
Tags:advisory board, Chester Higgins, Jr., New York City, Photography
Posted in Business, Photography | Comments Closed
Friday, September 12th, 2008
SU grad and photographer Stephen Wilkes spoke at Newhouse last night. He presented some incredible examples of layered story-telling from his travels to New Orleans (post Katrina) and China (pre Olympics). Wilkes said when he shoots commercially he makes pictures and when he works for himself he takes pictures. I was surprised to learn that he started out as a street photographer years ago.
Tags:China, Katrina, New Orleans, Newhouse, Photography, Syracuse University
Posted in Business, Photography | No Comments »
