Sunday, January 31, 2010

Josie's Family Jewels - Portrait of Four Boston Generations

Josie Family portrait 2 by Boston photographer Carol Lundeen

Josie Family portrait by Carol Lundeen
With her daughter and daughter's daughter visiting from afar, Josie's wish of a portrait of the three generations together came true.  We tried a variety of locations and angles in what Josie described as her humble home, but her "girl" had grown up here, and this was her home, too, and despite a little clutter from the holidays the home was full of signs of love in every corner and on every wall.  Framed portraits of past generations on the mantle, the bedroom dressers bedecked with b&w snapshots of the not so far past.  It was my pleasure to add to the family collection for generations to come. And by the way, the gems the ladies are wearing represent the 4th generation in this shot, as they are Josie's mom's rings. 

Monday, January 25, 2010

"Russian Winter" Author, Daphne Kalotay

Daphne-Kalotay-Russian-Wint
The phone rang the other day, and it was Daphne Kalotay, asking me to create a new portrait for her upcoming novel, "Russian Winter." She was quite sporty when I suggested we venture out into the snow of Larz Anderson Park the following morning. After all, the title of the novel contains the word "winter," and it was quite white and wintry outside. She wanted something different from the portrait she used for her previously celebrated book of stories, so off we went.

My first impression of Daphne was that this is not your average New Jersey girl who transplanted herself to metro Boston. This unpretentious PhD in Modern and Contemporary Literature is refreshingly at ease with herself - and winter. She showed up at the park with her fully present, smart, and funny self. We walked and talked our way around the park, stopping at various beauty spots for differing portraits. She seems to glow from the inside out every moment, and I can't wait to read 'Russian Winter" when it's hot off the press.
Find out more about Daphne Kalotay.

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Tips for greener photography

Wondering about the impact of photography on the environment? Read this.
Tips for greener photography

Saturday, January 2, 2010

What My New Year's Resolutions Lack?

Got resolutions (even if you've not written them down)? Me too. Waking up today, January Second, I feel completely full of inspiration. Where in the world did that come from?

My resolutions for myself and my photography business felt very complete when I wrote them the other night, right here at my kitchen table, with the cats curled up at my feet. I want to accomplish many things this year. I realize my resolutions are big picture punch lists that sketch out the year ahead. I didn't know that what was lacking in them was INSPIRATION. And inspiration is what I woke up full of today. What a gift! And where did it come from? I must find out because I want a steady diet of it this year.

The source was "Julie and Julia." I watched it at last last night with a cozy blanket, niece, and wife sandwiched together with milk and cookies on the couch. The stories were every day stuff in a way, adults seeking to make a life and a living, yet loving and funny and real. I realize that these aspects resonate with my values, and when I take the time to put my values together with other fresh ingredients into the cooking pot that is every day, the results aren't always delicious but they always inspire me, whether I follow the recipe or not.

An old friend gave me a magnet for my refrigerator that says, "She didn't always follow the recipe." That still rings true after all these years.

Bon apetit!