Welcome to DesireedeLeeuwphotography blog... thoughts and stories on my photography experiences...Enjoy!!
Remembering Hurricane Sandy
For some reason, I woke up this morning thinking about what I was doing at this time 2 years ago. For months after Hurricane Sandy hit, no matter the weather... I spent almost all of my free time over in Ortley Beach with the Bucket Brigade and Cassandra Vitale. Cassandra, a longtime school friend of my daughter, started this amazing grassroots organization to help people in the worst of times. From the very first days, Cassandra was there... bringing homemade soup, clean, dry socks, and basic necessities (such as toothpaste, shaving cream) to the men stationed amidst the disaster area. That led into us hanging out on corners, handing out cleaning supplies (buckets, bleach, gloves, masks) to shell-shocked residents, coming "home" for the first time since the hurricane...Slowly, more people were getting involved to help, (I couldn't begin to remember and name everyone, but Tom Petruzziello was a huge part of this organization) which led to taking over the damaged EMS building... to having 5 trailers full of donated supplies in the A&P parking lot.. the Bucket Brigade was there, from day one.... providing meals, supplies, moral support, having a fire burning for warmth and a place to hang out and talk... to feel "normal" for a little while, when, really, nothing would ever be "normal" again for some people.
I remembered how good it made me feel to be a part of that. How heartbreaking it was listening to the stories of the people affected by this storm. Hugging strangers. How amazing the people around me were. How, as time went on, people and organizations came from far and wide to help out...Americorps started sending long term volunteers. There were weekends that we had HUNDREDS of volunteers.. youth groups, high school kids, elementary school kids, people who suffered their own loss in the hurricane, yet still willing to help those that were worse off, shoveling sand, working in people's homes, organizing relief. The Aroy-D Thai Elephant food truck that came to hand out free hot meals, the first hot meals on the island since the storm, they came all the way from north Jersey!! It really renewed that sense of community that is lacking so often these days.
And who could forget the images of what Hurricane Sandy did to New Jersey, New York. How far reaching the damage was. But nothing mesmerized me more than the newspaper aerial image of the Jet star sitting in the Atlantic Ocean. I don't know why, but that was just incredible to me! That a storm was capable of picking up this roller coaster, and setting in down in the ocean. Just taking the pier out from under it! I understood that entire houses were gone, bridges, roads... but this roller coaster looked virtually untouched, except for the fact that it was in the ocean!!
The photographer in me had to see this for myself! I was in awe the first time I caught sight of it. It was just sitting there, the waves moving as usual, as if it had been put there on purpose from the beginning. As if, come summer, you could wait on a line to ride the Atlantic Ocean's Jet star.
The day that this image was taken, I decided to get up early, and try to get there before the sun came up. I didn't even know if I could get close to it. There were barricades all over at that time. You couldn't just drive down to the beach anymore and take a walk.. But I knew of a place where I could access the beach, and hopefully not get thrown off! There were a handful of other people there, mainly photographers, waiting for the sun to rise. As we waited, a police officer approached. I felt immediate disappointment. I only wanted to stay long enough to get a shot. As he walked closer, he said "good morning", and walked past us to take his own picture of the roller coaster! I literally "laughed out loud" from relief. He just wanted the same thing we all wanted.
This image, of the Jet star at sunrise, is the epitome of Hurricane Sandy, and the people affected by it. That need to believe that the sun will always rise, there will always be another day, a new day to start again. Keep moving forward, just keep moving.
As I am thinking about this, today.. I check my email to find out that this image was given an award... it made the top 5% for the year in News Images.. I was extremely honored to receive that award... but feel torn at the same time. Such tragedy producing an award winning image. But that is how news works. As I have done since first putting these images up... any income generated from them gets donated back into the Hurricane Sandy relief effort; because even now, 2 years later, there are still people displaced from that storm... and that should not be. Not in this country.
the trials of going to concerts, as a photographer, but not
There is nothing more frustrating to a photographer, or at least to me, as being in a great place to take amazing pictures, and NOT being allowed to have your "real" camera equipment!!! Oh, you can take a "camera", or a camera phone, but that is NOT what a camera is as far as I am concerned! If I can't have a DSLR and a couple of lenses, that is not having a camera with me. Sigh.
I love going to concerts, music only second to photography in my world, but I always end up frustrated. I always bring my "point and shoot" as those are allowed, but the results are far from what I know I could get. But yet, I try. I manage to get a bunch that are acceptable, a few I actually like... but most are just a futile effort. I share the ones that I like with "the world", ie; on facebook, and a lot of people enjoy them. That makes the effort a little more worthwhile. But I will forever rather be the photographer at the concert that has the magic pass that allows "real equipment", and be the one to get the great images.
The beauty of winter
I have seen so many beautiful pictures of frozen bubbles, but getting one on my own has eluded me...until today!!
It seemed that it was cold enough (18 degrees), so I thought I would give it another try.
So, out I went... bundled up, armed with my bottle of bubbles, my Canon with macro tubes, and determination! The birds were chirping, making it seem like a beautiful spring morning! The gloves came off quickly, but when I am absorbed in photographing something, I really don't feel the cold air. With the sun shining, it was enough to distract me and hold off the fact that my fingers would probably freeze.
And so I started blowing bubbles, catching them, and waiting.. They were breaking quickly and easily, but I was not giving up! I finally got one to stay on the bubble blower and was able to put it down and watch.. It was incredible... it started freezing at the top, and worked its way down to the bottom.. forming such beautiful patterns!! I was mesmerized.
It is true, that sometimes the simplest things bring the greatest joy... it wasn't any big accomplishment today, or anything that will change the world.. but watching the process of a bubble freezing took me away for close to an hour! I just kept watching the process happening over and over, watching them slowly fold in on themselves when they "popped". I strongly recommend trying it for yourself, if you haven't already! It will bring out the kid in you.
A winter wedding!
Not many people choose to get married in the winter, with unsure weather conditions and unpredictable travel... but they are out there. I had the pleasure to photograph one of these weddings yesterday. Even though it was one of the coldest days yet this year, it was a beautiful day, and we were able to get outside for some pictures!
It was a simple wedding, everything happening in one place... the Dublin House in Red Bank... a beautiful building set back off the street, with a strong Irish flavor.
The one thing I really loved about this bride, is that she only wanted to hire local vendors.. for every aspect of her wedding day. And to her credit, she did just that. It's easy in the planning of a wedding to get caught up in all the big advertised, corporate, and usually expensive venues. But there is nothing like a simple. down to earth, celebration of this most important of days!
As the sun shone through the windows, lighting up the flower centerpieces, the Irish pint glasses filled with candy and lottery tickets, background music filled the room, and people talked and smiled, bumping into one another... it was a little crowded, but cozy...
When it was time to start, 2 little boys (belonging to the groom) wound their way to the front holding the ring boxes, wearing matching outfits and fedoras... the bride following traditionally with her father.. as we listened to "Somewhere over the Rainbow" performed by the DJ on guitar and vocals...
It was a short ceremony, followed by the usual pictures, of course! That's the entire reason I was there!! Great music, great food, and drink, and of course, great people... who make a wedding day what it is all about! After years of photographing weddings, I have found that these daytime weddings are usually more subdued than the nighttime counterparts... but even in the daytime, this was a crowd of people that were out dancing and having a good time!
My lasting memory of this day, however, will be joining the bride while eating dinner. The groom was looking after the boys, and talking to some guests. When she asked me to sit with her, I balked.. "at the head table??" "there's someone much more important to sit here with you!" But she insisted, and as we had the day we met, we fell into easy conversation. We were later joined by the groom, who pulled up a third chair! A memorable moment indeed!!
The life of a school photographer...
When I started out as a photographer, I had dreams of National Geographic, Rolling Stone magazine etc... I never dreamed of becoming a school photographer.. but, here I am.
I must say, even though it is not my dream job, there are many reasons I do love this job...
One, I am still always working with a camera in my hand... that right there beats sitting at a desk in an office any day.... at least for me.. I cannot spend my day confined by the same walls, routines, and people... it's just not who I am.
Two, I absolutely love to work with people, children especially! What could be better than making kids smile all day? Or at least trying to! And there is NO better feeling than a child that gives you a genuine smile because you are being completely silly.
Three, it's a great feeling when those same children really like their pictures. Oh, there are plenty that will come back with a great portrait and want it retaken, but it's a trying age for some, and why not let them have a picture they consider better than the first? I especially love when a child won't smile because they don't think it looks good... and I can give them an opportunity to see two pictures side by side, one without the smile, and one with, that they gave just because I asked them to, with the promise that they could choose. And the majority will choose the smile. They just don't know how good they actually look. Even in this day and age, of Instagram, Facebook, constant selfies, these school pictures have a real value in their lives.
Four, I get to work with a lot of great people!! I have developed lasting friendships with people that work in schools that I frequent. It makes getting up at ungodly hours quite bearable! Looking forward to seeing people that you enjoy working with makes your day a whole lot better!
And five, this job gives me the opportunity to have free time!! I had previously taken a management position for this same company, but found that didn't fit who I was. And a stretch of loss cemented that feeling. I could not spend my days in the office when life was waiting for me outside of those walls. Stepping down from management back into the world of photography would give me TIME!! And that is priceless!! With this free time, I can pursue the photography that I have a passion for... It doesn't always have to be far away ... it can be a day spent at the local beach.. seeing wildlife, people, events... and best of all, it gives me time to spend with the important people in my life.. and one can never have enough time for that!