Event

Cars & Couture 2013 Tampa International Jet Center Florida

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Cars & Couture 2013 new Chevrolet Corvette Stingray C7 - Nikon D300 Tamron 17-50mm @ f/11 ISO 200 7-esposure HDR tripod mounted with cable releaseFor the second year in a row I was given a media pass (thanks Dona) to Cars & Couture 2013 at the Tampa International Jet Center.  It is a charity event featuring supercars, models and private jets.  This time there was only one car I had not seen before, the brand new C7 Corvette Stingray (I have more photos just featuring that Corvette coming).  

Inside Cars & Couture 2013 at the Tampa Jet Center with Lamborghini Gallardo Spider - Nikon D300 Tamron 17-50mm @ f/11 ISO 200 7-exposure HDRThe light was not as good as last year, especially inside the hangar, which meant it did not take long for me to shoot the event.   

Private jets & supercars were featured at Cars & Couture 2013 Tampa Event Photography - Nikon D300 Tamron 17-50mm @ f/11 ISO 200 7-exposure HDRI did talk to a representative from ExecuJet and may soon be photographing their line of private jets.  It would be a great opportunity to photograph a new subject matter.  The jet center at sunset time provides a great backdrop too.

Ferrari 458 Spider in the foreground of Cars & Couture 2013 Tampa Event Photographer - Nikon D300 Tamron 17-50mm @ f/11 ISO 200 7-exposure HDRThere was no formal Ferrari presence this year, just three total, and they were all the exact same model, the 458 Spider!  That has long been my favorite car actually, but seeing three together almost made it seem common in my eyes!  Subsequently, I am now all about the Lexus LFA!

PER Conference 2013 at Moffitt Cancer Center USF Tampa Florida Event Photography

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Speaking about melanoma at the PER 2013 Conference at USF Tampa Florida - Nikon D300 Nikkor 80-200mm @ f/4 ISO 2000 1/160th (no flash)I was a USF student in the 1990s.  I have not been back to the campus much since, but I spent over eight hours there on Saturday photographing the 2013 PER Conference on melanoma at the Moffitt Cancer Center.  It was a very weird feeling to hear so many talks, in English, and really not having any ability to put into context the stats and treatments they were talking about!  However, in the end I did start to decipher some of it.  I now know about "ippy."

Inside the 2013 PER Conference at Moffitt Cancer Center USF Tampa Florida - Nikon D300 Tamron 17-50mm @ f/4 ISO 2500 1/60th (no flash)I was given some specific instructions for this conference, the most concerning being that I could not use flash, at all.  I had to only hope there would be enough available light to get decent enough exposures, and thankfully there was.  You will see though some very high ISO settings I had to use!

Break time during the 2013 PER Conference in the Moffitt Cancer Center USF Tampa Florida - Nikon D300 Tamron 17-50mm @ f/4 ISO 2000 1/60th (no flash)There were also specific shot angles needed.  By the second speaker I had pretty much dialed in my settings for each part of the conference room.  I used three lenses to photograph each speaker to cover all angles.  The light and the subject matter was not changing, so once I established my settings and angles, it was a matter of making sure the speaker was not blinking or caught frozen in the photo making a funny face mid syllable.  

2013 High School Graduation Beach Party for Conor at Caddy's Treasure Island Florida

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Conor celebrating his high school graduation with friends at Caddy's Treasure Island Florida - Nikon D300 Tamron 17-50mm @ f/11 ISO 200 1/250th SB-800 @ 1/4 power hotshoe mountedFormer Morean Arts Center photography student Sue's son, Conor, graduated high school as part of the class of 2013.  She threw a graduation party out at Caddy's on Treasure Island, Florida for him and contacted me about photographing the afternoon event.  As the sign shows above, Conor is Clemson bound!

Generations celebrating a high school graduation on the beach at Treasure Island Florida - Nikon D300 Tamron 17-50mm @ f/7.1 ISO 200 1/400th SB-800 @ 1/4 power hotshoe mountedThere were multiple family generations at the party, including Conor's grandparents seen above along with his sister.  Shooting in direct afternoon sunlight is of course a challenge, so positioning everyone just so was extra important to minimize shadows as much as possible and also to try and pull some detail and color out of the background, though ultimately in the above shot I decided to convert it to black & white.

Volleyball fun at a 2013 high school graduation party Treasure Island Florida - Nikon D300 Tamron 17-50mm @ f/11 ISO 200 1/400th SB-800 @ 1/4 power hotshoe mountedMost at the party were Conor's classmates who did not seem to mind the harsh sunlight at all!

VIP EYE CARE St. Petersburg Customer Appreciation Event May 2013

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VIP Eye Care boutique in St. Petersburg Florida hosts another customer appreciation event in May 2013 - Nikon D300 Tamron 17-50mm @ f/5.6 ISO 800 1/60th SB-800 @ 1/4 power hotshoe mounted

I returned to VIP Eye Care boutique in the downtown St. Petersburg area to photograph another one of their customer appreciation events.  VIP has been my most frequent photography client, in addition to my optomology needs (contact lenses).  This time the event happened while it was still light out letting me use some of the available natural light for different looks to shots.

Trying on a new pair of glasses at VIP Eye Care St. Petersburg Florida - Nikon D80 Nikkor 80-200mm @ f/4 ISO 800 1/60th SB-600 @ 1/4 power hotshoe mounted

This is a photograph of a reflection above, with the light from my SB-600 sidelighting her as seen in the reflection.  I always like to try out new tricks when possible in order to create new event photographs for clients.

Glasses replacing glasses at VIP Eye Care St. Petersburg Florida event photography - Nikon D80 Nikkor 80-200mm @ f/4 ISO 800 1/100th SB-600 @ 1/4 power hotshoe mounted

Such a purposefully overexposed shot was never possible at the other events I photographed for VIP after the sun went down.  I thought it was interesting she kept her old glasses on her head while she tried on a new pair.  

Showing off a pair of sunglasses at VIP Eye Care St. Petersburg Florida event photography - Nikon D80 Nikkor 80-200mm @ f/4 ISO 800 1/60th SB-600 @ 1/4 power hotshoe mounted

I asked this sunglasses rep to hold out a pair of them as far extended as he could as I wanted to make a shot with just the sunglasses in focus and him and the background the bokeh.  

Visit VIP Eye Care for a very friendly staff that will take great care of your vision and a business that regularly shows its appreciation for customers.

100th Birthday Party Photography in St. Petersburg Florida at Brentwood Senior Living Community

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Emilia celebrates her 100th birthday in St. Petersburg Florida at Brentwood Senior Living Community -- Nikon D300 Tamron 17-50mm @ f/5.6 ISO 800 1/60th SB-800 hotshoe mountedAs it turns out, in little over a week's time, I photographed a 50th birthday party and then this morning a 100th birthday party!  Emilia turned 100 years old today and had a big party at Brentwood Senior Living Community in St. Petersburg, Florida.  She was joined by many of her friends and family, and as you can see above, entertrainment was provided by Liberace!  His performance went over very well with the senior crowd.

Many generations helped Emilia celebrate her 100th birthday party in St. Petersburg Florida -- Nikon D300 Tamron 17-50mm @ f/5.6 ISO 800 1/60th SB-800 hotshoe mountedMembers of Emilia's family came over and shared birthday wishes, cards, chocolates and funny faces with her.  I liked how the young girls looked in this candid photo while their mom talks joyfully with Emilia.

Celebrating a 100th birthday with friends in St. Petersburg Florida -- Nikon D300 Tamron 17-50mm @ f/5.6 ISO 800 1/60th SB-800 hotshoe mountedI did not count how many friends were in attendance, but it had to be close to forty!  Everyone came over in turn to help Emilia celebrate and also to get a piece of cake!

A special Lithuanian cake that was very rich and delicious - St. Petersburg Florida birthday photography - Nikon D80 Nikkor 80-200mm @ f/4 ISO 640 1/100th SB-600 hotshoe mountedEmilia's family is Lithuanian and they brought the special Lithuanian cake you see above, and yes that is a candle that says 100 on it!  The cake was great, truly unlike any I have tasted before.  A very rich taste, though the cake itself was light and dry, with crystalized fruit between layers.  I noticed I was one of the only people that finished their entire piece of cake.

100 years young in St. Petersburg Florida Birthday Photography - Nikon D300 Tamron 17-50mm @ f/5.6 ISO 800 1/60th SB-800 hotshoe mountedThank you to Jess for contacting me about photographing this 100th birthday party.  Is was a very fun photography experience!
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    • 50th Birthday Party Father & Daughter in Treasure Island St. Petersburg Florida

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    Celebrating his 50th birthday party with his daughter on Treasure Island - Nikon D300 Tamron 17-50mm @ f/11 1/250th ISO 200 - Strobist: SB-800 to frame left & SB-600 to frame rightI went out to Treasure Island to photograph a 50th Birthday Party at the client's home.  It turned out to not be the usual birthday party photography, but more like a photobooth of people just rotating in and out of in front of my speedlights.  I was hoping to make some more candid and fun photographs of the actual birthday celebrator, and was glad to get in a few shots of him with his daughter playing around.  This was my favorite shot of the some 45 minutes I otherwise spent merely as a photobooth operator.
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    • Baptism Photography at St. John Vianney Catholic Church in St. Pete Beach Florida

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    Young baby being baptized at St. John Vianney Catholic Church in St. Pete Beach Florida - Nikon D300 Tamron 17-50mm @ f/3.2 1/80th ISO 1600This past weekend I photographed a baptism for the first time.  I was referrred to the parents by repeat photography client Vanessa...thank you!  This was also my first time to shoot with significant flash restrictions, which is why you will see in the exif data under some photos ISO 1600.  Fortunately, the windows behind the baptism area were large and facing the noon sun to at least provide back light and some fill light.  I had no idea so much water was used during a baptism as seen in the large pitcher in the photo above!

    Proud parents before their baby boy is baptized in St. Pete Beach Florida - Nikon D300 Tamron 17-50mm @ f/5.6 ISO 640 1/60th SB-800 @ 1/4 power hotshoe mountedBefore the actual baptism ceremony there were a few quick minutes I could use flash and photograph the parents with their baby boy.  Baby Oscar was a very good smiler.  

    Baptism inside St. John Vianney Catholic Church St. Pete Beach Florida - Nikon D300 Tamron 17-50mm @ f/5.6 ISO 800 1/60th SB-800 @ 1/4 power hotshoe mountedI used significant lens distortion correction in this shot to make the mosaic appear as straight as it really was.  I also decided to split the parents allowing for a more balanced composition to the shot instead of both on one side of the flowers, or even blocking the flowers.

    Mom and newly baptized baby at Don Cesar Hotel - Nikon D300 Tamron 17-50mm @ f/9 ISO 200 1/250th - Strobist: SB-800 to frame left & SB-600 to frame right rearThe reception for the baptism was at the Don Cesar Hotel where I have photographed many past events.  It was a covered outdoor spot giving us still a peak at the water.  Here I could setup my speedlights on light stands for my preferred strobist style portraits.

    Dad and newly baptized baby at Don Cesar Hotel - Nikon D300 Tamron 17-50mm @ f/9 ISO 200 1/250th - Strobist: SB-800 to frame left & SB-600 to frame right rearThis is Dad's turn with baby Oscar having fun at the baptism reception at the Don Cesar Resort.  It was a pleasant spring Sunday out on the beach.

    Parents in thought during child's baptism in St. Pete Beach - Nikon D300 Tamron 17-50mm @ f/3.5 ISO 1600 1/60thI am always pleased when I have the opportunity to make a candid photo like this one showing the subjects in thought reflecting their emotion.  Baby Oscar knew what I was up to though!
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