Hold on

Hold on, originally uploaded by Photomike07 / MDSimages.com.

"Patience, persistance, and perspiration make an unbeatable combination for success." - Napoleom Hill
Just a quick little shout out to my clients from this past season for all the great events you entrusted my company and I to light for you. For any of you that have happened to pop by this lil' blog o' mine and wonder "why on earth hasn't Mike posted any images from our event yet. I am pretty sure I saw him scurrying about the space just minutes from doors. He's gotta have something worthwhile to post!"

You are indeed correct. Please hold on (get the image now.....hehehe...hehe...he....aahhh....well, anyway.....)

I made a bit of a punch list of shots to start editing over the next few weeks, so keep checking back!

Event in the Cathedral Room at the Boca Resort

Event in the Cathedral Room at the Boca Resort, originally uploaded by Photomike07.

This past week had the Hy-Lite team and I rockin' out a few cool events. And, as luck would have it, before the dust settles we have a few more right around the corner! Tis the season around here.

Our week started out with a 3 day event for Loreal in Boca. I was personally around for the 1st and 2nd evenings events. Monday was an ice breaker event poolside. As the load in schedule was a bit tight, all right....REALLY tight, I wasn't able to get any shots :( I must say though, it looked awesome, and I wish I did. I hung around to actually help tear down (sometimes its the only exercise I get), and must say that the cool South Florida air coming off the ocean coupled with the sound of the ocean waves actually served as a bit of therapy. What a great evening it truly was. I guess its all in the perspective sometimes.

This image was created from the 2nd evenings event. Bruce Sutka and his team of artisans created what most of the resort staff referred to as the most impressive use of that room they had ever seen! I must say, its always great to be part of the magic :)

Look for more from this event soon.

Oh yeah, I gave up trying to straighten up this one!

Son et' Lumiere Sunday - Details from a wedding - part deux

Son et' Lumiere Sunday - Details from a wedding - part deux, originally uploaded by Photomike07.

This Sunday for Son et' Lumiere Sunday (a weekly peek into the inner workings of the unique business of special event lighting), I would like to pick up where we left off last week. Although I appreciate all the intricate details that make up the bigger picture, it is in fact this bigger picture that requires the large brush strokes of our lighting design. As mentioned before, this particular event had a common theme......color, and that color was lavender.

This color, in addition to being utilized within the floral, tablecloths, and decor, was the driving force in the lighting that we painted the room and details with. LED uplighting around the room was dialed into the precise color to complement the decor.

Each table had elaborate floral details that were individually pin-spotted. This contrast made each center piece appear to pop with brilliance while providing a nice reflected ambiance and warmth.

At this point, the cool daylight color temperature of the Florida sun was still sneaking itself into the room through the custom lavender drapes.

The wedding cake, at an event of this level, is always a spectacular piece of art. It is our job to make sure that it is lit as to be seen by all the guests. (and of course, to fight of the urge to attack it with a fork!)

An elaborate canopy of cherry blossom branches were suspended from a custom truss grid that we rigged to the ceiling. With the use of electrical chain motors, the decorator was able to wire all of the branches to the grid that we intern were able to raise with the push of a button. After this beautiful ceiling of texture was raised, the custom hand painted canvas was then stretched over the dance floor. An incredible effect indeed!

As a finishing touch and a unique remembrance for the bride and groom, an artist was commissioned to create a painting of the finished room. The finished piece of art actually had quests included that were wearing the exact attire they were wearing that evening!

Hope you enjoyed this little look into the window of one of our events. More next week!

Son et’ Lumiere Sunday - Details from a wedding

Son et’ Lumiere Sunday - Details from a wedding, originally uploaded by Photomike07.

So, Ive decided to add a weee bit more structure to my blog posts starting this week. Last Tuesday I started what I hope to be a weekly post of time-lapse projects I have recently been playing around with. Time-lapse Tuesdays shall serve up a weekly sampling of these experimental pieces. Tonights little launch is intented to be a weekly serving of images from events that I am either currently working on or have never had a chance to display. These Sunday evening posts will from here on out be refered to "Son et’ Lumiere Sundays." This phrase is one that I have always liked as it means sound and light show in French. Although, the majority of the events I work on are more of a synergy of various artisans and designers in other areas as well, lighting, sound, and electronic scenery is our specialty.

For this event, a wedding, the beauty is always in the details. Before expanding out to the larger view of the room and its treatment (for some other week), I would like to zoom in a bit close and enjoy the details that the designer created.

I used a new template idea for the top 3 images as I like these types of layouts. I like how the groups of pictures seem to create more of a complete picture and story to the scene. Although I am far from proficient in this look, I have always liked it, as seen in many travel and bridal magazines (aahhh, not that I look at a lot of Bridal Magazines, but you get the picture.)

If you have ever visited this blog before, you know that I create a lot of saturated and slightly over the edge processed HDR looks. These types of events, especially this last season, have given me a lot of opportunities to explore a more soft side in my search for images and subjects. That time before the doors open for the guest is the time I kinda feel like a kid in a candy store bouncing about the room with tripod (my gosh, that sounded stupid, didn't it?)

The first layout above is a sampling of some of the beautiful table details. Nothing is overlooked here in this cohesive design. The bride had a love for lavender and was the driving force in the color and feel of the flowers, linen, and lighting. The cake, as detailed in the second image, is one of those things that I often wonder if most of the guests get to appreciate. The intricate pieces of icing and texture were fun to explore with the camera. I guess that took my mind off of wanting to grab a fork and dig in (my gosh, could you imagine the horror upon finding a gouged chunk of cake removed from the back side by a hungry lighting designer? I often have....hehehe). While walking thru the cocktail area on my way out to the car before the guests arrived, I couldn't help but grab a couple of details shots of the sushi. Once again, I had to fight the urge!

The pastel lavender color the bride loved so much was a predominate player in the lighting design scheme we created. Look for some more images from the event soon (perhaps next week) on another Son et' Lumiere Sunday!

A look at a close-up world of details just before the guests arrived

A look at a close-up world of details just before the guests arrived, originally uploaded by Photomike07.

As you may or may not know, my "regular gig" is providing lighting for specials events. On a typical event (like this morning), our team shows up at the crack of dawn. A mad scurry then takes place as lights are hung, cables run, hardware is placed, circuits are patched, lights are focussed....and thats just our department. Add in the layers of decorators, florists, caterers, musicians, and other various artisans and you have quite a symphony of talent! As a photographer and visual artist myself, there is a virtual playground of images, textures, and colors to be enjoyed as a result. I have often wondered if the guests....any of them for that matter.....ever REALLY get it. I mean, do they really see the infinate detail that goes onto these projects? Well, I do, and after 25 years in this business......I am still in awe.

This little collage was created from a few shots right before the guests arrives (my favorite time) as I scoured the scene for unique angles. As I am a little backlogged, this is from an event we did last month. More on this one in a couple of days. I like these kind of "Conde Nast" style composites. Hope you like it as well. I have a few more great shots I hope to post from from this event so stay tuned :)

Happy Mothers Day!

Happy Mothers Day!, originally uploaded by Photomike07.

Not an ordinary day sometimes requires an extra ordinary image (compared to my typical that is). So.... Mothers Day....what can I say. For me, especially lately, its been really something special. A day to recognize that one faithful friend and coach that's always there....I mean always. To hear a new idea, offer advice, listen to a rant, lend a hand, give a hug,.....the heart of my family, my Mom, like no other! Happy Mothers Day.......I love you Mom :)

Spiraling out of control

Spiraling out of control, originally uploaded by Photomike07.

After somewhat of an emotionally draining day, I must admit that I have no energy to wright and properly compose what I really feel is the most appropriate post for the day. What I will say is that sometimes, as a small business owner, you have to make decisions.....really tough decisions. These decisions are most difficult to make when you realize the ripple effects they might make to others.

Part of the magic behind the long term success of any organization is making these decisions before things tend to spiral out of control. Perhaps hanging out on one of the stable landings along the way is what's needed for the long term stability. Fuel up, strengthen up, take cover for a while if needed, and prepare to head back up....one step at a time. Like I said, there is a lot more I would really like to say.....and will soon. For now, I think I am stopping off on one of these floors for a much needed rest. More to come....

(FYI, the image above was from my hotel in Iceland, and for me, well it seemed like it fit in with what I was feeling at some point today)

My Trek in Iceland - Day 1

My Trek in Iceland - Day 1, originally uploaded by Photomike07.

From what I have seen so far today, I am going to run out of time long before I run out of ideas for my images here in this incredibly diverse island of Iceland. Day one.....jet lag and all, rewarded me with a few great locations already. The biggest challenge is apparently going to be the weather. Of course, I embrace this challenge wholeheartedly cause, well, I'm in Iceland!

More to come :)

A much better view is here!

Azalias in Ravine State Park

Well, not my usual style thats for sure. Guess you could think of it as an Aprils Fools post if you want, however, that wasn't the original idea when this fool captured them. On a recent trek through Ravine State Park up near the St. Johns River, these flowers were in full bloom. Having essentially NO idea what they were at the time, I felt the urge to capture the wonderful color that was all around. Hope you like the deviation from the norm for a change :)

I just realized that this blog is starting to turn into a daily twitter tweet! Seems like I used to have so much to say. Actually, what it really was, to steal a phrase from my little sister "So many words, so little information" or was it "So much verbage, so little said" wait a minute, I think it was..... (all right, we get it Mike!)

Enjoy :)