Details from Touch Floral - and a bit about some changes

Details from Touch Floral, originally uploaded by Photomike07 / MDSimages.com.

I've given a bit of thought to my blogging strategy recently. Blogging strategy....now that sound a bit strange doesn't it? Having a few irons in the fire tends to create a stream with no real direction. Perhaps that's ok I guess, but I think I am leaning towards a complete restructuring of things round here.

In an effort to simplify my life, I think I have actually complicated it a bit. Funny how that happens :) Having multiple interests and passions can sometimes find one driving down a few paths at the same time. Lighting, real estate investments, photography, travel...trying to keep it all on the track can be a bit maddening.....yikes!

So anyway, look for some big changes in the MDS site as well as the Hylite site soon. My plan is to keep the 2 kinda separate with their own individual direction and applicable posts. I have a few interesting products, tutorials, and goodies I am working on in the near future with my photography as well. Check out the blog for a place to sign up to be notified first!

As far as the image, I created this collage with a cool preset I created with lightroom. I plan on sharing a few tips like these and others in the newsletter!

A playground of images - wedding details

A playground of images - wedding details, originally uploaded by Photomike07 / MDSimages.com.

I've often referred the the business I am in (providing lighting and effects for special events) as getting the chance to play with a really big toy box filled with goodies. I know, kinda silly, but its felt that way since the beginning. This season, more that average, has found us lighting quite a bit of weddings. It seems only natural that I approach these environments with my camera like a playground.....with goodies to photograph all around me. I know, REALLY silly. Speaking of silly, check out the video I uploaded this evening. I don't know where I could have possibly thought that I would have the time to video blog from the event in the Bahamas we are leaving for in the AM, but I decided to record an intro video this afternoon. Well, an on camera talent I am NOT! As I looked over the clips for a shred of anything useful, I realized that what I had actually created was a bunch of out-takes. Check in out if ya get a chance. Lets hope it gets better as the week goes on!

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!

An afternoon of thought in Boston

An afternoon of thought in Boston, originally uploaded by Photomike07.

So, in typical fashion, I arrived in another city and no sooner did I arrive.... I was out the door. The weather here in Boston was quite incredible and certainly less humid that South Florida this time of year! I had the afternoon to explore and determined a couple of things......

First off, I am really out of shape. Sure I walked for about 5 hours or so, but I mean really. Gotta focus on that!

Secondly, I really love the city, especially young vibrant cities. Today was one of those days that seemed like a true celebration of life all throughout Boston.

Third, well, I really don't have a third, Just felt like I was on a roll.....anyway....

I took a few non typical shots today that I hope to put into some sort of a collage. Look for them later this week.

Stay tuned for tomorrows post from a scene from the events world I seem to live in as well as a cool time-lapse on Tuesday!

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 :)

A little bit of house keeping

Geeeeez, is that a stupid title or what? Anyway, for you old and new bloggers out there that might be checking out my posts and pics every so often, I just wanted to mention a few things. I updated the side bar of the blog a bit. I have a followers widget that you can set yourself up on. I'd like to see ya there :) ! There is also a link to my Image kind site for prints. I don't have many there yet, but I hope to change that. Also, there are a few links to some other sites I like for imaging as well as my posts by categories and dates. And lastly, I have a group of links to my business site (look for some MASSIVE changes over the summer on that), as well as links to my facebook and gallery sites. I hope to update my main gallery site soon so stay tuned for that. The flickr link takes you to a site that lets you view all the sets of images I have, then view in slideshow vies, etc. Kinda cool so check them out! Also, if I can remember to add the code, clicking on an image on the blog will take you to a larger view from now on instead of taking you to flickr....again, if I remember to add the code....

There is a lot to learn in these new times we live in, and its great fun sharing all this knowledge. For example, I just got off of the phone with Steve (a fellow blogger and friend) and we exchanged tips. It seams to be a reality that a massive paradigm shift is taking place in the entertainment and information world. For many of us, the TV is no longer the preferred way of content delivery. Our valuable time is ever more shifting to content that WE create and WE proactively look for. With that in mind, I am quite honored to have you here!

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 :)

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 :)