A view from the room - San Diego

A view from the room - San Diego, originally uploaded by Photomike07.

Upon checkin, the usual question that seems to be the first to be asked is would you prefer a king or 2 double beds? I say screw it, give me a beanbag chair, as long as I can get a cool view. And a cool view I was able to get!

My morning routine this morning had me in a bit of a confused state. While anticipating the excitement for todays session, I actually found myself sitting by the window in a relaxed state during sunrise, attempting to meditate whilst catching a glimpse of the rising San Diego sun painting the morning cityscape, while at the same time......and get this.....stretching, tweeting, checking emails, and chugging down a cup o' joe. Yeah, a little too much to actually focus on the meditation. LOL. Lets see how tomorrow goes!

A walk about the harbor - San Diego

A walk about the harbor - San Diego, originally uploaded by Photomike07.

After a slightly uncomfortable flight across the country sandwiched between 2 overweight passengers, I decided it was time for an attitude adjustment. A late lunch of sushi down by the water, a 90 minute massage at the spa, and a trek about the marina around sunset was indeed just what the doctor ordered!

Eiffel Tower from the Roof of the Pullman (and thank you security for letting me up there!)

Eiffel Tower from the Roof of the Pullman (and thank you security for letting me up there!), originally uploaded by Photomike07.

As my little getaway comes to a crashing halt, I figured I would post one from when I started this little loop. By tomorrow about this time, I will be back in Paris....most likely scouring the streets like a madman trying to capture more images from the "City of Lights."

I hope everyone is OK out there and thanks for checking in. I look forward to posting more in the weeks and months to come!

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!

Checking in at the Shangra-La

Checking in at the Shangra-La, originally uploaded by Photomike07.

My post this evening has us taking a little trip back to a place I was a few months ago in the wonderful city of Singapore. The reason I decided to grab these out of the file and throw out there to the world has a bit to do with a little lecture I went to last night. The guest speaker at the South Florida Camera Club was a well known local architectural photographer named Jerry Rabinowitz. A great photographer and entertaining speaker! His clients such as Architectural Digest, Florida Design, and Mara-Lago demand quality and realism out of his work. I often start my images out that way, yet frequently go down that road of slight surrealism in the processing. I guess that's ok though, as my client is, .... well....., me :)

Click on each of these to take it to a larger view on black! The detail is pretty amazing if I do say so myself. I remember running about this lobby like a kid with my tripod and kit. The marble, glass, light, and details were a perfect combination for my style of HDR work. As I have said before, some people love it and some absolutely HATE it. Impressionism was also heavily disliked in France in its early years. I suppose all art movements are fought with a little resistance at some level or another.

Atop of the hotel, there was a cool little patio just off of an area that was used for the VIP breakfasts. It had a very hip kinda feel to it and was a nice place to wake up to the vibrant city of Singapore at sunrise. Of course, you have to plan about 15 minutes for the fog to burn off your lenses before a shoot as it is HUMID there! I have a few more from this trip to post someday, so stay tuned :)

Images from an event - this one being NACDS - Part 2

Seemingly ready to hatch, originally uploaded by Photomike07.

As promised, I've got a few more goodies from a show we worked on last month. Wow, kinda feast or famine with my show posts I guess huh? Like I mentioned yesterday, events with this client (see link and mention in yesterdays post) are fun for the photographer and image creator in me as there is oodles of time to enjoy not only the art of the scene that we helped create, but the craft of capturing these frames for eternity. Please enjoy some more images below and thanks for stopping by :)

I love trying to isolate these little "characters" as they seem to be fighting for their spot in the huge stage of decor.

I hope you liked this deeper look into one of our events. I have a couple more to get posted once I get the images together. Check back tomorrow for my regular random post from wherever......

Images from an event - this one being NACDS - Part 1

Images from an event - this being NACDS - Part 1, originally uploaded by Photomike07.

Its been a little while since I did a post from a show, so, here we go! After just working on 2 successful events this weekend, I guess I'm in the mood. In continuation to last nights post, I am gonna show a few images from an event we did at the Breakers in April. The NACDS (International Chain Drug Store) event is actually a week long convention that annually brings a lot to the local economy. According to their website, The NACDS Annual Meeting is their industry’s most influential, strategically oriented event. More than 2,000 business leaders including Chairmen, CEOs, Presidents, and Senior Vice Presidents from drug, food, mass, and specialty retailing companies and their supplier counterparts will gather in Palm Beach to share their vision, discuss strategic issues, and explore future opportunities for success. Our involvement varies from year to year. In years past, we have worked on events for Revlon and Gillette, but this year, as we have for about 20 years, we were happy to be working with L'oreal Paris again. Michael Ereshena has always found a creative way to tie in the "French" theme. In years past, regions such as the Riviera, The Loire Valley, and Normandy have inspired his designs, but for this year, French Films became the basis for the decor.

In this crazy and unpredictable world of events, it is still the relationship that I appreciate the most. Being able to say that you have worked with a client for over 20 years is quite powerful. Sure it can get a bit stressful at time....all right, alot of the time....but in this fast paced business, it is always rewarding to look back at what you created and say with pride "Hey, I was part of that!"

I all fairness, we are just a small part of this equation.....albeit a pretty important part. The real magic starts with the initial decor design and especially in Michael Ereshena's events...the flowers. His link is here: 

http://specialeventresource.com/index.html

For me, personally, the best part about his events is the fact that his army of crew always finishes WELL ahead of schedule. This give me a great deal of to wander about the space looking for details to capture.





As to avoid the various setup crew, wait staff, and my own crew, the first lense I usually try out is the macro or a 50mm 1.8. I love to isolate these little oasis's of detail and color. Lately, I kinda take pride in knowing that even the most discerning guest is most likely not going to see these little worlds of wonder in the way that my eyes are used to seeing them. You know, its funny, after over 20 years....you think I might be jaded. I guess I was for a little while there, but within the last 2 years, my camera has kinda pulled me back into this world of art :)


As I start to pull out of the exploring the close-up world, its time to start capturing the big picture. Of course, that hardest part is avoiding the countless scurrying staff as they go about meticulously straightening flatware, filling water glasses, and straightening chairs. At times, its hard not to scream out "All right already! It looks fine.....now get out of my shot!!!" I then calm myself down when I realize that there are many other departments just as important as mine, so I continue to operate stealth-like.


The event was held in one of my favorite rooms in the hotel, The Circle Dining Room. Just about the most European feeling room I can think of here in Palm Beach. Although a bit of a challenge for us to load into, the details in this room are just amazing. If in town for a visit, this is a great place to catch a brunch on Sunday morning or perhaps lunch during the week. A link to their website (which is pretty cool I might add) is here:

http://www.thebreakers.com/

Raised seating areas, a signature Michael Ereshena look, provided little casual areas to get away and talk with business associates and collegues.

From the balcony, I was able to capture a bit of this incredible ceiling detail. I have a few more from the event to post, so check back tomorrow for more from this event. Thanks for stopping by :)

Looking for George Jetson

As we were leaving the Fontainebleau Hotel (the incredibly new and improved Fontainebleau Hotel) after the YPO event, I glanced over my shoulder at this. The over the top LED lighting encapsulated the whole area giving a feeling of The Star Trek Enterprise meets George Jetson!

Fountaineblea event - just before doors

In my world of events and the illumination of them, my part is varied. For most events, especially in South Florida, we provide everything...design, equipment, labor, delivery.....the whole enchilada. We do this quite flawlessly I am proud to say. This has always worked out well....a full lighting "toybox" to play with with a great support crew.

For this event, however, we were chosen as mainly design and direction of the final evenings festivities. I worked closely with another production company to over see the design of the general session rig as to incorporate as much as we would need for our final night. I enjoy this challenge and "out of the safety box" experience. It's also nice to just design and direct and as a result, wear a few less hats!

The entrance to the event was classic Bruce Sutka design......wow them as soon as they walk in. The challenge was how to create a "Backstage at the latin dinner show" experience in a ballroom. Here we are, just outside of the faux backstage entrance.





We used various up lights and task lights to accomplish a low key and colorful look. The fresnel stage lights with barn doors on stands helped to sell the "backstage" feel. Chris's great idea of placing battery operated low profile flashlights inside them enabled us to have a slight glow in each high powered stage light. A very "Disney" approach and a great idea as the powerer was kinda limited.


All servers were at attention as the guests arrived. Just after I took this, I started to plan my move to sneak a plate!


Another signature "Bruce Sutka" effect is to create these really cool seating areas within the room. Here is a shot of one of those hip hang out areas.

One of the few things the privileged guests never see is the condition of the room just an hour from the event. Soon after this was taken, the room was magically transformed to its original condition. Just another day in the event world!

Poolside at night at the Shangri-La in Singapore

After a cool dinner with the crew in Singapore, there was one last place I wanted to capture....the hotel pool. I've been to some pretty tropical locations, but this one has them all beat by a mile! Heading outdoors with camera gear and lenses from the air conditioned comfort of the Shangri-La Hotel late in the evening means one thing......you're hanging out for about 30 minutes to an hour to wait for the fog to clear off the sensor and lenses. Unless, of course, you like that effect. But hey, I can think of plenty worse places to have to kill a little time!

The New Fontainebleau Hotel

On a recent site survey and meeting at the All Newly Renovated Fountainebleau Hotel in Miami Beach, I couldn't help but try to capture some of the "feel" of this hotel. We have been doing events, every now and then, for the last 20 years here. What a dramatic change for the better. Very hip, cool, slick, and South Beach. Certainly not the old crusty hotel I remember thats for sure!

I decided to post these as we are doing an event there this weekend. As was the case at the gig I posted last night, we have a severely limited window between when the morning session meeting ending and the doors opening for our event. Nothing like looking forward to an afternoon of acute stress and chest pains! Hahaha!

Anyway, check out the following images from the lobby and new pool area. I hope to catch a few more this week when I am down there this week :)

Near the South Tower and valet area, they have these huge doors that open up to the new pool area. What a great day for swim!

Just down the steps from the old Grand Ballroom is a pretty funky "chill out" area near the North lobby. A perfect candidate for the 10mm fisheye lense. Incidently, the new name for the renovated ballroom is called the Sparkle Ballroom......a nice name for a fresh look.

Just after I captured the pool area, I did a 180 to capture this as the valet was bringing the car up. Not sure how all the pink got in this shot during my processing, but oh well, you get the picture :)