Vid-let

I don't think there's any doubt anymore as to what Cady and James' song is.

: D


Cady and James from maryanne ku on Vimeo.

Meet the Bekkers: The Engagement Session.

I've finished processing the engagement shoot. You can browse the web gallery here:
http://www.shutterperfect.com/peterandphoebe/engagement.htm

Peter and Phoebe

As I post this my vision is blurred, my muscles are sore, my right hand is cramping, and I am beyond exhausted. I haven't worked this hard at any wedding EVER! It's all worth it though when I get to see the end product. I've started editing and it makes me feel so wonderful when I see the beautiful fruits of my labor. I feel even MORE wonderful when I get to work with such a chill and laid back couple like Peter Bekker and Phoebe Light. I shot their wedding this weekend, if you haven't already guessed. I enjoyed the company of Phoebe's family IMMENSELY. The Lights are a hoot! Their consideration and assistance this weekend were invaluable. Thanks, guys! And by "guys" I mean Renee.

: P


We started yesterday, Saturday, with an engagement session at Harvard Yard and then by the Charles River. Unfortunately, their usual bench by the river was occupied but I think we managed pretty well, don't you? --------->


I can't wait to start working on the rest. Ah, what a weekend. Congratulations, Peter and Phoebe!

Okay, I'm going to bed now before I pass out.






*I forgot to mention, if you'd like to notified as to when all the photos are up online and/or want to purchase prints from the wedding, visit http://www.pictage.com/490290 and sign the event guestbook to make sure you don't miss out. Also, you'll get a $5 credit toward free prints!

Opacity Defined.

Found this on Matt's Blog.

Tee hee.

Memorial Day

Here are some shots from this weekend. Went to a fireworks show at North Hempstead Beach Park (formerly Bar Beach) on Saturday evening. On Sunday my brother drove Megan and me to CT where we spent the night at my Dad's cabin. Muffy came, too. I brought my old point and shoot digital hoping to get some video of Muffy swimming in the lake but there wasn't time. I also shot some video of the peacock chilling on the roof of the cabin. Nothing good though; I couldn't get close enough. Of course, as soon as I stopped shooting, it flew from the roof to the trees about 30 feet away. I'll get some good photos and video next time, I promise.

Everything Old is New Again

Came across these on Sarah's Blog. Craig Arnold recycles old camera rings into expensive wrist bracelets.

I want em.

Wedding in Sichuan

Imagine a wedding portrait session. Then imagine an earthquake registering 7.9.

Images taken by Dragon Photo and pulled from a Chinese news story.






Oddly enough, my first thought after viewing these haunting images was "Thank God the equipment survived." I guess I'm pretty heartless. I'll have to make a small donation to ease my conscience.

If this were your wedding, would you have these images in your album or have the photographer edit out all things earthquake?

Matching Chairs

I bought a Children's Poang Chair from Ikea for $30 so Muffy and I could have matching chairs. She took to it right away.

D.C.

Went to D.C. last weekend to visit some old school chums. Ended up touring some E.U. embassies and snagging some free food and wine. Good times, good times.

Pig Pickin and Face Lickin

I woke up this morning and shuffled into the kitchen. This was the first thing I saw:



Lovely.

I spent the majority of the afternoon making some yummy treats for my friend Adjoa's birthday.

"It's my birthday next week," she had told me last Wednesday. I took it as a hint. For some reason we have lots of cans of mandarin oranges in the house so I decided upon a Pig Pickin cake. I had this cake for the first time on Super Bowl Sunday this year in Atlanta, GA. My friend Anna got the recipe from a Paula Dean episode. It was delicious. Light and sweet but not too sweet.

A Pig Pickin cake is a traditional Southern cake. I am assuming that it is usually made for pig pickins (Southern BBQs that entail roasting a whole pig on a spit then picking it apart with a bunch of family, friends, and or neighbors).




I also made some marscapone mini-cupcakes with strawberry glaze. I didn't particularly care for them but Megan, my sister, did. She put that junk away. I mean, it was ridiculous how much she ate. It's totally not fair how she can eat whatever she wants and still be so thin.



I delivered the goodies to the home of mutual family friends, the Cooleys. They have five children and a pomeranian named Chuck Norris. Chuck Norris has a nice set of new, sharp teeth coming in, fyi.

This is Paul, the second oldest, teasing his dog mercilessly. Hrm...who does that remind me of...?


This is Ben, the second youngest. His hobbies include playing guitar and kissing Chuck Norris.



And this is Sarah, the eldest.

Noho is Gorgeous, Williamsburg Is Fugly.

I was in the city today for an interview on Washington St. in the Lower West Side, bw Bank and 11th. It was the prettiest patch of city I've ever seen. I mean, sure, on the Upper East it's gorgeous but also so grandiose that you can't help but feel that somehow you've been transported to another planet whose inhabitants are aliens who are really good looking and richer than Croesus or at least richer than you'll ever be times a hundred. But, in the West Village, as I walked along cobblestone streets lined with immaculate brownstones, I felt I was walking through a movie set. There was no traffic. No noise. Wine shops and sidewalk cafes dotted the street corners. It was perfect. It was clean, I mean really clean.

"How wonderful," I thought to myself. "If I had the money, I would totally set up shop here." I needed a place to change out of my sneakers into my grey suede ankle boots for the interview so I ducked into a cute little coffee place and ordered a small chai tea for $3.

It was very small.

It tasted like shit.

[After the interview I made a quick stop at the Crumpler boutique for a quick look at their camera bags. None of which I can afford right now. Not that the fact that I can't afford something has ever prevented me from buying it. But today I did not buy a Crumpler bag despite being IN THE STORE and TOUCHING THEM. Aren't you proud of me? I deserve an award.]

I didn't want to head home during rush hour and pay a peak fare so to Brooklyn I went in search for some cute wardrobe goodness for a shoot I'm setting up. I read about a vintage dress shop in NY Mag's the Best of NY and it seemed like a perfect place to start my hunt. I got off the L train at Lorimer, looked around, and thought, "Man, Brooklyn is such a shithole."

As I walked down Grand St., a sign in a store window caught my attention. I think it was because it was the most pathetic sign I've ever seen.



Indeed, what is an Action Burger? I wanted to find out more so I studied the storefront.



Curiouser and curiouser.
I decided to go inside.







An episode of Justice League was playing on the television.


This is their menu.


And of course, some people to keep you company while you eat.








Including the Teen Titans!



Awe. Some.

The gentleman seated at the table was chowing down. "These are really good," he told me. "You should try one."
It was too bad I had just eaten a passable club sandwich and some black bean and corn salad from Balducci's.
"Next time," I say. "I'll definitely be back."

So if you're ever in the mood for a burger or eating amongst super-heroes, check out Action Burger. Grand St, bw Union and Lorimer.

So I left Action Burger and made my way to Flores Antique Clothing. I think I selected somewhere between 13-15 dresses. I then whittled my selection down to 4, then back up to 5 at the advisement of a fellow shopper who came in to pick up a belt she had left. She ended up staying in the store "just to browse."

"Might as well," she said, "since I'm here already."
"Sound logic," I replied. And it was. To do otherwise would just be plain uneconomical.
Here is Mauricio Flores. And here is his fabulous store. You can catch him most afternoons, sitting in a chair, watching Unavision and fiddling around with the television attenae.






Mauricio offers discounts if you buy in bulk, like I did.

I found all this coolness just walking down one block. Funny thing, not once in Manhattan did I feel the urge to take out my camera. I'm thinking maybe Brooklyn may be more suited to my taste than the manicured curbsides of the Lower West Side. Sure, not all of it's pretty. But it's got heart. Character. Like the girl who isn't so good lookin but has a great personality because of it, ya know?