Broad Brook Dairy..the end of an era..

If you are from my neck of the woods, then you have probably know of the old Broad Brook Dairy in Preston. I remember going there many times in my youth for good ole fashioned hand made ice cream. Stepping into the dairy bar was like stepping back in time. Nothing was ever updated. In it's late years, the dairy was only open a few short months, and it seemed that there was no ryhme or reason to the season. One day you'd drive by and the place looked like it had been abandoned for years. Then, a couple of days later the grass got cut and they were open for business! It was truly a cherished landmark by those of us from the area and has since been replaced by Buttonwood Farms, which many of you from outside the area may know of, from the attention it receives for it's sunflower fields and campaign for the Make-a wish Foundation.

I drove by Broad Brook a couple of weeks ago on my way back from a photographic seminar and much to my dismay, they were tearing it down. The back was ripped of the building and the place cleared out. I had always wanted to get inside and photograph it, but it looks like I waited a little too long. In all honesty, I figured that there had to have been plenty of snakes, rats, etc. living in there, so I wasn't stroming the doors to get in there. ;-P

Anyways, I happened to have a few spaces left on my card and managed to take a few images of what was left when I was passing. There were 3 rusted out milk trucks left in back that hadn't yet been hauled away. Last registered in 1968. Back when then milk man still delivered. I hope these images can give you a glimpe of days gone by.

Raw Culture and IMA fashion show

FYI - there will be a fashion show here in New London tomorrow evening (Friday) inside the Atrium at Harris Place. Local designers Cristin Gallagher and Jesse English will be debuting some of their new fall designs, and the opening reception will be held at ArtImage (my studio), which is directly across the street from the show at 170 State St. The show starts at 8p (opening reception at 7p)is free and all are invited to attend. I will be shooting the show, and if all goes well, there will be more shows like this to follow. So come down and be a part of New London's blossoming arts district!! IMA/Raw Culture

Art Leather at ArtImage

FYI - In case you didn't get the email blast. I am hosting a Art Leather "Get Together" here at the studio today from 4-7p. Please feel free to stop down and check out the latest and greatest products from Art Leather. Colleen Nolan will be here to answer any questions you might have. Studio address is 170 State Street in New London. Everyone is welcome!

Master Photographers Exhibit at The Met

I am wondering if anyone is interested in getting together to go check this out at The Metropolitan Museum of Art within the next couple of weeks. Only runs to the end of the month. Let me know!
Framing a Century: Master Photographers, 1840–1940

The exhibition tells the story of photography's first 100 years through the work of key figures who helped shape the aesthetic and expressive course of the medium: Gustave Le Gray, Roger Fenton, Carleton Watkins, William Henry Fox Talbot, Julia Margaret Cameron, Nadar, Édouard Baldus, Charles Marville, Eugène Atget, Walker Evans, Man Ray, Henri Cartier-Bresson, and Brassaï. The exhibition presents 10 to 12 iconic works by each of these artists to convey a broad sense of their contributions to photography. Many of the works are drawn from the Museum's 2005 acquisition of the Gilman Collection.

Loan Collection!!!

Wow, Wow, Wow! I just got word that 2 of my prints were accepted in Professional Photographers of America's International print competition. One was chosen for the prestigious "Traveling Loan Collection", which is basically the highest honor that can be bestowed to a print through PPA. And my other print was accepted for the Showcase Book. Both are incredibly tough accomplishments, and this was my first time entering PPA's Int'l print competition, so I am truly elated to have done so well. This is really a big deal in my world. Thank you PPA!

CT Wedding Photographers rule!

Well, Connecticut Wedding Photographers continued to kick butt in the WPD's Creative Photo Contest! Out of 2500 images entered, all 3 of my images made the top 100 and my fellow CT Wedding Photographers who also placed were Steve Depino, Robert Trenske, Rich Esposito and Lunell Troy. Great going gang!

Voting is now open to the public, so please go cast your votes here: "Wedding Photography Directory Photo Contest .

Jenny & Al expecting

Here are a few from my session with Jenny & Al's maternity session. I had the good fortune of shooting their wedding last year and they will bringing in their baby girl Alana in next week for a session. I am really looking forward to meeting little Alana, and it is so wonderful to have the opportunity to document these special moments in people's lives.

"The Urban Edge" session

Here are a few images from an "Urban Edge" senior session I did with Amanda. Hope you enjoy! Thanks for being such a great model Amanda!

Back to da blog!

Well, it's been about 4 months since I posted anything..mainly because I've been so busy..but also because I didn't think anyone actually read this stuff! I have had a few people comment on the blog so I am back to posting! Ok, since my last post, I have have had the good fortune of winning a couple of more awards! First, in April, I won "Best in Show" at CPPA's print competition with my print titled "Sophie's Smile" (below). Then, I won "Best in Show" again in June with my print titled "Midnight Rendevous". Totally unbelievable... and these 2 wins puts me a very strong position to win "Photographer of the Year" again this year...which would be very awesome.
In other news, the new studio is open for business and I am plannning to have a Grand Opening party so that everyone can come on down to check it out. I have been having fun doing some high school seniors, babies, maternity, etc. and will post some images from those sessions for you to check out. So stay tuned!

WPD

The Wedding Photography Directory continues to be very good to me. As I posted a while ago, they selected one of my images for March's "Photo of the Month", which can be viewed on the home page here. But I also got word that out of 1600 entries in the Annual Photo Contest, the 3 images I entered all made the top 100. A few of my fellow CT wedding hotographers made the cut as well. They were Steve Depino, Tommy Martin, Robert Trenske, The Troys & Richard Esposito. CT Wedding photographers ROCK!! Great going gang!! Keep up the GREAT work.
Voting is now OPEN TO THE PUBLIC so if any of you would like to vote for any of my/our images...it would be MUCH appreciated. Here is the voting link. My images are below:

Best of Weddings Contest

Some of you may remember that I was fortunate to win the Best of Weddings Contest last year which is sponsored by WPPI & Eventpix. Well..it appears I got lucky again!! Out of 469 entries...I just found out that I placed 3 out of the top 10 finalist in the Romance category in this year's competition!! (Last year I placed 4 so I better pick it up a notch.) Anyways, I already win a few things for just being a finalist like WPPI tickets, lab credits, etc., but here are the prizes for category and grand prize:

Grand Prize:

- Fujifilm S5 camera
- Asukabook 10x10 80-side Hard Cover Book-Bound EX-Laminate album
- $500 lab credit with H&H Color Lab
- Six months free online hosting service from Eventpix.com
- Complete Set of Kubota Image Tools Photoshop® Actions
- Complete Doug Gordon Workshops DVD set (8 DVD's) and Flow Posing Guide

Best of Category Prizes:
- Asukabook 10x10 40-side Hard Cover Book-Bound Varnish album
- Complete Set of Kubota Image Tools Photoshop® Actions
- $150.00 lab credit with H&H Color Lab
- Three months free online hosting service from Eventpix.com
- One Doug Gordon Workshops DVD (1 DVD) and Flow Posing Guide

WISH ME LUCK!!! Uncle Sam could REALLY use another S5!!

A shot of my ugly mug...

Here is a shot of my ugly mug accepting the CT Photographer of the Year Award from CPPA President Grace Cribbins...what a dork! I USED to be kinda cool at one time in my life...really. BTW Grace...thanks for making me look taller!! lol

Blue, Blue, Blue

Well, I just got back from the CT Photographers Association's annual convention and discovered (to my extreme surprise & delight) that 3 of my prints were awarded Blue ribbons and another a Red Ribbon in the print competition!! The Blue's were a total surprise to me because I basically entered all the prints that didn't score well during the quarterly competition. I only entered them because I didn't have anything else ready! Thank you to Julia Gerace for talking me into entering...thanks Jules!!! My good friend and collegue Charleen Larkin "one upped" me and took home 4 Blue Ribbbons!! Way to go Charleen! Anyways, here are a few of mine...titles: "Flying High Again", "Towering Inferno" and "Where Art Thou?".

Kerri & Paul

Here are a couple from Kerri & Paul's wedding in October. It was an intimate ceremony with only a few family & friends. I call this first one "Marilyn Moment". It was incredibly windy that day..as you can see! Congrats again guys!

Stephanie & Stephen

Man am I am on a blog roll today! Get it? Blog roll? Man I am too much! Here a few little diddies from Stephanie & Stephen's wedding on January 5th. Thanks for braving the cold temps guys! Ceremony at Providence College and reception at The Biltmore Hotel.