I just got back from Chicago where I spent Saturday night photographing the Ravinia Gala. This year as part of the evening Jessye Norman narrated "Lincoln Portrait". The weather was perfect and the park was packed. Unlike last year when it poured with rain the Gala guests arrived early to enjoy the cocktail party before the show. When Beethoven's 9th came to an end the guests headed to the tent for a delicious dinner. A special thanks to Alexandra who helped me all night and to Amy who made sure I was in the right place at the perfect time.

Flowers remind me of my childhood

It seems I never get tired of photographing flowers. When I was child I used to visit the little old lady who lived next door. I think she was probably 45 but to me as a 4 year old she seemed very old. Little she was. Not much taller than me at the time, she used to give me a trowel and a bucket and we would spend hours pulling out the weeds. She taught me about all kinds of things. She would rub mint in her hands and let me smell and taste it, she showed me how to prune hydrangeas and she told me stories about everything in the garden. I learnt that papyrus had been the first paper and that bees pollinated the flowers. There were 2 things that took me back to her garden, the roses and the rides in the wheelbarrow. Once the barrow was full Mary would take it down to the pile of cuttings on the front lawn that faced Sydney Harbour, then I climbed onto the wheelbarrow for the ride back to the garden. At the end of the day she would light a fire and we would watch all the old leaves go up in smoke as sail boats bobbed up and down on the harbour. She loved her rose gardens and also her poppy garden. One spring the poppy garden was not replanted. Years later I found out that they had been opium poppies and that she grew them because they were beautiful.

Summer and Clyde get married

Here are some photos from Summer and Clydes wedding in Nantucket. To see more click on the slide show link on the right.

Eye Spy

People sometimes ask me where I get my inspiration. When I say everywhere, they look at me kinda funny and then I say riding the subway, or walking to work, or watching TV or any of the every day things that fill up my life.
Last week I was on the subway and when I got to Chambers St, I looked out and saw all these tiles from one end of the station to the other. I had to jump off the train and photograph them.
I just never know what I am going to see if my eyes are open.

Sarah and Pascal

When Pascal proposed to Sarah she told him she would have her answer is a week. (That was how long it would take to get a neon sign with her answer on it made) 7 days later when Pascal came home the lights were all off when he opened the door there was the sign and answer he had been waiting for.
No way was there going to be pale pink nails for this fabulous bride. On the morning of her wedding she went to town and red it was to be. For her something blue it was a temporary Blues Clues tattoo. The weather was perfect in Amaganset where the couple have a house. Bill Tansey helped organize everything and did an incredible job with the flowers and the tent.

A Garden Blooms

At last
the sun
from behind the clouds
emerges
as summer days whisper of things to come.
The air becomes full
and a garden blooms

Kim Hicks , A modern Couturier

Yesterday Kim Hick brought over her extraordinary range of Couture handmade gowns and we spent the day photographing them on Kamila. The dresses fitted like a glove. Thanks goes to Robin Narvaez who did the hair and make up.

Hurray for the Gay Parade

After photographing a wedding on Saturday I thought how nice it would be to have a relaxing Sunday without picking up a camera. That lasted about half a second when I realised it was the NYC Gay Parade. It was so much fun. I captured the photos at the end of the parade in the West Villageafter the fabulous fairies, butterflies, boys. babes etc had walked all the way from 59th Street! Yes they were Hot!

Ilo Ferreira hits the road

It will not be long before you know this man and his name. Yes Ilo Ferreira is about to make it big. Here are the photos from his concert at the Surf Lodge in Montauk last night. He has a smile that lights up a room, a guitar that is ready to travel and a voice that changes with every language he sings in ( English, Italian and his native Cape Verde language that sounds like portuguese). With Jimmy Buffett behind him forget about American Idol. This guy from Cape Verde is winning hearts at a rate of knots. Ilo we love it when you sing in your own language. It makes us weak at the knees!

Ilo visits my studio

Some how with his busy schedule I managed to catch Ilo for an hour in my studio. He has been soloing with Jimmy on the latest tour and last night meet Wynton Marsalis and Eric Clapton who came to the restaurant where he was playing a gig alone.