U.S. Open - Kim Clijsters shines

As a tribute to those lost on 9/11/01, U.S. Marines stationed in Brooklyn unfurled the flag and everyone observed a moment of silence.  Chaka Khan sang America the Beautiful.

Kim and her daughter, Jada

Immediately after her win, Clijsters climbed over seats and up into the stands where she ran to the arms of her husband ... 

So romantic!!!

Tonight's US Open Tennis match at the Arthur Ashe Stadium was terrific.  With thanks for the tickets from friends Dina and Bob of the USTA, we enjoyed a wonderful match. Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert made a special appearance.  Eric spotted TV actor Denis Leary in the audience.  It took exactly one hour for 2nd seed Kim Clijsters to triumph over 7th seed Vera Zvonareva, 6-2, 6-1 in the Women's Final.

Kim is a resident of Wall Township, NJ, one-time home of the F9F Cougar aircraft which Eric and Dina are currently restoring aboard Intrepid.  Kim has won 21 consecutive matches at the U.S Open.  Tonight was her 3rd U.S. Open Championship which earned her a $2.2 million paycheck. (Click on any image to enlarge, use back arrow to return).

On the way home to New Jersey, the George Washington Bridge was lit up and we saw the twin spotlights lighting the skyline where the Towers once stood at Ground Zero.

Click here for Proof Positive Photography website.

The "Dark Ages" of Photography ... Back behind the camera again

I just couldn't put my camera down for very long.
A trip to Medieval Times over the Labor Day weekend called for my Nikon D300s and my 70-200mm lens.  The pageantry and horsemanship were impressive, as was the lighting. (Click on any image to enlarge, use back arrow to return).

I'm walking well now, even with the surgical boot which I will need to wear for another 2-3 weeks.  No driving yet, but hopefully soon. 

Click here for Proof Positive Photography website.

Time off to heal – Foot surgery

On Wednesday, August 18, I went under the knife to (hopefully) correct a bunionectomy gone bad in 2000.  For 10 years, I’ve been coping with a bent right toe, a compromised gait, and hassles finding comfortable shoes.   (Of course I took "before" photos of my foot, but I'll spare you).

Just today, I was able to put some weight on the heel after enduring a 2-hour surgery to break and fuse the big toe in a straight position by way of a metal pin through the bones.  For the next 6 weeks, I’ll be wearing a surgical boot to immobilize the foot as the bones fuse.  So, my photography will necessarily be limited until early October.

In the meantime, as soon as I can make it down to my stained glass studio, I’ll be working on Van Gogh’s “Starry Night”, a 21" x 27"  stained glass window for our office. Please see my blog here.

Portrait - Head Shot sitting today

TUESDAY, August 17, 2010

Today I shot portraits/head shots for a local exercise physiologist to update her ongoing newspaper ad.  We did several shots in my studio and some by a window, to get a few shots using natural light.  Pending her OK, I’ll post a couple of shots soon.

Website Watermark Day

 
 MONDAY, August 16, 2010

I decided I wanted a more professional, personalized look to my watermarks, so I bounced between Word, Photoshop, LightRoom, and iWatermark, created a new one, and changed it on many of the photos on my website.  Here’s the new look, above.  And here's the site.

Pipefest Bagpipers strut across the flight deck of Intrepid

Gordon pipers, my Mother's clan

Yesterday the Intrepid hosted a gathering of bagpipers and drummers for the worldwide Pipefest Global Challenge, held simultaneously in Scotland, England, Canada, Hong Kong, and Australia.  The goal of Pipefest is to unite the piping and drumming world in support of veteran and cancer charities worldwide.  Pipers marching on Intrepid supported the efforts of the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Foundation.

For more info, click here for Pipefest's website. And for the Intrepid's website coverage of Pipefest, click here.   And, for my YouTube video of these pipers performing "Scotland the Brave", see below.  And ... you can view 125 more of my photos by going to my website, then to "online ordering", then to "client events", then enter password: Pipefest.  Photos will be posted until 9/21/10.

As the bagpipes droned on the Flight Deck, my heart was pounding in my chest, proud to be Scottish through my mother, Moira Gordon, and her father, Jack Gordon of Edinburgh, and her grandfather, the Impressionist painter William Robson of Kircudbright. I still remember seeing my grandfather in his kilt and I have family, still, in Dumfries.  A very proud day and a wonderful assignment!

A Day at the Races

Eddie Castro

Paco Lopez

With thanks to our hosts, R. Baker & Son Rigging, we had a great day at the Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park.  Pictured above are jockeys Eddie Castro on his way to riding Roaring Lion to victory in the Teddy Drone Stakes .. and Paco Lopez who rode Unbridled Essence to beat 41-1 odds and won first place ... and $124 for Eric! (Click on any photo to enlarge).