All aboard.

In the next few weeks, the annual carnival will invade the community where I live. It will have all the usual rides, games and food for everyone to enjoy. I guess that’s the best way to look at it? The carnival arrives on Tuesday, sets up on Wednesday and is all set to go on Thursday; it’s the same way every year. One difference that occurred last year was rain and cold; the kids were crushed, the parents were too. Not really. Of course bad weather means little to kids who are determined to be at the carnival, and their determination means we parents don’t have a choice. We’re there.

Last year I saw one of the carnival workers who I photographed the year before. He remembered me. I am not sure if this is a good thing, or he was so flattered by the photo I gave him. I suspect he remembered me as the guy with the camera who was taking pictures; something tells me these guys see this all as a routine, but every once in a while something stands out---like a photographer. Who knows?

I will be back this year, as I really do enjoy photographing carnival rides; if you are ever interested in taking carnival pictures, and have a camera that adjusts speeds, F-stops and other camera “verbiage” I really don’t understand, it’s quite simple to do. You set your “film” speed up high (this would be the ISO), slow down the shutter speed and find the right F-stop (you can take practice shots) that make the pictures rich in color. You will be amazed how they come out---the photos have blur that creates motion and also makes you feel like you are really there. Sometimes it’s so real you swear you have motion sickness!

Other sites at the carnival that are fun to photograph are the game and food areas. I don’t know why, it’s probably the colors, but these always have a look and feel to them that brings the carnival to life. Best part is…you don’t have to play the games (they are not winnable anyway) and you don’t have to eat the food. (Enough said on that.)

One game/machine that up until this week I had never seen was “Zoltar” the fortune-teller machine. (If you have seen the movie “Big” you know Zoltar.) I was at an industry show in Las Vegas and as I turned the corner, who was there? You got it…Zoltar. This time he was plugged in—he wasn’t in Big---and he gave me my fortune. I hope it comes true.

The photo above was taken outside of the hotel I was staying at in Las Vegas---The New York, New York. The roller coaster takes riders on the cab ride of their life---look at the front of the first car--- with dips and twists all around the outside of the hotel. You don’t have to listen to hear if it’s coming, the screams and ground movement long before it arrives let’s you know it’s coming. This made it very easy to photograph. What I like most about this picture is—the rich color, the dramatic feel, and knowing after all the garbage I ate on this trip that I am not on it!

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Thank you very much x 2.

I would have to assume a town like Las Vegas is big enough to have more than one Elvis. In fact, last night I saw two Elvis’s, Marilyn Monroe, and a man who was dressed from head to toe in gold. I am assuming he is Jewish and goes by the name of “Goldman.” Who knows?

What’s really crazy about all this is I saw all of these characters after 11PM; that’s when things really get started on Las Vegas Blvd. When both Elvis’s appeared, they came by bus---not by limo---and found a nice place to hang out right in front of the Bellagio Hotel. I have to admit, if you are going to take up space in front of a popular gathering spot, the location where the fountains dance is a pretty good selection. It also helps you make more money.

This is really the first time I have spent time in “Vegas” and I am not sure how anxious I am to come back. The reason I am here is for business, but there’s something about the life people lead here that is really different than I am used to; it’s not bad, it’s just such an escape from life that you wonder how people spend more than a few days here. That’s probably the issue, I have been here all week!

One thing this town does offer is good food, plenty of people watching, and best of all some great photo opportunities. This past week I have seen brides---in wedding gowns-- walking around, a man dressed as Gene Simmons of KISS, and some of the wildest outfits you could ever imagine. (Both men and women.)

The photo above was taken last night---these 2 Elvis’s were the hit on the street. The guy in gold was trying to take advantage of their popularity and the money they were making. They were not real happy to see him. I am happy, and relieved, to know that Elvis is alive and well here in Las Vegas---however, I never realized he had so many identical brothers.

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The other side of Vegas.

Step into any hotel on the Vegas strip and you will see people of all types handing over their money at tables, slot machines and shows. The economy has definitely taken its toll on Las Vegas; one of the sure signs is the number of penny slot machines now in abundance. The last time I was here I remarked about the $20 and $50 slots, but these are no longer around; if they are, they are buried deep in another area of the casino. (I have no idea why anyone would want to play at penny slot or a $50 slot, but since I have officially given $13 to these one-armed bandits, I can see why people are into sitting, staring, and hoping for the bells to ring.)

The one thing you will find here is plenty of entertainment; whether it’s gambling, shows with top-notch entertainers, or even a shark exhibit, there is no shortage of things to do. For the first time I am staying at the New York, New York hotel. Unlike it’s name sake, the rooms are big, they are less than $75.00 a night, and it’s not noisy; maybe they should pipe in noise, shrink the rooms by 80 percent, and jack up the rates, then it would truly be New York.

What’s amazing about this place is the way the nighttime transforms it from kind of a sleepy town during the day to as active of a location as you can ever imagine once the sun goes down. The casinos fill up, the food and drink start to flow, and you can walk anywhere you want at practically any time of the evening and find people milling about all over the place.

But there is a different side of life that is never promoted in Las Vegas marketing; there are many homeless and misplaced souls. Last night I overheard two security guards talking and one was commenting about the job market; to quote him, “it’s almost impossible to find a job these days.” I also saw on the news that 80% of all homes are what they call, “under water”---meaning they are worth less than their mortgages. This complete reversal of wealth took less than 3 years to occur.

The photo above was taken last night. As a photographer it’s important to look beyond the buildings and sunny climate. Of course I asked this individual before I took the photos, and paid him for letting me take the pictures. Looking into his eyes you could see the sadness that has taken over his body, mind and soul. For him, lady luck has completely left him at the curb.

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If cars could talk.

Cars, as we know, can serve as a status symbol of where you have been, where you are going, and where you want to go; placed all together, I am reasonably sure when Henry Ford rolled out the Model A, he had no idea how cars would impact American culture beyond going from one point to another. (Oh by the way, Henry Ford did not invent the automobile it’s credited to Karl Benz of Germany---Ford perfected the mass production of the automobile.)

One of the most important roles of the automobile was the freedom it offered; before the car, we lived in cities close to the hub of industry. If you couldn’t drive or travel to the suburbs, you lived close to where you worked or would never be at work on time. But, once the automobile arrived, the opportunity to travel further than you ever thought imaginable, allowed people the freedom to move around. Of course this didn’t happen for some time---you still needed mass production and the essential pathway called a "road." But it was not too long after, that more and more cars were seen being driven around. A few years later, teenagers could get their licenses, malls popped up in the suburbs and the term "mall rat" was born. (All this from a car...kind of amazing.)

So what about the bumper sticker? Once again, you can pretty much credit Henry Ford for it. The first bumper stickers were made of cardboard and metal, and were placed on the bumper of Ford automobiles. Turns out the bumper became part of the car after mass production was perfected; with no surprise, the more cars that were on the road, the greater the chances of them bumping into one another. With the addition of the bumper came the bumper sticker. The first bumper stickers were affixed with wire and string; if you know anything about Henry Ford, you are well aware of his political views and obsession for free speech; this was how he started taking his points to he streets. This did not always help his reputation.

Probably one of the funniest bumper stickers I can remember was one I saw when I was a teenager. It obviously has been etched into my mind as that was a long time ago. I was driving down the road and saw a car that at best should not have been on the road. It was rusted, battered, and noisy; a guy, who was about my age was driving it. The bumper sticker said, “Don’t laugh, your daughter might be in this car.” It truly put in perspective how funny and entertaining these pieces of American culture can be-- and how scary it is to think that yes your daughter might be hanging out with someone who drives a car like this.

The photo above was taken this past weekend in Indiana. If Henry Ford envisioned freedom of speech as the role of the bumper sticker, he would have been proud of this car. With stickers ranging from Apple Computers, to witchcraft, to AAA, and more—the license plate says it all--"B Kind." In the end we can be who we want, drive what we have, and say what makes us feel good, and we can do this all from point A to point B.

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Out on their own.

It seems very hard to believe that another one of my kids is heading out into the real world. It shouldn’t be all that surprising since she has been away at college for 4 years, but it still is hard to comprehend where the time has gone. I know every parent says this when a milestone occurs. I know this is not the only graduation we are going to experience; our youngest daughter is graduating pre-school this week. (Although not technically the same as college, it’s one of the first steppingstones to being out on her own.)

Today’s “Snap. Shot.” is not all about taking a look back, it’s actually about taking a look around you and to see how you have performed as you move on to the next milestone.

This past weekend brought forth a lot of thoughts and emotions. Sure seeing your daughter graduate is a thought provoking moment, but there were many others. It made me take a look as to how all of our children have grown in a short period of time; it’s all relative because in some instances it has been a whopping 25 years of growth, working its way down to a mere 5 years. (Don’t tell that to our 5-year old.) My son has been out of school for 4 years---he has matured, found his path, and is now seeing a very nice woman who I can tell he has very deep feelings for.

As we move down the line, my oldest daughter has just graduated (see above if you missed it) so her agenda is laid out for her at this time; but you can be sure there will be some twists and turns along the way---it’s called life. Then we have our teenagers, in order of priority they are into friends, boys, friends, and boys---they go to school, but they live for the weekends and their friends. Sound familiar? They will find over time their priorities change, but for now, they are exactly what the “raising your kids book says”---“the teenage years are some of the most challenging, for you and them. Just deal with it.”

That brings us to our youngest; they are best friends yet like all siblings they really give it to one another when one pulls away something they want or is listening to something they feel they should be listening to on an iPod for example and to hear them argue is actually kind of funny. They will verbally duke it out and then tell each other they love each other. This is great, but they will be like the teenagers above in no time. That’s when reality strikes.

The photo above is from my daughter’s graduation---the one from college. What’s funny about this picture is not only the signs they have on their caps, but the guy in the sombrero. As ridiculous as this might appear, it made finding my daughter very easy as thousands of graduates walked in to the hall. It’s a good thing it wasn’t about finding the person using a cell phone---she’s talking on hers---that would have made finding her impossible.

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Without them, you wouldn’t be reading this.

In order to come into this world, it’s rather important to have a mother. Sure, it helps to have a father, but for some reason you don’t see the word “Dad” written on many men’s arms so I guess “Mom” ranks a bit higher in the order of priority. That’s okay, I fully agree. For those of you who were not aware, and either was I, Mother’s Day actually dates back to the Greek and Roman days, but it was in 1914, when President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed Mother’s Day to be a national holiday. (It’s only fitting that Father’s Day became a national holiday more than 50 years later.)

I have never been a Mom nor do I plan to be, but I do know the amount of work they do for the family. Sure husband’s, father’s and we Dad’s add to the household, but we really don’t have the right stuff to be a Mom. Whether it’s the obvious stuff, or just the patience it takes to raise children, deal with home matters, or show real interest in whether the color of the walls are ecru, white or mauve.

If you are a regular reader of “Snap. Shot.” you probably know there was one less phone call I made today; this is the first Mother’s Day I did not call my Mom. It’s not like we didn’t have a conversation telepathically, we just didn’t need to use Ma Bell. It is very odd knowing my Mom is in another place and I am not able to wish her “Happy Mother’s Day”---but I do believe wherever she is and whatever she is making (maybe her famous rice dish, mushroom and barley soup, or one of many great meals) someone is eating very well tonight.

We have a lot of Mom’s in our family---the best part about them is, they all have taken their role as Mom as serious as my Mom did. They are very compassionate, loving, and they have more patience than I will ever have. The funniest part about them is, they all have total control over their spouses. Sorry, guys, but we all know it’s true---and we don’t dare admit anything different or we will regret it. Okay, maybe we will be able to live to see tomorrow, but we will certainly wish we could have taken back those words.

The photo above was the last picture taken of all of the Mom’s in our family at the same time. This date has been brought up in “Snap. Shot.” a number of times---it was not only my birthday, but has now become a very special day I will never forget, for me, “it’s now Mother’s Day.” Mom, I miss you very much, I am sure wherever you are, you’re eating bridge mix and playing Mah-jongg with your friends.

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I do.

With spring in full bloom, more and more couples are coming together and setting a date---unlike going to the movies, dinner, or to the park, this one is the date called, “forever.” As wonderful of a time it is for these couples, there is something that makes me “shutter” in some ways. No pun intended, this is called being the wedding photographer. It's stressful, but actually fun.

Last year, my wife and I were trained to become wedding photographers. This was not our first time shooting a wedding, but what we learned from these months of classes did open your eyes about this profession---and it is a profession! In order to be very good, you have to be artistic, patient, and a very good negotiator.

From the artistic point of view, this part is pretty easy to understand, but there are many tricks you learn to make the photos come out better. For example, “Got large arms?” Don’t let the bride or guests turn to the side, their arms will look like tree trunks. If a guest thinks it looks good when they don’t smile and look like they don’t want their picture taken, you’re right it looks good...to them. Certainly not to the bride and groom who have hired a very expensive photographer and want the best pictures taken. (Wasted time is expensive.)

Once you have the creativity down, the next step is learning patience. Why? You have to wait for the bride to put on her make up, the groom to show up for pictures with all of his potentially “buzzed” buddies, or both families to make their way to the "designated" photo area for the family shots. You want tension? These bring on tension. To get it down, it takes an ability to bring a lot of people on your side, and the best part is---everyone thinks they are the photographer and love to give you tips. They do and you smile and explain you are there to do a job. You really have to demonstrate patience when you get some idiotic friend of the bride or groom who is sure he is the life of the party; he pops up in pictures and will require some serious editing to get him out of there. Who ever invented Photoshop, you are my best friend.

Now with both the creative and patience down, the negotiations round it all out. From the moment you meet the bride (she pretty much runs the show as you might guess) to the pricing to making sure you get the right photos, there are going to be bumps along the way. I have found if you are nice to people, and get them on your side, you will get what you want done. If you have the personality of a rock or dead twig, you get the results that demonstrate you have the personality of a rock or dead twig. Get them to smile and interact with you, and the photos actually do come out better. One of my favorite things to loosen them up---have them stick out their tongues, cross their eyes or better yet, jump in the air. They may not want to do it, but bet they will---people will do whatever the photographer wants. It's amazing.

That’s what I learned about being a wedding photographer; also it’s very important to have a good camera.

The photo above was taken at the first wedding we ever shot. With no pressure, we offered to take photos at my nephew’s wedding. A family event and we offer to take pictures? Yes, I needed to have my head examined. We shot at every event and we took a ton of photos; I was very glad we offered because it was a lot of fun. The best part about it all was being with family---the most difficult part? I am smart enough not to have any because it's a family event and they read "Snap. Shot."

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