Newberry Highlands Wedding in Dallas, Pennsylvania

It was a perfect day for Rebecca and Damian's wedding at The Newberry Highlands in Dallas, Pennsylvania.  Damian's family flew in from Ireland charming us all with their lovely lilting accents and understated humor.  

Rebecca's mother and bridesmaids Holly and Kristin help Rebecca with her gown.

Three generations of Mescalls from County Limerick.

Matron of Honor, Kristina, with her daughters and Justin, the ring bearer.

Vendors:

Alexander's Salon & Spa

Frankie Carll Productions

Autumn Engagement Session in the Park

An engagement session is a wonderful opportunity to get to know your photographer before the wedding day.  Ashley and Tony weren't quite sure what to expect but came to the park with open minds and hearts.  By the end of the session, everyone felt comfortable and authentic moments were captured.  

They'll have their wedding reception next year at one of my favorite places, The Bank Street Annex in Downtown Easton's Historic District. Kerry Harrington and her staff are incredible and the food is great!

"Mostly Mozart" at Lincoln Center: Behind the Scenes With the International Contemporary Ensemble

I was delighted to be invited back this year to document those talented twinkling icicles in the coolest constellation known as ICE during their rehearsals for this year's Mostly Mozart Festival at Lincoln Center.

ICE members rehearsing with the acclaimed young conductor, Duncan Ward, at the ICEhaus in Brooklyn.

Raising a glass to celebrate the tenth year anniversary of the International Contemporary Ensemble!

 On a rare break, Claire Chase,  ICE founder and Executive Director, manages to score points off the bench as ICE flutist Eric Lamb and Liz watch.

The renowned "sensitive and subtle artist" composer Matthias Pintscher in rehearsal with ICE at The Dimenna Center in the Baryshnikov Arts Center.

ICE percussionist Nathan Davis hammering at magical metal cylinders during rehearsal at Dimenna.

The Alice Tully Hall stage can be lowered and raised to create three different stage sizes.

Pianist Cory Smythe preparing his digitally-programmed modern"player piano", a Yamaha Disklavier.

Featured guest pianist, Peter Serkin, winner of the Grammy award for "best new classical artist" at the age of 19, during rehearsals with Eugene Kim and gifted young Spanish conductor Pablo Heras-Casado.

 Violinist David Bowlin, David Byrd on French Horn, cellist Kivie Cahn-Lipman,  bassist Scott Dixon and Gareth Flowers on trumpet in rehearsal with composer Matthias Pintscher

 Clarinetist and ICE program director Joshua Rubin, with pressing needs before the performance.

ICE bassoonist Rebekah Heller, backstage, moments before walking out on stage at Alice Tully Hall.

A glass of water becomes an instrument when it's tuned to "G" and played by Nathan Davis.

Elation and applause leaving the red glow of the main stage into the backstage blue light. Congratulations are given and received on a wonderful performance.  

Pablo Heras-Casado back stage after the performance with members of ICE. The New York Times Review.

ICE's "after concert" at the Kaplan Penthouse with Matthias Pintscher. 

Virtuoso Dennis James and his glass armonica surrounded by curious audience members after the concert. 

Tis the Season......Weddings!

After spending months planning their wedding, brides hope that their guests will come upon an article like this syndicated column which was in today's Morning Call as well as other newspapers:
How to be a Good Wedding Guest
I'll be a guest at my niece's wedding in a few weeks......I'll try to behave :)

Beauty Draws Her Beasts

I just had to share this photo of Philadelphia artist, Gina Deluca.  She seems to be tangled up in tentacles and tendrils standing in front of her large scale (6 1/2 feet by 4 feet) vivid charcoal drawing of two writhing octopii.  The work is entitled "Hectoctylus" for its reference to the single arm of a male octopus which, she tells me, has reproductive capacity.

Her charcoal rendering of large ostriches also conveys a sense of chaotic motion, with bird feathers literally flying!

All rights reserved © Gina DeLuca 2011

I wish Gina good luck as she embarks on her new life adventure in Chicago.

Central Park Engagement Session

Alex and Leslie first met in Washington D.C. but it wasn't until years later when their paths crossed again in NYC that sparks flew.  Since Leslie lives in Manhattan, Bethesda Terrace in Central Park was the natural choice for their engagement session.
To really understand what Central Park means to the City, pick up a copy of Central Park: An American Masterpiece, by my friend, photographer and official park historian, Sara Cedar Miller.  It's filled with fascinating facts and images of the park.

Arriving at 72nd Street on the afternoon of the photo shoot, I asked a dignified-looking gentleman to point me in the direction of Bethesda Fountain and he kindly offered to walk me to my destination.  In conversation, I discovered that he was related to Frederick Law Olmstead the landscape architect who designed Central Park along with his senior partner, Calvert Vaux!  I considered this to be a good luck omen.
Alex and Leslie were a delight to work with. Here are a few of my favorites from our one-hour photo session before they had to rush off to an engagement party for close friends at The Central Park Boathouse.

Color is lovely but I think black and white is timeless.  What do you think?

In case you're wondering what other engaged couples are putting on their gift registries, here's the latest Wall Street Journal Article on Gift registry.