My Holiday Wishes to all of My Clients…

Parks and Recreation…

My most recent client was interested in capturing some images for a gift for her husband this year.  Thinking about the holidays and the time of year, I thought that was a great idea on her part since they have been married for more than 15 years.

She had already scoped out a beautiful park in Perryville where she also likes to spend time with her own fitness routine. The park was nothing less than beautiful with park benches, areas for picnics, ample parking, wonderfully  shaded areas and even the Susquehanna River to drop in your kayak.

We spent about an hour working in a few locations that she had already selected (which is a blessing for any photographer when their client scopes the location!) and I was really happy with the results.  She was most pleased with the project and I am sure her husband will be as excited as we were to see the finished imagery.

Hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.  Remember….every day you wake up and your feet hit the floor, think of at least 5 things to be thankful for and you will find the rest of your day to be much more fulfilling.

Warmest regards to all….

Competition…Comraderie…Committment

This past weekend I was in North Carolina to attend a high school band competition, the Crystal Coast Band Classic.

As each High School Marching Band entered the field, there was a real excitement within the stands.

It was a delightful experience watching so many of our youth, versed in music, the creative arts, team spirit and competition.  West Carteret High School’s  performance was based on the theme of the musical group “Journey”

The Marching Patriots  are the Grand Champions and the People’s Choice of the 2009 Crystal Coast Band Classic!!

Following all of the high school competition performances, the Military Exhibition Band, The 2D Marine Aircraft Wing Band MCAS, Cherry Point, NC  prepared as they got ready to enter the field to perform for the crowd. 

The accolades were evident as the crowd stood on their feet and cheered and clapped for these young Marines, committed to their performance, their team, and their country.

Even as they exited the field, the applause and praise for these young men and women remained.  

This event left me with an incredible sense of pride, privilege and gratitude. 

Color Me Bad…

What a beautiful Autumn we have had.  It’s a dream for any photographer to capture the colors this time of year and I feel blessed to have the opportunity to really enjoy my photographic passion.  These last few weeks have been amazing and colorful!

Johnson’s Farm is across the street from my son’s high school so I wanted to capture the beauty of the harvest outside their country store  as this is a busy time of year for them.  The children come to play in the corn mazes and they have hay rides and pumpkin picking. 

Five feet and higher are these beautiful SunFlowers. 

I had no idea what a Sunflower looked like prior to bloom but even in their early stage, they are beautiful!

While out riding yesterday on the motorcycle, I traveled through the countryside of Maryland.

I also got over to the beautiful landscape of Delta Pennsylvania where the Amish ride in their buggies up and down the streets enjoying the peacefulness of their countryside and their lifestyle. I can see why they enjoy their surroundings so much.

I feel so blessed to witness the splendor of  so much beauty by nature.

Have a safe and Happy Halloween!

Art and Architecture…

My trip was so brief in Italy, therefore I made sure to capture all of the moments I could while visiting there.  Hence wanting to share more of my photographic love of this beautiful country and countryside. 

I captured more than 130 photos between the cities of Venice, Verona, Montecchio Maggiore and Vicenza.

Here are some more of my favorites from the trip.

Some of the beautiful residences among the Rialtine Islands within Venice.

There are more than 400 bridges throughout Venice. I can’t imagine visiting them all in one day…although I wished I had.

Welcome to Piazza San Marco, main square for tourists from all over the world- home to the Basilica, Companile, the Clock Tower and the Doge

and some of the beauty down by the Lagoon which is part of the Grand Canal and leads into the Adriatic Sea. 

Here you can also catch the Servizio Gondole and take a romantic ride around the Lagoon.

Arrivederci!

Bonjourno….Venice Italy…

This past weekend I traveled to one of the most amazing and romantic cities in the world.  My boyfriend is currently working over there to support our troops and he had a long holiday weekend hence my making the trip for 5 days.  Fortunately, USAIR flies direct to Venice from Philadelphia.  It was well worth the 8 + hours of travel to get there.

It was a magical place and anyone who is lucky enough to visit should do so and take in all the sites they possibly can while visiting.

We started the morning in Vicenza on Saturday.  In the afternoon we traveled up the mountain to Montecchio Maggiore to see Romeo and Juliet’s Castle.  There was this wonderful old man inside a doorway…he handed us the key and we were able to go up inside the tower and explore all on our own.  To view the landscape of Italy from a 1,200 foot elevation is surely a sight to behold. 

Following that Castle, we walked up the mountain past the vineyards and headed to another Castle which was redone into a beautiful restaurant and bar surrounded by outdoor seating an area for open air shows and music.  They often cater to weddings there as well and I could certainly see why.

I sat for a moment and enjoyed some of the home made wine from the city of Verona which is nearby.

The end of the day was followed by a wonderful dinner of pasta and drinking Prosecco.  Later we headed down to the square in Vicenza where friends and lovers meet to drink Sangria, dine and listen to the sounds of the city around them.

On Sunday, we woke up to a picture perfect day to sight see in Venice Italy.  It’s convenient by train or by bus, however we chose to drive down there, park in the square and begin our journey through Venice…

The best way to see Venice is by foot.  Plan on doing a lot of walking because you won’t want to miss a thing.  There are literally hundreds of little streets and alleys leading to quaint shops, pastry shops  designer clothing, artists’ crafts, jewelry and of course shoes.  You can smell the Italian pastries in passing as you walk by some of these beautiful store windows.

Glass jewelry is abundant by local artists and to see the craftmanship and artistry is a sight filled with beauty. 

We made our way through Rialto Square and headed down to St. Mark’s Square which was yet another mystical place filled with tourists from all over the world.  The painted architecture was something you only see in books and paintings. It was very surreal walking through the square and looking up at the beautiful arches, painted walls and sculptures.

The Gondola rides down the canal can be quite expensive but you can always catch a Water Taxi as we did and enjoy the views for a small fee.  Rates are for the time you are on the water, not the location to which you are going.

As the sun began to go down across Venice, we dined at a wonderful cafe along the canal…Ristorante Florida.  For 14 euro, we enjoyed the most savory lasagna to start, followed by delectable Calmari and finished with a Salad.  That’s how they dine in Italy. This way, should you feel full toward the end of your meal, you have already enjoyed the best part of it which was the main entree.

I will forever hold the memories of this truly magical international romantic getaway in my heart for all time.

To enjoy all of my photography from this wonderful little weekend getaway visit mindyktravel.shutterfly.com

Arrivederci!

Fall Family Fun and Festivals…

I love this time of year.   All of the leaves have started changing color and the air is crisp and fresh every morning.  Traveling to my client’s home involved getting around the traffic of the Apple Orchard Festival of Harford County.  Not to mention this is Pumpkin season too!  I really enjoy this time so much.

I had a great experience photographing the Hiob family this past weekend.  They live in a beautiful countryside property in Maryland.  Aside from that, about a mile from their home is this delightful camping area that is provided for the Boy Scouts.

Additionally, there are x amount of acres that will remain as part of the natural preserve of the land here.

It was a most wonderful location to capture family and individual photos.  They are as pleased and as excited with the results as I.

Once we finished over at the camp ground we headed back to their wonderful property so we could include Jake and Gunner (the family pets).

This coming weekend I am headed to Venice Italy for the long holiday and hope to share some magical photography upon my return.  Look for an update later in the week next week.  Ciao!

OC Ocean and DelMarva Bike Week 2009

This past weekend I spent time with an amazing group of people for another annual Bike Rally, DelMarva Bike Week 2009. 

This event brings together people from all over the country, whether hauling their beautiful bikes to Ocean City Maryland or riding but all come to gather for a week of events, catching up with friends, riding the country roads and sharing in great times.

The weather could not have been more perfect for riding, for sharing great times with friends and for cultivating new friendships along the way.

While it’s always exhausting by the end of the trip, the memories of the great times always remain in our hearts…and then of course there are photos to prove just how eventful and exciting the time was making those memories.

See you next year!!!

Are You Ready for Some Football?

This past weekend I had the good fortune to attend the home opener for the Baltimore Ravens Football season.  These are exciting times!  This weekend, the Baltimore Ravens played the Kansas City Chiefs.  There was definitely Raven excitement in the air all through Baltimore.

The game was as exciting from the opening introduction of the new season’s players to the last two minutes of the game when the Ravens scored their final touchdown to win over the Chiefs. 

A 38-24 final for the Ravens first week in NFL.

My Canine Muse…Woof!

This week I decided to share my canine muse with the world.  A client of mine just recently lost her 15 year old Cocker Spaniel and it immediately alerted me to the beautiful photos I captured of “Princess” Riley. 

I met Riley 3 years ago when I relocated to a new community from my single family home life.  My pet Milou immediately fell in love with her, as did I. 

Her mother and I often get them together for play dates, little canine parties and the like. Yes, we really do that!

They all get along so well and have the best time together.  It’s true canine affection…all the way around.

Most of these were captured in Riley’s comfortable surroundings…

Riley’s Fall photo session is in October and I am really looking forward to capturing her loving nature, yet again..