Preseason "Holiday" Tree Lighting

Everybody in my house knows that I don't want to hear any Christmas Music before Thanksgiving. I let it go that I heard it in Boscov's last week (I was, admittedly, Christmas shopping).

So the Preseason tree lighting at Upper Darby's Township Building was for me, well, PREseason.

But like last year, I came away loving the day. So many people collaborated to make a really nice event. I left my EMPTY Vera Bradley backpack to hold a seat (risky, I know) while I was frolicking about taking these snap shots, and alas it was still there when I got back to it. Our bikes were unscathed as well. So it was a real feel good event all the way around. I like that our township is doing these community events and I end up at many of them, being a proud parent of an Upper Darby Summer Stage Shooting Star.

The parade was full of Upper Darby's finest police and fire people, various fire trucks, and groups from all of the townships many schools.

A combined choir from the elementary schools sang a medley directed by Barbara Benglian. It was so sweet a sound.

We had a great singing Santa this year!

A musical tribute was paid to all vets of each of our country's branched of the armed forces. Nice to remember how we keep these liberties.

It all kind of makes you happy to be part of the land of the free. And glad that Christmas is WEEKS away!

For more photos of the day, click here!

Karate Kid

Saturday was a delightful morning. New Black Belt girl, Jessica, came into the studio. Sweet. Meek, even.



But there is no wonder to me why they call her "Crazy Legs" at her studio, East Coast Karate, where she earned her Black Belt recently.



Mom and Dad were smart to want to celebrate her achievement in photos. You won't be this young, strong and determined forever. You have to hold on to the memories!
...Sounds like a song.

I love the diversity in portraiture that I get at the studio and I really enjoy celebrating your milestones. The people that I meet make my life richer and I am grateful.

Jessica is doing a jump kick here. The kid is on Fire!

Here is a gentle portrait that shows Jessica's pure soul and her closeness to her Art.

Jessica loves what she does and can be so proud of
her achievements!!

You Too Can Evaporate Your Own Milk

This feeding your family can take you to new places whenever you let it. And for as long as I have been at it, I need some new places to inspire me.

Last Sunday, Halloween, I went to make a pumpkin pie. In observing the Sabbath, I did not run out to my favorite corner grocery to pick up the evaporated milk I forgot. It occurred to me in that moment that I could EVAPORATE MY OWN MILK! Cowabunga!

I put a bunch of milk in a pan and started to simmer it until it (kinda) was cut in half. Wow! Look at that, the water was evaporating from the milk. Like who da thunk?

Then I cooled it a bit and put it into the mixer with the rest of the ingredients. This is the pie I made and it worked!

Also, I want to mention, that I did not use an already pie crust. This is the real thing.

I am really feeling like a pioneer woman now.

So the next day, Feast of All Saints, I went the next step. I baked my Jack-o-lanterns and put up almost a gallon of fresh pumpkin. Large yield for these two guys.

So we have had pumpkin bread and pumpkin soup. I have been threatening myself to do this for years. All it took was home evaporated milk. Lydia might call this a “reduction”.

Notable Kitchen Tour and Chef Showcase

On Thursday, November 4^th I was a privileged guest on the Philadelphia Orchestra Fundraiser Notable Kitchen Tour and Chef Showcase.

It was raining cats and dogs, and all the people who were making the tours were very cheerful and our hosts were most accommodating and patient.

My group, Elizabeth, Meg, Florence and I started the day at the Haverford Reserve, Anthertyn. We were greeted with warm cungee (sp?) and rice soup prepared by the most reserved, Margaret Kuo. The kitchen in this apartment was hardly a downsize. It was a fabulous kitchen that most of us would like to grow into. Having bumped into long time neighbor and customer, Susan Koedding, an interior designer, we both commented that although we don’t qualify for age at Anthertyn, we would love to live there and cast off our larger homes.

Next stop, still at Haverford Estates was at the Carriage Home. Here we were served with a light Morrocan Style Cous Cous dish which we were offered the recipe by chef Hope Cohen. Hope was affable as we discussed the incredible stools in the kitchen with gorgeous wooden backs.

In Haverford, we experienced the food of long time Reading Terminal Market Cook, Delilah Winder. Delilah was a student of Betty Moloznik, former owner of the historic “Moveable Feast” in University City, and MIL of Elizabeth. Delilah was so happy to think back to her days where she still claimed Betty had taught her everything she knew about food.

At each location, tables were set with uniquely themed appointments.

We picked up a shuttle at Valley Forge Military Academy where there was shopping set up and road stop by stop to three homes.

One of my favorite eats of the day was at a huge estate in Wayne, Deilwydd, where we were served Caesar Salad spring roll bites prepared by Michael Dorris of MPD Dining. He also prepared a nice sweet potato soup with apple cider foam.

We were thinking the large remade Barn in Radnor was our favorite home , especially as we really enjoyed our dumplings by Chris Foo of Hunan in Ardmore. But then we arrived at a brand new home in Villanova where we were served Sautéed Cod with rice noodles and an awesome apple cider courtesy of Wolfgang Puck Catering. By this time we were a bit tired of the Asian, so I did not appreciate the Cod the way I should have. The cider was stupendous, as the rain continued to come down in droves. This home was my last as the fantasy was over and it was time to go home to my own little kitchen where I enthusiastically prepared a nice light clams and linguini for Sweet-Sixteen who was opening at The Haverford School in Little Shop of Horrors that evening.

BTW, please excuse the pix today, they were taken with my rather low-end cell phone!

The Most Precious Time

The just new born babe is so precious, pure and even mysterious.
How this magic and beauty fills our hearts! It is so indescribable.

It is also fleeting. In those first months, the baby changes from day to day, then from week to week. So, ever- filled with pure amazement, I say, capture this instant while you can.

And I do.

Come and be comfortable in our cozy studio complete with a changing table, soft music and an appreciation for the imperceptibly beautiful. Capture your baby at this time
in our caring and nurturing environment.

Bring the older sibs. They like to participate.

Bring grandmother, bring PopPop.

Or just come alone with your bundle of joy.

Your experience will be pleasurable, unpressured.

Private.

Joyful!

Usually you can view the images right away on our screen. Then you can click to your favorites on a personal website. You can share this with your family & friends.

You may order on line or we can take care of your order for you at the studio.

Call us for more information. 484-461-9955.

Executive Portraiture

James T. Harris III, D.Ed, President Widener University

In the past few years, as people/ companies are updating their second and third websites, I have enjoyed the opportunity to create executive portraits.

These portraits are used in board rooms, websites, company publications, and professional journals. I have also noted that a few of you are using them on Linked-in. Photos can be created on location to give the work environment or in my studio.



Alvin A. Clay III, CEO, Davidson Trust Company

I am proud of my track record of pleasing people with an exceptional experience as well as noteworthy portraiture.

Marguerite Bilbrough, MD- The Center for Sight of Delaware County

Clients include, but are not limited to:

Widener University
Archdiocese of Philadephia
Davidson Trust Company
Elwyn, inc.
Child Guidance Resource Centers
Villanova University
The Center for Sight of Delaware County
Merion Mercy Academy


Rev. Msgr. Ralph Chieffo

In a few cases, I brought my studio to boards rooms and photographed multiple principals and executives in a given company for an hourly fee.

Bishop Michael Fitzgerald

Col. Ferraro




Christine Clay Gorka, painter

Kristin Ruth

For more information, contact me at http://www.luminous5.com/.

Greeting Cards are gifts, too

During the Christmas/ Channukah holiday season, we all love to give and get greeting cards. It's a gift to give and a gift to receive.

The best are always the ones with the photographs of our families and friends. It is a big effort to create the photographs, even if you do it yourself, then produce the cards and at last address and mail them. We can do the entire operation for you here. All you have to do is gather your peeps in one place for the photo shoot.

Often our family cards are sent out and are not as personal as I would like, that is writing a personal message. However, I love getting cards even if they are not personalized. So I figure others might feel the same way as well! The family stories that are included are wonderful to read and even if not well written make me very happy. Many people use the beautiful family portraits we made and use them in their cards.

Cards at Christmas and Hannukah bring a lot of joy, especially to older family members.

Spread the joy, 'tis the season!

Wierd, Amazing and Scarey

A quick jaunt to South Street today.

I finally got to see Philadelphia's Magic Gardens! When I saw Isaiah Zagar, and told him I was finally here, after following him for years, he said to me, "So you want to give me a hug, right?" And we hugged. It was kind of magical, although I am not generally a "star-struck" person. I did not go there to see him or thinking I would see him, I just wanted to experience this space.

I asked my son for three words to describe his experience. He said, "Wierd. Amazing and Scarey" (scarey was in response to some animal sticking out of the wall in the bathroom!"). He amazingly had a physical response to this space. As soon as he got there, he wanted to run about freely. Like the art, there were no rules (artistically and practically speaking), and since it is like a park, I allowed him to run about.

Later "Sweet-Sixteen" was inspired to dance.

What an amazing space. For everybody.

$5.00 for adults, $2.00 for children under 12.

It's a school holiday. We could have watched TV. We could have gone to the mall. But we had a great experience.

I am planning to mosaic the exterior wall of my studio. Isaiah Zagar's work is an incredible inspiration!

Want to see more photos??? Click here!!!

"Art should not be segregated in museums; it needs to live free among us." --Isaiah Zagar

A Walk in the Park: Fill Flash Photography Pre-Primer

Tyler Arboretum has become a favorite family spot in the last year or so. Located in Media about 1 mile from the Granite Run Mall, it is a year-round spot to enjoy the out doors. Although the atmospher is low key compared to Longwood Gardens, there is Much to be enjoyed inthe everchanging landscape.

We like to go hiking there. The trails lead to Ridley Creek State Park and back again. It's a hardy hike along the red/ orange trail with rugged terrain and plenty of hills to release you from the guilt of the birthday cake you ate two days ago. When you go in the winter don't dress TOO warmly as you will break a nice sweat. Always bring a water bottle.

For the family, enjoy cleverly crafted tree houses that are placed around the inner sanctum of the park. Everyone is welcome to go inand I know I cannot resist entering these adorable places.

There are eight tree houses in all. The fun ends this season on October 31. Not to worry if you cannot make it this fall, the tree houses will be back next Spring! The October 16th weekend is the Pumpkin Days event. And there are a lot of reasons to go there instead of Linvilla Orchards.

If you have a light weight camera, bring it along. There are dozens of photo-ops. Here are a few I shot on Sunday and I want to explain the use of "fill in flash" and why/ why not to use it.

This first photograph left, of the boy uses "fill flash". You can see that it brightens the boy's face and opens up his eye area with out losing the sense of the natural light in this scene.

Photograph of two boys: Here is an example of no Flash. Notice the eyes are darker. In this case the sky was bright enough to make this a successful photographic portrait without the fill flash. So you then have to decide which look you like better.

Go ahead, take a nice walk with your family, bring your camera and send me your photographs. along with your questions! See God's great creations---It's FREE!!!!!

Fall Photographs

The air feels so crisp.  The clouds are white and puffy, and they float. Windows open. We can smell the last moments of summer; the ushering in of fall,  fall in Pennsylvania.

I am grateful for our seasonal climate.  Pennsylvania is located in the perfect global quadrant for autumn.

Now that I am ready for Autumn, I can get excited by the pumpkins and apples at the farmers market and the chintzy  mylar wreaths jiggling in the Produce Junction breezeway.   Bring on the raking, and the football and the Saturday soccer. 

If you notice we don’t get almost any 70—79 degree days in the spring. But here in the autumnal phase, we are tracking 2-3 weeks of them already. 

Local streets and parks are decked with boughs of color.  It is the most prized backdrop for a family environmental portrait.   The portraits can make their way into Christmas/ Chanukah greetings and given as cherished gifts.

I would love to meet your family/children/pets in the park to capture moments that will be appreciated even more in years to come than they are now.