Love in Bloom - a Garden Celebration

I know it can be stressful planning an outdoor wedding or reception and it can make you wonder if it is worth the added pressure.
Well Caroline and Chris's reception in the incredible garden at her parents Charlotte home proved that sometimes a roll of the dice can have a great payoff.
Everything came together with perfect weather, music, food and, of course, this wonderful setting that Caroline's mother, Susie, and her entire family have helped nurture over the years.
Caroline and Chris are both Master of Divinity students at Princeton Theological Seminary and they had a beautiful service at Covenant Presbyterian Church.
I worked with the bride's brother, Chip, many years ago at The Charlotte Observer and he has gone on to travel the world as a freelance documentary news photographer based in New York City.
It was hard to do the setting justice in any single photograph but here are a few images from a truly delightful event.

Caroline and Chris

Caroline waits before the service

Caroline and her dad prepare to walk down the aisle

The service at Covenant Presbyterian Church

Chip keeps his niece Whitney busy

The backyard rose garden

Caroline's parents celebrate

Chris and niece Mary Evans

Caroline dances with niece Whitney

David from The Blue Thistle did some of the arrangements

Caroline with her grandfather

It makes you want to "shout"

A little dance in the garden

Appropriately they were showered with petals from the family's rose garden

Ballet Photography (Romeo and Juliet)

I was able to put my Nikon D3 to the test Wednesday night and was once again blown away by the results as I photographed North Carolina Dance Theatre's Romeo and Juliet. The ballet is a feast for the eyes with incredible dance performances combined with beautiful costumes. I've been photographing dance for more than a decade and this camera offers features that allow me to take photos that weren't possible before.
This performance of Romeo and Juliet is a world premiere and NCDT president and artistic director Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux has put together a talented team for the production. Included are set designer Howard Jones, lighting designer and director of operations Nate McGaha and costume designer A. Christina (Stia) Giannini, whose work was a joy to photograph.

A 360-degree kiss (high degree of difficulty)

Beautiful costumes by Stia Giannini

Randolph Ward soars

Waiting to go on

Anna Gerberich, front, and Seia Rassenti

David Ingram and Traci Gilchrest in the lead roles

Traci Gilchrest

Jhe Russell, left, and Randolph Ward

David Ingram

Wachovia Championship Photos

This past week was a change of pace I spent my time documenting some of the best golfers in the world at the Wachovia Championship here in Charlotte.
Tournament officials hired me to get behind-the-scenes shots of this fantastic event and I enjoyed seeing many old friends at Quail Hollow.
I've covered several major championships over the years and the Wachovia ranks right up there with the best of them.
Even though Tiger Woods was injured and unable to defend his title this year, thousands of fans turned out and great weather conditions prevailed.
Anthony Kim, a talented 22-year-old, dominated the event his 272 total earned his a 5-stroke win.

The scene at the 18th green Sunday

Stewart Cink blasts out of trouble

Ian Poulter struts down the fairway

Jason Bohn chips in to end his Saturday round

Some nice early morning light

Playing from a fairway bunker on the 1st hole

Phil Mickelson works on his game

Ben Curtis hits his second shot to the 5th green

Phil Mickelson always draws huge crowds

Stewart Cink celebrates a long birdie putt on the 17th hole

The crowd applauds Cink's shot Saturday

Sunday's sunrise service included a bagpiper

The mowers were out in force preparing for Sunday's final

Jason Bohn, who finished 3rd, tries to coax his putt into the hole

Anthony Kim enjoys his walk up to the 18th hole

Just 22, Kim has a bright future following his 5-stroke win

Stunning Charleston Wedding (Courtney and Matt)

Although Courtney and Matt had planned a beautiful outdoor wedding Saturday at Middleton Place Plantation near Charleston, they didn't let a little rain spoil the day. Under Matt's supervision, guests and groomsmen quickly stepped in to help move the event to a nearby tent and everything went off without a hitch.
The sun started to peek through the clouds as soon as the ceremony began and turned into brilliant sunshine by its conclusion.
The celebration then moved to Woodlands Resort and Inn for the reception. It was a great weekend with some amazing venues, starting with the rehearsal dinner Friday night at Planters Inn in Charleston.

Courtney and Matt share a moment after the ceremony

Friends and relatives take cover as the rain quickly turns from a sprinkle to a steady stream

Guests and groomsmen jumped in to help move the ceremony to a tent

Courtney and Matt enjoy their first moments as husband and wife

Having some fun after the ceremony

Courtney and her dad

The sun came out after the wedding

Beautiful early-evening light at Middleton Place

Courtney at the reception

Dancing at Woodlands Resort and Inn

Misty Morning at Quail Hollow

I wanted to share a few images I took last week in preparation for the upcoming Wachovia Championship at the Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte.
I've been involved with the tournament pretty much since its inception in 2003. I was The Charlotte Observer's point person for golf coverage for several years and this year tournament officials hired me to document much of the behind-the-scenes action.
Quail Hollow is a magnificent course and I've photographed it several times both from the ground and from a helicopter. The cold mornings we had been having created the perfect conditions to get moody, ethereal shots around the water at the 17th hole.
I knew I would have to get there by sunrise for the best light so I got up early and braved the cold but it was all worth it.
I plan to post some images from a wedding this Saturday before heading out to cover the golf tournament.

Beautiful scene at Quail Hollow

The 16th green at dawn

View from a spectator stand at the 15th green

The 17th green is a tough target - even for the pros

Another view of the 16th green

A heron takes flight

Luck With Light and a Bit of Blarney...

I was lucky to run into some great light on a couple of recent photo shoots.
On assignment for The London Times, I photographed North Carolina author Eric G. Wilson in Winston-Salem.
Wilson, who earlier in the day had appeared on The Today Show to talk about his book, "Against Happiness: In Praise of Melancholy," rushed to meet me at his office at Wake Forest University after his flight was delayed in New York.
Daylight was fading quickly but we were able to find a room where a shaft of light was still coming through the window and we did some quick shots there. The drama of the lighting was a good match for the content of his book.
I photographed Lance Drummond, a Bank of America executive, for a magazine cover. This shoot was early in the morning in uptown Charlotte but I was fortunate to again be able to utilize some excellent window light for a colorful, evocative image.
I always carry portable lights on these shoots but I also enjoy the challenge of using natural light when possible.

Wake Forest professor and author Eric G. Wilson

Wilson in his office

Lance Drummond

Our daughter Alison continues to live and work in London and she is loving the experience. She sent us some photos of a recent trip to Cork in Ireland.
She is thinking about spending several months in Ireland following her stay in London.
We miss you Ali!

Ali, far left, with her friend Amanda from Salisbury, green hat, and their Australian friends Jib and Cathy

Ali after kissing the Blarney Stone at Blarney Castle

Photo Contest for a Good Cause

I've been asked to help judge a photo contest to select images for a 2009 photography calendar to be published as a fund-raiser for HAMMERS, the emergency home repair program of the Davidson Housing Coalition.
HAMMERS (Hands Around Mecklenburg/Mooresville Making Emergency Repairs Safely) was formed in 2005 and has already repaired 75 homes in the towns of Cornelius, Davidson, Huntersville and Mooresville for people who would be challenged to pay for needed emergency repairs.
The organization is part of the Davidson Housing Coalition, a non-profit geared to help those in need to find safe and affordable places to live.
It's my pleasure to lend assistance to this worthy group but we need local photographers to do their part. The theme for the calendar is "Images of Hometowns," and the pictures should depict scenes of Davidson, Huntersville, Cornelius and Mooresville. The 2008 calendar "Images of Home" included a variety of media - paintings, prints and photographs.
Bill Giduz, director of media relations for Davidson College and a fine photographer, and I will select 13 images (one for each month and a cover photo).
There is a $10 entry fee per photographer for up to three photos. Digital files must be 8 inches by 10 inches at 200 to 300 dpi. Prints must be 8x10 also. Color and b&w are both acceptable.
Check the Housing Coalition website for more information. Digital submissions should go to ann@davidsonhousing.org by 5 p.m. May 30.
Also check DavidsonNews.net for an article on the calendars.
Calendars will be available this fall at local shops or through the Housing Coalition website.