Category: My Favorite Things

Like the Jazz variations

What Really Matters

Late today, in dangerous heat, I watched a U-Haul Truck unload into an empty apartment in my building. While I was tending the Clam Sauce for my Linguini. In comfortable air conditioning. A vivid reminder of life changes.

Stopped working in the Fall of 2022. And now, luxurious with time, seeing it again. School holidays were Golden Time for me. I could move a ton of lighting gear into studio for a week and schedule dancer sessions. The Artist & Dad genes in me kicked in. I was, chest beating proud of them all. Her folks know!

Studio Session, Cary Ballet Conservatory – 27 Dec 2019

The Importance of Teachers

Early this week, I made photographs of a Kindergarten Graduation Ceremony at a wonderful nearby school where a young neighbor and dear friend, teaches. I finished the edit this afternoon. Gave her a USB Drive to share with the School, Faculty and Parents. Without parental permission, I can’t show them here. And BTW, anyone who thinks teaching is easy, in spite of being a Fitness Buff, she was wiped out from long days at the end of school year.

But I did have permission when I made this photograph. And I could not stop thinking about the fact that this young woman, guiding the very young dancers here, was adopted, from a far away land. And pray every child has a good teacher.

Cary Ballet Conservatory “Aspiring Dancers” 18 May 2019

Bravo!

I made this photograph in January of 2022, about 10 months before age & widower grief convinced me to retire. And I remember being struck by the artistry of a very young woman. Told her that plainly, afterward, in the lobby, in the presence of her father.

This evening, at A J Fletcher Opera Theater in Raleigh, I watched her dance the lead role in the ballet “Coppelia”. I can’t even imagine the work she’s invested in her craft since. But I know great art when I see it. Makes life worth living.

Amen- A Very Good Sunday Service

Raleigh Civic Chamber Orchestra: The Way from Birmingham

My very young neighbor & Music Teacher & Cary Concert Singer member, told me about this performance – with regret – as she’d be away on a planned Spring Break. Bought a ticket and went to the Stewart Theater in the Talley Student Union on the NC State Campus. It was a luxury to be an audience member there instead of working in theater rear, photographing performances of the Cary Ballet Company!

The performance by Orchestra and Chorus was world class and wonderful.

There are benefits to living near a State Capital with great Universities.

Heavenly

Made this photograph, 3 July 2011 – a Sunday. At the newly renovated and yet unopened, Cary Arts Center. There was a”Wet Paint” sign on the theater stage and I’m not sure if they had a CO (Certificate of Occupancy ) yet.

Didn’t know yet but I would spend a lot time there, working, until the Fall of 2022.

I do know that the adult male in the upper left, had just arrived from Belgium, with the rest of the Brussels Chamber Orchestra. The three young violinists were members of the Triangle Youth Symphony.

I don’t understand how anyone can read music and play it. Some sort of mysterious alchemy. Art, I finally realized, is my spirituality. It sustains me.

Re-Engaging – American Girls

True story. Made this photograph in the “Annex” of the since sold & relocated Cary Ballet Conservatory. A Mom from the 3D Project Jazz Company left me a voice mail message (remember voice mail). Which I listened to on my laptop speakers in a Paris Apartment. Replied, we were flying home next day and yes, I could do a Sunday promo shoot.

No time to plan or rent gear.

Did have a 5 by 9 ft piece of black velour from Joann Fabrics. My late wife had sewn in rod pockets for hanging as a background. They’re laying on it.

Had one light up on a boom but was standing on a shaky piece of the lobby furniture while the Instructor, a big man named Yaqshaan Medan, was holding my belt & waist band, while I reached out over the very young dancers, with back button focus. And it worked!

Which explains why I entered it, this week, into a Digital Only Open Juried Photograph Completion.

That’s a lie – the real reason is, I have to remember to breathe when I look at it.

1 October 2017

My Favorite Things #3

Studio Rehearsal “Little Match Girl” 11 Dec 2010 – Cary Ballet Conservatory

I had no experience making photographs of a studio rehearsal. 14 Decembers later, this is still, vivid memory. It was an affirmation of joy without guile. An expression of, the best of us.

My Favorite Things #2

“Picture Days” 2017 – Bravo Academy of Dance, Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Listening to KJazz 88.1 this evening, José Rizo played a wonderful recording of “My Favorite Things” by Laili Biali. And in the luxury of my new found peace and contentment, thought about things that I treasure. That’s what this will be about.