Midnight in Paris

Who has seen the new Woody Allen movie? I did a few weeks ago and found it so sweet and charming. It's a beautiful and loving portait of Paris that will make you cherish it all the more. If you've seen it, who were your favorite characters? I thought that Adrian Brody pulled off Dali brilliantly and a confounded Luis Bunuel was hysterical (in an understated way). 

A heart so white

One of the main reasons I went to the south of France earlier this year, was to photograph the white horses of The Camargue. They are an ancient breed of horse that has lived in this wild, harsh marsh region for centuries if not thousands of years. I had the chance to spend three days among these beautiful creatures. The first day, I had the chance to get close to them and get to know them. They quickly adapted, were quite curious, and when I wasn't looking, would come up to me and start nibbling my shoe or knee. As a result, I have quite a few wide-angle shots of horse noses. Despite the nibbling, I was taken with how gentle they were and I felt no fear being so near to them. I'm so happy to finally be sharing some of these photographs with you.

A Visit to the Old World

I spent a lovely weekend in Quebec City. The main purpose of my trip was to photograph a wedding on Saturday, but I gave myself a couple of extra days so that I could have a leisurely stay in one of the most charming cities outside of Europe.

The Chateau Frontenac, a luxury hotel, sits on a boardwalk alongside the St. Lawrence River:

New discoveries

Twenty minutes outside of Quebec City is the most charming island: Ile D'Orleans. It floats happily in the middle of the St. Lawrence River. With its red-roofed homes, little churches, orchards, vineyards, and gorgeous views of the river and mountains, it's a delightful place. This was my first visit there. I have a feeling it won't be my last. 

The drunken foal

Camargue horses are born dark brown or black and lighten to white as they mature. There was one foal among the adult horses - this little guy. When he lay down in the grass, he looked like such a happy drunk. 

Your Wild Horses

So after having very pleasant spring weather in Paris and Provence, I headed to the Camargue for the last three days of my trip and it began to rain, rain, and rain some more. It rained pretty much the whole time. Not just little drops. It came pouring down. Three days straight. In the South of France. Some shoots were even cancelled. Especially painful was the sunrise shoot which was spent in a van waiting for a couple of hours for the rain to let up and then going back to the hotel when it didn't. Ah the glamorous life of a photographer. In the end, it turned out to be a blessing. For just enough time, at the right time, the rain would let up and this lovely soft light would surround us. It also meant I was able to achieve my "white on white" vision. This is how I pictured my photographs before I left for France. If we had had beautiful sunny days and intense blue skies, I wouldn't have been able to achieve it. Nature knows best after all.

These moments captured are among some of the most amazing moments of my life. The very first shoot required quite a bit of faith. My heart was racing from the moment it was explained that the 25 horses that would be running toward me would only swerve at the last second, but that rest assured, they would. I took some deep breaths and opened myself up to the experience. And what an experience it was. 

Lily and Alex Getting Married

In August I headed to Quebec City for what turned out to be an absolutely gorgeous wedding. The day was chock-full of activity. As Lily got ready, last-minute DIY details were being prepared by family. Once the bride was ready, Alex arrived to partake in some traditional "door games", which are tasks assigned to him by the bridesmaids to prove his love (he passed with flying colors). Then we were off to downtown Quebec City for a tea ceremony where Lily was presented with her weight in jewelry. Afterwards, we made our way to Ile D'Orleans for the wedding ceremony itself, which was set in a beautiful vineyard that overlooked the St. Lawrence River. The reception was magical, with tables set among the trees of an adjoining orchard, and lit by candles and torches. The wedding was styled by Elyna Kudish of Unity Weddings and she did an outstanding job. Congratulations to Lily and Alex on your beautiful and moving wedding day!

Horsing Around

In spending a few days with these horses, I had the chance to observe these beautiful creatures in their more playful moments. I thought I would share these in honor of World Animal Day.

Doug and Heather Getting Married

Heather and Doug got married in the most gorgeous rustic setting. A drive up a country road lead to a farm spread out over several acres. We started the day with the portrait session; walking among the apple trees, up dirt roads, and meeting a few animals along the way. The ceremony took place on a hilltop overlooking a stunning mountain landscape. Afterwards, we all moved to the garden for the cocktail hour, which ended up being crashed by a good-natured cow who enjoyed some appetizers and our company. The reception was held in the barn and the barn cat made himself at home. I've never seen so many animals at a wedding! It was an absolutely delightful day and I wish Heather and Doug much happiness in their new life together!

Nice in Nice

I'm taking a short break from processing wedding photographs and packaging print orders to fondly reminisce over my strolls through Nice, with its palm trees, medieval labyrinths of the old city, Italianate facades, colorful markets, beautiful pastel colors and charming windows. Here is beautiful Nice from sunrise to sunset.

Intimate Fragments

When one thinks of Versailles, one usually thinks of pomp, decadence and indulgence. Despite its size and grandeur, I was surprised at how intimate it could feel. I thought that, at times, its occupants must have tired of the obligations of state, and perhaps of the grandness of it all. So I sought out the quiet spaces and little details, imagining the hidden moments that have been lost to time and history.