Somehow, I forgot to mention this when it came out a few weeks back! If you happen to see the latest Sussex County Journal floating around town, pick up a copy! Laura Deal wrote an feature about George’s Wine Gallery, Branchville and the local food scene here in Sussex County. Above, is a copy of the magazine next to a big plate of golden pancakes made with honey from Roselines Farm & Bakery and maple syrup from The Anthill Farm. If you followed our buy local series back in December, you’d recognize a few of the images. I also added a few food shots this spring to round out the article. I was so excited when I found out that they used my photo for the cover shot as well~ so cool!!!

Last week, I attended a conference hosted by the Association of Executive Search Consultants (AESC) to document the keynote address and the cocktail event that followed at 10 on the Park in the Time Warner Center in Upper Manhattan, NYC. Several distinguished professors and executives  shared their insights with a group of about 100 consultants from various firms as the topics of global business and technology seemed to dominate the panel.

I shot the conference segment of the event in a large, well-lit room using (mainly) a 24-70mm zoom lens, filling in with an on-camera flash when needed. I also took out the 12-24mm wide angle for a few all-encompassing shots to add to the batch. After the conference concluded and the sun fell below the horizon, the attendees gathered in the cocktail area where several consulting firms were set up showing off the latest software and industry technology. My assignment was to capture the attendees engaging in conversation and networking with the various firms, each of which had tables set up to display company information. For this, I wanted to be a bit more inconspicuous so I switched to the 50mm 1.4 and did away the flash entirely. I didn’t have much leeway as cocktail gatherings tend to be dimly lit but I was able to grab a few really nice ones.

Food and drinks were served and guests mingled and networked with one another until the night came to a close around 7pm. Rarely in the Upper West Side of Manhattan, the timing and location were  afforded me the perfect opportunity to drop in on one of my favorite restaurants in New York, La Boite en Bois on West 68th St.

I’ve been busy this week finishing up some promotional photography for Mountain Creek as well as their collateral shoot with Burton. We’ve been up and down the mountain, in the restaurants, on the lifts and just about everywhere else at the resort covering a large shot list for the marketing department. My favorite photos were done at the top of North where the riders took turns posing in different positions, jumping in the air and throwing snow, all to be later be used as cut-outs for various marketing materials used up at the mountain. Here are a few more from the week. Special thanks to Hugh Reynolds, Nate Galli and everyone else up at the mountain for all their help. At the end of the first day, I even got to take a few runs of my own. This time, without the stress of having to hold onto all of my camera gear.

I don’t want to speak too soon, but the groundhog never saw his shadow and all of that snow blanketing the landscape here in the Northeast has been melting away for almost a week now. Sure, it’s been a long winter but I can’t help but think that it is flown by. It’s been well over a month since I’ve even had any time to blog. Gratefully so, things have been really busy! Since the new year began, I’ve been trudging through the snow shooting photos at Mountain Creek, 60 feet up in the chilling air at Crystal Springs, in solar fields, wine cellars, biospheres, and even at an ice fishing tournament. All the while working on a fancy new website that I’ll mention in an upcoming post. For now, here’s a look at what’s been happening…view large here

The last chapter in our Buy Local Series takes us to Spring Street, the heart of Newton, to visit Mother Moon Baby Boutique.

Mother Moon is a shop that caters to the stylish and chic for pretty much anything you’d like to buy for babies and mothers. The defining feature of this boutique, (and something it shares with other local businesses that we’ve covered) is the care and expertise in the selection of the merchandise it sells.

When you look around the store, you’ll notice that all of its products are of a very high quality; the word organic is everywhere and everything from toys to socks to furniture is very solid and well-crafted. I sincerely doubt that you’ll find anything from Mother Moon at a dime-a-dozen chain store. In fact, owner and operator Leigh Pecoriello knows and personally corresponds with many of the people who make the products she sells.

Mother Moon goes even further to create a unique shopping experience: offering clothing and crafts made by local mothers and artists, personalized, customized gifts and toys (often hand-painted by Leigh herself) designed to match the baby’s room, and a bevy of interesting workshops and classes, like baby massage and yoga for mothers, led by licensed teachers.

If you have a baby, a mother, or a new family on your shopping list, take a ride to 156 Spring Street and and talk to Leigh, she’ll set you up with a great gift that you’ll be proud to give.