Friday, May 20, 2011

Orlando - Home of Disney where Dreams really DO come true!

Last Weekend, my mom, boyfriend (Caleb) and I headed down to Orlando for a short 4-day vacation before the summer season truly started. My mom has a real knack for planning trips and finding great deals, so the airfare was cheap, the hotel was cheap, and we had a lot of fun at the amusement parks planned! Of course, when packing I included way too much, bought even more, and didn't wear half of it - but it's always nice to have choice... right? The trip was fabulous. My mom and Caleb really had a chance to bond and get to know each other, and the whole trip was so much fun. 


Now, onto the point of this post. Many people tend to build stuff up in their heads, and then be disappointed by the results. My question is, is Disney one of those things? When looking at the Disney website, and planning all the rides I wanted to go on and shows I wanted to see, I could feel a smile stretching across my face farther than it had in weeks. The stress of school, finding an apartment for next year, and packing to go home had me somewhat down, but the prospect of going to Disney was somehow able to reverse all those feelings and get me excited and happy.


When we first arrived in Orlando, I was excited and rushed through getting ready so we could hit Magic Kingdom right away. The first thing I noticed was how truly 'American' it was. There were little children running around - crying and demanding ice cream and chicken nuggets, overweight parents attempting to run after them, people taking photographs of every little thing, and almost no one just taking in all the magic that is Disney! My first thought was - uh oh, I built it up in my head, and it is going to be disappointing. However, that did not turn out to be the case. I have come to the conclusion that despite all the crowds, and how American it all was, I am as big a fan of Disney as ever. As the trip continued, we had more and more fun experiences. Although we had to wait in lines, and deal with people EVERYWHERE, Disney is what you make it - and I loved every second of it. Sure, some parts were disappointing, and there was definitely a lack of more 'adult' rides (Caleb was not so keen on that - he just wanted to move onto the adventure rides at Universal Studios), but I don't regret spending 3 days in the different parks at all. Disney has always been a big part of my life - I still enjoy the movies to this day, and going to the parks just reminds me how much I have always loved Disney, and always will. 




Caleb and I at the entrance to Magic Kingdom




So I guess what I am trying to say is - if you build something up in your head, its your responsibility to make that experience all that you want it to be. Don't let yourself be disappointed; pick out the good things and focus on that - blocking out the negatives. Life is what you make it, and if you want your dreams to come true... Make it happen! Until next time, live through the lens!





Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Sisters On The Runway

Once again, it has been a while.. but I am back - and taking a look back. 


Over a month ago, when I was still in school back at UMass, a couple friends of mine brought a club from their high school to the UMass campus. Sisters On The Runway is a student-run organization that raises awareness about domestic violence, and puts on an annual fashion show to raise money for a local domestic violence shelter. Alissar Taremi and Kaelyn Siversky brought this club to UMass in the hopes of creating the show on a larger scale - and they definitely succeeded. The show was absolutely amazing - with over 15 models, each showcasing outfits from different boutiques and designers, a hula hooper, dance performance, and silent auction contributing to the fundraising. I was enlisted to take photographs of the show, and enjoyed every second of it. Here are a couple of the photos, and some vignettes to go along with them! Enjoy!




 The Hula Hooper performing before the Fashion Show


The lights went down as Sae Bluff took the stage. Starting out with seemingly simple steps, the crowd quieted down to watch. As the music got louder, and more intense, so did her moves. 'Oohs' and 'Aahs' could be heard around the auditorium. Then, suddenly, the hula hoop came to life with vibrant colors that stood out in the dark room. As she started twirling faster and faster, the colors meshed together to create a vortex of motion and excitement. Sae could barely be seen beneath the blending of colors - almost as if the hula hoop had come to life and was functioning on its own. Reds, Pinks, Blues, Greens, all danced in circles around her, and the crowd went wild. Amazement ran wildly through the auditorium, and then, with a few final spins and a bow, the show was over. 




 One of the Models showing off her outfit on the Runway


After the hula hooper, dancers, and speakers finished, it was time for the highlight of the night. The spotlights at the end of the stage came on, the music was turned up loud, and the models started strutting their stuff on the stage. The outfits were gorgeous, and very eclectic - ranging from dressed to bathing suits to pant-suits, and a few bohemian pieces here and there. The girls were confident and entertaining, and the music made you want to join in and strut your stuff in front of a crowd. There wasn't so much as a misstep in the entire show - everything went smoothly, and the transitions between models was seamless. The end of the show was near, and the models came together in one long line to show off their final outfits one more time before disappearing behind the curtain to celebrate the success of the first annual show at UMass. Everything went perfectly. The performers were fantastic, the food was delicious, and the outfits were inspiring. The auditorium was nearly full, and next year it will be even fuller. Look out UMass - a new club has stormed onto campus, and is well on its way to making a permanent mark. 





More to come soon, but for now - as always - live through the lens, make your own mark. 

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Sicilia Portfolio

Well, it has been a while, but I'm back and today is the day! Our portfolio's from the trip are due, and mine is finally finished! The photos are in, vignettes are written and pasted in, and the book is all put together! Here's a sample of the work, enjoy!




Castelbuono


 
An old car parked in Castelbuono


        A donkey walks by with large wooden trash barrels attached at its flanks, and I think, "Okay we are definitely not in American anymore." The serenity of this small mountain town is enough to make one want to leave the hustle and bustle of American forever. That and the pistachio spread paired with warm sweet bread and I was SOLD.
         A woman was standing behind a table on the corner of the square handing something to my fellow classmates when I walked by. I could smell the pistachio, and the heat of the sweet bread was almost tangible in the air. The freshness was amazing. With mountaintops peeking over the buildings, Sicilians relaxing with newspapers in hand, the quiet streets, and the taste explosion going on in my mouth, I was in heaven. I tried to eat the delicious treat slowly, but it was nearly impossible. The spread had melted over the bread perfectly, and I did not want to miss the opportunity to eat with while it was still warm; can you blame me? Almost everyone in the group bought at least one jar of pistachio spread, if not more. Mine was meant to be a gift for someone back home, but it ended up being a "shared" gift. Bottom line: I would go back to Castelbuono for the pistachio spread alone; the beautiful views and serenity of the town would simply be icing on the sweet bread.


Cefalu

A boat on the beach in Cefalu


        As the bus slowly pulled to a stop near the side of the road overlooking the sea, it was clear to me that Cefalu would be one of my favorite places on the trip. The water was a mix of different blues all blended together to create the perfect scene. The sky was clear, save for a few clouds scattered innocently across it, and the temperature was absolutely perfect.
        Everyone stepped off the bus, and followed Rosa to the Piazza where we were to meet at the end of the day. After listening to her explanations of the town for a few moments, we split off in groups and wandered through the streets in search of lunch. We walked towards the water, and found a restaurant with an outdoor deck overlooking boats and the sea. I couldn't help but think about how much this small seaside town reminded me of Nantucket. The breeze, the blue sky, and the salty smell - it was all so familiar.
        Of course there is no place like Cefalu, but this small town reminded me of home, and the charm of living near the sea. Winding streets with gift shops and gelato stands, the ancient brown buildings, and the churches so magnificent it makes an atheist want to believe in god.


Catania Market

 Fresh artichokes at the Market in Catania


        Fresh fish, fruits, vegetables, and meat are everywhere. The market seems to stretch out over the entire city. Walking down street after street there is everything you could ever need. From food products to umbrellas and hello kitty souvenirs - they have it all. The colors are unlike anything I have ever seen. Flashes of red dance in between bright silver and black. Greens and purples playfully intertwine and compete with one another for brightness. Oranges stand out among the browns of walnuts, and deep red sun dried tomatoes are gathered in baskets resting along one table. People are bargaining and buying and selling; chopping, bagging, weighing, gathering, and exclaiming about sales. The entire scene is like something out of a movie. You can find every cut of meat imaginable - pigs feet, chicken hanging by their feet, organs, legs, breasts, and even a few heads here and there. 
        Seafood can be found both dead on ice and still alive. Shrimp are moving around in their containers, and fish leap out of buckets hoping to get back to where they came from. Snails inch around their basket, trying to escape, and the men keep pushing them back in. The snails sink back into their shells for a moments and try again; the never-ending battle of the marketplace.


 A snail attempting to escape at the Market



Murgo Winery

Wire champagne tops at Murgo Winery near Mt. Etna


        To me, the inner workings of a winery have always seemed like a secret the general public should not be allowed in on. How to make such fabulous tastes should be taken to the grave, and passed on among generations of wine makers. The mystery of turning a grape into most adults' choice dinner and dessert beverage is almost more intriguing than the taste itself.
        Murgo Winery was different than I had imagined, and yet everything I had hoped for in a winery. You imagine name brand wines being made in corporate wineries, bottles filled with conveyor belt motions, and machines doing all of the work. What you hope for, however, is Murgo - a small business, with real people keeping up with the wine, and putting in the effort to make it delicious. Bottle upon bottle are stacked and waiting to be filled and shipped to their selling point, corks bunched together in huge bags, and champagne tops one inside another to save room. 
        The tour made me feel like I was being let in on a deep Sicilian family secret. It was an honor to see the inner workings, and an even bigger honor to be able to photograph them. 


 A cement pole at Murgo Winery, holding up wires for the vines.



Segesta

Flowers surrounding the temple at Segesta, the temple in the background.


        The bus comes to a halt in front of a wooden building and some picnic benches scattered here and there. Rosa explains that we are going to see Segesta, the Greek temple, and some ruins of an ancient theatre. As I prepare to get off the bus I can hear the grumbling as those around me gather their writing and photography equipment. Rosa collects tickets from inside the wooden building, and as we wait for a bus to take us up to the theatre, the photographers meet at one of the picnic benches for a brief meeting. Cameras are set down on the table, and examined to find the proper settings for the outing ahead.
        "HOLD ON TO YOUR TICKETS!" Rosa exclaims, and she says we'll need them after the theatre to get into the temple. She then reminds us repeatedly for the rest of the trip - joking of course. The theatre is set on top of a hill, and opens up to an enormous valley, overlooking some other hilltops in the distance. Rosa stands at the bottom and gives us a brief history, and some architectural information on the site. If you listen carefully you can almost hear the ancient crowd gathering for the performance of the day. Excitement fills the air, waiting to hear what comes next. Will it be a comedy, or a tragedy, perhaps even a love story?
        We clamber back onto the bus, and make our way to where we came from, and then hike up a small hill to the temple. An old fence surrounds Segesta, keeping the modern day visitors from walking through the ancient pillars. The building is magnificent, even with some missing parts. The colors of the grass and plant life around the building make the whitewashed columns stand out against the background, as if it didn't already stand out enough. The teamwork that it took to build this temple is inspiring. People working together for a common goal - and just look at the result. It's beautiful. 






There they are, some highlights from my portfolio! I hope you enjoyed. Until next time, live through the lens!