Aces Camera Entusiasts - ACES

It was my pleasure to once again judge a print competition at the Anaheim Camera Enthusiasts (ACES) photography club.

ACES is open to all Orange County photography enthusiasts, from novice to professional and meets regularly in Garden Grove.

Please go to their website for more information. http://www.aces-photo.org/

Girls Incorporated of Orange County

My wife, Karen and I were honored to join Elaine R. Levin, current Secretary and past President of the Board of Directors of Girls Incorporated of OC, at her table for the third year for the annual fundraising event at the Balboa Bay Club and Resort in Newport Beach on October 29th, 2010.

Joining us at our table was one of the girls that was featured at the event, Mitzi Hermann. After becoming a member of Girls Inc. of OC in 2000, she receiving a National Scholarship from Girls Inc. and now will be graduating from the California State University, Fullerton with a degree in Domestic Violence Counseling and Addiction Counseling in May. She will be entering a Master program in the Fall.

The Girls Incorporated Mission Statement is: Inspiring all girls to be Strong, Smart, and BoldSM
Go Mitzi, and all the girls involved with Girls Inc.,OC!
To see how you can get involved with this great organization visit their website, http://www.girlsinc-oc.org/

Sunwest Bank

I have had the pleasure of photographing several company owners who Sunwest has featured as part of their customer appreciation initiative. The images and a stories about these executives and their companies are featured as part of Sunwest’s advertising campaign which runs in the Orange County Business Journal. I really enjoy doing this work and later reading about these success and relationship stories in the OCBJ. November 1st, is another event that I am returning to photograph for Sunwest. It’s their Annual Economic Outlook Event at the Balboa Bay Club, Newport Beach.

Sunwest Bank, headquartered in Tustin, California, is the premier small and middle market business bank in Southern California. Its aim is simple - provide entrepreneurs with a banking experience akin to one found in a private banking environment.

To find out more, visit their website at http://www.sunwestbank.com/index.aspx

Hacienda Open House

It was great to be a part of the annual open house held on October 28th at the Hacienda in Santa Ana. I meet some wonderful couples with whom I hope I will be working as their photographer on their wedding day. I also had a chance to get caught up with all of my vendor “friends” with whom I have worked over the 28 years I have been referred by the Hacienda.

The Hacienda is owned and operated by June Neptune, who conceived the idea of turning this beautiful space into a venue that can be shared for many special weddings and events and has directed operations for over 25 years. Under June’s direction, the wedding coordinators and event planners are available every day of the week.
The Hacienda is an historic ranch estate built in 1901, complete with balconies, courtyards, fountains and grand staircases. It is the perfect setting for a romantic wedding and reception, corporate event and other special occasions.
To find out more about the Hacienda and June’s other wedding locations in Laguna Beach, visit their website at http://www.tivoli-too.com/TheHacienda/tabid/59/Default.aspx

Friends of Dorothy Guild of Aids Services Foundation (ASF) - Haunted Halloween 2010

Over the last three years, it has been my pleasure to contribute my time and talent to photograph all the events for a super organization called the Friends of Dorothy, which is a support guild of AIDS Services Foundation. This year, the 4th Annual Haunted Halloween Fun(d)raising party was held on October 23rd at the Village Crean Estate, and was a huge success. The Friends of Dorothy Guild raised over $62,000 breaking all previous year's records! 250 party goers had a great time - all for a good cause.
I was presented with my second “The Red Shoe Award” for my support of and love for the organization. As is often with things like this, when we are giving of ourselves, we are the ones who are really benefitting. So, “thank you” for giving me a chance to be with some really great people helping great people challenged by HIV/AIDS. It is truly my pleasure and honor and I have met so many wonderful people. At the top of the list especially is my friend, Tim Dunn. He invited me to get involved after working with him at the Orange County Performing Arts Center where he is head of PR. He plays that role as a volunteer for Friends of Dorothy. Our eight years at OCPAC and three at Friends of Dorothy working as a team have meant a lot to me and I know we will continue for years to come.
If you are looking for an organization to support that is doing great work in providing services to those whose lives have been touched by HIV/AIDS, I can highly recommend getting involved with Friends of Dorothy. You will not only be “doing good,” I promise you will have a really good time!
Please go to their website, http://www.friendsofdorothy.org/ to get more information on their upcoming events and I will see you there!

Ruff Family Portrait

Since 2005 I have had the pleasure of photographing Team Ruff: Jaritt, Erin, Jack, Max and Sam. Watching the family grow-up each year is one of the things that I have been able to do with many other families through-out my career. Thank you all for that honor!

Bergeson Elementary School – Reflections Judging

This year’s Reflections Program Theme: "Together we can," brought out a number of wonderful art pieces. It has been my pleasure to be a judge for this program the last several years for a couple of schools in the area.

The PTA believes all children deserve a quality arts education and encourages students to pursue artistic expression through participation in its annual arts Reflections Program. The program offers students the opportunity to create works of art for fun and recognition. Students in preschool through grade 12 are encouraged to create and submit works of art in six areas: dance choreography, film production, literature, musical composition, photography, and the visual arts (which includes art forms such as drawing, painting, print making, and collage). For nearly 40 years, the program has encouraged millions of students across the nation and in American schools overseas to create works of art. The Reflections Program was started in 1969 by then Colorado PTA President Mary Lou Anderson.

National Association of Woman Business Owners (NAWBO) - Remarkable Woman Event 2010

After taking a year off because my wife, Karen Gifford, was the President, I was asked again to photograph this year’s 15th Annual Remarkable Woman Event which was held on October 5th at the Hilton Hotel in Costa Mesa.
This year’s honorees are:

Kathy Gardarian, Qualis International, Lifetime Achievement Award
Angela Cortright, Business Owner of the Year, Spa Gregorie's
Allyson Ames, Wonderland Bakery, Entrepreneur to Watch

For those woman business owners out there that don’t know about NAWBO, it just celebrated its 35th Anniversary. The Orange County Chapter, NAWBO-OC, was started in 1991 and it touches more than 5,000 women-owned businesses annually in Orange County. NAWBO-OC is the leading organization for the most successful and respected women business owners in the area. Achieving explosive growth, NAWBO-OC is 350 strong. As the nation’s largest NAWBO chapter, they continue to inspire and respond to their members’ needs with quality and innovative programs. Their programs and events focus on education, skill building, mentoring, peer support, policy and political awareness for women entrepreneurs. The national organization has over 70 chapters and more than 7,000 members nationwide. http://www.nawbo-oc.org/

UCI Extension Class – “Keeping it Simple: Photographing People”

For the first time in a long time, this year’s class was offered in the fall quarter. . I have 12 students in my basic portrait photography class for the UCI Extension program. From students to retirees, this year’s class is as diverse as all the others have been over the last 10 years. Some come wanting to just learn how to do a better job of taking their snap shots of their family and friends, and others want to make a living with a camera like me. My hope each semester is that I can share what I know and help them all enjoy taking better photographs of the people that end up in front of their lens, for fun or profit.
If you would like more information about the UCI Extension classes, please call 949.824.5414, or go online at www.extension.uci.edu.

Orange County Performing Arts Center – Peter Pan

As I have talked about before, one of the benefits of working with the Orange County Performing Arts Center http://www.ocpac.org/ is that my wife, Karen, and I get to see some great shows, and this is one you don’t want to miss.

Direct from the U.S Premiere in San Francisco, Peter Pan is a spectacular new stage production of J.M. Barrie’s classic story performed in a state-of-the-art 1350-seat theatre pavilion.

Conceived by an award-winning creative team and featuring twenty-two actors, stunning puppets, epic music, and dazzling flying sequences surrounded by breathtaking video, Peter Pan was a smash hit when it launched in London in 2009. The world's first 360-degree video projection for live theater flies both cast and audience over Edwardian London. http://www.peterpantheshow.com

Wait until you meet the original Tinker Bell with attitude. It is fun for the whole family!

Orange County Performing Arts Center – Project Bandaloop

Since 2006, the Orange County Performing Arts Center http://www.ocpac.org/ has tried to find more ways to use the outdoor plaza that is in-between the Theater and Concert Hall. On my birthday, I had a special treat as I was once again asked to photograph the Project Bandaloop which propels dancers off and across the exterior walls of Segerstrom Hall. The plaza was packed with blankets and beach chairs as everyone watched this noted contemporary dance company create a blend of dance, sport, ritual and environmental awareness that is unlike anything you’ve ever seen. All I can say is “WOW!!”

Prints in Leatherby's Café Rouge Private Dining Room

I was honored to be asked to produce eight (8) 40-inch canvas prints to decorate the walls of the private dining for the Patina Restaurant Groups, http://www.patinagroup.com/restaurant.php?restaurants_id=20, in the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall at the Orange County Performing Arts Center (OCPAC) http://www.ocpac.org/home/

The prints were all architecture images that I had done of the OCPAC buildings and Richard Serra sculpture, "Connector."

If you are at the Center for a show or another event, stop by Leatherby's Café Rouge Restaurant for a great meal and drink, and check out my prints in the private dining room.

AIDS Services Foundation, Orange County (ASF) - Red Ball

The event took place Saturday, September 25, 6:00PM on the grounds of the Festival of Arts in Laguna Beach. This year commemorated twenty-five years of help and hope by launching a new tradition, "The Red Ball." Like the "Big Splash" so effectively did, "The Red Ball" will help raise awareness and funds to support all of those assisted by ASF. http://www.ocasf.org/index.shtml
Tim Dunn, the director of PR for the OCPAC and I worked together to provide the images of the event needed for the media.

Digital Happy Hour – Charlie Palmers at Bloomingdales, South Coast Plaza

My friends at Orange County Films http://www.orangecountyfilms.net/home.html and Charlie Palmers at Bloomingdales, South Coast Plaza http://www.charliepalmer.com/Properties/CharliePalmerAtBloomingdales/
put together a unique event called the Digital Happy Hour. Each week, Executive Chef Amar Santana and Social Filmmaker Sean Saint-Louis, host unique celebrity and social media guests as they unwind with cocktails and culinary delights while discussing the latest trends in food, film, mixology, sports and fashion.

Here is an image from the first show.

Check it out if you are in the area!