There are two things in life that I have never looked forward to doing. One is having a root canal and the other is purchasing a car. Today I chose to do them both. Hmmm, sounds like a bad idea.  Well the root canal was exactly what you would think it was (no fun).  The dentist kept telling me to relax and I had to remind her that relax and dentist are not anywhere close in the dictionary.

An hour after leaving the dentist I was at a familiar location, Alexandria Toyota.   For the last 150,000 plus miles I had been getting my Toyota 4Runner serviced there.  George Queen had been my service manager for years.  Because of my trust in him, I trust Alexandria Toyota.   Because of extensive damage to my 4Runner during the blizard of 2010 it was time to get a new vehicle.   After speaking to George he referred me to Mack Alsobrooks.   My first choice was to purchase a Camry.  But after a long conversation and a thorough analysis by Mack I also started to look at a Prius.   That evening I looked at a few Prius & realized that they were comfortable & spacious & environmentally friendly.   The next day I came back to Alexandria Toyota to ask some questions & I met Gus the used car manager – he gave me the keys to the Prius for a test run.  My experience was so exciting that I decided to take the day off.   Later that day I picked my wife up from work & spent about 15 minutes with Mack and 20 minutes with Aaron Verothai their financial services manager.  I  then drove away with my new car.   What an incredible experience with not spenting hours waiting at a dealership to purchase a car.  What a car, what an experience & what a dealership!

Sometimes one  has the chance to photograph an event that puts oneself in the middle of an historic occasion and it shapes the way one thinks about life.  For a long period of time in my formative years of life I attempted to follow African events especially South African events from the perspective of a African American.

On a chilly evening in 1998 I had the opportunity to be in the enviable position of being the primary photographer at two events. One event took place at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington DC and the other event took place at the National Building Museum also in Washington DC.

Earlier that day Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, leader of the African National Council and anti-apartheid activist, addressed the United Nations. After his address at the UN he came to Washington DC and spoke to a group at the Omni Shoreham Hotel.  Prior to him addressing a group at the Omni Shoreham Hotel, he was greeted by the General Manager of the hotel.  Mr. Mandela arrived in the underground garage and the General Manager shook his hand and both of them turned and posed for a photo with very high security.    I photographed him as he addressed the organization.

About 5 hours later that evening my assistant and I entered the National Building Museum where we met Nelson Mandela and his contingent.   We met in a VIP area where Nelson Mandela met with a select group of approximately 30 people including Sprint executives.  We photographed him with everybody in the room.  Nelson Mandela then walked over to us and introduced himself by saying “hello my name is Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela,  thank you for taking the photos today.”  He shook our hands and asked us our names.   Two minutes later I looked over to my assistant  and he had tears running down his face and I asked him what was up he said to me “I just met Nelson Mandela” and then he asked me what were the tears in my eyes?

Our contact for the Mandela contingent then told me that FW de Klerk and PW Botha  were both in the building and Mr. Mandela was not going to meet with them ……………. As we walked down the steps heading to the main area of the National Building Museum and walking towards the center of the main floor I heard a commotion to the right and observed both FW de Klerk and PW Botha about 30 feet away.  Nelson Mandela took the initiative to go over and shake the hands of both gentlemen which was very stunning for me.  (With the sight of both FW de Klerk and PW Botha together I had a flash back of Steve Biko)  I felt intense anger when I saw FW de Klerk and PW Botha but at the same time I saw the peace in the eyes of Nelson Mandela who served 27 years in prison and realized that I hadn’t served a day.

That day there was something really important that I learned after watching Nelson Mandela – after 27 years in jail there was too much on the table for him to be resentful so he did what was most important for his entire country.

In a city that is so accustom to flakes (dictionary definition:  informal a crazy or eccentric person) it would seem as though the Washington DC area would be ready for another 10″-15″ of snow.

In this area we average 16.6″ of snow a year.  In the last week we have had at least 30″.  We have been blasted this winter.  There are suburbs that are less than a 30 minute drive from me that have had 36″ of snow during our 1st snow fall last week.  There is a wide difference in snowfall depending on where you live.  Right now it is 19 degrees.

But as a region we really have nothing to complain about (except those that are without power which could be as many at 200,000), but we have been spared over the years. We still anticipate a bit more snow with accompanying 30-40mph winds.

I’m glad I made that trip to Costco.

And yes there are two cars in this photo.

While seeking a device that would assist me in backing up my 30,000 plus photo collection I went to the NYC Photo Plus Expo and found what I thought would be my solution.   Drobo – simple, scaleable and reliable. A DROBO device is made by Data Robotics Inc., and the device is not cheap aprox $499 or close to that and then I acquired 2-4 SATA drives at about $99 each. A DROBO device was engineered to create a easy, simple and reliable backup solution for your computer content.

But after having my DROBO for about 9 months it started to work infrequently and then after 14 months the unit failed.  I had been in contact with customer service from about the 9 month period and the feedback I was given never got the DROBO up and running.  So I gave up on the device and signed off on it as a bad investment.

Blizzard of 2010

Thursday, February 4th I took a trip to Costco knowing that there was going to be a snow event.  And no I was not in Costco because of Super Bowl Sunday, (even though in retrospect that would have been a great idea).  On Friday February 5th I went to work around 9am but actually was not scheduled.  At approximately 11am I saw the 1st set of flurries, and at 2:30pm left for home in Prince George’s County, Maryland.  The drive was uneventful but the traffic was heavy.

The reason for all this preparation was the the news was reporting a “major event” heading our way.   At 9pm I drove in some of the worst conditions I have experienced to pick my daughter up from Metro.  There must have been 40 mph wind and horizontal snow fall.  We got home safely following a plow truck.

For the next several hours we watched as the storm pounded us with wind and snow.  Trees snapped and fell.

On TV we watched reporters brave the elements to give us updates.  Major highways were closed, citizens were asked not to drive unless it was necessary.

When all was said and done, we got about 3 feet of heavy snow, and with transit, both rail and bus interrupted, 300,000 homes in the metro area with no power as workers struggle to restore power.

Now it is dig out time. Okay over the next 24hrs it will be dig out time. Okay after the Super Bowl.

Be ready “Before the Moment”

That is the tag line for Think Tank Photo, and it is very accurate.  As a professional photographer I am always looking for the best gear.  Something to make my life easy and comfortable.  But in the camera carrying bag arena there are so many choices.  So many good choices I must admit, but very few great choices.  Thinktankphoto creates great choices for the professional photographer.

Thinktankphoto is a true think tank.  They offer the best in backpacks, computer cases, belt packs, rain covers, rolling camera bags and accessories that work for any situation – they are the Ritz Carlton of camera gear.

Why Thinktankphoto:

• Built by photographers for photographers
• Great design
• Protects gear
• Makes gear accessible quickly

Mission Statement:
Think Tank Photo is a group of designers and professional photographers focused on studying how photographers work, and developing inventive new carrying solutions to meet their needs. By focusing on “speed” and “accessibility,” we prepare photographers to Be Ready “Before The Moment,” allowing them to document those historic moments that reflect their personal visions and artistic talents. For some companies, it is only about the product. For us, it is more: It is about supporting photographers doing their job. If we can design products that help photographers travel easier, take pictures faster, and organize their gear more efficiently, then we will have accomplished something beyond the bags themselves.

Hooray for the photographer, we get a chance to win.

This event took place at the Robert Trent Golf Club in Prince William County, Va.

Preparation for this high profile event was very important so about a week prior to the event I took a trip to the golf club and I discovered that from the vantage point that I was asked to create this photo I would be shooting into a window in which the sun backlight the subjects, and I would have no way to control it’s intensity.  So I had a long conversation with the meeting planner and the PGA and talked them into putting up a backdrop.  Without that backdrop I would not have had no control of the finished product.

On the day of the event 2 assistants and I approached the location and found thousands of people and hundreds of security.  After going through that gauntlet of security we finally arrived to the room where we needed to set up for the photograph. As we were assembling the lights President Bill Clinton entered the room. President Clinton went to greet a gentleman in the far part of the room which I found out later was the Ambassador to Venezuela.  Two minutes later President Clinton came over to us and introduced himself to my staff and myself.  President Clinton asked us what we were there for and I told him, a few minutes later we were watching him on the big screen with the players. What a wow.

About 45 minutes after seeing President Clinton on the big screen we started to hear the lobby area start to get busy and realized that the players were on the way.  Then in the next 10 minutes, Davis Love III, Tiger Woods, Greg Norman and both awaited instructions from us and the rest is history. The only thing missing in the photo is President Clinton, he had to get to the White House.  The actual photo took about 3 minutes after the first photo was taken.

The players of the PGA were such class act to work with.

It’s always fun to have an excuse to visit the Big Apple – New York City.  Better yet when you can incorporate business with a bit of pleasure.  This particular time I was selected to photograph a group of prestige Doctor’s who themselves were visiting from other countries which made it even more interesting.  Aside from being a professional photographer I also enjoy meeting and talking to people – guess you could say I’m a “people person” – makes my job easy – plus it makes everyone comfortable as well and within an hour of great conversation we all blended very nicely.

What a more perfect time to be in New York during the Christmas season when it sparkles – a spectacular site to see.

Great photo opportunities and jaw dropping views of the glittering Manhattan Skyline. Enjoy nighttime views and ambiance of Times Square, Chinatown, Greenwich Village, SoHo, Little Italy, Manhattan Bridge, Brooklyn Bridge and Lower East Side.  Don’t forget Rockefeller Center with the Tree – a mountain of branches covered with miles of lights.  The Empire State Building is another measurement stick to see before the holidays are over with the top three tiers brightly lit in red and green.  The window decorations are another amazing thing to see – as I strolled along 5th Avenue that brisk evening I thought to myself what a way to get into the holiday spirit!

A bonus for me is to always stop by one of the many vendors for one of my favorite foods – the knish.   I make it a ritual to bring home many & store in the freezer.  Only in New York do I find the best!

My accommodations were clean & comfortable but oh so small!!!  Good thing it was only myself because you certainly could not pass anyone within the confines of the room.   I laughed to myself.  It was smaller than a shoe box, but NYC is a place where one spends no time in a hotel room and lots of time taking photos.

Well somehow we got it done, photos in 24 hours not 48 and have created a 13 year relationship with MLB.

Even though the photos appear the same every year, each poses it unique challenges.  This year one the participants thought is was more important to text during the shoot than it was to pay attention to instructions.

Well  this is the class of 2010.

As of January 21st,  there are approximately 150,000 people dead

No matter what you think of the “Good Old U.S.A.” and what you think about any hidden agendas, we have feet on the ground trying to save those that can not save themselves.  Just how many countries in the world do that.

There has been an outpouring in financial, spiritual, and physical resources that is unparalleled. No matter our ethnic background, political affiliation, church, synagogue or mosque affiliation, northern, southern, eastern or western part of the country we all support the people of Haiti.

America is the most compassionate country in the world and we invest into the lives of others whenever there is a crisis.

I chose to donate through the American Red Cross.

God Bless Haiti

God Bless America