Coney Island High

The Holga is technically a plastic toy camera; the two setting choices for exposure are (1) an image of a cloudy sky and (2) an image of a sunny sky. The folks at Holga step up their game a little by giving *four* choices for focus: A mountain, a group of people, a family of three, and a single person. Rumor has it that on some models, the single person is a distinguished graduate, wearing cap and gown. Not so on my Holga 120, but it still takes some pretty smart pics. The following were all taken at Coney Island during the summer of 2007. (I am thinking about enriching my all-digital wedding coverage by adding a roll or two of medium format shots to each package; any interested brides & grooms out there?)

The venerable Cyclone looms in the distance... but the real attraction is this pig garbage can who, like Otis Redding, wears overalls in lieu of Continental clothing and a Stetson hat.

The best view of Brooklyn.

Classic.

Coney Island is for the kids.

Rocket; Fuel.

Brooklyn Beer served up by a pre-minifig waitress doll. Life is sweet.

Clams on the half shell... and roller skates!

Some lovely subway art in Brooklyn.

Not the most high-tech spook house around... which just makes it all the more menacing.

The tiniest tea party.

All About Albums! Part One: Flush Mount Basics

Most couples come to me with a pretty good idea of what they want when it comes to wedding photography. But once albums enter the mix, there is usually some confusion. It's no wonder - there are more options than ever for preserving and displaying your wedding photographs.

Over the next couple of weeks, I'll be posting information about the wedding albums I offer, as well as a few cool album alternatives and tips for do-it-yourself display of your images. Albums are so important; Wedding photographer Bambi Cantrell often points out that the wedding album is the first heirloom of a new family. What would you like to know about the books that will help you relive your wedding story for the rest of your life? Just post in the comments or shoot me an email, and I'll make sure you get an answer.

Today, I'll introduce you to the Classic Album, which is included in two of the packages I offer. This is a flush mount album, which means that the pages are designed as a book or magazine would be, and then printed as a single photograph. The photographs are then affixed to a thick page core, so these books are very durable. The albums I use actually have a plastic core, so they will last a lifetime. See how nice and sturdy they are?


The covers of the classic album are a leather-like material, which most brides love because it is more affordable than full grain leather, and also animal friendly! There are several cover options for your album, but I think basic black is a timeless choice. Color trends come and go, which anyone who has ever lived with a harvest gold refrigerator knows. Aside from the chic factor, another benefit is that the black cover can be blind embossed with your names, as in the photo below.


Next time we'll talk design - my favorite part! With flush mount albums, the options are literally limitless. I'll show you some of my favorite examples, ranging from collage style designs to ultra-simple presentations. See you soon!