I have been pretty busy this week, so here is a picture from Japan to help tide everyone over until the beginning of next week.  I ran across these portable toilets at a local festival in Japan last year.  I was pretty amazed at how cool they could make something so mundane look.  I did see a VERY classy toilet here in the States a few weeks ago, but unfortunately I did not have my camera in tow.

Cheers!
michael todd

I am going to be working a lot this weekend, so I thought I would upload a couple of random pictures.

First, some very nice rose from a recent wedding.  I really like the colors especially against the light blue background.

I love all animals, but I am definitely a dog person.  But for some reason, cats seem to photograph better than dogs in general.  Here is a friend’s cat I shot just prior to my last trip to Japan.

Cheers!
michael todd

Here is an engagement shoot I did back in the fall with fellow photographer Bill Morgan.  Although it’s not too obvious from these shots, we were at Franklin Park Conservatory in Columbus, Ohio.

The groom really had a strong liking of things edgy and industrial.  The site really doesn’t lend itself well to those kind of shots, but we were lucky enough to run in to this rusted out enclosure.

This shot is a little cliched, but it worked out well especially with the autumn leaves on the ground

This was taken on the Japanese bridge that remains from Ameriflora.

Cheers!
michael todd

With the warm weather we have been having this week, I thought it was time to cool off with some winter wedding pictures.  Winter weddings really present themselves with some stylistic opportunities that aren’t available the rest of the year.

Less words, more pictures.

Cheers!
michael todd

I think people tend to focus more on the pictures here than what I actually type–which is fine.  So I may cut back on the commentary a little bit.

These lanterns and curtains sit just below the balcony.

I am not sure whether the barbed wire is to keep people out or to discourage animals from hanging out, but I don’t think it would do a very good job at either.

The alleyway really captures the scerenity of the side streets of Uchiko.

And finally here is a little shop that mainly caters to tourist.  The sign is advertising delicious vinegared eggs, so I have not idea why they have the picture of cherries below it.  Yum???

Cheers!
michael todd

This is one of my signature shots (whatever that means).  It is a little bit on the classical side, but it shows off all of the rings and the flowers.  It is also relatively easy to set up during a busy reception.  And I usually convert them to black and white as seen here.

Cheers!
michael todd

Dale Chihuly is probably the hottest glass artist right now in the United States, if not the world!  He decided to do a series of installations in botanical gardens throughout the world.   His first exhibition was at Garfield Park Conservatory in Chicago, Illinois, USA.  His second installation graced Franklin Park Conservatory in Columbus, Ohio, USA; the conservatory loved the exhibition so much (and through the generosity of a wealthy benefactor!) that they purchased the collection!  The main displays are on permanent display and some of the smaller ones are rotated.

This is a great piece.  It is actually built into the ceiling of a hallway so you are forced to look up to view it.  The backlighting really enhances the colors and textures in the work.

The major works in the exhibition are named.  One of the more spectacular works is “Sunset Tower”.  Below is just a portion of the whole monstrosity.

While I am relatively happy with this picture, I don’t think a camera can truly capture all of the awe of Chihuly’s works that the eye can.  I cannot find a name for this piece, put it most closely ressembles one of his works entitles “Reeds.”  From what I know of Chihuly, these are “generic” pieces that aren’t made into a final work until they are in their display space.  This allows the piece to be better integrated into its surroundings.

Here is a detail shot.

 

Cheers!
michael todd

The good witch of Yellow Springs???

For some reason I have a strong affinity to plants with bright green leaves and bright red berries.  Otherwise there isn’t anything to special about this picture.

Finally, here is another picture from the Tibet series I presented earlier.  Does anyone know what god this represents?

Cheers!
michael todd

Grand Wehrle Mansion is a relatively new venue in central Ohio.  It is an old tutor estate on the banks of Buckeye Lake.  It is a great location other than the old, small rooms that have to be worked around.  It is owned by the same people that also own Valley Dale Ballroom and the Hartman Ballroom, both in Columbus.

It is a fact of our times that more and more parents already have children coming into a marriage.  It does add for some new shots, such at this one that would we would have NEVER seen in days gone by.

Here is the signage.  A great design and very fitting for the environment of the venue.

It is great when such spectacular moments make themselves available to you as a photographer.  This couldn’t have been planned!

While this isn’t really a great picture, it is interesting to note that traditional cakes have not totally gone by the wayside.

Cheers!
michael todd