Working in Hawaii…

January 24, 2012 in Images and Ideas, On the road | No comments

Photo by Michael LoBiondo

Working in Hawaii at the American Farm Bureau Convention

Yes, I did go to Hawaii and, yes, it was beautiful.  We were shooting a group of 50 or so folks at the Hilton Hawaiian Village and when climbing up the ladder, I turned around to see this image.  This is the only photo of me (really) from the trip but it proves the point that sometimes the most interesting images are behind you.  It also reminds me of something we don’t have here in my neighborhood.  Palm Trees.  There are some here in Charlotte, but I have never seen them.

 

Photo by Michael LoBiondo

Mokolii-Chinaman's Hat

I had the opportunity to travel with Mike Danna and his video crew from Louisiana, to Kualoa Regional Beach Park off the North Shore of Oahu to view the island of Mokolii, also known as the Chinaman’s Hat.  At low tide, you walk right over to this smallest of Hawaiian islands (1477 ft) or just take a canoe or kayak.  A storm was brewing so we only had a short amount of time to get the video needed and for me to take a few shots. When I turned around to leave, here’s what we saw…

 

Photo by Michael LoBiondo

View into Kahana Valley State Park on Oahu, Hawaii

Back home in Charlotte, ready to tackle 2012.  Couldn’t have started any better.

More later…

ML

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Walkabout in Cape May NJ

December 29, 2011 in Images and Ideas, On the road | No comments

Photo by Michael LoBiondo

Quiet booth in Cape May New Jersey

On the day after Christmas, I was on our family trek to Cape May NJ.  My sisters started this tradition many years ago to get the kids out of the house and away from their new electronic gizmos for at least a day.  Last year we didn’t get to go because of the “big” snow that hit the east coast so I was especially excited about the trip.  Usually, it’s very cold, overcast and dreary.  This year, it was cold and windy but very sunny.

I love the beach and beach towns in the winter.  They’re quiet and don’t have a lot of folks wandering around.  The beaches are desolate but you can hear the ocean in a way you can’t in the summer.

This image combines many things about photography that I love:  the quietness of a place, the ability to see something differently than you normally would, and the ability to shoot spontaneously.  Walking to the beach, we passed this restaurant that was closed.  I put my camera next to the window as close as I could and used my body to block out reflection in the glass.  Canon G5 (ancient, I know) set at aperture priority with the flash forced off.  Some photoshop post to reduce noise.

Happy New Year.  More later….

ML

 

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“Do you hear what I hear?”

December 16, 2011 in Images and Ideas | No comments

 

lobiondo_MG_4517a

 

Happy Holidays to you and your family.

I love the line from Dr. Suess’s Welcome Christmas song ” Christmas day will always be, Just so long as we have we…”  We will spend our days with family and grateful for all the trials and tribulations the year has brought us.  As the new year hurtles quickly at us, please enjoy this image of snow and light.  I don’t know if we will see ANY snow this holiday season, so here is a snowman to remind you in case you forgot.

Many thanks to my daughter Angelica for being the model and fashion consultant.

And thanks to all the folks we have worked with and worked for this year.  As I look at the images produced this year, I am grateful for all the people that allowed me to be creative and follow my passion for photography.  Your invited to follow along…

More later…ML

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Cheap Hamburger, Anyone

September 23, 2011 in Images and Ideas, On the road | No comments

PHoto by Michael LoBiondo

The Varsity in Gwinnett GA

Photo by Michael LoBiondo

The Varsity in Gwinnett GA

So, your north of Atlanta off I85, and you want a cheap hamburger but “not” a cheap hamburger.  I was there during my birthday late last month and picked The Varsity for 2 birthday meals.  It’s the most amazing cheap hamburger you can get.  Plus fabulous onion rings and scoop ice cream.

Your thinking, so what’s with the signs.  Well, I was able to go the The Varsity twice during my stay.  The first time the sky was beautiful blue with puffy clouds.  2 days later, a storm was moving in.  This became a simple exercise in “just because you shot it once, doesn’t mean your finished”.  Things change over time, some slower like rust on metal, some take a change in the weather.  AND, always have some way to create images with you at all times.  A sketch pad, notebook, camera phone (!!!). Doesn’t matter.  What’s important is SEEING….and of course, a great cheap hamburger!

More later

ML

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Photos before Adelai…

August 16, 2011 in Images and Ideas | No comments

heather and jesse

Heather and Jesse at 37 weeks

Heather is one of my great assistants and gave me permission to photograph her with her husband while she was pregnant.  I shoot a lot of things as a professional photographer, but this was one of the most exciting projects.  Heather worked with me into her 7th month and I was able to see her progress during those months.  We worked out where and when to eat, that she shouldn’t lift anything heavier than a baby, when to take her vitamins, and where the closest bathroom was.  It was truly an honor to watch.  My question is, where does the belly-button go??!!

By the way, Adelai Emerson Fink (great name for a girl) was born on August 10th @ 1:12 am weighing 7lbs and 21 inches.  Another Leo.  Welcome to the world.

More later…ML

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Michael LoBiondo Photography has a new downloadable portfolio

August 1, 2011 in On the road | No comments

Charlotte Photographer Michael LoBiondo Annual Reports

From an Annual Report Photoshoot...

We have been working diligently, working hard, working all night and all day, just plain doing what it takes to produce photography for our clients and we wanted to share some of the new work with you.  Now the images are here in our  new virtual portfolio.  How else can you market and get your work to the masses 24/7?  We are very pleased that this is now out in the world and on the web.  You can view it here and even download it.

Let’s talk about this image.  This was shot at the end of day 2 while shooting on location.  The art director didn’t ask for it, the client didn’t know about it, my assistant said “your focus is just a little off!!”.  Talk about your selective focus.  I shot it just for the fun of it.  I love the backlight through the windows with the verticals and horizontals and the reds that pop through.  We all know it’s four people standing there but isn’t it more interesting this way?

So, take a look at our new portfolio and send us some comments.

More later

ML

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We will miss her…

July 28, 2011 in Uncategorized | No comments

Photo by Michael LoBiondo

Grandmom at her 100th Birthday Party

I wanted to share this photo of my Grandma who made it 102 years plus 8 months.  She passed away on Monday the 25th in her sleep.  She had 3 sons, 7 grandkids, and 11 great-grand children.  We were quite the crew around the dinner table with wives and kids and significant others.  Every morning she would tell my dad “Another day, George.  Thanks God”.  In all my years, I never heard her complain or say anything bad about anyone.  She grew up on farms, ate fresh farm food (can you say healthy) and loved Reeses.

I guess the thing to really know about her was she was truly generous. In our world of get it done now, what can I get out of it, etc..  she always thought of other folks…in her neighborhood, church, and the little area she lived in all her life.

In my last post, I said I would come back with images from the great New Jersey shore.  This shot, although taken 2 years and 8 months ago, is much more important.  Call your parents, grandparents, kids, loved ones, neighbors, and anyone else you can think of.  Just say “I was thinking about you”.

Thanks for letting me get personal.

More later…

ML

 

In search of the ocean…

July 20, 2011 in Images and Ideas | No comments

Photographer Michael LoBiondo

Dolphin Tours Kayaks

So, we are off to our annual trip to the beach.  The beach and boardwalk are the places that my heart gravitates to and I always find something interesting to photograph, and this photographer always has his camera at the beach.  I grew up 20 minutes from the Atlantic Ocean and Ocean City New Jersey so being in Charlotte and being 3+ hours from the water makes me appreciate it even more.  I take my little old Canon point and shoot camera and become a tourist which let’s me get shots that I might not get with a big rig around my neck.

In a couple of weeks, I will share what I find this trip.  More later…

ML

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Independence Day 2011-Flags in Celebration

June 30, 2011 in Editorial Photography | No comments

Photo by Michael LoBiondo

Patriot American Flags in Charlotte NC

This holiday weekend, I wanted to share an image I took a few years ago.  My then assistant Ann Lamb and I were riding in the truck through Charlotte near the court house and we were headed back to the studio after a morning shoot, and I turned the corner to see this display of flags on the grass.  Parking were I shouldn’t have (Ann was vigilant) I spent about 30 minutes on my belly shooting from every angle.  Folks from Charlotte will recognize the building in the background and how much the Charlotte skyline has changed.  We don’t know who put the flags out, but it was very moving to see this overt display of patriotism so publicly displayed on the city’s streets.

It’s because of these chance discoveries that most professional photographers and a lot of amateurs carry camera’s with them all the time.  This was  shot with a Canon 1Ds with a wide-angle lens but could have been just as easily shot with any camera with manual controls.  Yes, I did post production in Lightroom which is a program I love and has great color.

So, have a hamburger or hot dog this weekend, watch Wimbledon, catch a ballgame, go for a swim.  “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

Go pursue some happiness.

More later.

ML

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What do 84yr old hands do…they grow something

June 15, 2011 in Editorial Photography | No comments

Professional photography by Michael LoBiondo

Gardners hands

Sometimes as a professional photographer shooting on assignment, I get to wander around without any direction of where I am going except to produce images that have emotion and tell a story.  I shoot a lot of editorial photography for The Pines of Davidson retirement community and they provide a large garden area for residents to grow flowers, vegetables and the occasional weed (not the smoking kind, the pull out of the ground because it’s killing everything else kind).  As I was walking around, I met the wonderful Frances Cassidy just tending her small plot put holding on to this onion bulb.  We talked about her love of tomatoes and okra.  She is growing both and looking forward to her first fresh fried okra sandwich followed by a close second, tomato sandwiches.  I couldn’t take my  eyes off of the onion in her hands so I asked if I could photograph them.  ”As long as you don’t get me in the picture” she said (I get that a lot!).  Happily, this is the shot I got using low depth of field so that the background would go soft.  I am inspired by Francis and her desire to keep “growing”.  My mom would be 82 this year and even though she’s been gone for a little while, I still keep finding her in the people I meet.

So, tomato sandwiches for lunch today?

More later…

ML

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