Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Kansas City - Missouri

Well I spent a lovely 3 nights 4 days in Kansas City, MO for a visual arts conference. I had a really great time and met alot of really interesting people from all over the world. Sharing ideas about the visual arts all weekend long.

I ate at alot of really cool BBQ restaurants and ate TONS of cookies. ( I put on 3 pounds eating foods and desserts I would never eat here in NY because well I am always watching the scale.. I was not watching it this past weekend...hey I was sort of on a break lol .. anyway it will come off)
Days when I had free time, was wandering around Kansas City. I am a wanderer and when I wander I bring my camera and probably look crazy most of the time to viewers. Well because I love taking photos of the little details. The snow footsteps, my cookies, architecture and rosettes, my amazing hotel room with the great view of the city and the WW I memorial. I also headed out to the Nelson Museum saw a great exhibit on the history of photography which I will talk about later in this entry and lots of abs. expressionist art.

Kansas City is not like a city you could compare to NYC, I read about how it has just been revitalized in the last ten years, they are making more accomodations for tourists to go and visit the area. At times I felt it was very empty, well also its the middle of the winter! Anyway this is what my days looked like:

View from the hotel

The WW 1 Memorial that was always there to look out outside my hotel room

I was painting the sky line here from my hotel room with watercolors and ink for a conference assignment on Kansas City -

My visit to the Nelson Art Museum in Kansas City
A lovely expressionistic Franz Kline



Of course I had to hang out in the photography wing for like an hour.. They had some really nice early, early Daguerretypes, Salt Prints, Albumen Prints (Reddish colored prints) from the 19th Century. I want to go in this direction this year with some experimentation with the "Albumen look."

This is a pristine example of a early sharp Daguerretype. Dagurretypes are always sharp, unless the sitter would move for the 3-5 min exposures. lol
This little girl you can tell her hands moved but look at the rest of her, sharp sharp!!!

Albumen Print (Reddish Hues)

After I was with everyone in my conference group we all agreed we didn't want to spend $85 + on a Steak house, we settled for this amazingly mouthwatering Mexican restaurant that has the best guacomole I have ever tasted. ( OH yeah it was pouring rain when we left)

I then wandered a found a photobooth in this restaurant called a " Street Car Named Desire"
(post photo booth photos later) Yes, there are still black and white photobooths left in America!

My hotel at the Westin was across the street from Union Station, which was built in 1914. The architecture was amazing in there, look for yourself:


The emptyness I was feeling about this place can be summarized here:


People riding segways in here for $5 a piece ( I didn't get that one)

COOKIES:

There is one Amtrak station in there, the rest of the area holds some really nice restaurants and stores. More empty restaurants, this one is reminiscent of Edward Hopper


It snowed one day there (something we are not used to anymore in NY)

My last night there I saw a freight train, it was interesting a full of colors something I had never seen before I snapped this photo:

Thursday, February 14, 2008

Valentine's Day Contest - Free Destination Wedding Giveaway !!!

Happy Valentine's Day !!!!


Are you ready for the big announcement? Getting married in 2009? Still looking for a photographer for your destination wedding?

2007 was a great year for Laura Ryan Photography, 2008 -2009 season will be even better! There is no way Laura Ryan Photography would be in existence today without the support of you, the clients!
I thought this would be a great time to branch out to new locations outside of the tri -state NY area.

And that is where you all come in!

To celebrate my great year I want to give back. And so, I announce a contest :
The Prize:

Complete Coverage for One Destination wedding for 2009 (Destination Wedding - does not have to be a destination for you, Just for us! ) Wedding day coverage by Laura Ryan Photography & Monica Z Photography , all digital files on a disc, my favorite photos posted on my blog and amazing service from the start of your wedding to the end! - you just pay for travel costs. ) Applies to any weddings any where outside the tri state area, the wedding does not have to be a destination wedding for you but for us)*


E-mail me with the following answers:

Wedding Date

Full name

Location

Reception Site

Wedding website ( if you have one)

Photos of you and your Fiance

What do you envision your wedding day to be like?

Why do you want me to photograph your wedding?

How did you both meet each other?

Winner will be picked on April 15, 2008.



Please e-mail your answers or questions @ lauraryancontest@gmail.com
* ( Destination wedding - applies to any weddings anywhere outside the tri state area - NY, NJ & Ct excluded) -

Leaving for Missouri on Feb. 15, 2008

If you do email this weekend, all emails will be most likely returned on Tuesday the 19th.

Going to Kansas City, MO tomorrow, by myself for a conference. .
I am not sure what to expect really, I guess it will be freezing cold.
Well my camera will be in my bag at all times, I hope to shoot some nice shots.

Sunday, February 10, 2008

Check out my Blog this Valentine's Day

A Big Announcement is going to be made!

-L


Image courtesy of the History Channel

Thursday, February 7, 2008

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Etsy.com

Since the wedding season won't start up again until the end of March I have had some free time on my hands and found this great site called Etsy.com
This site is a artists/craft maker / small business owners dream.. I found some of the coolest things on this site. I finally made my first purchase yesterday, I bought some Valentine's day

cookies and Cranberry scones for my family from Bubbleberrybaking on Etsy.com
They just looked amazing! In addition to just homebaked goods. They have cute crafts, hats, artwork and handbags you think of it they got it. I found a blog that focuses on the Etsy new wave of craftmaking for bridal planning here :
http://etsywedding.blogspot.com/

One word of advice this site is addicting
-L

Sunday, January 27, 2008

In Memory

My best friend Kelly's, Grandmother died this morning. She lived a long and full life. I remember her when I was 12, as the woman who would teach us fun games to play ( like penny poker) for hours. She was a really wonderful woman. Kelly asked me to restore some of her amazing photobooth photos of her Grandmother & Grandfather from the 40's. ( there is something so romantic about the Photobooth I just can not describe it) They both look so dapper, sigh I love the way women did their hair in the 40's.
Anyway I thought these images would be interesting to post, they are really beautiful and a romantic. Its such a great way for everyone to remember her.
Edit on 1/28/08 - I found out these photos were taken right around the time they got married
BEFORE:



AFTER:




Here is a one where the color was fixed just a bit..

Sunday, January 20, 2008

Venues

I get alot of questions about venues that I have photographed or will be shooting this year. I figured this would be a good time to share a list of those venues.
I look forward to shooting in new areas, locations and new states, new countries ?? :) I have also photographed at many beaches, clients homes & parks all over NYC & Long Island areas.
- Greentree Country Club NY
- Queens Botanical Garden - NY
- Milleridge Inn - Jericho - NY
- Giorgio's in Baiting Hollow - NY
- Alger House, NYC , NY
- Pellegrini Vineyards, NY
- West Sayville Country Club - NY (fav.. ok its a Fav. because I got married there :)
- Bubby's - Brooklyn - NY
- Stage 6 @ Steiner Studios - Brooklyn - NY
- Jedediah Hawkins Inn - NY
- Stewart Manor Country Club - NY
- Giorgio's - NY
- Queens County Farms - NY
- Caryle on the Green - NY
- Gurney's Inn - NY
- Timber Point - NY
- Old Field Club - Setauket - NY
- Hyatt Regency - Jersey City - NJ
- Gatsby's - NJ
- Twenty Four and Fifth - NYC
- Terrace on the Sky - NYC
- Westbury Manor - NY
- Lands End - NY
- Irish Coffee Pub - NY
- Bruno's of Astoria - NY
- Atlantis Marine World - NY
- The Crescent Beach Club - NY
- Miller Beach Surf Club - NY
- Bailey Aborteum - NY
- Lido Golf Club - NY
- Maritime Hotel, NYC
- Frank's - NYC
- W Hotel - Downtown - NYC
- Renaissance Astoria - NY
- de Seversky center - NYIT - NY
- Old Westbury Gardens - Old Westbury - NY
- Coral House, Baldwin - NY
- Hamlet Willow Creek Inn - Mt. Sinai - Ny
- Castello di Bourghese - Cutchogue, NY
- College Club of Boston, MA
- The Nyack Seaport Nyack, NY
Beaches-
Robert Moses, NY


I hope I didn't leave out any anything ...