National Charity Model Search

Time is ticking. Just a reminder that March 24th is the last session I am accepting for the child model contest.

Details:
For ages 18 months to 14 years of age.
I submit images to an online voting website.
You ask family and friends to vote for your child.
Each vote costs $1 and goes directly to Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep.
Winner of contest receives a scholarship and camera plus
a chance to model for a day.

Session fee is $125 for two siblings for a 45 minute to 1 hour session.

Have a wonderful day!

Testing 1,2,3...

This was an attempt to upload larger images and I finally figured it out. The previous attempt lasted on only two posts so let's see how long this will last.

Cup of Java this morning, no not beer. I know it's 5 'o clock some where ;)



As you can see, I'm still having difficulty. I'll figure it out sooner or later. ;)

Happy St. Patty's Day!

It was a nice surprise to see this email from my girlfriend Tracy Cressio. So I copied it to share with you.

An Old Irish Blessing
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Hope you're wearing green today!

...and I want to thank my Secret Sister for the above gift. Thanks Sister!

Have a Wonderful Day!

Charlene

The Art of Hand Letter Writing

What ever happened to the art of developing a letter the old fashioned way, hand written?? I was reading the Merc over the weekend and came across the LifeStyle section where it was showcasing reader responses to comments or questions. This weekend's comment was, "Recently, I discovered..." The article was relating to one's self or travels but I ignored the suggestion and decided to write about hand written letters.

My response: Recently I discovered, but not really discovered because it is obvious, that no one writes hand written letters anymore.

I was reading Matt Nicolosi's blog earlier and he posted a picture of his hand written letter to his wife. It was very romantic! It reminded me, too, that we humans have really lost touch with the art of handwriting. We email, chat, blog and now twitter ourselves away. Reading a printout of your saved letters will never give you the same feeling as those hand written letter's bundled together ever so carefully. The feeling is almost like going back to the past and sometimes you can even smell it too. When was the last time you wrote, not typed, blogged, copied and pasted but hand wrote a letter? We are teaching our Kinders to write their name and the ABC's but what good does it do when they are taught to write essays on the computer in 1st grade? How about those teens you see at the supermarket texting away as if they had 5 thumbs on each hand? Technology can be a bad thing sometimes.

When I was a teen in middle school my best friend and I wrote letters to each other over the summer weekly. Unfortunately, I was not allowed to talk on the phone much so it was our little secret that she taped a dime inside each letter she wrote so that I could sneak away to the local 7 Eleven store and give her a call. I excitedly waited by the mailbox when the postman came around and couldn't wait to get my hands on the pink envelope to read the little scribbles of my dearest best friend Lorie!!

Of course, I was also excited to dash off to the store so I could call her too!

So, the next time you want to tell your kids or husband how much you love them, do it the old fashioned way, hand write it!

Happy Writing,

Charlene

Boston Marathon Qualifier

Congratulations to Linda Nollette who just qualified for the Boston Marathon. Yes, I am bragging for her. That's Awesome Linda!!

Click on any image to enlarge.

Linda with daughter Bethany.

8x24 Sport Collage

Sadly soccer season has ended but keep your dream alive by ordering your sport collage. Here is another sample recently ordered in a 8x24 size.

Another idea is to bookmark it. Packages of 50 on 2x7 inch double sided bookmarks.

1st set of 50 = $65, 2nd set $50, 3rd set $40. Pass them out to friends like a bragg card.

Click on image to enlarge.

Sport Poster Sample 16x20

If you were interested in purchasing a sport collage I've posted a 16x20 sample below of my son.

Please contact me or you can order through my website here.

Click on image to enlarge.

Maui Destination with Premier Access

I had the pleasure of taking pictures for the clients of Premier Access on their "Romantic Getaway" in Maui. Some clients had their session on Valentine's Day so that was a special treat too. We were spoiled rotten beginning with our stay at the Hyatt Regency(in Kaanapali), relaxed with a wonderful spa treatment, a handful golfed on the Island of Lanai, enjoyed dinner at The Pineapple Grill in Napili? and Ruth Chris in Lahaina, received a goody bag with of lot's of tasty treats and sampled delicious island foods at a cocktail party. Each morning we had a wonderful breakfast at the restaurant in the Hyatt. My breakfast choice was the eggs Benedict, a melt in your mouth delicious way to start the day, along with freshly squeezed OJ and mouthwatering island fresh fruit.

The whale excursion aboard The Shangrila was thrilling as we watched 5 whales breach just 60 yards away!! It was my first time seeing a whale that close and I was in awe of how beautiful and huge they are, wow!! The feeling of nausea kicked in even after taking Bonadine, a medicine similar to Dramamine, but without the drowsy effect. After taking a break, the feeling of nausea diminished almost entirely but while I was resting Rodney, with Premier Access, took some pictures of tails for me. Thanks Rodney!

I have to share the funniest incident that happened on this trip. The clients boarded The Shangrila and I was off to the side taking a group picture of them aboard. Suddenly the catamaran drifted out into the ocean and I froze. I was supposed to be on board too! I thought, "Oh well, I'll spend the early evening taking landscape pictures." The catamaran reversed it's direction and I heard the members aboard shouting for me. My adrenaline overflowing, I found myself quickly running into and jumping over the waves, camera high above my head, ocean water waist deep, (did I mention I was wearing white shorts!?!?), but never the less the captain kindly brought the catamaran close to shore so that I could safely get on board. Everyone applauded and for the remainder of the trip I was reminded how I was "brave", "willed" and "passionate" for doing what I did. I had a good attitude about it but I wasn't quick to think that I should have charged everyone for putting on a show. No, not that show! My boy short undies with pink squares sticking stuck to my see though white shorts, LOL!! I brought along my Lucky Brand jeans to change into. How lucky was I?
Further more, while I was body surfing through the waves, some of the clients were taking pictures of me. The feeling was like being starstruck as if the Paparazzi needed that photo for the front of Mad Magazine. It's all good ;)

The clients were all so friendly and did a great job by doing everything I asked of them. "Let's go here, do this, do that, lean here, down a little more, no not that far down! ha ha They all made it so easy for me but I do wish I had more time to spend with each couple to get to know them better and of course take more pictures. You were all wonderful and thank you for making the session so fun and easy!!

Richard, thank you for hiring me, for a second time in Maui! I can honestly say it wasn't work at all since this is my passion and just so you know I am available anytime and anywhere you need me!

Mahalo,

Charlene


The following is only a preview of the "Romantic Getaway". Richard Fulton, CMO of Premier Access, has a surprise in store for his clients so I can't show too much. Patience, after all, is a virtue.

Sidenote: I like Margaret Thatcher's remark on patience. "I am extraordinarily patient, provided I get my own way in the end.”

Romantic Sessions























My husband Mike and I. Mike is a client of Premier Access as well.



The whale excursion was aboard The Shangrilas off the West Coast of Maui in Kaanapali. We boarded just in front of Whaler's Village.





















Photographic Art
These are for sale and look great on large wrapped canvass, canvass frame, watercolor prints and linen texture prints. Email me if you are interested.

This image was taken at the Hyatt Regency. I gave it a watercolor look using photoshop.


These were all taken at Hookipa Beach in Maui. Many surfers and wind surfers come to play here because the waves can get quite large.

I walked away from this spot and returned to see a surfer getting ready to play! It added a nice touch to the image.

Leland 1 vs Pioner 0 - Final Score

It was the last game of the season and what an intense game! Leland played their rivals, Pioneer, and both teams were really going at it.

Taken with my new Canon 50D. f2.8 70-200 Canon lens, ISO 3200, 600-1000ss.


This is my favorite image of the game.

TEAMWORK - Cooperative or coordinated effort on the part of a group of persons acting together as a team or in the interests of a common cause.


This is the Class of 2009 - You guys had a good season!


More images...

Aloha Maui

I soon will be sitting in the sun, sipping a Hula Girl, wind blowing in my hair and be as happy as a clam. On vacation and working in paradise, what else can I ask for? I will post some images when I return.

Aloha,
Charlene


These images were taken last year during our family vacation in Maui.

My favorite restaurant serves the best lunch and dinner in Whalers Village at the Hula Grill. My favorite drink happns to named the Hula Girl. I like to say they made it just for me. ;)
Vodka, cranberry juice, lemon juice with a wedge of lime. It's so refreshing.


The Hula Grill serves up live music almost every night.


I've been told that at the end of Big Beach there is a nude beach.