Art and Transformation

In honor of this year’s Memorial Day, I would like to acknowledge the fighters and citizens of Ukraine as they continue to incur heavy losses in the fight to defend their country.

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Prior to photographing an event I always make sure to scout the location and run-of-show. That was how I learned that an unannounced opening musical piece had been added to this year’s AMP Awards. First the screens would display title cards accompanied by silence that reminded everyone it had been three months to the day that Russian forces had invaded Ukraine in an act of war followed by a refugee crisis the likes of which has not been seen since World War II. In acknowledgement and support of the Ukrainian struggle, AMP organizers had asked the 14-member a cappella Ukrainian Village Voices to perform a folk song in their native tongue.

When I learned of this I made it my business to arrive early at the venue, Sony Theatre in order to watch the sound check. These tech and blocking warmups are always a great way to study what’s going to happen in advance so as not to miss any key visual moments during the performance.

I found the piece incredibly moving and the group’s harmonies exceptional. It was an incredible reminder of the transformative power and necessity of art in times of harsh realities.

Having a few extra moments before the house opened, I hustled three levels down in the bowels of the building below West 46th Street to the dressing rooms. I asked UVV if they’d pose for a group photo. I wanted to get a good portrait of everyone and due to the size of the group, I knew it was the perfect opportunity to return to an old technique of mine: the assembled portrait. They were game but of course “where?” was the question of the moment. Given the few moments that we had the stairwell, ironically painted deep red, was the best place to work.

In addition, I’ve created a very short video to provide an example of the piece performed.

Thanks to the UVV and, once again, to the AMP organizing team Georg Bissen, Jeff Rosner, Matt Miller, Al Risi, Phil Schuster and Anthony Vagnoni for staging an awards show that goes beyond the boundaries of what is expected, for reminding us that what we do is important, and making this show one of the most exciting to witness and document.

#montaukphotographer #hattrickstudio #ukrainianvillagevoices #standwithukraine #amp2022 #stopthewar

Small Businesses Back to Work? As If You Ever Stopped -

Working methods may have shifted over the last two years but for small business teams to survive it has meant living the words I have tattooed on my forearm: Adapt, Improvise, Overcome.

As the world picks up the pace to post-pandemic normalcy, it’s time to polish off the company image by strengthening your brand’s identity and reinforcing how your group works in a cohesive fashion.

One fantastic way to do this is with professional headshots that represents your company’s image in a visually cohesive fashion. Yes, it matters how you look, and it matters how you look together. A key element is style, and it takes some insight into who you are, what you do and how you do it. A great example was my experience with Big Sky Studio Edit.

My friend, Anthony Vagnoni, who was handling PR for AICP introduced me to the about-to-be-awarded and incredibly talented, Chris Franklin (who also had an Oscar nomination iin 2020). They needed a good portrait of Chris for the annual AICE awards. Of course, as it goes with great editing, timing is everything and we needed a studio in a flash. I made a quick call to another super talented friend, the awesome Mary Nittolo, Founder/Proprietor of her animation house , THE STUDIO NYC. As it happened, she told me they were in the process of moving! (Oh, NO! Mr. Bill!!). BUT as fate would have it, due to a snafu in the new space that placed everything on hold, her existing shoot stage was available for a couple of more days. Again, that timing thing.

I made arrangements with team Chris, grabbed some lighting gear, beat a quick path to THE STUDIO and began thinking up an interesting portrait, I hadn’t had time to pull together a backdrop but the white cyc provided me with the equivalent of a blank canvas. I rummaged around in what was laying about & found a cool cooling vent leftover from an equipment rack. I set up a light to blast out through that & created a fetching pattern on the wall that reminded me of watching film running through a projector. Naturally a modernist red (my favorite color) made its way into the picture. When Chris arrived I plunked him down and though we grabbed many a frame it was that first one that won the day. (It so often happens that it is either the last or the first — which is why you can’t just count on the first).

As conversation ensued, what with all that was going on with Chris’ career, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to get the full Big Sky team into the picture. By this time, I had heard that their offices were beautifully curated and art directed. I suggested we take a look up there. A scouting session was put into the calendar and, oh, yes: Eye Candy City.

When you want to enhance your team image there is no better way to give yourselves a unique identity than to incorporate every element you can. A uniform look is the first place to start. And if you have work environment that reflects your image there is no better thing to do than to incorporate that spatial dimension into your team photos. Big Sky’s offices totally fit this bill and so my incredeble assistant, Ian Duncan Ball, and I staged each portrait in one of the seemingly endless “stages” we found around the space. Voila - unique and consistent team portraits.

As we know “every picture tells a story, don’t it?”

#montaukphotographer #hattrickstudio #corporateportrait #professionalheadshot #teambranding

The Goddesses of Wisdom

Speaking of favorite portraits (David Kennedy) and long-term relationships such as with that with longtime friend and client (Colin Ambrose aka @ChefAmbie) I wanted to also mention another portrait relationship longstanding: the ladies of Minerva TV, aka @MaryKnox and @ShaunaSeresin.

Goddesses of Wisdom

They were starting up their company and, naturally, needed some solid “About Us” imagery. Having photographed someone before, there is nothing more satisfying than when that person calls you for an update or a new depiction. We’re not talking “headshots”, mind you. Rather Mary and Shauna wanted what I so like to work on: photographs that portray the subject with more than that which meets the lens. Since these ladies were naming their company after Minerva, the Roman goddess of wisdom and the sponsor of arts, trade and strategy, I had a high goal to reach.

It was a wonderful session and it’s exciting to see the great efforts that have resulted from their work in volume.

You can see what they had to say here.

Here’s where you can see their work at the Minerva site

Here’s their individual “About Us” portraits:

It’s also nice that whenever we bump into one another at an event, it’s always a fun moment. Portrait work done well builds strong, professional relationships.

Easter Parade of Treats!

This past Sunday, the Easter Bunny had nothin’ on me!

A couple of weeks ago I leaked the top-secret information that after several, unsolicited but extremely fun requests for my professional photographic services I had decided to “get back to work.”

Estia’s Little Kitchen & Chef Colin Ambrose

Almost before the proverbial social media ink was dry, one comment came in from an old friend and client, Chef Colin Ambrose (@ChefAmbie). Colin inquired If I was up for “shooting some plates.” Since the plates he was referring to are delicious dishes at @estiaslittlekitchen, his legendary and incredible restaurant with the very family-friendly big garden located on the Bridgehampton-Sag Harbor Turnpike I immediately replied with an enthusiastic “YES!!!”

The opportunity to start our new collection of imagery started sooner than expected. Since we realized we were to be blessed with an absolutely beautiful Easter Sunday, it seemed like a good idea to go wild and photograph the busy restaurant in the midst of Brunch. I LOVE action photography and being in the midst of the bustle that is a busy restaurant at prime time. It keeps me hoppin’. It had been about five years since we last did a library, so it was reassuring to see the same, fun, steady, talented crew still dishing out the super tasty delights like Tortilla Soup and Turtle Rolls.

And, Colin, of course, was the usual dashing “juggler” of timing, tables and take-out, not to mention keeping everyone happy (even if he was challenged by juggling the apples).

Cheers, Everybody . . . and, uh, get there before the rush!!!!

As for my questions about whether or not social media works: they have been firmly answered in the affirmative. Now let’s see if the link to my website Sea Food and Eat It Portfolio works —Click HERE!

Gavin's Paddleboard Proposal

It was a season of unexpected asks for me to be a “spy” photographer, hide amongst the brush (tick spray, check), or the beach chairs (sunscreen, check) or in the sand (sandfly spray, check). The missions were to document the moment when someone took that big step down to a knee to propose to their beloved. Just when you think you’ve heard and seen it all you get a phone call that goes like this:

“Would it be possible for you to photograph me when I propose to my partner?”

“I can do that.”

“On Fort Pond Bay?”

“I can do that.”

“. . . on a paddle board?”

“I can DO that!” (Thought cloud: “How’m I gonna do that?!”)

What the Heck! Professional Event & Ceremony Photography has always required a certain amount of “Seat O’the Pants” improvisation. So why not “Seat O’the Swimsuit?”

Well, as it turned out, this is a situation that long lenses are made for. Besides, I could just see me having to hire a diver to retrieve my camera gear. And given what my camera gear weighs, maybe they’d be fishing for me! At any rate, I love figuring solutions to photographic problems — it keeps things intriguing.

So it was that we have what I affectionately call Gavin’s Paddle Board Proposal to Christine. He even came up with the ingenious idea of keeping the ring in a fisherman’s float — good thinking! (See above re hiring divers).

And when they paddled back, much to the joy of the Best Dog and I, we all celebrated the occasion onshore and, thankfully, dry. Overall, it was a fantastic experience for all. But don’t take my word for it. Here’s Gavin:

Ric blew us away with his amazing work photographing our proposal in Montauk. With a pretty loose plan on how I intended to propose, Ric was great about sharing his expertise to set up the perfect shot. This was all a surprise to my fiancé, so between Ric making a plan to get to the spot in advance, playing it cool by keeping a low profile, and providing some initial direction to get the perfect shot, I can't imagine it having gone any better. ~ Gavin Dalgliesh