Joe Appel Photography - Pittsburgh Wedding Photographer

New Home for the Blog

2009-08-05T07:07:00.000-07:00

Earlier this week I transferred all of the posts in this blog to my new blogsite at joeappelphotography.com. From now on I'll be posting to that site.

The response to this blog has been really tremendous. I can track the number of visitors, etc. and the growth has surprised me.

For this reason, I felt that the direction to go for my web presence was to combine my website with the galleries, pricing info, and client area with my blog. Since I've committed to keeping the content fresh it seemed natural to move in this direction.

With that, I encourage you, dear reader, to bookmark, subscribe, or just make a habit out of visiting my new WordPress blogsite.

If you're a client and are looking for your gallery, it's still there. By clicking the link to Portfolio and Pricing on the menu bar of the new site you'll be taken to the familiar gallery website where you can click on the Clients button.

Thanks again, please continue to read. I welcome your comments and look forward to sharing my photography with you.

Joe

Article from Seattle Bride Magazine

2009-07-31T06:00:00.001-07:00

Here's an interesting article from Seattle Bride Magazine. An amateur photographer shot side-by-side with a pro all day at a wedding and compared results.

Joe

Jamie and Gavin II

2009-07-28T05:44:00.000-07:00

Jamie and Gavin have just had their first kiss as husband and wife and are recessing down the aisle to the applause and cheers of their friends and family. Gavin is even wiping a tear from his eye. It was a beautiful moment.

Nothing says "I Love You" quite like a face full of birdseed. I prefer bubbles because they gently pop when they alight upon your skin. Rice and birdseed are more like a blast of rocksalt from Granny Clampett's scattergun!

After the pelting was over and the birdseed removed from hair, clothing, and etc., we went to the center square in Monessen for some photos.

It was a lovely day and I was happy to have been there to photograph it.

Joe

Jamie and Gavin

2009-07-21T11:30:00.000-07:00

It's been a fun summer. I've said it before, but I'm blessed to have the privilege to photograph the weddings of some terrific couples.

Last Saturday we journeyed to Belle Vernon, Monongahela, and West Newton to photograph the wedding of Jamie and Gavin.

This is Jamie. She's a fun person to be around. You can tell by looking at the picture, can't you?

These are Jamie's friends. They're fun people, too.

I love doing shots of the bride getting ready. It's always an atmosphere of energy and anticipation. A little food, a little wine, and everybody is happy and ready to head to the church (or wherever the ceremony is to be held) for the wedding. Nice.

This photo was taken in the back yard of Jamie's parent's house in Belle Vernon. Who knew that part of Western Pennsylvania looked like the south of France?

Jamie's dad's grapevines are in the background of the photo above. In fact, he made the wine that was served at the reception. It was a very nice personal touch.

I've got some fun posts planned from this wedding. In them I'll talk about the dangers of birdseed and bouquet toss safety;-)

Joe

Jenn and Craig II

2009-07-17T18:49:00.000-07:00

My wife and the kids and I just got back from a short vacation. It was great to get away to see some old friends, enjoy some good food, and swim in the ocean. It was very refreshing, so this morning I was eager to continue editing Jenn and Craig's wedding photos from last weekend. There are plenty of wonderful photos, here are a few:

The reception was at the Crowne Plaza Pittsburgh South. The staff was organized and attentive and the food was great (thanks!). It was a nice room that anybody in the South Hills who is looking for a venue ought to consider.

Craig is an avid hunter, so he pulled out the head lamp when he went for Jenn's garter. It made a reappearance later in the evening during the dancing.

I loved the cake topper - a capital G in pink rhinestones.

Not only did the baker do a great job with the cake, but the strawberry tuxedoes and wedding dresses were pretty cool, too.

I'm looking forward to Jamie and Gavin's wedding tomorrow. As always, I'll post some favorites from that wedding as I edit.

Joe

One from yesterday

2009-07-12T08:36:00.002-07:00

I'm of the opinion that the location is secondary in importance to the attitude and spirit of the couple when it comes to formal photos. I've taken formals at classic locales such as the Mellon Institute, Mt. Washington, and Phipps Conservatory. Those are great places for photos, but I've also been to miniature golf courses, and yesterday's location - a cemetery.

Jenn and Craig were married in Jefferson Hills and had their reception at the Crowne Plaza in Bethel Park. So we stopped at Jefferson Memorial Cemetery for photos on the way to the reception.

It's a great place with scenic vistas, plenty of trees for shade, and a peaceful atmosphere that you'd expect.

I've photographed wedding formals there before, so I was glad when Jenn and Craig said that they wanted to go to Jefferson Memorial Cemetery. All we needed was some decent weather. Yesterday, it looked like we were probably going to get rained out but we got lucky and the sun kept shining!

Check back for some more photos as I continue to edit this wedding and Nicole and Ryan's from last week.

Joe

www.joeappelphotography.com

Heinz Chapel

2009-07-07T20:32:00.000-07:00

I have an affinity for Heinz Memorial Chapel. My wife (she's the Pitt grad) and I were married there. Our wedding was on a Friday evening in October - the same weekend as the University of Pittsburgh's homecoming.

The timing couldn't have been better. Just as we were walking down the aisle at the end of the ceremony, a massive fireworks display for homecoming was set off. We all stood on the stairs of the chapel and took in the light show. Of course, I didn't deny it when asked if we planned the fireworks.

Here are a few photos from Nicole and Ryan's wedding at Heinz on Saturday evening:

Nicole in the dressing room downstairs before the ceremony:

Gothic grandeur in the nave of the chapel:

A photo in the archway on the stairs leading up to the choir loft is a Heinz Chapel classic:

The architecture of the place lends itself to black and white photography:

We had a lot of fun with separate photo sessions for the boys and girls before the ceremony. I'll post some photos from those in the coming days, so check back.

Joe

Walking on a Wire

2009-07-03T18:57:00.000-07:00

Nik Wallenda crossed the Allegheny River in Pittsburgh this evening on a wire the diameter of a nickel suspended 200 feet above the water. He made the 1,100-foot trip in 25 minutes.

My family and I watched the event from the deck of the RiverQuest Explorer. It was great to be out on the river to watch Wallenda's death-defying walk. A big thanks to executive director Karl Thomas.

It was a unique event that we'll remember for a long time.

Joe

Playtime

2009-06-27T11:44:00.000-07:00

An outdoor wedding can be a lot of fun for kids, especially on a beautiful day.

Amy and Chris had a great idea for their wedding at the Succop Conservancy in Butler County - they brought a couple of big tubs filled with toys for the kids to enjoy on the expansive lawn of the estate.

It's not too often that I get to pull out and dust off my skills as a sports shooter, but the kids were having a great time.

It's a good idea to bring a change of clothes - you don't want to play football in a tuxedo!

That sort of thoughtfulness is an indication of what a kind couple these two are.

Joe

Amy and Chris - Part 2

2009-06-23T08:21:00.001-07:00

If you read the last post, then you know that it rained during Amy and Chris' wedding last Saturday. But, if you looked on the bright side (which happened to be the other side of the pavilion) there was a rainbow.

While they were waiting to be announced before dinner, I saw Amy and Chris sharing a quiet moment together:

Amy told me that she and Chris were at an environmental event at the Succop Conservancy last year when she turned to him and said that had a vision of them being married below the willow tree by the pond. Fast forward to June 20, 2009, and her vision became reality. Nice.

Joe

Amy and Chris

2009-06-21T09:19:00.000-07:00

There are so many beautiful photos from Amy and Chris' wedding last night, but so far this one taken early in the day is my favorite.

The wedding was at The Succop Conservancy, an old estate near the Butler County Airport that is managed by Butler County Community College. It's just across Rt. 8 from The Mansion, where Mackenzie and Matt's wedding reception was the week before.

The grounds and house provided a fantastic scene for the wedding.

Of course, the weather is always a factor when you're planning a wedding outdoors. At around 8:30 it started raining buckets. Kudos to Amy and Chris for going with the flow (sorry, couldn't resist the pun) and continuing the dancing!

Credit goes to the Conservancy staff for braving the torrential downpour to put down the canvas walls on the pavilion so that the party could continue.

I'll be posting more photos throughout the week as I continue to edit. Thanks again Amy and Chris.

Joe

By request: More Photos from the Engagement Party

2009-06-17T06:04:00.000-07:00

Hi Ritambhara!

Here are a few more photos from the engagement party at the Pittsburgh Hilton Garden Inn at Southpointe a couple of weekends ago.

The groom-to-be and his brother:

The bride-to-be arrives:

The couple make an offering of rose petals and cash:

As part of the ceremony, the mother of the groom-to-be gives her future daughter-in-law gold bracelets:

It wouldn't be an engagement party without an embarrassing childhood story delivered by the groom-to-be's brother:

Joe

Mackenzie and Matt - Part 2

2009-06-17T05:27:00.000-07:00

I've finished with the proofs of Mackenzie and Matt's wedding from last Saturday. There were a lot of really wonderful images to choose from.

Today I'll post a couple from the ceremony. Later in the week I'll share some more from the reception.

The ceremony was at St. Richard parish in Richland Twp. I've written before about modern churches, and how I'm a traditionalist. But one thing I like about a modern church is that you can usually find an angle to get a view of the bride and groom from the side or front - something that is not often possible with the traditional cruciform layout.

This church posed a challenge with a blue stained glass window directly behind the altar. Added to that, the tungsten lighting that illuminated the front of that altar where all of the action took place, large windows on the side of the church and skylights all really kept me on my toes!

A challenge to be sure, but the combination of the big window with its red and blue sections, and the tungsten spot lights on the couple provided some really vibrant colors when shooting from the side:

Here's a view from the back of the church:

Lighting on the altar of any church isn't a problem when we're doing formal shots because I use flashes to light the scene. That is something that isn't possible during a ceremony, but if you take the scene as a whole there are some pretty interesting ways to interpret it and come up with beautiful pictures that are unique to the particular church.

Joe

Mackenzie and Matt

2009-06-15T06:13:00.000-07:00

Here are a few photos from Mackenzie and Matt's wedding last Saturday.

The Mansion, south of Butler, was a great place to take pictures. Look at that room! The couple descended a grand staircase as they were introduced, then went straight into their first dance. A dramatic entrance, to be sure.

The checkerboard marble tile on the floor and the crown moulding in the round room provided some strong graphic elements that I really like in black and white:

Outside in the garden:

On the back patio:

In front of The Mansion:

This place is a photographer's paradise. In addition to the scenes above, there are extensive grounds with mature trees and a well-maintained lawn to photograph in. It also helps to have a terrific couple!

I'll definitely be posting more as I progress through the edit.

Joe

Abbe and Dan Part 2

2009-06-11T14:44:00.000-07:00

Editing photos is a great activity on a rainy day. I just finished with Abbe and Dan's wedding from last Saturday.

As you can tell by the large number of photos in this post, there were a lot to choose from.

Abbe gets ready with the help of her sister:

Check out the angler-themed bedroom at Armstrong Farms' Westminster Preserve!:

Wedding crasher!:

Abbe and her dad, Tom, walk "down the aisle":

Cutting the cake:

Abbe and her dad, Tom, during the father/daughter dance:

Thanks again to Kathy Allen for letting us walk through the wheat field:

Check out that sunlight during the golden hour:

The sun sets:

Two outstanding weddings this past weekend. Looks like I'm going to be busy updating the galleries on my website with photos from these weddings.

Joe

Jeanene and Joe - Part 2

2009-06-10T09:07:00.000-07:00

I've been editing photos from Joe and Jeanene's wedding at The Morning Glory Inn on the South Side of Pittsburgh last Friday and wanted to post a few more to the blog.

There was a lot of laughter both during the ceremony (below) and during the formal session, which took on the tone of a Three Stooges episode!

Jeanene was stunning in her ivory gown. Her sister Melissa helped out as she got ready:

A beautiful bride:

The courtyard at night takes on an intimate glow as the party lights and candles provide illumination:

You'd never know that East Carson St. is just a block away. The atmosphere reminded me of some of the inns my wife and I stayed at during a trip to England.

Joe

Indian Engagement Party

2009-06-08T10:27:00.000-07:00

For some reason I thought the engagement party at the Pittsburgh Hilton Garden Inn at Southpointe on Sunday would be a small, low-key affair.

Who knows? Maybe it was because I'd already shot two weddings this weekend and my brain wasn't fully functional.

How wrong I was. This was a huge event with hundreds of guests.

You can always count on two things at Indian weddings and the related events:

1 - There will be a TON of great food.

2 - There will be dancing.

In fact, once the ceremonies are over and the DJ starts spinning the bhangra beats the dance floor is immediately filled to capacity. Everybody is grooving - young, old, in-between.

And, folks, that's the way it should be!

Joe

The groom-to-be gets down with his buddies after the formal ceremony.

The couple exchange rings at the end of the formal engagement ceremony.

A group of ladies gather on stage to sing traditional songs to the couple.

Like I said, these guys know how to have fun.

Outstanding in Her Field

2009-06-07T07:47:00.000-07:00

Wow! Two fantastic weddings this weekend.

I'm really lucky to be able to photograph the weddings of such great couples. It is truly inspiring. As the Reverend said at the wedding yesterday (I'll paraphrase): What the world needs more than ever is for people to come together, and what better way to accomplish that than the marriage of two people who love each other.

Armstrong Farms in Saxonburg provided the backdrop and as always owner Kathy Allen came through with a beautiful day.

Thanks Abbe and Dan, best wishes to you on your honeymoon!

I'll be posting photos from both of the weddings this weekend, so check back.

Joe

Jeanene and Joe

2009-06-06T09:13:00.000-07:00

I had a great time photographing Jeanene and Joe's wedding at the Morning Glory Inn last evening. I'm leaving soon for another wedding, but wanted to post a quick preview of the fantastic photos from the wedding.

The cake topper that Joe picked out was a huge hit. Joe has red hair, so the Mark Zablow from Yes, We Cater modified it with a kumquat!

Here's the view from behind:

Funny!

Check back in a few days for more photos.

Thanks again, and congratulations Jeanene and Joe!

Joe

Kristin and Justin - Part 3

2009-06-05T04:23:00.000-07:00

Here are a few more photos from Kristin and Justin's beautiful wedding:

If your wedding is at Heinz Chapel (click the link for a fascinating wikipedia entry), then you absolutely have got to walk over to the Mellon Institute for photos.

A couple of photos from the reception on the Gateway Clipper- things really got jumping!

GO PENS!!

Thanks again to Kristin and Justin for allowing me to photograph their wedding, and for being such gracious hosts.

Joe

Retouching

2009-06-04T21:04:00.001-07:00

I've put together a web page to help clients understand the differences between an image straight out of the camera, a proof that has undergone brightness and color adjustment, and a finished image.

Here's the link: http://web.me.com/joeappel1/Site/Retouching.html

I plan on posting more examples in the future, so bookmark it and check back for some amazing transformations.

Joe

Kristin and Justin, Part 2 - Heinz Chapel

2009-06-03T07:47:00.001-07:00

Here are some more photos from Kristin and Justin's wedding last Saturday. The ceremony was at Heinz Chapel, which is one of the most beautiful places in Pittsburgh to have a wedding.

Both the bride and groom went to Pitt, so the Chapel is a special place for them - Kristin even has her name engraved in one of the stones in the walkway between Heinz and the Cathedral of Learning.

Oakland offers lots of possibilities when you're thinking about where to take formal photos. I'm about half way through editing this wedding, and will post some photos from the formals session outside of the Mellon Institute. Be sure to check back for the photos in the next couple of days.

Joe

Kristin and Justin

2009-05-31T19:49:00.000-07:00

I've just started going through the photos from Kristin and Justin's wedding on Saturday. It was a wonderful day and I'll be posting more pictures through the week.

As far as weather goes, the last Saturday in May turned out to be the nicest one.

This was my first reception aboard the Gateway Clipper, and cruising up and down the rivers was a nice way to spend the evening. There were a lot of folks from out of town here for the wedding and the city looked magnificent from the river.

With the sun setting over the Ohio River, I coaxed Kristin and Justin outside for just one more photo.

Thanks you two for being good sports and stepping away from the Pens game for a few minutes for this picture.

A big thanks also goes out to groomsman Dane for volunteering to be my light stand.

The save of the day goes to my assistant Caroline for going above and beyond the call of duty by not only saving my car from being towed from in front of Heinz Chapel, but actually talking the police into not ticketing me for expired registration. (Took care of that with the DMV today!)

Joe

Membership Has Its Privileges

2009-05-29T08:16:00.000-07:00

Andrew Russell Photo

I put a lot of consideration into whether or not I should even make this post. I'm really not concerned with what other photographers do, or don't do.

But I hate to see the actions of a few feed the perception that everybody - including those of us who work hard to provide great photography, customer service, and value to their clients - operates in an unprofessional manner.

After speaking with a number of brides - it goes with the territory - it seems that just about everybody has a story of a sister or friend who got burned by their photographer.

There's a lot of talk about people entering the field of wedding photography since the start of the digital revolution. While there are no doubt some talented individuals getting started, there are plenty of horror stories about photographers delivering poor-quality pictures, or flaking out and not delivering photos at all.

I come to a wedding with my Nikon D3 and D700, lenses, several flashes, and other gear. They're professional grade cameras and give outstanding results.

Big deal. You can get great photos with a Nikon D90 or Canon Rebel - both of which are less than $1000. The barriers to entry into the field are fairly low.

What happens if one of my cameras breaks? Well, I've still got the other one AND I've got backup equipment in the car.

It's part of the preparation that goes into properly covering an event: My gear is insured. I back up my digital files in several places. I carry liability insurance. My business is registered with the state. I pay taxes on income. I collect sales tax. Etc., etc.

The point is that there is a lot more to being a responsible business person than having a camera and a website.

To that end, I'm pleased to say that I've recently joined a couple of professional organizations.

The International Society of Professional Wedding Photographers (ISPWP.com) is an exclusive directory of wedding photographers. They require references from other professional photographers and recommendations from brides before you're allowed in. ISPWP is only open to professionals who have shot at least 50 weddings as the primary photographer and they review your portfolio before approving membership.

There's also a code of conduct that members must abide by. It's really about the things I was talking about above - applying the industry's best practices to your business.

I'm also excited about being among the first to join the newly-formed Pittsburgh chapter of the International Special Events Society (ISES). ISES is all about raising the bar for all members through education, cooperation, and cultivating high standards of business practices.

This is great news for brides, and really anybody who is planning a special event with vendors who are ISES members. It means that your photographer and other vendors are operating according to professional standards and as a result are comfortable working with one another.

That's it for now. I've got a great wedding this Saturday with Kristin and Justin that I'm really excited about. I've got a new assistant, Caroline, who I'm very much looking forward to working with. The ceremony is at beautiful Heinz Chapel and the reception aboard the Gateway Clipper. Check back on Sunday by which time (hopefully) I'll have posted a couple of my favorites from the day.

Joe

BRUUUUCE!!!

2009-05-20T06:41:00.000-07:00

2009 seems to be the year of the concert for me. First was AC/DC, then Fleetwood Mac, and last night I got to photograph The Boss himself, Bruce Springsteen!

It was the usual first three songs shot from the soundboard area. We were treated to "Badlands," "Candy's Room," and "Outlaw Pete." The first two are among my favorite Springsteen songs and the last one was cool because of the moody lighting while Bruce sang.

Here are some photos of Bruce, Miami Steve, and the Big Man:

All photos were shot with a Nikon D3 at 2500 ISO and a 400/2.8 lens. The D3 is simply awesome in low light.
Joe

Failure to Yield and Other Musings

2009-05-15T06:46:00.000-07:00

I enjoy a wide range of photography. I truly believe that the skills and methods I use while shooting news and feature photos has a positive effect on my abilities as a wedding photographer.

The great thing is that it works both ways. My news photography has improved over the years that I've been doing wedding photography as I've come to pay greater attention to details, and especially to light.

On Thursday there was a hearing about the proposed closure of the Fort Pitt museum in Pittsburgh's Point State Park. By no means was it an exciting visual event, but thankfully there were a couple of guys dressed in 18th century garb. I shot photos of James Scahill, dressed as Gen. John Forbes, who led the campaign to capture then-Fort Duquesne from the French, while he testified. I thought there must be a better picture than that, so I followed him as he returned to his seat in the audience. I shot photos of him as he reviewed his papers. It was kind of funny in an anachronistic way, all the while I was thinking "This is great light."

Next I was off to Liberty Ave. near Gateway Center in Pittsburgh where PennDOT and the Pittsburgh Police had set up a sting operation to catch motorists who failed to yield to pedestrians in the crosswalks there.

Sad to say, but its shocking just how oblivious many drivers are. I must admit, I had fun chatting with the motorcycle officers while they waited to pull over and cite violators. It was kind of fun watching them throw on the lights and race after the cars.

Every driver that I saw blow through the crosswalk had a cell phone to their ear - a pet peeve of mine.

Joe

Proud Father

2009-05-10T05:43:00.001-07:00

Yesterday was my daughter Phoebe's first communion at St. Philip Parish in Crafton. What a joy it was to see her with her hair done and all dressed up in her gown.

She was so excited for the special occasion, and we had a wonderful time with friends and family at our home afterwards.

I'm posting a few photos so that people don't think that it's a case of the shoemaker's children going barefoot here at the Appel household in regards to photography.

Joe

New Church (for me)

2009-05-09T08:02:00.000-07:00

I had a great time photographing Amy and Jeffry's wedding.

It was the first time I shot at St. Anne's in Mt. Lebanon and I liked the church very much. It was built in the early 1960's in a modern style that I usually find cold and unattractive. Not so, here. The area around the altar is very spacious, and the decor is bold and graphic.

The way the light entered from the high windows in the nave provided some nice illumination as Amy's dad walked her down the aisle.

For those keeping score at home, I added to the natural light by aiming my flash towards the wall to my right. The wall was of a neutral color so it didn't color the light as it reflected off of it. I think the results are much more attractive than direct flash.

Joe

Sunset

2009-05-08T09:10:00.001-07:00

Here's another photo from Amy and Jeffry's wedding last weekend:

It's always sunny in the South Hills of Pittsburgh!

Joe

First Dance

2009-05-05T14:17:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite things to photograph during a wedding reception is the first dance. All eyes are on the couple and it's three to four minutes of them alone. I'll work the different angles in relation to my lights and take some wide shots of the whole scene. Then I work my way in a little bit closer, and finally I try to get some very tight shots of their expressions.

I took this shot of Jeffry and Amy towards the end of their first dance last Saturday. I saw this in the viewfinder and was very happy when I checked it and it was in focus.

Please check back for more photos, I'll be posting them as I edit.

Joe

My New Toy

2009-05-03T05:12:00.000-07:00

I shot my first wedding of the season yesterday and brought along my new toy. It's no toy really, but a Panasonic Lumix LX3.

This pocket-sized camera is amazing. At the heart of this little point-and-shoot is a Leica lens that is phenomenally sharp and capable of focusing at 2cm. I've been playing with it for a couple of weeks and decided to take it with me to Amy and Jeffry's wedding to try some detail shots.

Here's a shot of their rings:

I'll be posting more photos from the wedding over the next couple of days, so please check back.

Joe

Little Black Dress

2009-04-30T05:02:00.001-07:00

I really had a good time working with my beautiful friend Caroline on a recent fashion shoot. The story was about how to accessorize that little black dress every girl owns in order to make it work both during the day and in the evening.

It's pretty amazing what a different pair of shoes, jewelery, and a hat can do.

Wedding season is kicking in, so check back for photos. As I shoot them, I'll be posting some of my favorite images.

Joe

Farewell

2009-04-10T20:05:00.000-07:00

The events over the last few days have been pretty emotional. The entire city of Pittsburgh has mourned the tragic deaths of Officers Eric Kelly, Stephen Mayhle, and Paul Sciullo.

I can't begin to imagine the depths of grief that their families feel. This photo I took of Stephen Mayhle's young daughter Jennifer leaving the memorial at the City-County Building is a photo I hope to never have to take again.

It's a poignant reminder of the risk that police officers assume while protecting our communities.

Joe

Tragic Loss for Pittsburgh

2009-04-06T16:48:00.000-07:00

There are times that words can't express the sorrow that accompanies tragedies like the one that occurred last Saturday.

With much gratitude for their service, we mourn the passing of Officers Paul J. Sciullo II, 36, Stephen J. Mayhle, 29, and Eric G. Kelly, 41.

Joe

Pittsburgh Center for the Arts on The Knot

2009-04-02T17:12:00.001-07:00

Joy Sato from the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts kindly asked me if she could use some photos from Vanessa and Warren's wedding last June for an advertisement the PCA is placing on The Knot.

The PCA is a great place for a wedding and Joy and her staff are very professional, so of course I am honored that she asked.

Here are the photos:

So if you're looking for a great place for a wedding or reception I'd encourage you to contact Joy Sato at jsato@pittsburgharts.org and check out the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts.

Joe

Through Their Eyes

2009-04-01T09:38:00.000-07:00

There's a really cool exhibit at Artspace 105 in Homestead. Entitled, "Through Our Eyes: Life As Seen By Young People With Special Needs" the exhibition features photographs taken by five people, age 6 to 20, who have disabilities.

It gives one an idea of the perspective of these young people. The kids pointed their cameras at what is important in their lives - family, pets, and friends.

Photography can offer a window into others lives in a way that other mediums cannot.

Joe
www.joeappelphotography.com

Beautiful Days

2009-03-24T14:20:00.000-07:00

Sure it's still kind of chilly at night, but you know Spring is here when paddlers and rowers begin to take to the rivers.

Keegan Fuller, of Gibsonia, was paddling his touring kayak on the Allegheny River near Millvale Riverfront Park last week.

I was loving the specular highlights of the sun reflecting off of the water.

Joe

www.joeappelphotography.com

If you want to live to be old and wise...

2009-03-18T13:57:00.000-07:00

...first you have to be young and foolish:-P

I was walking through Frick Park the other day when I came across Max Loewenstein jumping his mountain bike off of the cliffs above Tranquility Trail.

He's a really nice kid who thought nothing of dropping 7 feet off of a cliff on his bicycle.

The light was so crappy that I decided to use a couple of remote flashes to give the photo some texture. I set one flash off camera to the left to illuminate Max and another below the cliff so that it wouldn't be lost in dark shadows.

The result was pretty cool light which, combined with some good timing, made for an interesting picture.

Joe
www.joeappelphotography.com

March Madness

2009-03-15T19:24:00.001-07:00

Congratulations to the Robert Morris University men's basketball team on their selection to the 2009 NCAA Tournament.

The atmosphere was very upbeat at the Sewell Center this evening as RMU learned they'll face Michigan State on Friday in the Midwest Region.

After showing what they're capable of in the regular season, I'll be making RMU my Cinderella pick when I do my bracket for the NCAA pool.

Joe
www.joeappelphotography.com

The Fog

2009-03-09T14:46:00.000-07:00

Funny weather yesterday here in Pittsburgh. It was warm and a little rainy, but the rivers are still a bit cold which made for some interesting fog on the Ohio River. It was fun shooting these scenes because it was almost like I had the city to myself. The only other living thing I encountered was a very nasty-sounding Rottweiler that was guarding the marina in the shot below:

Joe
www.joeappelphotography.com

Hoops

2009-03-07T09:38:00.000-08:00

Duquesne's Melquan Bolding dunks over Rhode Island's Lamonte Ulmer during their Big Ten game at the Palumbo Center last Sunday.

Nothing special to add about the picture except that it's been a long time since I shot a basketball game, so I was a little nervous. This was Duquesne's first basket of the game and I guess my reflexes are still pretty good because the action happened fast and I was able to time it and get the shot in focus, too.

Joe
www.joeappelphotography.com

Fleetwood Mac

2009-03-04T06:55:00.000-08:00

Rege Behe reviewed the show for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review and noted that since Fleetwood Mac is a staple of classic rock radio it's easy to take their talents for granted. But they kicked off their new tour in style by rocking the Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh.

I agree. The band was terrific, even without Christie McVie.

People who know me know that I have an affinity for music from the late 60's and early 70's, so it came as no surprise to me that Lindsay Buckingham is a monster guitar player. Before they joined Fleetwood Mac he and Stevie had Buckingham Nicks. Great stuff.

Others who were at the show agreed that the experience was evidence that they're still a great band - not a bunch of geezers playing their hits to make the cash back that Bernie Madoff swindled them out of;-)

The only way I could figure out to get Stevie and Lindsay in the same shot was to wait for the big screen monitor to fade between the two. Otherwise they didn't go anywhere near each other:

www.joeappelphotography.com

Vacation

2009-02-28T18:19:00.000-08:00

For those of you suffering through the cold end of February here in the north, well, I'm sorry.

My wife and I took the kids to Florida for a week, and the weather couldn't have been nicer.

Since we were on vacation I didn't take any gear besides my wife's Sony point-and-shoot. But when I saw the rainbow above my kids playing in the surf I couldn't resist:

After a couple of days at Disney, we went to Daytona Beach. The Southeast Center for Photo/Graphic Studies is where I went to school to learn photography. The school is now a part of Daytona State College.

One of my classmates, Tariq Hamid, is teaching there now. It was my privilege to be able to speak to his and my old professor Eric Breitenbach's classes. I learned my trade back in the days of film and darkrooms, and was really impressed with the ability of the students to shoot assignments and have them critiqued in real time thanks to digital technology.

Afterwards I checked out the Southeast Museum of Photography's exhibition of documentary photographer Alex Harris' photos from Cuba. Really inspirational stuff.

It's good to be back. I'm energized, but a little tired. Tomorrow night I'll be photographing the Fleetwood Mac concert. Stop back to see those photos.

www.joeappelphotography.com

DJ E-Z Lou

2009-02-16T19:23:00.000-08:00

Unless I'm shooting a wedding, I can be found at home most Saturday nights. My nights of pub crawling and dancing in clubs are long gone. Call it a function of having kids, or maybe I'm just getting old - whatever.

A few Saturday evenings ago I was at The Smiling Moose Lounge on the South Side of Pittsburgh to photograph Lou Ortego, a.k.a. DJ E-Z Lou. Instantly I was transported back to the 1980's as Lou spun hits from The Clash, The Cure, and Depeche Mode while kids danced or hung out sipping beer and smoking clove cigarettes.

Here's a link to a slideshow with more images.

So if you're in the mood for a night of dancing and carousing 1980's-style be sure to check out DJ E-Z Lou's show on Saturday nights.

www.joeappelphotography.com

Wyatt Gets a Haircut

2009-02-16T11:01:00.001-08:00

This is a rare event that needed to be documented.

My kid likes his hair long and we're indulgent parents, but sometimes the mop needs a trim. Stephanie did such a great job on Wyatt that I got one too!

www.joeappelphotography.com

Strike!

2009-02-15T09:03:00.000-08:00

This image of bowler Timothy Pfeifer was shot for Robert Morris University's Foundations Magazine. The story is about athletes participating in sports that are less heralded than football or basketball. Pfeifer, a member of the RMU bowling team, is nationally ranked.

The fun thing about this shot was having the freedom to spread out a little bit without worrying about other bowlers. Bowling alleys are difficult to photograph in. The lanes are brightly lit while the area leading up to the line much darker.

I used three lights for this shot. A main light in an umbrella illuminated Tim from camera left. I positioned another flash to rim light the pins since I wanted them to be separated from the background.

After reviewing the image on the back of my camera I felt that Tim needed a little lighting on the opposite side from the main light. I duct-taped a drink menu in front of the flash to shield the light from spreading into the foreground. That really made the image pop.

All I had to do was time my shot so that the ball was just striking the pins. Easier said than done because I was sitting in the alley about 10 feet behind the pins. The author of the article, Mark Houser, was standing off camera to kick the ball to the gutter before it hit me.

Equipment: Nikon D3, Nikon 70-200/2.8 lens, 3 Nikon SB-800 flashes fired by CyberSync radio triggers.

www.joeappelphotography.com

Winter at McConnell's Mill

2009-02-06T13:47:00.001-08:00

McConnell's Mill State Park in Lawrence County has always been one of my favorite places to photograph. I've been going there as long as I can remember and when I got my first camera it was natural that I'd try it out at McConnell's Mill.

The park can be crazy busy in the summer time, but you can still manage to find a quiet place to commune with nature. Winter is no where near as busy and it offers a beauty all it's own.

I went there on Thursday after an assignment in Slippery Rock on Thursday afternoon.

Here are some photos from that trip:

http://www.joeappelphotography.com

Super Victory

2009-02-04T12:49:00.001-08:00

Super Bowl Champions - this picture of James Harrison kind of says it all. What a great victory for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Pittsburgh Police said that something like 300,000 people showed up for the victory parade.

I talked to one lady who arrived on scene at 5:30AM to get a good seat for the parade, which started at noon. The high on Tuesday was 27-degrees!

http://www.joeappelphotography.com

Pittsburgh Wedding Essentials

2009-01-25T06:00:00.001-08:00

Check out the current edition magazine Pittsburgh Wedding Essentials which features a few of my photos in an article about fall weddings.

Fall in Pittsburgh is a great time to have a wedding. The trees changing colors can offer a spectacular backdrop and the temperatures are usually a lot more comfortable than the middle of the summer.

Congratulations to Allison and Brennan for having their photos chosen for the article. They did a great job planning and decorating for their wedding. The weather meant that they had to change some plans on the fly, but they handled that so well that I don't think anybody really noticed.

It was such a lovely wedding that I made my own copy of their album (look back 4 posts). Give me a call if you'd like to see it.

http://www.joeappelphotography.com

Here We Go Steelers, Here We Go!

2009-01-23T09:51:00.001-08:00

Superbowl frenzy has set upon Pittsburgh and the Steeler Nation. I was happy to have had the opportunity to photograph the AFC Championship game last Sunday.

I hope Hines gets back to full health soon. For sure we need him.

It was fun to listen to Ben and Troy talk about the game afterwards.

http://www.joeappelphotography.com

Squirrel Hill Fire

2009-01-10T17:26:00.000-08:00

The Burton Hirsch funeral home caught fire early on Saturday morning. Nobody was inside (no, no corpses either) and by the time the fire department got on scene the fire was too involved and deep in the structure for them to safely go inside to fight it.

So they let the building burn for several hours, making sure that none of the nearby buildings caught fire.

Lots of residents of Squirrel Hill spent time watching the fire. Including these young guys. I saw the hats and the snow and knew that there was a photo. All I had to do was find the right moment and angle.

The blaze finally got to the point where firefighters were able to put it out using aerial ladder trucks.

http://www.joeappelphotography.com

Another Album

2009-01-08T13:51:00.001-08:00

I liked the design of the last album so much that I got one as a studio sample. This is a 12x12 FinaoONE album with an Armour cover with "Suspicion" leather back and spine.

The photos don't really do the Armour justice, it's a photo printed on metal and it shimmers as you look at it. Way cool.

Give me a call if you'd like to see it and the rest of the albums I offer from Finao and Asuka. Contact info is on my website.

http://www.joeappelphotography.com

For Those About To Rock...

2009-01-07T19:38:00.000-08:00

We salute you.

Talk about a dream assignment, I got to photograph AC/DC tonight. The band that provided the soundtrack to my misspent youth.

I was leaning on the stage while I shot these!

http://www.joeappelphotography.com

New Album

2008-12-22T10:09:00.000-08:00

I just got an album from Finao for a customer and thought I'd post some quick photos of it. A 14x14 Finao ONE album with SilkTones! cover - I'm really blown away by it.

Here's the spine:

The customer chose the creased print option, so the spreads are an expansive 14" tall by 28" wide.

The leather spine in "Drifter" really compliments the "Lion's Gate" silk brocade. What a super book of memories of this couple's wedding day.

More fun from last Saturday

2008-12-18T06:43:00.000-08:00

So if you plan your wedding for December you might want to have a pair of boots available for the formals. And while your at it check Victoria's Secret for some thermal underwear;-)

Winter Wedding

2008-12-14T19:13:00.000-08:00

I shot my last wedding of 2008 on Saturday and I'm pretty excited about the images.

You can get four seasons in a single weekend around here and the season du jour was WINTER!!!

Allison and Jeremy were such good sports and really into the idea of being out in the cold and snow for a photo session - poor Allison was rethinking the wisdom of open-toed shoes after a few minutes! They've totally earned their honeymoon in Hawaii.

Springwood is a beautiful setting for a wedding - I've got some shots from a fall wedding in the galleries on the website - and the grounds are just as wonderful when covered in snow.

Inside is quite beautiful, too. The place is decorated for Christmas, so there were lots of strings of lights which give off a really soft quality of light - perfect for a portrait:

Check out the catchlights in their eyes - there's a thousand little dots of light!

What a great way to close out the year. Thanks Allison and Jeremy.

Joe

Hair Raising Election Night

2008-11-19T07:37:00.001-08:00

It's been two weeks since one of the most exciting election nights I've ever covered.

In both 2000 and 2008 I was at the IBEW hall on the South Side for the Democratic party election night shindig.

What a difference in atmosphere.

2000:

2008:

You're Never Too Old for Love

2008-11-10T05:38:00.000-08:00

Richard and Mary Ann met over the internet 3 years ago. It's a story that isn't so uncommon anymore. I personally know a few people who have met their spouses using the internet. No, I don't mean mail-order brides or anything like that;-)

The thing that's unique about Richard and Mary Ann is that they're 87 and 71-years-old. Both widowed, they met through friends and chatted online before meeting in person. Eventually, Richard asked Mary Ann to marry him. When she said "yes" he sold his home in Yorkshire, England and relocated to West Mifflin.

I'm sure if asked they'd both tell you never to take your mate for granted, and to cherish each day you have together.

I've had some fantastic weddings lately and the photos from them are just wonderful. I'll be updating my website very soon and those pictures will be featured prominently, so stay posted.

Let There Be Light

2008-10-22T12:37:00.000-07:00

OK, so sometimes I can act like I'm jaded.

A few days ago I got the assignment to photograph the test run of Casa Magica's lighting of the Cathedral of Learning. I really wasn't expecting much, but when I arrived it was like "Hey, wow! That's cool!"

If you have the opportunity I highly recommend you go by the Cathedral between now and November 20, as part of the Pittsburgh 250 Festival of Lights.

Habitat for Humanity

2008-10-06T19:48:00.000-07:00

There are three houses being built in a hurry during a "Home Builder's Blitz" by a group of volunteers from Habitat for Humanity in the Pittsburgh neighborhood of Westwood, near my home in Crafton.

I think it's great that three families are going to have brand-new houses, but what's really cool is that they're contributing to the construction efforts. Each family is responsible for 350 hours of sweat equity in the building of the homes.

Today, officials announced who is getting which house and Theresa Jenks (right) learned that her family will be the first to move in. A few weeks later the other two houses will be complete and the rest of the families will move in.

Good news all around.

In the news

2008-09-29T12:02:00.000-07:00

JoAnne Klimovich Harrop wrote an outstanding article for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review this weekend. It deals with the process of selecting locations for wedding photos.

I'm proud to have cooperated with my friend and colleague Justin Merriman to come up with a list of tips for wedding photos.

A big thanks goes out to Liz and Marc Allemang and Jessica and Siggy Pehel for agreeing to be interviewed for the article. You can check out their pictures by following the link I posted in the first paragraph.

Cha-cha-cha-changes!

2008-09-06T09:56:00.000-07:00

Apologies to David Bowie, but I'm very excited about the new packages I just rolled out this weekend.

I'm especially jazzed about the new books I'm offering from Asuka and Finao. I encourage you to check them out. You'll see that they offer the finest quality books in their categories.

I've been very happy with the books I've offered up to now, more importantly so have my clients. It's my responsibility to keep up with the many, many book products out there and after a lot of research I've decided to go with these two companies.

Asuka offers printed books that exceed the quality of a fine-art book you might buy at a bookstore.

The Finao books are made from flush-mounted photographs and represent a very high-end option that can be customized to create a unique keepsake - how about a hot pink leather cover with a leopard-print accent!

Or not. The point is that customers are able to create something that represents their individual vision and taste.

Whichever book you choose they are custom designed by yours truly. I don't use templates that you just plug pictures into, I design each page. As always, you'll be able to proof the pages in an online gallery. The books are printed once you approve the design.

While my new packages are built around the books, I continue to offer a package without books for those couples with simpler needs. They all, I feel, are priced competitively and offer an outstanding value.

Whatever the package you choose, I bring all the experience and skills acquired over 17 years as a professional photographer.

Whatever I'm shooting - be it news, sports, portraits, or weddings - I'm still growing and seeing things with fresh eyes. That is the most exciting thing to me.

It's all about trust

2008-08-24T09:30:00.000-07:00

OK, so the bride wanted a picture of all the groomsmen holding her, which seemed like a benign idea:

I don't think she expected what she was setting herself up for:

In case you're wondering, they caught her. By the way, the groom was standing just off camera to swoop in and rescue his new wife.

This wedding was in St. Mary's, PA. It was nice to go somewhere new and see a new church and a different reception hall.

Check out the antler chandeliers and the log cabin walls!

"I see fireworks every time we kiss."

2008-08-17T06:24:00.000-07:00

Give the groom Kirk credit, it had to be said. He delivered the line with a straight face, too:-)

PNC Park is far from an ordinary place to get married. But I've got to say that the staff were really helpful, the guests had a lot of fun, and there are many great places to take photos. Especially if there are fireworks!

Now, if the Pirates could only manage a winning season...

Skies

2008-08-12T06:13:00.000-07:00

I've really been blown away by the weather and dramatic skies this summer. A few weeks ago I posted a shot at the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts that featured storm clouds rolling in. This weekend it was blue skies punctuated by clouds.

I look forward to seeing what weather mother nature provides, it's definitely a source of inspiration.

Just a little bit of light

2008-07-30T19:09:00.000-07:00

Just a little bit of light from a window coupled with some fill flash, softened with a diffuser, and this is what you get:

Of course, it helps to have a beautiful subject.

Like my guitar teacher told me when I was a kid, sometimes less is more.

From the files of unpublished images

2008-07-25T14:08:00.000-07:00

Here's an image from a couple of weeks ago that I meant to post on the blog earlier. I got busy and forgot.

Pittsburgh Police crime unit Detective Charlotte Hughes looks at the passenger side of a mini van parked at the corner of Margaret St. and Hayes Ave. in Mt. Oliver that was involved in an earlier shooting on Mountain Ave. in Pittsburgh on Thursday, July 17, 2008.

Yet another shooting in the Mt. Oliver area. Luckily this time nobody was seriously injured.

A full photographer is a happy photographer

2008-07-25T14:00:00.000-07:00

Mmm. This sauteed Halibut steak from Kaya looks good enough to eat. Well, it did until I ate it.

Thanks to Executive Chef Danielle Cain for putting together such a beautiful meal for me to photograph. She's a very talented young chef.

Happy Independence Day!

2008-07-04T07:26:00.000-07:00

The 4th of July is a great time to enjoy family, friends, fireworks, and barbeque. Be safe - if you're drinking, please hand the car keys to somebody who isn't.

Stormy Weather

2008-06-29T09:07:00.000-07:00

We've had some pretty strong storms around Pittsburgh lately, and yesterday was no exception.

I was with Vanessa and Warren, with their wedding party in tow, at the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts shooting some formals during the cocktail hour of the reception as a heavy storm blew in. With one eye on the front rolling towards us I shot a couple of group photos when we decided it would be best to go indoors.

We were walking into the building when I looked up at the sky and was struck with just how dramatic it looked against the yellow of the building.

Luckily, we had time for a couple of shots before the rain came.

I'd rather light a candle (or a flash) than curse the darkness

2008-06-17T07:28:00.001-07:00

Man was this church dark! Mt. Lebanon Methodist Church is a wonderful setting for a wedding, but the lighting leaves a lot to be desired on a dark, rainy day.

The photographer is only allowed to go as far as the balcony overhang, so I had to stay back with a long lens.

Once off of the altar the light really falls off. Something like 4 stops or so. Even at ISO 3200 I was only shooting at 1/100 at f/3.5. I put a flash on the camera and balanced the flash exposure with the ambient light behind. Focus tracked flawlessly and the image held up extremely well. Props to Nikon.

It's not all darkness, the portico on the Scott Road side is a great place for portraits.

There are a lot more great images from this wedding. I'll post some more (maybe) as I continue editing. This was a quick post, I was kind of excited about just how well the new camera performed under some really difficult circumstances and wanted to share.

Just One Guitar! Slung Way Down Low!!!!

2008-06-12T12:16:00.000-07:00

The US Air Guitar Championships held a qualifier at Mr. Smalls Theatre on Tuesday.

These people know how to have fun.

Have a look at the video, it's a hoot:

Flying Fortress

2008-06-11T13:38:00.000-07:00

No question about it, I've got a really cool job.

Ever since I was a kid, I've read about WWII aviation. The planes and their pilots are a source of some really fascinating stories.

On Monday I got to fly in the Liberty Belle, a restored B-17 Flying Fortress:

Of course I had to have my photo taken while in action:

But probably the best part was being able to share the experience with George Cahill, 82, who flew in a B-17 as a crew member during WWII. This was the first time since 1945 in England that Mr. Cahill had flown in a B-17, and it was a pretty special event for him.

It's pretty special to meet guys like Mr. Cahill and to hear their stories.

Check out the video that reporter Mike Cronin and I put together:

2008-06-05T12:12:00.000-07:00

Sometimes the gods of feature photos smiles on you just when you aren't expecting it. In fact, that's usually how it happens.

I was driving to East Brady to photography biologists from the US Department of Wildlife re-stocking endangered northern riffleshell mussels into the Allegheny River after the completion of a bridge project when I saw these guys:

It reminded me of this:

It angers the feature photo gods when you're presented with an opportunity and you pass it by, so I turned the car around and took the picture. All is right in the universe.

By the way, I had fun wading in the water:

Joe Photographer and the Crystal Skull

2008-05-21T15:14:00.000-07:00

The excitement of the newest Indiana Jones movie prompted Ellen James of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History to ask the scientists in the Section of Minerals if they had a crystal skull in the collection. The answer was yes. It's not one of the rare, mystical, pre-Columbian skulls that Dr. Jones is after in the movie, but it's still pretty cool.

The skull wasn't the easiest thing to photograph. I quickly realized that the light source had to be underneath the skull. I asked the scientists to cut a hole in a black piece of paper and put the skull over a light source. As a result, you can see the fissures and faults in the 14-pound quartz crystal.

I've had some pretty great weddings over the past couple of weeks, I'll try to post some images soon.

Joe

A day of contrast

2008-05-06T18:03:00.000-07:00

One thing about being a news photographer is that you just never know what's coming next.

I spent the first part of the evening photographing a bunch of young girls preparing for a dance recital. The PTA helps out with the cost of lessons for the after school dance program.

Afterwards, on my way back to town I got a call that there was a shooting on the South Side Slopes. Apparently the police had shot a young man who had shot a K9. The young man's parents were there and were extremely distraught.

The scene was pretty tense between the police and the people in the neighborhood. Shootings aren't an uncommon occurrence in this part of town.

My sympathies go out to the parents. I can't even begin to imagine how they must feel.

Event Planner Slideshow

2008-05-05T08:13:00.000-07:00

I recently had the pleasure of interviewing and photographing event planner Allison McGeary.

From floral, to tables, to invitations, she produces some amazing designs for weddings and other events.

For me it was really cool to get to watch a very talented person do her thing. I usually only see the final results, so this gave me a deeper appreciation for the efforts that go into making an event truly memorable.

Here's Allison's website

Here's a link to the slideshow

New Website = New Blog

2008-05-04T05:14:00.000-07:00

Moving away from the .Mac website that has served me well for the last few years to a flash site means that I no longer can have a blog directly on my site. So I decided to follow the lead of my friends Justin, Andy, Jeff, and Mike at blogspot.

I'll endeavor to post my favorite photos from weddings I shoot as well as from my daily work as a photojournalist. Endeavor is a fancy word that means to try hard to do something. Which is what I'll do. In the past I've not been the most frequent poster to my blog, mainly keeping it to wedding photos and observations from the events.

This time I'm going to try something a little bit different by adding some of the daily stuff I shoot and some photos of my nutty kids to the mix.