3.30.12 FB cover: Lensbaby Week wrap up :Party

Party, originally uploaded by Thomas Robert Clarke Photography, LLC.

It's Friday and time to party so I chose this image taken at a wedding reception at the Mummer's Museum to bring an end to Lensbaby week. This image was taken with the plastic lens insert and then finished in Nik software's Dfine, which is great for noise reduction. 

Have a great weekend everybody. See you next week with some samples of the latest features being published in Bucks Life Magazine.

3.29.12 FB cover for Lensbaby week-Truck Fire

Truck Fire, originally uploaded by Thomas Robert Clarke Photography, LLC.

I usually have a Lensbaby with me in my bag at all times but for the first week I kept it on my camera and used nothing else. While driving to a family BBQ I came across this massive truck fire at a turnpike exit.

Slight tilt creates the selective focus. I ran it through Nik Color Efex4 and Dfine to finish it off.

3.28.12 FB Cover- Dance the Night Away. Lensbaby use at a wedding

Dance the night away, originally uploaded by Thomas Robert Clarke Photography, LLC.

This image was shot using the Lensbaby Composer with the single glass insert and a 2.8 aperture disk. By tilting the Composer slightly one way or the other one can create very distinct selective focus. This is a great tool to use at weddings for moments just like these.

3.27.12 FB cover: Lensbaby Ducks

Lensbaby Ducks, originally uploaded by Thomas Robert Clarke Photography, LLC.

The next installment on lensbaby week! Everyone I speak to in the area that walks the D&R canal have names for these guys. Harry & Sally, Bonnie & Clyde, all the great couples of history. They are always together and always looking for food!

3.26.12 FB cover: LENSBABY WEEK! Austin Groom Detail

groom detail, originally uploaded by Thomas Robert Clarke Photography, LLC.

The first post of LENSBABY WEEK is a detail shot of a groom's tie and boutonniere. This lovely November wedding was held at the beautiful Mercury Hall in Austin, Texas. 

Check back in everyday this week for another fun Lensbaby Image.

3.23.12 FB cover photo: Raspberries

I'm not sure why sticking your tongue out and making a noise is called raspberries, but that's what my mom called it and that's what this mule deer was doing to me a few days after Christmas on a family trip to the south rim of the Grand Canyon. 

3.22.12: Facebook cover- Old Bike on Old Fence

This is an oldie but a goodie. This is a detail from a great landscape designer in Austin called Cottages & Castles who specializes in repurposing found objects into her designs. She combs the Texas Hill Country for old barns and for hidden treasures like this rusted bicycle then composes them into her living (growing) visions. 

3.21.12: FB cover photo- Anticipation

anticipation , originally uploaded by Thomas Robert Clarke Photography, LLC.

Who knew this would end up being an engagement session? I did! This super fun and photogenic couple met law school here in Philadelphia and hired me to take some pictures before their jobs took them to different cities. At this point Jay had yet to propose but it was obvious to me that it was only a matter of time...

3.20.12 FB cover: Scotch Road Barn

barn, originally uploaded by Thomas Robert Clarke Photography, LLC.

Apologies if you've seen this before. I just ran it through some new filters so even if you have it's different now! :) This amazing barn is located on Scotch Rd. in Hopewell, NJ.

3.19.12: FB cover photo is of the Wiener Riesenrad

Wiener Riesenrad, originally uploaded by Thomas Robert Clarke Photography, LLC.

"Look down there. Tell me. Would you really feel any pity if one of those dots stopped moving forever? If I offered you twenty thousand pounds for every dot that stopped, would you really, old man, tell me to keep my money, or would you calculate how many dots you could afford to spare? Free of income tax, old man. Free of income tax - the only way you can save money nowadays." 

 Orson Welles' iconic character Harry Lime delivered these lines while looking down from high atop the Riesenrad in the 1949 film noir classic The Third Man. While in Vienna for our honeymoon my wife indulged my desire to visit some of the locations that were pivotal in the movie. The ferris wheel she loved, the sewer is a whole different story!   

3.16.12: FB cover and Becca+Jim's wedding sneak peeks!

Last Friday I had the great pleasure of photographing my new friends Becca and Jim's beautiful Bucks County wedding. The ceremony took place at St. Ephrem church with it's beautiful stained glass and the reception was hosted at the historic Washington Crossing Inn. I've had so much fun getting to know these two and I think you'll see by all the smiles and laughter that it's no surprise their family and friends are just as much fun too! 

The "Everyday I'm bustling..." dance

The more I look at this image the more it reminds me of a classic Hollywood wedding photo I've seen before...Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio come to mind...

3.14.12 Facebook cover update. Gettysburg in Infrared

gettysburgIR, originally uploaded by Thomas Robert Clarke Photography, LLC.

So I've been toying around with the idea of converting one of my older cameras into a dedicate infrared camera to capture scenes like this one above... but then I think, "Why bother" when I can use the amazing Nik Software to create the effect while allowing me to keep a full spectrum copy. Well the answer is because it will be cool to have of course, but in the meantime I'll keep my recipe for this effect in my back pocket for future use.

So this image was made at the Gettysburg National Military Park in an area I believe is known as The Wheatfield just bellow Little Round Top on a visit I took with my step-brother Mike and my nephew Zach.  It was a tremendous hanging out with the both of them and immersing ourselves in the history of Gettysburg.

3.14.12 Facebook cover image: Mike Babcock, head coach of the Detroit Redwings

Last week I had the great pleasure of photographing a McGill University alumni cocktail party featuring a presentation and Q&A with one of their most beloved alums Mike Babcock. Coach Babcock has been named Sporting News' NHL Coach of the Year and Coach of the Decade (by both Sporting News and Sports Illustrated) while cementing his place in hockey history by leading both the Detroit Redwings to a Stanley Cup and Team Canada to an Olympic Gold Medal. He'd be the first to tell you that work ethic and selflessness are the bedrock of his teams' accomplishments but it turns out coach has a secret weapon. A McGill crested tie now known as "The Babcock Tie", that he wears during the big games, and which happens to have over 2,200 facebook fans. 

This impromptu portrait was captured in the green room moments before being introduced. 

3.13.12: Facebook cover photo update: First Supper

The First Supper

In honor of becoming a featured vendor on Offbeat Bride I want to share one of my favorite images from the super fun (and certainly offbeat) wedding of Shawn and Lauren Ring. Shawn and Lauren were (are) adamantly Philly through and through and their wedding at The Mummers Museum by a mummer in full costume no less was the perfect venue for them. 

If you happen to have seen my cards or looked through my wedding samples on my website you will undoubtably recognize a number of images from their wedding that I absolutely love. The one bellow being among them. 

3.12.12 Facebook fangage cover update: San Diego Zoo Orangutan

San Diego Zoo orangutan , originally uploaded by Thomas Robert Clarke Photography, LLC.

I've just learned that this is Janey, and that Janey is 50 years old!  

I usually don't like to post similar subjects twice in a row but I  am really in love with these animal portraits that I made at the San Diego Zoo. 

ISO 100, 2.8 @ 1/80. Custom WB 70-200 at 200mm

3.10.12 Facebook cover update: Paul Donn, San Diego Zoo Silverback Gorilla

Paul Donn

A few years back on a trip to southern California for the wedding of two dear friends (which happens to be the birth place of Table 5) a few of us took the time to spend the day at the San Diego Zoo. To call the zoo amazing is an understatement! I'd list it as a wonder of the world that everyone should visit at least once in their life time... needless to say a photographers paradise. 

I'm sad to say that with the exception of the images I shot at the wedding I haven't explored the rest of the images made on that trip and they sit in the "too view" list along with two trips to Arizona and a bag of undeveloped rolls of film from a trip to Utah! I should have been in that movie Slacker! Anyway, as part of my attempt to update my fan page cover daily I delved into the unknown and came up with this gem. Looking at it now I can still remember the pure power that Paul Donn projected while pacing behind the protective glass. 

100 ISO, 2.8 @ 1/50 custom WB 

3.9.12 Washington Crossing...the street.

Washington Crossing the Street

Ok, so it's not George but this revolutionary re-enactor (sp) was crossing General Washington's Memorial Blvd... so close enough.

Today's post is inspired by my new friends Becca and Jim whose wedding reception will be held this evening at The Washington Crossing Inn. Teasers will be up next week I'm sure.

This image was made while shooting the wedding of Laura and Dennis who were married at The College of New Jersey Chapel and who also had their reception at The Washington Crossing Inn. On our way back from the ceremony our limo took a quick short stop as our friend here stepped out into the crosswalk oblivious that a 3 ton white stretch limo full of post wedding bliss was heading at him... 

Early congratulations to Becca and Jim. I know tonight will be special as will the rest of your lives together! 

By the way, these two are hilarious! You must check out this video they made for Jim's dad. Classic!

3.8.12 Facebook cover: Laura+Jeff

Laura + Jeff have a baby girl! 

These two had a lovely wedding at Normandy Farm in Blue Bell on what I believe turned out to be the hottest day of that year. I remember wondering to myself why people bash Texas for it's heat that day! It was a beautiful wedding and now my people have a baby:) 

I'll be heading down to take some newborn shots next week and will likely have a few to post here shortly after.  

Congratulations to Laura and Jeff and the rest of their family on the birth of Aniela (Ella) last Friday! 

3.7.12 Facebook cover photo: Northern Cardinal

The Northern Cardinal

Today's facebook cover photo is The Northern Cardinal. The backstory isn't too exciting but may be a lesson in the virtues of having ones gear nearby and neatly organized. My office is, for better or worse, next to our kitchen. Good for convenience to the coffee machine, bad for convenience to the supply of chocolates my sister-in-law keeps us in from her shop. Anyway, one morning this past January while pouring myself a fresh cup I happened to spy our friend here sitting in the bush in our backyard. He's not one to linger so I stepped into my office and without thinking I knew exactly where my 70-200 was and how it was facing so that with next to no fumbling I could remove one lens and replace it with the other in one smooth motion. So the tip there kids is that if you shoot on the fly then have your lenses in the same place with the red mounting dot placed in the same direction every time. Over time you develop a pattern of sorts that will save you valuable seconds, which came in handy here because this guy flew off moments later.  

2.6.12: Facebook cover picture.

The Moravian Pottery & Tile Works

Located off Swamp Rd in Doylestown, PA the Moravian and neighboring Fonthill are the amazing creations of Henry Mercer. His love of artisan crafts drove a life long passion for collecting and preserving artifacts and tools that were made by hand. His own style of tile making grew in popularity and what once was made in a tiny shed grew into the Moravian Tile Works you see above. His Fonthill home neighbors the factory on the property (and is a gorgeous location for a wedding and I hope to get to shoot there someday soon!) and his extensive collection over flowed the "garage" and home and soon demanded it's own space, which is now the Mercer Museum. The entire property is open to the public and is a great space to hike around.