Goodbye Winnie the Pooch

     Yesterday was perhaps the hardest day I have ever experienced.  My family lost our first "child", Winnie the Pooch.  Whether you feel animals are family members or not is up to you.  As for me, the loss is heartbreaking.
     One thing my wife and I did shortly after Winnie died is to look at her scrapbook.  My wife is very diligent with the organization of our life in photos, for which I am thankful.  I don't believe there's any way to remember the past 15 1/2 years of one's life quite like seeing photos of your family with a beloved pet, starting from the day you bring her home, to the time they meet your first human child, to the trusting look on their faces as they age, knowing you will take care of them even when they no longer have that puppy like spunk.
     As a photographer I feel the need to urge readers to look at their own photography habits and the way they store and organize their photos.  I am a big fan of all things photographic and camera related.  I am fully digital and recently started playing around with the camera on our tablet.  I love sharing photos on Facebook and looking at our family photo albums.  I don't necessarily recommend forcing your own personal family albums on those who may seem interested and throw in the occasional "Oh, isn't that nice?".
     However, with digital it's very easy to take a photo, have it sent directly to the folder on the device that you currently are shooting with or uploaded to a social networking site and relying on your memory and the life span of an electronic gadget to preserve the history of your life.
     My point is that I am a firm believer in the hard copy preservation of your memories.  Not only for your benefit, but also for those in future generations who may have an interest in their family's history.  Please, either get a system down that makes it easy for you to print your photos at home, or use a good local lab like www.capecodphotoandart.com or www.orleanscamera.com .  Or if those labs aren't close, try www.mpix.com .  Whatever you do, don't trust the wonders of digital photography to a cloud of unorganized memories that may be lost forever when you upgrade your computer.
     I will forever cherish the print of the pixels below as well as the memories they evoke!

In loving memory of Winnie the Pooch.

August 9th, 1997 ~ December 26th, 2012.

CHA Magazine

CHA Magazine did an article in their current issue about My Generation Energy (http://www.mygenerationenergy.com/). It showcases Cape Cod's "Unbelievably Professional" solar guru Luke Hinkle and lets you inside the lives of some of his extremely satisfied solar clients.

Grab a copy of CHA next time you're out and get the full scoop.

Cool photos too. Some guy named ZelinskY . Never heard of him...

Something Old, Something New

Steven Wright said "When I think of the past, it brings up so many memories."

Think about that one for a second.

From time to time I like to look through older photos I have taken. I'm always learning new techniques, whether it's in camera or in Photoshop. Sometimes a new technique strikes a chord with an old photo and new art is born. Several years ago my neighbor wanted to take his new camera on a Cape Cod safari. This was the location we started at. When we got there I was a little uninspired by the light and lack of color. Cape Cod can be a bit dreary in the winter. But we made a few compositions anyway. I have an underlying motto when I go somewhere with my camera: "Don't come back without SOMETHING!" In other words, there's always something of interest almost anywhere you go. Sometimes you just have to look for it, whether you just change your perspective, get a little or a LOT closer to something in the scene, or use a different lens to frame something interesting, there's usually something artistic to be found. So almost 5 years to the day I combined an interesting composition with a newer photographic treatment to create "Crackled Pier". Enjoy!

When I Grow Up...

Announcing a new line of children's portraits from Mark Zelinski Photography. "When I Grow Up..." This line celebrates the love and admiration children have for their parents, many times going unspoken, but there still. Parents, bring your children into the studio and have them photographed in your uniform, your everyday clothing, performing a favorite hobby of yours, or whatever you think says, "When I grow up, I want to be just like Mom or Dad".

I Love Working With Pros!

One of the perks of photographing weddings is that you get to eat at some of Cape Cod's greatest restuarants and resorts. But it's kinda hit or miss. Sometimes you get what the wedding guests eat and other times you get a sandwich from the kitchen. I'm not complaining, I appreciate being fed on the job. Which brings me to the subject of this post.

Cape Cod Chef on Call.

I met the owners Judy and Kevin early on in November. Judy was planning a wedding at Hedgebound Estates in Truro for the Saturday after Thanksgiving. She recommended me to the bride and groom and I ended up photographing this intimate occasion. It was on a private estate with just over 20 family members. I'll post some of the wedding photos later. For now, back to Chef on Call. Prior to the wedding Judy asked me to photograph Chef's Kevin and Michael preparing and serving a small private dinner party. She wanted professional images for promotional pieces. The chefs put out the Carrot Ginger soup and I photographed it and proceeded to move it aside. Chef Michael said "Well, eat it." And so it went for the rest of the night. An extrordinarily tasty salad, stuffed pork tenderloin, etc. The wedding fare was 5 star as well. It amazes me how this crew can produce this kind of food on location. I highly recommend them for anything from a personal chef service for 2 or a large function of up to 200. I wasn't disappointed and you won't be either. Thanks Judy and Kevin!

http://www.capecodchefoncall.com/

The Cape Cup Art Show

Just got back from hanging up some new work at the Cape Cup in Orleans. Check it out. And while you're there why not hang out for a while for a bite to eat. They have a great breakfast and lunch menu. Great coffee, tea, and if I'm not mistaken beer and wine too! And another perk is that they have a gluten free case with tasty muffins, chocolate chip cookies, biscotti and brownies.
Once again I would like to thank Bill and Elise for making their walls available to local artists and staying open evenings every third Wednesday of the month for "Feed Your Love" open mic night.

www.capecup.com

www.feedyourloveopenmic.com

Two more of Ryan

Blogger wouldn't let me upload all the photos I wanted so here are two more from Ryan's performance last night. And just for the record there were a BUNCH more people out of the left side of the frame.