http://www.amiciphotoblog.com/ Amici Photography Blog en-us http://www.amiciphotoblog.com/?postID=465&andreolis-im-in-love http://www.amiciphotoblog.com/?postID=465&andreolis-im-in-love Tue, 17 Jan 2012 00:29:00 GMT
While searching online I came across Andreoli's Italian Grocer in Scottsdale. I took a look at the website, read the reviews and drooled over their menu. I only hoped that the food was half as good as they made it look and sound. I chuckled at one reviewers comment.."you'll feel like you're in Italy". Really? Yes.....a thousand times, YES!

As we got out of the car three men were standing in the parking lot talking....two of them with their hands clasped behind their backs, nodding occasionally, as older Italian men always seem to do. The third was gesturing grandly about something...in Italian:-) Inside the small, but beautifully decorated restaurant, were 10 tables that looked as though they were found in a small village in Italy and made their way to Arizona. We grabbed a table, ordered our food and then just took it all in. Of the 25-30 people in the restaurant, we were the only ones speaking English. Everyone spoke Italian...even small children were running about with a Roman tongue.

And then the sandwiches we ordered came......and I entered HEAVEN. Insanely good, fresh, and yes....you would think you were in Italy. Besides the sandwiches and pizzas for lunch, they also have a specials menu and serve amazing dinner dishes.

My sandwich...Viva l'italia...Focaccia bread with fresh mozzarella, tomato and basil. So simple, but seriously, I could eat this for the rest of my life.

And Jeffrey's....(my dad would have loved this)...Sempronio...Prosciutto, mozzarella and roasted peppers.

All I wanted to do was sit there and soak it all in. Wonderful food, loved being surrounded by the sounds of Italy, all just a short drive away.

]]> http://www.amiciphotoblog.com/?postID=464&lay-of-the-land http://www.amiciphotoblog.com/?postID=464&lay-of-the-land Sat, 14 Jan 2012 14:43:00 GMT
We started out on our hike and followed the Boulder Canyon trail.....and along the way I learned plenty about hiking in Arizona. First and foremost follow the Boy Scout rule of "Be Prepared"....we weren't. Things to remember for the next hike:

1) Wear hiking boots. It makes a HUGE difference. Running shoes don't cut it on this rocky terrain.
2) Bring water. Really.....we thought we were going for a little hike....turned out longer than we planned.
3) Hiking poles are not for old people and those who want to look dedicated....they really can help.
4) Snacks, sunglasses and sunblock.
5) Bring Water....I know I already said it, but it needs to be said again.
6) Learn the trails....and let someone know where you are.
7) Dress appropriately....we were cold at the beginning and HOT at the end.
8) Bring water:-)

We started to hike at 7:45 am...the moon was in the sky. The cactus on the right let us know that everything would be A- OK.

Leaning about the desert is so much more fun when you actually get to walkabout the desert!! Say hello to some prickly pear cactus.

The most famous cactus of the desert would be the Saguaro....although the guy on the right is confused about which way to go!

There has been rain recently which allows things to really "green up". This will also allow for a wonderful show of spring wildflowers in a few months.

It really wouldn't be a fun trip for us if we didn't run into someone interesting. So meet Dawn. She came bounding along about 30 minutes into our hike, completely prepared for her adventure. We were embarrassed to mention that we were completely UNPREPARED. She stopped to chat, and offer a bit of advice, and then invited us to follow along as she made her way to the end of the trail. We followed behind and then she informed us that we had traveled two miles. TWO???? How could that be? It felt like five!! But when you are watching every step you take to ensure that you don't topple over jutting rocks, or fall of a mountainside, it seems longer.

We said our goodbyes to Dawn at the end of our trail and started our way back out. Looking at so many beautiful things along the way was so fun. All of this is literally in my backyard...just a 20 minute drive down the road. I'm in love.....and I'll be back. Completely prepared.

And if you are in Arizona and are looking for a photographer....I'm ready!

]]> http://www.amiciphotoblog.com/?postID=463&the-last-leg-santa-fe-and-the-laguna-reservation http://www.amiciphotoblog.com/?postID=463&the-last-leg-santa-fe-and-the-laguna-reservation Wed, 11 Jan 2012 14:39:00 GMT
Our last day in Santa Fe was a bit chilly. The weather had started to dip and snow was in the forecast. The New Mexico Museum of Art is right of the plaza in the historic downtown. The architecture of this building is what I think of when I picture New Mexico. Absolutely beautiful....almost looks soft to the touch, doesn't it?

Doors....doors....and more doors......

Warming up was an easy task back at the La Fonda Hotel. The French Pastry shop in the hotel is just magnificent. We had a wonderful conversation with an older couple from Arkansas who were on a road trip as well.....and we had AMAZING pastry. And I kept running into this girl during my travels:-) She always seemed to be across the table from me!

Our delectable treats....a Raspberry Tart and Chocolate Croissant...yum!

The Pastry shop was busy all morning long....everyone enjoying coffee, pastries and conversation. Great ambiance and decor.

After our coffee and pastries we walked about some more and found such great photographic stops....

Our last stop in Santa Fe was this rug gallery. Were we found Ali working in his friend's store. He came to the States thirteen years ago from Jordan and was so happy to talk about his family and his Muslim heritage. He fell in love with a nice American girl from Ohio and now is a proud papa of four year old twins. He was so genuine and eager to chat...and so we did.....about everything;-)

And then we hit the road for home....and it began to snow. A bit of flurries that eventually let up.

As we made our way across New Mexico toward Arizona, my traveling companion was in need of a potty break and also saw a sign for "fried bread".....that's a reason to stop. Right? Right! When we entered the small Laguna Indian store we met Dominic. We didn't ask to photograph him since there were signs outside... "no use of photographic equipment in the store". While shopping and chatting, Dominic suggested that we should see the church at the top of the hill that the Laguna Indians and the Spaniards built in 1699. Laguna is a Native American tribe of the Pueblo people. As we made our way to the top of the hill there were 30-40 small homes all crammed together surrounding St. Joseph's.

The doors to the church were carved and looked every bit of 400 years old. The doors were locked and we rang the bell which brought us face to face with Father Wayne. He had been a priest in this church twenty years ago and was now on round two of pastoring this flock. He allowed us into the church but we were unable to photograph inside. On Indian reservations the church is owned by the reservation and the Catholic Church just administers to them. The Indians do not allow their sacred places to be photographed. Surprisingly....I followed the orders of the tribe:-)

Father Wayne told us that we had arrived on the third and last day of the new governor being installed in the tribe. A new governor is chosen each year and the tribe dances and feasts for three days in January. Sadly, we had just missed the dancing in the square.

And a view of a typical home next to the church. Small, compact, no frills.

And our view of the Pueblo as we left and made the last leg of our journey home. You can see the church at the very top center of the image.

Such an amazing adventure with so many wonderful memories, stories and people. A trip we'll never forget.

]]> http://www.amiciphotoblog.com/?postID=462&santa-fe-la-fonda-and-the-cathedral http://www.amiciphotoblog.com/?postID=462&santa-fe-la-fonda-and-the-cathedral Sun, 08 Jan 2012 11:20:00 GMT

On of the many comfortable sitting areas in the hotel....

The main lobby.........a group of guys were gathering here as part of a bridal party....this would be an amazing destination wedding locale. Anyone interested??? I'd be happy to come back and shoot it??? Anyone???

The doors leading off the main restaurant...the chef is from Fort Wayne, IN. Way to represent the Midwest!!

After leaving the hotel we headed over to St. Francis of Assisi Cathedral Basilica. A stunning cathedral that has portions of it that date back to 1610. The cathedral itself was completed in 1869.

The main doors leading into the church are reliefs....they remind me of the doors of the Baptistry in Florence, Italy. The work of Ghiberti. The doors here depict the history of the church in Santa Fe.

And as we entered the Cathedral we were greeted by David. A volunteer who has an amazing amount of knowledge of the Catholic Church in New Mexico. As we talked more David revealed that the church had just finished an amazing restoration to celebrate its 400 year anniversary. We also learned that David was one of the artists to paint the interior of the cathedral. One of three main painters the restoration would take thirteen months. All of the work done while visitors continued to come through. I wonder if that's how it was for Michelangelo??? :-).

And David got a chuckle out of me asking to photograph him. He told me he doesn't take a great picture....well David, when posed, you're right. But when you are animatedly talking about the place you love....much better!

We took a short trip around the plaza as we waited for Mass to begin at the Cathedral when we met Christopher Michael....lots of people selling their jewelry and wares on the side streets. I just loved the way in which he greeted us with a big smile and loads of cheer. He was happy to pose for my camera.

I found this girl trolling the streets of Santa Fe....and yes, it got a bit chilly in the evening as we walked about.

We head to our final destination today....Gilbert, AZ. We'll be driving through Flagstaff and the Tonto National Forest. Looking forward to emptying the suitcase as both of us are running out of clean clothes!! Until tomorrow!

]]> http://www.amiciphotoblog.com/?postID=461&the-pilgrimage http://www.amiciphotoblog.com/?postID=461&the-pilgrimage Sat, 07 Jan 2012 02:05:00 GMT
As we searched for parking this morning, we saw the parking lot of St. Joseph's Cathedral was directly across from the Memorial, and the parking lot was virtually empty. We decided to pop in to the cathedral and then make our way to the site. St. Joseph's is just beautiful. We walked around the church a bit and then went to the basement where the gift shop was. We were greeted by the sweetest nun who spent the next hour and a half telling us how she became a nun, made her way to Oklahoma City from California and about her family.

Meet Sister Susan Clark. She is a Carmelite nun who ministers in the St. Joseph Parish.

Such a lovely woman whose company we truly enjoyed. As we left the church and made our way to the site of the bombing, this statue of Jesus sits between the cathedral and where the Alfred F. Murrah Federal Building use to stand. The statue reads, AND JESUS WEPT. So fitting for the spot where it is erected.

As you enter either side of the Memorial it is flanked by large walls....and the walls are timed....one reads 9:01 and the other reads 9:03. The times represent the moment before life change for Oklahoma City and immediately after.

The Field of Empty Chairs represent the 168 lives lost in the bombing. Of those 19 were children who were attending daycare. The smaller chairs represent the children.

On the north side of the Memorial you can find the "survivor tree". This tree became a symbol to Oklahoma City about standing strong in the face of adversity. The tree stood as everything around it crumbled. It blooms beautiful green leaves in the spring, and provides wonderful shade for those who choose to enjoy it. Even in winter, without all of its greenery, it still makes a statement.

And then we left Oklahoma City after a quick lunch in Bricktown. The trip to Albuquerque was eight hours and we are TIRED!!! Looking forward to a day of fun here in New Mexico tomorrow. As we approached the city and came in over the mountains it got colder....and there was snow! Until then....we'll be meandering:-)

]]> http://www.amiciphotoblog.com/?postID=460&westward-ho http://www.amiciphotoblog.com/?postID=460&westward-ho Thu, 05 Jan 2012 23:11:00 GMT

As we were leaving the shrine, Geri seemed excited to see the St. Louis Arch. She had never been to the Arch so we agreed that would be our next stop....only 20 minutes down the road from the shrine. See where this is going....we don't get too far:-) As we approached the Arch the sun was starting to drop. We were fortunate to get in and take the four minute ride up to the top of the Arch. Since it was such a beautiful day, you could see for miles and miles.

Up at the top...

Due to clausterphobia issues...I had to have a few minutes of "prep" time before the door closed on the pod for me to make the journey to the top. You can see in the image on the left...Geri in the pod with seats for four other people. Thank goodness it was the end of the day and we had the pod all to ourselves. We drove from here to Bentonville, Arkansas and were both quite happy to see our hotel. (Sidenote: Bentonville Arkansas is the headquarters for Walmart).

Day 2 we were heading toward Oklahoma City and found some great back roads along the way. Something that I absolutely love to do when I'm driving around and I have my cameras on hand, is to stop at quirky places and shoot. This was the gate left to a forgotten neighborhood in Arkansas. A bit creepy....but so fun for me to shoot and even better to have my sidekick not mind when I just pull over in random places:-)

On our way to Oklahoma City I remembered that a friend from high school had opened an Irish Pub and it was either in Tulsa or Oklahoma City....when I checked Facebook I realized it was in Tulsa....a tad bit out of the way. Geri and I debated if we should go and I decided to give him a call first. He seemed genuinely thrilled that we would make our way up to his establishment, so we headed north to visit Brett at Kilkenny's Pub. And I'm so glad that I did!! Brett opened Kilkenny's ten years ago and had all of the woodwork and painting imported from Ireland. Craftsman and painters came to Tulsa to build his dream. And it is stunning!

The view from my seat where I had the best Fish ... Chips.

This guy was having a late lunch and I hope I didn't bother him but I wanted to get the beauty of the walls as they were faux painted by Irishmen:-)

The painting and woodwork is exceptional and you would truly think you were sitting in Ireland other than some folks have an accent!!

I know my son is going to love this sideboard....it's filled with clocks:-)

The back rooms are so cool...little nooks and crannies tucked away and superbly decorated by Brett. He has an Irish Fetish...he's getting help:-)

Thank you Brett for a wonderful afternoon, crazy good food and so much fun catching up. You have built such a wonderful place. I am so glad I called and made the trek to Tulsa. That's what this trip is all about...experiencing the unexpected. Off the beaten path.

Tomorrow we'll be in Sante Fe, New Mexico....come hell or high water!!

]]> http://www.amiciphotoblog.com/?postID=459&indiana-family-photography-indianapolis-family-photography-zionsville-family-photography-carmelfamily-photography-fishers-kids-parents-love-ma http://www.amiciphotoblog.com/?postID=459&indiana-family-photography-indianapolis-family-photography-zionsville-family-photography-carmelfamily-photography-fishers-kids-parents-love-ma Mon, 02 Jan 2012 23:03:00 GMT who is an amazing photographer friend of mine....look here, that it was such an incredible experience I would love to repeat. Britt was due in early January, but I would be leaving town on January 4th. Fortunately babies and I have this great mojo thing going, because Rhys Alexander Franken showed up just in time for me to shoot his birth this morning. When I got Britt's text a little after 5:00 am, I hopped in the car and headed to Indiana University Hospital North. I had only seen the ER a year ago for something minor, but had never really seen the hospital. It's like a five star hotel....not a bad place to be bring a new life into the world:-)

When I arrived at 6:00 things were progressing but I had time for a catnap. When I woke an hour or so later, the doctor found the baby was breech and a C - Section was necessary. For a mom who had planned for a vaginal delivery, it was obvious that Britt was not thrilled and a bit anxious about the surgery. When she asked the nurse if I could still photograph the birth I BECAME ANXIOUS.....YET SO EXCITED! The beautiful part about that moment though, was the love and concern that Britt's husband Alex showed and I'm sure gave her a bit more courage. It was amazing how fast the decision was made and then they were wheeling her to surgery with husband and photographer in tow.

I kinda surprised myself......I have never been a squeamish person when it comes to blood or medical stuff....but I was so amazed by the surgery that I had to keep reminding myself to shoot. The entire process was only an hour long....and from the time of her first incision to Rhys making his debut was all of 10 minutes. Totally amazing. And Rhys.....absolutely gorgeous....shock of blondish hair....and a lovely pink color as he took his first breath. What a day.

Thank you Britt and Alex for trusting me, allowing me to be a part of your day, and sharing this experience with me. A day I will always treasure.

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]]> http://www.amiciphotoblog.com/?postID=458&indianapolis-wedding-broad-ripple-wedding-engagement-zionsville-wedding-carmel-wedding-indianapolis-wedding-photography-bride-groom http://www.amiciphotoblog.com/?postID=458&indianapolis-wedding-broad-ripple-wedding-engagement-zionsville-wedding-carmel-wedding-indianapolis-wedding-photography-bride-groom Sun, 01 Jan 2012 11:34:00 GMT

There were many parts of the day that made it unique and so special. Family is so important to both Megan and Michael....and they had numerous touches throughout the day that connected them to family members. While opening gifts of "something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue", Megan's mom gave her an "old" gift....a set of monogrammed handkerchiefs that once belonged to Megan's great-grandmother.

The gold coin in Megan's shoe has been worn by so many brides in her family....I can only imagine how many since the coin was minted in 1849. (Uhmmm hello, Abe Lincoln was roaming around these parts back then!)

Momma and daughter could be sisters! Karen Hall of Karen Hall and Co. transformed each of the bridesmaids and Megan's mom into ravishing beauties! (They were gorgeous to begin with, but Karen and her team are true artists!)

Most brides know that if you choose a strapless dress, it can be very difficult getting into. Difficult without messing anything up, holding up the dress and keeping your balance. Not an easy task I can tell you.....what can a bride do....sometimes a friend has to lend a hand....or perhaps two:-) I'll never tell!!

And as Megan made it into her gown her dad came into to see the finished product...and then he decided to practice his dance moves for later!

Megan's first peek at herself as a bride.....hello beautiful.

These girls were absolutely fabulous to work with...and a ton of fun! Our plans for outdoor shots were thwarted by a driving wind and cold rain all day long. No matter...these girls can bring it anywhere.

And as the guys waited to head into the church, they had a few minutes to shoot some hoops. I wonder if Michael's mother was saying..."Now hold still dear and then you can go back out on the court!"

The flower girls were adorable....and they danced....ALL NIGHT LONG!!

During the ceremony Michael's grandfather, who is a former associate pastor at this church, administered Communion to the couple....another tie to family traditions.

They left the church as husband and wife and each of the guests had a bell to ring in their honor.

And as the party got started....the dancing began and never stopped.

Have you ever seen a father, or mother, so proud to be dancing with their child. Love, love, love.

I want to thank my second shooter, Adrienne, of Adrienne Nicole Photography for being so easy going and wonderfully supportive the entire day. Adrienne had so many great shots of the day but I LOVE the quirkiness of the image below and the sheer joy on all of Megan's gal-pals.

Thank you Megan and Michael. It was such an amazing day and I hope you both have a wonderful 2012 as Mr. ... Mrs. Michael Gentry!!

IF YOU LOVED THOSE IMAGES, YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO "LIKE" US ON FACEBOOK.....GO AHEAD....FOLLOW THE LINK!
YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO!!

]]> http://www.amiciphotoblog.com/?postID=456&arizona-lovin http://www.amiciphotoblog.com/?postID=456&arizona-lovin Sun, 18 Dec 2011 19:18:00 GMT

This should be an album cover.......

Uhmmmmm Caitrin...you are STUNNING!!

This is love....

Doing a little practice dance before the wedding...give her a dip Matt!

When you have babies, they'll be gorgeous!

Love, love, love.

Can't wait for April......Caitrin you're going to be a beautiful bride!

]]> http://www.amiciphotoblog.com/?postID=455&gilbert-family-photography-chandler-family-photography-mesa-family-photography-phoenix-family-photography-kids-children-mom-dad-derek-mandel http://www.amiciphotoblog.com/?postID=455&gilbert-family-photography-chandler-family-photography-mesa-family-photography-phoenix-family-photography-kids-children-mom-dad-derek-mandel Thu, 08 Dec 2011 22:12:00 GMT

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