Lost Outpost #3 - The JSM Crazy 08 Party

As the days progressed at The Lost Outpost, I developed a severe case of beach-brain & didn't quite get all of my Lost Outpost Posts posted. But I suppose that's why you head for the beach in the first place. Now, in aid to my desperate attempts at holding onto that sunny vacation vibe, I offer up one last catch-up: a SHOUT OUT to my friend, Joel Simon, and his mastery for hosting the wildest, sexiest, most outrageous hazy crazy party party of every year. His Post Holiday Holiday Bash this year was no exception. (P.S. his music company, JSM, is pretty tops, too!) Joel: you R-O-C-K!

LOST OUTPOST Entry #2

Lost Outpost Entry #2: Meanwhile, Back To Morgan . . .
I had wanted to expound in that earlier blog regarding Morgan Freeman and on that evening in general.

(see my Blog Archive: "Morgan Freeman" April 2, 2008)

Symphony Space really cranked up the burners in producing their 30th Anniversary Gala. It was a grand affair conducted in high style and in a space which ranks at the top of the scale for classic New York City venues.



To sample a bit of who was there: Carmen de Lavallade's beauty, grace and lifeforce were intoxicating. Jeffrey Holder, her husband, was incredibly ingratiating. Frank McCourt was elvenishly entertaining.









B. D. Wong's introduction and John Lithgow acceptance speeches were hysterical.

Also, it was quite a twist to not only be the Photographer Of Record but also a guest! My client and friend, Elizabeth Richebourg Rea, as a Symphony Space Board Member, invited both my wife, Annie, and I to be guests at her table right in the center of the room. Elizabeth surprised everyone with having rushed through early copies of the "The Twentieth Anniversary of the Rea Award For the Short Story" double-cd into the Goodie Bags. As I had photographed the portraits and designed the cd it was a great honor as much as a surprise (there'll be more to come on that subject but in the meantime, here's an earlier blog -- http://ric-kallaher-photo.blogspot.com/2007/06/john-updike-rea-award-it-was-my.html).

While it was a bit challenging for me to be both guest & photographer (I did get a couple of bites and some magnificent dessert), Annie enjoyed herself thoroughly -- especially getting her picture taken with Morgan.

Again, for more pics, you can tune to the New York Social Diary @ http://www.newyorksocialdiary.com/node/440

LOST OUTPOST Entry #1:

Lost Outpost #1: The Silver Lining To the Nets' Losing Season.

The sun and the temperature are both a bit high this time of day for me in Aruba. So, this little vacation downtime is providing me with the opportunity to sit back with a cold Balashi (the Aruban beer), reflect & post up a few "Lost Outpost" blogs. Ones that I would've liked but didn't get the chance to post in a more timely fashion. Like this one:

I like the NJ Nets -- I especially like Vince Carter.  Jason Kidd, well, . . . so long.
 I would've liked to have seen the Jersey Boyz do better this season but, hey, the silver lining to that cloud of their losing season was my wife, Annie, and I being offered a couple of courtside seats for a game against Carmelo Anthony, Allen Iverson and the rest of the Denver Nuggets.   Headed for the lottery or not, this was still a chance to see great players up CLOSE.  And, BONUS, Vince (love it that he has NO showing tattoos) in addition to playing a great game in a losing cause, drained one right in front of us.

George Clooney & Ellen Barkin & Cindy Crawford & . . .

You just never know who you're going to meet in New York . . . when you're invited to be THE Photographer at a "little" private party . . . at THE Four Seasons . . .

Morgan Freeman

Chalk this one up under "totally cool": photographing a portrait of fellow Memphian, Morgan Freeman. He was easy-going, laid back and a thrill to work with. The occasion was part of the festivities celebrating the 30th Anniversary of Symphony Space, the venerable upper west side Manhattan cultural institution. As Morgan was being honored along with Carmen de Lavallade and John Lithgow the entire evening was a star-studded blast so be sure to check out the separate blog on the whole event (&/or check out the New York Social Diary @ http://www.newyorksocialdiary.com/node/4405)

"Ric Kallaher Entry Awarded APA Grand Prize"

My entry to the APA/NY (Advertising Photographers of America) juried "Tell Us A Story" competition was awarded the Grand Prize in the Professional category at Tuesday night's exhibition and fundraising event held at Calumet's HP Gallery in New York City."

IMAGE HISTORY:
I was on vacation this year and, while once having bagged roadside garbage on the first-ever Earth Day, I wasn't really looking to get anything environmentally controversial. It's just an isolated beach (gee, I wonder why?) that I'd been to on trips past and where the sand & waters are beautiful . . . as long as you don't look the wrong way. I had my camera out as there are some old chaise lounges on the beach that I thought would make for some nice photos when all of a sudden I noticed the refinery started venting. As I mentionted I'd been to this beach before and while there's always a dull haze of pollution escaping the smokestacks (in the right of the photo) I had never seen anything like this happen before. Because of the swimmers in the foreground I immediately recognized a powerful image and scrambled, stumbled, bumbled, rushed and hurried for my camera bag in order to change lenses. It actually was over quite quickly: the venting was short and the winds were swift. But it was still a terribly dramatic expulsion of pollutants into the atmosphere.

"I won't identify the island because I really want to get back on it . My suspicion is that the Tourist Board wouldn't exactly take too kindly to my releasing an image that runs quite counter to that presented in their travel brochures. Sad but true, I think that far from enlightening people and opening minds, an image like this will more likely bring about more restrictions and censorship. And in the larger context I don't think it really matters EXACTLY where this is. It's on the Planet Earth. That's probably all that needs to be said right now.