I just have to say that I love destination weddings. It’s a great way for me to combine traveling, visiting friends, networking and shooting all into one week long experience. This past week/weekend I got to spend some time in NY/NJ just doing that. Here are some images that Tomas Flint, Andres Valenzuela & I got to shoot yesterday at Eunice & Tim’s wedding. I’m glad to have talented photographers as friends to come help me out at big weddings like this. This post is just a quick recap of yesterday. Just wanted to throw up some images for the friends and guests to check out incase they are visiting here. Feel free to leave any comments. (You don’t need xanga account to leave one)

Thanks guys, we had such an amazing time! Next destination wedding stop: Miami, FL

Here’s some fun photos I gathered today. I had a chance to get together for some fun grub – japanese style – with some new and old friends! Michelle Kersten from GraphiStudio came out to join us and introduced us to Jason Groupp – one of NY’s finest photographer, who ironically lives in NJ. My good friend Tomas Flint from Rochester came out to shoot the wedding with me this weekend. My good friend Koo Chung who graces with the music that you listen to on my website chilled with us the photographers. Then finally our new friend from NJ, the up and coming Vanessa “teacher by day, photographer by night” Scavone who I met at the Master Your Craft Seminar, also joined us. We had some good sushi at the Amber restaurant at the Upper West Side!

Needless to say, it was good times. We spent over 3 hrs eating dinner and chatting together! Then we took some fun photos that I wanted to share with you guys.

Look, Budda’s got some change!

These guys are up to no good!

I’m going for that new blue steele look – but I don’t think it’s working out too well…

Here’s my assistants up to no good at a wedding I shot few weeks ago. j/k. Actually these guys are great – fun to be around. I made them stand there so that I could test the shots for group portraits. They had to amuse themselves.

Finally, thanks to Kevin Swan for sending me this photo. I was pretending to be a rock star when he caught me off guard. Good tiiimmmmeeeezz!

=== Excerpt from Wikipedia.org: ===
When John H. White was nine years old, a teacher told him that he would grow up to work on a garbage truck because he was slow in math. At home, his father told him to grow up to his best, to look for the best in others, and if he were to work on a garbage truck, fine…just be sure he is the driver. White has said that this was a turning point in his life. White joined the staff of the Chicago Sun Times in 1978 and still works there today. He also teaches photojournalism at Columbia College Chicago, and formerly taught at Northwestern University…

White has said that he lives by three words: faith, focus, flight. “I’m faithful to my purpose, my mission, my assignment, my work, my dreams. I stay focused on what I’m doing and what’s important. And I keep in flight—I spread my wings and do it.”
=== End Excerpt ===

On April 12, 2008, I went to an event that left an indelible mark in my photo career. Bob Davis told me about an event called The PhotoJournalist Love (PJ Love) that was going to be held at Columbia School of Photography. It’s an event to celebrate photojournalism – but also mainly to commemorate 30 years of Professor John H. White’s service. Bob was one of the guest speakers so I went with him to show support and to find out more about photojournalism since it is so closely related to what I do.

Students of former and current gathered together to network and learn from each other. Although I had never heard of Professor White until that day, I could tell right away that he was a passionate man – so full of love for his career and for his students. I was extremely touched by everyone that came back to thank their mentor.

Some of the more distinguished students were asked to speak about what they are doing in their lives. I got to meet an official White House photographer – (which was a treat in itself because I always wanted to photograph the president).

Bob was one of the guest speakers. As expected, many students came up to introduce themselves to Bob. He gave a great but short lecture about his career giving some helpful tips. At the end of his lecture, he walked over to Professor White to thank him for all that he has taught him. It was a touching moment as we realized that everyone in that room had that commonality – all of them have been influenced and learned from Professor White. They were better people today because they met and learned from him before.

In that moment, I witnessed Bob, the famous celebrity photojournalist, transform from a confident man to a shy student in front of his teacher. It was an emotional moment.

Here’s John with some of his students from the past

During lunch, I had an opportunity to talk to Professor White. Even though we were strangers, his warming presence made me feel so comfortable – as if I was just talking to an old friend that I hadn’t seen in years. I conjured up enough courage to ask him if I can photograph him. I don’t know what it is but all of us, photographers, become shy in front of the camera. We had fun snapping some shots of him. It didn’t take long before others came and started to do the same.

At the end, we all gathered for a group photo. Bob took the photo then told everyone to take a picture of Prof. John.

But it didn’t just stop after one click. It went on and on…there must’ve been thousands of shutters being clicked. Strangely, at that moment, the shutters clicking, in my mind, tranformed into sounds of thunderous ovation of hands clapping for the professor that forever changed their lives.

Whew, it was a tear-jerking moment. I did my best to hold back the tears. Professor White stood there, cried, smiled, laughed, posed, but mostly gazed at everyone with a thankful smile. If he ever had any difficulties being a teacher, I think that moment probably made it all worth it.

Being a true teacher, he didn’t miss the opportunity and gave a heartful speech to his students. I don’t recall most of it as his voice was drowned mostly by the shutters clicking. But I do remember these words: “Faith, focus, flight. ‘I’m faithful to my purpose, my mission, my assignment, my work, my dreams. I stay focused on what I’m doing and what’s important. And I keep in flight—I spread my wings and do it.’”

I think I will actually try to take one of his classes in the fall. I can’t wait to get to know him more. Observing Professor White, I can see why Bob is who is today. Thank you professor, for all your years of dedication and service. And thanks Bob for this unforgettable experience!

SIDE NOTE: It seems like most people are using facebook to read my blog entries these days because the number of comments are increasing there instead of here. One cool feature about facebook is that it automatically downloads my posts and imports it into their notes section. One disadvantage is that it shrinks my images and it loses quality in that process. So if you can please click on my blog link to view them. END SIDE NOTE

This wedding was different. It was different because it was a multi-ethnic marriage (which I love by the way). It was different because Mark’s dad is a pastor and he officiated the wedding. It was a beautiful ceremony and you can definitely sense the “worship” behind the ceremony. It was also different because Bob Davis (whom I’m sure you guys all know who he is from my blog and/or from other’s blogs) came to second shoot this wedding with me. (David Lai & Meagan were there too and I’m sure it was a special for them too).

Not only was the wedding amazing, it seemed like a workshop as Bob taught us so many things while we were covering this wedding. I think these photos will speak for itself but it was like attending the Vegas Love Story workshop (minus the 40 photographers). I loved the one on one teaching moments. It was a surreal experience for all of us. I gave Mark & Jinny heads up too so I’m sure they were excited as well. All in all, it was a special day to remember for all of us. I’m thankful for the experience and for the amazing new friends I got to meet. Mark & Jinny are lucky to have each other and to be surrounded by such wonderful people!

Here are some images that we captured that day. If you see some cool ones, chances are, Bob captured it. Feel free to ask away any questions and/or leave comments. Good chance Bob will read this blog entry so you can leave comments for him too:

We all thought Mark resembled the great quarterback John Elway. What do you guys think?

The ceremony took place at Calvary Memorial Church in Oak Park, IL

Their “first look” moment…

The ring boy gave Mark a high-five and gave his approval for marriage

Mark couldn’t keep his eyes off Jinny!

One of my favorite moments during all wedding ceremonies…

Passionate kiss…

I felt like this photo (taken by Bob), yet blurry, captured this moment better than any other photos taken during this series. It goes to support Joe Buissink’s quote: “there is no such thing as a perfect photo, only perfect moments.”

He’s kissing her again!!!

Grace Ha-Kim from Vale of Enna did an amazing job with the flowers and decorations at the reception.

No more kisses Mark!!!

Boys being boys…(if you look closely the girl in the background is picking her nose )

Ladies looking gorgeous and graceful…

I caught this moment of Jinny while Bob was taking the photo right below this one…

Yes, it was snowing here in March! Yet they were SO wiling to brave the cold weather!

When the darkness came, we got to experiment with different forms of light (natural, video, strobe… you name it we used it)

Bob should do a seminar on how to light an entire dark reception hall and/or a PaeBaek ceremony (Korean tradition) using just 3 strobes. I heard him talk about it during his seminars, but to see him do it during an actual event was pretty amazing. (The reception hall inside the planetarium was pretty much pitch dark minus the candle lights):

This week I am off to NY to meet up with some friends, photographers and then at the end of the week, I’ll be shooting Tim & Eunice’s wedding in Northern Jersey area. Can’t wait. I also want to blog about a great experience I had this past weekend. More to come this week!

If you remember my post a few pages back, I wrote about running into the Wonder Girls (all female music group) in NYC. My sister’s friend from Korea was watching their MTV channel and spotted me in the crowd. Too funny! I’m on Korean TV. Had to share that with you guys. Silly me. If you look closely, that’s Michelle Kersten from GraphiStudio to my right and Nancy Thomas (a cool photographer from NY that we met at the seminar) to my left.