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March 15, 2010

Photo Monday – 3/15/10

Happy Monday Everyone!

The island has seemed a bit crowded this week with many visitors, most welcome and a few… well, you get the picture, especially if you are trying to have a beach picnic!

St. John has so much to offer, it is worthwhile to get away from the beaches and everyone on them and head for the hills. Literally.

Take a hike, enjoy the views, and explore everything our little island has to offer. Bring your camera to take some photos. No matter how often you visit St. John, it’s likely there are a few spots still to explore. For us this week, it was the little Tektite Underwater Habitat Museum near Great Lameshure Bay.

The museum is located at VIERS (Virgin Islands Environmental Resource Station) and is worth a visit any time. Visit the office while you are there and learn more about the remote eco-camp complex too and its ongoing mission.

For something more tame check out the little Nature Plant Garden in Fish Bay where markers have been staked next to each species for easy identification. Not your cup of tea?

Mongoose Junction is a great alternative to the beach for a few hours. Frozen drinks, lunch and lots of shopping – you just can’t go wrong.

When you’re done (with a designated driver, of course), head back to the beach. It’s still there, but by now all the day trippers will be gone!

Alone at last. This is a wonderful time of day to enjoy a little sea bath on a quiet beach. Don’t fuss over the pelicans.

They prefer the fish they find this time of day. Just another beautiful week in the Virgin Islands.

Until later,

Bob and Karin Schlesinger
Your Island Photographers

Filed under: General, Photo Mondays — Tags: beach, camera, Mongoose Junction, photo, St. John, VIERS, Virgin Islands — Karin @ 10:25 pm

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March 5, 2010

Vow Renewals – Celebrating The Journey

True Love

While we enjoy photographing weddings of all kinds, we really cherish the opportunity to capture a couple’s vow renewal. Weddings are all about romance, new beginnings and the promise of a lifetime of love and togetherness. It’s an honor to be a part of that very special moment in a couple’s life. But, vow renewals – after the realities of life have made their mark on a marriage – that is a celebration of a truly deep and enduring love.

Some couples choose a major wedding anniversary for a re-commitment ceremony while others do it every year. The birth of a first child, recovery from a life threatening illness or another milestone may spur a couple to celebrate publicly. Whatever the circumstances, vow renewals are a time for celebrating the family unit and the life journey it encompasses.

Children and other immediate family and close friends may be invited to actively participate, or the couple may choose to make their ceremony an intimate one with just each other. There are no rules and every vow renewal is a unique experience.

Hand Tying with Officiate

Most couples write their own vows to each other, yet some speak from the heart spontaneously. Sometimes an officiate participates but none is necessary. It is a time to remember and acknowledge the past and re-pledge the future with all its hope and promise. Often, the couple adds some meaningful ritual or gift exchange to the ceremony. Here are some of our favorites:

Sand Blending: Different colored sands – one color to represent him, one for her, poured in turns into a large clear (plastic if on the beach) vase to blend into a beautiful pattern visible to all.

Family heart: a heart shaped piece of jewelry that has been split into separate pieces – one for each member of the family to keep and cherish. A hole in each piece allows each sectioned piece to be affixed to a chain for wearing. Family members put the heart together, then don their piece to keep it close to their own heart.

A Sand Blending

Hand tying: To symbolize strength in unity as a family unit, togetherness of the ring hands of the couple are tied together with a rope or cloth before vows are spoken. If there are children, they may do the tying, or they may have their own hand tied on top of their parents. Untying is done together.

Water pouring: Pouring of fresh water and salt water together into an indent or an outline of a heart drawn in the sand. This symbolizes that differences are invisible in the liquidity of life and that life itself is fleeting and should be valued.

Exchange of new rings: either replacing wedding bands with new rings to symbolize a new beginning or milestone or accomplishment. Sometimes a new ring to be worn on the other hand is added.

The family circle: the family including dear friends, form a circle and hold hands. The circle has no beginning and no end, just like the wedding rings and the circle of life. Each member exchanges a commitment to the others to reaffirm a lifetime of support, respect, caring, nurturing and love.

Anne Marie Officiates 2010 Group Vow Renewal At Trunk Bay

True love is rare and remarkable to see. We’ve been honored to photograph vow renewals of all kinds – ornate public displays and surprise intimate ceremonies – on beaches, hiking trails, boats, remote islands, at fine resorts, and even at a local bar. Every one has touched us deeply and in unexpected ways. We have been blessed to be a part of these ceremonies and know they have made a difference in our own marriage.

Bob Working The Crowd

We renewed our own vows recently after 22 years of marriage at the annual Valentines Day St. John Group Vow Renewal Event at Trunk Bay. Approximately 100 couples joined in at the free event this year. Truthfully, we were both there photographing the event (Bob, for St. John Tradewinds and Karin, for fun and friends. We had also planned ahead of time for a way to actively participate and renew our own vows at the same time.

In Each Others Hearts Wherever We Are

Along with all the other couples, we publicly announced that despite each others faults and annoyances, we are deeply committed to each other. We were hundreds of feet away from each other and talking past our camera lenses while we snapped photos of others taking the pledge. There was not a dry eye on the beach.

Then, with eye contact, hand signals and kisses blown like cupids arrows across to each other, we both reaffirmed our own love and celebrated our life’s journey together. The moment was as special as any vow renewal could be. We did it our way.

Vow renewals are so underrated!

Until next time,

Bob and Karin Schlesinger
Your Island Photographers

p.s. – thanks to Cathy and Bill Dove, Ann Marie Porter and all the others that make this annual St. John Valentine’s Day Group Vow Renewal event possible.

Filed under: General, Weddings — Tags: camera, photography, Trunk Bay, vow renewal — Karin @ 9:53 pm

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February 5, 2010

On The Other Side

In on-line reviews, we’ve had clients compliment how easy Tropical Focus was to work with, whether it was for a family vacation portrait or a beach wedding. While pleased, we’d never given those comments much weight. But for the last few days, we’ve been on the other side and now we “get” it. We really, really get it.

Zach Takes Aim On Bob Near Maho Bay

A staff photographer for a national travel magazine has been here on St. John to take images of our family. No, we’re not celebrities – just a small part of an assignment for an eventual article. The experience taught us some things about ourselves that was eye-opening and at the same time it affirmed some of our business beliefs. Everyone can benefit from what we learned.

Bob Catches Zach During A Work Shoot This Week

In our family, Bob is the resident ham. He likes to have his picture taken. Like many people Karin rolls her eyes at the 3 or 4 poses that seem to be ‘his’ in so many photos over their 23 years of marriage [our anniversary is this weekend!]. Karin is camera-shy to say the least. She is a living example of someone who is not comfortable in their own skin, but is working on it even as a 50-something. With an understanding husband who’s a photographer she’s got two or three looks down herself, at least when Bob is taking those inevitable family photos.

Before Zach arrived this week, we made a conscious decision to just be his clients and learn from it. That was easy to say, but when Zach showed up with three (!) cameras around his neck we both knew it would be a challenge, even for us. Bob gets razzed by some for the two cameras that he constantly carries to a shoot. How intimidating!

Zach Followed Us To Our Skyway Villa Shoot

Yet, it was a strangely comforting thought that our own past clients would understand exactly what we were about to go through. It was time to put our own beliefs into reality.

We know it’s not always easy to just be yourself in front of a camera. No ham, no shyness – just exposing yourself and trusting your photographer to do his job, do it well, and capture you. Trust matters. It’s something we’ve always told clients but it certainly hits home when that camera is aimed at you by a stranger, no matter how much of a pro he is. While our clients often say we make them quickly comfortable, Bob now knows first-hand the impact of those two cameras hanging off his neck when he says his initial hello. Zach had an easy way with people, just as Bob does. It was a bit surreal to see this magic turned on us for a change. It also affirmed our belief that a critical trait for a destination photographer is to earn trust quickly and put clients at ease.

Zach Caught Bob Shooting A Vow Renewal

Client attitude makes a difference. This well-known photography tip was put to the test this week. Instead of whining about looks, Karin consciously told herself that she was worthy and aimed to forget about the camera and have fun. Bob worked at stripping off the outer ham and let Zach catch a bit of his inner self. Instead we both focused on enjoying our new best friend, occasionally sharing little bits of ourselves with Zach tagging along for the ride as we went about our daily lives. Magically, we forgot the cameras more often than not. And, we survived the experience, not just unscathed, but with happy memories.

Zach, Ready To Shoot on Hawksnest Bay

We haven’t seen more than a photo or two in the camera’s preview lens, but it doesn’t matter. Our attitudes made the process enjoyable and gave us some sweet family moments together. Cataloging life’s moments is what photography is all about and we’re sure Zach caught a few of ours beautifully for a lifetime of viewing.

We probably won’t see any of those photos for a while. And we may not ever see most. Meanwhile life goes on. But the experience will stay with us. And for the first time we really understand why some vacation portrait clients say we were the highlight of their vacation. It wasn’t us or the even the finished images that mattered most, but the surprising fun they had of the entire photographic experience. We get it now.

Thanks, Zach, for taking us onto The Other Side!

P.S. – A special thanks to Skyway Villa, Captains View, and to the Weatherholtz family for your graciousness in letting us share your photo shoots in an unusual way this week

Filed under: General — Tags: beach wedding, camera, family photos, Maho Bay, photography, St. John, vow renewal — Karin @ 2:31 pm

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February 1, 2010

Photo Monday – 2/01/10

Gibney Beach Perspective

Happy Monday!

So many think of St. John as just another pretty beach, as shown by this simple Gibney Beach perspective. White sand, palm and seagrape trees rimming the shoreline and that tourquoise blue of our water that screams Caribbean vacation – some never see more that this part of our little island.

While we love our beaches, there is so much more to enjoy. This Photo Monday, we are sharing some different islandscape perspectivies with you. Enjoy!

The highest point on St. John is less than 1800 feet above sea level. The lush mountain foliage on Bordeaux hints at the hidden aged forest that still graces some steep hillsides. We chose and cropped this photo to give you an honest feel for the extraordinary beauty in an ordinary glance.

Lush Bordeaux Mountain Region of St. John

Where goats have been domesticated for generations, though, the land has been eaten barren. It’s a huge contrast to the island most visitors know, yet goats are important to the islands culture and for some, come before everything else.

Gift Hill Goat At Home

On southern slopes of St. John one often finds cacti growing, even down to the water’s edge. The turks head cactus shown here on a southshore cove of coral rubble is just one of many varieties of cacti that grow on the island.

As an island community, palm trees and coves filled with boats are a part of our lives. This stunning photo combines the best of both worlds and was taken during a walk near the Great Cruz Bay Boat Landing in late afternoon.

Grassy Meadow Atop Peace Hill on St. John

If you get tired of our crystal clear turquoise water and white sandy beaches, look just around and within steps you will find extraordinary beauty.

The grassy meadow along the hilltop at Peace Hill provided the setting for this memorable photo. Take your camera along for some beautiful vacation photos. And, don’t be surprised if you see us along the way and offer to take and e-mail you a photo of you amongst the awesome scenery.

St. John is such a beautiful and diverse island - we love sharing it!

Until our next Photo Monday…

Karin and Bob Schlesinger
Virgin Island photographers

Filed under: General, Photo Mondays — Tags: Bordeaux Mountain, camera, Caribbean, Great Cruz Bay, island photographers, Peace Hill, St. John, turks head cactus — Karin @ 12:13 pm

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January 25, 2010

Photo Monday – 1/25/10

Happy Monday!

This week has flown past and we’ve barely had time to catch our breath. So it is fitting that this Photo Monday celebrate some fleeting moments caught on camera. We hope you agree they were all worth capturing and sharing:

Waterspout Over South Shore Of St. John

Our first photo is actually the last one taken, of a waterspout that tried to form over the south shore of St. John on Sunday in the only large cloud on the horizon. By the time Bob grabbed his camera to catch this image, the waterspout was visibly dissipating with warm air flowing into the vortex. Then it was back to the pool party to catch some sun and fleeting R&R.

: Adopted Kitten Peeks At the World

Earlier, we had spied this recent adoptee from the Animal Care Center of St. John. The shy guy was caught checking out his new world in late afternoon from the safety of his island new home.

Hummingbird in Motion

Bannanquits (sugarbirds) quickly moved out of the way for this little hummingbird, who rushed in to grab a sip before flying quickly away to safety and to the surprise of all. Only his beak remained motionless for the fraction of a second it took to snap this photo.

Flipping Over Big Maho Bay

Perfection in motion – that’s how we describe this photo of our friend Brian caught flipping on the beach at Big Maho Bay. We hope he never gets old. For the two of us, flipping is just a fleeting memory of our youth!

Goodby To Bachelorhood- Westin Resort on St john

Last, but not least, we leave you with this pre-wedding photo reflecting the moment in the grooms’s sunglasses. Yes, it’s seflishly promoting Bob in the camera lens, but, only in a fleeting way.