Kissena Park in Film

One weekend this past summer, my good friend Edmond and I walked around Kissena Park for a few hours taking photos with his Mamiya RB67. I visit this park almost everyday to run or to just sit and relax, and I've taken photos of the park before, but never in such a meticulous way. We only shot about 20 or so frames for the few hours we were there. Each frame we took involved so many steps: measuring the light, composing the shot on a tripod, taking a photo first with a polaroid to see that it was what we wanted, then taking it finally with the Kodak rolls. Because each frame was such a commitment, it forced me to slow down and really think about the photo and what I wanted to take.

It was a total change of pace from the constant shooting you do at a wedding or on a story and it brought me back to the essence of why I love photography.

Sooji & Albert | July 2012 | Liberty View Farm

In honor of my good friend and fellow photographer Albert's Liberty View Farm wedding post yesterday, I  wanted to post up photos I took of his wedding at the same location.  He asked me to take some photos of Sooji getting ready in the beginning of the day. I admit I'm biased because this wedding was on a farm and both Sooji and Albert are good friends of mine, but it was one of the most beautiful and fun weddings I've been to.

Mirim & Joe | August 2011 | Queens, NY

To call this wedding epic is an understatement. The week of the wedding, everyone was going crazy about Hurricane Irene. Stores were sold out of bottled water, windows were boarded up, and people were evacuating their homes for the weekend. However, for Mirim and Joe they were buying last minute decorations for their wedding.

Even with the pounding rain and rumors that people wouldn't be able to go back into Jersey because of bridge and tunnel closures, they had the wedding and in the midst of the chaos two people vowed to love each other for the rest of their lives. It really is true: nothing can stop love.

Jessica & Stephen | August 2011 | Morristown, NJ

A few weeks before the wedding, Jessica emails me to ask, "Can you sing a song for us during the ceremony?" Now in my past life, I've attended wedding not to photograph them, but to sing a song either during the ceremony or reception. But they were the first couple who asked me to sing and photograph the wedding. Honestly if it wasn't for the fact that my partner in crime that day was Albert Cheung covering for me while I sang it would have been an impossible task.

It's been a while since I've been that nervous to be at a wedding but I'm glad they liked the the song and the photos.

Michu & Gene | August 2011 | Baltimore, Maryland

During the maid of honor's speech, she told a story of how back in high school Michu told her, "I can't imagine myself with anyone except Gene".  Years later, they are walking down the aisle together.  You can see the friendship and history in their relationship. They'll be the first to tell you that it hasn't all been easy, but that it was worth it. Sometimes the person you'll spend the rest of your life with has been in your life till then all you have to do is open your eyes.