Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Elena Gets Married
I've known Elena since she was knee high to a grasshopper. Now she's all grown up and what a beauty she's turned out to be. Elena and Luis work and live in Wilmington Delaware, but decided to tie the knot in Elena's hometown. The ceremony and reception were both held at the Overture Center in downtown Madison, WI, and the Capitol, Monona Terrace, and Memorial Union all served as backdrops for some terrifically fun photos. Congrats Elena and Luis Rivera!
Madison WI wedding photographer Terry Talbot
Madison WI wedding photographer Terry Talbot
Monday, November 22, 2010
Tiny Chapel in the Woods ...
St Mary's of the Woods was built by a local farmer in 1857. A deadly outbreak of diphtheria had threatened the area and farmer John Endres prayed or protection for his family.
He promised if his family endured the epidemic he would build a chapel on top of the hill from which he prayed. His family survived and Endres, as he had promised, built the tiny chapel on top of the highest hill in Indian Lake,WI. The area now is part of Indian Lake State Park.
I used to take my kids here when they were little, and they always got a kick out of ducking into the little chapel. It's a beautiful park, and it was a beautiful day. Indian Lake State Park is less than half an hour from Madison. Take hwy 12 West towards Sauk City to just past Springfield Corners, and go left on hwy 19. The park is just a few minutes down the road. Enjoy!
Madison WI photographer Terry Talbot
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Hob Nobbing with the Hoi Palloi at the Arts Ball
I wasn't really hob nobbing, and they were more supporters of the local arts than hoi polloi, but it was an elegant gathering at a local country club and I was there to photograph the affair.
This was the 40th annual Arts Ball fundraiser, and I've shot the last four of them so I saw a lot of familiar faces. Interesting lot really. The men were well dressed and the women were elegant. And the setting was tastefully sumptuous.
I shot the whole thing with my Nikon D90 with a camera mounted SB900 flash which I bounced off the ceiling. Set the camera at iso 200 with manual exposure set at f/5.6 at 1/25th sec. This is the same setup I use for shooting weddings, except I shoot Nikon D200's and use studio lights for the formals. And basically the same social skill set works well at all dress up occasions. Stay low-key, be friendly and take as many photos as you can while having a very good time yourself ... Terry
Thursday, October 7, 2010
The March of the Six Hundred ...
It was another beautiful Fall day in Wisconsin last Sunday as six hundred avid supporters of NAMI (National Alliamce on Mental Illness) marched three miles in mass to raise money for mental health awareness. All together they raised nearly $90,000 through the generosity of many individual contributors as well as business sponsors.
Changing minds one paw at a time
Yes, it was another beautiful Fall day in for a Madison WI photographer .... Terry
Madison WI photographer
Changing minds one paw at a time
Yes, it was another beautiful Fall day in for a Madison WI photographer .... Terry
Madison WI photographer
Thursday, September 30, 2010
The rythmn and blues bride got married in a cheeseshop ...
Laura sent me this message on facebook the day before the wedding, "We are getting married LAST MINUTE tomorrow at Baumgartners by a judge (we've been trying to get it done for 3 years) I told Jimmy we should have YOU do us the honors of being our photographer". I called her and she sounded nervous as a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs. No time to get a fancy dress, manicure or hairdo. I assured her that the important thing was that they were getting married and that they were doing it "their way". And I thought to myself, "Isn't Baumgartners a cheeseshop".
Next morning I drove to Monroe for the 11:30 ceremony. Sure enough, Baumgartners is a cheese shop. The crowd was small but enthusiastic, the ceremony was sweet, and the cheese and salami sandwich the groom bought me was the best I'd ever had.
Jimmy is Jimmy Voegeli, a Madison musician well known for his keyboard playing and singing, most recently with the Jimmys, but he's also part of the Voegeli dairy farm family; five generations of award winning dairy cattlemen in Monroe WI. Laura says that when Jimmy isn't playing music he's cleaning manure out from under his fingernails.The Voegelis sponsor the World Dairy Expo. Turns out Jimmy and Laura set the last minute wedding date right before the Expo when things in Monroe would be focused on the festive activities around the world famous event.
It was a great wedding, and they did it their way. If you're ever in Monroe WI stop in at Baumgartners and have the best cheese and salami sandwich you'll ever eat. Congrats Laura and Jimmy! - Terry
Madison WI photographer Terry Talbot
Next morning I drove to Monroe for the 11:30 ceremony. Sure enough, Baumgartners is a cheese shop. The crowd was small but enthusiastic, the ceremony was sweet, and the cheese and salami sandwich the groom bought me was the best I'd ever had.
Jimmy is Jimmy Voegeli, a Madison musician well known for his keyboard playing and singing, most recently with the Jimmys, but he's also part of the Voegeli dairy farm family; five generations of award winning dairy cattlemen in Monroe WI. Laura says that when Jimmy isn't playing music he's cleaning manure out from under his fingernails.The Voegelis sponsor the World Dairy Expo. Turns out Jimmy and Laura set the last minute wedding date right before the Expo when things in Monroe would be focused on the festive activities around the world famous event.
It was a great wedding, and they did it their way. If you're ever in Monroe WI stop in at Baumgartners and have the best cheese and salami sandwich you'll ever eat. Congrats Laura and Jimmy! - Terry
Madison WI photographer Terry Talbot
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Senior Portraits by a Madison WI Wedding Photographer?
I love being a Madison WI wedding photographer. There's nothing like being a special part of a couple's wedding day and knowing that you're creating images for them that they'll cherish for years to come.
However; it's that time of year when I get a lot of calls for last minute senior photos from anxious parents hoping it's not too late to get their son'e or daughter's pictures done before the yearbook deadline. I love doing senior photos. Most of the time these young folks are a little leary about the photo shoot and it's great fun to see them warm up to the shooting situation as we move along. Soon they're having great fun too (and getting getting great photos at the same time). I like to create my senior photos out-of-doors on location using natural light, and try not to be too 'posey'.
This was a quick shoot for Jon. All the photos were taken around the Memorial Union with one clothing change, and the whole thing took half an hour. Although it was a rather gray and drizzly day, I think the photos turned out rather nice!
Jon with his mom Queenie
http://www.talbotphoto.com/Madison WI photographer Terry Talbot
Thursday, September 9, 2010
An Inspriational Story - The Day Shay Got to Play
I recently read this story on the internet. Don't know if it's a true story or not, but I found it inspiring and perhaps you will too.
At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves children with learning disabilities, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he offered a question:
"When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does, is done with perfection.. Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do.He cannot understand things as other children do.Where is the natural order of things in my son?"
The audience was stilled by the query.
The father continued.
'"I believe that when a child like Shay,who was mentally and physically disabled comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes in the way other people treat that child."
Then he told the following story:
Shay and I had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, "Do you think they'll let me play?"
I knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but as a father I also understood that if my son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps..
I approached one of the boys on the field and asked (not expecting much) if Shay could play. The boy looked around for guidance and said, "We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning."
Shay struggled over to the team's bench and, with a broad smile, put on a team shirt. I watched with a small tear in my eye and warmth in my heart. The boys saw my joy at my son being accepted.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three.
In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as I waved to him from the stands.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again.
Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat. At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game? Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat.
Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly,much less connect with the ball. However, as Shay stepped up to the plate, the pitcher, recognizing that the other team was putting winning aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least make contact.
The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed. The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay... As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher. The game would now be over.
The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman. Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game. Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the first baseman's head, out of reach of all team mates.
Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, 'Shay, run to first! Run to first!' Never in his life had Shay ever run that far, but he made it to first base. He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled.
Everyone yelled, 'Run to second, run to second!'
Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to the base.
By the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball . the smallest guy on their team who now had his first chance to be the hero for his team. He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions so he, too, intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman's head.
Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward home. All were screaming, "Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way Shay". Shay reached third base because the opposing shortstop ran to help him by turning him in the direction of third base, and shouted, "Run to third! Shay, run to third!"
As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams, and the spectators, were on their feet screaming, "Shay, run home! Run home!"
Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the grand slam and won the game for his team
"That day", said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, "the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world".
Shay didn't make it to another summer. He died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making me so happy,and coming home and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day
(Unknown author)
Madison WI photographer Terry Talbot
At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves children with learning disabilities, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he offered a question:
"When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does, is done with perfection.. Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do.He cannot understand things as other children do.Where is the natural order of things in my son?"
The audience was stilled by the query.
The father continued.
'"I believe that when a child like Shay,who was mentally and physically disabled comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes in the way other people treat that child."
Then he told the following story:
Shay and I had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, "Do you think they'll let me play?"
I knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but as a father I also understood that if my son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps..
I approached one of the boys on the field and asked (not expecting much) if Shay could play. The boy looked around for guidance and said, "We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning."
Shay struggled over to the team's bench and, with a broad smile, put on a team shirt. I watched with a small tear in my eye and warmth in my heart. The boys saw my joy at my son being accepted.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three.
In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as I waved to him from the stands.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again.
Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat. At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game? Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat.
Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly,much less connect with the ball. However, as Shay stepped up to the plate, the pitcher, recognizing that the other team was putting winning aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least make contact.
The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed. The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay... As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher. The game would now be over.
The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman. Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game. Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the first baseman's head, out of reach of all team mates.
Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, 'Shay, run to first! Run to first!' Never in his life had Shay ever run that far, but he made it to first base. He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled.
Everyone yelled, 'Run to second, run to second!'
Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to the base.
By the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball . the smallest guy on their team who now had his first chance to be the hero for his team. He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions so he, too, intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman's head.
Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward home. All were screaming, "Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way Shay". Shay reached third base because the opposing shortstop ran to help him by turning him in the direction of third base, and shouted, "Run to third! Shay, run to third!"
As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams, and the spectators, were on their feet screaming, "Shay, run home! Run home!"
Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the grand slam and won the game for his team
"That day", said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, "the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world".
Shay didn't make it to another summer. He died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making me so happy,and coming home and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day
(Unknown author)
Madison WI photographer Terry Talbot
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Friday, July 9, 2010
The Girl in the Coffee Shop - by Madison Photographer Terry Talbot
I was surprised to hear that she had no modeling experience. She's a natural.
The whole shoot took about 15 minutes, and it was fun for both Chelsea and me. Madison photographer meets lovely young lady in coffee shop and we get some great photos. The coffee wasn't bad either ...
It doesn't much matter what your primary photo interest is, making use of available materials, found objects, interesting people you see on the street can be a fun and artistically rewarding experience. The life of a Madison wedding and portrait photographer, I tell ya ...
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