30-Minutes-In-the-Life: Dec 2013

 In the life of a photographer, whose art is created in tiny fractions of a second, thirty minutes is a sustained thought.  Thirty, minutes, the length of a child's ballet class, a quick sauce's simmer; a commute, is long enough to witness change and short enough to be over before you know it.  We offer you here our monthly results of thirty minutes of watching and waiting and recording, of rendering permanent those fractions of a second that slip past in the time it takes to watch a television show.  Thirty minutes in the life

~ Sara Kelly

As I prepared for my 30-Minutes-in-the-Life I was of course thinking it is December and it is Christmas season and I should blog something about the preparations for the holidays.  One small problem - I am really not prepared for Christmas.  However, we had a function this week, and oh man, were we in for a treat.

I have heard many stories about my friend Jane's music trips, Elvis ship tours and Dave and Jane's ministry to the elderly, but I have never experienced being live in an audience while they were giving their show.  I was taking random photo's at the event and Jane asked if I could take photo's of them preforming.  Join me as we spend the next 30 minutes of Dave and Jane's impersonation of various artists.

Jane shared with us that they very rarely have the opportunity to change clothes but in order to take on the persona of the characters they portray, they use props like hats, jackets or sunglasses. 

Dave, typically a very shy guy, showed a new side of his personality, a comfort in the role that he had taken on as a performer.  While I may be dating myself here, the music was familiar and I was able to settle in behind the camera and just enjoy myself.

They started off with an all time favorite of mine "Unforgettable" by Nat King Cole. With the piano music starting out, almost big band in the background, with the smoothness of his voice and the pure joy on their faces.

  

  

Unforgettable - that's what you are.  What a treat.  Memories flow, I think of my parent's, in whose generation this song was so popular.

  

A switch of hats and we are moving on to "Fly me to the Moon" by Old Blue Eyes, Frank Sinatra.  Oh man, I think of the days I pulled out my mothers vinal  long playing albums and enjoyed this type of music.  My grandmother had a rule each year.  We would go to the Follies at the local theater.  I remember the beautiful dancers in their feathers and glitter dancing to this beautiful music. I felt myself being transported back to those days.

"You'll never find"  by Lou Ralls has Dave 's voice dropping to a crooning and you are drawn in.  A jazzy style of music with a bit of an upbeat background.

  

Throw in a little bit of Stevie Wonder with the song " You are the sunshine of my life" and your feet are tapping and the head is nodding, and the audience's faces have lightened up and smiles are beginning to show.  Looking at Dave and Jane, you can surely feel that this is really what Dave is feeling.  Jane is in fact, a bundle of sunshine, who will light up a room as she walks in. 

A change of hats and a new song.  "My Guy" by Mary Wells, brought a bit of fun and laughter and a sweet interplay between Jane and Dave. 

"Lady Love" by Lou Ralls saw Jane in a big floppy purple hat intermingling through the audience, while Dave crooned his words out to her.  She was glowing and laughing and really enjoying herself. 

The highlight of the day was when Jane picked up the saxophone and treated us to an amazing rendition of "Moonglow".  WOW!!!  Big Band and sax what can I say. What a pleasure to listen to.  Gets your feet a tapping and your hips a swinging. 

The balance of my blog is beyond my 30 minutes but I am sharing them as I promised Jane she could use my link to share what they do when they go out and share their talent with the community and friends.

One of my all time favorites was an Elvis Presley song, which I was really familiar with, when sung by UB40 - "I can't help falling in love with you". With the deep voice of Elvis, add the sunglasses and the sparkly jacket and I am there rocking side to side and just loving hearing this beautiful song.  And then I am reminded that my version that I grew up with had a slightly reggae feel to it. 

Take my hand, my whole life to

because I can't help falling in love with you

(Elvis Presley & UB40)

What an amazing coup

Young and old, we all were entranced. 

They ended off the performance with "Silent Night", the children were gathered around, the adults were smiling and we joined in the singing as we closed up a time of celebration of another year of work. 

“Music is to the soul what words are to the mind.”  

~ Modest Mouse, Modest Mouse - Good News For People Who Love Bad News.

Remember to follow the link and see what Colleen Putman Photography/NYC Traveling Portrait Photographer has to offer this month.  Remember to click on all the links and see what the rest of the group has for you.

If you want to know more about the WinnWinn Situation click here and then click on the button that says the WinnWinn Situation.