Eyes still twinkle after 53 years
March 8, 2010 by Robert Louis Vanelli
Filed under Through My Lens
Kevin, a buddy of mine asked if I could help him photograph a Civil Air Patrol Wing command banquet. I figured sure, why not he’s a great guy. You’ll meet him at Photoshop World in Orlando in a few weeks and I’m sure you’ll agree. The only problem, I didn’t realize the event was the night before Vacation with Vanelli in North Carolina!
I rushed to get most of my projects done throughout the week. After packing for both events, I high tailed it to Orlando for the banquet that started at 6pm.. My mind was going a mile a minute thinking of the unfinished projects I had. I also dreaded t he 13.5 hour drive ahead of me that was going to start at 2am. I forced my mind to be still and focused on the event and how I wanted to compose the shots.
I set my lighting, dealt with on location dilemmas and made a few last minute flexible changes. I was feeling a bit like Joe McNally! The point I’m making; lots of chaos!
In the mist of all this turmoil, I spotted this couple looking at each other as if they were on their first date. When he spoke, she just smiled and held his arm tight. He was so proud to introduce her to anyone passing by. The banquet was about to start in 30 minutes so the staff didn’t have time to stop and chat. I was rushing myself. Then I thought of a favorite saying I have hanging on my wall.
“There is always music in the forest, but your heart must be quiet to hear it.”
I smiled at the adoring couple and asked his permission to lead his lovely bride of 52 years to my camera. His face gleamed like a little schoolboy. They stayed with me and posed for several shots as I tweaked my lighting. This was my favorite shot of the night.
When I finished the shoot, I torn down my lighting equipment and took the 1 hour drive back to Melbourne to get ready for my trip to North Carolina. Smiling all the way home, I thanked the big guy for giving me the opportunity to capture a moment in time that will live in my memory and now on my wall.
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Thanks for the smile.