MattDJ
4th of May 2008 (Sun), 21:09
http://bp0.blogger.com/_v8_RmuFHzU4/SBgCA7Vb-qI/AAAAAAAAAhk/e1uuTbkRSIg/s800/IMG_0075.jpg (http://bp0.blogger.com/_v8_RmuFHzU4/SBgCA7Vb-qI/AAAAAAAAAhk/e1uuTbkRSIg/s1600-h/IMG_0075.jpg)
OK guys, let me tell you...I sat here, wondering how in the world am I going to put into words what last weekend did for me. I can't. Can I? Let's try...
http://bp0.blogger.com/_v8_RmuFHzU4/SBgCA7Vb-rI/AAAAAAAAAhs/v6kcwZhBmEg/s800/IMG_8420.jpg (http://bp0.blogger.com/_v8_RmuFHzU4/SBgCA7Vb-rI/AAAAAAAAAhs/v6kcwZhBmEg/s1600-h/IMG_8420.jpg)
Once upon a time...oh...about a month ago (that's how I start all stories with my kiddoes), DJ sent me an email as part of a conversation we were already having. Closing out that particular message, I read something that literally changed the direction my business will be taking as I sit here typing. He told me about the NYC Sites Preview and that he wanted me to be there (I'm based out of VA). Not only did he want me to be there, but he and Crystal (http://www.memoirsoftheassistant.com/) made sure that every detail was worked out to make it possible. I mean, everything.
After hanging out for a bit once we both met up at the hotel, we cruised around outside before finally heading back up and checking in to see if Denis Reggie (http://www.denisreggie.com/) was free for a visit. That's right...I said Denis Reggie. As in the godfather of wedding photo-journalism (http://www.usa.canon.com/dlc/controller?act=GetArticleAct&articleID=926&fromTips=1). I already knew this was a possibility, but to actually see my life move in slow motion as we went to meet up with him, I just wanted to hit the pause button every few feet we stepped and soak it all in. Hanging with THE man, in my childhood home (and one of my favorite places in the world), and oh by the way, squeezing in a visit with Mr. Reggie...
...nobody pinch me...I don't want to wake up.
When the conversation with Denis turned to photography, he turned into mentor mode and while probably not even realizing it, I was soaking in every second. The time we spent with Denis Reggie was something I will never forget. Truly. And yes...the temperature was perfect Denis. :-)
We headed back to our room to prep for the Sites Preview and I was holding back with all that I had!!! I could not wait to see more of what I already knew was going to blow me away! After wiping the drool off my lap as I sat there in awe over the possibilities of the software, I knew this was the moment my business direction was about to change. Literally. Sites is...in a word...unbelievable.
After the awesome Preview and dinner, it was crash time. I mean, DJ and I were just about on our last drop of fuel and we crashed hard! I woke up to a beautiful New York City morning. Well...it was actually raining but it was beautiful to me. :-) With breakfast in our system, we were both stoked for the rest of the day as I was going home to my dear family whom I hadn't seen in a week, and DJ went South to Atlanta for another Preview party.
As you can imagine, we had some awesome conversations about so many things. I'm shaking my head wondering if this weekend really was a dream...perhaps my brain was starting to play tricks on me after the accident (http://matthewdejesus.blogspot.com/2008/04/this-is-just-car.html) earlier this month. Just in case...
...nobody pinch me...I'm still watching the playback reel.
http://bp3.blogger.com/_v8_RmuFHzU4/SBgCArVb-pI/AAAAAAAAAhc/6vgr8FrZOXQ/s800/DRandMattDJ.jpg (http://bp3.blogger.com/_v8_RmuFHzU4/SBgCArVb-pI/AAAAAAAAAhc/6vgr8FrZOXQ/s1600-h/DRandMattDJ.jpg)
HUGE thank you to DJ for thinking to take these shots!
http://bp1.blogger.com/_v8_RmuFHzU4/SBgCALVb-nI/AAAAAAAAAhM/Tfax-CAnqKE/s800/1Ds3.jpg (http://bp1.blogger.com/_v8_RmuFHzU4/SBgCALVb-nI/AAAAAAAAAhM/Tfax-CAnqKE/s1600-h/1Ds3.jpg)
I couldn't believe it when I looked out my window as we approached JFK...this is where I lived for 20 years!! Useless trivia: the building I grew up in stood on the very spot of the Grand Ballroom in the original Luna Park (http://history.amusement-parks.com/lunamain.htm). :-)
http://bp3.blogger.com/_v8_RmuFHzU4/SBgCArVb-oI/AAAAAAAAAhU/W8Yo4_y17Nc/s800/ConeyIsland.jpg (http://bp3.blogger.com/_v8_RmuFHzU4/SBgCArVb-oI/AAAAAAAAAhU/W8Yo4_y17Nc/s1600-h/ConeyIsland.jpg)
My Weekend with DJ (http://matthewdejesus.blogspot.com/2008/04/my-weekend-with-dj.html)
OK guys, let me tell you...I sat here, wondering how in the world am I going to put into words what last weekend did for me. I can't. Can I? Let's try...
http://bp0.blogger.com/_v8_RmuFHzU4/SBgCA7Vb-rI/AAAAAAAAAhs/v6kcwZhBmEg/s800/IMG_8420.jpg (http://bp0.blogger.com/_v8_RmuFHzU4/SBgCA7Vb-rI/AAAAAAAAAhs/v6kcwZhBmEg/s1600-h/IMG_8420.jpg)
Once upon a time...oh...about a month ago (that's how I start all stories with my kiddoes), DJ sent me an email as part of a conversation we were already having. Closing out that particular message, I read something that literally changed the direction my business will be taking as I sit here typing. He told me about the NYC Sites Preview and that he wanted me to be there (I'm based out of VA). Not only did he want me to be there, but he and Crystal (http://www.memoirsoftheassistant.com/) made sure that every detail was worked out to make it possible. I mean, everything.
After hanging out for a bit once we both met up at the hotel, we cruised around outside before finally heading back up and checking in to see if Denis Reggie (http://www.denisreggie.com/) was free for a visit. That's right...I said Denis Reggie. As in the godfather of wedding photo-journalism (http://www.usa.canon.com/dlc/controller?act=GetArticleAct&articleID=926&fromTips=1). I already knew this was a possibility, but to actually see my life move in slow motion as we went to meet up with him, I just wanted to hit the pause button every few feet we stepped and soak it all in. Hanging with THE man, in my childhood home (and one of my favorite places in the world), and oh by the way, squeezing in a visit with Mr. Reggie...
...nobody pinch me...I don't want to wake up.
When the conversation with Denis turned to photography, he turned into mentor mode and while probably not even realizing it, I was soaking in every second. The time we spent with Denis Reggie was something I will never forget. Truly. And yes...the temperature was perfect Denis. :-)
We headed back to our room to prep for the Sites Preview and I was holding back with all that I had!!! I could not wait to see more of what I already knew was going to blow me away! After wiping the drool off my lap as I sat there in awe over the possibilities of the software, I knew this was the moment my business direction was about to change. Literally. Sites is...in a word...unbelievable.
After the awesome Preview and dinner, it was crash time. I mean, DJ and I were just about on our last drop of fuel and we crashed hard! I woke up to a beautiful New York City morning. Well...it was actually raining but it was beautiful to me. :-) With breakfast in our system, we were both stoked for the rest of the day as I was going home to my dear family whom I hadn't seen in a week, and DJ went South to Atlanta for another Preview party.
As you can imagine, we had some awesome conversations about so many things. I'm shaking my head wondering if this weekend really was a dream...perhaps my brain was starting to play tricks on me after the accident (http://matthewdejesus.blogspot.com/2008/04/this-is-just-car.html) earlier this month. Just in case...
...nobody pinch me...I'm still watching the playback reel.
http://bp3.blogger.com/_v8_RmuFHzU4/SBgCArVb-pI/AAAAAAAAAhc/6vgr8FrZOXQ/s800/DRandMattDJ.jpg (http://bp3.blogger.com/_v8_RmuFHzU4/SBgCArVb-pI/AAAAAAAAAhc/6vgr8FrZOXQ/s1600-h/DRandMattDJ.jpg)
HUGE thank you to DJ for thinking to take these shots!
http://bp1.blogger.com/_v8_RmuFHzU4/SBgCALVb-nI/AAAAAAAAAhM/Tfax-CAnqKE/s800/1Ds3.jpg (http://bp1.blogger.com/_v8_RmuFHzU4/SBgCALVb-nI/AAAAAAAAAhM/Tfax-CAnqKE/s1600-h/1Ds3.jpg)
I couldn't believe it when I looked out my window as we approached JFK...this is where I lived for 20 years!! Useless trivia: the building I grew up in stood on the very spot of the Grand Ballroom in the original Luna Park (http://history.amusement-parks.com/lunamain.htm). :-)
http://bp3.blogger.com/_v8_RmuFHzU4/SBgCArVb-oI/AAAAAAAAAhU/W8Yo4_y17Nc/s800/ConeyIsland.jpg (http://bp3.blogger.com/_v8_RmuFHzU4/SBgCArVb-oI/AAAAAAAAAhU/W8Yo4_y17Nc/s1600-h/ConeyIsland.jpg)
My Weekend with DJ (http://matthewdejesus.blogspot.com/2008/04/my-weekend-with-dj.html)