My photographic life just got a little easier. . .

Before I mention the good news that may not be quite as exciting to y'all as it was to me, I'll show you a few recent images I'm happy with. I went to Old Orchard Beach for sunrise Sunday morning (9.20.09) with my mother, Jon and Maya. These first two images, I call "The Human Element" and "Sunrise at the Pier." It was not only a beautiful morning, but a great one. We went out afterward to the Higgins Beach Inn and had breakfast at 8 am. YUM!
I took this image a couple of weeks ago (Labor Day Weekend) while visiting my father and step-mother. I call it "The House that Horror Built," as it is Stephen King's wonderfully funky Bangor home at twilight!
Peeling apples. . .
Raspberry Martinis. . .
Raspberry, Blueberry, Pecan Breakfast. . .
Forbidden Fruit, my homage to the Twilight Series, by Stephenie Meyer. . .
And now, as Monty Python's Flying Circus used to say all those years ago, for something completely different: recently, I discovered that one of my lenses was doing something called "front focusing," meaning it wasn't focusing in the places I was asking it to focus and there was no way for me to correct it. After contacting Pentax tech services, I was informed that I would have to send the lens in WITH my camera body to have them calibrated together. Most likely, I would have my camera back within 15-20 business days from the time they got it. . .

REALLY?????

Well, that would never do, I knew, as I have multiple photo assignments now and couldn't be parted from a camera for that long. So I called Pentax again and explained my situation carefully. I was sent "upstairs" to a nice guy named Joe, who sent me a packet of information about something called The Pentax Professional Service Program," which, if I was approved, would allow me, among other services, to get a loaner camera while I sent my camera and lens in to be calibrated.

Well, I received the packet, filled out the application and provided all of the necessary things to prove that I am indeed a professional in need of services, sent it in on Friday morning. I saw that they'd received it yesterday with delivery confirmation, and this morning, I got a call from Joe informing me that I am now in the program! They're sending me a loaner camera immediately so I can get my lens and camera calibrated. I'm just amazed at how fast they came through for me!

Thanks Joe!

Thanks for reading, Cindy

2009 American Graphic Design Awards News

My February/March 2009 cover won a 2009 American Graphic Design Award! If you have a Facebook account, you can visit Bob Witkowski's (my creative director at the magazine) post on this here: 2009 American Graphic Design Awards

Quite the excitement for me! Congratulations, Portland Magazine, for getting not just one, but TEN 2009 American Graphic Design Awards this year! It's great to be a part of this magazine.

Thanks for looking, Cindy

My photos on Robinhood Free Meetinghouse's website!

I'm very happy this afternoon, despite the sweltering 92 degree heat and having spent the day avoiding it in the air conditioned mall (ouch!) because I got an email from the Robinhood Free Meetinghouse telling me that the pictures that I took back in March are up on their website! You can click on the link below (or perhaps copy it into your browser if it doesn't work with a click) to see them and Robinhood Free Meetinghouse's beautiful website.:

Robinhood Free Meetinghouse

If you click on the individual thumbnails, they will open up into full versions of each photo.

Jon and I went last Thursday on our 14th anniversary and had the most delicious four-course dinner. Michael Gagne, the owner and chef regularly changes the menu items, so it's always a pleasant surprise to see what new wonderful things you will be lucky enough to try. I highly recommend it, including sitting upstairs in the meetinghouse. This was our table (the picture above!)

Thanks for looking, as always, and hoping that you're all out of the heat! Cindy

Swept Away in Winter Harbor, Maine

Last August (2008) Portland Magazine assigned me to photograph a sailing race at the Winter Harbor Yacht Club in Winter Harbor, Maine at Grindstone Neck. So far, it is the furthest I've traveled for the magazine, but it was well worth it. I had a great time and was lucky enough to be able to ride on marine artist, Peter Layne Argimbault's powerboat to get the shots. Otherwise, I would've been sitting on the committee boat at the finish line the whole time. The shot above is my favorite of the whole shoot. If you click on any of the photos once or twice depending on your type of computer, you can see a MUCH larger version of each photo. Then click the back button on your computer to go back to the blog.
Scroll through and take a tour of these now 103 year old wooden boats that were brought back from obscurity by the Winter Harbor Yacht Club when they brought the fleet back together. They are 30 feet long, I believe.






This Knockabout Race Results board has all the names of the boats listed on it:

Thanks for looking as always. Happy Sailing! Cindy
PS--If you click on the link for Portland Magazine in the farthest right column of my blog and then click on Online Extras at the Portland Magazine Site near the top of the page, you will find pictures from this series there.

Portland Magazine's July/August 2009 Issue is out!

I wish I could lay claim to this beautiful cover, but I'm afraid it isn't mine. . . But the two drink shots in the center of the Table of Contents and the sailing photo on the right side are mine. They are the teaser to the article below, about the Winter Harbor 21s, a fleet of 100+ year old sailboats at the Winter Harbor Yacht Club that I photographed last August 2008. In an upcoming post, I intend to post all of those pictures here, but for now, these will have to do.
This is a beautiful kitchen in a Portland penthouse that I had the good fortune to photograph in panoramic form last month. It would be so much fun to cook a meal in, and even more fun to then sit at their beautiful table and look out at true panoramic views of Portland and Portland Harbor.
Also last month, I got to meet Louise Frechette, the proprietor of L.A. Frechette Gallery in Kennebunkport, Maine. She's not only a fabulous painter of the most absolutely luminous and bewitching paintings, but a gracious and kind hostess. She made me feel so welcome while I was there photographing her, her wonderful paintings and her gallery.
And finally, the heading for the article with the splash shots! The first one, I did last year, trying to figure out how to do high speed photography of fruit dropping into martini glasses. And when I gave them to Portland Magazine to look at, the publisher wondered if I could do a blueberry splash shot as well, to grace this article, which I did! I like it even better than the strawberry one.
Thanks for looking everyone! Cindy
PS: You can click on a link see Portland Magazine's website on the right side of my blog in the menus of links and blogs I like.

A new look and a couple of new shots. . .

I'm trying out a new look for the blog for a while to see if I and others like it. Here are a few shots I am trying out in black and white. The first one I took recently on a trip to York, Maine with my mother-in-law and the family. It is, believe it or not, called The Wiggly Bridge. And it does, indeed wiggle when you walk on it. It is a walking bridge only. If you stand in the middle and jump up and down, the bridge goes with you.
The second shot is one many of you will recognize, only converted to black and white: Portland Head Light!
And the final shot is of Jordan Pond, with what I was hoping was an Ansel Adams-ish contrast to it. Not sure if I succeeded or not, but I like it! Thanks for looking, Cindy

Portland Harbor Skies

Portland Harbor Skies, originally uploaded by Cindy Farr-Weinfeld.

Took this shot last night after going out to dinner at Gilbert's Chowderhouse in the Old Port. We took a little walk to one of my favorite areas on the waterfront: the docks behind Harbor Fish Market. The sky was INCREDIBLE! We had had four days of straight rain before this, so I was feeling pretty joyous about actually seeing the sun. Being able to capture this lovely sunset view was the cherry on top of a great day!

Some recent work. . .

Orange Fizz. . .
Nectarine Mint Iced Tea. . .
Tibetan Prayer Flags. . .
Antique Bottles. . .
Maya and a big bubble!

Visions of The Robinhood Free Meetinghouse

On March 5, 2009, I drove to Georgetown, Maine to take photos of a fabulous restaurant I have had the joy of eating at twice, The Robinhood Free Meetinghouse. I had discussed the restaurant and the shoot with the Chef/Owner/President, Michael Gagne, who was very gracious and told me all about how they renovated this beautiful building, which was once an actual meetinghouse from the 1800s. As you can see from the first photo, in the upstairs diningroom, they have left the beautiful, austere pews intact, along with all of the original light fixtures and oil lanterns.
The upstairs dining room in particular has a very sacred, peaceful feeling to it. I was there near sunset, so I was able to capture the beautiful late afternoon light, slanting across the simple furniture and elegant table settings. So take a walk through the meetinghouse with me.


A place setting with a handmade lantern.

Note the interesting molding above the chandelier on the ceiling.
The original meetinghouse organ is still in one corner. Not sure if it works or not, but it certainly looks the part!
the original antique oil lanterns, afire with late afternoon sunlight:

An antique chalkboard with the story of the building written in chalk and covered in glass:
Although Chef Gagne wasn't there to meet me in person at the restaurant, the Chef de Cuisine, Troy Mains, talked to me about the restaurant, and the vision he and Chef Gagne share in creating a sacred dining experience out in beautiful Georgetown, Maine. I got to share a fabulous meal with he and the staff before the diningroom opened. They seemed to be a tight-knit, friendly group who instantly welcomed me and chatted with me as we all ate together at one table. The food was incredible!
A detail looking up at the chandelier upstairs. . .
The diningroom downstairs in action:
I had such a great time and I felt very lucky to have been able to capture a few brief moments in time at this one of a kind "recycled" building! If you want to make your own "real-time" visit and try out the incredible food they have on offer, here are the contact details:

210 Robinhood Road, Georgetown, ME 04548
Approximately six miles south of Bath, off Route 127

Phone (207) 371-2188 • Fax (207) 371-2424

Their website: http://www.robinhood-meetinghouse.com/index.htm

Thanks for visiting with me! Cindy

In the forest primeval. . . Or a morning at the Audubon Society

I took this shot out at Gilsland Farms Audubon Society preserve this morning, lying on my back and looking up at the graceful forms of these two birch trees. I like how they act as leading lines to the beautiful blue, blue spring sky. . .
Then I saw this clump of ferns and thought, "Why not really ruin my nice clean shirt and lie on my stomach and look up at the ferns?" I call it "In the forest primeval," because I read once that the first trees were relatives of today's cycads, a type of fern, and they were ENORMOUS. . . This looked like giant fern trees to me from this perspective. A worms' eye view. . .

Happy Spring. . . Cindy