Most people want to be more charitable or philanthropic, but sometimes it's hard to know which nonprofit organizations to support. According to the National Center for Charitable Statistics, there are approximately 1.5 million 501(c)(3) public charities in the United States. And that was in 2009.
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KATIE’S MOTTO: I CAN DO IT I was extremely excited when I ran into Katie’s booth at the National Down Syndrome Congress Convention in Washington, DC recently. I immediately fell in love with this drawing of “Whitney”, a beautiful lady dressed in yellow (à la Young MC). I thought it had Vogue written all over it.
Katie was discovered this past December and since then, she’s had multiple exhibits, has been featured in several publications, and has done several interviews. I spoke to Katie and her Mom for a bit and all of these ideas just started pouring in my head. I was inspired and in awe.
I was asked to help photograph Down Syndrome Research and Treatment Foundation (now LuMind Foundation) during their national conference. They were in search of a Pro Bono photographer in Washington, DC, so of course I agreed.
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I still remember the first time I saw Anna Wintour. It was at Carolina Herrera’s show on February 14, 2011 and it was actually during my first Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. I walked in the press pit and picked my spot and started chatting with the video guy next to me. It turned out he was covering for CNN, which is always a good sign. He then pointed out that Anna Wintour was at the show and that she would be sitting in the front row.
As he pointed in her direction, I saw her. I couldn’t believe it. Not only did I see her, but my DREAM shot of her watching the show while models walked by was there for the taking. I was so excited that I must have missed the first 10 dresses because I was focused on getting that shot.
That said, you can only imagine what it was like to actually meet her in person. On June 12, 2012, I had the opportunity to do that in Chicago when she hosted a Runway to Win event during the Obama 2012 campaign. When I walked up to her, she reached out her hand and said with a slight British accent, “Hi, I’m Anna.” There was nothing pretentious about it. She smiled, cracked a couple of jokes, and was very charming and pleasant. Even if you didn’t know that she’s one of the most powerful and influential people (not just in the fashion industry, but in the world in general), you would still walk away with an impression that deep down you knew that she was somebody.
If the world had a house band, it would be Pink Martini.
This 12-piece band from Portland can perform in so many languages that it was no surprise when Srgjan Kerim, the former president of the United Nations’ General Assembly, ordered 30 copies of Pink Martini’s second album, "Hang on Little Tomato," and planned to share it during an official UN meeting.
Bandleader and pianist, Thomas Lauderdale, says “Pink Martini draws inspiration from the romantic Hollywood musicals of the 1940s or ’50s . . . with a more global perspective. We write a lot of songs, but we also champion songs like Ernesto Lecuona’s “Andalucia” or “Amado mio” from the Rita Hayworth film “Gilda” or “Kikuchiyo to mohshimasu (My name is Kikuchiyo)” made famous in the 1960s by the great Japanese group Hiroshi Wada & His Mahina Stars. In that sense, we’re a bit like musical archeologists, digging through recordings and scores of years past and rediscovering beautiful songs.”
Lauderdale met China Forbes, Pink Martini's lead vocalist, while they were both in Harvard. Three years after graduating, Lauderdale called Forbes who was living in New York City and asked her to join Pink Martini. They began to write songs together for the band. Their first song “Sympathique,” with the chorus “Je ne veux pas travailler” (“I don’t want to work”), became an overnight sensation in France and was even nominated for “Song of the Year” at France’s Victoires de la Musique Awards.
“Both China Forbes and I come from multicultural families,” says Lauderdale. “All of us in Pink Martini have studied different languages as well as different styles of music from different parts of the world. So, inevitably, because everyone has participated at some point in the writing or arranging of songs, our repertoire is wildly diverse. At one moment, you feel like you’re in the middle of a samba parade in Rio de Janeiro, and in the next moment you’re in a French music hall of the 1930s or a palazzo in Napoli. It’s a bit like an urban musical travelogue. We’re very much an American band, but we spend a lot of time abroad. And, therefore, have the incredible diplomatic opportunity to represent – through our repertoire and our concerts – a broader, more inclusive America, comprised of people of every country, every language, every religion.”
Pink Martini has performed its multilingual repertoire on concert stages and with symphony orchestras throughout Europe, Asia, Greece, Turkey, the Middle East, Northern Africa, Australia, New Zealand and North America. Pink Martini made its European debut at the Cannes Film Festival in 1997 and its orchestral debut with the Oregon Symphony in 1998 under the direction of Norman Leyden. Since then, the band has gone on to play with more than 25 orchestras around the world, including multiple engagements with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl, the Boston Pops, the National Symphony at the Kennedy Center, and the BBC Concert Orchestra in London.
In 2011, Pink Martini performed at the Kennedy Center and at the Strathmore in Bethesda. Unfortunately, China Forbes could not make either trips since she was recovering from vocal surgery. She's been performing a few shows since then, however, including the time when Pink Martini was on Jay Leno's show. For most of the year, vocalist Storm Large filled in. She has the voice worthy of singing the multi-lingual songs that Pink Martini has basically trademarked, and she can grab your attention with her sultry moves and playful old hollywood vibe. Despite their differences in style and personality, Storm Large worked very well on stage with Ari Shapiro.
When Pink Martini performed with the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center earlier this year, Ari Shapiro, the White House correspondent for National Public Radio, also made his Washington, D.C., debut. Shapiro has been moonlighting with the band for the last couple of years. He is included on the band's fourth album, "Splendor in the Grass," as a guest vocalist on the track, "But Now I'm Back," as well as the band's holiday album, "Joy to the World". When he first glided on stage at the Kennedy Center, there was a bit of surprise from the audience. "Yes, I am Ari Shapiro," he quickly quipped to the crowd. "And you don't look like what I expected, either."
While living up in Portland and before he even had a driver's license, Shapiro actually snuck in to see a Pink Martini performance. In the following years, Lauderdale heard Shapiro's voice and invited the reporter to sing with the band. Shapiro made his on-stage debut at the Hollywood Bowl in 2009. Being NPR's White House correspondent surely has its perks like being on Air Force One and spending time with the president. Still, with Shapiro's GQ looks and silky butter-itone voice, he most definitely belongs on stage. In an ironic twist, radio killed the video star.
At the Strathmore, Shapiro performed several songs on stage with Storm Large and Portland cantor Ida Rae Cahana. In addition, Pink Martini also brought out a special guest: Japanese singing legend Saori Yuki, whom Lauderdale introduced as the “Barbra Streisand of Japan.” And Saori Yuki did not disappoint. In Pink Martini’s latest album, “1969″, Saori Yuki is the lead singer in most of the songs. In the album and also during the performance, Saori Yuki sang a Japanese version of “Puff the Magic Dragon” as well as a Japanese version of “White Christmas.” Lauderdale explained that it was only recently that “White Christmas” was allowed to be performed in Japanese. Considering what happened in Japan in 2011 with the earthquake and that the performance was one week removed from the 70th Anniversary of the Pearl Harbor, the significance of her performance was felt by everyone.
December 12, 2011 - I've seen Pink Martini about a dozen times and in multiple cities: Seattle, Portland, Washington DC, London, Paris, and now Bethesda. But this is only the second time that I've had a chance to photograph them during the show. The first time was in Paris, which was obviously an incredible experience, but there's something special about seeing your favorite band in your hometown as if you're visiting a friend. I must admit that I truly miss China Forbes and her presence on stage. However, I'm glad that Pink Martini continues to go on tour as she recovers from vocal surgery.
Vocalist Storm Large has filled in quite nicely. She has the voice worthy of singing the multi-lingual songs that Pink Martini has basically trademarked and she can grab your attention with her sultry moves and playful old hollywood vibe. Despite their differences in style and personality, Storm Large works very well on stage with Ari Shapiro.
I first saw Ari Shapiro when Pink Martini performed at The Kennedy Center earlier this year. Despite the fact that his day job includes hanging out with The President, flying around in Air Force One, and spending hours and hours at The White House, he seriously has a career as a performer. Being the NPR White House Correspondent surely has its perks, but with his GQ looks and silky butter-itone voice, Shapiro most definitely belongs on stage. In an ironic twist, radio killed the video star.
Pink Martini also brought out a special guest: Japanese singing legend Saori Yuki, who Pink Martini band leader Thomas Lauderdale introduced as the "Barbara Streisand of Japan." And Saori Yuki did not disappoint. With Pink Martini's latest album, "1969", Saori Yuki is the lead singer in most of the songs. In the album and also tonight, Saori Yuki sang a Japanese version of "Puff the Magic Dragon" as well as a Japanese version of "White Christmas". Lauderdale explained that it was only recently that "White Christmas" was allowed to be performed in Japanese. Considering what happened in Japan this past year and that we're one week removed from the 70th Anniversary of the Pearl Harbor, the significance of her performance was felt by everyone.
The Lisner-Louise-Dickson-Hurt Home hosted a "Zoo Day" filled with a bouncy castle, petting zoo animals, hay rides, and a Photo Booth. Each participant donated money to the LLDH Home to get their photos taken.
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This SFC Family Day photoshoot event was hosted by John and Kristin Cecchi in Washington, DC. Several families helped raise $2,200 for Up from Under, an organization that helps build homes for families in Haiti.
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At last season’s Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York, I was fortunate to get a photo of Vogue’s big three: Anna Wintour, Grace Coddington and Tonne Goodman as they looked down the runway at Carolina Herrera’s show. This season, I thought I would try and get Project Runway’s big three: Michael Kors, Tim Gunn and Heidi Klum. So I took the Amtrak train at four in the morning from D.C. to New York hoping to catch the runway show at 9 a.m. I would have left the night before, but I was hosting an event with CUSP in Georgetown for Fashion't Night Out.
As tired as I was from not getting any sleep, I hoped the excitement would carry me through the day. After picking up my press credentials, I stood in line to get in for Project Runway. A few minutes before the show, the producers announced that only certain people would get inside. I wasn’t one of them. It marked only the second time that I didn’t get in a show that I wanted to see.
The next three days proved to be more successful. The highlight would have to be when Valentino walked in before DVF’s show. He stood a few feet away from me and for a moment, I froze. You spend hundreds of hours standing and waiting at the press pit hoping to get a good photo. There are photographers literally sitting on your feet. It is far from glamorous. But when you have the opportunity to photograph Valentino, Anna Wintour, or Diane von Furstenberg as she passes out American flags on 9/11 after her show, you realize that it’s all worth it.
There is no doubt that the Lisner-Louise-Dickson-Hurt home is one of my favorites places to shoot. The room has just the ideal lighting conditions and with the way that it's shaped, the light bounces perfectly. This couldn't be more evident than the photo above, as we were simply trying to figure out where KMG should stand. When I noticed that she looked down while I was testing some settings, I asked her to do it again. But as many shots as we tried, it was still that first one that worked.
As a photographer, I am always trying to get that perfect shot. It's a lot like fishing, I think. I don't fish, but it has to be the same feeling. And even though you think you might have caught the perfect shot, you know deep down that there's one even better. But for me, this photograph comes as close as I could come to getting the shot that matched what was in my head. And believe it or not, that doesn't happen as often as you think.
When I started this project, I knew that there would be so many variables. To have 30 different people agree to a schedule was a miracle in and of itself. But to have everything line up and for everyone to have the same vision in art and execution, is a testament to everyone involved.
I am so proud of what we have accomplished in such a short amount of time. I have never been more honored to work with such a great group of people. To everyone who participated in this project - the participants and the artists - I am grateful for your time, generosity, creativity, and passion. You are truly an inspiration.
(Photoshoot at the Lisner-Louise-Dickson-Hurt Home with Kate-Marie Grinold. Photo by Walter Grio. Hair by Neven Radovic. Makeup by Trayshia Rogers and Laura Bateman.)
Like the first day, our second day for the Project Inspiration photoshoot went very well. I am completely amazed by how these types of projects go without a hitch. And the one common theme when it comes to successful projects is that you have an amazing group of people who share their talents and time to make it all work. It is a humbling and amazing experience to work with such an A-List group of people.
The second day of shooting happened at L2 Lounge in Georgetown and I couldn't be more pleased that they would let us use their space. I'm extremely excited as well that the exhibit on November 16th will actually also take place there. There are a total of 17 individuals that are being photographed, styled, and made up. The fact that we haven't had any problems yet is nothing short of amazing. It's one thing to be able to plan a project, but to be successful, you need people to execute on the plan. The opportunity to work with people like Christophe Jouenne, Violetta Markelou, Tray Rogers, Brittney Tiarra, and Elaine Mensah is an incredible treat.
Additionally, I was happy when one of the participants bought the trench coat we used on her. It saved me a trip back to Banana Republic.
Trying to schedule twenty people to meet you on any day is already a daunting task, let alone when it's a Saturday and it involves stylists, makeup artists, hair stylists, and directors of several nonprofit organizations. So the fact that we were able to photograph seven individuals in a full blown old hollywood glamour photoshoot without a single problem or issue was a testament to everyone involved.
What made it even challenging is that The Kreeger Museum was quite full of visitors for a summer day. I'm grateful for the museum staff for keeping the traffic clear and for letting us work without any interruption. And as always, a successful photoshoot would not be possible without a talented team behind it. Special thanks to the wonderful team of Laura Bateman, Tray Rogers, Anastasia Lambrou, Neven Radovic, Isabel Azocar, Kenyetta Kemy Greene, and Maritza Savage. So lucky to work with so many talented people! And to the leaders of the 7 nonprofit organizations who came out today - you were fantastic. Can't wait for Day 2!
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