PORTRAITS in the PARK. A Photo Contest to Benefit Easter Seals Kids!

We are so excited about this fund raising project and to be partnering with Independent Living Pediatrics (ILP) Director, Aleisha to accomplish Portraits in the Park where all kids SMILE and WIN!

When our son Eric, born with Down syndrome, was a baby teetering on the edge of life, Aleisha, a speech therapist college student and employee of a local daycare for children with special needs, would babysit for our son. Few people had the training or heart to take care of our son, but Aleisha had both!

Fast forward 14 years of not seeing her, and in the studio she walked! Not only did she finish her degree, but she also got married, had two children and became the Director of ILP. Together, our commitment and heart for kids with special needs prompted this idea for Portraits in the Park! This handsome guy is our son!

These sample photos will give you an idea of the portraits we will be taking. If you are interested in submitting a photo of your child, please read the specifics below.

Happy Holidays!
Kim & Bob


PORTRAITS IN THE PARK is a photo contest where ten kids will be chosen to participate in a professional photo shoot in which the selected gallery of images will permanently hang in the Independent Living Pediatrics clinics in New Tampa and Westchase.

To ENTER, simply mail a photo of your child's smiling face to our PORTRAITS IN THE PARK Photo Contest. The contest is open to children ages 10-10 from all walks of life, with and without special needs.
Your child's smile-ability will give a child with a disability a better opportunity in life.

On in five households has a child with a special health care need, yet with early intervention, half of these children will go to school without needing special services. Your $20 entry fee will go directly to Easter Seals Florida, Tampa Bay Region helping children with disabilities hope, dream and succeed.

Winning smiles will be announced in February 2010. The top ten winners will participate in a professional photo shoot in the park in the spring time by Tampa's award-winning photography studio-Thompson Studios.

The winning portraits will be displayed in the local newspaper, announced through the Thompson Studios' e-newsletter, displayed on the Thompson Studios BLOG and on the ILP web site. The final art pieces will be showcased in a one-night gallery opening honoring all contest participants, before permanently hnging in the park-like lobby of Independent Living Pediatrics specializing in physical, occupational and speech therapy to bring out the BEST and the SMILE in every child!

Each winner will receive an 8-image portfolio of the photo shoot!

Enter now through January 31, 2010.
It starts with a smile. When children smile, everyone wins!

Mail a 3x5 color photograph, a parent's e-mail address, telephone number, and home address. Please include a $20 entry fee to:

Thompson Studios
10329H Cross Creek Blvd.
Tampa, FL 33647

Photos will not be returned. Entry fees are tax deductible.
Check payable to: Easter Seals.

Awesome Pizza & Wine Bar!

We've come to LOVE the pizza & wine bar that recently opened up in Tampa on the corner of Bearss & Bruce B. Downs called Wood Fired Pizza & Wine. Frequented not only by authentic Italian Pizza lovers (like us) and wine enthusiasts (like us), but also by local health & fitness gurus! Why? Because the herbs are authentic, the toppings are organic, the dough is freshly made & gluten-free, and the wine is always fabulous! These are photos Bob took of the owner, Peter, his 'paws,' and our wine in front of the wood fire grill that Peter hand-crafted.

Enjoy!
Kim

Ricky P's Po Boy Shop Food Shots

So, anyone know of a truly authentic New Orleans Po Boy shop in the bay area? I do!!

Check out Ricky P's (www.rickyps.com) at 6524 4th Street North in St. Pete, but only if you want to have a party in your mouth!! We had the honor of shooting a few of their flagship items one Saturday night after they closed recently. OMG!! The best part? Eating all of the photo subjects as we went along. My faves? Well, let's see, the Muffaletta was Deeelicious, well wait, the gumbo made my mouth dance. But then again, the Shrimp Po Boy made my pants shrink, while all the while the jambalaya made me say things I couldn't control. But then there was the Bread Pudding after it was all said and done. Yes, the Bread Pudding and I had a very special moment. Ahhhh.... As Ricky P hears all day long from his loyal cajun fanbase: "Dang, that's good!"

Go check 'em out for yourself and tell them Bob T sent you!

The man, the legend!

The Bread Pudding... be careful not to lick the screen!

Here's a crabcake, jambalaya with Ricky P's famous slaw. Mmmmmm....

9/11

Eight years ago on the morning of 9/11/01, I was taking pictures of the Executive Leadership Development program Kim was leading at the Embassy Suites in the financial district of New York City, a stone's throw to the World Trade Center. While the CFO for the company she worked for started the morning off with a keynote talk about the current global finances to the 150 employees in the room who had come from all over the world (as far as New Zealand, Australia and the Netherlands), the group was interrupted by a panicked sounding woman over the intercom informing us that a plane had just hit the World Trade Center.

Mayhem hit soon after.

The room dispersed, people scattered. Most cell phones stopped working, so the bank of pay phones were crammed, people stood immobile, staring at the news on the large screen TV that hung in the lobby, racing outside, racing to their rooms, racing around not knowing what to do or where to go. I ran upstairs to our room (the elevators stopped working) to collect my belongings when a good friend called my cell. She was watching the news from Tampa and was adamant about our getting out of there now!

Kim, the CFO and I were the last three people out of the hotel. Kim had her laptop in a backpack and dragged her suitcase by the handle (for the next 75 blocks). I had my camera bag over my shoulder and my suitcase. I couldn't carry my set of lights, so I left them in the ball room where the program was being held thinking I would come back later to pick them up (it was more than a year before I ever went back and everything left in the hotel was damaged and irretrievable).

The debris was falling like a blizzard of gray snowflakes blanketing the ground and clinging to the clothes and skin of all the people running. The SWAT team, in their full regalia (black masks, on piece suits and boots), guided us by waving a forceful arm swing pointing toward the Hudson River. There was no thinking at this point. We followed their direction and ran like hell across a grassy field (I think it was a soccer field), through a ripped open chain link fence, down a few stairs and on to the wide sidewalk that paralleled the river. We must have run for 15 minutes and then everyone just stopped and turned around. We followed suit and in a moment, we witnessed the second tower implode and collapse as we felt the energy of thousands of mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, sons and daughters float upward in the morass of billowy black smoke.

Against my better judgment, in a moment of mass destruction, I reached for my camera and with tears in my eyes, snapped off a few, while silently blessing all the people who just lost their lives.

We spent the night at Kim's boss's home outside of Manhattan that night, where it was eerily peaceful and quiet, rented a card the next day and drove home. We heard the guy from New Zealand spent nine days getting home (to a wife and new baby) via Canada, Alaska, and so forth, and arrived to a hero's welcome full of the press, family, friends, and the community at large!

To have the dubious distinction of having eye witnessed such a world tragedy is something I haven't quite resolved for myself. However, what I have resolved is that I am more grateful than ever for my family and my life, and every 9/11 for the rest of my life, I will whisper a prayer to the families of those who lost their loved ones on that day.

Until next time,
Bob

By the way, the photo of the twin towers was taken on the evening of 9/10/2001 from a dinner cruise on the Hudson just as we passed the Statue of Liberty.

Buddy's Beach Bash with the Band with Bob and the Boys 16th Birthday Party Celebration!

All a parent ever wants for his or her children is to give them a good time, then watch them enjoy the experience. Kim and I are no different. I present to you a brief photo-documentary, (all photographed by one Mr. Mike Ossola, associate photographer and post production manager, and on this particular evening part-time shooter and also guest of Buddy), of one Mr. Buddy Thompson's 16th Birthday Bash, held at the Palm Pavilion on Clearwater Beach over the August 15th weekend. Huge thanks to Cindy, GM at the Palm, and long time friend of mine (I've been playing there since '95) who really made us feel welcome and took great care of us (round of drinks on arrival, preferred Bud-seating, open arms, etc), and to Debby at the hotel who took great care of us as well. Kim and I couldn't be more proud of our miracle boy, and what a blast it was to watch him just have a blast. Enjoy!!

"A Man Boy on is 16th Birthday" or "The Calm Before the Storm" (Note the slight presence of a Matt Garza-like beard on the southern tip of his chin) Great portrait Mikey!!

I mean really, who doesn't want to see their name in lights? This was one of Cindy's surprises. Nice touch.

A moment between sets. Bud has been talking about this day and this gig for at least 2 months. This is one excited dude.

This is where Bud spends most of his time during our gigs. He truly has been one of the band for years now. We added the electric guitar this particular day for the first time, and it was a smashing success!! He knows the words, and he sings his little heart out! (Cable, what cable?)

Bud's backup vocals come complete with personal gestures. What a dude. This boy has got the moves. (-:

A piece of Mike Ossola beach art. Nice shot and nice edit Mikey!! (I told you guys he was good...)

Buddy goes Hendrix crazy among the crowd in a spontaneous explosion of rock and roll fury during a John Mellencamp tune. That's from the right, Ricky P (rickyps.com), Victoria, Kevin, Bud, the Boys in the Band, Kathryn, Noah, Ken and Kim's clapping hands.

One of the finest bass players in the universe today, (because as you can see, he's not from this planet) Mr. Chris Ryals. It is my distinct privilege to play with this guy, and we've been doing it since '96. Bud, the man, the legend, singing his way through his 16th. Rock on...

This is Mr. Mike Massaro, a craftsman of a percussionist, and very cool dude. A tad on the serious side, but only while he's playing. He's a teddy bear inside... Mike and I met 20 minutes before I did a TV appearance on Ybor Live at the Columbia Restaurant back in the early 90's, and we've been friends and playing together ever since. He's scary good at what he does too. His hands hurt a lot.

Haaappy Biirrrtthddaaayy Toooooo Yooouuuuuuu!!!

Great Location Portrait Shoot and a Cold One!

Meet the Davis family, who we connected with out of our relationship with Carrollwood Day School. (We do the school photos and senior portraits for CDS) They live up in Odessa on a couple of acres, and they wanted to use their gorgeous country spread as a backdrop for some rich family portraits. As will happen with families with dogs or pets, they wanted to know if I would be willing to add their dogs to one of the poses, and of course the answer was yes. To brag, I've had tremendous success integrating pets into family portraits, and we managed to get a great shot with both dogs and the family. My record continues unblemished!

One of the things I enjoy most about what I do is the intimate relationship building that comes with being in a photo session. Come to find out that Mr. Davis is in the Navy, and in an intelligence field not too different than the one that Kim and I were in while we were in the Air Force. A little more conversation and we find out that we all used to live in the same area of Germany. Wow!! Now we've got some great material for nostalgic conversation.

The portraits are gorgeous, as we were fortunate to have literally perfect light outside. Can you believe that it was storming only 2 hours prior to shoot time? The Davis' made some beatiful portraits, and afterward, seeing that I was sweating it up pretty majorly out there, invited me in and offered me a cold one, where we continued our getting to know each other.

Thanks to the Davis family for their hospitality, great conversation, and oh yeah, some great location portraits!!

Thompson Studios from the Point of View of an Intern

This summer we had the opportunity to offer a high school internship to Schuyler Robinson who is preparing to spend his senior year over in Spain, but that's a different story. As part of his Tampa Prep curriculum, he was required to conduct a 3 week intership inside of a small business. He wrote a report on his experience and we were blown away by what he wrote -- his observations on what he experienced here were, we thought, worth sharing. Sometimes you have to see yourself from someone else's perspective, you know? Enjoy, and thanks for the great work, Schuyler!

PS Here he is at the event he referenced in his writeup, getting to know some of the locals and hard at work!

Internship Paper

by

Schuyler Robinson

Business and the arts have always been fields of great interest for me. Over the summer, I was able to experience both during my 3 week internship at Thompson Studios, a photography studio in North Tampa. During my internship, I was able to participate in everything from the art of photo shoots to the general aspects of running a small business such as marketing and in-studio work. Experiencing this allowed me to further my knowledge of the business and provided me with a glimpse of what I may study further in college.
The first day of my internship, I immediately started with a first-hand experience in photo shoots. My sponsor, Bob Thompson, was doing the senior portraits for the students of Carrollwood Day School with his associate photographer Mike. Bob was a master of putting people at ease. He brought each student in individually and not only took their portraits but was also able to capture the personality of each student in his photographs. Many props were used to help each client express themselves. As I moved props and set lighting, I began to gain a better understanding of what makes a good portrait. This was my first opportunity to see some of the more technical aspects of photography.
For each person, everything from the background color to the complex lighting was dialed in to perfection to complement not just clothes the student was wearing, but also the personality they displayed. It really gave me a great appreciation for the artistic eye it takes to capture these small details which can turn a good picture into an amazing one. I learned to set up the photo equipment and was even able to help select pictures by eliminating ones that weren’t as flattering or effectively drawing out the individual’s personality.
Another element of photography I experienced was a commercial job at Raymond James Financial. Corporate photography was completely different from senior portraits in methodology. Lighting and poses were still set to perfection, but the photographer also had to take into account work schedules and time constraints so that he was able to get the shots within a work environment. The photographer had to work with the marketing representatives of the company to capture pictures that not only he liked, but ones that also would work for their new ad campaign.
As I walked throughout the halls of the huge financial building, I helped search for the perfect picture spots fitting the company’s marketing criteria. The models, although randomly picked from the company staff, were exceedingly good for their first time and were able to provide us with excellent poses. Although lighting proved difficult with the numerous windows and different architectural flourishes that inundated each floor, Mr. Thompson was able to take close to 30 portraits of the various consultants in time for the marketing representatives’ deadline. In addition, we were able to get an outdoor photo before it became unbearably hot.
The next opportunity I participated in with the photography business was a little different from my previous photo shoots. I traveled to the ranch of Tampa Bay Buccaneers pro football player George “Styles” White to help with his fundraiser for orphans. On Styles’ ranch off of North Dale Mabry, I helped set up the photo backdrop and lighting at the end of the red carpet for V.I.P. guests. As each of the 300 guests arrived, I was responsible for printing the photos for each person to take home as a fundraiser appreciation gift. It was a large event that had everything from a silent auction to a live jazz band, and it provided me with another chance to experience a different and exciting aspect of the photography business. As a part of the team at this event, I was able to conduct myself and work as a representative of Thompson Studios. I helped the guests in a professional manner with requests for duplicates or retakes and even managed to get a referral for Mr. Thompson from a local realtor looking to do business.
Over the years, photography has changed a great deal. Most photographers have made the transition from film to digital, and using this new technology can simplify their job until they run into technical problems. For example a new complex digital camera can produce amazing pictures, but it can also present challenges when it suffers from technical errors such as freezing or stored pictures with newly taken ones without warning.
Another issue that photographers sometimes have is with lighting set up. The devices used for lighting have become very advanced. Like digital cameras they can be the solution to a photographer’s problems, or at times, they can be the catalyst. An example of this is that lights are synchronized with the digital camera to flash when a picture is taken with a small device called a “slave” which is attached to the back of the light. Usually this works well, but sometimes there can be a lot of issues with trying to get the slaves attached to the lights to receive the camera signal simultaneously.
If one of the lights is not adjusted properly and does not flash, it throws off the photo. Artistically, photographers must have knowledge of how to adjust lighting for the proper effect in a picture. However, they must also possess technical know-how so the lights are at a proper angle to receive the camera’s signal. Possessing skills in both areas, has a successful photographer take great pictures, and cover all of the technological issues that may occur.
Being a photographer requires a great deal of versatility too. In addition to off-site photo shoots, I was also able to participate in many of the in-house photography and business aspects of operating a studio. In-studio photography ranged from family portraits to aspiring model photos, and with each, Mr. Thompson would take a different approach to get the perfect shot. There was even a close-up photo shoot of a company’s chemical solvents for production in their new catalog.
The photography business also has a less than glamorous side. The office and studio must be continually cleaned and organized to keep a professional appearance. They have to make sure that their business runs efficiently and productively as well as being able to manage many of the other small tasks that make up much of the business day. Tasks like paying bills, returning phone calls and dealing with customer requests are just some of the responsibilities that must be taken care of everyday.
On top of that, there are office tasks such as editing photos for the best level of presentation, which require a lot of detail work. Mike, the other photographer working at Thompson studios, worked for hours cleaning up pictures and taking them from great photographs to extraordinary ones. It was a time consuming job, but the end results were well worth the effort. Clients were very happy with their photos.
The lifeblood of any business is marketing. It allows the business to bring in new customers and to let the existing customers know of changes that have occurred. While working at my internship, my first job in relation to marketing was to travel all over Wesley Chapel and New Tampa replenishing business cards and marketing materials at the various stores. I had to map out the area to find all the local stores and after a few days of driving I had every store restocked. Not only did this experience give me some appreciation for the time it takes to do something as simple as handing out business cards, but it allowed me to see the interactions between different small businesses in the Tampa Bay area as well.
Using the internet, I compiled a list of local newspapers and TV stations to receive a press release. The news rooms would often put the press release in the newspaper or sometimes on TV allowing Thompson Studios to be advertised all over Tampa. Another list of medical clinics and private practice doctors was created for a mailing of new medical photography postcard advertisements. Compiling a list of hundreds of medical establishments within just my zip code was time consuming. All of this work was done to send postcards that may or may not be thrown into the trash along with other mail advertisements by the recipient doctor in the hopes of gaining a few new customers. I really learned to appreciate how much work is put into even the smallest marketing aspects of a business.
Photography can be an exciting field both artistically and technically. It was a privilege to be able to spend my internship learning about the profession and seeing the inner workings of a well run business like Thompson Studios. Small business owners must be adept in a variety of ways. Exposure to these diverse elements of business and the arts has broadened my view the business world, and will hopefully serve as a stepping stone for my own business success in the future.

Meagan and Andy's Engagement Portrait Session

We started simple and pure...

Then we moved on to a bit more emotion and closeness...

Then we really got them comfortable!

What a moment... these guys were awesome!

I met Andy and Meagan at the last Cross Creek Ranch Bridal Show a couple of months ago. I remember taking a quick portrait of them that night and saying to them, "Oh my, you two are going to make REALLY nice photos!"

Today, they fulfilled on my bold prediction! These two were so intimate! They offered up everything from giggling to snuggling and everything in between. With Sepia being our chosen shooting style, they literally put themselves into my hands and let me just take them on a journey. These guys were so relaxed and so willing to be intimate on camera, so I had the idea to lay them down and see what we could create down low. Oh my... They relaxed right into what I was thinking, and made some beautiful shots!

I'll be shooting Andy and Meagan's wedding in November out at Cross Creek Ranch, one of my favorite venues to shoot at. With the ranch style natural Florida surroundings and massive grandfather oaks, CCR, as we call it, is an awesome outdoor venue. Check them out at www.crosscreekranchfl.com. Stay tuned in November for images of their CCR wedding.

Congratulations Meagan and Andy!

Sometimes Everything Comes Together

Okay, so I'll begin by saying that this one was pure magic from the beginning. From my intial chat with Leona in April in the parking lot after a quick shoot up in Ocala, to riding bikes through a German village on a gorgeous golden German morning, Kim and I had the 'gig' to die for -- Kim and I because she got to go too! I was actually hired to do several things. First on the list, take great photographs of the folks on this trip having a great time wherever they went and whatever they did. Gee, I think I can hang with that! They are all of our client's top selling insurance agents - this was an incentive cruise down the Rhine and Mosel rivers in Germany, originating in Amsterdam. Somebody pinch me. Of all the places we could go, there's nowhere more dear to our hearts than the very place Kim and I "grew up" as young Air Force adults stationed above the Mosel in the early to mid '80's. Unbelievable!! I've included some of my favorite shots and moments from the trip, where, as part of my 'package,' I sang two gigs, one atop the ship as we cruised the Rhine on a gloriously sunny, crisp blue day, and one evening down in the ship's lounge. Got to pull out my Deutsch and let 'er rip with some of the ship's staff and play interpreter to some of the passengers. Kim and I had no luggage the first 4 plus days, making our trip even more 'memorable!' The trip was a total success, as we were invited back next year when they treat the company's best to a Banff, Canada! We met lots of new friends, and had the time of a lifetime. Kim and I really used the trip to truly take a look at life from afar, and we came back clearer about life somehow. Europe can do that to a person. Enjoy the shots and thanks for "listening." BT





We grabbed a nice little lunch in Amsterdam before boarding the Casanova.

A slice of life in the German town of Trier. These 5 kids were fluent in German! Amazing!

That's the president and cofounder of the company we were working for, in one of my favorite places on the planet, a German Beer Garden (yes, I meant to capitalize!)

Tell me, what's more European than a couple of street accordion players?

Came upon a group of artists painting a cathedral, only two of whom noticed I was there.

Here are Kim and me in front of the Roman gate of Trier, a city over 2,000 years old.

Cool shot of a German bridge, somewhere in the night...

View through the antiquated glass of the Cochem Castle. All of the Insurance folks were equipped with cool red umbrellas.

I've always been a sucker for a cool German cafe window, especially one with a cool handwritten chalk sign.

This is yours truly doing my thing. Before our luggage was located, we were traveling with only a guitar, a laptop, and a camera bag. Three things that we decided we could start a new life with if necessary. (-:

I love Amsterdam because the cafes are always full. This is 3:00 pm on a weekday. Hmmm... what do they know that we don't?

And I think that this is where they all parked...

View of Cochem on the Mosel River, this is definitely one of the coolest castles on the river, and there are many!

This is the name of the ship we cruised...

The Kids of Easter Seals Portrait Gallery

As many of you know, we have a 15 year old son Eric who has Down Syndrome. He has just completed Middle School and is off to high school, but in his early days as an infant, he had a list of medical ailments that made his first couple of years pretty tough. Heart problems, lung issues, failure to thrive, were among some of his challenges. After his heart surgery was complete, one ailment after the next disappeared, and by the time he started daycare at 2 years old, he was on the road to becoming the unusually healthy kid he is today. Kim and I have always wanted to give back to the community that helped Eric get back on his feet and that provided the therapies and support that made such a difference after all of his medical challenges. We recently were inducted on the Board of Directors at Easter Seals of Tampa Bay, after being introduced to the board by Joanne Sullivan of Academy at the Lakes, and whose wedding we did last year. Our first project was to create a gallery of portraits of the Kids of Easter Seals, so people would have an understanding of who these kids are. They're typically underprivilidged special needs kids from rough family backgrounds who typically can't afford the services and support that special needs kids almost always need in their early years. Easter Seals helps prepare these kids both mentally and pbysically to be able to successfully enter the school system and become productive and healthy kids. Here is a number of the portraits we shot of the kids. What an amazing shoot!! These kids are amazing, and you can almost see their past and their future in their eyes. The gallery of prints will be on permanent display at the Murray Center, Easter Seals' brand new facility on East Henry Ave that has its grand opening almost as this blog entry is being posted. Enjoy, and let us know what you think!