A Little Summer in Winter – Sauk City, WI Photographer
2011 was definitely a year filled with travels for our family. Winter finally arrived with some snow to Wisconsin and we just came back from an amazing trip to much warmer parts of the world. Hopefully the warmth we soaked in will last until the spring 
Visiting the Caribbean was on my wish list for a long while and recently we had an opportunity to cross that off. Well, actually not fully because we all definitely want to go back and see more but I am so happy and grateful to be able to see a small part of it. Beaches lined up with palm trees, clear blue water, interesting sea shells, snorkeling in coral reef, swimming with the rays, tropical jungle, exotic animals, new cultures… the list could go on and on. The kids called it an “epic vacation” and the only thing I regret is that I didn’t have any decent waterproof camera. I am a little ashamed to admit that most of our water related adventures were captured only with a single use plastic point and shoot. I haven’t developed that film yet Here are a few images from the islands taken when there was no risk of getting wet…
After returning back to New Orleans we stayed a little longer there before heading back home. This was just enough time to see The French Quarter, full of beautiful old historic buildings, iron balconies, artists, eclectic shops, great food and and of course live music. A few hours wasn’t nearly enough to experience it all but it gave us a taste of that amazing city.
I was trying to set up the camera for a photo of my family when a kind passerby offered to take that picture for me. One of very few with me in front of the lens Thank you!
I am sure we will be back in New Orleans to explore more. And on the way back (while driving 60m/hr ) I was able to capture this last Louisiana image…
Moja Polska – My Poland
I’ve been going through over 1300 images I took in Poland thinking, “What else would I like to share with you here – perhaps Warsaw’s landmarks? or everyday Polish life? maybe nature?”. Then I realized that the most important reason for me to keep going back are the people. It is my Polish friends to whom I still feel so close, even though time and thousands of miles keep us apart. The internet helps us stay connected through all these years but there is nothing like getting together face-to-face. And the connection I felt during these meetings was as strong as if no time had passed at all. Dziekuje, ze jestescie gdzies tam daleko, ale jednak blisko And if you’d like to see more what Warsaw looks like I invite you to visit an album “Warsaw, Poland 2011″ on my Facebook page. Enjoy the trip!
Take a look at my website here: www.aniafieldsphotoart.com
or connect with me on Facebook!
Homeward bound – leaving behind our Polish diet…
Here are a few of the Polish foods we sampled over the past month. Some are quite typical, which is why I chose to display this arrangement. From kotlet schabowy (breaded pork cutlet) to a bread shop display (the kids sometimes preferred Polish bread with butter instead of dessert) see for yourselves the joy of food in Poland. My favorite is the Polish table spread (which includes a few bottles of coke or “cola”). Coming back home to the USA, we will continue to choose and make the healthier Polish foods; while leaving behind a few of those less nutritious comfort foods of my childhood (lard with bacon pieces on dark bread anyone?). Until we return again…
Take a look at my website here: www.aniafieldsphotoart.com
or connect with me on Facebook!
when the guests arrive the food comes out...
for meat lovers Poland is heaven and cold cuts don't come in just one variety, they come in assorted platefuls
most soups in Poland are made from scratch and are important part of many meals
You can' get more typically Polish than schabowy with potatoes and cabbage
"Lazy" pierogi - kids' favorite, best with buttered breadcrumbs and sprinkled with sugar
Poles buy fresh bread every day, here with cottage cheese spread or lard with bacon
Bread galore and in Poland it's even more
New Tradition 2011, XIV Folk Festival, Warsaw Poland
This year is the 14th time that Polish Radio is organizing a folk festival “Nowa Tradycja” (“New Tradition”). I was invited to attend an opening concert of this event. Janusz Prusinowski Trio – a folk band that I had a chance to photograph during their concert in Madison last year – won the first prize for Folkowy Fonogram Roku 2010 (the best Folk Phonogram of the Year 2010) and I welcomed the opportunity to experience their music again. Janusz Prusinowski Trio inspired by Polish folk music shares traditional but almost forgotten country compositions (mazurkas, polkas, oberkas) with contemporary listeners. And they do it in such a passionate and masterful way that captures your heart.
The Trio shared the stage with several other traditional folk groups from Poland and Ukraine. It was a very special evening and even more so that it became clear to me that there are still artists who do their best to preserve the music of our roots.
Take a look at my website here: www.aniafieldsphotoart.com
or connect with me on Facebook!
First Holy Communion Photography, Sauk Prairie WI Photographer
Last Saturday I had an opportunity to document the First Holy Communion celebration at a catholic church in a small town near Warsaw, Poland. It is a very important event in Polish culture and always a big family reunion. More than 40 9-year-olds, accompanied by their parents, grandparents, god parents, aunts, uncles, cousins and extended families, were all beautifully dressed up in white dresses and black suits, ready to experience this big day in their lives. As you can see on a photo I wasn’t the only one capturing this event, the competition was quite serious
Take a look at my website here: www.aniafieldsphotoart.com
or connect with me on Facebook!
Warsaw in May – Sauk Prairie WI Photographer
It’s already been two very intense and busy weeks since the kids and I arrived to Warsaw. Beautiful spring weather welcomed us with green trees and blooming flowers. This was a nice surprise after leaving Wisconsin when the trees were still bare. The time goes by so fast between getting together with friends, visiting Warsaw and school. The kids were brave enough and open to my idea of them attending Polish public school for two weeks. Here are some images of Warsaw in May for you. Enjoy!
Take a look at my website here: www.aniafieldsphotoart.com
or connect with me on Facebook!
WPPI 2011, Las Vegas NV
I am back from my second WPPI (Wedding and Portrait Photographers International) – one of the biggest photo conventions in the world. 16 thousand photographers came to MGM Grand in Vegas last week to learn, share, connect and get inspired. It was again an amazing experience for me. With almost a hundred classes to choose from, many workshops and more than 300 exhibitors at a trade show the days were very intense. My head is still spinning from all that I saw, learned and experienced. Last year I went with a friend but this time I traveled alone. It was easy to feel overwhelmed and intimidated by so many talented artists. I must admit I am proud of myself that I did find the courage to open up, connect with friends that I knew from different online groups and make some new ones as well. Now I have a big project back home: to go through all my notes and apply the best ideas to my business.
Enjoy more here: www.aniafieldsphotoart.com
or connect with me on Facebook!
Pierre Stephenson teaching a workshop on low light photography (on Las Vegas Strip)
Dane Sanders leading an ad hoc mini posing workshop in a parking lot of a wedding chapel.
Passionate, enthusiastic and inspiring Me Ra Koh
Jasmine Star at Photographers Ignite event
Back from New Mexico – Prairie du Sac, WI Photographer
I just got back from a fun-filled family road trip to Red River, NM. We had rain and storms and even hail there but I did manage to capture some of the beautiful scenery. Nature is so different there, so is the architecture. A lot of inspiring places for a photographer and every day was bringing something new: white water rafting, hiking, hot springs, ancient Taos Pueblo. We even managed to make a day trip to Colorado to see the tallest dunes in North America. Still sorting out New Mexico photos, but will leave you with several images from this amazing trip. Hope you’ll enjoy them!
Want to see more? Check my New Mexico album on Facebook
Taos Pueblo, NM hard to believe that these adobe style buildings have been continuously inhabited for over 1000 years!
San Francisco de Asis Church in Ranchos de Taos, still wet from a new coat of adobe plaster, hand-applied each summer
Entrance to Ojo Caliente Hot Springs
La Junta Point- spectacular view of confluence of Red River and Rio Grande
Rio Grande
Middle Fork Lake - one of many gorgeous mountain lakes in Red River area
Great Sand Dunes - huge beach in the middle of rugged Sangre de Cristo Mountains
Photo Contest – UPDATE
UPDATE: I was officially in the second (!) place however all the prizes went to the winner, apparently this person needed them more THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for all your support, cheers and votes. It was amazing to know that so many people all over the world did their best to help me out. I am truly grateful
WPPI Convention in Las Vegas
I am back from Vegas! It was cold and rainy week, but it didn’t really matter too much because there was so much to do at WPPI convention with no time to spare. Two huge trade show rooms and tons of workshops, presentations, talks covering everything a photographer may want. The presenters were people that ‘made it work’ and based on their encouragement, I know that I can too
In one workshop my favorite -Kevin Kubota- inspired us to grow as a photographer through self-assignments. He challenged us to do an alphabet hunt while at the convention in Las Vegas. Instead of just looking at people gambling, I had something to do between the workshops. This was a project – and so much fun! The interesting part is that I did not even need to leave the MGM Grand Hotel to find these images. I admit that “N” and “R” were challenging. What do YOU think?
