Shelley emailed me these pictures today and I got very emotional looking at them--these are kind of pictures I aspire to take--candid and magical. She REALLY captured the evening: the moments, the beauty, the tears, the humor ... all of it. Ok that sounds sappy. But it is true great photographers can capture special moments in time. And aspiring photogs may resort to staging/creating a moment to capture. I do neither. Especially now that my camera it kaput (is that the right spelling? gawd I'm a shitty speller. Perhap I should work on THAT rather than my picture taking abilities). I went to the camera people today--actually 2 camera people. I have only had my camera for about 15 months and because the warranty is up it would cost me a min $150 and 6-weeks to fix it. I don't think I will do that. I am looking at buying a new camera and while they are quite expensive I think of the joy I get out of using it and it is well worth it. The one photo place I went to even offers some beginner work shops on SLR cameras in October so I may attend those and try to improve on my photog skills. In the meantime, Helga has generously offered me her camera to use so that I do not go through photog withdrawal, which I kinda was today.
Anyways, without further ado (aka me whinning about my camera) ... what we have all been waiting for:
a packed room full of saints supporters --magic to my eyes
bidding on all of the wonderful items generously donated by people and businesses
This dancing moose donated by Pat and Ernie--people loved it!
Me hand talking with Meghann (one of the SAINTS board of directors). I am a big hand-talker :)
Carol and her 2 and half month old grand-daughter Annabelle
Annette Durante and David Kincaid our amazing hosts for the evening
Mio
Maureen's Keynote address was honest and heartfelt
Carol's speech (watch it here:
Annette talks about her friend getting a cow lick from Percy
People laughed and cried
David MC extraordinaire
Sheila (chair for the event) looked ravishing in her black cocktail dress and red heels --although she confessed today that her feet hate her for it.
Leila writes: Okay, we finally got the totals figured out. Last nights event netted $22,100 give or take a couple of dollars. The absolutely wonderful, amazing thing about this event was that over 45% of the money raised was raised through the table sponsors and the ribbon sponsors which means people were really there to support the SAINTS animals. Thank you so much to the 115 people who showed up to support Carol, her volunteers, staff and most importantly the animals we all love so much.
and thank you also to the over 50 invividuals and businesses that sponsored the animals at the tables.
**Please see the post below re: the shelter challenge--its back on so please remember to vote daily for both the pepsi challenge and the shelter challenge--you guys are pros so you know what to do!**
Jenn, Nikon Canada will only honour Canadian Nikon purchases with its warranties. If you buy a Nikon in the States, you have to send it there if you need anything covered under warranty, which is a pain. That's what Roff means by better customer service from Canon, and I agree.
You are an excellent photographer, and you deserve a new camera. You ran your Canon Rebel into the ground, which is what you are supposed to do. Damn camera is meant to be used! You got a LOT of great shots out of it, which people have loved on this blog. They mean so much to supporters who can't get out to SAINTS as much as they'd like, and for some who have never visited at all. They are a great compliment to your mother's scribbles about the inmates.
Go with good glass, that's my motto. That new Canon 50mm 1.4 for creative portraits of the critters would make you a very, very happy photographer.