2009 Tool Dealer Expo

June 26 & 27 was the 2009 Tool Dealer Expo held at Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center in Kissimmee, Florida. The Tool Dealer Expo is a trade show held for resellers in the automotive tools industry. I work in the print media department of the company who hosts this show every year for it’s customers. One of my main jobs for that weekend is to photograph this huge event.

So much time and energy is spent preparing for an expo like this. Before we know it, the show comes and goes almost without a trace, but leaves a lasting mark on the industry each year. It’s a very proud moment for the company I work for and everyone that’s a part of it.

It is because of this that I take extra pride in using my creativity behind the lens to capture our show. It’s an event that deserves to be documented well.

To check out the gallery of images that I captured this year, please click here.

Jag Chrome

I took this photo back in 2006 during a shoot that I was doing for my company at a car dealership. I noticed this Jaguar on the lot and just had to create an image of this iconic emblem. Their sculpture has such fluidity to it.

...In other news, my wife Sandy, has just started a blog of her own. One of her passions in life is motivating and inspiring people. Please be sure to click Here and check her out! She has a lot of great things to share with you.

Celebration, Florida

I took this image Saturday night in Celebration, Florida. Celebration is a living community in Osceola county that was developed by The Walt Disney Company in the mid 90’s. This small town is complete with a hospital, school, churches and of course restaurants and shops.

With it’s beautiful homes and well manicured lawns, Celebration was created to be like a perfect town that only exists in fantasy and film. If you ask me, they succeeded.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

Monday was my wife Sandy’s birthday. This year, Disney is running a promotion where you can get admission to one of their parks for FREE on your birthday. So, since we were both taking her birthday off work, we decided to take advantage of the offer and enjoy our first trip to the Magic Kingdom as a married couple. When we obtained our tickets, they gave Sandy a birthday pin with her name on it. Each cast member of the park that saw Sandy’s pin, wished her a “Happy Birthday.”

As we waited in line for one of my favorite rides at the Magic Kingdom, “Big Thunder Mountain Railroad”, I captured this image. This was the first “roller coaster type” ride that I rode as a kid.

A New Beginning

Today, I turn 30. It’s a very content 30 though. It’s a whole new beginning on different levels. I compare it to when I moved to Lakeland, Florida from Pennsylvania in the summer of 1998. I was 19, had just graduated high school, moved to a new state and was getting ready to begin my 20’s. It was the start of a whole new era of my life. My 20’s were great and some of the best years of my life thus far with my 29th year being the best of those.

Now, I’m 30. I just got married to an amazing woman, moved to a new town (Kissimmee, Florida) and am now a part of a new church. I now have different priorities and goals in my life. All these things are blessings and with new blessings, come new responsibilities.

One of Sandy and my biggest goals this year, is to purchase our first home. It’s an exciting time and I’m glad to be where I am right now in life. I’m content.

I captured the image of this painting while on my honeymoon in Tampa. It was hanging in the entrance to a Nordstrom at the Mall. The first time I saw it, all I had on me was my camera phone, so I captured an image for it’s wallpaper. The next time we visited the Mall that week, I had my real camera, that’s when I captured what you see above.

My passion for photography really grew in my 20’s, I want to take it even further in my 30’s.

Where it all Began

My wedding was everything that I always wanted it to be. The people that I wanted to attend were there. The guys that I always wanted to be my groomsmen were. And, most importantly, I married the kind of woman that I had been waiting for.

Our wedding ceremony was held outdoors at the Royal St. Cloud Golf Links in St. Cloud, Florida. It’s a brand new place that Sandy and I fell in love with as soon as we saw it.

As I readied to walk down the isle for our 4:00pm ceremony, I noticed how beautiful the evening sky was. You may remember a previous post of mine where I talked about times when I would pray to God while walking under an evening sky. Many times, I’d talk to Him about the woman that He was going to guide me to eventually. Thanking Him for what I knew He was going to do. Now, I was getting ready to walk under a similar sky, preparing to receive that very woman I prayed for all those times in the past. It was a serendipitous moment that I never could have predicted.

As I found my spot on the platform, my best man, David Pentecost, looked up at me and said with true enthusiasm in his eyes and with a grin on his face, “This is nice, man!”

Of course, when the time came for Sandy to make her entrance, she looked amazing. As I stepped down from the stage to receive her from her Dad, I shook his hand and gave him a hug… and almost began to cry at that point… but I held it together.

Before we knew it, we were being pronounced Husband and Wife!

The reception that followed was held indoors at a venue that is right beside where the ceremony took place.

I really believe that the love that Sandy and I share, showed through and everyone could sense it. I had so many people come up to me during the reception and tell me how much they were enjoying our wedding. Some even said that it was one of the nicest ones that they had ever been to!

We spent our first night at the Grand Bohemian Hotel in downtown Orlando and then ventured down to Clearwater, Florida for the remainder of the week. It was a carefree time and everything a honeymoon should be.

The following Saturday night, as we were slowly making our re-entry into our new normal lives together, we stopped by Downtown Disney before returning home. After we watched “Yes Man” at the AMC theatre, I got my camera and tripod out of the car. I had to capture the image that you see above. It’s Sandy and I standing outside of the “Pop Gallery” at Downtown Disney. This is where we first met face to face on December 22, 2007 after finding each other on Match.com.

Once I met Sandy, I never looked back. I had no reason to.

Off Getting Married...

I haven't had time to post any images lately, but I just wanted to let everyone know how I appreciated you sharing in my joy as I approached this day. This day is an answer to prayer. God has brought me an amazing woman; A woman who I have prayed for since I was a teenager. Sandy possesses all the characteristics that I have wanted in a woman. God is so good and has showed me once again how much He loves me by bringing Sandy into my life.

As I'm typing this, I'm listening to "Amazing Love" (You are my King) in the background. This song will be played today while Sandy and I take communion during our ceremony. The song talks about Christ's amazing love toward us. I can't help but think of how He's made one of my biggest dreams come true today. He loves me that much.

I know that me and Sandy's union is a powerful one. I truly believe that God has lots of things in store for us.

Thank You, Jesus.


"I waited patiently for the Lord; He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God."
- Psalm 40: 1-3


"...and I will sing, sing a new song"
- U2 "40"

What It Felt Like To Fly

When I was 15, I reached the pinnacle of my jumping ability; I was now able to grab a 10 ft. Basketball goal. It wasn’t “dunking”, but it was the next best thing for this 5’-11” dude. I don’t think I could quite do it right now, but maybe if I got back in shape, I could reach those heights once again?

Above is one of my most favorite images that I’ve taken thus far in my life. It’s very iconic to me because of all the meaning that it represents. For all of my teenage years, I was in love with Basketball. It still holds a dear place in my heart, but those were the intense years. This image was taken at the start of that season of my life, when I was around 13 or 14 years old. As I looked at this image recently, I was inspired to write the following.

What It Felt Like To Fly
With speed, I approach the goal. In one continuous motion, my body prepares for take off as both feet take plant on the ground and my knees bend. Momentum is changing directions. As this happens, my arms swing upwards, thrusting me into the air like a rocket off a launch pad. I’m airborne. My body feels free for that moment. In a split second, my hand is at the rim, my head at the level of the netting. A place that once seemed so far away and unattainable is now within reach. The laws and rules in my own mind are broken.

I grab the rim with authority! The break-away spring action of the hoop gives way. I hang for a moment. As I let go, the rim snaps back into place and creates a thunderous sound that echoes throughout the gym, evidence of where I had just been.

My feet then return to solid earth, the place that is my world. But for a few split seconds, I had gravity defeated. It could not keep me from visiting the space where the hoop lives. Oh yes, the lofty hoop; It stood defeated as well! It no longer could stand in defiance of me, mocking my every attempt to reach it’s height...for I had reached it.

This is what it felt like to fly.

Right Place, Right Time

I captured this image the night before Thanksgiving last week. I looked out the window from Sandy’s house and saw that the sky was amazing. Thankfully, I had my camera (I had just photographed Sandy’s Christmas tree). So, I hurried across the street and went behind her Aunt and Uncle’s house to capture this scene from their dock.

Fortunately, I also had these subjects fishing, silhouetted against the warm hues of orange. I was in the right place at the right time.

The Color of Now

When I got this phone a few months ago, it came with two different face plates. One set of dark blue and one set of red. Since blue is my favorite color, I went with that. But, now that it’s December, the month of Christmas and the month that I’m getting married, I’ve decided to change up the plates to be a representation of the magical month that I’m now living in.

I guess that’s just the way I am, I attach meaning and significance to a lot of things in my life. That’s something that became very apparent to Sandy the first time she saw my apartment. I showed her my photographs that I have on my walls and explained where I acquired different items or why I was displaying this or that. She later stated to someone, “When I saw the way he had his apartment decorated, everything had meaning and purpose behind it.”

I never really noticed that about myself, but when she pointed that out, it definitely rang true.

December 1

A New Time Has Come
This is “The Month”. The month where I will marry Sandy Vasquez 28 days from now. The wedding planning has been going well and God has been providing for us every step of the way. I’m amazed at how He has blessed us.

Soon, I’ll be moving from Lakeland to Kissimmee, changing churches and adjusting to a new way of life. My bachelor days are over…and I‘m glad!

A lot of changes are coming my way, but I’m ready for these changes. I’ll be facing them with God and with my best friend…soon-to-be wife, Sandy.

I captured this image of Sandy’s Christmas tree last Wednesday night. We actually put this tree up over two weeks ago. What can I say, we were excited to get this season rolling!

My Angel In The Night

“The Love of My Life” by Jim Brickman

"I am amazed / when I look at you / I see you smiling back at me / It's like all my dreams come true / I am afraid / If I lost you girl / I'd fall through the cracks and lose my track / in this crazy lonely world / / Sometimes it's so hard to believe / when the nights can be so long / but faith gave me the strength and kept me holding on / / Chorus: You are the love of my life / and I'm so glad you found me / You are the love of my life / Baby put your arms around me / I guess this is how it feels / when you finally find something real / my angel in the night / You are my love / the love of my life

/ / Now here you are / with midnight closing in / you take my hand as our shadows dance / with moonlight on your skin / / I look in your eyes / I'm lost inside your kiss / I think if I'd never met you / about all the things I'd missed / / Sometimes it's so hard to believe / when a love can be so strong / and faith gave me the strength / and kept me holding on / / Chorus: You are the love of my life / and I'm so glad you found me / You are the love of my life / Baby put your arms around me / / I guess this is how it feels / when you finally find something real / My angel in the night / You are my love / the love of my life"

I'm so glad that God brought us together, Sandy. You are the love of my life.

With This Ring...

This is the very ring that Sandy will slip on my finger on December 28, 2008.

I knew I did not want a yellow gold band, but wanted something modern with a bevel cut. Yesterday, Sandy and I were able to find this great titanium ring. Every time I try it on, it feels surreal that this is all coming true. I can’t wait to put it on for real in December!

As the salesman was ringing up the sale, he said, "You two make a lovely couple, by the way."

Lip Gloss Mishap

I couldn’t just show the one image without showing the other and telling the whole story.

Last Friday (August 22) marked 8 months since Sandy first came into my life. On Thursday night, I decided to put together a little gift bag to surprise her with on Friday evening. I first went to “Bath and Body Works” to pick up one of her favorite fragrances, “Japanese Cherry Blossom." They have it as a perfume and I knew that she was out of her old bottle. In addition to the perfume, I also got her some lip gloss that has this cool heart in the middle of it. I had previously given her this same brand, but in a different shade.

Once I got home, I wasn’t satisfied with just giving her these two items, but wanted to gather a few more little things to add to the gift. So, I ran out to Target, where I found some Ghirardelli chocolate, a pack of her favorite chewing gum, which is “5 gum”…because the packaging is so cool, and a small gift bag to put all of these things in.

After I returned home again, I got the idea to photograph the tip of the lip gloss for a possible blog post. When I had taken a few satisfactory shots, I tried getting the camera just a little bit closer to the stick. I had my camera on a small table-top tripod and because it has short legs at this setting, the rig becomes top heavy. I proceeded to set the self timer so I would not need to touch the camera when the image was being taken. (I was working with slow shutter speeds). In the blink of an eye, my camera tilts right into the lip gloss! I catch it before it hit’s the table, but the lip gloss had already taken a hit from the camera. As soon as I see the tip of the rolling stick, I realize that the pretty heart had been marred! …Also to my distain, my camera lens had a gob of the gloss on it as well! I couldn’t believe what had just happened.

I first attended to the camera lens…and was able to clean the mess up with some moist lens cleaning sheets. Once that was taken care of, I figured I’d shoot the jacked-up version of the gloss as well. I knew it would make a great story.

Since the gloss wasn’t the real “center piece” to Sandy’s gift, I still gave it to her. She noticed right away that something had happened to it, to which I replied, “There’s a story that goes with that.”

She still loved her surprise gift from me…even the marred lip gloss stick.

Hats Off

On Saturday night, I had the pleasure of helping Sandy’s Dad, Julian, who’s also a photographer, do a shoot with some of his other kids and their significant others.

Pictured above, is Sandy’s brother, Jesse, and his girlfriend, Chrissy. We had these cool hats that were being used as props. At one point, Jesse had thrown his hat back to his Dad. When I saw this, I got the idea to have them throw the hats at me. This ended up being my favorite image of the night.

Fruition

I believed you would come and now you’re here. What I proclaimed to God as I walked under the stars on many an evening, has come to fruition. My words of faith returned to me as a reality. Longings from my heart to God, not gone unnoticed or unheard, rather, He heard them all and remembered them all. It’s been said that I’m an “answer to prayer” for you and your family. Well, you are just as much an answer for me and my family.

God’s faithfulness in the form of a cute Dominican girl with dark hair, brown eyes and a heart full of love to give me and the world.

To view more beautiful skys, please visit "Skywatch".

The 28th

Exactly five months from tonight, I will be married to Sandy. The girl I love will be my wife and I her husband. It will be the beginning of a totally new life for her and I, but I am completely at peace to be embarking on this adventure with her.

When I’m with Sandy, I feel at home…yet on vacation all at the same time. I’ve been telling her this a lot lately.

Earlier this evening, I received a phone call from her, she was getting ready to have dinner out with her Aunt and Cousin. She had called to let me know that she just bought her wedding dress. She said, “You’re going to love it!” “I’m sure I will”, I replied.

At the end of our short conversation, Sandy said to me, “I’m excited to marry you.”

…I’ve been letting those words sink into my heart all night.

happy

My favorite cologne to wear, is “happy” by Clinique. It’s a mix of citrus notes that have always made me feel…well, happy, ever since I first smelled it eight years ago. It’s difficult to figure out exactly what all the scents are that make this fragrance up, but sometimes I can smell a hint of grapefruit in there, if that gives you an idea?

I usually only wear this when I know I’m going to be around Sandy. Her and I are both fans of good fragrances and have spent a few outings testing colognes and perfumes at various department stores for fun.


Another thing that makes me happy, is how all of you who comment on this photo blog have really shared in my joy recently. Everything you have said has touched my heart and I do not take it lightly.

The photo blogging community that we’re all a part of on here is a rare one. Not all message boards on the internet are filled with mature, decent people like you all are. Have you ever taken a look at the comments on “youtube” videos? You’ll quickly see what I’m talking about. In some areas on the web, people are quick to judge, hate and just be jerks.

Thankfully, around here, we support each other and just enjoy one another’s work. If there is critique to be given, it’s given in a mature way to help the other and not to tear someone down.

I appreciate all of you who take the time to enjoy my photography and read my stories. Know that you’re always welcome here.

Thanks again for all your well-wishes to Sandy and I, we both enjoy it.

Bliss

She's my "Bliss".

I got the idea for this image while sitting at my desk today, eating some chocolate. After work, I went to the grocery store, picked up some HERSHEY'S Bliss Dark Chocolates and brought my idea to life.

An Engagement Story part 3

By that Thursday, I had decided that I wanted to propose on Friday morning (July 4th) and get the weekend started with a real Bang! So, on Thursday afternoon, I emailed Sandy and suggested that we have breakfast out on the boat dock behind her Aunt and Uncle’s house who live across the street from her. She replied and said that she thought it was a good idea.

Later Thursday night, while on the phone with Sandy, I suggested that we bring her iPod player with us to the dock on Friday morning. My secret idea was that I would play a set list of “our songs” and for the last one, I would have her stand up with me and once the song was over, I’d go down on one knee! The tune I picked for that is a song by Mark Schultz that talks about going the distance for her. (Click here to hear it.)

When I arrived at Sandy’s on Friday morning, I could feel myself shaking a little. This was the day that I was going to ask my future wife to marry me. It was a huge deal what I was about to do, but it felt right and I was ready.

As Sandy and I headed across the street and down to her Aunt and Uncle’s boat dock, she asked, “So, what about breakfast?” Since neither of us had mentioned anything about “what” we were going to eat for breakfast while at the dock, both of us had assumed that the other was taking care of it. I replied, “Well, I guess we’re not having breakfast, but can we still go down there and just sit and listen to some music for a little bit?” Sandy, being very gracious, agreed to my request.

Once we got down there, I said, “I’m going to take you through a musical journey of ‘Chad & Sandy’.” I then sat beside her on a bench swing while the tunes began to play. About half way through the set, I heard someone whistle behind us. I looked up to the house and saw a man who appeared to be Sandy’s Dad waving his arms at me. After I acknowledged him and waved back, he turned around and disappeared. Sandy, not having looked back to see who it was, asked me if I knew. I said, “I think it was your Dad?”

A few songs later, I looked back to see Sandy’s Dad and step Mom walking towards the dock. Her Dad, who has a passion for photography as well, had his camera around his neck. To keep things from being blown, I told Sandy that I was going to go talk to her Dad real quick and would be right back.

As I approached them out of hearing range from Sandy, Mr. Vasquez asked me, “Chad, how are you doing?” and proceeded to greet me with a hug. I said, “I’m doing wonderful, but I haven’t ‘done it’ yet.” I then explained my plan about standing up for the last song and then proposing at the end of it. He said that he was going to pretend to be photographing nature and would capture “the moment” when it happened. They then headed back up to the house as I returned to Sandy. “What did my Dad want?” she asked. “Oh, he’s just going to be photographing nature.” I cleverly replied.

When the last song was getting ready to begin, I stood up and asked Sandy to stand with me for this one. I held her close as we took in the lyrics together. When the last set of verses came, her head was resting against my chest and I could tell that she was crying. At this point, I was crying too.

Once the song ended and all was silent, I pulled back and proceeded to go down on one knee. As I knelt before her, Sandy’s crying turned to sobbing as she covered her mouth with her hand. I then dug in my right pocket for the ring box and pulled it out. I looked up at the woman I love and with tear filled eyes, said, “Will you marry me Sandy?” She said, “Yes”.

I got back up and embraced her. We then heard a collective cheer and clapping in the background. It was her Dad, step Mom, Aunt, Uncle, Cousin, and both her sisters all coming down the dock to congratulate us. Turns out that word had spread quickly through the house while we were out there and a lot of people just happened to be in the right place at the right time. They all had watched from a distance and got to share in our very special moment.

Sandy and I have been flying ever since.