I feel almost queasy in the emotional sense writing this entry. These beautiful women enjoyed a commitment ceremony in Hawaii years ago. In Spring 2012, they contacted me to marry in Central Park. A few days prior to their wedding, the woman to the viewer’s left contacted me to postpone: her partner was taken suddenly to the emergency room and treated for an embolism in her lungs. A few weeks later, she wrote me again: her partner was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer, Stage 4. Nonetheless, it was their dream to legally marry in NYC. On a week free from chemotherapy, they ventured to the Ladies Pavilion for a sweet and simple ceremony during which I almost choked on a few words wishing them a healthy future. Under the chuppah held by family members, they smashed glass. And signed their license at exactly 10:10 a.m.
I am not a photographer at all, let alone a wedding photography. I am solely an officiant. But I do know my trusty old Minolta SRT 100 adorned with a M Rokkor-x 50 f/1.4, which is an analog SLR 35mm camera with a stunning prime lens that has lived a longer life than myself. These old cameras are sturdier than digital, and I personally love the look of grainy, textured black and white film. Back in May 2012, I decided that for each day of the upcoming winter, I’d publish a photo or two from my past ceremonies (people, places, and/or things)—the good and bad, as a reminder that mistakes happen. These images are low-resolution scans of negatives. I generally used Ilford, mostly HP5, because I preferred its look and longevity. I never used a flash, but I love filters.
Wedding Officiant in NYC and the Hudson Valley 