The dilemma…..a reliable power source for the variety of off camera flash units I use on a daily basis.

The result…..a friendship, and a few batteries….

Shooting events such as weddings can take a toll on flash batteries very quickly.  Running AA’s in the battery compartment simply don’t have the capacity to withstand long events, let alone those that require high power bursts.  So, it was off to market to find a suitable solution.  The market was the internet and reading the various photography forums I found quite a few references to an elusive product called the “Black Box”.  After more research, I finally found its maker, Mr. Al Jacobson, and his website www.aljacobs.com.  Al is the epitomy of a Mom and Pop shop , minus the Mom.  I guess that would make his company a Pop Shop.  Well, maybe that is a fitting term as his device, The Black Box, pops my flashes over, and over, and over, and over.  As a matter of fact, I have not reached its limit in any event I have shot yet!  I currently own two of them and Ang has one of his smaller units called a “Tuxedo”.  The batteries utilize lead acid technology in lieu of NiCad, NiMh or Li-Ion or Li-Polymer.  They are seemingly endless in their supply of power and they are supposed to be plugged into the charger when not in use.  No worries about overcharging here.  Set them and forget them.  That is also Al’s philosophy, KISS.  You all know what that means.  I use them for my off camera flashes.  They just work.  And that my dear friends is very, very important in this game.

So, after purchasing these batteries, I just had to go back to his site.  Why?  Well, its all about the comedy.  The banter.  The insightful world viewpoint.  At 65+ year old, I have to believe Mr. Jacobson has seen a fair share of things in this world and his satirical take on them is second to none.  In the flavor of the ubiquitous bathroom stall inscriptions “For a good read, go to www.aljacobs.com!”

Although not yet meeting face to face, I have exchanged philosophical banter with Mr. J countless times.  He always has me rolling on the floor!

Recently, during one of our conversations, I directed him to my website.  He was so enthralled, he offered to place a link on his site in a special “Featured Photographers” area.  Al tells it like it is and his endorsement of my work means a lot and I am very appreciative of that.  He had this to say……….

Kenneth P. Volpe

PPA Certified Professional Photographer

T R A N S P O S U R E

F i n e  A r t  P h o t o g r a p h y  S t u d i o

9 0 8 . 9 3 0 . 5 9 9 8

ken@transposure.com

www.transposure.com

“Words like “over the top” come close to the work that Kenneth Volpe does.  Just when you think you have seen artistry, he can and does take it to a new level.

Working both studio and on location he brings new insight into this art form.  He too sees “gear” as tools just as a brush is in the hands of the painter.  But it’s the Renoir’s that hang on the walls that Sam the painter, painted. Go to his website and explore.”

I have but two words…..

Thanks Al!

A lot of traveling this week relating to photography.  We attended PhotoPlusExpo on Thursday in NYC as usual.  As usual because we have attended every year for as long as I can remember.  Actually, its anybody’s guess how long that is since my memory tends to purge things more frequently these days!  The show was a little lean this year, with the MAC Group booths conspicuously absent.  MAC Group distributes a nice cross section of the high end brands of photo gear in the US, such as Profoto, Mamiya, Sekonic, PocketWizard, etc.

We scoured the floor for album manufacturers that have the quality we desire and again short listed three manufacturers.  Of course the one we’ve primarily used is still in that list, however, there were a few new offerings that look very interesting.  We have decided to try them out.  So, who wants to be the guinea pig?  LOL  No worries there.  The others are well known, highly respected companies just like the one we use regularly.

While there we attended a lighting seminar and found it, well, umm, uninspiring.  We’ll leave it at that.  So, we ended up returning from the Big Apple with our wallets intact.  The next day we attended a seminar in Washington, DC by the fabulous Joe McNally.  Joe is a very highly respected photographer.  He is an editorial photographer primarily.  As an editorial photographer myself, his techniques were of great interest.  It goes beyond that though.  His lecturing demeanor has healthy doses of humor and he never takes himself too seriously.  Oh, and did I mention how inventive and satisfying his work is to view?  His seminar focused on the use of small flashes for a variety of assignments.  He demonstrated techniques to an audience in the hundreds.  Thanks Joe!

Needless to say, there was a lot of traveling involved between the two cities and it turned out to be a bit tiring!  Thank you to Starbucks for helping us get through it all!

I recently met up with Jessica (aka: Foxy Lady…inside joke!) and David to shoot their engagement session.  We chose a really cool location to pump up the volume a bit in typical Transposure fashion.  The weather was perfect, they were perfect, the creativity was flowin’!

I love engagement sessions!  Why you ask?  Well, like we tell our clients, it is just one more opportunity to get to know them prior to their big day.  And yes, that is important.  It introduces the client to the ways of the photographer and allows them to gain the trust and just get comfortable in front of the camera.  A lot of couples come to the table with trepidation, only to find it is quickly dispelled by the communication, humor and fun they have on their shoot!  We love that!

Some shots from the day….

A short time ago, we were invited to join a select group of high-end vendors and become one of the Romantic Partners in the Roman Jewelers Wedding and we are very excited about it!  We felt our level and style of photography complimented the collection of fabulous vendors and we were excited to give back to a worthy cause in this charitable endeavor!

What is the Roman Jewelers Wedding you ask?  Well, in a nutshell, it is a complete wedding, valued at about $100,000, donated by the vendors to one lucky couple.  Obviously, we are providing the photography services.  Other services include the venue, the dresses, the rings, the flowers, the cake and the list goes on.

The contestants were charged with the task of collecting donations for their chosen charity.  Very simply, the couple that raised the highest donations won the competition.  Of the nine finalists, Angela Rotella and Joseph Panico were the winners raising $33,647 for the Special Olympics of New Jersey!  In all, the contestants raised nearly $100,000 for charities!  Kudos to everyone for their efforts!

The wedding will be held at The Palace in Somerset, New Jersey on Valentine’s Day, 2010!

The Hunterdon County Democrat has this to say….

Hunterdon Central sweethearts win Roman

Jewelers’ $100K wedding

By Renee Kiriluk-Hill

October 21, 2009, 3:28PM

WINNERS OF A $100,000 WEDDING are Angela Rotella and Joe Panico. They were the most successful of nine couples in Roman Jewelers’ contest that linked philanthropy with loving commitment.
FLEMINGTON — Angela Rotella says she’s getting a wedding that’s “even more than I could dream up,” her excitement multiplied by the memories that went with the work for Special Olympics New Jersey that made Angela and fiancé Joe Panico the winners of the Roman Jewelers $100,000 wedding contest.

The couple spread awareness of Special Olympics by contacting minor and major league teams and asking for small blocks of free tickets to distribute to the young athletes along with a chance to explain the nonprofit’s mission and goals at games.

The 10 couples chosen as finalists in the contest were randomly matched with groups and tasked with developing good deed plans. Rotella of Raritan Township and Panico of Readington Township said they were thrilled to learn that Special Olympics was their charity because both are big sports fans. The couple met during their freshman year at Hunterdon Central High School, where he played football and baseball. They have been a couple since their sophomore year, becoming officially engaged on Aug. 22 after picking out the ring at Roman Jewelers.

“We both love the Giants, and she loves the Mets. I love the Yankees,” said Panico on Monday. “We’re Devils fans by default because we’re in New Jersey.”

The Devils hockey team and three minor league baseball teams, the Somerset Patriots, Lakewood Blue Claws and Camden Riversharks, each provided seats for Special Olympians, group ticket rates for family members and coaches, and an important perk — visibility. At the baseball games the youngsters got a chance to take the field before the game or in between innings, while the goals and mission of Special Olympics were explained.

Panico thinks that sports fans were a good target audience, feeling that they’re as appreciative of T-ball players as they are of major league athletes. He said he wanted to get the word out that Special Olympics is a year-round program.

The couple’s “Taking the Plunge” effort was credited with raising more than $20,000 in cash and more than $13,000 worth of in-kind donations for Special Olympics.

Three judges chose Rotella and Panico from the nine couples who completed the fundraising challenge. Jewelry designer and judge Scott Kay said, “At first I didn’t take it (the contest) seriously, but the impact, by far, more than the dollars raised will be felt in the community. The memories, relationships, and bonds made will last for decades; it’s powerful beyond words.”

Roman Jewelers wedding finalists raised a total of $99,532.

Looking into the future, the couple is planning more awareness events with Special Olympics and Panico is considering coaching the young athletes. “We chose what we did because we wanted to work with the athletes,” said Rotella.

He said the couple previously enjoyed helping others, but had never organized a nonprofit event. His mother, Jill, was the one who urged them to enter the contest. When they were chosen as finalists, they worked “day and night” for two weeks to pull off the events. Seeing “the happiness we were giving the kids,” made them the priority, not the outcome of the contest, Panico said.

Nevertheless, with the deluxe wedding scheduled for Valentine’s Day, Panico is thrilled that his bride can “feel like a princess” on her wedding day.

The prize includes a reception at The Palace at Somerset Park, wedding gown and bridesmaids dresses from Mariage Couture, wedding cake by Ellie Kowal Cake Couture, diamond wedding bands by Tacori, pearls by Mikimoto, diamond cufflinks by Scott Kay, photography by Transposure Fine Art Photography Studio, hair and makeup by Salon Nu, floral design by Conroy’s Creations, limo service by AAA Guaranteed On-Time Limousine Service, carpet runner by the Flemington Department Store, skin care package by LeMedSpa, music by Craig Scott Entertainment, invitations by Occasions, and various gifts from Williams-Sonoma.

Roman Jewelers has stores in Flemington and at the Bridgewater Commons mall.