MOP BLOG

Mini Headshots for Actors and Models

2012-02-10T17:35:00.000-05:00

Last Friday I was fortunate to photograph two mini-headshot sessions for two aspiring Asheville actresses, Aislin and Karis. I really enjoy doing these streamlined photography sessions and am currently offering these for a discounted rate over the winter time. For $75 we will shoot for 30 minutes and you can do two "looks". I will be happy to discuss wardrobe, hair and makeup options. If you feel you need more time and more wardrobe changes I'll be happy to work up a bigger headshot package for you. Just contact me to discuss all the details.

Headshots have come a long way since the days of the standard 8x10 glossy. Casting directors are looking for images that capture a true sense of the individual but also like to see a variety of moods and emotions (usually not crying though!). The key to a great headshot is still in the eyes though. Eyes communicate so much and attention to detail is absolutely a must when the photographer is taking the photos. There is nothing worse than hiring a photographer who hands you a disc where most of the images are soft in all the wrong places. When shooting with fast lenses that throw the background out of focus it is paramount that the subjects eyes remain tack sharp. Remember they are the window to the soul...I can't believe I just said that!

But equally important is the ability of the photographer to connect with the subject, allowing him/her to feel at ease and comfortable in front of the camera. This rapport will result in images that not only capture the "real" you but also result in shots where a variety of emotions are freely and naturally expressed.

I will be adding a new gallery of my headshot images to my commercial website in the near future but for the time being I wanted to share some of the images from last week's photoshoot! I've also included a few other headshots from past clients as well. Cheers!

Aislin (actor and model)

Karis (actor)

Flora (actor headshot)

Flora (actor headshot with serious emotion and a touch of moody photoshop)

Rich (aspiring L.A. screenwriter, all-around good guy...and my younger, better looking brother!)

Bernard Cummings, Jr. (Actor, Los Angeles). Love that smile!

Sarah (model headshots, Asheville)

The Fitzgerald Room at the Inn on Montford

2012-02-02T15:47:00.000-05:00

Lynn Carlson, owner and innkeeper of the 1900 Inn on Montford in Asheville, NorthCarolina, called me last week with very exciting news. A photo I had taken of their newly remodeledFitzgerald room in the main house had gone “viral” on Pinterest, one of thenewer social networking sites that allow people to share images of some oftheir favorite interests. I had been meaningto share these images since last summer but was unable to keep up with myblogging since I enjoyed a very busy 2011 photographing various commercial andwedding assignments.

Lynn, and her husband Ron, have hired me several times tophotograph their beautiful.inn and it is great to see that the images I’ve producedfor them are getting such great exposure on sites like Pinterest. You can find out more about their rooms bygoing to their website or going to Bedand Breakfast website. The inn is a AAA Four Diamond Bed and Breakfast!

Local architect, Robert Griffin, remodeled the Fitzgerald Room and designed this gem of a bathroom. The bathroom has an airbath tub with chromatheraphy lights and walk-in shower with four shower heads and fiber optic lighting above and below! The bathtub shower heads are ceiling mounted. Look closely at the photo and you will see a stream of water that fills the bathtub from the ceiling. The pattern of the fiber optic lighting throughout the tile work was achieved by throwing rice a large scale drawing when they were in the design process.

Richard Sharp Smith, one of Asheville’s premiere architects in the early 20^th century, designed and built the Inn on Montford as well as many of the homes throughout the historic neighborhood of Montford. His work is featured in my book, Look Up Asheville and Look Up Asheville: Collection II (due out in the very near future). You can purchase the book(s) at Grateful Steps Publishing, Malaprops, Grove Park Inn, Asheville Chamber of Commerce and other venues around the area.

Robert also designed what is now called the Griffin Cottagethat is situated behind the main house. I will feature photos from the cottage in another post but for now Iwanted to share these. And for thosewanting to stay in the Fitzgerald Room you should book in advance because ithas been occupied since completion to the best of my knowledge. I always enjoy working with Lynn and Ron and I’msure you will enjoy them just as much as your innkeepers!

Platt Architecture Mountain Cabins at Balsam Mountain Preserve

2012-01-20T13:53:00.003-05:00

I wanted to share some of my favorite images from an assignment I did for Platt Architecture at Balsam Mountain Preserve near Sylva, NC in Summer 2011. Based in Brevard, NC, Al and Parker Platt design beautiful mountain residences that use natural, authentic materials that blend in with the surrounding environment. Their houses "relate to their settings so as to complement landforms, foster belonging, and soften the boundaries between indoors and out." Their use of bark, pecky cypress, stone, barnwood and other natural, local materials lends so much character and texture to these homes. These particular images are from a group of pre-designed architectural plans that they offer as one of their services and that they wanted updated for their portfolio. We started well before sunrise and finished up after sunset. It was a beautiful day to be in the North Carolina Mountains. Thanks so much to Bill Pauer, Project Manager for Platt Architecture, for acting as my assistant and keeping me on task throughout the day. Next time we are going to break for lunch!!!

Biltmore Estate Winery assignment

2012-01-05T13:07:00.001-05:00

Wow! It was a busy2011 and I am now in a space where I can devote more focused energy tohighlighting some of my favorite assignments and personal work from the lastyear or so on my blog. I’ll start with aphoto shoot I did for the Biltmore Estate here in Asheville, NCover the summer. The assignment was toupdate some of their winery imagery for their website (http://www.biltmore.com/our_wine/default.asp) Their marketing department had seen images on my blog from the MarketPlace Restaurantgrand re-opening (http://michael-oppenheim.blogspot.com/2011/05/market-place-restaurant-grand-re.html)and wanted to try to capture a similarfeel that I had achieved with the use of my 50mm f1.0 lens and ambientlight. So I mixed up the lightingthroughout this assignment, switching from available light, very shallow depthof field, to a mix of ambient and strobes. This is the result of those efforts.

I’d like to thank Erica Walker and Robin Turner from theBiltmore Estate for their direction and keeping the assignment moving along...wehad a lot to capture in a day! Also, thanksto Karla Held who was my assistant for the day. And, of course, our talent that is featured in these particular images (AndrewStevenson, Kiki Gollwitzer, Hannah Keenan, Diane Vander Linden, Honor Moor, StephenDuBay)…all Ashevillians and all around fabulous, beautiful and wonderful friends/models! Without further ado here is a selection ofimages from the assignment as well as some screen shots of the images that theBiltmore is currently using on their website.

I will be updating thisblog frequently over the next couple of months now that I’ve entered “blog”season so keep checking in! Happy NewYear!

stephaniesid "Multiply" video premiere

2011-12-29T09:37:00.002-05:00

I am very stoked to announce the premiere of my first music video "Multiply" I filmed for Asheville's very ownstephaniesid and released on Blurt Online. You can view the video here or here.

"Multiply" - Official Music Video from Stephanie Morgan on Vimeo.

Stephanie Morgan did an amazing job withdirecting and editing. And our video stars (all from Asheville) were fabulous. This was my exciting foray into video and I am thrilled about the new creative possibilities that my Canon 5D Mark II is providing with its HD video capabilities. Thank you Stephanie Morgan for asking me to help with the video and also for providing the publicity stills for Starfruit...I love this CD! Everyone should go online for a listen and then buy the CD! You won't be sorry! Happy New Year!

National Gingerbread House Competition 2011

2011-12-20T15:57:00.002-05:00

I had thepleasure of photographing the 19^th Annual National Gingerbread HouseCompetition at the Grove Park Inn Resort and Spa on November 13-14, 2012 herein Asheville, NC. Iwanted to share with you some of the top winners and some of my personalfavorites from the competition. Therewere hundreds of entries from 20 states so I am unable to show them all in thisblog post but you can view my complete gallery at: http://www.oppenheimphotogallery.com/gallery/groveparkinn-nghc2011.

Many of the winning entries are on display atthe Grove Park Inn (as well as at the Grove Arcade in downtown Asheville) until January 1^st. Also, some of the winning entries witllbe featured on Good Morning America this Friday, December 23^rd. I hope you enjoy these wonderful creationsthat I was fortunate enough to photograph for the Grove Park Inn. Thanks so much to the wonderful staff of theGrove Park Inn for orchestrating such an amazing event! Happy Holidays!

This is the view of the grand ballroom with 200+ gingerbread creations.

I also wanted to feature this year’scelebrity judges before showing the fanciful, elegant, and in some cases whimsical gingerbread creations.

Gerry Hempel-Davis (Richmond, Va.): A judge at every National Gingerbread House Competition since its inception, Ms. Davis is the author of four books and was a lifestyle contributor for several years on NBC's Today Show and part of the production team at CBS for the Ed Sullivan Show.

Nicholas Lodge (Norcross, Ga.): Chef Lodge is recognized worldwide as a top instructor in the sugar craft arts and the author of numerous books. In 2010, Lodge was named one of the "Top Ten Pastry Chefs," as well as one of the "Top Ten Cake Artists" in America, by Dessert Professional Magazine. He is the owner of the International School of Sugar and Confectionary Arts in Atlanta, Georgia.

Nadine Orenstein (New York, N.Y.): Curator of the Department of Drawings and Prints of The Metropolitan Museum of Art specializing in Dutch, Flemish and German art, Ms. Orenstein earned her Ph.D. from New York University's Institute of Fine Arts.

Colette Peters (New York, N.Y.): Ms. Peters has written five best selling books on cake decorating and teaches the art worldwide. Modern Bride magazine named Ms. Peters as "Trend Setter of the Year," while Pastry Art & Design magazine named her to its "Ten Best Pastry Chefs in America."

Mark Seaman (Chicago, Ill.): Founder of Marked for Dessert, a boutique cake shop in Chicago, Mr. Seaman is recognized for his special occasion and wedding cake design. Seaman teaches in The French Pastry School's L'Art du Gateau—The Professional Cake Decorating and Baking Program and also guides the "International Pastry Tour" throughout France.

Steven Stellingwerf (Sioux Falls, S.D.): Mr. Stellingwerf has been involved with the sugar arts for more than 30 years. He travels throughout the U.S. and internationally teaching cake decorating, candy and gingerbread classes and is the author of "The Gingerbread Book."

Denny Trantham (Canton, N.C.): Denny Trantham is the Executive Chef for The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa. He attendedJohnson and Wales University where he earned his Associate Degree in Applied Science of Culinary Arts and was awarded the Cordon Bleu award.

Rachel Hardage (Birmingham, AL): Rachel Hardage is the Executive Editor of Southern Living magazine. A Tennessee native, she started her magazine career at Glamour in New York City, where she covered news, fashion, relationships, and entertainment. After more than a decade in Manhattan, she now lives in Birmingham and is enjoying her return to sweet tea, warmer weather, and college football.

Leah McGrath (Asheville, NC): Leah McGrath is the corporate dietician for Ingles Supermarkets. Leah writes regularly for several WNC magazines, is a weekly guest on WLOS-TV and WMYA-TV in Asheville where she presents recipe and nutrition information segments, and is a local radio talk show host.

Deborah Holt Noel (Raleigh NC): Deborah Holt enjoys the dual role of producer and reporter for several UNC-TV local productions. She is the host of a weekly travel program, profiling North Carolina's unique offerings for lodging, dining, recreation, and leisure.

Mike Bettes (Atlanta, GA.): Mike Bettes is the co-host of The Weather Channel's "Your Weather Today" on weekday mornings from 7 to 10 a.m. and the host of the popular Weather Channel franchise "The Great Tornado Hunt." [Not pictured as he had to get back to Atlanta]

And without further ado here are some of my favorite gingerbread creations. Keep in mind that, except for the base, all materials that go into making these must be edible and that 75% of it needs to be made of gingerbread with at least some gingerbread visible. Amazing work!

Grand Prize Winner 2011. Ashley Howard (Winter Springs, FL)

Grand Prize Winner 2011. Ashley Howard (Winter Springs, FL). The detail was amazing ...check out the foot peeking from the covers of the character sleeping on the top bunk!

Grand Prize Winner 2011. Ashley Howard (Winter Springs, FL) The top floor had a ceiling fan (just visible) and the bottom floor had a chandelier hanging from the ceiling.

2nd Place Adult Winner 2011. Heather Lewis (Austell, GA)

Adult Top Ten 2011. Ann Bailey (Cary, NC)

Adult Top Ten 2011. Angel Adkins (Kodak, TN)

3rd Place Adult Category. Barbara Evans and Mary Jo Dowling (Edelstein, IL)

Adult Top Ten 2011. Tracy Navin (Franklin, TN)

Adult Top Ten 2011. Glenda Tant (Lebanon, TN)

Adult Top Ten 2011. Billie Mochow (Burns, TN)

Adult Top Ten 2011. Michael Villella (New Kensington, PA)

Top Ten Child Category 2011. Mrs. Medlock's Monkeys (Black Mountain, NC)

Top Ten Child Category 2011. Carolina Turbyfill (Asheville, NC)

Top Ten Child Category 2011. Jake Goff (Asheville, NC)

Top Ten Teen Category 2011. Emily Spafford (Greenback, TN)

2nd Place Teen Category 2011. Julia Navin (Franklin, NC)

First PlaceTeen Category 2011. Carly Owens (Swannanoa, NC)

Top Ten Teen Category 2011. Lilli McFerrin (Black Mountain, NC)

Third PlaceTeen Category 2011. Laura Malanowski (Newton, NC)

Top Ten Youth Category 2011. Amanda Spafford (Maryville, TN)

Top Ten Youth Category 2011. Evelyn Lewis (Austell, GA)

Second Place Youth Category 2011. Carley Cantrell (Cookeville, TN)

Top Ten Youth Category 2011. Ashleigh Lechner (Asheville, NC)

Third Place Youth Category 2011. Gabriella Arthur (Easley, SC)

Asheville Design-Build Studio {Burton Street Peace Garden Pavilion}

2011-09-25T12:57:00.000-04:00

I wanted to share some images I captured of a great project that was started and completed this summer in West Asheville by Asheville Design-Build Studio. Luke Perry, architect and educator, headed this great community building endeavor (the Burton Street Peace Gardens pavilion) that provided architecture students the opportunity to learn and put that knowledge to immediate practical use by building a utilitarian space using salvaged and repurposed materials. The pavilion will be used as a gathering and teaching space for the community. This project was the result of cooperative efforts of universities, local organizations, businesses, and neighborhood residents. It will be exciting to see what results with next summer's Design-Build Studio project. You can learn more about this wonderful community project by visiting: http://ashevilledesigncenter.org/students/designbuild/. If you can contribute in any way they would appreciate your time or donations! Enjoy the photos!

AAAC Turquoise Ball at the Orange Peel

2011-09-02T16:43:00.000-04:00

These images are from the Asheville Area Arts Council (AAAC)Turquoise Ball held on August 27^th, 2011. Creativity flowed throughout the evening inthe form of painters, dancers, musicians, fashionistas, and photographers! I was just one many photographers thatdonated my photography services for the event. Contact me if you need photography for your next special event, whetherits corporate, non-profit, or personal! I hope you enjoy these images! And a big thank you to AAAC and all the great artists who contributed tosuch a fun event!

Stephaniesid Band Photos for new Starfruit CD release

2011-08-19T15:50:00.000-04:00

I wanted to share some of my favorite images from a recent shoot I did with the band Stephaniesid here in Asheville. They have a new release, Starfruit, scheduled for release this Fall. The photos from this shoot are to promote that release. It was a really fun shoot with lots of synchronized and sometimes not-so-synchronized jumping, multi-colored feathers falling from the sky, and lots of laughter! You should definitely attend their CD release party which is scheduled to coincide with their performance at the Lexington Avenue Arts Festival (LAFF) on September 3, 2011. You can check out Stephanie'sid website at http://www.stephaniesid.com/#/ and listen to four of their brand spanking-new songs (which are awesome, of course!)

Thanks to Stephanie for conceptualizing the shoot, Chuck for showing me some new post-up moves on the basketball court the other day, and the rest of the gang for bringing such killer sunglasses to the shoot. Hope to work with ya'll again soon!

Stephanie Morgan: vox, keys, guitar
Chuck Lichtenberger: keys, vox
Tim Haney: drums
Jacob Rodriguez: bari sax
Justin Ray: trumpet

Happy 4th of July

2011-07-04T11:50:00.000-04:00

Happy 4th of July to everyone! Just thought I'd share one of my images from the 2008 4th of July fireworks display in downtown Asheville since I missed last night's fireworks display. This is the Jackson Building, one of my favorite buildings in downtown! You can read about it in my book Look Up Asheville available at www.lookupasheville.com or pick it up at Malaprop's, Grove Park Inn, or other locations in downtown Asheville. Again, Happy 4th of July!

Mountain Xpress Eats & Drinks Guide Cover Shot

2011-06-24T13:53:00.001-04:00

Whew! It's been a busy month with architectural, commercial, portrait, special event, and wedding assignments. So I haven't had much time to blog but wanted to highlight a cover shot I did for the Mountain Xpress Eats and Drinks Guide for 2011/2012. We photographed a spectacular Bloody Mary that was created by The Marketplace Restaurant that they call the "Kitchen Sink" (A Bloody Mary "with lots of pickled, local & tasty treats on top and a nice, bright looking Bloody Mary underneath...beet pickled quail eggs, pickled okra, heart of celery spear (with leaves), lime wedge, a skewered piece of braised Benton's bacon with a cherry tomato and a cayenne/celery salt rim"). Sounds and looks like dinner, libation, and art rolled into one to me!

Thanks to Mackensie and Nathaniel at Mountain Xpress for their input and assistance with the shoot, and to Marketplace owner William Dissen for conceptualizing the "Kitchen Sink" and Clyde for making it!!!

You can view a pdf of the the guide here: http://www.mountainx.com/dining/aed and read an article about the guide here: http://www.mountainx.com/ae/2011/eats_drinks#.Tff0mM3iacq.

Cheers!

Asheville Rites Project

2011-05-24T09:45:00.000-04:00

I wanted to share some photos I snapped at the Asheville Rites Project performance on Saturday, May 21st in the River Arts District in Asheville. You can read about the performance and here and here. Beautiful artwork and wonderful performances by all!

Mural by Molly Rose Freeman (http://ashevilleritesproject.blogspot.com/ and http://www.mollyrosefreeman.com/)

Original choreography by Garth Grimball

Score by Michael Libramento (http://libramento.tumblr.com/)

Mural by Molly Rose Freeman

Riverlink Sculpture and Performance Plaza

Garth Grimball, choreographer and dancer

Jonathon Scales, musician

Michael Libramento (center) and Jonathon Scales (right), musicians

Garth Grimball and Molly Rose Freeman

Michael Oppenheim Photography's New Exhibit at Vinnie's Restaurant

2011-05-18T18:12:00.001-04:00

I am pleased to announce my new photography show at Vinnie's Italian Restaurant on Merrimon Ave in Asheville, North Carolina. Vinnie's owner, Eric Scheffer, approached me about showing photos from my Look Up Asheville book project. Originally from New York City, Eric intimated that he ideally envisioned an assortment of NYC images throughout the restaurant. I quickly jumped on the idea and thought combining Asheville architectural images with New York City images from my various trips there would be ideal as it would give me an opportunity to promote my book but also show new work which I had never had the opportunity to exhibit.

New York City is among one of my favorite places in the world and I love exploring the city on foot with camera and tripod in hand and eyes wide open! In New York, the term "Look Up" is definitely apropos. The city itself is essentially one of the largest outdoor galleries in the world. Statues, parks, significant architectural landmarks, and a melting pot of humanity and cultures. On a recent trip to New York City I photographed a stunning building with a beautiful white glazed terra cotta facade, intricate floral motifs, and a line of angel statues anchored at the top. I was very excited to discover, after a little online research when I returned to Asheville, that I had discovered the only Louis Sullivan (the "father of skyscraper" and "father of modernism") skyscraper in NYC. I also learned that the angels were added to building over his objections. This constant state of discovery is one of the main reasons I love being a photographer!

Most of the prints from the New York City series are printed on Kodak Professional Supra Endura VC metallic photographic paper while others are on a Kodak lustre photographic paper. All of the New York prints are mounted as standouts with either .75 inch or 1.5 inch edging. Like gallery wraps they protrude from the wall and give the image a three-dimensional feel. My Look Up Asheville images are printed as gallery wraps on canvas with the exception of the Public Service Building which is done as a 20"x30" standout with black edging. All images can be ordered with custom sizing and various mounting options. I have included all of the prints that are currently on display at Vinnie's with their dimensions and cost.And, of course, my book Look Up Asheville can be purchased at www.lookupasheville.com and at various locations in Asheville.

I hope you can stop by Vinnie's to take a look at my work while enjoying an awesome family-style Italian meal. I highly recommend the Eggplant Parmesan, one of Eric's specialties. Check out Vinnie's website for a peek at their menu, their specials, and their discount days (i.e. Monday's are 50% off all bottles of wine!).

And a big thanks to Eric for asking me to show my artwork!

Brooklyn Bridge, 1883. Designer: John Augustus Roebling
12"x18" standout with black edging on Kodak lustre paper
$85 + tax

Puck statue, Puck Building, NOLITA, New York City
Architect: Albert Wagner
12"x18" standout with black edging, printed on Kodak Endura lustre paper
$85 +tax

The Chrysler Building (1930) shot from the Empire State Building.
Architect: William Van Allen
16"x24" standout with stainless steel edging , printed on Kodak Endura metallic paper
$275 +tax

Angel sculpture, Bayard-Condict Building (1899)
Architect: Louis Sullivan
16"x24" standout with stainless steel edging, printed on Kodak Endura metallic paper
$325 +tax

"Asia" Sculpture. One of the "Four Continents" sculpture series.
Sculptor: Daniel Chester French
Located in front of the old Customs House which is now the National Museum of the American Indian.
16"x24" standout with stainless steel edge on Kodak Endura metallic paper
$325 +tax

Wonder Wheel, Coney Island.
20"x30" standout with stainless steel edging, printed on Kodak Endura metallic paper
$350 + tax

Flatiron building (1902) from W. 23 St. at dusk
Architect: D. H. Burnham & Co.
12"x18" standoutwith black edge, printed on Kodak Endura lustre paper
$85 +tax

Terrible T-Kid graffiti mural with child walking alone
Washington Heights, Manhattan, NYC
16"x24" standout with stainless steel edging, printed on Kodak Endura metallic paper
$300 +tax

Taxis from the Empire State Building
20"x30" standout with stainless steel edging, printed on Kodak Endura metallic paper
$350 + tax

Reflection Study #1 (Indian Motorcycle), SOHO
20"x30" standout with stainless steel edging, printed on Kodak Endura metallic paper
$350 +tax

Statue of Liberty in fog from the Staten Island Ferry.
Architect: Frederic Auguste Bartholdi
12"x18" standout with stainless steel edging, printed on Kodak Endura lustre paper
$95 +tax

Lion head and architectural detail, Public Service Building (1929), Asheville, NC
Architects: Beacham & LeGrand.
20"30" standout with black edging, printed on Kodak Endura lustre paper
$350 + tax

S&W Cafeteria Building, Asheville, NC
Architect: Douglas Ellington
Gallery Wrap on Canvas
$350 + tax

Kress Building, 1927.
"E" and detail of terra cotta, tile, and brick
Architect: E.J.T. Hoffman
Gallery wrap on canvas
$275 +tax

Kress Building, 1927.
Detail of terra cotta, tile, and brick
Architect: E.J.T. Hoffman
Gallery wrap on canvas
$275 +tax

Jackson and Westall Buildings 1924-1925, Asheville, NC
Architect: Ronald Greene
Gallery Wrap on canvas
$350 +tax

Asheville City Hall, tile mosaic
Architect: Douglas Ellington
Gallery Wrap on canvas
$350 + tax

Griffin, Druhmor Building, 1896.
Architect: Allen L. Melton
Gallery wrap on canvas
$275 +tax

Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, 1919.
Brickmason: James Vester Miller
Gallery Wrap on canvas
$275 + tax

"Look Up Asheville" Fine Art Prints for Sale on New Online Gallery

2011-05-11T18:07:00.000-04:00

I have created a gallery of images from my Look Up Asheville book project where individuals can order fine art prints. The link to my online gallery is: http://www.oppenheimphotogallery.com/gallery/look-up-asheville-fine-art-prints-904461. The gallery will be continually updated. I offer enlargements on archival watercolor paper, traditional photographic paper, metallic photo paper, canvas, and metal. I also offer gallery wraps on canvas, framed enlargements, and other contemporary display options. Many of these fine-art prints are perfect for interior designers and make great gifts for individuals! Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about ordering a signed print!

The six images included in this post are currently on display as gallery wraps on canvas and are for sale at The Market Place restaurant on 20 Wall St. in downtown Asheville. I highly recommend a visit to this wonderful restaurant. You can see more about the restaurant on some of my other blog posts and on their website.

The Market Place reopens with new menu, look

2011-05-11T14:28:00.000-04:00

The Market Place reopens with new menu, look

The Market Place Restaurant Grand Re-Opening

2011-05-09T01:41:00.002-04:00

The Market Place Restaurant on Wall St. in downtown Asheville had its grand reopening, complete with ribbon-cutting, live music by Ben Hovey, and awesome food and libations, on Thursday May 5th. William Dissen and his wife Jenny Parmar, recently purchased the iconic restaurant from its original owner Mark Rosentein, and have given its interior a facelift while maintaining its high culinary standards. Local architect, Luke Perry, designed the new bar area complete with a wonderful poured-concrete bar which is now located at front of the restaurant.. A bank of windows provide a nice amount of natural light and creates a very inviting and casually elegant atmosphere. Clint Brown, a local industrial designer and furniture maker, has provided custom mirrors and tables throughout the restaurant. The use of metal, concrete, wood, and bamboo, paired with slate grey walls, gives The Market Place Restaurant a rustic, yet contemporary feel.

Describing the new restaurant as "casual fine-dining" William strives to use fresh ingredients from many of Asheville's surrounding organic farms like Hickory Nut Gap Farm and Full Sun Farm. He also specializes in using sustainable seafood and will be participating in and honored by the Monterey Bay Aquarium's "Cooking for Solutions 2011" on May 20-22, 2011.

William approached me to see if I would be interested in hanging some of my sepia-toned gallery wraps from my Look Up Asheville coffee table book which came out earlier this year. I, of course, jumped at the chance. He had seen a story about my book in a local magazine and also learned about me from Luke Perry. The gallery wraps are for sale and you can contact me directly or go to my client gallery on my website to view a gallery of Look Up Asheville images available for sale. These pieces are great for interior designers and fine-art collectors. The book is for sale at local bookstores and venues as well as online at www.lookupasheville.com or at Grateful Steps Bookstore on S. Lexington in downtown Asheville.

You can learn more about The Market Place Restaurant on 20 Wall St. by going to their website at http://www.marketplace-restaurant.com/. You can also learn more about William's involvement with "Cooking for Solutions 2011" at www.montereybayaquarium.org/vi/vi_events/cooking/.

FYI: These images were all shot with a Canon 5D using a 50mm f1.0 lens with available light.

William Dissen and Jenny Parmar cutting the ribbon with Asheville Mayor Terry Bellamy for the grand re-opening of The Market Place Restaurant.

Ben Hovey, musician (benhovey.com)

William Dissen and Asheville Mayor Terry Bellamy.

Clint Brown (furniture maker), Jenny Parmar, William Dissen, and Luke Perry (architect) from left to right.

Pickled watermelon & yellowfin tuna with aleppo oil & watercress.

The bartender, Max.

Asheville brewery Greenman Ales on tap!

Clyde.

Lynn and Ron Carlson, owners and innkeepers of the Inn on Montford, with one of my gallery wraps in the background.

William and friends sitting at the new concrete-poured bar designed by architect Luke Perry.

Shrimp, grouper & calamari ceviche in cucumber cups. Scrumptious!

One of my six sepia-toned gallery wraps from my Look Up Asheville book project currently on display at The Market Place Restaurant. Contact me if you are interested in purchasing any of my fine-art prints.

Table designed and made by Clint Brown (clintbrown.biz)

The upstairs dining area with three of my sepia-toned gallery wraps printing on canvas.

Mirror and table by Clint Brown.

Flowers and table arrangements were provided by Shay Brown of Shay Brown Events, also located on Wall St.

William and Jenny with their families.

{Re}Happening 2011

2011-04-22T17:17:00.012-04:00

These images are from {Re}Happening 2011 which "happened" on April 9, 2011 at Camp Rockmont on Lake Eden in Black Mountain, NC. This fascinating event brings artists from different disciplines who "cross-pollinate" and draw inspiration from the old grounds of Black Mountain College which operated from 1933-1957. Previous artists and intellectuals who attended or taught at BMC include Willem and Elaine de Kooning, Buckminster Fuller, Robert Raushenberg, Josef and Anni Albers, Jacob Lawrence, Merce Cunningham, John Cage, Cy Twombly, Kenneth Noland, Ben Shahn, Franz Kline, Arthur Penn, M.C. Richards, Francine du Plessix Gray, Charles Olson, Robert Creely, and Dorothea Rockburne. You can learn more about {Re}Happening at http://rehappening.com/?page_id=2 and Black Mountain College and Museum at http://www.blackmountaincollege.org/index.php/extensions.

Melissa Terrezza – ceramics
http://melissaterrezza.com/gallery-3/

Moving Women Dance Company
http://www.movingwomen.org/

Melissa Terrezza – installation
http://melissaterrezza.com/gallery-3/

Melissa Terrezza – "Wheel of Fortune"
http://melissaterrezza.com/gallery-3/

Matt Schnable, Nathanael Roney , Bridget Elmer & R. Brooke Priddy
http://www.harvest-records.com/
http://www.shiptoshoreshop.com/
http://www.flatbedsplendor.com

Melissa Terrezza
http://melissaterrezza.com/gallery-3/

Moving Women Dance Company
http://www.movingwomen.org/

Valerie George - switches

Valerie George
http://valeriegeorgeart.com/home.html
http://namjunepsyche.com/home.html

Chad Adair
www.chadadair.com

Moving Women Dance Company
http://www.movingwomen.org/

Claire Elizabeth Barratt / Cilla Vee Life Arts

http://www.cillavee.com/

Claire Elizabeth Barratt / Cilla Vee Life Arts

http://www.cillavee.com/

Claire Elizabeth Barratt / Cilla Vee Life Arts

http://www.cillavee.com/

Moving Women Dance Company
http://www.movingwomen.org/

Hail {Re}Happening

Add caption

River Guerguerian
http://www.guerguerian.com/

The Institute for the Advancement of Occultism and Aerophonics

Gene Felice - “Quasi-Equivalence” with Lou Gargiulo, Janice Lancaster, Kima Moore, Claire Elizabeth Barratt, Kathleen Hahn and Paul Lewis Anderson.
http://www.genefelice.com

Gene Felice - “Quasi-Equivalence” with Lou Gargiulo, Janice Lancaster, Kima Moore, Claire Elizabeth Barratt, Kathleen Hahn and Paul Lewis Anderson.http://www.genefelice.com

Chas Llewellyn - Robot
http://www.zenotopia.com/

I cannot emphasize enough how thoroughly I've enjoyed attending and photographing (this year) this event. One of the most interdisciplinary and creative events that I've attended in the Asheville area. Make sure you mark it on your calendar for next year. Enjoy the images.

A winter trip to Scotland, December 2010

2011-03-11T10:01:00.004-05:00

Somehow we managed to land during a snowstorm at the Edinburgh airport on an uncleared, snow-covered runway in the darkness of morning. The flight attendants and many of the passengers erupted in applause after the softest landing I've ever experienced. It was as if the pilot touched down on a downy pillow. Even more remarkable was the fact that we (my wife, stepson, and myself) quickly found the shuttle to Waverly train station, purchased our train tickets, and boarded a train heading north to Pitlochry in the southern Highlands of Scotland, effortlessly and without incident. We were making the journey to visit my dad and step-mother on Loch Tay in Perthshire, Scotland where they live. Lou, my step-mother, was already waiting to pick us up at the train station when we arrived. As we pulled into the driveway of their 19th century farmhouse snow started to descend heavily from the sky. Apparently, the Edinburgh airport and the trains had been shut down moments earlier as Scotland was hit with a major snowstorm for the second time within a month. As we settled into the comfort and warmth of the guest cottage we looked at each other in amazement and wondered out loud, "How in the world did we make it here!"

Whereas many seek out the warmth and sun of the tropics for their winter holidays we did the opposite. We went to Scotland during a record-breaking cold snap. We were treated to a winter-wonderland snow-scape for the length of our visit. Hoar frost (frozen fog) clung to the trees that lined Loch Tay and its snowy slopes. Due to the fog that settled over the loch for much of our stay we missed the first winter solstice lunar eclipse in 372 years. It wasn't for lack of trying as I set my alarm for 4am only to look outside to see nothing but foggy and overcast skies. But I was able to capture these beautiful winter images from Loch Tay, Kenmore, and Aberfeldy. I want to thank Lou for retrieving me on our last full day so that I could capture some of the wonderful scenery from Kenmore, looking up Loch Tay towards Ben Lawers.

These are available for purchase on my online gallery at:

http://www.oppenheimphotogallery.com/gallery/scotland-winter-scenes-887805

Enjoy!

The lower Birks of Aberfeldy made famous by Robert Burns' poem "The Birks of Aberfeldy"

The Birks of Aberfeldy

Animal tracks, hoar frost on the trees, fog over Loch Tay, and Ben Lawers in the background.

Loch Tay with hoar frost clumps on thin sheet of ice in foreground and Ben Lawers in background.

The view from Kenmore looking up Loch Tay towards Ben Lawers that looms in the background.

Loch Tay Boat Song (traditional)

When I've done my work of day,
And I row my boat away,

Doon the waters of Loch Tay,

As the evening light is fading

And I look upon Ben Lawers

Where the after glory glows;

And I think on two bright eyes

And the melting mouth below.

She's my beauteous nighean ruadh,
She's my joy and sorrow too;

And although she is untrue,

Well I cannot live without her,

For my heart's a boat in tow,

And I'd give the world to know

Why she means to let me go,

As I sing horee horo.

Nighean ruadh, your lovely hair
Has more glamour I declare

Than all the tresses rare

'tween Killin and Aberfeldy.

Be they lint white, brown or gold,

Be they blacker than the sloe,

They are worth no more to me

Than the melting flake of snow.

Her eyes are like the gleam
O' the sunlight on the stream;

And the songs the fairies sing

Seem like songs she sings at milking.

But my heart is full of woe,

For last night she bade me go

And the tears begin to flow,

As I sing horee, horo.

She's my beauteous nighean ruadh,
She's my joy and sorrow too

And although she is untrue,

Well I cannot live without her.

For my heart's a boat in tow

And I'd give the world to know,

Why she means to let me go

As I sing horee horo.

A wintry walk home!

http://www.oppenheimphotogallery.com/gallery/scotland-winter-scenes-887805

Hatchbash 2011 Fundraiser and Fashion Show

2011-02-10T22:36:00.001-05:00

These fun images are from the Hatchbash 2011 fundraiser and fashion show held at the Hotel Indigo in downtown Asheville, NC on January 22, 2011. It raised money for Hatch which will be held April 14-17, 2011 in downtown Asheville. What is HATCH you ask? As it states on the HATCH website:

“HATCH is a biannual four-day experience that energizes creative professionals and thought leaders who are serious about transforming their ideas and talents into bold action, while inspiring others to do the same.”

Many disciplines are represented including photography, design, fashion, architecture, film, among others. This years photography mentor will be Sylvia Plachy! Check out the website to see who the mentors are in the other disciplines.

If you'd like to see more of the images from this event you can visit Michael Oppenheim Photography's Facebook page or go directly to my client gallery at http://www.oppenheimphotogallery.com/gallery/hatchbash2011. I will donate 10% of reprint orders from Hatchbash to Hatch to help cover operating costs and expenses in bringing in mentors!

Ox and Rabbit Clothing (male models) and Royal Peasantry Design House dress
worn by model Rikki Walker.

Another dress by Royal Peasantry Design House.

An exquisite Ship to Shore dress by R. Brooke Priddy worn by model, Melody Joy.

Waterfall dress by Spiritex Clothing.

Dress by Royal Peasantry Design House.

Orb Clothing by designer Seth Musngi.

Ship to Shore dresses by R. Brooke Priddy.

Orb Clothing by designer Seth Musngi.

R. Brooke Priddy Ship to Shore dress (left) and Spiritex butterfly dress (right)

Orb Clothing by Seth Musngi.

Look Up Asheville book released

2011-02-04T13:24:00.000-05:00

Our book, Look Up Asheville, was released on January 28th and is now available for sale online, at Grateful Steps Publishing, Malaprops Bookstore, the Asheville Art Museum, and other bookstores and venues in Asheville and WNC region. You can view sample images at www.lookupasheville.com and I will soon release an online gallery where people can purchase a variety of fine-art prints. You can view some of my fine-art gallery wraps in person on the walls of Grateful Steps Bookstore in downtwon Asheville for foreseeable future. I will also be adding some very exciting products to my line of fine-art prints, including but not limited to, my Look Up Asheville photography.

As a side-note. I will be making more regular posts to my commercial photography blog so keep checking back in when you can.

Look Up Asheville book coming soon!

2010-09-04T21:38:00.005-04:00

Welcome to my new blog. I’ve decided to do a blog devoted to my commercial, portrait and personal photography projects (as opposed to my wedding photography blog). I will also be making frequent posts about my upcoming book on Asheville architecture, Look Up Asheville. We have just launched a website and blog for the book. You can visit them both http://www.lookupasheville.com and http://lookupasheville.wordpress.com/2010/08/04/look-up-asheville/ respectively. The book should be out on November 1, 2010.

Tilework, Asheville City Building. Douglas Ellington, architect.

Laura Hope-Gill has done copious research on the amazingly rich architecture found in Asheville and her writing is beautiful, informative, and inspiring! The book is being published by Grateful Steps Publishing and we are all getting very excited about the release of this book! I will be making posts concerning events surrounding the release of the book and the opening of the new Grateful Steps bookstore in Lexington Station in downtown Asheville.