This is the thing digital cameras can never take away from film cameras… they can age well. The shot on this page was taken with a camera that is very special to me. My Zeiss Ikon Contina IIa. It was built in 1956 as an exceptionally well made point and shoot. It is all manual and has a selenium cell light meter (NO batteries required). It is not a range finder nor an SLR (looking through the lens). To focus it you have to judge the distance to your subject and turn the lens scale to match your guess. It helps to be able to convert to meters as it is a German camera. It has not had a roll of film in it in as long as I’ve owned it until last week (shame). Despite it’s lack of modern conveniences  it is capable of adding beauty to the world when given the chance. Imagine how well a 55 year old digital camera will hold up. This camera will be able to work alongside it then too.

The reason this camera is special to me is not because it is old or beautiful (even though it is both of those). It is because it was given to me by a beautiful German lady named Helga. Helga lived in the Bronx when I met her and she was in her mid 70′s then. That was around 2000 or 2001. She lived in a house behind my mother’s that had been built by her husband when that part of the Bronx was still farm land. I used to periodically talk to her over the adjoining fences and it was always a treat. One day she asked me to come around to the house. When I arrived she said she was selling the house and moving since it had become too much to handle after the passing of her husband John (John by the way was a wonderful painter, a kind man and the subject of one of my favorite photographs I have ever taken). Helga handed me this camera and said that it was a gift. She had purchased it when she was leaving Germany as a sort of insurance policy. If things did not work out in America then she could sell it and buy her way back. Things did work and she stayed.

I have looked at this camera for years. Last week I decided to run a roll through it on our swing out to California and I got this photo. I love it. It is old and new all at once. It is new beauty in a changing world and it was placed here by a camera that is as gorgeous and functional at fifty-five as when it was new. Thank you Helga for one of the best gifts that was ever given to me.

Pacific Beach, San Diego, California taken with Zeiss Ikon Contina IIa on Kodak Tri-X

“Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same.” - Emile Bronte

I could tell that this was exactly true for this special couple. The way the two interact with one another it is obvious that they have found in each other a soul mate, a life long partner. There is nothing more beautiful.

Not a typical Arizona day, a threat of rain hung in the air. The ceremony was at The Assumption Greek Orthodox Church in Scottsdale. This is such a pretty church to photograph a wedding, tons of natural light, ceilings painted in bright colors, stark white walls.

Weddings with Greek traditions are so much fun. The reception at Sassi did not disappoint. Family. Dancing. Traditional Music. Toasts. Plate breaking. Lots of plate breaking. Laughing. Smiles. Happiness filled the room.

To a lifetime of love and happiness.

[The bride has an art background and embraced the idea of Keith incorporating some classic cameras into the day - some medium format, old film cameras - the results were just gorgeous.]

Many, if not most photographers deem a photograph successful if it is well exposed and sharply focused. If it accurately represents the subject in front of the camera then it is sellable (if that is their goal). I personally know a photographer whose pride rested on how sharp his photos of weddings were. He mentioned it every time you talked about his work.  None of this is bad necessarily. Many purchasers of photography consider the accurate representation of the scene to be desirable. Out of focus subjects, film grain, muted or inaccurate colors and any number of other factors that may not have been present in the original scene may lead these people to believe there is something wrong with the image and therefore not want it. What may be missed by the people in the previous examples is that photography can convey a mood and feeling that has little to do with the accurate reproduction of a scene. Photographers can purposely distort reality in any number of ways to convey anything they want. That is of course good too. Remember that all photography is an abstraction in one way or another. The rendering of three dimensions in two is the first level of abstraction. Another is the removal of color. You can go further and further until your head hurts thinking about it.

The Pictorialists were a group of photographers that chose not to be bound by the constraints of the camera as most had. They didn’t want to be mistaken for casual snapshooters who just took photos of what was in their way. The movement led to the photo secessionist movement and eventually disbanded. The principles that the movement stood for are still valid of course. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder as they say.

What do you think?

P.S. The photos in this post were taken in 2010 and 2009 respectively by Keith Pitts Photography. They were exposed (not captured) with a Holga on Kodak PlusX  120 film.

These twin 4 years olds are just beyond cute. Such sweeties with matching personalities.

It is funny when you start chatting with families and you realize how much you have in common. Luckily the twins were cooperative because after the family portrait session, the adults were able to chat at length about their mutual love for the Virgin Islands, both the US and BVI. Funny how paths cross. The conversation about the Soggy Dollar Bar on Jost Van Dyke and the surly customs officers  in St. John (I don’t get it, how can you be surly when you are surrounded by paradise?) brought me right back to one of the most special places in this hemisphere.

Keith and I fell in love a long time ago with that area of the world. We loved it so much that we were married on St John surrounded by 65 of our closest family and friends. We have made several trips to that tiny little island in the BVI, Jost Van Dyke. Any one who has ever been there (painkiller, anyone?) knows how easy it is for your mind to think for a minute about staying there forever.

As wedding photographers, we have also had the good fortune of being hired to photograph destination weddings on the islands. Keith and I often let that crazy thought of relocating to paradise cloud our heads. We think about setting up shop as a photographer in Cruz Bay (I can envision it now) – and then reality sets in. Where would the kids go to school? Could I live on an island? What happens if someone gets sick? What about the grandparents?

I’ll stop dreaming, I guess that’s what vacations are for!

Keith Pitts Photography from Serendipity Videography on Vimeo.

NOTE: the images in this feed have been downsized or removed for copyright reasons. To see them in their unmodified state, please view the original post by clicking here.

Serendipity Videography is the most sought after wedding videographer in the Valley. Over the years, we have had the great pleasure of working professionally with Serendipity at weddings. Photographer and videographer, two necessary elements of almost every wedding.

In passing, Jeff happened to mention that a video might be a nice touch for our website. We could not agree more. In fact, a video (a well made video) was long overdue! When Jeff and Taryn agreed to help us we knew that we would end up with something really special – and special is an understatement. This video really captures who Keith is, what he does, and most importantly – why he is a photographer. {Oh, and our kids are ADORABLE!}

Keith Pitts Photography from Serendipity Videography on Vimeo.

It is really special to be on this side of things! Not only have we worked with Serendipity and know how professional and fabulous they are – we can now say first hand how pleased we are with OUR video!

Thank you Serendipity Videography for such a heartfelt, sincere piece of art!

What a great idea – have a family portrait session and get dressed in your pajamas and slippers, set off streamers and celebrate New Year’s Eve. I love it!

We have seen this family grow – the little boy was just a tiny little baby when Keith first photographed this family. Every year when they are photographed, it is so beautiful to see how he and his sister have grown. They are such fun, beautiful children. It is so wonderful to watch this metamorphosis right in front of the camera.

This mom’s goal is to send out New Year’s cards – simply a great idea in my mind!

This year we are also sending out New Year’s cards – I love the idea. Partially because I can be a procrastinator. But I’ll blame it on this being our busiest time of the year. Whether you are a children’s family portrait photographer inundated (I say that with a huge smile on my face) with holiday sessions or a mom trying to get things in order for the holidays – this is such a busy time time of the year. I think New Year’s cards are such a stress reliever. No pressure. You don’t need to have them to their final destination by New Year’s Day – you just need to have them where they are going sometime early in the new year!

Happy 2011!

I just love this photograph. This little girl looks so thoughtful, perhaps she is thinking about Santa or maybe she is making the biggest wish in the world. Regardless, she is adorable in her beautiful holiday dress.

This family’s portrait session was at the Intercontinental Montelucia Resort in Paradise Valley. A great choice by mom! Such a picturesque location – with Camelback Mountain as its backdrop and the Mediterranean feel throughout. Stay tuned for a bigger sneak peek of their session.

I love babies that are around 3 months old – they are beyond adorable! This little girl was certainly no exception – she was too cute and her older brother matched the cuteness! We have had so many kind, beautiful families to photograph this holiday season – another reason for us to be truly thankful!

The Desert Botanical Gardens is such a perfect spot for a family session as well as a wedding or simply a day exploring all that the desert has to offer!  Beyond the beauty of daytime, the DBG has so many great events throughout the year. I’m really looking forward to Las Noches de las Luminarias – the garden is so gorgeous lit up at night. One of many plans for next week with the kids.

Now the fun begins, winter break during the busiest time of the year at Keith Pitts Photography!

Hi All,

I am giving Melissa a break and writing a blog post myself for a change. Let’s get the rust off of these typing fingers… I recently had the privilege of photographing the beautiful wedding of this gorgeous couple and their really fun and sweet families and friends. It was the day before Halloween and inspired by the holiday they broke out the masks and attitudes. You can never go wrong with masks. The weather was perfect, which is a usual perk here in Scottsdale this time of year and the Venue, Sassi (in north Scottsdale), was gorgeous with Pinnacle Peak in the background and the sun hanging low in the sky.

One thing (of soooo many) that I love about the couples that choose to use Keith Pitts Photography for their weddings (aside from the obvious good taste in photography) is that they are always so easy going. This was no exception. The beautiful bride, which in this case is not just an expression but also a fact, had the most incredible support system. Her sisters were all emotional, happy and helpful. The wedding was even planned by one of her sisters who is an event coordinator for John C. Lincoln Hospital. She puts on a mean Black Tie Charity Ball I must say. The flowers were from one of my favorite florists (who happen to be worth the drive to the West Valley), Petal Pushers. Tamara and Matt (of Petal Pusher fame) also were the florists involved in the Desert Botanical Garden Wedding Giveaway that I have talked so much about the last half year. I have to throw in a plug too for the staff at Sassi who were very helpful and attentive and for Bernice who orchestrated the affair without so much as a hiccup. Lastly and certainly with much greater importance than the final spot may indicate, I have to tip a hat to the DJ, Matt of MT Sounds. If that name seems familiar from reading this blog then you are remembering him from the post with Riki and Will and the classic ‘vette.

I hope you enjoy the following photos and that my rusty blogging didn’t bore you.

Sincerely,

Keith

Since summer and thousand degree temperatures just do not seem to want to leave the Valley, we had to reschedule this absolutely understanding family from Saturday in the afternoon (yikes, it was like 108 at 3pm) to Sunday at 7am.  We are so glad they were so amenable to such an early start.  With the weather the way it has been, it is just about the only civilized time to even contemplate family portraits.

Things could not have worked out better!  Some families are just so much fun – and this was one family that personified that description. Easy going, jovial, up for anything, you name the superlative and it fit. Add to the mix that Keith and the dad pretty much had a ton in common – they served in the Navy pretty much at the same time in the same place – aaahh the good old days!

A family portrait session that easily reminds Keith why he has the best job in the whole world!