Jan 7, 2010

Today is, I mean was, the day I've been waiting for!

Today I was supposed to drive up to Minneapolis to photograph an Elvi competition. This is the 2nd year in a row I've not been able to make it. I was supposed to work today, then the church date was re-scheduled. So I was going to, nothing was going to stop me... except maybe mother nature that is.

The weather and the roads are so bad, I decided to stay home where it is not only warm, but also safe. My best friends, the parents of an 18 year old ETA (Elvis Tribute Artist) drove all the over from Cashton, WI to attend this competition. I so wanted to be there.

As many of you know, on Jan 8th, 2010, if he had lived, Elvis Presley would be 75 years old. So every year on the anniversary of Elvis' birthday and on the anniversary of his death, Aug 16, (1977) fans gather around the world to celebrate 'Elvis week' at Graceland, the famous home of the Rock n Roll legend. This week is one week I would not want to be in Memphis as their cold is almost just as bad as ours is here in southern MN.

My photography started with bands over 20 years ago, using a 35mm camera. After my Minolta was stolen along with my movie camera, I put away the lens for quite a few years.

In August of 2005, I was visiting my mother from AZ in Vegas and my sister (whom lived in Vegas) and I went out to an Elvis show. Wow, was I blown away! I fell in love immediately with the way this guy sang gospel, I would have sworn we were in a chapel, not in a casino lounge on the Las Vegas Strip.

To this day, the first thing I listen to when an ETA (Elvis Tribute Artist) sings is how he sings his gospel. Only the best can match this guy in Vegas. And this guy in Vegas, named Pete Vallee is Big Elvis. He is the closest I've heard to the real deal. And I have heard a lot of Elvis Impersonators.

Since that time, I have photographed many ETA's and started back professionally with a Nikon DSLR camera photographing bands. This photo was taken of him and me from a little pocket style point and shoot propped up on the table with the timer set. The picture looked so bad, but we looked great, and with a little photoshop I brought some beauty back to it.