Women 2.0 Founder Friday May 4, 2012 NYC Event

According to Women 2.0′s site, ‘Founder Friday is a Women 2.0 event to promote the creation of new networks among aspiring entrepreneurs, current entrepreneurs and investors in innovative cities globally. Both men and women are invited to attend Founder Friday.’

This event was especially enjoyable for me because I was able to watch my boss – Gracious Eloise Founder and CEO Eloise Bune – speak on the challenges of starting a female owned and operated technology startup. She inspired me most with these heartfelt words of reassurance.

‘… if you have a good idea go for it, if you need help ask for it and if you fall down, take a moment feel the pain, move through it and get up and try again. That is what makes truly great entrepreneurs.’

The Gildies: A Celebration of Hope, Laughter and Courage {2012}

The event – hosted on April 26, 2012 – was my third with the Gilda’s Club of New York City, and I must say it had to be my most favorite. The location was gorgeous and very rock & roll – the soon-to-be-open Cutting Room on 32nd & Park – a venue boasting an amazing guitar chandelier, huge picture windows, smoking-room leather couches and an eclectic art collection. The gorgeous and incredibly friendly Miss USA made an appearance to help raise money for this auspicious organization, and four heroic cancer survivors were honored.

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Thomas Edison Invention Challenge 2012 hosted at NJIT

One of my most rewarding freelance appointments has been through my tenure with The Edison Innovation Foundation. I have been working with the Foundation since 2007, and have enjoyed every single project. Since I was not much of a science buff in school, it is such a nice experience to be surrounded by a group of people who are so interested in science, innovation and technology – and to have this same group be so willing to take the time to share and explain things to me with no condescension. I also have the unique opportunity of being introduced to scenes and people that I would not normally mix with – such as the event on Sunday, April 24, 2012 at NJIT.

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Ava’s First Birthday

Last year, Laura, one of my dearest friends asked me to be the {Co}Godmother to her soon-to-be-born, little girl. Not only did I feel incredibly honored to be asked, but I was also thrilled to be asked to share the task with my oldest friend, Jennie. Three hundred and sixty-five days later, I had the pleasure to watch my dear little Ava turn one, sitting alongside my compatriot Jennie – as she prepares to deliver her first child in {hopefully} the next couple of days. Ava is a fearless and utterly happy child. She is independent yet attentive, and such a strong character for one so young. Happy Birthday baby, and here’s wishing you many more happy days to come.

The Eyes of the Photographer

‘Which of my photographs is my favorite? The one I’m going to take tomorrow’ {Imogen Cunningham}

At a young age, I felt compelled to steal and use my mother’s camera with wild abandon. Not because of some deep-seeded philosophical need to capture beauty and truth, but because I was inexplicably drawn to the hypnotic sound of the lens cap closing … cla-click, tut. I would walk around snap, snap, snapping my Pentax K1000 at nothing and everything – sometimes without even any film in the camera. It was not until I grew older and suffered loss and life that I was able to fully understand the power of a photograph. A photograph – a patient, thoughtful, well-timed photograph – can capture a perfect moment; one that will never be able to be captured in quite the same way again. And thus I surround myself with vintage cameras that have captured so many moments of the lives of those that may have already been forgotten. And I listen to their cla-clicks, and I open my eyes, and I feel ready to see.

Gilda’s Club New York December 2011 Event: ‘Music, Martini’s & Mistletoe’

‘…because no one should have to face cancer alone.’

This was the second Gilda’s Club event that I photographed, and again I was very moved by the generosity of this organization. It is a genuine pleasure to work with a group who’s sole goal is to bring happiness to the men and women in this world who suffer from Cancer.

NOTE: If you would like to become more involved with Gilda’s Club of New York, you can learn more here. All photos ©Carolann DeMatos | Wonderpug Graphics.

Smokin’ Hot Summer Soiree with StreetWise Partners

In June 2011, I was invited to photograph a lovely charity event for New York’s Branch of the StreetWise Partners. The event was held in this fabulous little art gallery with an amazing spiral staircase leading to an upstairs library full of {sky} light, loads of delicious food, a collection of friendly people, and fabulous silent auction choices. I am so glad that I had the chance to donate my time to this fabulous organization.

All photos ©Carolann DeMatos | Wonderpug Graphics.

At&t Cloud Services Web Offerings Site Design

Cloud computing is the latest technology to sweep the country. It seems like everyone is talking about ‘the cloud’ – commercials are promoting ‘let’s go to the cloud’; Kramer is screaming to ‘invest in the cloud’; my parents are asking ‘what is the cloud?’. So, it is understandable that when I was offered a chance to work on a Cloud project, that I jumped right on board. It was a real pleasure to spend 15 months (2010-2011) working with AT&T on their new cloud service offerings – working for a Fortune 500 company is an experience not to be missed.

Portrait Study: Frank the Pug

‘In everyone’s life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit.’ { Albert Schweitzer }

Gilda’s Club of NYC: Juliet Supper Club Event, Chelsea

I was invited to photograph Gilda’s Club of New York’s Juliet Supper Club Event on Thursday, April 7, 2011. And after spending an evening with these men and women who so generously donate their time fundraising for such a terrific cause, I just had to share some information about this organization, and also some of my favorite shots from the event.

The organization was named/and in honor of Gilda Radner — of SNL fame — who sadly lost her battle with Ovarian Cancer in 1989. Ever since this organization has been raising money to not only provide care for Cancer patients in need but to make sure that ‘No one should have to face Cancer alone.’ The fabulous event I attended last Thursday helped to raise over $15,000 and did so in a fun and fashionable way.

NOTE: If you would like to become more involved with Gilda’s Club of New York, you can learn more here. All photos ©Carolann DeMatos | Wonderpug Graphics.

Edison Innovation Foundation Brand Enrichment

‘Hell, there are no rules here – we’re trying to accomplish something.’ { Thomas Edison }

Ever since I started with with the Edison Innovation Foundation in 2007, I have been reassured that ‘Thomas Edison is the world gold standard for invention and innovation.’ I have been bombarded with quotes by this brilliant man, surrounded by his personal journals and a myriad of his inventions, and have even toured his historical (and very large) home. But most importantly, I have had the chance to work with a group a people who really believe in someone, and work incredibly hard to maintain and enhance their hero’s legacy.

Found Objects #1

Old rusted wheels, a worn and used scrabble set, glass beads connected whimsically together via wire … you may call these sights garbage. You may call these sights plain. You may call these sights boring. I, however, call them art.

Abstract Study #1: Shapes + Colors

‘I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn’t say any other way – things I had no words for.’ { Georgia O’Keeffe }

As a designer, color and shape play an abnormally large part in my waking life. When you look at the sky, you may say it is blue whereas I may refer to it as Pantone #632. When you look at your dog, you may see a dear yet hairy friend whereas I see the circles and squares and rectangles and diamonds I could use to draw my dear friend in Adobe Illustrator. I find that my friends who are mother’s view the world looking to avoids dangers for their child; and I find my friends who are New Yorkers tend not to look at anything directly but seem to see everything around them. So, here is a little peak into the way I see things – in an explosion of color and shape.

Banner Babies

Some people ‘doodle’ on bit of notebook paper and napkins, but I doodle virtually. I can get lost in my virtual world – with my computer blasting Fiona Apple, or Michael Buble, or Eminem – and slowly shapes turn into faces and faces become characters.