Kauai, Hawaii

This week Patty, Brennan (our daughter) and I are shooting for CE Lifestyles/ vacationing on the island of Kauai. While here I've been experimenting with the Lensbaby, a selective focus lens for our Canon digital cameras.

U2 Live in Omaha

U2,Wow! That pretty much says it all. For those who attended, I thought you might appreciate some of the images I captured from last night's show. For those who didn't ...enjoy! Check out the gallery.

SoMa Update

I've been working on a project for the past year photographing the progress of the SoMa row houses for BlueStone Development. I started photographing the site as the land was being cleared, and have updated the photos every couple weeks since September 2004. Stephanie helped me secure a tripod on the roof of the Bemis, and Matt, from the Bemis lets me onto the roof so I can get the shot. To follow the progress of the construction check out SoMa on the web.

Crew In NEW YORK

Malone & Co. crew attends Photo Expo in New York. Check out some of our images from the trip.

11 out of 30: not a bad start

I am excited to say that 11 of the 30 children photographed for the Nebraska Heart Gallery have been placed in adoptive homes.

The Kick-off event on Friday night for the Nebraska Heart Gallery was incredible. We were able to listen to Amy Tan (author of THE JOY LUCK CLUB) speak, enjoyed fabulous food, wine and tremendous company!

What is next for us? Finding a home for the remaining 239 children!

As we move forward and photograph more children, please continue to spread the word as there are so many more children who need homes.

Nebraska Heart Gallery

A special thank you to the women at Child Saving Institute who work hard for these children EVERYDAY!

Relief

Back in March I had the chance to visit one of the coolest cities in America, New Orleans. I invite you all to look at the collection of images I have made available for prints.

KETV Channel 7

http://www.nebraskaheartgallery.org

We love the news crews!

Julie Cornell and photographer Mike Jones of KETV Channel 7 were gracious enough to come to the studio today to cover the Nebraska Heart Gallery. Belinda and Gretchen were photographed by Stephanie Kimberling while being filmed for the news. The story will air Friday 10/21 at 10 PM.

THANKS CHANNEL 7!

The National Heart Gallery

We are thrilled to announce 4 of the children we photographed will be represented in the National Heart Gallery in Washington D.C.

A portion of the email from Diane Granito, organizer of the Heart Gallery in New Mexico

"Dear "Heart Gallery Nation",

On behalf of The "Collaboration to Adopt Us Kids", Adoption Exchange, and the portrait selection committee , I would like to thank all of the Heart Gallery groups who submitted their incredible portraits for consideration for these two exhibits. Your work brought smiles to our faces, or tears to our eyes....sometimes both at once! Each portrait, like each child, is beautiful and deserving of a special place in the world.

On the walk-through in DC recently, I was also amazed by the incredible space the hard-working planners have obtained for these exhibits: Union Station's display will be passed by 80,000 people per day for the 2 weeks it is up, and the gallery of the Russell building is spectacular and complete with columns and other impressive architectural detail; US Senators are housed in the building so it will catch a lot of politicians' eyes, as well as the touring publics'.

We received submissions from dozens of Heart Gallery groups in over 30 states, and will have exhibits which are very representative of our waiting children with respect to ethnicity, age, gender and sibling group/single children. There is also wonderful variety in photographic style, from fun colorful shots to rich black and white portraits. If we could we would have included every portrait in our "DC outreach" we would have done so, but unfortunately space and shipping funds limited us to 50 for each exhibit.

Thank you once again for your dedication, talent and hard work for your very special children.

Diane Granito
Statewide Special Events Co-ordinator
New Mexico Children, Youth & Families Department"

The Daily Nebraskan-Heart Gallery article

My brother Mike in Denver forwarded out my blog to co-workers. One of these co-workers has a brother who is a writer for the Daily-Nebraskan.
Please click on the link below to read the article.


Daily Nebraskan - Child institute opens heart in photo gallery

Local Coverage

The Nebraska Heart Gallery is getting local coverage!

WOWT's Tracy Madden came to our studio to interview Jaryd, one of the Heart Gallery kids. The story should air in October near the kick-off event.
I'll be sure to let you know when it airs.

KMTV3 did a piece, interviewing Chalonda and Child Saving Institute. The piece aired 9/19/05.

We are so grateful to the local stations and reporters giving this project their time!

The hopeful search for a forever home: The Nebraska Heart Gallery

My sister Stephanie Heller, who volunteers with CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) was the one who told me about the first Heart Gallery in New Mexico. She learned of the concept from an article in Parade Magazine earlier this year. Stephanie is passionate about helping children and she knew a heart gallery would be a wonderful thing for the children in Nebraska needing homes.

In case you aren't familiar with the idea, Heart Galleries are exhibits of photographs of children who need to be adopted. Working with adoption agencies photographers all over the United States have been lending their talent to help children have a better life.

Over the years Malone & Co has adopted families at Christmas, but this was a way to really help. A way to give the ultimate gift, one that cannot be out grown, one that would keep on giving, one that has the potential to be the perfect fit. We have the opportunity to help a child find a home FOREVER.

As Child Saving Institute(CSI) took on The Nebraska Heart Gallery project, Malone & Company agreed to photograph and make prints of 50 of Nebraska's many children currently searching for adoptive homes. Mike and Patty Malone, Geoff Johnson, Andrew Marinkovich, Angela Fehringer, Stephanie Kimberling and myself were all on board! Other area photographers have stepped up as well, and I hope many more will kick in as this continues.

So far our crew at Malone & Co has photographed over 30 children, from age 2 to age 16, sibling groups or indiviually, from the quiet to the energetic. Some opening up to us immediately knowing this was a way to reach out. Others started out tough because they have been hurt and let down so many times. They all ended up happy to think there is a little more hope.

The people at CSI, Shana, Christie and Brenda to name a few, have taken this head on. Working with our schedules, those of the children, case-workers and foster parents, to bring as many children as possible to the attention of caring people who might to give these children a home.

To say the least these children have touched our hearts!

Please meet these children that we are so fond of by visiting this site: Nebraska's Heart Gallery

Please spread the word about this awesome project to anyone, anywhere that you feel might be able to help or could help get the word out. THere will be a kick-off event held in October where large photographs will be on display of children who need to be adopted. The more awareness the better to help make a connection.


For more information about adoption please visit these websites:

Child Saving Institute

Adopt US Kids

Lutheran Family Services

Adoption Links Worldwide

New Mexico's Heart Gallery

New Jersey's Heart Gallery

Shanghai

Back into Shanghai Saturday for a visit to the Bund (famous skyline on river/bay area). Then a quick walk to the Peace Hotel for a piece of Chinese history, and a great elevated view of the Bund. Saturday night we enjoyed fine dinning at Mr. Pizza- pizza with a Chinese touch.

Sunday morning we had a wonderful time bargaining at the market, and we had to buy two new suitcases to get all the new stuff home. The market is a great place to do shopping for the holidays, if only it were cheaper to get to China.

College Connection

After 4.5 hours of airline delays getting from Beijing to Shanghai, it was early to bed. Friday morning we took off early for Nanjing, 2.5 hrs by speed train, west of Shanghai. I met up with a soccer teammate, from college, now working in Nanjing. It was great hanging out with a familiar face, and seeing his world. He was a great guide, and full of info about China. Thanks for your perspective and time with us tourist Mr. Longe!

The Forbidden City

The Forbidden City was a great experience. If you've watched the Last Emperor, so much of the city has a familiar feel to it. It felt as if you were walking through such a rich history- except that the whole place is under construction for the Olympics in 2008. Hopefully they will be done in time, so those tourists don't have to fight the construciton to get a photo.

The afternoon we spent walking around the Summer Palace. My hopes of a tranquil stroll through a quiet place were shattered after pulling up and seeing all the tour buses in a huge parking lot. Despite the crowds- there was still much beautiful scenery to take in.

We ended the day at one of the markets. Bargaining for everything from a Yao Ming jersey to an extra suitcase to take all the "good buys" home. Chances are good to hit up one more market in Shanghai.

All day Thursday was spent in route from Beijing to Shanghai- which included 3 hours of sitting on a grounded plane- not fun. But intersting to see the locals get worked up.

Tomorrow- Adrianne and I head to Nanjing to meet up with an old soccer teammate from college. Looking forward to hang'n with a local, as he's been here for about a year.

China Update

Adrianne and I decided one trip to the wall wasn't enough. So we went back to the Great Wall at Simatai. Simatai is about 3 hrs away from where we are staying and it is a lot less touristy. The climb is also more challenging- but was a welcomed workout.

We had a local guide us on the wall, and we bought a couple t-shirts from her at the end- one because our clothes were drenched in sweat, and two because we were her only chance to make any money the whole day. We finished the climb and returned to the valley in just under 3 hrs. As we were coming down the clouds started to roll in, and no sooner did we get in the car- did it start to down pour. It was a huge thunder storm- and just 2 days ago a girl had been struck by lightening and killed on this section of the wall. After a four hour trip home, nearly getting stuck in a mud puddle, and a couple detours- we made it back a little tired and passed out early.

Tuesday we had the opportunity to go with Adrianne's mother to a meeting with one of their suppliers (the reason for their trip to China). It was great to sit and hear both sides interact. Not much was lost in translation, but the language differences provided an interesting meeting. Once the discussions were over we took a factory tour. It was raining, and the workers were on lunch break- so we didn't see much. I was able to photograph the toured areas though. The group we meet with took us out to dinner at another one of the famous duck restaurants. The food just kept coming out. I sampled duck tongue, liver, and stomach. Just can't get enough of it. Glad for the opportunity to try new things.

On the Wall

The first meal in China, last night proved interesting. I have acquired a taste for duck hearts and feet. I'm sure there will be more adventurous tasting to come. The food here seems to be more of a mental battle than actual taste. Helps to have a chaser as well.

We spent a foggy day on the Great Wall. Pretty amazing to be walking on a piece of such unbelievable history.

Answer

After days of scouting locations and working out the logistics, I had a crazy thought that I would shoot from the sunroof of my Honda Element. My Producer Jamie Vesay thought I was crazy but he was willing to hear me out. I knew the bridge would be perfect but only if it was shot this way. If I could get close enough to the truck while moving at the same speed we could get the shot.

While hardly the biggest logistical nightmare, too much discussion was going too slowly as the sun was moving too fast. After a few passes with great truck drivers we nailed it!

Oh and the cops? The answer is: not one. In fact they thought it was a good idea but simply preferred we do it safely. I learned that Iowa law enforcement officers are cool, Jamie is right all the time, and you just never know when you’ll have to sell a shot before it is photographed.

Be sure to check out the behind the scenes-crew and all!

Faces

My friend Adrianne has been working at the homeless shelters in Omaha since the beginning of 2005 to finish up her nursing degree. She has met wonderful individuals, and worked along side some of the most caring nurses in Omaha. Two of the nurses will be retiring soon, and Adrianne will be filling their positions in the fall. These two nurses have been with the Visiting Nurses Association (VNA) for many years, and Adrianne wanted to give them something to help remember their time. Adrianne decided black and white photos would be a great way for these nurses to remember the people they have worked with for so long.

Adrianne and I had fun spending time with a variety of individuals in the metro area- talking and capturing the faces of people that had benefited from these nurses. There were nothing but good stories, thankfulness, and gratitude for the nurses that gave so much of themselves to help countless people.

The individuals wrote loving notes of appreciation, but their faces are what will leave a longer impression.

We Moved

Well we moved and we are lovin' it.

New space, better groove.


(click image to come inside)