25% OFF Cyber Monday Artwork Sale

Cyber Monday only, I'm offering 25% off all artwork on http:www.JoannVitali.com

Use Code: UTARUU at checkout.

2015 Boston Calendar

Boston 2015 Calendar

The 2015 Boston Architectural and Scenic Landmark Calendar by Boston Fine Art Photographer Joann Vitali brings the beauty of Boston all in one place. From the North End & Faneuil Hall to the USS Constitution and Fenway Park. Let the captivating charm of Boston and it's eclectic neighborhoods into your home and heart!

The calendar is 13.5X19 full size for $27.99. Quantity discounts are available.

To Purchase:  http://www.lulu.com/content/legacy-lulustudio-calendar/boston-2015/15290166

Autumn in Boston Public Garden

Well it's almost that time folks.  I'm really loving this cool end of summer weather we've been having up here in New England.  It's the perfect prelude into Fall and it can't come soon enough.

One of my favorite things to do in the Fall is hopping the bus to South Station and exploring the color all around Boston.  For me the best colors arrive in late October.  Sure, you can find color from mid September, but I find late October to be perfect for the type of photography I do.  Most of the leaves have already fallen yet there are still many trees full of color.  The ground is like a bed of browns, yellows, reds, and oranges.

From South Station I usually head to Boston Common and Public Garden.  The air is on the crisp side so a nice brisk walk gets the blood flowing.

Notice the difference between the photo on the top left vs the bottom right.  They were taken about three weeks apart.  Both are beautiful in there own way but to me, the one with more impact, would be the one on the right.

This next series of four photos where shot on a semi cloudy day.  The  clouds were low and the sun was teasing to come out. A patch of really dark clouds rolled in late in the afternoon and it started to drizzle a bit.  When it stopped, the sun finally decided to come out of hiding through a break in the clouds and cast a most awesome light throughout the garden.  I must have been a site to see, rushing around the entire garden trying to capture every angle and ray of light as it shown upon Boston's familiar landmarks the Lagoon Bridge, The Arlington Street Church, The George Washington Statue, and Commonwealth Ave.

Even if you're not blessed with a partly sunny day, all is not lost, unless it's a downpour of course.  If this happens, just make your way over to the Starbucks on the corner of Beacon, across from the Common, and wait it out.  You can however, get some pretty decent pics on a cloudy day as seen here.





In my next series I'm going to touch on Autumn in the rest of Boston.

As always, thanks for stopping by and don't forget to follow me on Facebook.

My website: Boston Art Photography

To see more images of Autumn in Boston, visit my Autumn Galleries

Art and Wine Lovers Rejoice!

I hope everyone is having an awesome summer so far. The weather has finally reached a balmy 90 this week and while I do love the summer, I'm starting to dream of those cool New England Autumn days...:)

I have some fantastic savings for you this month!



If you LOVE ART and WINE.....

For any purchase made through my website, JoannVitali.com you will receive a $100.00 Gift Card from Naked Wines.com Even if you order a single Greeting Card you will still receive the $100 Card.

You can read full details here:

All orders on JoannVitali.com come with a $100 gift certificate good towards your first purchase of wine on NakedWines.com.
Yes, really!

Naked Wines is a company based in Napa, California, that supports independent wine makers from all over the world.
Independent artists and photographers... independent wine makers... it's a perfect match...

When you place an order on JoannVitali.com, I'll e-mail you a $100 gift certificate from NakedWines.com... instantly. It doesn't matter how large your order is. If you order a single greeting card, you'll still receive the gift certificate.

Once you receive the gift certificate, all you have to do is visit Naked Wines, enter in your gift certificate code, buy some wine, and you're done! Then, just sit back and wait for the wine to arrive on your doorstep. If the logistical stars are in alignment, maybe your wine and your order from me will arrive at the same time!

Before using your gift certificate on Naked Wines, please note the following restrictions:

Terms & Restrictions
The $100 gift certificate is only valid for first-time buyers on Naked Wines and can only be applied towards purchases of $160 or more. You must be 21 years or older to redeem the gift certificate. Wine can not be shipped outside of the United States. Additional restrictions apply. Void where prohibited. See complete details at http://us.nakedwines.com/100voucher. Naked Wines is not affiliated with Naked Winery (http://nakedwinery.com/) in Hood River, Oregon.
There is no minimum purchase required on JoannVitali.com in order to receive the gift certificate. If you purchase a greeting card for $5, for example, you'll still receive the gift certificate from NakedWines.com - yes, really!


I hope you all take advantage of the very special offer. I'll be back soon with some photo tips and my latest series on Boston Skyline Photography at night.
In the meantime, check out my Boston Skyline Gallery



Have a fantastic July everyone!

Joann

"Faneuil Hall Holiday" Featured in Holiday Card Set

The Pine Street Inn Holiday cards are here! I'm very honored to have my "Faneuil Hall Holiday" included in the beautiful festive card designs available for sale. All proceeds go towards the fight to help end homelessness.

Show your support in the fight against homelessness : Order Here

For many, the journey out of homelessness begins with shelter, nourishment and compassion and leads to stability, permanent housing, a job and self-sufficiency.

Pine Street Inn began its journey four decades ago, offering approximately 200 men suffering from alcoholism a safe alternative to the streets of Boston. Since then, they have expanded to serve over 1,600 men and women each day, providing a comprehensive range of programs and services, including housing, outreach, shelter and job training. The ultimate goal for all of our programs is making permanent housing a real possibility for all.

 Learn about the Pine Street Inn

Autumn Featured Artist in Mused Literary Magazine

The Autumn Equinox edition of the Mused Literary Magazine is out today and I want to thank Mused for featuring me for their "Artist's Interview", as well as showcasing 5 of my photographs! 

Autumn is a time of beauty and gratitude, of appreciating all nature has presented for us and soaking in the serenity of our world around us. Medieval folk would refer to this simply as "harvest season" - for to them that was the key function of this time of year. 

Artwork explores nature's glory in this harvest season. A sunflower glows with gold and brown. A single drop on a leaf glistens with shimmering color. A skilled banjo player shares his love of music. 

Poetry brings us in further. Sage smoke rises from the center of a labyrinth. Henna and fuchsia leaves delight the eye. The vanilla fragrance of an orchid warms the heart. 

Non-fiction lets us step into another's shoes. A young girl stands up to bullies. A young woman finds her path in life. A daughter struggles with her father's aging. 

Fiction explores the realms of growth. A teen girl balances between childhood and adult issues. An adoptive mother comes to terms with her mix of emotions. 

Photographer Joann Vitali demonstrates to us how beauty is all around us, if we simply take the time to slow down and be aware. A meadow beneath an apple tree, or a window frame onto a wooded back yard - each can present a moment to savor. 

Come savor the moment with us. 

Artist Interview

Boston Nights on the Charles

One of the things I love shooting most is city night photography, and Boston is right up there for being one of my most favorite places to capture the lights and vibrance of a city from sundown on.

A great spot a good friend told me about, for shooting the night skyline with the Longfellow bridge in the foreground and the John Hancock and Prudential Center in the background, is the top of the parking lot at the Museum of Science.

To view my entire gallery of Boston Nightscapes please visit my website:

http://joann-vitali.artistwebsites.com/art/all/boston+nights/all

This was taken right after sundown using a tripod and a long exposure which makes a train passing on the Longfellow appear as a long yellow streak.  Different timing on your exposures, if only by a few seconds, can change your light from blue to purple to black as night.  

Be sure to use a shutter remote because even the slightest movement of your finger pressing the shutter can cause the image to become blurry.  If you don't have one you can always use the camera's self timer.

If you're luck enough to get a semi-cloudy sunset, you're in for a nice surprise as the shapes and positioning of the clouds add so much more to the character of a photograph.

Now time to move across the parking lot over to the other side before losing all the light and take in the sight of the Zakim Bridge all lit up.  Certain times of the year the Zakim is lit different colors but I have yet to get there when it's anything other than white.

If you can get your hands on a wide angle lens, USE IT!  It's so much fun to see all you can capture in the frame and it can make the most unusual images.

There are numerous resources on the web with tips for shooting at night.  Here are just a few.

.http://www.exposureguide.com/photographing-cityscapes.htm

http://timedexposure.wordpress.com/2009/06/11/skyline-photos/

http://www.shutterbug.com/content/architecture-night-and-twilight-using-best-light-best-results