Garden Wedding: Amanda + Kendall | 6.28.14

Posted on July 15, 2014 by Nicole Canegata

I had the pleasure of assisting California wedding photographer, Greg Wyatt in capturing the beautiful garden wedding for Amanda and Kendall Holmes at Estate Belvedere in St. Croix, U.S.V.I. This is my first wedding since graduating from Brooks and I was ecstatic for the opportunity! I was responsible for documenting the groom and his groomsmen getting ready…the ceremony…guests interacting, and all the beautiful details of the day! It was also great to see so many familiar faces in one place!

These are some of my favorite shots…I tried to narrow them down to the best of my ability, but I am just so in LOVE with all of these images 🙂

Congrats again Amanda & Kendall…thank you for allowing me to be a part of your special and beautiful day!

Enjoy!

Published Work – Santa Barbara Magazine

Posted on July 14, 2014 by Nicole Canegata

During my last semester at Brooks, I had the opportunity to intern with Santa Barbara Magazine which was such an incredible learning experience for me! I assisted both, a food and architectural interior spread, which was fun and I was able to work alongside food photographer, Leela Cyd Ross and editorial photographer, Lisa Romerein, both amazingly talented female photographers in their respective fields.

I was also assigned two photo shoots in the Spring and Summer issues. My first assignment was to capture a really cool gym in the Funk Zone called The Training Room for the “Best of Sport” section. Loved the high ceilings, large windows sills allowing lots of natural light to pierce through, not to mention the staff were a pleasure to work with.

My second assignment was to photograph the owner, Lori Frisbie, and some of her goodies for sale at Montecito Treasures, an upscale consignment warehouse for the “Around the Town” section.

Here are the tear sheets for my work published:

SB Magazine Spring 2014 Issue

SB Magazine Summer 2014 Issue

© 2014 Nicole Canegata - Owner of Montecito Treasures: Lori Frisbie (left)

Follow Your Bliss!

Posted on July 10, 2014 by Nicole Canegata

My amazingly talented friend, fellow photographer, and beautiful kindred spirit, Saskia Koerner filmed and directed this short video of me! Saskia’s beauty and lifestyle work is simply gorgeous, elegant and breathtaking, but it’s her awe-inspiring fine art black & white images that speak volumes to my soul! She captured me in my essence…doing exactly what I enjoy most in this world…following my bliss!

This film was edited by another uberly talented and amazing friend, fellow photographer/ videographer/ painter/ illustrator/ artist, Lex Gallegos. I have never met someone with so much vision, natural talent and creativity oozing from her soul!

I LOVE both of these ladies to the max! Thank you! x

Music: “Porcelain” by Moby

Homage to our Servicemen

Posted on November 13, 2013 by Nicole Canegata

“My country, ’tis of thee,
Sweet land of liberty,
Of thee I sing;
Land where my fathers died,
Land of the pilgrims’ pride,
From ev’ry mountainside
Let freedom ring!”

To ALL the Veterans…who have served, continue to serve and are no longer with us…THANK YOU for your dedication and sacrifice to this country! We are indebted to you!

Thinking about one soldier in particular…Lieutenant Colonel, David C. Canegata III – I salute you today and always, R.I.P. Dad. ♥

Santa Barbara Urban Wine Trail

Posted on November 12, 2013 by Nicole Canegata

This week, I also had the opportunity to photograph one of my favorite wine tasting rooms in Santa Barbara – AVA Santa Barbara, one of the special wineries that make up the Urban Wine Trail nestled in the Funk Zone. I just LOVE the amazing natural light that sweeps through this space, and the spectacular chalk mural by Los Angeles artist, Elkpen, which highlights the topography, soils and micro-climates of Santa Barbara County’s vast viticultural areas, is a remarkable site to see! Not to mention, they serve a couple great wines on tap 🙂

Tomorrow, I am looking forward to photographing an exquisite residential home with two of my architectural classmates! Cannot wait to share the images on here!

Until then…thanks again for visiting and reading!

~Nicole

L.A. High Rises

Posted on November 12, 2013 by Nicole Canegata

As of late, I have predominantly been photographing high rise buildings, interiors and architectural details for my Architecture class. I got my first taste of the genre last semester, and realized it was perfect for me and my OCD – it requires enormous attention to detail, the process is slow and meticulous, my eyes cannot stand anything crooked or skewed, and I have a natural knack for styling and interior design – which is my absolute favorite part!

Here are some photos from my spontaneous high rise shoot in Los Angeles two weeks ago:

Thanks again for visiting and reading!

~Nicole

Behind the Scenes – Architectural Shoot in L.A.

Posted on November 5, 2013 by Nicole Canegata

I spontaneously decided to head down to Los Angeles this past weekend to scout high rise buildings for one of my architectural assignments. My dear friend and fellow photographer/videographer, Michael Nissman, kindly offered to be my tour guide (as I am not very familiar with the City of Angels) as well as my ‘behind the scenes camera-man’ to capture me at work in the big city.

Rooftop Urban Captures
© Michael Nissman

We headed downtown to the historic bank and arts district, and I fell in love with a couple buildings there. Who knew the rooftop parking garage would serve as the perfect platform to capture the city at a distance! Below are a couple images I snatched quickly with my iPhone while I finish editing and processing my high resolution files.

I love dilapidated buildings with vintage signage.

Dappled light in full effect is always a treat.

I especially gravitated to the architectural details of this building which is on the same block as “The Last Bookstore” – a hidden treasure in downtown LA!

Hope you enjoyed the sneak peak and behind the scenes look at my architectural shoot. I look forward to sharing the final images on here very soon!

~Nicole

Ode to Fritz Henle

Posted on October 22, 2013 by Nicole Canegata

As a photographer and artist, I am often asked the question: “What or who inspires you?”

This broad question often elicits a broad response as I am inspired by a myriad of elements, but I will save that for another blog post! However, when I dig deep down inside the realms of my subconscious, I cannot help but want to elaborate on one particular individual who intially inspired my photography passion and interest: Fritz Henle, renowned travel/ portrait/ fashion/ landscape/ fine art/ documentary photographer whose career spanned six prolific decades. Yet many people in the photography world are not aware of his amazing contributions to the medium. So I feel the need to share some of the important highlights of his life and career which are inspiring in itself!

Young Fritz Henle, 1933 (ca)

Fritz Henle at work, 1938 (ca)

Fritz Henle in the Virgin Islands, 1970

Fritz Henle, was born in Dortmund, Germany in 1909 and became fascinated with photography, his father’s favorite hobby, at an early age. As a teenager, he taught himself how to develop film and print photographs in his father’s basement darkroom. In 1930, he enrolled at Germany’s prestigious Bavarian Institute of Photography and purchased his first Rolleiflex, a twin lens-reflex camera. He was nicknamed “Mr. Rollei” in the 1940’s because he exclusively used a Rolleiflex during his entire career. His love and dedication for this brand camera inspired me to buy my own Rolleiflex last year, and I have been having so much fun exploring film again!

Rolleiflex Camera

Mr. Rollei in action

Ode to Mr. Rollei (self-portrait)

During his late twenties, Fritz Henle fled Nazi Germany and emigrated to New York City where he worked as a freelance photographer and contributed to major publications such as LIFE, Fortune, Town and Country, Harper’s Bazaar, House and Garden, Glamour, and Popular Photography.

Fritz Henle’s Magazine Covers

One of his most valuable contributions as a photographer was his documentation of the city of Paris in 1938, before the onset of World War II. His story was initially rejected by LIFE Magazine, but then published six years later by The New York Times Magazine. These photos preserve the raw, quintessential, and fascinating ideal that is the city, Paris.

© 1938 Fritz Henle - Woman and the God, Paris

© 1938 Fritz Henle - Young Woman with Loaf of Bread, Paris

What I absolutely respect and love about Fritz Henle, is that he was not driven to specialize in any one particular style of photography (the struggle forced on me by today’s photography market), thus the range of art he created was so varied and he was the “photographer that could do it all”. Here are a couple of my favorite Fritz Henle photos:

© 1943 Fritz Henle - Freedom Yucca Plant New Mexico

© 1950 Fritz Henle - Trading Schooner, St. Croix, USVI

© 1948 Fritz Henle - Time Square, New York City

© 1941 Fritz Henle - Canada Lee in Native Son, on Broadway

© 1961 Fritz Henle - Portrait of President Harry S. Truman

© 1937 Fritz Henle - Frida Kahlo, Mexico

© 1948 Fritz Henle - Catherine Cassidy w/ Caribbean Schooner, St. Croix, USVI

© 1948 Fritz Henle - Catherine Cassidy at the Old Sugar Mill, St. Croix, USVI

© 1948 Fritz Henle - On the Beach in Frederiksted, St. Croix, USVI

© 1953 Fritz Henle - Nude, Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands

© 1954 Fritz Henle - Nude, Study on Metal Chair, St. Croix, USVI

His assignments and personal travels took him to more than 30 countries in his lifetime (my kind of guy) and he wrote and edited over 30 books and catalogues throughout his career (I am the proud owner of eight of his books and all three below).

Fritz Henle’s Guide to Rollei Photography

Virgin Islands by Fritz Henele

Figure Studies by Fritz Henle

He made his permanent home on St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands (where I was born and raised) in 1959, where he lived with his family, and worked until he died in 1993. Growing up on St. Croix, it was very common yet surreal and amazing to see his original works in various venues – local businesses, banks, restaurants, my friends’ homes and also his daughter, the late Maria Henle’s Fine Art Studio. I immediately fell in love with black and white photography at first glance of his work. His photojournalistic style really resonated with me and stimulated my wanderlust. He is the first photographer to inspire me to create beautiful, captivating, thought provoking images.

Thanks for reading!

~Nicole

The Traveling Lense

Posted on October 17, 2013 by Nicole Canegata

The following body of work, The Traveling Lense, holds a very special place in my heart – these images facilitated my growth as a photographer…opened up the door for me to be accepted into two prestigious photography schools, Brooks Institute and the San Francisco Art Institute…was the catalyst that inspired me to be on this exciting journey, and ultimately, change the course of my life, as I mentioned in my previous blog post.

I am indebted and thankful to, Francis Thomas Capone and macheteMachete Art Studio, for believing in me and giving me the chance to showcase my photography work to the world – I would not be the photographer I am today without your love and support! With that said…enjoy!

For more of my travel updates, check out my travel blog. Thanks for visiting and reading!

~Nicole

Who is Nicole Canegata?

Posted on October 16, 2013 by Nicole Canegata

Let me introduce myself in more detail…

Born and raised on the beautiful island of St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, I was inspired by my father’s photo obsession at a young age. He first handed me a Polaroid camera at age 10 – gave me a quick tutorial and requested that I take an outdoor portrait of him in his military uniform because my mother could not take a ‘straight’ picture to save her life! He was surprisingly impressed and satisfied with the prints – one of my proudest photographic moments to date! Little did he know, he awoke the budding photographer inside of me; however, it was not until later on in life that I would explore my photographic potential and skills.

© 2012 Nicole Canegata - St. Croix, USVI - My Home

© 2013 Nicole Canegata - Polaroid Love - The Beginning

My undergraduate studies in International Relations at Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA, in 2001 provided the opportunity to work as a print and commercial model, and I became fascinated with the artistic and technical process behind the lens, while in front of it. It wasn’t until I participated in Semester at Sea my senior year, a study abroad program where I lived on a ship for 100 days, circumnavigating the globe and visiting 10 different countries, that I caught the ‘travel bug’ and knew photography and traveling would become life-long passions of mine. I purchased my first digital SLR camera in 2007, and life was never the same!

Semester at Sea – The Taj Mahal

© 2007 Nicole Canegata - My First Canon SLR Camera (Self Portrait)

I thoroughly continued to document my extensive world travels from thereon (I have traveled to 6 continents, 48 countries and 185 cities to date) and in November 2010, I was approached by a local art studio director, Francis Thomas Capone (now a great friend of mine) to have my first solo exhibit at his space, macheteMachete Art Studio. My solo debut: The Traveling Lense in January 2011, featured a collection of travel photos depicting everyday life around the globe.

“The Traveling Lense” Flyer

“The Traveling Lense” Exhibit

My show’s success was the catalyst that inspired me to augment my photography passion with formal instruction. Six months later, I decided to apply to a number of photography schools across the nation, and utilize educational benefits I was awarded from the military because of my Dad’s (Lt. Colonel David C. Canegata III) service and ultimate sacrifice for this country on January 20th, 2007, R.I.P. This journey would absolutely not be possible without his sacrifice and I will continue to make him proud!

My Dad…My Hero…Lt. Colonel David C. Canegata III

With all that said, on January 3rd, 2012…with 5 boxes shipped…2 suitcases and 2 carry-ons ready to go…not a wink of sleep (that was a given)…and a 10 hour flight ahead…I ended one chapter of my life…to begin a new one. I decided it was time to “follow my bliss” – so I quit my Financial Research Editor position of 8 years, said goodbye to my beloved island home and relocated to Santa Barbara, CA to pursue my second degree, a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Professional Photography at Brooks Institute.

© 2012 Nicole Canegata - Goodbye St. Croix

© 2012 Nicole Canegata - Hello Santa Barbara

I absolutely LOVE living in beautiful Santa Barbara. When I am not photographing or studying, I find peace and tranquility in nature and on my yoga mat.

Presently, I am two semesters away from graduating from Brooks, and working as a full-time architectural, food, and travel photographer. I cannot tell you how proud I am to have remained on course, and how excited I am for the opportunities that await me and the chance to travel some more! I am infinitely grateful for the knowledge I have gained, lessons learned and skills acquired while on this artistic and creative journey. I am living, breathing and dreaming photography and could not be happier!

Yogi in Nature

© 2012 Nicole Canegata - California Dreaming

This blog chronicles my journey as an artist and photographer…my inspirations…my musings…and all the new exciting updates in my photography world!

Hope you enjoy and happy reading!

~Nicole

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