Middle East Institute Annual Conference: Thomas Pickering

November 16--Washington, DC--Ambassador Thomas Pickering speaking at the Middle East Institute's 70th Annual Conference, Middle East Policy Challenges for the Next Administration.  Pickering is well respected career diplomat who served as the US Ambassador to seven countries, held many positions in the US State Department, and several administrations.  He is currently vice chairman of Hill & Company.

Copyright 2016 Laurence L. Levin
All Rights Reserved. No publication rights granted without written permission.
www.LLLevin.com

Great Falls Colors

Great Falls, VA scene from the parking lot.

November 11--Great Falls, Virginia--Only 15 miles from the heart of Washington, DC, Great Falls National Park is located at the area where the Potomac River narrows and drops through the Mather Gorge.  The fast moving water creates a majestic area to view the river at its inhabitants.  The autumn provides incredible colors during sunrise and as the trees change.  As the saying goes, you don't need to travel all over the world to see incredible landscapes, you just have to look in your own backyard.  Right out of the parking lot, the pastel colors were photographed, just a few steps from my car.

Great Falls, Va 

Catching the light 

Photo made with a Nikon D810 24-120mm and 70-200 with 1.4 Teleconverter. ISO range 1600, 250, 800.  The convenience of digital is the ability to change ISO for the varying light conditions.  At 8am,  the trees were still in a bit of shade thus at 1600 ISO the camera was able to capture all the various shades of color.  At full morning sun, the cliff near the river only needed an ISO of 250.   For the leaf image, with the teleconverter on the 70-200 lens (500mm) 800 ISO was needed to hand hold the camera with a shutter speed of 1/640.

Copyright 2016 Laurence L. Levin
www.LLLevin.com
No publication or usage granted without written permission

Michel Richard 1948-2016

Michel Richard in Citronelle, Washington DC 2005

October 16, 2016--The French Embassy in Washington, DC hosted a Joie de Vivre Michel, Memorial Celebration of the beloved Chef Michel Richard.  One of the most joyful persons around, Michel provided a fun and incredible food experience for his patrons and friends.  He learned his trade as an apprentice pastry chef in France.  Desiring to go beyond pastries he learned, experimented, sampled and trained himself  for 10 years.  From pastry restaurants on the west coast and east coast, he finally came to Washington DC in 1994.  Michel's welcoming personality provided many opportunities to participate in the community as well as his charitable contributions.

Michel was one of the original chefs participating in Best Buddies Virginia, Life is Sweet Event.  He developed a friendship with Jenny Holden over the years.  They shared many meals together as well as served desserts at the Life is Sweet Events.

It was always a great privilege to photograph Michel and Jenny.  Michel was full of personality and energy.  His generosity was incredible.  He signed and donated book for auction, he did so much and didn't ask for anything.  Spending any amount of time with Jenny & Michel or eating one of Michel's entrees always brought a smile to your face.   Making sure he left you smiling and happy was his greatest gift.

Jenny and Michel, 2006

Jenny and Michel, 2009

©2016 Laurence L. Levin
www.LLLevin.com