Last night Brian's grandpa Frank was the star of the evening - well, even more so than usual, since it was his 85th birthday. A number of family members were on hand, including Brian (natch), and Brian's brother Brendan and sister Siobhan; his Aunt Mary and her son Andrew, and Frank's wife - whose name may be Kathleen because Frank sang I'll Take You Home Again, Kathleen - but I'm not sure (this just in: yes, grandma's name is Kathleen - I'm a genius). One thing I need to start doing is pay more attention to names. I love Brian's family - his is just the kind of family I have always wished I came from - and it's being surrounded by these families, and being a part of the session family at large that is the most fantastic thing about this music; thank God for these people and this music.
I used a combination of the 40D with 50mm/1.4 (good for low light, though with its shallow depth of field and narrow view due to small sensor it functions more as a telephoto lens, so is a bit limited for indoor/small spaces, but works if I can work the room), and the G12. The G12 is pretty decent for low light, and gives me a wider angle, also HD video. I am learning a lot as I go along, both about shooting in these low light situations, as well as post-processing. There's also the issue of being torn between wanting to play the music and take photos. I wonder, sometimes, how people feel about my camera(s), but I noticed last night there were many cameras in the house. I think that eventually everyone will be accustomed to the fact that I often have a camera with me.
Enough chit-chat.
Above, Frank sings I'll Take You Home Again, Kathleen, to his bride, Kathleen; also, the Birthday Song, by the Company.
Frank reacts to being sung to by the slow session crowd.
Jack sang a rousing song that had us knocking on tables and shouting, "McIntyre!"
My friend Bob Brogan whom I've known since the 80's on the island - we were mere kids - when he was a crew member of the Shenandoah and playing his fiddle at the local ag fair fiddle contest.
Kathleen and Frank (sorry for shallow depth of field).
Larry Reynolds and Tara - dynamic duo.
Brian, with his grandma and grandpa.
The lovebirds.
Brian, Andrew, Grandma, Brendan, and Grandpa.
Mary sings for her parents.
Terry, Larry, and Tara provide back-up.
Tony and Bill
Jimmy Marshall
For he's got no faloodoorum, fadidle day
He's got no faloorum,he's lost his ding dorum
So maids when you're young, never wed an old man
