Hello all, Welcome to my Blog. Here you will find everything from my thoughts on interesting assignments, announcements, stories behind interesting captures I may take or just me rambling on about my daily life. Those who know me personally will tell you I'm an OUTGOING type of guy who loves to talk, write and just have fun. My clients will tell you the same thing because I feel the most important thing about being a great photographer and businessman is that you treat everyone as if they were your family & personal friend. So in doing that I create lasting friendships with all my clients, just because your event is over doesn't mean we are done. I like to keep in touch with everyone, see how life is treating them and just chit chat once in a while. Building a relationship with a client gives me an insight on how to do my job for them so that their memories will live forever.

I'm not just a photographer, but an artist as well and you can't be successful in either if you don't have clients & fans that love your work but most importantly that they display & share it with others who will enjoy it. It's like a band building a fan base, without the fans who are going to come to your shows or listen to your music in the car while stuck in traffic on Rt. #80 during rush hour on a Friday night when you have a dinner date. Every artist no matter what format they partake in will tell you without their fans they are nothing more then a talented person wishing someone would see or hear their art.

That's why I personally feel the internet is such a great tool for photographers and artists in general, it gives us a place to show our work to MILLIONS of people now rather then just our clients, family and a select few who were lucky enough to see & appreciate what we do. You see anyone with a camera can take a PICTURE, but not everyone can capture an ARTISTIC PHOTOGRAPH that has meaning, feeling and tells a story from that fraction of a second that has been frozen in time. There is so much more behind an artistic photograph that a true artist takes verses the one aunt Mary shot of little Joey blowing out his birthday candles. That's where talent and a GIFT for photography come into play. To appreciate a true work of art you must understand the engine that drives the machine. By that I mean don't just GLANCE at a photograph and say "Oh that's nice", STUDY it and look at it like a piece of art. Try to figure out what was in the photographers mind when he took it and was trying to communicate to the observer and what it was that made you say "WOW". I can tell you that most if not all successful photographers are like me and see the world a little different then most people do. We live life walking or driving around using their eyes as a lens into the world always looking for that special place or moment to capture on film. Everything to me is a possible moment in time ready to be frozen in a fraction of a second. My mind and eyes are always saying "Wow that would look great at sundown with my 50mm Nikon lens at 400 ISO @ 1/30 of a second from this angel with the sun to the right and that tree to the bottom left corner" LOL. That's just the way our minds work, always looking at the beautiful world around us in a frame ready to be captured and shared with others. That's what PHOTOGRAPHY means to me and most likely every other person who has a passion for this art form. So the next time you look at some one's photograph, even aunt Mary's, take a few extra seconds to appreciate what they have created by taking that moment in time, capturing it in a split second to tell a story and be shared forever with anyone who is willing to take the time to share in the wonderful story behind it.

I hope you enjoy my work as much as I do creating it and find something in my public galleries you would like to purchase & display in your home, office or business material. MOST every image contained in this site are for sale for Private Prints, Advertising materials or Commercial Use. If you come upon an image that does not list a price for print or purchasing copyright use, Email me directly at: info@billpador.com for pricing or licensing fees.

Please feel free to comment on any photograph you like, rest assured I personally read & appreciate each and EVERY ONE of them !

I look forward to working for some you in the future and capturing your special moments so they may live forever !

"Dreams DO Come True"

Best Regards,
Bill Pador

\"Can You see me now\"

-11/22/07-
This capture had a special place in my heart from the moment I took it. Titled "Can You see me Now" was captured at the Grand Palladium resort in Riviera Maya Mexico in May 2007. While I was out alone for a walk with my camera I headed for this tree that I had seen the day before and thought it would make a great photograph since it was unique the way it was split in 4 different directions possibly from a lightning strike or storm of some sort. So after I arrived at the spot I wanted to start shooting at I began clicking some frames off. Then I noticed something moving inside of it. I waited and waited but it wouldn't give me a clear view of what was there. After about 15 min. this lizard poked his head out just a tiny bit and then went back in. I kept saying "Come on dude, poke your head all the way out so I can get this shot" Finally he did just as I had hoped and this magical frame was taken just before he went back inside. I said to myself "SELF" I think I just heard that lizard say "Can You see me now" ? LOL Hence the title. I took one look at my 2" screen and new it was special and I couldn't wait to get back to my room to see it on my laptop. This photo required very little post-processing and basically came out of the camera the way you see it.

I entered this photo in an International contest in the Animal/Pets Category a few months ago and was just notified that after being reviewed by the selection committee it has been chosen as a semi-finalist and has also been chosen to be PUBLISHED in their next Nation Publication due out in the winter of 2008.

I knew the photo was special when I took it and the composition was perfect, but I never thought in a million years it would get "International" Recognition. It's an honor to have my work recognized by an International committee and be published in a book. To be in the company of other fine photographers and artists from around the world in the same book is just an incredible experience for me. Talk about walking on a cloud, I'm there right now and their real fluffy !

So that's my good news for today, Thanks for reading and sharing in my great news !

Bill

\"I'm now an International Award Winning Photographer\" ! ! !

12-13-07
I was notified today that my work titled "Can you see me Now" has been chosen as a FINALIST in the ILP competition but more importantly I've been Awarded * The International Published Photographer "EDITORS CHOICE AWARD" for Top photo in the Animal category ! No cash award but a nice addition to my resume & work reference. I am so thrilled & honored winning this award and having my work in the running for the Grand Prize of $10,000.00 & now being an Award Wining Internationally Recognized & Published Photographer, "Whew how Cool" . . . That money would allow me to purchase the newest Nikon equipment I really need to propel my art into the next level so keep your fingers crossed for me !

If that wasn't enough to take my breath away, I've also been Nominated for this years Invitation only "PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR" and "INTERNATIONAL OPEN PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST" Sponsored by The International Society of Photographers being held in Las Vegas in March 2008 with a shot at winning 1 of 2 additional $10,000.00 prizes ! I am just over whelmed with joy just to be nominated.

To be Recognized & Placed in the company of such great photographers from around the world is just a wonderful & true honor for me.

I would like to Thank my Close Friends, Clients & most importantly my FAMILY. You all have always supported me in what ever I chose to do and have given me the strength through some really rough times in my life the last 10 years to over come so many obstacles to continue chasing my dreams. I just wish you all knew how much your support means to me and how it drives me every day to be the very best at what I do.

So Mom, Dad & Kelly Thank You "VERY" Much for your help, support & believing in me & my dreams. "Pop" Thanks for helping me get the business off the ground, I really appreciate it. Special Thanks to my best friend of almost 30 years BRAD for your inspirational speech it meant a lot to me and all my great friends of 2o2k for all your support, you guys are the best !

I'll post my Award letters & inserts in my next Blog entry.

Thank You All,
Bill

"International PUBLISHED PHOTOGRAPHER - EDITOR'S CHOICE 2007 WINNER" - *Animal Category*

12-14-07
Pictured are the letters I received regarding my Award Winning Photo "Can you see me Now" . . . Feels great to be an award wining photographer !Below are some excerpts from the award letters. . . .

From the desk of:
Jeffrey Bryan
Managing Editor

Dear Bill,

The votes are in, and we are proud to congratulate you for your outstanding artistic achievement. The editors were thrilled to inform you that your photo was honored with the prestigious Editor’s Choice Award because of your artistic accomplishments and unique perspective--characteristics found in the most noteworthy photographic works. To further commemorate this prestigious achievement, we have elected you to receive the 2007 Editor’s Published Photographer Ribbon Award.

This stunning pin proudly displays your elevated status in our photographic community. Since only an elite group of published photographers were selected to receive this special honor, imagine the sense of pride you will feel when others see you wearing the 2007 Editor’s Choice Published Photographer Award Pin. What an impressive way to show off your status as an honored photographer for the year 2007! It is truly a masterpiece that honors your outstanding and well-deserved accomplishments.

* * * * *
International Society of Photographers Letter -

Dear Bill,

There is great news, and I want to be the first person to tell you. You are nominated for this year's Photographer of the Year Competition and the International Open Photography Contest, both held at our 2008 Convention. It was not hard at all to choose this year's nominees. Your talent and dedication to photography makes you an obvious choice.

The 2008 International Society of Photographers Convention and Symposium will take place in Las Vegas, Nevada, March 27-30, 2008 at the Riviera Hotel and Casino. We are just now putting the finishing touches on what is sure to be the biggest photography celebration of the year.

Bill, I want you to know that I am reserving a place for you at this year's event. Our panel of judges looks forward to seeing you and your very best photography in this year's competition. As a nominee for this year's Photographer of the Year award, you will be presented with a newly designed, imported lead crystal trophy honoring your outstanding achievements in photography. You could be the winner of one of the two $10,000.00 Grand Prizes that will be announced live on Sunday, March 30, 2008.

12-30-07 - Nikon D-300 Review

Good Afternoon ! Well most of the major holidays are over for the exception of bringing in the New Year tomorrow night. I hope you all had a wonderful holiday enjoying your family & friends. Myself I had a great Christmas with my kids, there's nothing like watching the joy on their faces on Christmas morning, it brings back your own memories of childhood and a time where life was just, well SIMPLE. Nothing to worry about except which gift you were going to play with or wear first. Ah the good old days right ?

Personally I had the pleasure of adding another great piece of equipment to my arsenal, the newest high tech camera in Nikon's line the Mighty D-300 ! This monster of digital technology is perhaps one of the finest camera I have ever had the pleasure to shoot. While purchasing it my salesman informed me that photographers that shoot Nikon's Dx2 Pro camera were trading their bodies in for this marvelous hardware to get in on the fantastic technology provided by this Digital Single Reflex marvel.

Sporting 12.3 Million High Resolution Pixels and the ability to shoot 8 frames per second the first thing you notice when you grab onto to this camera is that it is WELL BUILT ! A Magnesium Alloy body wrapped in space age rubber lends the feel of a tank in your hands. It's heavy construction of approx. 1.82 lbs. is well balanced and a pleasure to shoot over long periods of time. With the ability to shoot in 12 & 14 bit RAW format at 3 levels *Loss-less Compressed, Compressed & Uncompressed enables the user to do just about any Post Production work effortlessly, especially using the bundled software, Nikon's Award Winning "Capture NX" which was a welcomed surprise that they FINALLY bundled their software with the camera instead of making you spend another $200 out of pocket to adjust your photos properly using their software made specifically for Nikon cameras. Your also able to shoot in .TIFF, Several levels of .JPG and NEF (RAW) .JPG combinations as well. The New 3" - 920,000-dot (VGA) Color LCD display with 170' viewing angle & 100% (yes I said ONE HUNDRED PERCENT) frame coverage makes for reviewing a capture a pure joy. The LCD screen now also seconds as a LIVE VIEW mode allowing the user to frame and shoot while looking at a live picture on the LCD without ever having to squint into the view finder. I have found this feature very helpful already allowing me to frame shots from ground & floor level without having to put my belly in the dirt, a welcome feature for sure. The screen colors are vivid and accurate especially when reviewing a shot using the multiple level zoom which is quick and precise.

The D-300 borrows many features from it's higher priced cousin, the D-3 ($5000.00) sharing the same auto-focus system which has multiple levels to choose from such as 9, 21 or 51 contact points along with a 51 point 3D Color Matrix Metering II system, Center Weight or Spot metering, which has worked flawlessly during my testing. ISO settings range from several choices of ISO-100 (Nikon calls L-1,L-.7 & L-.3) all the way up to ISO-3200 which can be pushed to ISO-6400 also using 3 steps (H-0.3, H-0.7 & H-1.0). Background "Noise" which is always a concern at higher ISO settings is "VERY LOW" even when using the highest ISO-6400 setting in low light using NO Flash and ambient lighting. I was amazed at how little noise that was detectable in the darker areas & blacks of the photos. JUST AMAZING picture quality which will add to the value of this camera every wedding I shoot allowing my customers to enjoy the highest in quality low light shots and enabling me to use every low light & creative lighting trick in the book now.

I could go on for days about this camera but I'll spare you any further technical details you may not be able to understand anyway. If your interested in further details there are tons of reviews online you could read by doing a simple google search. But for me, The bottom line is that by owning this camera and using it for my customers, YOU benefit from all this wonderful gadgetry in the end. It gives me the necessary tools to provide my clients with the highest quality photos to capture their memories for generations to come. Which is by all intended purposes the reason I do this in the first place ! Having the ability to provide a crisp, clean & VIVID image every shot that can been printed from a small 4" x 6" standard print all the way up to 30" x 40" Canvas master pieces and beyond is something that is very important for the finished product.

This will be my final blog entry of 2007, but 2008 is just 24 hours away and I'll start doing what I do all over again, shooting pictures and enjoying every click of the shutter ! I've started creating all NEW Projects and packages for the new year & Bookings for 2008 and even deep into 2009 are being reserved now, so call soon to book your special day before it's taken !

So for now, From my family to yours - THANK YOU FOR YOUR BUSINESS - "HAPPY NEW YEAR" and may 2008 Bring you Good Health and Happiness !

Best Regards,
Bill Pador

\"2-8-08 Fashion Show-Quick Story about LIFE\"

Jefferson High School “FASHION SHOW” Shoot

Well today is Friday, Thank goodness right? LOL I hope you have a few minutes to read this Blog entry, it’s a little long but a good read (I think).

What a fun weekend I had working last Saturday night. I was hired to shoot the Jefferson Township High Schools “Project Graduation” Fashion Show which was a fund raiser for the graduating class of 2008. The show was titled “SOME ENCHANTED EVENING” and rightfully so. I started my day off by doing my routine gear & equipment check, charging batteries, formatting memory cards and setting up my custom shoot menus in my Nikon D300 & back-up body for the expected tricky low light shoot. Knowing that they would be using various colored lights from above and a strong spot light to illuminate the models had me a little nervous as to how I would go about choosing my settings to balance everything out to my liking. As I always do before a shoot, I try to map everything out in my head while the pencil jots notes down in my notebook as they flow through my head at lightning speed (well maybe not lightning, more like a snails pace) but LIGHTNING sounds so much more intriguing doesn’t it? LOL Well no matter how quickly it all came together really didn’t matter as long as I had my game plan together to make things roll smooth, I like smooth when I’m working, the more I feel comfortable with my game plan the less stress I have during the shoot which results in my having FUN which in turn results in great captures. It’s funny how things always work themselves out one way or another but they always do no matter how worried you are about a situation.

My stress wasn’t coming from my gear or game plan it was coming from the thought of dealing with over 100 High School aged models whom for all intensive purposes have never modeled before, so I’m saying to myself “SELF” What have you gotten yourself into this time LOL. I had attended the dress rehearsal 2 days prior to get a feel of where they were going to be on the stage, take some light readings and get a general feel of the kids attitudes about modeling (especially the boys were worrying me for some unknown reason LOL). Well I must say I was truly “SURPRISED” at how well the kids behaved, listening intently to their director as she gave them their instructions. Then I started saying to myself “SELF” this might work out after all!

When Saturday night came along I managed to get myself set up way ahead of schedule for the intermission SENIOR pictures where the kids would come into the library and just hang out with their friends and have a few relaxed photos taken together. I had left my tripods set up by the make shift back drop 2 very nice woman had set up for the pictures and had been told they would LINE up, come in with a friend or TWO, shoot the picture and go onto the next SMALL group. Yea right ! I’ll get back to that in a minute LOL

The show started pretty much right on schedule and off I went doing my thing, I fired up the speed lights, took another light reading and got ready for action. The show went VERY smoothly from the get go (did I mention I LIKE “SMOOTH”?) Obviously someone (or multiples of some & one’s) had put a lot of time & effort into the planning of this event because it went as smooth as ice, unfortunately that hard, cold concrete floor I was kneeling on for 3.5 hours shooting over 600 photos was also as smooth, cold and HARD as Ice and what did I forget in my planning? My kneepads ! Can you say “OUCH”? Beside my 43 year old knees screaming for vengeance and yes my disability of having a few hundred thousand dollars worth of titanium hardware screwed into my lower spine reminding me every second that I’m not the same as I was say 8 years ago before my injury I was having a BLAST ! I mean I truly had a smile from ear to ear while firing off shot after shot on my D300, following the models across the stage and back again waiting for those precious milli-seconds when they turn and their hair and dress glide with the self generated breeze to capture the golden moment we pray for. My timing was dead on that night even as the agony of defeat reminded me of those forgotten knee pads, geez I sure wish I would have remembered my safety gear.

Now onto the meat & potatoes of my story. As the only official photographer in the house (or so I thought) I had the run of the floor and boy that floor ran me but good. At some point during the first half of the show I got a tap on the shoulder from a nice young lady holding what I think was a CANON ( 1st thought – ENEMY) LOL almost like seeing an insurgent with that pesky AK47 on the opposite side of the battlefield for the first time. She politely asked me if I could reposition myself back & over because she was taking photos for the schools year book from the front row dead center seat. My first thought is “Oh boy, I HAD – *PRIME* Real estate and I just lost it” and my second thought is “Wow it must be nice to be able to sit comfortably in a seat and take unobstructed pictures at center stage” LOL. This threw a huge monkey wrench into my game plan mighty quick and a short burst of adrenaline flowed into my veins trying to figure out how I was going to get the shots I needed now since the playing field was not all that big to begin with and the opportunity for those MAGIC turn shots I had planned out for days had now all but been destroyed. The perfect UP angle I HAD was gone, as was my diagonal angle for the turn shots. But what was I going to say to her “NO I’m not moving”? She was there to do a job like me, she was a young woman of about 17, fellow photographer with a similar goal and besides I have an obligation to be polite and helpful to another shutter bug who is just learning my craft, so says the oath I took from the Professional Photographers Association I pay all that money to every year LOL. So basically, “I MOVED” for her and ran the scenario through my head real quick WHILE the models continued to flow out onto the stage. I had to make some major adjustments but I made it work, I didn’t have a choice at that point right?

So after the first session was over, I head into the library for the senior shots. Ya know that well organized, well planned SIMPLE shots I set up for? SURPRISE ! As I open the door I see a SEA of young men & woman scattered about in large groups, the noise is defining and my equipment like those tripods and lighting stands I set up before hand for the perfect portrait shots had been brushed aside by SOMEONE or those “One’s” again LOL. Well so much for planning on that part of my shoot too. Gotta go to plan “B” which is, ahhhhhhhh…… Well I left plan “B” back in the lower part of my Abdullah Oblongata and it never made it to the pad LOL. There’s no use in trying to organize anything at this point because I don’t have that much time before I need to head back into the stage area for the second half of the job and the young lady from the year book is already doing my job for me snapping photos of groups that were all but smiles and laughter at this point. OK, no problem I was a cop for 16 years and got paid to think on my feet everyday of my life to stay alive I can make this work right! Right, so off I went wondering the room and using the basic technique of “Show people you have a camera in your hands, point it towards them and they will pose automatically” WORKED LIKE A CHARM ! I never did get those personal PORTRAITS I was planning on taking but I did get a lot of very happy, well mannered high school students dressed to the “T” willing to smile and take some Street / Freelance shots so I guess it worked out in the end.

The great thing is that the young lady shooting for the year book with her enemy brand equipment approached me with some photography questions along with asking me for some advice & tips on how to shoot the situation we were in really made my night. It brought back many memories of MYSELF at that age, asking for help and looking for some guidance in a hobby, craft & Profession that has consumed my life for over 30 years as one of my favorite things to do and reminded me of all the times I asked my father in law who recently passed away questions about photography and learning from him. It was a pleasure helping her even if it was just a minor lesson, but it brought joy to me knowing that I had the knowledge to pass onto someone in need who enjoys photography like I do. She’ll probably never remember my name or the events that took place that night, but hopefully she’ll remember that quick lesson in angles and lighting to shoot the shot someday and it will provide her with the knowledge to get out of a similar jam. Oh to end my little life story here, she approached me asking if she could possibly use a few of MY photos for the year book that I shot. I answered her the same I would anyone asking that same question to a professional photographer “SURE, as long as you give me my copyright credits under the photos and send me the $250 PER PHOTO Commercial Licensing fees you can have anything you want”! ROTFL – I’m only kidding, I didn’t ask for the copyright UNDER THE PHOTOS ! LOL – Hope you got that one, THINK About what I just said.

To the young lady I just wrote about (I’m sorry I forgot your name, age does that to you), you have my card, call me anytime and I’ll get you the photos you need for your book it would be my pleasure. Thank you for the great fun memory and I hope you get use out of that quick lesson we talked about that night about angles & flash (BOUNCH). It was a pleasure meeting you and all the fine young adults of Jefferson High School, you represent your school well & I’m proud to have my oldest daughter in such great company & friends. Good Luck to the Class of 2008 & Good luck with your photography young lady, it’s a never ending lesson in capturing “LIFE”….. THE END! Whew I need a drink of water after that one……………

Best Regards,
Bill