Corpus Cristi Celebration Cuenca, Ecuador

Cuenca, Ecuador 062411 The religious celebration of Corpus Cristi also known as El Septenario include the burning of structures called castles covered with pyrotechnics as well as hundreds of vendors selling sweets. The festival goes on for seven days and it culminates with a procession on the seventh day. (Essdras M Suarez/ EMS Photography) BEHIND THE SCENES: I was in Ecuador to teach several photo workshops around the country. I was in three different cities and taught close to 100 people between students and professionals. The Corpus Cristi celebration had been mentioned to me but it truly was serendipity that I happened to be there on this night. TECH STUFF: two cameras D3, D3S; two lenses a manual 24 2.0 and a 70-200 AF 2.8. I took a flash but decided against it. ISOs vary from 800 to 3200. Shooting fireworks is always challenging since you are dealing with a constant light-changing situation. As most of the times, I started shooting on Aperture priority and then once I'd look at the images I'd turn the camera to Manual mode thus controlling everything manually. This is strictly a trial and error situation.

Stanley Cup in Boston

Boston, MA 061611 Bruins’ team members stopped by at Tia's Restaurant and Bar on June 16, 2011 with the Stanley Cup. Fans like Sondra Perry (Cq) (foreground) of Manchester, NH who was posing for a friend to take her photo as Andrea Wolley (Cq) of Boston had her photo taken with Bruins' captain Zdeno Chara (bckground) Later player Dennis Seidenberg moved the cup around for more photos. But the ones that got the most fun out of the event were waitresses Kristen Wright (dk hair) and Kelsey Barrasso (blonde). They had asked to have their photo taken with the cup and when Wright couldn’t pick it up she turned Tyler Seguin and said, “Bro’ could you help me out with this?” and he replied,”did you just ‘bro’ me?”

Monson, MA/ Two days after the Tornado

Monson, MA 060311 Residents of Monson, MA try to cope with the aftermath of a tornado which hit theirs and 18 other communities in Massachussets two days prior. Some had their walls blown out as they watch from the inside of their homes, others like these children played with found objects like this bowling ball that showed up on their lawn and this soccer ball which took the brunt of the tornado head on. A bent STOP sign serves as yet another testimony of the raw power of mother nature. (Essdras M Suarez/ Boston Globe)/ MET

Monson, MA/ One Day After the Tornado

Monson, MA 060211 One day after three tornadoes hit 19 communities in Massachussetts, residents of Monson, MA got to take a first look at the devastation. Some attended church services, other started on the clean up. Such as Tony Esposito who took a break from cleaning as he sat atop the rubble which used to be his home. And some as these friends found a moment of joy in such simple things as finding a plastic Crayola piggy bank in the debris at one of their friend’s home. (Essdras M Suarez/ Globe Staff)/ MET BEHIND THE SCENES: Yesterday when I saw the weather reports I kind of knew I'd be covering this story today. I was told to go to Mononson, MA where a service was being held at a church which lost its steeple during the storm. Not hard to make photos when there is so much devastation all around you. TECH STUFF: Shot again with my trusty 70-200 2.8 with a 1.4 and my 24- 70 2.8. WB: Sunny, Cloudy and AWB for inside the church. ISO varied from 320 to 6400.