Magical Milestones

She had me at the first few moments of her newborn life. Now at 10 months old, my baby daughter looks into my camera lens with such natural poise and beauty. This "poise" does not last for long because she quickly crawls off to the next saliva adventure fast and furious.



If life is like a box of chocolates, then raising a family is like juggling flaming torches. Taking a step back and looking at the big picture of life's multi-tasking can be fulfilling and entertaining. Fixating on the problems and not enjoying the "moment" can get you burned.



My oldest daughter, Madeline, recently took interest in animating her LEGO Friends playset. I did not expect "Toy Story 3" during this production but I jumped at the chance at my daughter's interest in photography. With a quick instruction with my old Canon Powershot TX1, my daughter instantly picked up the "time lapse video" concept. With every snapshot, Madeline posed every figure for at least an hour and a half. I spent the next 2 hours sequencing the video with Quicktime 7 Pro and editing with iMovie'11.

Apple iPad and iPhone users click here to play for mobile devices.



My mini clone, otherwise known as my son, grew impatient and chose to tackle his large collection of LEGO's by himself. The NASA Space Shuttle at LEGOLAND Florida was not part of his conquests. LEGO Technic, LEGO City and the new LEGO Dino playsets are more his liking. Although,despite the price, the large scale LEGO Star Wars Millenium Falcon tempts my son's fancy. Milestones can be very expensive.



Happy one year anniversary to my loving wife's business at her new location and building. With a new and supportive staff for 2012, my wife is looking forward to more landmark events in her practice.



Class is in session. There are more magical milestones to come for my pint sized wonder. I am ready with my Apple devices, Canon HD DSLR gear and my humble parental know-how to juggle life's multi-tasking with unbridled patience. This time with no flaming torches.

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Winter's Dolphin Tale Experience at Clearwater Marine Aquarium

Just like Hope, a permanent bottle nosed dolphin resident at Clearwater Marine Aquarium, the non profit marine sanctuary reached new heights recently. Record crowds converged to the CMA that specializes in rescuing, rehabilitating and releasing marine animals. They came to see Winter, the major motion picture star of "Dolphin Tale" released in 2011.



Winter, a permanent bottled nosed dolphin resident at CMA, is special. Due to injuries sustained from a crab trap, Winter's tail had to be amputated. A prosthetic tail was successfully fitted to Winter's body to help her swim. This true story inspired the Hollywood movie, "Dolphin Tale".



Although Winter's plight is the storyline of the movie and the major draw to the CMA, the marine animal rescue organization educates the local community through environmental awareness through marine animal care. Panama, the oldest and partially deaf resident of the CMA, performs to the excitement of the audience. Panama is Winter's full time surrogate mother in the "Winter Zone".



You will only see Freeman, Connick and Judd in 2-D at the CMA...the 2 dimensions of a color poster. Fortunately, you can see Winter in any dimension in his holding tank. They even have underwater viewing windows to see him in aquatic action.



Winter's adventures continue to downtown Clearwater, Florida. With a complimentary Jolley Trolley ride, you can view interactive exhibits of actual sets and props from the movie. They also have a high definition theater viewing of behind the scenes footage plus an interactive kids fun zone. Just like every other theme park in Florida, the exhibit ends at the gift shop. We did not leave empty handed.



The Clearwater Marine Aquarium is a sight to see with the family. My kids could not stop referencing the movie during our visit in between the gift shop begging.



You can view more photos in Winter's Dolphin Tale Experience at Clearwater Marine Aquarium Gallery shot with the Canon EOS Rebel T3i/600D paired with the Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS lens.



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Epic

Bigger than life itself. No fabled heroes on this New Year's Day but only humbled eyes capturing a chronicle of events called my family. Year 2011 has passed and the dauntless task of 2012 seems as bright as the New Year's Eve firework's display at LEGOLAND Florida.



Cousins forever. Just like Dick Clark's Times Square Ball Drop for New Year's Eve, the countdown is ticking for priceless childhood moments. School winter break converged masses upon central Florida with several theme parks closing its doors due to over capacity. We braved the traffic and crowds and hit LEGOLAND Florida with a vengeful bite of Granny Apple Fries with delightful whip cream.



Enamored by bombs bursting in air like my wife, my almost 10 month old daughter shares the same fondness for elaborate firework displays. Armed with store bought 500 gram gunpowder cakes, my brother in law illuminates the neighborhood with theme park quality fireworks. The little ones duck and cover while the adults and the local County Sheriff gaze with mouths agape.



A thousand points of light shine bright upon the best Christmas of my lifetime. "The best Christmas" may sound cliche to my kid's gift filled eyes but it is an epic truth to me.



My oldest niece meets the youngest of the Soriano family only for the second time this year. Despite this gap, my baby daughter stares deep into her oldest cousin's eyes with a lifetime of familiarity...Epic.



You can view more photos in my New Year's Eve for 2012 Gallery shot with the Canon EOS Rebel T3i paired with the Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS lens.

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'Tis the Season to be Jolly !

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from the Soriano family. The hustle and bustle of gift giving and re-gifting comes to an abrupt end but this season's chaos truly wanes on New Year's day.



The spirit of Christmas is in every LEGO brick of this 6 ton LEGO Christmas tree at LEGOLAND Florida. Half a million LEGO bricks later and 30 feet into the sky, adults and kids were bright eyed and bushy tailed to this magnificent spectacle. My kids spent 30 seconds at the LEGO Christmas tree and 2 hours at the LEGO store drooling at the goodies. So much for Christmas spirit...



One more week to return unwanted Christmas sweaters, redeem gift cards for that "real" present and horde once again for the after-Christmas shopping events until the adults get back to work and the kids return to school.



My children celebrate the trifecta of Christmas Day. Opening gifts at my mother's house, opening gifts again at my in-law's house and finally opening gifts in the Soriano household. Call it the triple threat of ear to ear smiles and wallet shrinking.



Cousin chaos returns. My favorite niece and nephew came for a visit for exactly 2 hours and 45 minutes. I savored every minute and second of this rare opportunity.



Gifts come in many forms but this gift is special. Wrapped in a diaper and this year's latest baby fashion, my soon to be 10 month old daughter is truly the best present under the tree.



Christmas is all about the kids. Adults have 364 other days to celebrate. Okay, maybe 363 days including birthdays.



The towering skyline of downtown of my family holiday photo does not compare to the unseasonably high temperatures this Christmas Day in Tampa, Florida. No snowstorms and winter gridlock but just mid 80 degree temperatures for my kids to enjoy. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!



You can view more pictures shot with the Canon EOS 5D Mark II and the Canon EOS Rebel T3i/600D in my Christmas 2011 Gallery.

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A Christmas Concert

'Tis the season for holiday school events filled with itchy Christmas sweaters and uncomfortable patent leather shoes. December brings winter break for my grade school kids but not without a glorious Christmas concert before the New Year.



Sing the classics en masse. A serenade of "Silent Night", "Feliz Navidad" and "Jingle Bells" blasted through the church with a welcoming and cringing audio feedback. Nothing says Merry Christmas like a deafening tone.



Crimson blossoms emerge from the angelic light yielding overwhelming power over their parents. Flashes pop and camcorders roll during these precious captured moments.



My 9 month old daughter mimics the Christmas melodies with her high pitched squeals of delight. She will soon join her "Hark the Herald Siblings Sing".



Organized chaos. This is what Christmas looks like on the outside. Look deep into the bewildered eyes of onlooking parents in the audience and you will discover the true meaning of Christmas. (Hint: It is not Apple devices or Canon gear.)



You can view the HTML 5 version of the above video in my Christmas Concert 2011 Gallery if your mobile device cannot play flash video. There are pictures as well shot with the Canon EOS 1D Mark IV paired with EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II and EF 24-70mm f/2.8L lenses.



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A Pirate Christmas

The month of December brings cold weather, Christmas joy and pirates. Pirates, Santa and his elves to be exact. My daughter's Drama Club at her school performed their musical rendition of "A Pirate Christmas" to kick off the holiday season.



My daughter loves Christmas. The decorations, the carols and mostly receiving wrapped gifts are only on her short list. Costumed in her custom elf outfit designed by my crafty wife, my daughter personified the Christmas season in a 36 minute performance.



Santa and his elves encounter a bastion of greedy pirates who lost the spirit of Christmas, the spirit of giving rather than receiving. With several song and dance routines later, the pirates learn the true meaning of Christmas with the help from Santa and his elves. Sounds like a Hallmark made for T.V. moment.



Watch out Selena Gomez! My daughter may hit the big screen soon but of course the movie requires a serious Christmas holiday plot.



You can view more in my A Pirate Christmas Gallery shot with the Canon EOS 1D Mark IV paired with the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II and EF 24-70mm f/2.8L lenses.



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All Quiet on the Thanksgiving Front

Thanksgiving Day usually sparks the season of holiday warfare. With only 31 days until Christmas Day, chaos erupts with annual Black Friday shopping events, must attend holiday office parties, school Christmas pageants and the ever stressful large gatherings of family functions. This Thanksgiving Day was surprisingly different for a change. Why? I did not have cooked turkey obligations.



With relative calm and precooked Costco Kirkland Signature Honey Glazed Ham plus the added bonus of an enormous baked apple pie with Blue Bell vanilla ice cream, Thanksgiving Day was quite relaxing and stress free. No messy Turkey frying with expensive $50 peanut oil for a $20 bird and no long distance traveling this year makes me a happy camper. Just Florida weather in the Fall season and three servings of Apple pie a la mode to enable my post Thanksgiving dinner hibernation.



To win battles in holiday warfare, you have to distract the enemy (in-laws and kids) with rudimentary devices like an inflatable bounce house. Despite a few head bumps and tears, a few dollars spent on a bounce house rental equals priceless enjoyment of a plate full of turkey with all the trimmings.



All is quiet on this Thanksgiving Day. I give thanks for my family, my apple pie a la mode and my trusty Canon EOS Rebel T3i/600D for capturing this turkey moment.