Thursday, January 30, 2014

Dee Wallace


#WomenYouShouldKnow 

Dee Wallace
has 207 movie and television credits as an actress. Seven new projects in which she appears are in post-production or completed for 2014 release.


Dee starred as Elliott's mother (Mary) in the Steven Spielberg film E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, starred in Cujo (Donna), and played key roles in The Hills Have Eyes, The Howling, The Stepford Wives and 10.

In The Office, she played Andy Bernard's mother in the eighth-season episode, "Garden Party."

Dee was a ballet soloist before she became an actress.

She married actor Christopher Stone, her co-star in Cujo and The Howling. Christopher died suddenly fifteen years later.

Photograph copyright Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

#DeeWallaceStone

Sunday, January 26, 2014

Kansas City Ballet & Todd Bolender Center

I previewed the impressive 2014-2015 season for Kansas City Ballet.

New Artistic Director Devon Carney has accomplished in 7 months, what easily could have taken 2 years. Among other achievements, Devon established Kansas City Ballet II (for emerging professionals), and a dashing new logo has been designed.

Congratulations to the Board of Directors, Devon, Executive Director Jeffrey Bentley, the staff, and the talented dancers who make it happen.

Pictured is the home for Kansas City Ballet, the Todd Bolender Center for Dance and Creativity.

Photograph copyright 2014 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Friday, January 24, 2014

Jack Campbell

Attorney Jack Campbell served as President of the Kansas City Jaycees in the 1970's. During his presidency, that group became among the first in the nation to admit women. 

The Kansas City Jaycees were scheduled to host the United States Jaycees Ten Outstanding Young Men conference, however because of Kansas City's new policy to admit women, the national organization cancelled the meeting. This resulted in a lawsuit being filed in United States District Court. Although the Kansas City Jaycees lost the opportunity to host the national meeting, they created a pathway for women in the Jaycee movement.
 

Jack served in the Missouri General Assembly, and was named Legislator of the Year in 1982 by the political action committee of Hallmark Cards. While serving in the General Assembly, Jack co-sponsored legislation, which established payments for adult daycare through the Missouri Medicaid system.  

Jack's wife Marsha, also an advocate for health care, served as Missouri State Representative from 1997 to 2004. Marsha was named Best State Legislator by The Pitch newspaper.

Photograph copyright Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Friday, January 17, 2014

Publicity Photographs

Shooting exemplary publicity photographs for movies, television and theatre is crucial. Produced and finished creatively, images set the mood for the show, and are used for posters, DVD covers and news media.

Exterior location: Quality Hill Playhouse, in the heart of Kansas City, Missouri

Photograph copyright Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Thursday, January 16, 2014

Frank Haith

Basketball coach Frank Haith was hired in 2004 to lead the Miami Hurricanes into the Atlantic Coast Conference. In his first season, he was a finalist for the Naismith National Coach of the Year Award.

In April, 2011, Frank accepted the head coaching job at the University of Missouri. That year, his Missouri Tigers set a school record for the most regular-season wins at 27. The Tigers were 13-0 in non-conference play, 14-4 in Big 12 play, and 3-0 in Kansas City to win the Big 12 Tournament. 


In March, 2012, the United States Basketball Writers Association awarded him the Henry Iba Award as National Coach of the Year. That same month, he was named the Associated Press College Basketball Coach of the Year.

He has just been named men's basketball head coach for  Tulsa Golden Hurricane.

Frank was born in Queens, New York. When he was 5 years old, he and his older sister went to live with their grandmother. Six years later, when their mother passed, his three siblings joined them.

Photograph copyright Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Geometry: It's Not Just For Dinner

Most of my photographs are more complicated than is evident. This simple image required the use of a scissor lift aerial platform raised high above the table.

Geometry is about shape, size, relative position of the shapes, and the properties of space. I love them all here.

Photograph copyright Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Baby on the Set

My advice when photographing babies is: Don't over-direct. Being patient will pay off. It's good advice for many adult subjects as well.

This little sweetheart was a joy to photograph, and ideal talent for print and broadcast.

Photograph copyright  2013 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

As 2013 Comes to An End...


This is my last photograph for 2013. The view is northeast overlooking the Country Club Plaza in Kansas City, Missouri.


Photograph copyright 2013 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.