Harold Gainer, Master Engraver

Tiffany & Co. retains 23 engravers and 2 Master Engravers to service their clients worldwide.

Based just outside New York City, Harold Gainer is one of those two Master Engravers. Harold has been engraving the finest personal ornaments for 50 years.

Photograph © 2018 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

J. Kent Barnhart, Quality Hill Playhouse

Photograph © 2018 Larry F. Levenson. 

All rights reserved.

Fashion Model: Megan Baudry

#WomenYouShouldKnow

Model: Megan Baudry
Designer: Jennifer Tierney
Style Team: Ashley Marie Hazelwood, Dylan Dunn, Ayla Andel, Nichole Hobbs, Kathryn Craig LE,
Lis Harland, Candis Sandborn.

Photograph © 2018 Larry F. Levenson. 

All rights reserved.

Jessica Paige: Singer, Songwriter, Musician

Jessica Paige returned from Hollywood after her third American Idol adventure (ABC; seasons 7, 8, 15), and quickly booked a performance at the Wareham Opera House in Manhattan, Kansas. 

To show appreciation for the teachers in Wamego, Kansas, who encouraged her music career, Jessica arranged complimentary tickets for educators in USD 320 to her performance.

I admire you, and your gracious gesture, Jessica.

Photographs © 2018 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Liz Vandal: Costume Designer

#WomenYouShouldKnow

Liz Vandal is a French-Canadian costume designer. 

Her career began as a fashion designer, and she later took her designs to ballets, circuses, and movies around the world.

Clients include dance companies, The Backstreet Boys, Cirque de Soleil, AVATAR costumes for 20th Century Fox, and many more.

One of her greatest career achievements was creating 3,000 costumes for the closing ceremony of the Baku 2015 European Games in Azerbaijan. 

Photograph © 2018 Larry F. Levenson. 

All rights reserved.

Stanislav Ioudenitch: Pianist

Pianist Stanislav Ioudenitch has played around the world with a multitude of orchestras including National Philharmonic of Russia, Munich Philharmonic, National Symphony, Mariinsky Orchestra, Rochester Philharmonic, Fort Worth Symphony, and Kansas City Symphony.

Mr. Ioudenitch was the youngest pianist ever invited to give master classes at The International Piano Academy at Lake Como. He was honored with a gold medal at the Eleventh Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in 2001.

Photograph © 2018 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

LaQuanda Faye Jacobs: Wrongfully Convicted

At the age of 16, LaQuanda Faye Jacobs was found guilty of capital murder in Arkansas, and sentenced to life in prison without parole. It was a crime she did not commit.

After 26 years, Faye has been released. 

Midwest Innocence Project

Photograph © 2018 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Alvin Sykes: Human Rights Advocate. Plus, Update

Alvin Sykes engineered the Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crimes Act, which creates a cold-case component within the United States Justice Department. Crimes committed in the pre-civil rights era are able to be reopened.

Mr. Sykes dropped out of high school in the tenth grade. He used the public library system to educate himself, and he began sitting in on courtroom trials to learn the law. He has been active for decades helping solve racially-motivated murders.

Emmett Till was a 14-year-old African American in 1955, when he was murdered for whistling at a white woman in Mississippi. His death is credited for initiating the civil rights movement.

Photograph © 2018 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

UPDATE: Alvin Sykes passed away today, March 19, 2021. Alvin was a remarkable gentleman, and it was an honor to know him. L.F.L.

Shmuel Ashkenasi: Violinist, Chamber Music (Strings)

Violinist Shmuel Ashkenasi hails from Tel Aviv, Israel.

He won the Merriweather Post Competition, placed as a finalist in Belgium's Queen Elizabeth competition, and received second prize in the International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow.

Mr. Ashkenasi formed the esteemed Vermeer Quartet, becoming one of the world's most significant chamber musicians.

As a violin soloist, he has performed with preeminent orchestras in New York City, Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago, Los Angeles, Berlin, London, Moscow, and Tokyo.

Photograph © 2018 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Septime Webre: Choreographer

 

Choreographer Septime Webre's newest project will be performed by Kansas City Ballet at the world premiere of, "The Wizard of Oz".

Mr. Webre is Artistic Director at Hong Kong Ballet, and former Artistic Director at The Washington Ballet.

Photograph © 2018 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Rodney Lincoln #48563: Wrongfully Convicted

After 36 years in prison for a crime he did not commit, Rodney Lincoln is free. 

The sole eyewitness recanted her testimony, and new DNA testing revealed a hair used as evidence was not Rodney's.

Midwest Innocence Project helped make this possible for Rodney, and others wrongfully convicted.

#48563 in the title of this post was Rodney's prisoner identification number.

Photograph © 2018 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Alex Bordyukov: The Bachelorette

Alex Bordyukov was a popular candidate on The Bachelorette (ABC, season 13), with Rachel Lindsay.

Photograph © 2018 Larry F. Levenson. 

All rights reserved.

Brian Kennedy: Song Writer, Composer, Producer, Musician, Pianist

Brian Kennedy has been honored with four Grammy® awards for work with Jennifer Hudson, Rihanna, Chris Brown, and Kelly Clarkson. 

He was nominated for a fifth Grammy® award for an additional project with Rihanna. 

Brian also has five ASCAP Awards.

Photograph © 2018 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Jennifer Lapka Pfeifer

My friend Jennifer Lapka Pfeifer is Founder and President of Rightfully Sewn, a fashion-focused, charitable organization.

Prior to this, Jennifer was Co-Executive Director of the West 18th Street Fashion Show.

Photograph © 2018 Larry F. Levenson.  All rights reserved.

Vladimir Viardo: Pianist

Vladimir Viardo was awarded a Gold Medal at the Fourth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in 1973.

He has collaborated with the world's leading orchestras, including Royal Philharmonic, Moscow Philharmonic, Leningrad Philharmonic, Warsaw Philharmonic, Israel Philharmonic, Prague Philharmonic, Atlanta Symphony, and many more.

Photograph © 2018 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Kristin Smith: Ballerina

This photograph is from 2014.

Kristin Smith: Kansas City Ballet training program member.

Kristin is now Founder and Owner of Beyond Ballet in Cincinnati, Ohio.

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

Food Photography

Dinner.

Photograph © 2018 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Robert Gibby Brand: Actor, Singer

Here is singer / actor Robert Gibby Brand playing to my camera, rather than playing to an audience.

Photograph © Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Abby Welcher

Model: Abby Welcher

Photograph © 2018 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Scintilla Setsuna-Capalla: Model

#WomenYouShouldKnow

I made this image of Scintilla Setsuna-Capalla at Kansas City Fashion Week's model workshop in May, 2018.
   
"I like it. You can title it 'Determination'", she said.

Scintilla succumbed to bone cancer three months later on August 26, 2018.

Her port, implanted under the skin on her chest to administer medications, etc., is visible.

#CelebratingWomen 

Photograph © 2018 Larry F. Levenson. 

All rights reserved.

Danni Boatwright

#WomenYouShouldKnow

Danni Boatwright:
- Athlete
- Star Search (CBS) spokesmodel and contestant
- Miss Kansas Teen USA winner
- Miss Teen USA 2nd runner-up
- Miss Kansas USA winner
- Miss USA 1st runner-up
- International model
- Survivor: Guatemala (CBS) winner
- Television and radio sports broadcaster
- Business owner: Sideline Chic sports clothing   

Photograph © 2018 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Changing Demographics

#WomenYouShouldKnow

Rich, warm skin tones, and darker hair and eyes, are exceptionally stylish.

Demographics have changed in the United States: The beauty industry is promoting, and capitalizing on, the look of ethnic women, whom they note have individual and exotic appeal.

Perhaps this change indicates we are more culturally aware and open to diversity.

Actor / Model: Jessica Salgado

Photograph © 2018 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

#MexicanAmerican

Runway and Print Model

Model: Kristen Jadlow

Photograph © Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Rube and Nina

Rube and Nina Goeringer have been making candy and ice cream since 1985 at Georgetown Valley Candy Company. 

Not long after they started their business, weatherman Willard Scott showed one of their chocolate bars on The Today Show (NBC) during a Christmas broadcast.

Nina smiled at me and very quietly said, "I want to make sure you know we've been married 60 years."

#WomenYouShouldKnow

Photograph © 2018 Larry F. Levenson. 

All rights reserved.

Cadet M. Smith: U.S. Air Force JROTC

Cadet M. Smith is part of the Color Guard of the United States Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps in Denver, Colorado.

Photograph © 2018 Larry F. Levenson. 

All rights reserved.

SWAT, Sheriff's Office

Patrol Deputy Keith Sandford, S.W.A.T. Operator, Clear Creek County, Colorado Sheriff's Office keeps the public safe this Independence Day, 2018.

Photograph © 2018 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

#SpecialWeaponsAndTactics

Dean MacDonald, Actor

Actor Dean MacDonald's career began as a pirate in his hometown of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. 

Presently, he is playing a different type of outlaw.

Photograph © 2018 Larry F. Levenson. 

All rights reserved.

Bob Ramsey: Attorney

Bob Ramsey, a St. Louis attorney, works tirelessly to help innocent people convicted and imprisoned for crimes they did not commit.

Recently, Bob was presented the Sean O'Brien Freedom Award. This prestigious award honors individuals for exemplary advocacy and work on behalf of the innocent.

Bob's law partner is his daughter, Liz Ramsey.

Midwest Innocence Project, Innocence Project

Photograph © 2018 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

A Tribute to Sammy Cahn

The performer was Frank Sinatra; the lyrical genius was Sammy Cahn.

Quality Hill Playhouse pays tribute to, "Sinatra's Songwriter".

Left to right: Lauren Bradshaw, Lauren Braton, Joseph Carr.

Photograph © 2018 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Bill Kurtis: The CBS Morning News

Bill Kurtis started in radio when he was a teenager. He went on to complete a degree in journalism, then graduated from law school.

While in law school, he worked as a television reporter. After graduating with a Juris Doctor, Bill worked at a law firm before WBBM-TV (CBS) in Chicago asked him to join the station.

Bill enjoyed a 30-year career with CBS News, and worked with A&E as well.

Photograph © 2018 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Ralph Hipp: News Anchor and Reporter

Ralph Hipp has been news Anchor and Reporter at WIBW-TV (CBS) in Topeka, Kansas, since 1990.

Photograph © 2018 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Patrick Fabian: Actor, Producer

In the early 1990's, you enjoyed Patrick Fabian in Beverly Hills, 90210, then often in the television series Saved by the Bell: The College Years. 

His career continued to well over 150 credits, including Melrose Place, Bones, Elementary, Joan of Arcadia, 24, Veronica Mars, NCIS, Boston Legal, Better Call Saul, Castle, and more.

Photograph © 2018 Larry F. Levenson. 

All rights reserved.

Runway Model

Model: Stacey Lo

Designer: Georgina Herrera -MCKBrands, Georgina Luckie

Hair: Geena Mericle, Nirvana Hair Studios & Dylan Dunn

Makeup: Dior at Dillard's

Photograph © 2018 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Willie Ying: Movie Director

Willie Ying: Director, stuntman specializing in Chinese martial arts.

Willie emigrated to New Zealand from China when he was a child, and became interested in martial arts.

That training led to his career as an Aukland-based stuntman.

With an abundance of movie and television credits as a stunt performer and stunt coordinator, he followed his passion for directing, and has been honored with numerous awards.

As an adult, Willie returned to Beijing, China, and describes himself as the Chinese Kiwi filmmaker. 

I photographed him during his first trip to the United States.

Photograph © 2018 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Christopher Robinson: Author, Poet

Christopher Robinson is a Boston University and Hunter College MFA graduate, a MacDowell Colony Fellow, and a Yale Younger Poets Prize (Yale University Press) finalist. 

His writing has appeared in The Kenyon Review, and McSweeny's.  

Books include War of the Encyclopaedists: A Novel (Simon & Schuster), Deliver Us, and Brain Vs. Heart.

Photograph © 2018 Larry F. Levenson. 

All rights reserved.

Raphael Sbarge - Actor, Producer, Director

Raphael Sbarge was four years old when he was cast in a new television show, "Sesame Street" (1969, PBS).

Raphael has over 175 credits on his resume, including: MacGyver, Blue Bloods, Better Call Saul, Elementary, NCIS Los Angeles, Scorpion, Chicago Fire and many more.

Photograph © 2018 Larry F. Levenson. 

All rights reserved.

Lindsay Shively, Television Anchor

#WomenYouShouldKnow

Lindsay Shively is a morning anchor at 41 Action News - KSHB (NBC).

Photograph © 2018 Larry F. Levenson. 

All rights reserved.

#CelebratingWomen

Runway Model

Model: Vikki Lynn

Photograph © 2018 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Floyd Scott Bledsoe: Wrongfully Convicted

Floyd Scott Bledsoe spent 15 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. 

His brother eventually confessed to the rape and murder, then recanted. 

Later, in a suicide note, the brother again confessed, and Floyd was ultimately exonerated.

Midwest Innocence Project was crucial to Floyd's release and exoneration.

Photograph © 2018 Larry F. Levenson. 

All rights reserved.  

Catherine Haun: Actress, Screenwriter

Catherine Haun played Margaret on the dramatic television series Breaking Bad.

She has recently finished her first movie as screenwriter: "Mrs. Murphy's Confession".

Photograph © 2018 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved. 

Runway Model

Model: McCartney Quinn

Dress: Nataliya Lucia Meyer of Lucia's Sarto

Hair & Makeup: Mitsu Sato Hair Academy

Photograph © 2018 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Fashion Footwear Silhouette

Fashion footwear, with the runway as background.

Photograph © 2018 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Amanda Knox: Wrongfully Accused and Convicted

Amanda Knox made headlines around the world for nearly ten years. 

Between 2007 and 2015, she spent four years in an Italian prison, and eight years on trial for a murder she did not commit. 

Amanda is an exonoree, journalist, speaker, and author of the New York Times best-selling memoir, Waiting To Be Heard (HarperCollins, April 2013).

Photograph © 2018 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved. 

#WomenYouShouldKnow

Nancyelaine Rusk Anderson: Prima Ballerina

#WomenYouShouldKnow

Nancyelaine Rusk Anderson danced as a soloist in the 1950's with Kansas City Civic Ballet.

Photograph © 2018 Larry F. Levenson. 

All rights reserved.

#CelebratingWomen

@KC.Ballet 

Keleigh Gibbs

Keleigh Gibbs is news anchor and reporter for KMBC 9 News (ABC).

Photograph © 2018 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Runway Model

Model: Jordan Cravens

Designer: Schyler Slaven, Schyline

Photograph © 2018 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Runway Model

Model: Vincent Sung

I have photographed Vincent many times. This image was made at a runway rehearsal.

Photograph © 2018 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Mikayla

Model: Mikayla Triplet

Mikayla is a hair and makeup artist.

Photograph © 2018 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Runway Model

Model: Bre Bennett

Photograph © 2017 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.