Fred Gruner: NVIDIA

Fred Gruner is Principal Engineer at NVIDIA, involved with artificial intelligence and driverless vehicles. 

Advanced Driver Assist Systems are already here, and more driverless vehicles are just around the corner.

He has 25 years experience and holds more than 50 patents.

Photograph © 2019 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Screen Actors Guild Awards Dinner, 2019

Seated next to me at the Screen Actors Guild Awards dinner was a gentleman who played a part in the movie Forrest Gump. 

He paid for all his law school with the earnings from that role, and is a judge in Nashville.

Photograph © 2019 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Kevin Willmott - BLACKKKLANSMAN

Congratulations to my deserving friend Kevin Willmott for winning an Academy Award.

Blackkklansman

I am fortunate to have worked on two prior movies with Kevin.

Photograph © Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Versace

Versace, Beverly Hills.

Photograph © 2019 Larry F. Levenson. 

Stephen Colletti: Actor

Stephen Colletti portrayed Chase Adams in 57 episodes of the television drama series, "One Tree Hill", and Seth Stewart in, "Everyone Is Doing Great."

Prior to that, he worked as a VJ for MTV's, "Total Request Live" (TRL), where he hosted more than 40 episodes. During TRL, he also hosted many MTV specials.

Stephen has consistently worked in movies and television.

Photograph © 2018 Larry F. Levenson. 

All rights reserved.

Lolita Lisovskaya-Sayevich, Pianist and Ben Sayevich, Violinist

Pianist Lolita Lisovskaya-Sayevich, and her husband, violinist Ben Sayevich.

Photograph © 2019 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Zora Urbanyi

I looked up while at the Screen Actors Guild Awards, and exclaimed, "I know you!" Zora Urbanyi was there.

Photograph © 2019 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Screen Actors Guild Awards, 2019

I attended the 2019 Screen Actors Guild Awards. Here are a few of the many photographs I made. 

Look for more on my Facebook page, or Instagram.

All photographs © 2019 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Sarah Kathryn Curtis: Opera

Mezzo-soprano Sarah Kathryn Curtis.

Photograph © 2019 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

Laurie J. Hamilton, MBA, JD

#WomenYouShouldKnow

After earning degrees at University of California Berkeley, and Stanford University, Laurie J. Hamilton attended Bristol Old Vic Theatre School in the United Kingdom.

At age 59, Laurie started law school, where most of her professors were younger than she. 

Laurie received her Juris Doctor degree at age 64. 

I am eager to see what Laurie does next.

Photograph © 2019 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

#CelebratingWomen

Behzod Abduraimov, Musician

Pianist Behzod Abduraimov is from Uzbekistan. At age 18, he won the London International Piano Competition.

Mr. Abduraimov has performed with leading orchestras around the world, including Los Angeles Philharmonic, London Symphony Orchestra, NHK Symphony Orchestra, Münchner Philharmoniker, and Orchestra de Paris, to name just a few.

Photograph © 2019 Larry F. Levenson. All rights reserved.

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.