Elizabeth Solaka, photographer

New York

(212) 988-1698

esolaka@gmail.com

weddings: Elizabeth Solaka Photography

children:  SOLAKA photographs kids!

commercial: SOLAKA Photography

new wedding banner

too much to do

My colleague Richard Kapp is a song writer/musician, and also a short filmmaker. Here is his video for the song, Too Much To Do.

news!

For the second year in a row, Elizabeth Solaka Photography has been selected winner of the BRIDE'S CHOICE AWARD on Martha Stewart's Wedding Wire, the second largest site for brides.
http://www.weddingwire.com/biz/solaka-photography-new-york/fa3fabadde14fd82.html

yes yes me me me!

Going through memory lane with a new scanner. I've scanned some really small negatives which means that all the dust and scratches are appearing in the large resolution files. Deciding how to rid myself of dust or how to love it.

Beautiful day, enjoy everyone!

lunchbox release

Richard Kapp is about to release his new album, Lunchbox. I provided the art work to the new cd. Get your copies today.

http://www.richardkapp.com/music.html

39 and clear as a bell

On Monday, I had a birthday and a party at a bar and then we went to sing karaoke. My family and friends were around me. I was the princess. It was empty and we had plenty of room to dance. I think my favorite karaoke dedication to me was Debaser by the Pixies by my friend A. He really knows what to sing to a birthday girl such as myself. Runaway was a great dedication as well. 

People worry about having another birthday. I'm just happy to be here, even with a few wrinkles. And so grateful to those around me.

My artwork is featured on the latest album by Richard Kapp and the Gowns. The name of the album is Lunchbox, and it's set for release next month.

It's four photos of Emile. I couldn't be happier about it.

http://www.richardkapp.com/

Merry Christmas, Everyone!

the big snow nyc 2009

Yesterday I walked from my apartment to 101st Street and West End, to visit my uncle and cousins. That was before the storm. After an hour or two things started up.

I wanted to visit a friend on West End in the 60s, who just had her hip replaced.  My uncle, for some reason, decided to walk me (without telling me his intentions) in the storm. As if his presence would mitigate the wind and snow. It was nice company to be sure.

I visited my friend and bundled up to jump on the crosstown. But my coat was too warm, and the snow was too beautiful, so I walked home through Central Park. Just under 72nd Street.

It was about 10:30 at night. For the first time, I felt like I was the only one in the park. I don't think anyone was doing the cross over, because snow was untouched all around me as I walked. Only a few dog walkers spotted the East and West edges. My view was obscured by the icicles forming on my hair and eyelashes. The wind whipped me and the fine top layer of snow on the open fields around, right across Sheep Meadow. The Mall, untouched. I was alone in New York, something I've never been. The trees so quiet and beautiful.

I had my Holga (camera) with me. I took it out and did my very best to take photos. It was soaked and I could see the water droplets on the lens. We'll see.

The walk home on the East Side was more civilized. Plenty of people trying to get their cars out from under a heavy layer of snow. "Where do you think you're going?" I joked. The restaurants were closed. Homeless people scattered on Madison Avenue under a shelter of cardboard boxes. I was going to ask if they needed me to brush the snow off the boxes, but I remembered that snow is an insulator and they were probably sleeping.

my neighborhood

I live in a green awning neighborhood. The maintenance people wash the sidewalks every morning. I used to think it was a waste of water, but now I realize how dirty everything would be if they didn't do it.

party

I had a Hanukkah party last night. Four people were supposed to come and it ended up being ten. I was nervous. I'd never had a Festival of Lights party before so I phoned my mother. She ended up giving me real-time instructions in how to make potato latkes. It was heartwarming beyond description.  One person brought Lower East Side knishes. Another, the special jelly donuts from that special place. The latkes were perfect.

We danced with the children and sang songs.

This morning Emile's class invited the parents for a reading hour. So lovely.

new, glowing review

From the mother of the bride, after delivering a wedding album to her.

"IT'S BEAUTIFUL!!!!

Elizabeth:  I just got the book and it is absolutely beautiful.  You did a wonderful job and I cannot wait to give it to the kids.  I know Melissa will be totally surprised when she opens it.  I cannot thank you enough."

painting

Emile and I spent the day painting yesterday. A rainy Sunday afternoon.

 

Here are some older paintings. Of my mother, of a dime with a young woman's face on it (dimes used to have females on them) and a young girl on the beach at night.

Painting is great fun, but it's not exactly as creative as one might think. Even when I'm painting abstractions. It's a strange part of the brain, a peculiar psycological space that I use when I paint. It's the same place that I would use to solve a puzzle. It's more work than fun. I create a laundry list in my head of things I need to do to make the painting successful. And my best paintings were made whilst listening to NPR or chit chatting with a friend who's sitting next to me asking questions like, "don't you think that there should be more yellow over there?"

I keep posting the same photos but I have more.

Yesterday I was painting a rose bush, among other things. Blue roses at night.

Emile has begun using gouache paints. And I've taught him that being an artist also means being a brush cleaner.

girls sing

This weekend Emile and I went to Shabbat/Hanukkah services to hear my fairy goddaughter (Emile's friend) sing. It was so adorable. We lit candles three times that night, and ate latkes with the friend and family.

Yesterday, the very next morning, we went to Hunter College to see a performance by Stage Coach theatre group, of which another friend of Emile is a member. Her whole family was there, the parents, brother, grandfather, and uncle. And us. After, we went to breakfast all together.

Thank you Sarah and Camille. You made our weekend.

DB, hawks, hannukah

Two nights ago I was at a theatre at which I regularly work in Dumbo, Brooklyn. The reception was in a waterfront building in Brooklyn Heights. Every time I visit Brooklyn Heights, I'm reminded of the quiet an nice of Boston's Beacon Hill. Anyway, his lady was just so lovely. I have so many photos of her and in all of them she glows.

 

I also encountered David Byrne for the third time. The first time was at a Pixies concert five years ago. He sat in front of us. The second time was backstage at one of his shows. I didn't really meet him then, just observed. The third was last Sunday. This time he actually asked me a question. Regarding the construction site outside. What do you think they're going to do with all of those boulders? I know he was truly concerned about the urban landscape/development because I read his blog regularly.This would have been the perfect chance to tell him what I thought, about the boulders, about his blog, about his music, how it's so, so, so, you know. Anything. But what did I do? I just replied, "gee I dunno," and walked away. I barely took a photo. But here it is, anyway.

Emile and I spotted a red-tailed hawk for two days in a row in the park on the East River near our home. It was so amazing. I haven't seen him in a couple of days. Emile and I immediately walked to the Boathouse Restaurant, in Central Park, where the Bird Register lives. It's right next to the hostess stand. How did I know this? I read a book recently called Red Tails in Love, where it talked all about the bird watching community in NYC. And so Emile and I wrote about our findings in the park, even though it wasn't Central Park. It was good fun.

It was on December 8th and we were just a few steps away from Strawberry Fields. I knew there would be a scene because it was the anniversary of John Lennon's death. Emile did not want to go to the park at all, did not want to register the bird sightings, and didn't want to go to Strawberry Fields. But, it is important to me that Emile knows who the Beatles are, and has an extensive cultural literacy on the subject of art an culture in general, so I brought him along.

We have video but I still do not know how to upload. Imagine lots of tourists singing Nowhere Man.

Happy Hanukkah, Everyone!

one year anniversary

Next week will be the one year anniversary of moving to the Upper East Side. I'm feeling a loss of community from leaving Jersey City, and as I feel the 60 degree temperature I miss the mornings having breakfast on the stoop. Stoop living is a culture and I enjoyed it. Not only breakfast, but reading, looking at passers-by, having a glass of wine with the neighbor, and playing stoop ball. Letting the world come to you. It's a nice life. And our stoop was mighty.

I don't regret having moved. The schools in my neighborhood, though threatened due to overcrowding, are second to none in New York City. We live near the East River, which just feels cozy to me. We can almost touch the 59th Street Bridge, and love the energy and beauty of the river, and all of the tug boats and other craft that pass by. The light always seems beautiful along the East River. My mother was raised on the East River too, and for some reason I just feel the lineage and connect to it this way.

The neighborhood is full of like minded parents, a few my close friends, young professionals and old timers. Probably more old timers than in other neighborhoods. It is the Upper East Side. Hasn't exactly been overrun with artists, except for me (though I am not the only one; we find each other) and I like that. Don't try looking for small hipster bars or cafes. That's for Brooklyn. Visit a lovely hotel bar, to a museum cafe, go to Elaine's, or Brandy's. When in Rome.

I love living near the museums and yes, I still do visit them.

I have made a habit of going to Central Park every morning. Before nine in the morning, dogs are allowed to run off leash. The place really transforms. It all feels so fun and free. Dogs jump over the fences, sprint across fields, and tumble and roll around, wrestling. 

By 9AM I'm usually just about back home ready to work.

My place is much smaller than the Jersey City apartment. But I like it much better. I have a large kitchen that fits a dining room table (and a couch if I ever got around to getting one). Emile has his own cute room and my space overall has a very peaceful clean feeling. It is a historical building and the apartments have been renovated to get rid of the old that's unwanted, and keep the charming old things. And, the shape of the place is well-considered. There's nothing 'funky' about the place. No strange angles and make shift walls. It's all very well done.

So good to be here. I really feel grateful and love my neighborhood.

Speaking of small hipster bars, I went to Pete's Candy Store for a show. It felt like being in a tour bus.

Thanksgiving etc

Got home from Chicago. Spent the holidays with my three sisters and cousins. Met the son of a distant cousin for the first time. On Thanksgiving, Emile and my uncle played piano together, and the next day, my other uncle took the boys to play soccer with the dog. I went for a sunny, long walk along Lake Michigan with my cousin. And Friday night, all the sisters, and my other cousin went to hear my uncle play music at a club. Then we all went dancing. The next day, we caught a plane back to New York and I took Emile to see a movie. Mr. Fox is fantastic.

I was perfect. I miss everyone though and wish they would all move here.

I hope all of you had a great Thanksgiving and enjoy the holiday season to come.

a new (glowing) review

My husband and I feel very lucky to have found Elizabeth; she was the perfect person to take our wedding photos (in August 2009). Elizabeth has a really nice demeanor and got really great close ups of our wedding guests without them even noticing her. I don't know how she manages to be so unobtrusive. She also really captures people on camera; we have a wonderful collection of photographs of our family and friends (as well as ourselves). Elizabeth is very dependable and punctual; I cannot recommend her more highly. We absolutely love our wedding photos!

you can't always get what you want

I'm now 'facebook' friends with the little girls I used to babysit for. They are now in high school/college. They both look the same. We've been sharing old photos and reminiscing. I just remembered how I used to sing them the song, "You can't always get what you want." (and, they used to sing it back to me.) They said they can't hear that song without talking about me.

I told Emile the story and said, "I never sing this song to you!" He replied, "You don't need to. I always ask." It's true. Emile is very well-behaved. Sometimes I just shrug my shoulders.

I thought the girls and I lost touch completely, and now I'm going to see them next time I'm in Boston, or at least, Christmas when they come to New York.

It's all very sweet. I really had quite an affection for those little girls and things don't really change. 

Anyway, today is a day off so to speak. No school. Emile and I will be honoring Vets.