The Verve Pipe | Frederick Meijer Gardens | 7 . 24 . 21

My last concert was February 27, 2020. Little did I know that that was going to be my last concert for a very long time. I can't explain the joy that I had when I heard the announcement that the Frederick Meijer Gardens Concert Series was a go this summer.

After our world went dark for so many months - losing loved ones to the pandemic, protesters walking in unity to make their presence and beliefs known, rioters storming our city streets and our Capitol - I have been more than ready to welcome back any kind of normalcy (as I'm sure you have been too).

As I took a quick break from photographing to enjoy the music, I was overwhelmed with gratitude at my surroundings.

I looked around at the nearly sold out crowd; music consumed the air, people were singing along swaying back and forth. I could see smiles, no more hiding behind a mask. People were laughing, conversing with one another without having to maintain a distance.

People were socializing. I was so grateful to be in that place at that moment.

The hot, humid air was sticky. My blowout went from sleek and shiny to thick, frizzy chaos the second I exited my air-conditioned car. Why did I even bother? I didn't care, I embraced my huge 'do.

The occasional breeze was a lifesaver, cooling everyone down. Brian Vander Ark, lead singer of The Verve Pipe, eventually made a remark on his hat and how it holds sweat in.

The vibes were nostalgic, especially when "The Freshman" flowed from the instruments of the band.

Despite the summer evening heat, goosebumps filled my arms when I heard the crowd start to sing along. As I was photographing, someone behind me commented "wow, do you hear that?!" and started recording on their phone. They were in the same state of awe that I was.

"For the life of me I cannot remember

What made us think that we were wise and

We'd never compromise

For the life of me I cannot believe

We'd ever die for these sins

We were merely freshmen"

-The Freshman, The Verve Pipe

The Verve Pipe is outstanding live. Vander Ark's vocals are better in person, you get that rawness that recordings smooth out.

Along with their hits, they played new music from their new album "Parachute" which is out now.

The band did not disappoint the hometown crowd and I hope to see them back again soon!

To see all the images I shot of The Verve Pipe at Frederik Meijer Gardens, go here.

To purchase merchandise, go here.

✌🏽❤️🙏🏽

#NatalieLopezPhotography #ConcertPhotographer #Photography #Michigan #TheVervePipe #FifthThirdBankSummerConcerSeries #Photojournalist

Summer Road Trip: St. Louis

Every summer my son Elijah and I head down to St. Louis, Missouri to visit our family. The goal for the trip is to spend time with family while relaxing and taking a load off. We cook, watch cheesy rom-com's, sustain the "treat yo self" mentality by shopping at Maurice's and explore St. Louis.

With the world being in such a bizarre state with the overexposed (yes, I said it) continuous headline news story of Covid making it's dominance for what feels like the billionth day in a row, the heartbreaking lingering uncertainty of ever having peace with riots and protesters chanting for equality and the visual weirdness and surrealism of just about everyone wearing masks anywhere and everywhere you go, a trip to visit family that was waiting to welcome me with open arms (with a very strong glass of summer sangria) was and has been very much needed at this point.

The family and I do at least one outing that we haven't experienced before. We've gone zip lining, we've been up close and personal with wolves at the Endangered Wolf Sanctuary and of course we've visited the St. Louis Zoo and Science Center, and we've made our way up the Arch (one excruciating slow click and claustrophobic journey upward at a time).

Our focus this trip was about art. We visited the exhibition “Millet and Modern Art: From Van Gogh to Dalí,” at the St. Louis Art Museum. This exhibition focuses on the legacy of the 19th-century French painter, Jean-François Millet; a groundbreaking artist that inspired and influenced international artists Vincent van Gogh, Camille Pissarro, Georges Seurat, Claude Monet, Giovanni Segantini, Winslow Homer, Paula Modersohn-Becke, Edvard Munch and Salvador Dalí.

After studying art at The Art Institute of Chicago, the closest I have ever gotten to a van Gogh painting was through an overpriced Art History textbook, experiencing the real deal in person was beyond fascinating.

I appreciate the details in life and in art, so naturally I got a little too up close and personal with one of the paintings at the exhibition. My finger was inches away as I mimicked the brush strokes as I explained to Elijah how incredible yet tedious the technique is. One of the many security guards sternly said "Ma'am!" as his voice echoed and vibrated off the otherwise quiet gallery walls. He vigorously shook his head 'no' at me as a I slouched my shoulders downward as if I just got caught being way too close to a van Gogh painting.

Wait I did just get caught way too close to a van Gogh painting!

Elijah shook his head embarrassed and whispered "See, I told you mom!," as I stepped the heck back before being football tackled by the security guards.

We learned that due to Covid the exhibition had extended its stay in St. Louis because travel was prohibited and eventually limited therefore the owners of the pieces were not able to collect the art. A win for us visitors.

The exhibition is truly exquisite. The dim spotlight on the pieces present an intimate feel the second you enter. The first painting I encountered was Jean-François Millet's Self-Portrait (Oil on canvas, 63.5 x 47 cm (25 x 18 1/2 in.).

From there we explored a collection of his works along with van Gogh, Monet, Homer and Dalí, among others.

The next art inspiring adventure I took was visiting the International Photography Hall of Fame and Museum. I had no idea about this gem and was so excited to check out the works on display.

Inductees include Berenice Abbot, Ansel Adams, Diane Arbus, Joel Bernstein, Robert Capa, Ernest Haas, Dorothea Lange, Annie Leibovitz, Gordon Parks, Kenny Rogers, among many other talents.

I was the only visitor at the time so I was able to explore at my own pace without feeling rushed and enjoy the works on display.

One of my favorite photos was of Walter Iooss Jr.'s "The Blue Dunk, Michael Jordan, 1987."

Iooss is my photography hero. His work is incredible and I only pray that I can someday capture sports the way he has over the years. He has shot the greats: Jordan, Bryant, LeBron, Griffey Jr., Sanders, Ripken, Rodriguez, Montana, Namath, Rice, Williams, Graf, McEnroe, Nicklaus, Palmer, Woods, Phelps, Louganis, Lewis and so many more (if you don't know those names we can't be friends). I am so thankful I was able to see his work.

After my visit at the photography museum, I took a stroll through St. Louis to capture some street photography.

The Fox Theater will always hold a special place in my heart. It was there that I was able to see one of my favorite bands, The White Stripes, on their "Get Behind Me Satan" Tour on August 24, 2005.

As always my trip flew by and it's never easy saying goodbye. I am grateful for my family and my experiences with them.

I hope you all have been able to escape reality at least once this summer.

To see more images from my St. Louis trip, including my day at the St. Louis Zoo, go here.

Until we meet again! ✌🏽

*Images shot with my Sony A7iii using my Metabones EF - E mount adapter for my nifty fifty Canon 50mm lens as well as my iPhone 11 Pro Max.

#NatalieLopezPhotography #NatalieTravels #Photography #Travel #Wanderlust #StLouis #StLouisArtMuseum #InternationalPhotographyHallOfFameAndMuseum #Sony #Canon #iPhone

My Noni's Puerto Rican Rice

I was so fortunate to grow up with a grandmother that was passionate about showing love to her family through her homemade meals. "Are you hungry?" was as common of a question as "How are you?" to my grandmother. She would always serve me a plate of food regardless if I was hungry or not. My grandmother (otherwise known to me as ‘Noni’) paired her rice with her infamous Puerto Rican dishes. I was blessed to be in her presence while she cooked.

I would watch her hand twist and pound away at her wooden mortar as she made her homemade sofrito, the smell of fresh peppers, garlic, spices and cilantro consumed the air. The loud, abrasive pounding of her caldero to free the rice that stuck to her spatula would echo throughout her kitchen walls.

The smells and the noises from Noni’s kitchen are as present today as they were twenty-something years ago when I watched her dance to salsa music in her kitchen as she joyfully cooked when I was a kid.

To her, everything was by taste and not so much by measuring everything out exactly. My recipe below is a reference guide, but by all means, make it your own by adding a bit more of this or a bit more of that to your liking.

This recipe may not be exactly how she made her rice because unfortunately I never got the exact recipe. Also, I didn't make my own homemade sofrito this go around and like I mentioned, Noni didn't believe in measuring spices, but this is as close as it's going to get by knowing her flavor.

. : I n g r e d i e n t s : .

---

• 3 cups medium, long or extra long grain white rice, rinsed

• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil

• 2 heaping tablespoons sofrito (homemade is the best but it's not always easy to find all the necessary ingredients. I substituted for Goya's Recaito Culantro cooking base, it's just as good!)

• 4 ounces tomato sauce

• 1 can (15 ounces) gandules (pigeon peas), partially drained

• 2 heaping tablespoons alcaparrado (I usually use Goya pitted alcaparrado olives)

• 1 packet Sazón with Achiote (I use Goya brand)

• 1/2 packet ham flavoring (I use Goya brand Jamón)

• 1 teaspoon adobo seasoning

• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

• 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin

• 1/8 teaspoon ground oregano

• Salt and pepper to taste (start off with 2 teaspoons of salt)

• 4-6 cups hot water (I start with 4 cups and gradually add 1/2 cup at a time if needed)

• 1 medium caldero (or 6 qt pot with lid). I highly recommend investing in a caldero if you don't have one because I swear it's magic!

  
  

  *Most of these ingredients can be found at your local grocery store in the International aisle, however you may have to shop a local supermercado for some of the Adobo products.

.

. : I n s t r u c t i o n s : .

---

- 1 . Rinse the rice well in cold water, drain and set aside.

- 2 . Mix all the spices into one bowl and set aside.

- 3 . In a medium caldero (or large pot about 6 quarts or so), heat oil and sauté sofrito until softened. Add tomato sauce and simmer for 3 minutes.

- 4 . Stir in gandules, alcaparrado, bowl of the spices and 4 cups of water. Taste test and adjust seasonings according to your liking, adding additional salt 1 teaspoon at a time. Your broth should be heavily seasoned and on the salty side. It should be flavorful!

- 5 . Bring to a rapid boil, then add rice and stir. Carefully mound rice towards the center of pot, top with foil and cover with lid. Set timer for 20 minutes.

- 6 . Here’s where it can get a little tricky. You may need to add more water to ensure rice is covered by 1 inch of water. I suggest only adding ½ to 1 cup of water to avoid mushy/runny rice. Avoid scrapping rice at the bottom of the caldero so you can get that delicious, infamous pegao (crunchy rice).

- 7 . Reduce heat to simmer and cook for 20 minutes. Stir by folding rice from the bottom up. Cook for another 20-30 minutes, testing after first 20 minutes to see if rice is tender and cooked through.

In addition, you can include cooked chicken, pork, or beef and garnish the rice with fresh cilantro.

I hope you all enjoy, and if you have any questions give me a shout!

Just love.

#NatalieLopezPhotography #NatalieLopez #SpanishRice #Covid19Isolation