hotel del coronado

The Del is still celebrating over 120 years of service. Being that I have photographed many a wedding here I figured it was about time I captured this timeless representation of romance that debuted in 1888. In fact, The Del celebrated its first wedding during its construction in 1887, when May Barnes and Harold Scott, daughter and son of two building supervisors, exchanged vows in a seaside Pavilion.

With the Del’s fairy-tale architecture, sun-drenched beaches and idyllic island setting, the 19th century hotel has been likened to an “ornate wedding cake” and linked to a number of legendary romances. Recently named “one of the most romantic places in the world” by the Travel Channel, as well the “number one place in the United States to get married” it makes a fitting statement to start the new year with my representation of such a wonderful place.

While writing this as the sun comes up January 1 2011 I am fretting the recent hefty expenditure of all of my money into a vehicle that will either take me closer to my goals or sink it like a rock.

I am trying to draw a parallel in the fact that in 1904, the Hotel del Coronado made history when it unveiled the world’s first electrically-lit, outdoor, living Christmas tree.

Much like this event I do not care who knows about my work I just pray that I get to leave a mark in the world of photography in just a fraction of a measure to the mark it has left in me.