Paul Baker, 98, director, educator and author, died yesterday at his home near Waelder in the Texas Hill Country. Paul was the founder of the Dallas Theater Center and Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. Mark Lowry at TheaterJones.com has written an excellent obituary. He’s also providing a space for friends of Paul to post tributes.

On May 11, of this year I photographed Paul and his family at his ranch in the Texas Hill Country. Those images are part of a slideshow at TheaterJones.com. At 98, Paul was still quite alert and eager to discuss theater and the arts. Mark and I spent several hours with the Bakers; Kitty his wife, and his daughter, Robyn Baker Flatt, founder of the Dallas Children’s Theater.

Paul was delighted to hear that both my sons were graduates of Booker T., 2000 and 2007, and wanted to know everything about them and their careers in the arts. Clearly, Booker T., was one of his greatest passions.

I had the opportunity to photograph nine-time Tony Award-winner, Tommy Tune, for TheaterJones.com this weekend while he was in town promoting National Tap Dance Day and visiting his sister, Gracey Tune, artistic director at Arts Fifth Avenue.

"These Boots Are Made For Tappin'": Nine-time Tony Award-winner, Tommy Tune.

Tune’s phenomenal career has spanned 44 years and he’s still dancing, choreographing, directing and acting. A native Texan, he lives on NYC’s Lower East Side near Union Square.

Tommy was a delight to photograph and an absolute blast to talk with. Mark Lowry’s interview with Tune includes video.

I’m here for a week to work and spend time with family. Thus far, the rain has been pretty much non-stop, but it’s NYC and your typical New Yorker is not deterred by inclimate weather.

I photographed a new dance piece, 27 For 17, choreographed by Jill Johnson and Mario Zambrano, on May 1, at the Ailey Citigroup Theater. It’s difficult to properly capture the energy of dance without conveying motion and for the still photographer, that can be a challenge. It’s why I’m so blown away by La La La Human Steps‘ production of Amelia for film. It’s a masterpiece of lighting, choreography, physicality and dance cinematography. It’s both inspiring and intimidating for anyone attempting to photograph dance well.