About Last Night ...

Sarasota’s Black Tie photojournalists probably mirror many of the lyrics in Lady Gaga’s “Paparazzi,” song, flashing our cameras in your face over and over and over again, only for another one of us to tap you on the shoulder two seconds later and repeat. Yes, we know you just had your photo taken by three different photographers, and no, we’re not out to stalk you. We just really want to take your photo.

It’s a constant game of scanning the room to find the hottest look, most-elegant look, most-creative look and anything else that we happen to fancy — such as cutest pregnant ladies and loveliest sisters — and beating other photographers to you.

Such was the case at Saturday’s Palm Ball, when at least five photographers, myself included, tried to navigate around the hundreds of guests attending the fifth annual Palm Ball at Bay Preserve at Osprey.
Awards for cutest pregnant ladies goes to Sydney Gruters and Beth Bobb. The loveliest sisters award goes to Diana Kelly in her white BCBG evening gown and pretty-in-pink sash, and her younger sister, Monica, stunning in white-and-gold Sue Wong. The well-deserved craziest coat award, of course, goes to Bruce Lesser and his gold coat. The largest hat award goes to Aman Travieas in a beautiful black-and-white hat fit for the Kentucky Derby. The hottest dress award goes to Janelle Beruff, with her red-and-black ensemble, which was similar to a leotard and layered with sheer black pants. Then, we have the “Madame Butterfly” award, which can only go to Meg Lowman in her — you guessed it — butterfly outfit. Asked to smile for a photo, she asked in return, “Can I show off my butterfly?” But, of course, Meg. And spread her wings she did, showing off her beautiful red, orange and gold colors with Michael Brown in tow.