fotos

Saturday, May 18, 2013

my boy...

hunter holds a special place in my heart. he has been my rock for the past few years, my strong arm to hold on to and my dedicated sole supporter. he has always understood my pain, for some reason, and has always stood solidly behind me, unmoved. he gets the big picture, and is mature beyond belief. possibly my monotonous motherly lectures on integrity and honesty, and "just do the right thing" have reached his soul...or maybe just maybe he was born this way. i think the latter is true. he is the most loyal human being alive. yeah, i said loyal...not too many out there these days. it is a lost art, indeed.

so hes graduating from high school. my sturdy little boy with square feet, cheerful demeanor and nutcracker wide grin is growing up. a real man he has morphed into. very soon i will be saying so long, and another emotional wave will crash in on me. my regular dose of kids coming and going, the revolving door swinging wide and slamming shut. my skin grows a bit thicker with every wave goodbye, i think...the hurt gets pushed aside and buried deep within, finding a secret place to hide. life is funny that way. the sheer joy experienced with your children close by is accompanied with their painful departures. however bittersweet, as all mothers know, these baby butterflies must spread their wings and flutter away on their own. a rite of passage they say, a normal part of growing up...but still a mothers heart will always break a little as her children find their way. im that mother, her heart broken and mended many times over...i buy bandaids in bulk.

so to hunter...you are a wonderful man. you will make some lucky girl a sweet husband, and very fortunate children a caring father. i could write for days about you, and recount all the great memories we share. ones which will stay with me forever and ever. i will miss you terribly...and the happy noise you bring with you where ever you go, the bright smile as you enter a room, the calm you carry in stressful situations and your strong presence even when you are quiet. but carry on my boy, and light the world on fire, do good things and keep your good character which is so very precious, and which you have worked so hard to build and keep...im privileged to be called your mother. the Lord was good to me when He gave you to me, and i thank Him everyday for this blessing i call YOU.

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

the artist in me

so ive had this friend for a very long time. we attended college together and knew each other when we were carefree, not a care in the world teens roaming palos verdes, and hitting the beach in our spare time. we got in trouble together at church and never seemed to be quiet when we were supposed to. college was filled with many experiences of looking at the artistic side of life and comparing illustrations and notes from dr weiss's design class. we enjoyed the same kind of music, (yes i still have eclectic taste, and even like my kids stuff) and i think i sort of turned into a pseudo hippie for those brief months we were on our own and exploring life. trying to figure out the whole "life" thing. we failed miserably, but seemed to come out of it unscathed, and possibly a little better for all the trouble we got into and all the learning we actually did digest. its a miracle, we actually did retain some of that intelligence that was gathered way back when. so, after all these years, hes kept true to the faith, has religiously pursued his fine art thing, and kept it going. i unfortunately dropped my illustration pursuit and put a guy through law school, raised a bunch of kids and sat here, an unfulfilled starving artist. but the stars lines up correctly, and my creative side has reared its head again, and gotten a much needed recharge. my friend and i are still doing the art thing, he is now painting legendary rock superstars in dramatic black and white, hoping to be famous one day and i get my kicks photographing beautiful people instead of illustrating them. i just think you may see his images around town, and wouldnt it be nice if mine were there too...keep a look out, and say a prayer.

Sunday, April 14, 2013

my thorn named eli

some more fantastic beach light, especially at three arch bay...the way the sunlight bounces off the ocean or something. not sure the way it happens but it always is unbelievable. however, there is an art to the angle and where you position yourself when you shoot. you gotta get the exact right angle to get it right, so i dont want to give myself away or anything...but shooting at the beach does take a little talent...

so our little group of oddballs ventured to the sand one spring break evening. a special pass we had just for that day, so we took advantage of this gorgeous private beach and even a little bonfire. just glad we brought our personal model pocahontas with us...she made it all worthwhile, even if eli did bother everyone, run into everyone and proceeded to dig holes in inopportune places, strewing sand in faces. he is the proverbial thorn in my side...but unfortunately i have made the commitment, and i take commitments seriously...so hes mine forever.

i will continue to love him through his confusion and disproportionate awkward long legs...

i think hes impaired or something. 

retarded might be a better word.

but hes an unfortunate rescue from mexico, who never knew his father...thats his excuse.

family dysfunction.

 explains it all.

SUNDAY, MARCH 31, 2013

opposites attract

for some reason im always feeling rushed when i shoot. i am limited to what light the sun is offering that day, so as i witness the sun creeping down behind the hills, i get panicked a little. but i truly need to relax and calm down. the light just gets better as the sun hides. i am shooting completely on manual now, so i have more control of what kind of image i am getting...also a new lens which allows more light in and also has this beautiful knack of blurring backgrounds. everything is seen through this rosy glass...so to speak, and the subjects before me just get more beautiful as the light changes and the lens does its thing.

but when they dressed in more formal wear, and she walked out onto the dirt path in these great patent leather high heels...that big oak tree called their names. the contrast of the black dressy clothing paired with the rustic, gnarled branches of that oak spoke to me. truly opposites attract, as this beautiful arrangement came together right before my eyes. and as with every other shoot...the last ones are always my favorites. i think their boxer, sebastian may have been the reason...

THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

beach light

i am focusing my photography on natural light. there is something magical about seeking out the right sun, or waiting for the right peek of brightness to stream through the trees. beach light is the best. as the sun sets the light gets warmer and warmer, however, yesterdays light was cool...it was cold and overcast. so the warm color i wanted was waiting for the clouds to vanish. 

but i captured the coolness of the day.

 and it was good.

i am thinking i do not ever want to even purchase some fancy flash. i guess i will have to one of these days, but i am fascinated with the natural light the sun and the clouds or lack of produce. i have gotten amazing images by capturing what comes through my lens...even those round orbs called sun flares and a dreamy real haze one might add on photo shop. all natural stuff which comes floating to my eye. i like it. i like all the natural shots, and the ones where i might capture the moment. 

like these.

we captured avas first steps in the sand.

priceless.

SATURDAY, MARCH 16, 2013

white wedding

this poor girl had to come over and be my model again. we filled up two 8GB memory cards with images shot at every angle possible, i think. we tried different lighting, and different settings...different poses. but we had a specific idea in mind...we wanted to get a wedding like, dreamy shot. we had to improvise because we are fresh out of spare wedding dresses. and we know no new brides. (if you know any, will you please send them my way?) so the artist in me awakened...and this was the grand idea...lets use a sheet. yes. a sheet. now this isnt just any regular sheet (im kind of a sheet snob)...its a ralph lauren, 100% cotton, high thread count one...purchased at home goods on clearance (had to throw that in so no one thinks im a big spender). we had this dramatic look in our heads, but we had to get it in front of the camera...which was harder than it seems, but i think in the end, nailed it. and this artist was satisfied.
so thank you liz for being patient with me. youre a trooper.

SATURDAY, MARCH 16, 2013

its a beautiful day

for a celebration of family...and these folks realize the importance of being there through thick and thin. theyve experienced true heartache, and have been there for one another. i love the spirit they have, always smiling and looking for the positive. i love the devotion this family shows. true blue, good people. some just know how to do it, and do it well. i am grateful terry befriended me when i moved in across the street last summer. we soon realized we were fellow dog lovers. both with crazy canines in our homes. and i even get to babysit her funny australian shepherd girls when they are away. im often asking eli if he wants to go over for a playdate with the "pretty sisters across the street"...he always says yes. duh.

so these beautiful twin sisters (shannan 12 minutes older than terry) made my day...and i didnt even have to strain to get a good shot. this all came together beautifully and naturally. yes, some shoots are easier than others...this one was a dream. a really nice one too.

thank you terry for being the epitome of a good neighbor and friend. not too many out there as sweet as you. lucky me.

FRIDAY, MARCH 15, 2013

simple smile

i remember when my girls were this age, and i was so proud they knew all of their colors, shapes and could even count. they say you learn all the important stuff by the time you are 5. i think they nailed it, as you know it is important to know the difference between yellow and blue and that you have ten, count them, ten fingers. i enjoyed exposing them to different experiences and loved teaching them all about the world around them. im sure they tired of my lengthy lectures. i remember pointing out beautiful cloud laden skies and rolling hills bright green in the spring. we would talk about the color of things, and seemed to always be counting mundane things around us. i always let them touch things to experience the feel of a different texture or maybe a breakable item a typical 2 year old might not hold. quite possibly they werent deprived of that certain curiosity. and they learned, and they experienced.

but one of the most poignant memories i have when my children were young, is us all piling in the landcruiser on a warm spring evening and chasing the millions of butterflies which had just hatched. we drove through the billowing clouds of fluttering white, as we meandered through a bumpy vacant field behind our property. i remember i let the kids stand on the running boards, just hanging onto the rear view mirrors on the side of the car. big smiles on their faces, the dog running beside, his long tongue wagging in the wind. sometimes on these jaunts, they would hang their feet off the end of the tailgate...arms entwined, squealing in delight and hanging on for dear life. i can still feel that spring, so many years ago...and the freedom we all experienced if not just for a moment. a beautiful moment i will never forget.

so jayden, little girl...enjoy these fleeting experiences of youth. run free in the grass, touch a hairy caterpillar, even a slimy frog and count the stars in the summer sky. because one day these unassuming simplicities will be seared in your memory. and they will be the ones which make you smile...

THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013

wild child

so i knew this darling girl when she was a gangly pre teen. a fun loving, silly trouble maker. she was always the life of the party...the one who would always say, "who me?" with an innocent look and a smile. her big brown eyes were always bright and twinkling...and they still sparkle to this day. maybe even a little brighter now that she has a little cherub to call her own. this sweet bundle of love, fortunate enough to call this glowing bedroom suite her own...shared with charlie, the little white fluff who is cautiously observing this new human who has joined the pack. lucky girl indeed.

so i was thrilled to find my molly very happy in her new role...the most important duty any woman can perform. and she said she has never been happier...but she was still the same quirky little girl i loved way back when...just with a priceless sidekick now.

THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2013

love the one youre with

i wonder if we got to pick our siblings? or i wonder if our names were all tossed in a giant bag and then picked out randomly, or maybe we were assigned to certain families so we could be a good "team" or maybe even help each other out. or i wonder if we picked each other, and maybe knew of our faults and insecurities and globbed onto someone with common ailments. i wonder, because sisters seem to always understand for some odd reason. a certain kinship is shared with a sister. maybe thats why these two seemed to click when i photographed them together. yeah, we will call it sister love. a rare kind of connection shared with no one else but a sister.

but it didnt hurt that they are both drop dead gorgeous...

so heres to sister love. the best kind there is.

MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2013

sister love

“Sister. She is your mirror, shining back at you with a world of possibilities. She is your witness, who sees you at your worst and best, and loves you anyway. She is your partner in crime, your midnight companion, someone who knows when you are smiling, even in the dark. She is your teacher, your defense attorney, your personal press agent, even your shrink. Some days, she's the reason you wish you were an only child.” 
― Barbara Alpert

SUNDAY, MARCH 10, 2013

friends forever

i have this one friend whom i love. she and i have known each other for over 20 years, and we can go for days without speaking or seeing each other (she even lives in another state)...and things will always be the same. she loves me unconditionally. as i do her. we forgive and forget. we accept and tolerate. we think the best. we think good thoughts and are sure of the kinship we share. i think thats the key. we have a solid knowledge of the bond we have. there is no doubt...maybe you call that trust. maybe you call that security. its something magical, really. something i cherish. because it is rare.

so these two darlings danced sweetly in front of my camera yesterday. good tender friends. i wanted to share with them how nice it was that they came together, to catch their bond on film. something about a loyal friend that is special...and i think these images speak for that unique click...that trust we all crave.

THERE COMES A POINT IN YOUR LIFE WHEN YOU REALIZE WHO REALLY MATTERS, WHO NEVER DID, AND WHO ALWAYS WILL.

FRIDAY, MARCH 8, 2013

the sky was amazing

and the subjects even more...a brand new baby and a proud new mom. perfect subjects for a photo shoot in the cold. we were quick, so olivia didnt freeze her footsies off...but oh what beauties they both are. thank you emily for venturing out in the frigid air to greet us and my camera...

come back olivia when you are 2..cannot wait to capture you toddling around.

TUESDAY, MARCH 5, 2013

those lovely birds

my friend melanie refers to her children as birds...she says, "my oldest bird...my youngest bird" etc...so endearing and sweet. this lady is the best. i am glad i call her friend, and her daughters are gorgeous creatures, smart and good. i took many pictures of them this day...and have a lot more to edit, but these few were exceptionally great. pretty girls indeed.

TUESDAY, MARCH 5, 2013

new chair

so i bought this white wicker chair on craigslist...apparently i paid way too much for it, but it is perfect. my first photo prop...and an antique to boot. we propped ava up and took advantage of the overcast sky, which makes for perfect lighting. not much photo shop was needed on these...pretty perfect girl i have on my hands, and she even has a dimple on her left cheek, which i was able to capture. a miracle indeed.

now, any adult models interested in sitting in my new chair?

SATURDAY, MARCH 2, 2013

the real deal...

im learning how to take a photo on manual now...next is to master photo shop, and i am actually not totally stumped by that either. got my work cut out for me for sure though...but this camera and i have a thing going on, and its intense. im in love with the imagery i create. especially when its my very own granddaughter...dripping in pearls, and real fur. yum.