Travel Light...

...Live Light

These past two mornings, as I trudged along in traffic on the 101 south, I noticed several flocks of birds flying in "V" formation. It was pretty neat because it seemed so peaceful. There I was stuck in the insanity that is Los Angeles traffic and a mere 100 feet above me was nature taking it's course. Nature is so simple and my life is so not. My mind slipped back to Elementary school and I could hear my teacher say, "Birds fly south for the winter." Birds are so smart. Even they know that vacations are good for you!!

Next week my friends and I are headed on vacation to New York City for some girl time. I'm really excited. It will be good to blow off a little steam after this hectic quarter in school. We leave next Thursday. In the mean time though, I have to tackle a huge paper and do a mountain of grading for this class I TA for. Boo!

To take a little escape from the end of the quarter rush, I did a little photo session with my ever beautiful sister-in-law, Emily. She is such a rockstar, mostly because she puts up with me constantly stalking her with my camera. Oh, and by-the-way, I got a new camera. It's a Canon 50D. I think it's pretty special.

















...Spread the Light. Be the Light.

The Lovely Loftis'

I love Baxter!!

Much to my surprise and delight, my sister-in-law's dear friend Kelly asked me to snap some photos of her and her husband. I always get a little nervous shooting pics, not because I don't want to, (Because, believe me, I do! Most of the time I'm the one asking people if I can take THEIR pictures) but because I'm desperately hoping they will like pictures they end up with. I am my own worst critic.

I met Kelly and Ryan at this picturesque park near my house. They brought along their super cute puppy, Baxter. He is such a love bug and very well behaved. He actually posed for some shots! Good boy Baxter!!









Thank you Kelly and Ryan for letting me snap photos of your beautiful faces! You guys are fabulous...and Baxter is too!!!

My Kitchen Window

Morning Glory



Fighting tired eyes
Sunrise smile on my face
Peaceful sunshine day

C Mode

Photography comes from the two Greek root words photo and grapho, meaning "to write with light"


This past weekend my brother-in-law, Edmund, and I made the trek down to San Diego to attend Digital Days Photography Workshop. The two day workshop was sponsored by the magazine Popular Photography and Sony. The event lasted two days and it covered everything from photography basics to photo processing software.

The highlight of the weekend was the live model shoot. At first, I didn't think I would be interested in a studio lighting shoot. I usually don't take those kind of photos and prefer natural light, but it turned out to be really fun. Here are some of the goodies:










Edmund and I convinced Edward to nerd out with us on second day of the workshop. I was really excited because I have noticed that Edward has such a great eye for photos and if he just learned how to use a camera he would take such great pictures. So, on Edward's first day of ever using a digital SLR camera he got a crack at the studio models and took this rad photo...



How did he do that!? So unfair.

Welcome to the photo nerd club Edward!!

We Go to WeHo!

Fun times in the streets of West Hollywood.

Goldmine

Eureka!

While searching for awesome Halloween costume gear at my in-law's house, I came across an old camera from the 1970's. YES!!!

The black case that encompassed this little gem was cracked and worn and it felt like sandpaper under my fingers. Inside was a humble Canonet QL17. The "poor man's Leica", as some critics have called it.





I love messing around with old manual cameras, especially film cameras. I feel like THAT is the essence of the art of photography. With manual film cameras there is no faking it in auto modes or Photoshop.

Don't get me wrong though. I'm all about auto focus and Av or Tv modes when the situation is appropriate, and I wont lie, I call on Photoshop to increase my color saturation on my digital pics. But when it comes down to you and a camera, and figuring out the exact combination between F stop, shutter speed and natural light, that is where the challenge is. And if you can master that, auto focus and Photoshop are just bells and whistles...or better yet, not even necessary at all.

Oh joy! I can not wait.

P.S. Stoked on the super fast F1.7 lens!!

Happy Halloween Birthday Berkley and Marisa!!!

When I yell, "Sake", you yell, "Bomb"!!



...As the old saying goes at Tokyo Delves in North Hollywood. It is pretty much an impossible feat to go to Toyko Delves and not have a good time. It's basically a wild and crazy dance party, featuring personal kegs of beer, sake, boy band tributes and mediocre sushi. But even more exciting, if you are lucky enough to visit in October, everyone is in the Halloween spirit dawning their best costume.



Our gang did not disappoint in the costume department. Popeye. Olive Oil. Kitty. Tiger Woods. Swine Flu. Jocks. Asian Tourists.











Thanks for being born Berkley and Marisa and giving us a reason to rock out at Toyko Delves!!

Revolutionary

Lucy's birthday is next month. For her first birthday ever, I'll think I'll get her what every dog is dying for this year...Snuggie for Dogs!! If you order now, it comes with a talking dog tag. The dog tag says, "I'm utterly embarrassed that my owner makes me where a Snuggie."



Don't you want to be hip and cool and get your dog a Snuggie?

How much is that Doggy...

...in the window?



Miss Lucy spends about half her time peering out the kitchen window. Apparently, it's a crazy world out there.

We are Family

My photography partner in crime, Edmund, had me take some pics of his fam last month. This is my favorite pic. Their silly boys just love having fun.


Nathan, Edmund, Noah and Jen

Mama Nature

The #1 reason to live outside of LA.

Team Gryffindor

For the past two consecutive weeks, they are the champions of Chuy's Tuesday Night Trivia.

As part of their media promotion as reigning trivia champs, Team Gryffindor had a little afternoon photo session with me. These two really know how to work the camera and know a thing or two about pop culture trivia.





















Don't even try and go up against Team Gryffindor on Tuesday night...because they will eat you alive. Especially Emily, she doesn't mess around.

Time Capsule

Last week I was going through my camera bag and came across 3 rolls of film. Yes, I said film. Kodak ISO 200 24 exposure film to be exact. I knew this film was from years ago, before I got my digital SLR.

Later that day, I made a trip down to Costco. A friend of mine works at the photo counter. As I plopped down the three little black canisters, I jokingly asked him, "Do you still develop film?" (I was also half serious.)

An hour later, I had a blast from the past. Okay, well, maybe the film was only two years old. But in this day and age, a lot can happen and change in two years.















I think I'm going to pull my film SLR back into rotation. Maybe instant gratification isn't all it's cracked up to be.

Joy Ride

Life is...



...a roller coaster.