Right In My Own Frontyard

I have had the conversation more than once. With more than one mom and more than one dad. The conversation about not having any photographs of their entire family together.

I can relate to this.

So often we're out, enjoying ourselves as a family and taking pictures. There are the one's of the boys, the one's of Matt and the boys and the one's of the boys and me. Rarely, if ever, do we ask a stranger to take our picture. I do recall doing that on our last camping trip. The one to Sequoia National Park. We hiked up to an incredible waterfall. Once we were at the falls, we actually slid down the rock face with the boys to plunge ourselves into the ice cold water at the base of the falls. The group of people camping next to us happened to be there as well and we asked them to take our picture with their camera in hopes that they would email it to us someday. I'm sure they had every intention to do so, but, life gets busy and we've still never seen that photograph.

So, the only way that I know to have a family portrait taken, is to schedule it with a photographer! We did go out with the Sossaman's for a "photo shoot" one day not too long ago where we took pictures of their family and they took pictures of ours. They are the only recent photographs of the four of us we have and I love seeing all of us together. A snippet of time captured on film.

Now that it's the "Holiday Season" it seems like that little alarm is going off in most peoples minds. The alarm that says they want to send out a holiday card with a photograph of their family. For some, maybe most, this is the one time of year they send out a picture to let the people they love and their extended families see how they've changed and how the children have grown.

Well, last week, one of our close friends asked if I would take their family portrait. She had the alarm going off. Monica lives across the street with her husband and three kids. They're from Ireland and well, they're just awesome. All of them. After I was talking to her about the shoot, what they might wear or where it might be, I walked out her front door to cross the street to go home. At that moment, I saw our neighborhood, our street in a different light. I saw it as the perfect scene for their pictures.

The leaves are beautiful. Yellow and red. The weather has been perfect and overcast and gray and best of all it was right there. In our front yard!

They were so easy to photograph. Monica dressed all of them in blue which against the golden yellow of Fall was amazing. I just love how their personalities shined through, and I have to say that I loved the location. Not only was it beautiful but I had to walk about 20 steps to get there.

Here they are, in all of their glory...The Feely's

Wearable Foods - Yeonju Sung

Once again my husband has shared an incredible artist. He just sent a link to the work of Yeonju Sung. Born in Seoul in 1986 these creations definitely challenge reality.

Reading the bio and artist statement, it is clear that the entire process is a study in reality. Yeonju talks about how photography is truly the element of her work. That her pieces have decomposed by the time a photographic print is made. How the photograph tests reality for people because it gives the viewer a false sense that the piece is still in existence.

I absolutely love this body of work. Here are my two favorites. I hope you visit her site to see the rest of the collection HERE.

Enjoy!

BUBBLE GUM #2

EGGPLANT

Water Rushes By

I wish the water could wash over me. Just rush over my body and with it take the stress and chaos of life. Looking at this photo I have a sense of that experience. I can feel myself wanting to let go.

I think this is typical for me in the winter months. I start feeling a need to purge. To cleanse myself and my home of all things unnecessary.

I shot this when we were camping this summer. I wanted to play with my exposure. To let the water flow by while the rocks stood so still. Grounded deep into the earth. Solid, unmoving.

I like how the image makes me feel. I want to be both the water and the rock. I guess at times, I am.

Halloween 2010

The rain cleared, the temperature was warmer than usual and the night of All Hallows' Eve was perfect. We walked around our neighborhood with friends from across the street and had a blast.

Matt, the "Mad Scientist", let out a "muu haaa haaaa" every now and again and it was all I could do not to bump into people with my overly loud and in your face, "Happy Halloween!" since I was a disheveled housewife, Martini in hand. I think I scared a few people who thought I was really tossed. It was only water in my glass but I think the olives threw them off. hehe

The boys were all in black. Mason was a ninja and Miles was part of the S.W.A.T. team. This was the first year that they both knew what to do and walked right up to the front doors of the homes, knocked, said "Trick-or-Treat" and "Thank you", all by themselves.

It really was a perfect night. Good friends, beautiful weather and what can I say? I think I may go out in my slippers and bathrobe every year!!

Yummy Fall Treat

As much as I love Summer and warm days to enjoy the sunshine, I do love Fall. Fall brings cozy nights by the fire, warm cups of home made soup and the time to enjoy being at home with my family.

Yesterday, I made an acorn squash to go with dinner and as I cut it open and stared at the beautiful seeds inside, I thought why not roast these like pumpkin seeds. In fact, they looked like I would enjoy them even more because they're smaller and thinner overall.

Well, I was right. Matt and I gobbled them down. That was my only complaint, it was a small squash so there weren't that many seeds! I thought the whole process was beautiful and was compelled to take photo's along the way. From the initial slicing open to rinsing the seeds, coating them with palm oil and salt and finally roasted and placed in a bowl to enjoy!

Ayla

It's not a common name by any means. If fact, I've only known one girl with this name and she's my niece. But, a year ago, a close friend who had read the same book that my sister had years ago, named her daughter Ayla. The book... "Clan Of The Cave Bear" by Jean Auel and I just read somewhere, for anyone interested, that she has a new book coming out, "The Land of Painted Caves".

I photographed Ayla a year ago, two weeks after she was born and I had the pleasure to take her picture again. This time she's one and two weeks and a bundle of cute sounds and a look that just sees through you.

She's a modern girl with two mommies who are beautiful and just as much fun to photograph. It was hard to pick and choose a few to post but these are some of my favorites.

Happy First Birthday Ayla!!!

Elizabeth and Shaik - An Atwood Ranch Wedding

Right when I got back from Michigan in July, I had the absolute pleasure of photographing a wedding with my husband Matt and his co-worker Jason. The wedding was held at the beautiful vineyard, Atwood Ranch. It's a private, family owned ranch nestled in beautiful Glen Ellen wine country.

It was an all day affair and overall, just stunning. The bride Elizabeth and her husband Shaik were wonderful. The accent color of the day was purple and it brought such a fun element to everything. (Just wait 'till you see the photo of their shoes and socks!) I started the day by photographing some details which included the grooms buttonierre, yes, it was made from buttons not flowers, and a new collar for their sweet dog. I stayed with the bride and her bridal party right up until she and her parents walked down the beautiful outdoor isle to the ceremony site. I took photos of each of the bridesmaids and after the ceremony Matt and I took some candid photo's during the "cocktail hour" and then some formals of the bridal party. Well, formal isn't really the truth. They used another element that I think is always fun at a daytime wedding, parasols. They just bring a cool feeling to the day and always make for great props in photographs. We had the bridal party all holding them at first and then the rest which you'll see below, just happened as we continued shooting.

After photographing the bridal party, the bride and groom took the long and beautiful walk from the ceremony site to the barn where the reception took place. They were so sweet along the way. Stopping to kiss or just be with each other as a newly married couple. Being there, photographing with Matt, made me think about our wedding day and how much fun we had with friends and family. I loved feeling that way while photographing another couple who were just starting down the road together.

I loved capturing little moments throughout the day. When the dust had settled and we were able to go through the images, seeing the photograph of Shaik's mother or the shot of Elizabeth hugging her maid of honor after her speech, her parents cutting a rug on the dance floor, made the entire day worth it. I'm not sure how many other opportunities I'll have to photograph a wedding with Matt but any time the chance comes, I'll take it!

You can see more images that Matt posted on his blog as well as find a link to the full slideshow HERE that includes images from all three photographers but I thought I would post some of my favorite images that I took throughout the day.

Enjoy!