JZQ Photography

Friends & Lovers

2010-04-02T14:07:00.001-07:00

Last weekend, my husband, Eric, and I traveled to Joshua Tree to celebrate his birthday. We were joined by several good friends who decided to join in the revels. We stayed at the Harmony Motel, which is always cool because it makes us think of how U2 stayed there too. Plus, we had two musicians among us so it seemed apropos. We ended up having a chamber music rock session in the Kerouac Cabin one night, which was just rad.

In any case, these are the two shots that I'm so grateful I got that weekend. Bistro 29 (the only gourmet digs in town) happened to have this large blow-up of an oil painting for a wall, so we decided to play. Eric et al got up in front of it and started making crazy around closing time, so I started shooting.

For this one, I said, "Now give me 'cast of the next WB teen drama.'" They SO nailed it!

I couldn't resist giving them bunk names & personae. From left to right, I've decided they are:
Sandra, the sophisticated Bohemian
Marco, the "nice guy" musician
Jesse, the athlete with some attitude
Myra, the whimsical dreamer
Krysta, the coy temptress

And for the next shot, I got into the mix and we had the hostess take it. I think we look like the Joshua Tree Playhouse Players.

It's quite possible that you'd have to know all these folks (and love them) to appreciate how amazing these photos are, but to me they are priceless. I can't wait to look back on them in 10 years!

Lucky 7

2010-01-24T19:41:00.001-08:00

It was my nephew's, Joshy's, 7th Birthday this weekend, and Eric and I had a great time at the party. It was themed SpongeBob, and there was many a game & activity. Here are my favorite captures of the day.

Joshy, being a rock star to a SpongeBob song.

Mikey (my other nephew) chasing bubbles.
I LOVE the sheer, unadulterated joy of this picture... I've rarely seen him look that way.

Seriously, Joshy was having trouble staying in his skin during the piñata. He could not contain! And this pic captures that really well.

Of course, the crowning moment!

Here's hoping that he has many more Birthdays, and that each one is as blessed and joyous as this one. I hope all the time in-between is good too!!

BOWL!

2010-01-11T20:41:00.000-08:00

Having just gotten back from Costa Rica about 12 hours earlier (pictures forthcoming), Eric and I headed out to Jillian's on Citywalk Saturday afternoon. It was time to celebrate the big 30 for our friend, Ven. Sadly, I was suffering from residual sinus irritation after being sick in CR and breathing airplane air for 7 hours. So, I was a little quieter than normal. Nevertheless, it was a good time. I was lucky to break 50 in the bowling game I did play, and the rest of the time I spent chatting with friends and chomping on mozzarella sticks. Oh yeah... and taking pictures. Here are a few of my faves.

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The birthday Girl, looking good!

Abe & Ven

Girlz with Technologie!

Capturing faces.

Trick candles

Let me in the sound

2009-10-26T21:11:00.000-07:00

Sadly, I'm not at press pass status yet, so I had to sport the G9 to last night's historic U2 360 concert at the Pasadena Rose Bowl. It was a phenomenal show, and I know that they pulled out some stops for the YouTube stream. We got to see Slash come out and play "Sweet Child of Mine" with the Black Eyed Peas, we got to see volunteers from Amnesty International take the stage is support of Aung San Suu Kyi, and we were personally greeted by a kindly astronaut up at the International Space Station. All of that is to say nothing of the awesome set list, which masterfully covered hits from a slew of albums.

I'd never seen U2 live, and I'd always wanted to. Now, I can put a check next to one more thing on the bucket list.

Thanks for all the music, guys!

(CLICK TO VIEW IMAGES LARGER)

ps: When is the Nobel committee going to give Bono his prize?

Nic & Zen Wedding

2009-10-25T12:46:00.000-07:00

In early October, I shot the wedding of two of my favorite people in a beautiful Old World-style location called Beau Rivage, in Malibu. Despite a really bad spill in which I damaged my 70-200 lens, the day (and the shoot) were a raging success. I am so happy for these wonderful people, and I'm humbled and honored that I was able to capture memories for them.

Visit here for the whole show, and see below for a few highlights. Click the images to view them at full res.

Eulogy

2009-10-11T23:59:00.000-07:00

My uncle died today. He was an incredibly humble man, whose immeasurable riches were not to be found in his house, but in his heart and family. I am so grateful that I spent last New Year's with him and the rest of my family in Costa Rica. Tío Daniel and his amazing family were a such an inspiration to me. I hadn't seen them in over fifteen years, and they taught me so much in the short amount of time I spent with them.

Tío, I'm so glad I get to remember you this way.

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A Day in the Park

2009-09-27T12:47:00.000-07:00

A few weeks back, I had the pleasure of photographing the most adorable family out in Elysian Park. It was only an hour-long shoot, but it was ridiculously fun. To think... it all came out of a chance encounter at Fatty's Restaurant in Eagle Rock. They were sitting a few tables away, and I couldn't help but go hand them a card because they were SO CUTE! Seriously, this kid is not only handsome, but totally charming and well-mannered.

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Henry, mid-flight.

Henry, discovering the joys of being a Superman.

Henry with his beautiful mom.

Poolyard

2009-09-16T19:56:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks back, I got to shoot the band Poolyard in action down in Santa Monica. They put on a pretty great show, and I couldn't escape the feeling that the set was too short. They're an LA-based band that somewhat defies categorization. If you like good grooves and a high-energy frontman, they're your game! Here are some choice shots.

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Phoenix

2009-09-13T16:46:00.000-07:00

A lot of bad stuff happened over the summer. I was hospitalized in early June, I was recovering until mid July, my husband and close friends got diagnosed with Lyme Disease after a trip to Yosemite, and fires burned hundreds of thousands of acres of the Angeles Forest.

Needless to say, it was rough going this summer. I was feeling kind of low last weekend when I went into Petco to buy our little Gizmo some Petromalt. Then the most incredible thing happened! -- I saw all of the kitties from Happy Strays who were up for adoption. There were so many adorable little mews! One little kitty instantly caught my eye, but she was already being removed from her cage by other prospective parents, so I asked to hold her brother, an orange tabby named Simba. He was so completely intoxicating that he was all I talked about over lunch with Eric.

Eric agreed that we could head back to the Petco and see if Simba was still available for adoption. Sadly, when we got there we learned that he had been adopted earlier that day. I was pretty bummed about it, until they told me that his sister was still available. Wouldn't you know it? -- His sister was the first kitty that had caught my eye. No one had adopted her. She's a splotchy little Torti cat with a tongue of flame running up the right side of her face. When I got a hold of her, I just couldn't let go. She was the sweetest, warmest, most affectionate little purr monster ever! So, we adopted her. She has added so much to our family. She's rambunctious and erratic, totally curious, and an absolutely adorable little firebird. For this reason, we named her Phoenix.

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Phoenix, stalking

She looks like such a queen!

Pheonix, at play

I'm so happy that we adopted her. She single-handedly burst my funk, and I've been pretty happy about her (and life) ever since.

State of Emergency

2009-08-30T09:07:00.001-07:00

Eric and I live in La Crescenta, and it's been a truly surreal few days with all of the fires. We watched as flames appeared on the ridge above our house, and continued to watch as they descended toward La Cañada and us. Yesterday, I went driving around the immediate area and couldn't believe how low the fire had gotten in multiple places. It's almost as if rivulets of fire have been flowing down any available canyon towards the city.

Ash is snowing all around us. The sky looks like a CGI effect from a Star Trek episode. It's unrecognizable as Earth's atmosphere. Our lungs are heavy from three days of breathing smoke.

Mostly, my thoughts are with those on the front lines. I've watched as tens of planes and helicopters have battled the blaze in at least five locations, and it's still only 5% contained. I think about how harrowing it must be to fly under those conditions. I think about the men and women on the ground, who are the only line of defense after nightfall. To be honest, I feel almost guilty that they're out there risking life and limb while I sleep. I think about their families' concern.

Right now, I hope for whatever conditions necessary to abate this inferno. I hope no one has to lose their home, and more importantly that no one loses their life.

View from Flanders & Encinas on Thursday night.

An example of the height of the flames. This was taken from the La Cañada movie theatre parking lot.

Valiant pilot.

Self-explanatory.

View of the Tujunga area fire mushroom cloud.

The next time there's a ballot measure asking for increased taxation to support our fire department, I'm voting for it. I've always done so anyway, but it seems all the more urgent now.

Abbandonato

2009-08-29T11:56:00.000-07:00

I had a photo date yesterday with a student of mine. We had originally planned to drive out to Red Rock, but given the fires and scorching temperatures we opted for heading towards the coast. As we were cruising over the hills of Las Virgenes, we spotted an evocative set of seemingly abandoned structures and decided to go exploring. They didn't disappoint. For my part, I felt half like I was walking into the real life version of Blair Witch and have like I was violating the sanctity of someone else's past, seeing into things that I shouldn't be seeing. Ultimately, however, it was peaceful there, and solemn.

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Kitchen.

Bathroom.

Entryway into the living room.

Bedroom windows.

Falling ceiling.

After the abandoned houses, we continued on to Matador Beach. Sadly, the tide was coming in and we didn't have enough beach left to walk upon. As a result, we ended up with very sloshy feet, but we still had a good time.

Here's Gabi at Matador Beach.

Our wet feet.

There's my girl doing her thing.

Exploring Beau Rivage

2009-08-27T09:07:00.000-07:00

I'll be shooting a wedding at Beau Rivage, Malibu, in early October, and I recently did a site visit with the bride. It was an opportunity to explore the restaurant's Old World vibe and play photographically.

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I really do love mandalas, and I can hardly resist an opportunity to photograph a naturally occurring one. This is an underbelly shot of the chandelier and dome in the reception hall.

I adore this shot. I love how the bride-to-be is flanked by paintings and how she's glowing! Lovely... I'm looking forward to the big day!

Yosemite!

2009-08-27T08:30:00.000-07:00

Recently took a trip to Yosemite with my husband and a couple of friends. I spent most of the trip battling a rare breed of altitude sickness or something, but we still had an amazing time. We scaled Pothole Dome, lounged at Lake Tenaya, and challenged Eric's acrophobia at Glacier & Taft Points. The highlight for me, however, was our sunset/stargazing hike to the top of Sentinel dome. It was glorious to watch the sunset from there, and equally glorious to worship the night's stars with the Milky Way arched overhead. Of course, that meant a rather frightening mile hike down in the dark, during which we encountered "The Deerbear." Fortunately, we made it out alive! After four days in the park, we booked a pair of rooms at the old Ruby Inn, Bridgeport, because dining at Casa Michaela was must and sipping wine in a hottub is good.

Here are some beautiful moments (click image to view larger):

Bridalveil Falls
We hiked up to the pool at the base and enjoyed this amazing view for a while.

Grazing Deer outside of Curry Village
There were three of them, and they were within five feet of a crowd of people, completely undisturbed. It was amazing.

Lake Tenaya
(Eric was providing soundtrack!)

Sunset, Sentinel Dome

Stars, Sentinel Dome

The best Mexican food to be had in the State of California is to be had at Casa Michaela's about one mile south of Bridgeport. It's been family owned and operated for decades, and the recipes date back to the days of the Californios.

Poetry on the railing of the Mono Lake Vista Point.

Did I mention we went to Bodie? -- and honest-to-goodness Ghost Town!
I have a soft spot for that Old Western feel.

Bodie's Geometry

For some reason, I really took a liking to this house.

Birthday Nephew

2009-08-09T17:52:00.000-07:00

Went to my nephew's birthday party yesterday, and it was uber cute! -- Held at Kidspace in Pasadena. For those of you who don't know, Kidspace is a cool museum/exploratorium-type place. They introduced the kids to a tortoise and a Madagascar cockroach the size of palm! (Ew!) There was pizza, arts & crafts, and much rejoicing. My nephew looked joyful throughout...

(Click on images to view larger size!)

Just before meeting Señor Tortuga

Playing with present ribbon

Diggin' on the TOYS!!!

It was a multi-themed event ... a little Batman, some Star Wars, some Galactic Heroes. I particularly enjoyed the decorating of paper Batman ensignias while the Star Wars score loomed in the background. Made everything very synchretic and epic!

Unorthodox XV Photos

2009-08-03T23:34:00.000-07:00

One of my girls (by which I mean a girl student of mine) had her quinceañera recently, and I got to join in on the fun. It was an epic 17-hour shoot, but it was loads of fun! My goal was to go a different route from traditional XV photography, which tends to be very straightforward and portrait-centered. There isn't as much of a photojournalistic approach to them, or at least there hasn't been from what I could gather. So, I tried to get a little more creative and fun with things. Here are a few highlights! (Click on 'em to see larger sizes.)

This one puts the ginormity of the dress in perspective. I love the feet all askew and the creepy doll double in the corner. This is definitely not the type of shot one would find in any other Quince album.

This one looks like it migrated into this decade from the 1940s. It also has buttloads of sheer personality. I've never seen chambelanes look so awesome! Maybe I'm biased because I know them, but still. Kudos to the limo driver for letting the kids climb all over the thing!

This one is so romantic, it's enough to make everyone who sees it want to make out. So much chemistry! I really do love lens flare, and I love how the two flares are coming together here; they parallel the couple in a beautiful way.

Since the birthday girl is a huge fan of Twilight, we also did this... the pièce de résistance, if you ask me. I can't imagine that another girl in the world has this in her Quince album... but loads are going to wish they did after they see this! I'm really glad that I was able to give my girl her shot at being Bella!

Congrats to Gabi! She made a beautiful Quinceañera, and her party was a blast! There was dancing into the wee hours, really cool choreographed numbers, and good food. Not a bad way to work 17-hours at all!

Impromptu Vacation

2009-07-31T10:57:00.000-07:00

Eric and I had originally planned to fly down to Costa Rica for part of the summer, but for medical reasons I was forced to stay Stateside. Instead, we traveled up and down the Central Coast of CA -- Big Sur, Monterey, and Santa Cruz. Here are some shots from what turned out to be a rather awesome trip!

Turkey vultures, Big Sur

I'm trapped!

I love this shot... the positioning of the jellies, Eric's fascination... I really just love it.

Big Sur sunset

A real honest-to-goodness California Condor soaring in the wild. His name is Cosmo, according to the Ventana Wildlife Society. Magnificant, isn't he?

Concierto

2009-07-03T20:36:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, June 16th, 2009, KCRW sponsored a show at the El Rey featuring Hecuba & Bat for Lashes. Hecuba was not exactly my cup of tea, though I commend them for being 100% committed to their performance in a way that few artists are. Bat for Lashes, on the other hand, was great! I was only sporting a G9 at the show, so these aren't what they could've been, but they're not bad either!

I've decided Purple is Natasha's color, what with all the talk of magic and wizards.

Natasha gesticu-singing.

This is my fave of the night.

Midsummer Night's Fiesta

2009-06-30T11:43:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, I had the honor of shooting the Schupmann wedding. Stacy and Kerensa got married just after the ban on gay marriage was lifted and before Prop 8 was passed. Thus, theirs is one of 18,000 same-sex marriages that will continue to be acknowledged by the State. The wedding day was beautiful, with all kinds of unique touches: the wedding party's shirts forming a rainbow, the ring-bearer being their cute-as-all-get-out dog Buddy, the nameplates! The whole event was full of color, joy, love... and a little Shakespeare. Below are some beautiful moments.

Kerensa, sporting her rock!

An intimate moment during the couple's first dance.

I really do love this shot... available light with a little flare, taken towards the end of the night. Someone commented that it looks like a still from an old WB show, which was really flattering considering that I'm trying to get more cinematographic with my photography.

My Favorite Model

2009-05-18T22:01:00.000-07:00

I suppose it's a byproduct of being a photographer that you end up with tons and tons of images of the people in your immediate circle... the people you most love. So, here is another beautiful image of my hubby, Axo. This is definitely one of my faves of him!

Resonance

2009-05-03T13:41:00.000-07:00

This past week, I had the supreme pleasure of shooting photographic stills for a film. It was undeniably one of the most thrilling experiences of my life. Who doesn't love movies? Who wouldn't want to get behind the scenes at least once in their life?

The film is called Resonance, and it's a short created/written/directed by Robert Beaucage, recipient of 2008's Los Angeles Short Filmmaking Competition Grant. It's going to premiere on August 19th, 2009, at VisionFest '09 in Hollywood.

I don't want to give much of anything away because I think people should just see it, but here are some stills.

The physicist, thinking.

Homage to the lighting folks, who did an absolutely phenomenal job and taught me SO much!

Director Robert Beaucage (foreground) and John Laughlin.

The physicist's wife (Leilani Sarelle) appears to try to coax him back to reality.

Leilani Sarelle

Leilani looked so stunningly beautiful here, I just had to snap it!

Eye on the monitor.

Ah, the beach! What a wonderful place to shoot. Don't the actors just look amazing?

An intimate closeup.

Water arc.

I'm so grateful that I got a chance to work on this film, and I truly, truly hope I get to have this experience again. I would be remiss if I didn't mention the incredible cast & crew that worked on the production. Everyone involved was exceptionally talented, professional, and genuinely kind. It was a beautiful thing. -- and a special shout-out to Fortunato Procopio (DP) for his incredible work!

Matrimonio Mexica!

2009-03-10T19:08:00.000-07:00

When I'm not behind a camera, I'm in front of high schoolers. Last weekend, a former student of mine (who was and remains totally awesome) got married on an island in the Yucatan. Axo (my hubby) and I were so there! It was a beautiful place... just off the cost of San Felipe, about 40 minutes away from Tizimín. My girl looked absolutely amazing, and it was truly a pleasure getting to know her man.

Here's the happy couple. Jessy's wearing the same head dress her mom wore for her wedding decades ago.

I absolutely adore this shot! It's so joyful. At first, they were a little tentative about playing for the camera, but when they did, I was able to snap this frame.

Here's the palapa under which they were wed, and a circle of chairs. Originally, they were going to have the ceremony out in the center of the chair circle, but it was a little too windy and hot. So, we moved under the palapa. It was a very unusual ceremony... sort of shamanistic, based on old Mexica traditions. There was tortilla making, burning of sage, and various offerings from both bride and groom. I'm really glad I got to document something so unique.

Sometimes I like doing a little bit of grainy black and white stuff.

This was the sunset on our first night out to visit the island.

I'm still gobsmacked that I was able to capture this. I've always loved light bridges on water; they make me feel a sense of sacredness. This one, leading into the ultimate orb of light is just awesome. I'm so grateful to have this image in my library.

Axo, looking rather noble.

Axo, looking genuinely happy. I love all that light in his eyes and his slightly crooked smile.

Goose

2009-03-10T18:50:00.000-07:00

I'm the lucky one who got to go back to the Harmony Motel for Valentines weekend and photograph the lovely Gustavo Galindo, an up-and-coming Latin Music Man. He was a blast to work with, and he's sure to be a hit with the ladies.

Does Elvis Live?

Gotta love the countryside!

This photo has been described as "smoldering"... and I'd have to agree.

Do you bite your thumb at us, sir?

The funny thing is that he really had hurt his thumb just before that last one. He pricked it on some thorn of the bush he was standing next to. I think the photo is both cute and sexy.

Good luck to the Goose! I'm keeping my fingers crossed for him. He deserves to be a hit... so talented.

Joshua Tree

2008-12-28T09:09:00.000-08:00

A couple of friends of ours (mine & Axo's) invited us out to Joshua Tree for Christmas. It was like the turning of a chapter for me. Many years ago, my mom and I (along with our roommate at the time, Melissa) just up and decided to drive out to Joshua Tree on New Year's Eve. The intent behind that trip was catharsis, and we definitely got it. We climbed boulders as the sun was beginning to fall, and we made it to Keys View in time to watch the last sunset of the year. Then, we drove to the Bella campground and lay out on the hood of the car wrapped in a blanket staring at the stars. The sky was full of them... it was an amazing trip that I've always wanted to repeat. And I finally got to, thanks to Nic & Zen. Only this time, I got to share it with my husband.

It was relaxing and spiritually rejuvenating. I also got to test my limits as I free-climbed different parts of the Jumbo Rocks with my full camera kit on my back and no one else around. I did some stuff I didn't know I had it in me to do and discovered some new strength. Did I mention that it was dawn and 28 degrees out at the time? I'm surprised I didn't freeze off my fingertips!

In the evenings, it was back home to the Harmony Motel, where Zen & Axo would cook up some amazing grub for the evening. Veggie chili one night, veggie pizza the next. That was usually the time when we would tinker with the Kaossillator too (an awesome little musical toy!).

Here are some of the pictures from the voyage, in no particular order:

A very unusual cactus that we had never seen before.

Sky, on our first night there.

Zen & Nic enjoying the first dusk's hush.

Me playing thespian in the desert.

The road out of the park.
(I took this picture because it was a magical moment listening to Rob Pattinson's "Never Think" and being alone with Axo)

Unreal Tree -- I swear it looks like a painting, except for Axo sitting there.

Axo playing shakuhachi atop a large boulder.

Windmills off the 10.
(I love the lighting in this one.)

My Shadow.
(This is one of my favorite pics of the hole trip. It has an other-worldly look to it.)

Twilight Freak.

CHOLLA!

AxoHaus.
(What a ridiculous little structure... WITH it's own address! I couldn't resist!)

Zen loving the Joshua Trees.

Faith +1
(Inside Joke)

Jumbo Rocks -- billowing up into the sunrise.

A Portrait of Zen.

Peacock

2008-12-18T19:39:00.000-08:00

Last weekend, I had the good fortune to do a "play-date" type shoot with a local model/actress named Justine Peacock. You can see her in action as a cast member of the webisode "The Upstairs Girls." Or, if you'd rather, you can catch her at Millie's in Silverlake, where she works as a waitress.

That's actually where I met her. She had such a neat look that I waltzed up to her after brunch and offered to take some pictures of her. She was into it and we got together last Saturday to shoot in and around the martian landscape at the intersection of Topanga Canyon Blvd. and the 118 Freeway. It was a lot of fun being able to direct someone more intensely and get the looks I wanted.

Here's a candid shot of Justine genuinely laughing after a silly pose.

Here's a shot of her looking awesome with a large bamboo stick.

Here's the closing scene to our tragic backstory movie. The heroine has been through a lot and lost the the man she loved. It's the denouement; we know she's going to be all right, but she's staring out at the sunset and remembering.

This is just a portrait that I loved. The lighting is fantastic.

She was really happy with the results of this shoot, so I think we're both looking forward to a follow-up featuring "Prince Boots" and a mint green guitar!

BelLA

2008-12-15T06:02:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, my husband (Axo), our friend Dorian, and I went up to the Deukmejian Wilderness for a little hike. The views were absolutely stunning for Los Angeles:

And for those nay-sayers who don't believe that California gets any color for the changing of seasons:

After the hike, we headed over to some friends' house for an intimate dinner. I snapped this while we were there. It's one of my favorite pictures of Axo ever. He looks as tender and thoughtful as he is.

Well, that's it for now, but I know I'm way behind in updating this blog. I think the next few entries may consist of flashbacks to previous events. It's been a crazy month on the photography front!

Oh, Gizmo

2008-11-11T20:32:00.001-08:00

Every once in a while, I'm home at exactly the right time for the sun to come through our front windows in exactly the right way while the cat lounges in exactly the right spot. It's at those times when I just can't resist the shot.

Our kitty just looks so darn beautiful, doesn't he?

Día de los Muertos

2008-11-02T19:22:00.001-08:00

I've been a little absent because I've been battling the cold from hell for the past couple of weeks. For the first time in years, I completely lost my voice. On the upside, I did not get a sinus infection, which is rare given that I live with my 10+ allergen.

But I digress... I finally made an effort to participate in social things this weekend. I can't say that I was entirely successful because I drifted off to sleep at both parties I attended. Nevertheless, I was happy to get out and see old friends again on Halloween weekend.

Last night, Eric and I went to a wonderful, themed dinner featuring rolled foods. Eric made vegetarian dates in bacon, and the rest of the crew showed up with enchiladas, tacos, wraps, cinnamon rolls, etc. All of it was very tasty, and one of the highlights of the night was when Beth walked through the door looking like this:

That is just a bomb homage to the day and her cultural heritage. We all thought it was spectacular.

After much food and cake, we played a round of Apples to Apples, which I won! I'm happy to report that I am: Charming, Overwhelming, and some other adjective I can't remember.

Tomorrow, it's off to Malibu for a retreat, so I must go pack!

Michael and Shelly

2008-10-17T21:06:00.000-07:00

A few posts ago, I showed you some images of the bachelorette party, but here are some wedding pics. It was a lovely wedding; I really had a good time. It was the perfect balance of ritual and FUN, and the whole thing had a warm, comfortable vibe about it. I'm so honored to have been able to photograph this occasion. I really am. I hope the couple enjoys these images for the rest of their days together. May it be a long, loving, and happy journey!

The couple's first dance:

The candid cake-cutting shot (which rightly conveys just how precarious it can be to dislodge a slice!):

The Olympian Bride:

I must say, that last one is among my faves. Eric (my hubby) went so far as to call it "iconic." I don't know that I'd go that far, but it does stick in the mind, I think.

In any case, for more, click here.

More of the Fire

2008-10-13T17:35:00.000-07:00

I actually had to brave the roads today for a corporate shoot this afternoon. What a creepy experience. There's just a general vibe of "something's wrong" in the air, even when the sky looks clear. On the way back from the shoot, I decided to see if I could document some of the weirdness.

This is the La Tuna onramp to the 210, cordoned off with yellow tape.

This is the westbound 210 as I looked back towards La Crescenta. It's strange to imagine a freeway in Los Angeles looking like this in the middle of the day.

Eastbound and westbound 210, photographed from above the La Tuna Canyon off-ramp.

Here are another couple of views of the deserted freeway. So creepy... especially if you're a native Angeleno and know what these normally look like. It's like a scene from 28 days later.

This last one was taken on the Rosemont Bridge overlooking the 210. There was some serious grating, and I couldn't get passed all the interference in the foreground here. However, you can see that no one was on the highway except for fire personnel.

I really wonder whether I'll be able to make it to work on time tomorrow.

Morning Commute

2008-10-13T08:13:00.001-07:00

I got up this morning, and got ready as usual to go to work. Even though I'd read about the "Little T" fire, I didn't really consider the possibility that it would affect my morning drive. Let me tell you, I'm still a little traumatized by just how intense it was to drive straight into this:

When I saw the layers of smoke getting thicker and thicker, blacker and blacker; I decided to pull over and snap a shot or two of what was going on. You can see that cops were on their way to help out. CHP, fire, crews, CalTrans, and who knows what else where also on the scene.

Shortly after that picture was taken, they closed down all lanes on the 210. That's when it got even more surreal. Suddenly, there was a sea of white reverse lights as all westbound traffic shifted into reverse in an attempt to exit the freeway via an onramp. It was like being in Blindness... a total mish-mash of cars all vying for an escape route, swinging U-turns and driving head on into oncoming traffic, bolting for the onramp to get off.

They made us exit and re-enter the freeway on the eastbound side, leading me back home. I thought of going into work anyway -- taking the long way round, but ultimately decided against it. It would take me a good hour to hour and half to make it in, and I don't know when I'd have to leave for an afternoon appointment (if the freeway remains closed). So, I'm home and I'm shaken.

It's hard to describe just how intense an experience it was to draw closer and closer to the black billows of smoke. Or what it was like to feel so deeply sad for the burning earth. Or what it was like to watch over the side of the road as people packed their horses into trailers and drove off to get them to safety. It all made me want to cry.

Rite of Passage

2008-09-28T20:56:00.001-07:00

A few nights back, I had the good fortune of accompanying Shelly for her bachelorette party. We started with dinner at Electric Lotus, the highlight of which was a truly mind-boggling cake. From there, we strolled down the boulevard to the Dresden. There, we witnessed the closest thing to downright humiliation of the bride-to-be that we would see all night. All I'll say is: THE BELT! The ladies also treated themselves to tasty beverages.

From the Dresden, it was off to Das Bunker, where we all got in for free because the magnanimous RevJohn had guestlisted all of us! More shenanigans ensued there, but I was pumpkinizing by 12:30. So, I called it a night and left.

Here are some shots from the night.

This is quite possibly the most adorable picture of these two I've ever seen.

Even the bride's mind was boggled by the cake!

You are more likely to see 50 endangered species in one day than you are to see this ever, EVER again!

Ah... the meaning of marriage!

Here's my favorite shot of the night. (You know I always have one!)

The wedding is coming up on October 11th, so I'll be sure to follow up with some of those shots when they're ready!

Michael and Shelly

2008-09-14T19:09:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I had the privilege of accompanying Michael & Shelly on a "Day in the Life" shoot. What a blast! We started out at Hollywood Billiards because Mike wanted to catch what he could of the Notre Dame/Michigan game. Then we had some fun shooting in and around the place. How could I pass up the opportunity to snap this one? A little gender reversal, anyone?

I love this shot of Shelly. She looks adorable and happy... pretty awesome for a bride to be!

Believe me when I say that there were lots of fun images from the day, and I don't want to give away too many because they're meant for a slideshow for the couple... but I couldn't resist this one. I think this picture is just awesome!
I really do love working with couples. It's fun to see their chemistry and their joy. I wish Michael & Shelly every happiness together, and I'm very excited to photograph their wedding!

Tío en Los Angeles

2008-09-14T18:49:00.001-07:00

I've been too busy with the start of school to properly post about everything that's going on, but my uncle from Costa Rica came to visit a while back and we had a great time with him. He'd never been outside of C.R., and he certainly never dreamed he'd be with us in the US, but it turns out that his job gave him an all expenses paid trip to Atlanta. So, we pooled the rest of the resources necessary to fly him across the country to visit us for a while.

We took him to the LA Science Center and Body Worlds, Disneyland, and a few other places. Here are some highlights from his visit.

My uncle loves animals. He's a really gentle soul, and he's always had cats in his own home. So, he got along swimmingly with our little penguin, Gizmo. The mutual joy here is so warm.

This shot was taken in the Los Angeles Cathedral ("The most modern in the world"). I fell in love with this tapestry. It appealed to my minimalist aesthetic, and I thought the image was beautifully done. It inspires humility & devotion.

One of the things I love about having good gear is that you don't have to care when people tell you, "No flash photography." This is a shot I got while on Pirates of the Carribean at Disneyland. I like the color and the motion blur; it gives it an ethereal quality. I'm thinking of blowing this one up and using it in my classroom since it goes with the whole Pirate Captain theme I've got going in my room.

You might have guessed from my first post on this blog that I love fireworks. I always have. There is something about beautiful light disappearing into space that really moves me. For most of my teen years (and well into my twenties), I would cry every time I saw a good fireworks show... out of sheer joy. And Disneyland definitely knows how to put on a good show! I snapped these after Fantasmic. I think this one looks like a flower.

I think this one is the "Tie-Fighter" firework. Pretty incredible that they're able to create this look.

Oh... and Big Sur!

2008-08-23T22:59:00.001-07:00

Okay... so I forgot to include this shot in my last post, but this was also taken at Tools for Peace. The kids figured out that they could hand feed one of the squirrels up there, and let me tell you... that little guy (dubbed Jimmy Junior) is all set for the Winter! But seriously, isn't this so cute!!! It's so cute and sweet, it kills me! I look at this shot and think about the nature of giving and generosity. I think of our interdependence with the natural world around us. It just takes on so many meanings for me.

And speaking of the natural world... Here's a shot of the sun through the trees up in Big Sur.

We stayed at the Riverside Campgrounds, which (to be frank) were a little disappointing. Nevertheless, we had a good time. We went horseback riding at Andrew Molera State Park, we ate at Nepenthe, and we spent a day at Pfeiffer Beach. I did my first bit of rock climbing with a camera on my back that day at the beach. I was very proud of myself! (Even though my quads are still recovering!)

In an ironic turn, we still didn't get to dine at Cielo. Apparently, two weeks after the Big Sur fires were out, Cielo had an electrical problem that caused one quarter of the restaurant to burn. How weird is that?! So, we were foiled again. But if Cielo comes back, we'll be there in the name of Sterling!!!

Tools for Peace

2008-08-23T22:42:00.000-07:00

From August 1-10, I was up in the Tehachapi Mountains at the Ari Bhod Buddhist Center working for their Tools for Peace Camp. It draws kids from all over California together to work on a curriculum based on the Tibetan Buddhist Shi-tro mandala. It was an incredible experience. The kids were nothing less than adorable and completely lovable, and there were some major breakthroughs throughout the week. It was intensely emotional at times -- listening to the kids' stories -- but it was also great fun! We sang karaoke, made a sand mandala, went horseback riding & swimming. It was definitely the most rejuvenating experience of my summer. I was the official photographer for the camp, and here are some of the stills from the week.

This the sand mandala the kids made, under the guidance of Loren Witcher & Lama Lhondrup.

This was taken at the Dye Natatorium. It took me a while to set it up, and everybody else there (because it was a public pool) was wondering what the heck was going on... but man, what a capture! I love this shot! So fun!

Here's a few of the lovelies at the camp enjoying the water.

One of the things the campers did was write a song together. This was when one of the musical visitors was guiding them in the music-making. The song turned out beautifully, thanks to Lynne Earls, the visiting sound engineer!

The campfire shots were some of my favorites of the whole lot. Such lovely warm light. We spent time singing, laughing, and crying together at the campfires. There was so much love and support among all of us in the group.

Here's shot of Lama Gyatso taken while he was talking to the kids. He's the keystone of the camp and the driving force behind Ari Bhod.

All told, I'm really grateful to have been able to participate. I very much look forward to doing it again next year!

Big Sur/Santa Cruz Highlights

2008-07-21T23:47:00.001-07:00

I've been out of LA and up in NorCal for the past five days or so, and I've been spending lots of time taking pictures. There are too many to post all of them, but here are some highlights.

Redwoods are TALL! (Fernwood Camp, Big Sur)

This was at Pfeiffer Beach in Big Sur. There was something very "Romantic American Explorer" about this guy with his dogs.

The moon after the fire (in Big Sur).

Dawn from Cafe Kevah (Big Sur). I love how watercolor-y this one looks.

Flying this kite made me feel like I could fly (Pfeiffer Beach).

Boogie boarder at Natural Bridges Beach, Santa Cruz.

You'd think these guys were an ad! (Santa Cruz)

This just reminded me of a zen circle. I loved that it was jut there in the sand at Natural Bridges.

Oh, Gabriella!

2008-07-21T23:13:00.000-07:00

Tonight, I had dinner at the incredible Gabriella Cafe in Santa Cruz, featuring chef Sean Baker. Let me tell you, the last time I had a meal that overwhelmingly exquisite was when I ate at Batali's place in Vegas. Baker is a genius!!! His combinations and balance of flavors totally destroyed us! I was there with my good friend, Tanya, and her man, Allen. All three of us were dying of deliciousness! Throughout the course of the evening, I snapped these. Aren't they adorable?

Awww.... that last one is so sweet!

Another Happy Couple!

2008-07-20T20:26:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I had the privilege of shooting a wedding at a Livermore winery with my friend and mentor, Craig Smith. It was an unusual situation for me because it was a very lengthy wedding ceremony, but we (the photographers) were contracted for a very limited amount of time. So, there was some scurrying to get through the usual things -- first dances, bouquet toss, garter toss, etc. However, I had fun and learned a lot.

For example, I learned again how much I love prime lenses. My 50mm f/1.4 is just awesome! I'm thinking of investing in the 24mm f/1.4... although that's a BIG investment to consider!

In any case, here are some of my favorite images of the day.

I loved the juxtaposition of that tattoo with this bridesmaid's elegance in this shot.

Isn't she adorable???

The newlyweds recessing with their darling flower girl.

This is, hands down, my favorite shot of the night. What a wonderful capture! I'm so glad I got it!

Fun with Wadsworth

2008-07-14T22:49:00.000-07:00

I had the pleasure of shooting Wadsworth again at St. Luke's church this evening. It was an absolutely fun-filled shoot. Those guys are up for just about anything, and they have great repartee. We spent about 1.5 hours shooting around sunset, and then we headed back to my office to look at proofs. These were some of our favorites.

This is just an unbelievably gorgeous shot of the front man. It's so classic looking.

Here are the guys having a little fun with their hands.

This is like the Wadsworth flower getting ready to bloom. Look at those tight buds!

Reminiscent of the dryer doors shot from our first shoot together, this is the band peering through a tire swing.

Oh My God! -- They're slipping! Good thing Marcus is there to catch them!

The color and composition on this one is all kinds of weird, but we all liked it.

A much more standard shot with that lovely St. Lukes masonry!

I really do love working with these guys. It was fun to shoot them, and it was fun to spend the time looking over proofs together. We had several moments of uncontrollable laughter together. Yay!

Spider Bite

2008-07-09T16:35:00.000-07:00

Check out this beauty. So... remember that day I was photographing at the church. Some arachnid caught me in the leg upon arrival. At the time, I thought the pain was a muscle complaining because of the way I squatted for a shot or something. However, the pain didn't subside for a long time. I could feel it half way down my calf and up into my quad. Finally, I pulled up my pant leg to see what was going on, and I found this:

Now, I'm not arachnophobic, and I don't think this bite is going to change that; but it has given me newfound respect for our eight-legged friends in the world.

The Day Wasn't Over

2008-07-08T22:10:00.001-07:00

Most of it is out of focus, but damn! -- That eye is unbelievable!

Websites are FUN!

2008-07-08T20:31:00.000-07:00

Sadly, no new pictures to post today. I generally try to do at least a little bit of shooting each day, but alas! -- I have spent the better part of the day working on my forthcoming official website. You should be seeing it online soon!

Ciao for now!

First Foray, and then some

2008-07-07T21:50:00.001-07:00

Today, I had my second-ever photography date. My friend, Karen, came over and we set upon the town looking for interesting things to shoot. Our first stop was a local church that has incredible masonry. I've loved it and wanted to shoot it for a while but finally got around to it today. As it turns out, we weren't technically allowed to do it (good to know for the upcoming Wadsworth shoot), but we managed to get a few shots in before the pastor caught us!

In any case, I decided to take one of the shots from the day and digitally alter it. I've never combined images before, so this is my first foray into the "digital alterations" world. As such, it's okay, I guess. More than anything, it was an experience to learn from!

This is probably my favorite shot from the church. I like the tones and the lines of the architecture.

After the church, we headed towards a classic motel (featured on film, I'm told) on Foothill. The shots of the motel were so-so, but I loved these. Can you believe these two places are right next door to each other?

Ain't it nice to know you can waltz in and get a little perfection?!

As for this joint, I fully expect to see lego people gathering for trim. The place looked totally unreal, but cute and quaint.

That's all for now!

IM Radio Opening

2008-07-07T10:08:00.000-07:00

Last night, the front man of Wadsworth (a band I've photographed in the past [you can check them out here]) called to invite me to the launch party for IM Radio downtown. The band was going to be playing in a small, red-lit space and broadcasting live. How could I resist?! It was a good time, and I've decided that shooting a band broadcasting over the internet has to be one of the best ways to shoot them because you can get right up in their face without bothering any audience. I loved it!

What a lovely moody shot.

Go Jojo!

Jojo on keyboards for Wadsworth, and their new synth guy (whose name I forget) in the background. The synth added so much to the band's sound. It was great to listen to.

Wadsworth, himself, meditating behind his cymbals.

This has to be my fave of the night. I love the angle and curves.

Experiments in High Key

2008-07-07T09:44:00.000-07:00

I've been increasingly interested in High Key photography technique, and I finally decided to try my hand at it last week. I don't have a studio... yet, so I was working in my bathroom (which has a lovely cream colored wall), and using the available light from a skylight and a 580EXII flash. All things considered, I'm very proud of these images.

I love the eyes in this one...

That's me... I was the only model available at the time. Look out, ANTM!!! ;-)

My lovely Axo holding up the wall.

Inauguration

2008-07-07T09:25:00.000-07:00

Welcome! It was time that I created a separate space for just my photography! I'm excited about this -- as I am about my website, which is forthcoming. In the meantime, this will be my home.

Without further ado. Enjoy some celebratory images taken on the Fourth!