paul f. gero | photography

The NEW Blog is LIVE!

2007-12-31T19:51:00.000-08:00

It's a New Year and with it comes a NEW BLOG!

To view it, please go here

Enjoy!

Paul

Holiday Bowl | San Diego | ASU vs. Texas

2007-12-28T10:30:00.000-08:00

Texas reserve QB John Chiles (7) runs in for a score in the first half.

ASU tailback Dimitri Nance (#31) is wrapped up by a swarm of Texas defenders in the first half.

ASU QB Rudy Carpenter walks off the field in the second half, his shirt torn.

Last night I got to take a little walk down memory lane as I shot the Holiday Bowl at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego.

Thanks to my long time, good friend Tom Story who used to work with me at The Arizona Republic and now works for Media Relations at Arizona State, I had a field credential. This was the first football game I had shot for probably six years now (since leaving the Republic in 2002). Wow, time has sure flown.

It was good to see Tom, and also another former colleague Rob Schumacher who was covering the game for the Republic.

Not a good game for the Sun Devils. They looked flat, and couldn't seem do do anything right in the first quarter, especially. No running game and while they made some headway later in the game, a 21 point first quarter deficit was just too much to overcome. It was tough to shoot in the first half, because I was getting text messages from my friend Dan, a Texas alum, who took great glee in the thrashing of the first quarter.

After Hawaii I kind of had a hankering to get back and shoot some action and this game I took a bit different approach then I would have taken if I were covering it for the paper. Plus I'm fascinated by the psychology of fan, especially on the collegiate level. Football and Texas have a unique place in our culture and I wanted to be there to try and find some photos that might help me capture that sense.

In my newspaper days, I probably would've taken an extra long 400 2.8, extender, and a wide zoom and a telephoto zoom. This time I took a 300 2.8, and only a 50mm and 35mm lenses. I also had another camera for shooting b & w film, just for the look of film . These images were all made with a Canon 1dm3 with the 300.

The reason I chose the 300 vs. the 400 allowed me to work hand held (no monopod) and would also get a slightly different look than I would've gone for in the past.

I actually enjoyed working this way...the looser crop in shooting allowed for a bit of cropping in post and being able to work handheld just kept me a bit more mobile.

I had a great time and it was good to see old friends, especially. I can't wait to see how the b & w film images look. There are a couple images burned in my brain cells shot with film that I am just chomping at the bit to see.

Huntington Harbour Holiday Lights

2007-12-23T14:30:00.000-08:00

With my Mom in town, we wanted her to get a chance to view the holiday lights at Huntington Harbour. Nicki's cousins, Boris and Doff (Doff is Nicki's dad's first cousin) live there and every year at this time we get to take a tour of the homes via Boris & Doff's Duffy boat.

This was Kate's first time viewing them as well and she had a great time. She's had a hectic little Christmas time and today she conked out for about a 3 hour nap.

Every year the lights are a bit different and I just love the colorful reflections in the water. Boris & Doff publish a regional magazine for the area so one or more of the photos will end up on the cover of their magazine, Harbour Lights.

Putting up the Christmas Tree

2007-12-21T14:46:00.000-08:00

and, Kate, dreaming of summer already??

This past weekend, we got our Christmas tree and decorated it. This year's tree is a bit taller than last year's...and this one seems to be a perfect fit in the nook by the stairs.

Kate, I believe, is starting to get a sense of what Christmas means (at least to little ones)...bright lights, visits from relatives and friends and soon she'll get the ultimate kid's meaning--PRESENTS!!

Of course, we'll have to work on the real meaning along the way.

Hawaii Sunset

2007-12-21T14:43:00.000-08:00

Getting caught up a bit with the blogging...was a fairly hectic week here -- finishing some last minute holiday print orders, welcoming my Mom in from Wisconsin for the holiday, and still battling a cold...(finally seem to be winning).

Some images just archived today:

A view from my hotel room at sunset on the North Shore.

I loved the light in Hawaii...it was ever-changing.

bummed...

2007-12-12T10:38:00.000-08:00

Kate's been sick all night with that nasty flug bug making the rounds in orange county...Nicki has been taking such good care of her...sorry I am not there to help her out...but will be back tomorrow...

No surfing contest today at Pipeline Masters...the waves are flat...did see a beautiful rainbow just after sunrise this morning...but alas, no more surfing action for me on this trip....back home to CA tomorrow...

ETA: Well after posting some of the Canon guys wanted to head into the water, so I went with them for a couple hours and photographed one of the Oahu North shore breaks....it was a fairly far break though so thankfully I was using the 600 f4 lens and a 2x extender on the mark 3 and while it brought me there it was still a bit underlensed. Plus the waves were still pretty flat and I still had a good time being out there shooting some sports action.

The evening presentation went well in Honolulu, a very receptive crowd and the cap to a great trip to Hawaii.

Pipeline Masters Surfing Day One

2007-12-11T19:52:00.000-08:00

Today the weather finally broke and the world's greatest surfing contest began. Here Cory Lopez catches some air, though he finished second to Andy Irons in Heat #1, Round One.

The Canon crew including Amy Kawadler, Josh, Scott, Tera and Roly and I all headed to Pipeline and it was great.

A bit of sun peaking through, some rain, very common for the Northshore.

I got a chance to shoot some long lens action, something I haven't done for a couple of years..Carrying long lenses -- 300 2.8s, 400 2.8s, was something that I did a ton of when I worked in journalism as I shot a lot of sports and the long lenses are necessary to work...since I have been in CA, though, I haven't had a real need for long lenses...and.I must say I had a blast doing it...these images were all made with the 1dm3 and a 500 f4 L IS lens....The 500 has been one of my favorites since the early days when Canon made a 500 f4.5L for the manual focus FD line of lenses.

It was always a great focal length...in some locations, the 400 is a tad short, the 600 a tad long...but the 500 is the sweet spot, for things like second base action...

I sat at the edge of the beach, watched the action and had a blast.

Jennifer & Matt | Salt Creek | Dana Point

2007-12-07T17:15:00.000-08:00

Earlier this week I met Jennifer and Matt, fellow Ladera residents, who are getting married in 2008. We met at Salt Creek which was loaded with surfers hoping to catch some of the 12-15 foot waves from the recent swell.

We had a great time doing a series of engagement portraits/holiday portraits at the beach on a fantastic December day. The waves were awesome and so was the light.

Thanks you two!

Joel & Jeni's Family | Fullerton

2007-12-07T17:03:00.000-08:00

Catching up on my shoot for our friends Joel and Jeni at their lovely home in Fullerton late last week. Check out their fantastic work at
http://emausphoto.com.

This was the first time I met their children Bayley and Caysen and I love the photos on the swing near their home.

Film images back

2007-12-06T09:03:00.000-08:00

Some more photos of -- who else? -- from the film. Some from the Thanksgiving holiday at the cousin's and the others around the house here...

The grainy image is shot on a new film that I thought I'd try the Neopan 1600. I'm taken by it...yes it's grainy, though not quite as grainy as images shot on Kodak's 3200 film. All images processed and scanned by my great LA lab Richards Photo Lab.

Kate and her friends at Disneyland

2007-12-06T08:13:00.001-08:00

Nicki and Kate along with Nicole and Marlee, Julie and Mia and Allison and Jane all took advantage of the great weather and hit Disneyland yesterday for a full day.

It was incredibly quiet around here but where they were I'm sure it was not. There were laughs and giggles and a lot of fun for all of the kids.

They're all just about the same age so they're going through development stages at the same time (and the parents too -- all of us are first time parents).

We couldn't be luckier to have such good friends and good friends for Kate.

They all loved "It's a Small World"...what a surprise ;-)!

Gero Photo Workshop | January 14-17, 2008

2007-12-05T16:10:00.001-08:00

Nicki and I are very excited about our upcoming seminar here in Ladera Ranch next January. It's going to a very small class size for personal attention (limited to 12 students) and we'll be talking about seeing great moments, working the light, and using very simple tools to create great weddings and portraits. Please email me paul at paulfgero dot com for more information.

Canon talk -- next Wednesday in Honolulu

2007-12-05T15:57:00.000-08:00

I'll be speaking next Wednesday at the YWCA in Honolulu, HI (1040 Richards Street) at a Canon Explorers of Light sponsored event as part of my trip to the Pipeline Masters next week for Canon.

The time is from 5-9 pm and if you would like to attend, please email Amy Kawadler of Canon akawadler at cusa dot canon dot com.

Katie Christmas 2007

2007-12-04T12:08:00.000-08:00

I think we have our Christmas card for this year...

Second visit with Santa...same result

2007-12-02T15:58:00.001-08:00

Even with her friend Mia sitting contentedly on Santa's lap, Kate wailed again. We tried three times today at the Babies Club gathering with Santa, each time the same result.

Our child shows no fear in everything else except for meeting Father Christmas...oh well...more pics soon...

Millie Portraits

2007-11-29T23:14:00.000-08:00

On Tuesday evening I met Mariah and her daughter Millie at the beach for a portrait session.

Cresting Crown Valley just before PCH, I could see the most brilliant view of the sea that I had witnessed in a long time.

The prevailing winds were blowing east to west and the view was pristine; Catalina Island seemed almost within reach, it was just so clearly visible.

I was wondering what Mariah was thinking as she drove the same road (other than, damn, I caught every red light) because she and her family are moving this weekend to Charlotte. I felt a twinge of guilt because it was almost like nature was taunting her because the view, and the weather which was such a Chamber of Commerce type of day.

This was the fourth time that I have photographed Millie. The first time was two years ago around this time and Millie was a very reserved 9 month old little girl. I then photographed her first year birthday party, then last year's portraits for the holidays, recently documented one of her dance classes at the Ladera Ranch Dance Academy and now this year's portraits. I've been a witness to how she's grown in such a short time. She's still shy and a bit on the quiet side, but she's much more talkative than I remember even just a couple of months ago.

So as sad as I'm sure Mariah and Philip are for having to leave this great place, I'll be sad as well.

I'll miss the entire family and hope to continue documenting them when they come back to visit or even on an east coast portrait session. I'd love to continue to record her life with a camera.

Back to Tuesday, we were treated to probably the most amazing light that I've seen since coming to CA over five years ago. This week has been exceptional in that regard and Tuesday it was one of those evenings that just kept getting better and better as the sun dropped and the clouds were lit on fire.

I'm so glad that this portrait session with such incredible light was for one of my favorite little subjects.

Kate & Father Christm...oops Santa Claus

2007-11-29T13:30:00.000-08:00

Yesterday Nicki had to sit with Kate at the Shops at Mission Viejo in order to get some semblance of a nice photo with Santa. We went to the mall with Nicole and Jeff and Marlee, Kate's best friend.

It was almost a recreation of last year's infamous photo of Kate crying on Santa's lap when we tried it this year. We still have another chance on Sunday.

Perhaps next year will be the year when she realizes that this is the guy that brings her presents so she better be nice.

Taylor & Tamara's Family & Extended Family | Newport Coast

2007-11-29T10:29:00.000-08:00

Last Saturday I photographed Taylor and Tamara's family in the evening in Newport. Talk about a great day.

First it was Tamara's birthday and she had her parents and siblings and their families in from out of town, plus Taylor's brother and his family as well as close friends gathered at the home for a party, before the photo shoot.

Then it was off to our session in a park right near their home and the light could not have been better. These are just a handful of the numerous images that I loved from the day.

Thanks you guys, it was a pleasure meeting all of you!

Ella's First Birthday

2007-11-21T16:12:00.000-08:00

Peter and Karine commissioned me to photograph little Ella's first birthday party, held this past Saturday at Los Coyotes in Buena Park.

The San Francisco couple had friends and family from all over the state and as far away as New York to help Ella celebrate. It was a fantastic event, beautifully decorated and planned with traditional Korean dress and birthday customs. I had a great time.

Karine was an attendant at Jane and Eddie's wedding in October, as well.

Thank you for asking me to document the day!!

A few images of Kate and Nicki

2007-11-20T20:52:00.000-08:00

Just got some scans back from the lab from some film images. Here are just a couple images posted between editing, and preparing images for clients.

It's been a great time--very busy with portrait shoots, processing some weddings and designing cards.

Thanks, in advance, to my clients for their patience.

The Wilkinson Family | Dana Point, CA

2007-11-16T23:54:00.000-08:00

Last Sunday we somehow dodged the rain that fell in Northern California and San Diego, which allowed me to photograph the Wilkinson family down in Dana Point, CA.

The overcast skies created some drama and the light was superb. Thanks you guys!

A warm Wednesday evening in Ladera

2007-11-15T22:47:00.000-08:00

Last night Nicki, Kate and I took a little break in the front yard around sunset.

The day had been close to 90 (rare even for California, especially in November), so it felt more like a July evening. Yet the trees had the distinctive outline of an approaching winter.

Kate was full of beans and was running around with a blanket, and hanging on the fence, or playing with Nicki's hair. I was reminded of the movie E.T. while watching the scene that is the last image.

Ladera Ranch Dance Academy

2007-11-13T15:28:00.001-08:00

The folks at LRDA got their new sign recently, so I was commissioned to photograph for them, as well as some more action of students.

Stephanie and Kent's Family

2007-11-10T10:12:00.000-08:00

I had a great time on Sunday photographing Kent and Stephanie's family at Covenant Hills. This was the third time that I had photographed the boys, but the first time I had the whole family together.

Thanks so much you guys!

Budge and Carol's Extended Family Portraits

2007-11-10T09:15:00.000-08:00

Last Sunday morning I photographed Budge and Carol at their home in Orange County and their children and grandchildren. It was a bit socked in with a marine layer, which actually helped provide some wonderful soft light. The families came in from OC and from Dallas as well for an early Thanksgiving with all the clan (and a great opportunity to do family portraits!)

Thanks everyone!

Babies Club Halloween Party

2007-11-01T15:21:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we gathered at Matt and Katie's in Ladera for the second Halloween party for our little ones. Moms and Dads from the Babies Club 2006 gathered including The Pink Babies (Marlee, Shelby, Gilian, and Katie) and Thunder Baby (Ben).

Nicki's Mom Moira made the jackets and were brought back from S. Africa.

The photo of the Moms and the babies was just about as easy as herding cats...actually that might be easier.

We had a great time watching the little ones. It's just a sweet little age.

Sorry for the volume of images -- alot was happening.

Joe & Stephanie's Family | Mission San Juan Capistrano

2007-10-31T21:12:00.000-07:00

This past Saturday we dodged the rain drops late in the afternoon as I photographed Joe and Stephanie's lovely family at the historic Mission in San Juan.

The kids did great and while it was raining they took a break to do some reading and puzzle assembly under a ramada.

Looking forward to showing you even more images from the day!

Let It Rain!!

2007-10-30T19:20:00.001-07:00

Keeping in the spirit of pulling some unseen Kate photos from the archives...here's a photo of Nicki and Kate during a small rain shower this past July.

Hoping we'll get a bit of that rain now in the wake of the fires from last week...

Never Posted...Kate a few months back

2007-10-29T20:26:00.000-07:00

Nicki was trying to find some photos on the blog of Kate from about four months ago.

She went through a good bit of it around that time frame and couldn't find what she was looking for but then found these images in an email.

I'm sure I had intended to put them on the blog, but for some reason, that didn't happen.

Additionally, we're looking to add some new pics for the walls (she wants a large print of the last photo in this grouping) -- we've got a bunch of historic old family pics from my Mom and Nicki's Mom and so we'll be putting them up on the large area of wall along the stairs. My "editor" is demanding one image per day, which is pretty easy to do.

She's at her 18 month appointment with Dr. Clyde Wesp who told us that day that he was leaving practice to take an executive role at Mission Hospital. We were very happy for Clyde because he was excited about the new venture, though also a bit sad because he is such a great guy and caring professional and loved having him be Kate's primary care pediatrican. The folks at SOCPA have been great to work with and we look forward to continuing with them too and wishing Clyde all the best in his exciting new position.

Seeing the Zielenbachs in Charleston

2007-10-28T11:15:00.000-07:00

On our recent trip to SC we were able to take a little day trip down to Charleston and the South Carolina Aquarium and met with our friends Tim and Alison Zielenbach from Savannah, GA and their son Josh.

This was the first time that Nicki had seen Tim and Ali since our engagement party back in S.A. in January of 2001!

It was the first time she got to meet Josh, who is 2 1/2 and the first time for Kate meeting them.

We had a fantastic time watching the kids run around the aquarium (small, but incredibly well done), see the turtles, sharks and also play in the area of the aquarium that is hands on (and of course Kate had to taste the water!).

I met Josh nearly two years ago, when I visited Tim and Ali in Savannah while I was out in Charleston for a wedding.

They are such very special friends to us: Ali and Nicki have been friends since they were a bit older than our kids now and have stayed in touch throughout the years even through moves all over the world.

Tim and I have been fast friends since meeting at the Republican Convention in 1996 when he was freelancing based in Chicago (after having worked at the Chicago Tribune, too. Us war veterans have to stick together ;-)!)

Tim is also a documentary wedding photographer and does amazing work: http://zielenbach.com

Where the paths all cross is in Hartford, CT on a spectacularly clear October weekend in 2000.

Tim and Alison were getting married on October 14 and I was asked to document their wedding (though still working in newspapers--a career in weddings was on the horizon, though still a murky vision). Nicki, taking time from her "career chick" job at a trendy Cape Town ad agency was the maid of honor.

The rest, shall we say, is history.

Thanks Tim and Ali for being such great friends and a big part of our lives.

South Carolina trip photos

2007-10-27T15:09:00.000-07:00

Starting to edit and post on the blog some photos from our trip last week to South Carolina.

Here is a triptych of my nieces and nephew (and Godson).

More to follow...

Tracey & Dan | October 20, 2007 | San Diego

2007-10-26T15:42:00.000-07:00

Tracey and Dan flew in from Minneapolis for a beach wedding in San Diego, with an intimate dinner/reception for family and friends at the Rancho Valencia. After the ceremony, the group headed to the bocce ball court for the 1st annual Citron Cup, won by Dan's daughter Jessica. Talk about picking the perfect weekend for their wedding; two days after they were married, the resort was evacuated because of the San Diego wildfires.

Tracey and Dan are back in the Twin Cities today after a honeymoon in Mexico -- they'll have a larger reception tomorrow.

Thanks you two -- it was so great working with you and your families!

Nick & Donnella's Little Guys

2007-10-26T11:14:00.001-07:00

On Tuesday I photographed Nick & Donnella's handsome sons while we had a very brief respite from the winds and the fires. The boys did great!

SoCal Fires

2007-10-24T11:55:00.000-07:00

It's been one hectic week throughout all of Southern California.

The Santa Ana winds started over the weekend and by Monday thousands of acres were burning, starting first with Malibu.

San Diego has been devastated even more than it was back in 2003 when thousands of homes were destroyed and 16 people were killed. Estimates range anywhere from 500K to one million evacuated throughout the state--the largest evacuation ever for CA.

This year, Nicki's cousins Fiona and Chris who live in Poway, have been evacuated. At the time I write this, we don't know if their home has been spared. Thankfully they're safe and that's the main thing.

We've gotten a lot of calls and emails inquiring about how we're doing. We are so lucky so far (touch wood) and the closest fire to us is the Santiago fire, which is about 12 or so miles away. That fire threatened Nicki's former workplace which is still safe, though dealing with a lot of smoke blowing in from the fire.

Ironically, yesterday was relatively clear in Ladera, the wind still, and I was able to shoot a portrait session that had been scheduled weeks before.

Today, though, was an eerie morning as the smoke from the Santiago fire and perhaps from the newly erupted 6000 acre fire at Camp Pendleton, about twenty miles to the south of us filled the air.

When the sun came up, the smoke diffused it and colored it so it seemed apocolyptic...the photo above is from today in Ladera.

We're hoping that all our friends and family that have been affected by the fires (many photographer friends in San Diego have been directly impacted) are safe and come back to an intact home.

Edited to Add: Just got off the phone with Fiona, Nicki's cousin, and she and her husband Chris and the family are back in their home! Their block survived the fires, but homes were destroyed a mere two blocks away. Pretty scary.
Chris is a police officer so he's been working around the clock and Fiona is now busy cleaning up the house. She said the pool is black with ash.

Victor & Kristin's Family

2007-10-24T11:16:00.001-07:00

I had the pleasure of photographing the three gorgeous children of Victor and Kristin in San Juan on Sunday.

Trevor & Shellie's Family

2007-10-23T19:14:00.000-07:00

Last Friday I photographed Trevor and Shellie's family at the Covenant Hills Clubhouse and the play area right there.

It was a beautiful evening and the light was spectacular.

The Williams Family Visit

2007-10-13T20:38:00.000-07:00

Our good friends Frank and Cori along with their two sons Darius and Teague took a little R & R from Phoenix last weekend and enjoyed the fantastic weather early in the week.

It was great seeing them and Kate loves hanging out with them too!

Jane & Eddie | October 6, 2007 | Los Angeles & Pasadena

2007-10-11T21:23:00.000-07:00

This past Saturday I had a fantastic wedding that started in LA with Jane and the girls at the salon and then the event was held at Craven's Estate in Pasadena.

Great couple, great weather, great light, and a great location. This was my first event working with Kelley from Picture Perfect Events-- she was a delight.

Have a great honeymoon in Spain you two!

Jill & Michael | September 29, 2007 | San Juan Capistrano

2007-10-10T15:08:00.000-07:00

The exhuberant Jill and Michael were married at the historic Mission Parish in San Juan on the 29th. After the ceremony we went to the mission grounds for a family portrait session before heading to Marbella Country Club for a festive reception that had many tender moments (during the speeches).

Thanks you two, it was a pleasure to be there for your day!

My Girls are Back Home!

2007-10-05T21:55:00.000-07:00

Late this morning, Nicki and Kate arrived at LAX, both a bit bunged up with colds, but glad to be home after nearly 3 1/2 weeks away..the first words out of Nicki's mouth, not "Hi Baby, I missed you so much" were instead..."Don't take MY picture...take her picture (meaning Kate)". Sorry, I want to show both of you...and I know you were feeling ratty from the flight.

They had a great time in S. Africa...though Nicki told me that she's never doing that trip again without me. I can understand.

Once we got home, Nicki and Kate had a few things to welcome them and then Nicki crashed for about four hours.

Kate was a bit jetlagged, and understandably whiney for the first hour and then regrouped and started to have some fun again back home.

Within minutes the home looked like it had been hit by Hurricane Kate.

She hit the wall around 5:30 or so and then had a little bit of dinner, wanting more and more to feed herself, with no bib of course.

Bath time, and bedtime just before seven and she was asleep in just a couple of minutes...hoping she sleeps through the night and gets back on California time soon.

Thanks Tony and Moira for taking such good care of them while they were there...I wished I could've been there this time.

But next time, for sure.

Jessica and Sean | Carmel | September 21 & 22, 2007

2007-10-01T12:55:00.000-07:00

I had a fantastic weekend event to cover in Carmel for Jessica and Sean last weekend. The wedding and reception was held at the historic Highlands Inn -- a beautiful location.

They had a warm gathering of family and friends after their rehearsal. The dinner was at Il Fornaio in downtown Carmel. There were some speeches at the rehearsal dinner as well, and it was touching to hear how Sean and Jessica started dating -- they met at Sean's sister's wedding -- for the second time. Jess and Erin had been roommates in college at UCSB and so Sean had known Jess for several years, everything came together a few years later though at the wedding.

On the wedding day, Sean and two of his groomsmen decided to catch some waves, despite the cooler temperatures and steady rain.

The rain was pretty heavy early Saturday, and thankfully the clouds parted by around 1:30 pm and so the outdoor ceremony was on. Jessica was hugely relieved.

It was a great weekend! Have a great honeymoon you two!

More S. Africa pics from Nicki

2007-09-30T22:16:00.000-07:00

Cape Town:

St. Mary's reunion

Kate, a mess...

Suburbandurbantarts.com braai

Nicki and Kate's amazing African adventure is winding down, though they have had quite a week.

They were in Cape Town early last week and got to see friends Kerry, Fanina and Jules (l-r on the couch) and then they all went to Kirstenbosch Gardens for a picnic...that view is pretty hard to take.

Then they went back to Durban and Granny Moira and Grandpa Tony's on Thursday. They had a big school reunion, I see some of the usual suspects, but I'm afraid Nicki will have to do a left to right...

Finally, Lisa had a bbq or braai as they call in in SA for Nicki and Kate and they had a blast. The Suburbandurbantarts.com made an appearance...as per usual!

It's now early Monday there and both the girls are coming off of colds and Nicki is wild with anticipation of the return flight, this coming Thursday-Friday (not!).

Missing them very much still and so happy they've been able to spend quality time with family and good friends.

The Vault | First trip to South Africa, 2001

2007-09-26T17:12:00.000-07:00

With my girls in S. Africa until next Friday (it's been very quiet around the house), I've been thinking alot about that place lately.

This image was made on my very first trip to South Africa, back in January 2001, at a private game reserve called Tala, in Kwazulu-Natal, not far from Nicki's parent's home.

It's such an amazing country, full of history and the continent has a vibe like no other. And even though I am merely married to a South African, it feels very familiar to me. Perhaps it's because I have been following South Africa for decades and have been intrigued by the entire continent for as long as I can remember.

I started to gain even more appreciation for the continent, particularly sub-Saharan Africa by reading a book by David Lamb of the LA Times called The Africans. It's a book that was written following his stint as the Times' Nairobi bureau chief and his stories were exhilarating, funny, and sad, and sometimes all at the same time. It really captured the place in a way that wasn't too academic or political -- really from the street and you get such a sense of the people and characters he met in his journeys.

So I'm missing my girls -- only 9 days to go before they get back. I know they're having a great time visiting friends and family (leaving tomorrow from Cape Town back to Durban. They've been in CT since Sunday). So they'll be back to Durban, the friendly confines of 3 Leinster Place, and skype. Yeah!

A Warm Day in SA for Kate & Nicki..

2007-09-20T14:59:00.000-07:00

Today was a warm one in Durban for Nicki and Kate...so warm that Nicki said Kate was running around most of the time in a nappy (or here, in the Israeli censor-style photo, in the buff)...

Kate and Moira have been bonding so well and having so much fun. Only Moira can really feed Kate or bath her and get her ready for dinner...which is giving Nicki a rest. Good thing. I'm glad Kate gets to spend so much time with her Grannies...in October she'll see my Mom for a few days and then in December she'll be out visiting to help us celebrate her second birthday.

Even though the grandparents are far away, we really want Kate to spend as much time as possible with them.

I never met either of my grandfathers (they had died years before I arrived), and only saw my grandmothers for one week each a year as a child. (They were both on the east coast and we lived in the midwest, and Dad had two weeks of vacation...two days in a Ford Country Sedan, two adults, four kids, too much luggage, AM radio, and 1000 miles...you do the math...)

Kate's just having an amazing vacation and Nicki is too--tonight she had Girls Night Out and is spending the night in Durban North with her friends while Kate is safely with Granny and Grandpa.

Call me crazy, but I *think* there will a bit of wine consumed during GNO :-).

This Just In -- Photos from S. Africa!!

2007-09-19T16:04:00.000-07:00

Nicki sent some photos, shot with her point and shoot, from their trip. Thanks to her brother Michael for helping get the photos into the computer, burned to CD for archiving, and helping send these.

As you'll see, she's just loving hanging out with Granny Moira and Grandpa Tony, as well as the cousins Lizzie, Pat and James (she's with Pat and Liz in the bounce house for Lizzie's birthday this past weekend).

And, of course, she's absolutely loving hanging out with the dogs: Bobbie (the larger black dog) and Millie (the smaller dog).

Missing them more, now after seeing these!

one week down...

2007-09-17T23:18:00.000-07:00

Hard to believe my two girls have been gone for almost a week now..it's so quiet around here...

They're getting acclimated to the weather (a bit cooler--it's early spring in S. Africa) and the time zones and sleeping well through the night. Kate picked up a bit of a cold, and has a husky little voice. She's in good hands with Granny Moira doting over here, and of course she's in love with the two dogs, Millie and Bobby...

Wishing I was there. Missing them.

Thank God for Skype

2007-09-13T10:58:00.001-07:00

What an amazing thing Skype is...here I am halfway around the world and I can see and talk with my wife and daughter in S. Africa.

It's astounding how things have advanced in such a relatively short period of time. When Nicki and I were first engaged, and she was back in S. Africa for seven weeks, we would've given anything for Skype. Twice a day phone calls had to suffice.

This technology will definitely help bridge the gap, though it's obviously not the same as having them here...but for the period of their trip, it will be a huge gift.

Thanks to Nicki's parents, Moira and Tony for getting broadband in S. Africa (which is a luxury compared to here in the states where it's as common as having two tvs, it seems)...but it sure makes a difference...and it is so nice that it helps you see us when we're all here.

Arrived Safely!

2007-09-12T12:04:00.001-07:00

Nicki and Kate arrived safely, though a bit worse for the wear.

Just saw them on laptop, via Skype....fantastic technology. Still having a few issues with them seeing me, me seeing them at the same time I'm sure we'll get it ironed out.

But still to see them at Moira and Tony's is a relief.

It was a tough trip...Kate's in a bit of a screaming phase and Nicki said the first seven hours of the trip from Atlanta to Africa were hell...and hour before they landed at Dakar for a crew change, plane security check, Kate fell asleep and actually slept through the whole commotion of security checking bags, under seats, lights on, the whole 9 yards...

Once airborne again for the last part of that trip, Kate woke up just as Nicki was about to fall asleep...fortunately Kate was able to enjoy a DVD (Baby Einstein--"tur-TULL") and then they fell asleep together for about four hours before landing in Johannesburg.

Then there was yet aNOTHER plane ride to Durban, thankfully only about an hour.

There Moira and Tony picked up the girls and now they're up the hill, outside of Durbs, safely ensconsced at 3 Leinster Place.

If you want to send Nicki and email at her Mom's, please send it to: moirak at storm dot co dot za (written this way to avoid having her email harvested by spammers).

Off Safely to S. Africa

2007-09-11T07:02:00.000-07:00

We were up at 2:15 to get to LAX by 4 am for the flight. Kate was a bit bleary-eyed, but stayed awake for the ride to the airport. I'm hoping that she'll be a good girl for Mom on the journey. We arrived in plenty of time to get everyone checked in...Nicki called around 6 just as the plane was loading and I was almost back in Ladera.

My girls are now somewhere over New Mexico heading for Atlanta, and then later this afternoon, on the 18 hour flight to Johannesburg and then changing planes to Durban to visit Moira, Tony, Michael, Belinda, Patrick, James, Lizzie, and Andy and then a lot of friends.

I will be there in spirit and I'll miss them like crazy over the next few weeks.

Nicki & Kate's Going Away Party

2007-09-10T16:51:00.000-07:00

Our friends Nicole and Jeff threw a little shindig for Kate and Nicki on Saturday at their home in Ladera. Unbeknowst to Nicki, they invited all the partners in crime from the Baby Club and we had a great time.

Of course, Kate spent some time with her good buddies Ben, Shelby, Jilliian, Jane, and of course...Maaarrrrllll (Marlee).

Thank you all for your friendship -- it was such a thoughtful gesture by everyone.

Nicki's off to S. Africa tomorrow morning until early October so she's running the gamut of emotions from excitement of seeing family and friends and getting back on the continent, to the dread of 30 hours of travel with a 20 month old.

Having flown there 3 times myself, it's tough enough without a little one. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers as they travel.

A few Katie pics from last week

2007-09-09T17:08:00.000-07:00

Becky & Jayson | Dana Point | September 2, 2007

2007-09-09T11:00:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday Becky and Jayson were married at Heritage Park in Dana Point (after everyone got ready for the event at the Blue Lantern Inn in Dana Point).

Despite the extra warm temperatures and the humidity it was a beautiful day and everyone was in fine form for the day (even with a slight limo snafu;-)). Becky wore a stunning gown from Mon Ami and had two sashes: a white one for the wedding and then a brown one for the reception.

The couple live in Long Beach and had friends come to the wedding from all over the state, as well as family from the East Coast, including Jayson's niece and nephew who were junior attendants in the wedding.

The reception was held at the Dana Point Yacht club. It was a great day and can't wait to share even more images with the newlyweds.

Melissa & Sean | September 1, 2007

2007-09-07T10:45:00.000-07:00

Whew, what a hectic weekend it was. I had two amazing weddings and was a witness to some beauitful moments.

Here in California, we also went through one of the hottest stretches here that I can remember until just a couple of days ago, when we got our nice cool breeze back. For a few moments I thought fate was playing trick on me and I was being transported back to the desert summers like in Phoenix!! ;-)

On Saturday, I photographed the wedding of Melissa and Sean at the Mission Hills Church in nearby Mission Viejo. The reception was held in Laguna Hills at the Holiday Inn there.

They're a very sweet young couple who have such presence and personality and I think it shows in the images. Both are UCSB grads and seem wise beyond their years. Sean's speech seemed a reflection of him: heartfelt and welcoming.

Plus their sense of playfullness came out during the first dance. What started out as a fairly "normal" slow dance song of "I'll Be" by Edward McCain, all of sudden stopped with a scratch and then they turned in a routine fit for Dancing With The Stars as they danced to Justin Timberlake's "I'm Bringing Sexy Back."

Thanks so much you two. I had a great time and you, your families and your friends are a great bunch!

Baby Kate D. -- Just Five Weeks Old

2007-09-06T11:38:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I photographed little baby Kate D. at her home in Ladera.

She's such a little cutie! Congratulations Dave and Jenny on the new addition! Now there will be two little sassy Kates in Ladera ;-)!

Another Ladera Ranch Dance Academy Session

2007-09-04T11:30:00.001-07:00

Last week I photographed some of the youngest ones at Ladera Ranch Dance Academy at a class taught by Mikelle Bunker.

A previous portrait client, Mariah, has a daughter (Millie) in this class.

Lunch Meltdown..Afternoon Recovery...End of Day Time Out

2007-08-30T17:16:00.000-07:00

Kate was up early today (I had a photo scheduled at Ladera Dance Academy at 8) so all my commotion woke her up...

By lunch time, Kate was hitting the wall...the first image, just minutes before she went up for her nap...

but then she recovered nicely after her long nap and before heading out to a play date, wearing her "ruby slippers"...

and finally, she was tired late in the afternoon and required a "time out" after landing a right cross on Dad's coconut.

She did have a great end of the night and fell asleep quietly and happy...

Ellie...meet Ellie

2007-08-28T17:03:00.000-07:00

This morning Sandi brought Ellie around to the studio when she picked up her print order and Ellie got to see the 40 x 60 framed image that we will hang there. The print was almost as tall as she is.

Thanks Sandi and Evan for asking me to photograph your family and thanks Ellie for giving me such a beautiful portrait.

Nicki's Table

2007-08-28T16:59:00.001-07:00

This morning, before the heat really kicked in, Kate spent some time with her coloring book on her table that Nicki painted.

Katie in the window...

2007-08-26T18:05:00.001-07:00

Yesterday, before leaving for an assignment, I was loading up the car and looked up and noticed a little 20 month old in the window.

Kate and Nicki were in the guest room where Kate has become enamored with the guest bed and all the fun she can have turning it into a trampoline. Kate took a break to tell me "bu...buy" (almost like an old David Spade, SNL skit).

I can imagine this "trampoline" is going to be a tough habit to break.

Bouncing Kate

2007-08-22T17:40:00.000-07:00

The past week or so has been hot and muggy here in Orange County. A couple of days the temperature went over 100. Ugh.

Finally, the weather broke today, and we're back to a more temperate climate, with a very comfortable cool western breeze. We love it and it's why we live here.

Yesterday though battling the heat, Kate had come back from the waterpark and all Nicki could get her to wear were her nappies. It didn't stop her though from turning the guest bedroom into a trampoline as she tried to avoid her evening bath.

And then this morning, backlit, in the office.

Erin & Randy's Birthday Party | Encinitas, CA

2007-08-19T16:13:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I got to hang out with some very cool folks.

Erin and Randy held a 60th birthday party bash at Cottonwood Creek Park and it was a very festive gathering of family and good friends.

Erin and Randy's daughter Emily had been in Kristi & Grant's wedding party in June (and Randy actually performed the ceremony!!!) and after seeing the images from the wedding, she contacted me and asked if I might be available to document the party.

Congratulations on your birthday's Erin and Randy...you both are proof positive that 60 is the new 40!!

Wishing you both many, many more!

Ladera Ranch Dance Academy

2007-08-18T16:45:00.000-07:00

Friday I photographed a class taught by Marci Tuttle at our local Ladera Ranch Dance Academy. Thanks to Chris and Aimee, the owners of the Academy, for inviting me over.

Soon Kate will be old enough to attend. She'll love it, we suspect.

And looking forward to working more with them in the future!

Kate in the Kitchen SInk

2007-08-18T11:29:00.000-07:00

This morning, after breakfast, Nicki sat Kate next to the sink and she had a good time playing. Of course, now she's trained so that when she goes by the sink she wants to sit in it again...oh boy.

Shameless Plug Alert: Blu's Daily Blog

2007-08-17T16:46:00.000-07:00

Blu Domain held their Happy Hour Chat for the day ... I was honored to be the guest....

To view the transcript (in the comments box) please go to:
http://www.bludomain.com/blog.cfm

(Thanks Kailee!)

Canon 1d m3 | Christmas in August!!

2007-08-15T14:26:00.000-07:00

just added:
I made this photograph this afternoon of Kate. The image was also made with the 85 1.8, 1/80th at f2, 640 ISO...focus on her right eye. Processed in ACR 4.1. The b & w effect was added later in post production in Photoshop.

I just got my newest camera toy -- the Canon 1dm3. Moments after I plucked it out of the Fed Ex deliveryman's hands, I took a few test frames, just to see if there were any issues.

Some folks have reported on focus issues, and while this is by no means a comprehensive test (still need to put it through the paces, but these were shot with the camera battery at 6%, nice to know even with that little juice, the camera still performs quite well), this particular body seems to not have any issues. Whew!

The images were all made by available light using the 85mm 1.8 lens at close to maximum aperture (f2).

ABC-OC Photographer's Showcase | Newport Beach

2007-08-15T12:38:00.000-07:00

Last night the Association of Bridal Consultants of Orange County gathered at the Fairmont Hotel in Newport Beach and this particular meeting was the annual photographer showcase. I joined several of my local colleagues in showcasing our images, albums and slideshows for the group.

It turned out to be a beutiful night and the heat of the day waned nicely as it got closer to sunset.

This is the booth that I hosted and it was fun to get a chance to see some old friends in the association as well as make some new connections as well.

The sunset last night was spectacular and this view was from the outdoor patio area where we were exhibiting.

Special thanks to Kevin Colaner and Aren Feliciano-Damiani for their help with the set-up of the presentation! And to Mark Montgomery for making this photograph of me at the booth!

Sean & Melissa | Engagement Portraits

2007-08-12T13:43:00.000-07:00

I had two great engagement portrait sessions this week -- this is a selection of photos from Melissa & Sean's portraits at Salt Creek. Again, amazing couple and amazing light. I'm looking forward to their wedding coming up in early September!

Thanks you two!!

Jill & Michael | Engagement Portraits

2007-08-12T11:22:00.000-07:00

These photographs were recently made of Jill and Michael in Laguna. We had the most amazing light during the session, in fact, a resident walked by us as we were shooting and said that this was the best sunset they'd seen in at least a couple of weeks. Of course that must be torture to sit through two weeks of Laguna Beach sunsets to decide!!

They're getting married in September and I'm looking forward to documenting their day! What a great couple!

Yasmeen & Alim's Wedding Celebration | San Francisco | August 1-3

2007-08-11T11:56:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I spent three days documenting Yasmeen and Alim's Muslim wedding and it was simply amazing.

First, it was so good to work with the couple, they are terrific and it was nice to meet them face to face (they booked me based on my web site and phone conversations, plus Alim is a photographer and had read some of my articles online).

Second, both sides of the family were so welcoming. This leads to great access which means better photographs.

Third, the images were so unique and different than a typical Western wedding which is always nice from a photography perspective.

The following images are from the first day, at Yasmeen's sister's home, south of the city. The women prepared for the wedding by having their hands and arms painted with henna. Yasmeen had more intricate and detailed henna paintings on her arms, hands and fingers as well as her feet (including a hidden "Alim" on her right hand).

It was a great way to kick off the wedding!

So, sit back and please enjoy the largest blog posting I've ever done from a wedding!

Here are images from Day One:

Day Two Images:

Part One, at the hotel

Part Two:
The ceremony at Yasmeen's sister's home

Part Three, later that evening, back at the hotel:

Day Three, The Wedding Day
Part One, at Yasmeen's sister's home:

The Reception, Ralston House, Belmont, CA

Catching Up!

2007-08-10T17:06:00.000-07:00

It's been quite a hectic past couple of weeks!

Last weekend, I photographed Yasmeen & Alim's fantastic wedding in San Francisco over the course of three days, and I'm still working on the edits for the blog. I will have some images up online by Saturday.

I have also had two fun engagement sessions this past week and can't wait to get them posted too. I'll have them up tomorrow too!

In the meantime...here's a photograph of Kate, who is discovering that she really loves wearing Nicki's boots and shoes!

Anna & Steven | Philadelphia | July 28, 2007

2007-07-30T15:12:00.000-07:00

Clouds build at dusk outside the church, following the Friday night rehearsal.

Thunderheads darken the evening sky viewed from the backyard of Anna & Steve's house the scene of a post rehearsal feast. Not too long after this a summer storm blew through.

A card at Anna and Steve's home.

A bridal couple snow globe adorns a shelf at their home, a framed copy of the wedding invitation is behind the globe.

Steve puts the finishing touches on the car decorations, before the ceremony.

Frank, the best man, and Steve organize the rings before the ceremony.

Karen, Anna's sister-in-law, helps Anna put on the finishing touches of make-up.

Steve makes his grand entrance into the church.

Anna is escorted down the aisle by her younger brother Michael (Karen's husband).

The newly married couple coming down the aisle.

The cake topper...it's so Anna!

The four remaining Schneider children, including (clockwise, from upper left): My Mom, Uncle Paul (and my godfather), Aunt Cass, and Aunt Louise.

Steve dances with his mother Ruth during the Mother/Son dance.

"Save a horse...ride a cowboy..."

Aunt Louise is in the front, being pushed by Aunt Barbara, during a conga line dance.

I think that all the weddings I photograph are special .... though I must confess that this past weekend's wedding in the Philadelphia suburbs was extra special.

You see my favorite first cousin Anna was married to Steven on Saturday at The Church of the Redeemer in Springfield, PA.

Anna and I have been close since we were kids and our family made the annual pilgrimmage to the East Coast from the midwest to visit the relatives in Philly.

Anna is a choir teacher and music is her life. Her Maid of Honor's daughter directed the choir, which was made up of former students. The traditional organ was played, as well as a trumpet duo.

At the reception, music was also played a big role in the celebration. The couple were announced at the reception to the Sponge Bob Square Pants Theme Song -- Steve's a big fan of the animated character. The word is, he's got one of the most extensive collection of SBSP memorabilia -- it may even rival his Coca-cola memorabilia (he's a Coke delivery person, so he's had a while to amass the collection). Also, the DJ was forbidden by the terms of the contract from playing The Chicken Dance. Aside from that, the music was fun, raucous and festive--just like the couple and their families!

Anna and Steve met over a year ago and there was an instant bond. I could certainly understand that after meeting him for the first time this week. He and his family made me feel right at home and he seemed to be the perfect match for Anna's personality.

Congratulations Anna and Steve! Have an amazing honeymoon!

Love,
Your cuz!

Images on Nicki's HappySnap

2007-07-20T16:16:00.001-07:00

I downloaded images from Nicki's little Canon (of course!) point and shoot camera.

The first image was made in June, during Mom's visit -- the second made just the other night.

Square Shots

2007-07-13T23:35:00.001-07:00

coming back from Albertsons...a daily occurence

Kate meets her neighbor Eva, a veritable twin...

a reluctant eater, near the end of the day...wheels just about ready to come off....

Kate's own little Mary Kay ride...

Nicki, trying hard to break Kate of the habit...it's not going well...

Nicki's creation for Kate...assembled, sanded and painted...priceless ;-)!

my favorite time of year because the flowers are in bloom...it always reminds me of buying the house which was four years ago next month.

the girls, back from a morning power walk...

Some personal photos shot with a very retro Hasselblad

Ruby Red Slippers & A New Word for Today: "Yak!"

2007-07-12T21:49:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Kate dug in her bedroom closet and found the Ruby Red Slippers that Nicki bought for her about a year ago.

As you can tell from the second photo, she's still 8-12 months from really being able to fit into them, but that didn't stop Kate from wanting to wear them as she waltzed around the studio.

The third photo shows a shaggy Kate doing her "Cousin Itt" imitation (The Addams Family) in the back of the car after she and Nicki got back from a playdate at Terry's. After her dinner and bath, and during bedtime reading she learned the word Yak and we couldn't stop her from saying it (along with giggles and smile) as we plopped her into bed.

We half expect that we'll hear her saying it as she wakes up in the middle of the night for one of her "parties" (two nights ago she woke up and we heard the word "car" being chanted a lot).

Janik & Alfred | 7/7/07

2007-07-10T17:51:00.000-07:00

After much anticipation, Janik and Alfred were married on probably the most popular wedding date ever this past Saturday at the Franciscan Gardens in San Juan Capistrano.

The weather was absolutely perfect (which will totally annoy my friends in Arizona who have been sweltering) and the couple, their friends and family members were in great spirits.

Congratulations to you both and have a great Hawaii honeymoon!

Kate & Marlee | Last Day of Swim Lessons

2007-07-06T13:01:00.001-07:00

The "partners in crime" Kate and Marlee (and their mothers, too-Nicki & Nicole) had their last swimming lessons today at El Toro High pool.

They went to 8 lessons over the past two weeks which helped them gain basic familiarity with the water. The Moms will be keeping up the lessons on their own throughout the summer.

Though the water was a bit chilly at the end, the two had a great time together.

Kate & Marlee | Fourth of July

2007-07-05T12:38:00.000-07:00

We had Jeff and Nicole and their daughter Marlee over to the house yesterday and it was a great time.

The girls, who usually play so well together, were acting up a bit...and we didn't see the usual buddy movie scenario that usually happens when they're together.

Still, a great day with great friends.

DWF Summer BBQ at Cat & Adi's

2007-07-03T16:04:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we took a trip to Cat & Adi's lovely home in the west side of LA for the Digital Wedding Forum Summer BBQ get together.

We had a great time -- traffic was surprisingly light on the 405 -- it may have been an absolute record to get to that part of town from the OC.

We could only stay for a few hours as it was past Kate's bedtime though she got a second wind, picked up some steam from the other toddlers around (though by the end she was getting pretty tired -- sorry about the rocks she pulled onto the floor..the 18month old inquistiveness at work). We wished we could've stayed longer...next time (though I think we'll get a babysitter!).

Thanks to Cat & Adi for inviting us there and it was good to say hi to some old friends and make some new ones.

One Year Ago...

2007-07-03T15:36:00.000-07:00

...my Dad passed away.

Here are a couple of photographs from his funeral, buried in his hometown of Manistique, MI. His Dad's family owned the
local movie theater, in this sweet little town at the very top of Lake Michigan, in the upper peninsula.

Rest in peace, Dad, we miss you and think about you all the time.

Jayson & Becky Engagement Portraits

2007-07-02T09:16:00.000-07:00

I had a lovely session photographing Jayson and Becky in South Laguna Beach the other night. They're a very sweet young couple and it's been nice having them as clients and getting to know them.

We had an absolutely fantastic evening -- the weather was cool, and clear -- we've been definitely in a "summer" mode (I think June Gloom is behind us).

They're getting married in Dana Point in September and I know it will be a beautiful event.

Thanks to you both!

Baseball Kate

2007-07-01T10:31:00.000-07:00

As I was heading out for my evening portrait session, Nicki held Kate up to the gate (notice the newly painted white gate, courtesy of Nicki) to say goodbye, holding a baseball.

I thought she reminded of the knothole kids of old that used to try and see baseball games.

Shameless Plug Alert ! | Photo Talk Radio

2007-07-01T10:17:00.000-07:00

I had the pleasure of being a guest on Photo Talk Radio yesterday morning. It was a fun half hour program where we talked about such things as my transition to photographing weddings after a career in journalism, and other tech things like lighting and digital capture.

Howard Lipin and Michael A. Garcia are the hosts and they have been life-long friends and both have had illustrious careers in photography...I had a nice talk with Howard earlier in the week, who has been on staff at the San Diego Union-Tribune for two decades...we have a lot of mutal journalism friends in common which is no surprise--the photojournalism community is fairly small and close knit.

If you click here , you will be taken to the page that has the mp3 files from the show (I was in segment one).

Movie Review | Once

2007-06-27T11:48:00.001-07:00

My good friend and former DC journalism colleague Matt Mendelsohn turned me onto this great little movie called "Once" that just blew us away.

It's the combination of a great set of songs, a lovely story that doesn't have a tidy, made-for-the movies ending that was just terrific.

Shot entirely in Dublin with very low budget digital video equipment, the movie has incredible heart with flat-out beautiful music.

Even before seeing the movie, I downloaded the soundtrack from iTunes and the haunting Irish sound just stayed with me.

I've always been a fan of movies from that side of the pond, moreso than Yank movies. I find they're more about character, dialogue and texture than about the number of cars blown up.

Check it out...http://oncethemovie.com/

Ben & Noah Portraits | June 2007

2007-06-20T18:00:00.000-07:00

I just got a collection of film and scans back today from the lab -- it's like Christmas everytime that happens.

These are some images from a session that I did recently photographing Ben and Noah here in Ladera.

This was an all b & w film shoot and it was a trial run to see if I will add it to my kids portrait collections.

The verdict is in and I will indeed be offering these sessions.

Everytime I get the images back from the lab, I always fall in love with the look of film again, and today was no exception.

I think the images have a texture and a feeling that is unique and different from the look of digital images (not that one is necessarily "better" than the other...they are two different mediums, really).

It is also a different way of working, as well, which I find refreshing.

But no matter what the medium, I'm still trying to find great moments and capture memorable images.

Catching Up -- Frank & Cori's visit

2007-06-18T19:19:00.000-07:00

I've been in full-on blogging mode, so I wanted to catch up and post some pics from Cori, Frank, Darius and Teague's visit on Memorial Day...

Cori is a former colleague at The Arizona Republic; Frank is the photo editor at the Ahwatukee Foothill News -- they were able to escape the pizza oven that is Phoenix to take the boys to the beach and joining us for a bbq. It was great getting to see them, albeit briefly.

Cori's now a relatively new member to the club of former staff photographers at the Republic (she's in VERY good company, I might add ;-)!), having recently ventured out on her own (yeah!) doing portraits, schools, and weddings out of her home base in Gilbert, AZ.

The Gentry Family

2007-06-18T13:47:00.000-07:00

This past Saturday morning I had a great time documenting the Gentry clan during a family lifestyle session here in Ladera Ranch.

They are such a beautiful family and it was fun just watching them be with each other. We did a few classic family groupings, but the rest was pretty free form (just the way I like to work) as the kids enjoyed themselves at one of parks.

Dinner with Di & Jade in Manhattan Beach

2007-06-18T12:51:00.001-07:00

Before the engagement session, we had a lovely dinner with Di and her daughter Jade at one of our favorite little restaurants, Momma D's, Manhattan Beach.

Di was our former land lord when we moved from Phoenix to California in 2002 (man, it goes fast). Jade was just a little thing back then and now she's growing up into a lovely young woman...no surprise there.

Di married her long-time love Steve in Santa Barbara in 2005 and we were there to document the day -- it was great--it couldn't happen to two nicer folks.

Steve unfortunately couldn't make the dinner as he was up on the west side overseeing the renovation of some property there...but we hope to see him soon, too!

Of course, before we sat down for dinner, Kate amused herself (actually she took over the situation!) petting a sweet little dog named Marlee and drawing with crayons outside the restaurant.

Jane & Jung Engagement Portraits

2007-06-18T12:04:00.000-07:00

This past Friday evening I photographed Jane & Jung's engagement portraits -- they will be married later this year in Pasadena.

They had flown in earlier that day from San Francisco to work on wedding plans and Nicki, Kate and my Mom and I had dinner plans in Manhattan Beach, so we figured this would be fairly convenient spot to meet (of course in LA that's a relative term, especially if it means being on the 405 on a Friday).

This was my first time meeting Jung and I think the shoot went very well as we worked near 8 pm. I think the time really worked to our advantage -- there's drama around the beach, especially as marine layers come in at dusk.

Thanks Jane and Jung for braving that LA westside traffic--enjoy the images!

The Vault | Charles in Charge

2007-06-17T14:20:00.000-07:00

Earlier in the week the San Antonio Spurs won the NBA title in what had to be one of the most boring Finals series in years.
I can only wonder what might have happened had the Suns been at full strength during the decisive game five of their series with the Spurs. Many think, and I would agree, that THAT series was really the NBA Finals.

It got me to thinking about what were, in my opinion, the real glory years of the NBA -- the 90s when Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, Karl Malone, John Stockton were in their prime and the league had real personality.

In the summer of '92 it was incredibly hot in Phoenix (really? ;-)) but was about to get cranked up a couple more notches as the Suns traded with the Philadelphia 76ers for the Round Mound of Rebound, Charles Barkley, considered by basketball experts to be one of the top 50 players of all time and a basketball hall of famer.

I was on staff at the Arizona Republic at the time and photographed Charles from the moment he arrived from Philadelphia (literally at the airport gate) and then proceeded to cover him throughout training camp, preseason, much of the regular season games and finally every playoff game, including the '93 NBA Finals against the Bulls.

In my nearly 20 years in daily journalism, covering Charles was probably the most fun that I had. I had never seen someone come to a town and instantly own it, as Barkley had done. During that first season, there was such a sense of community fueled by the success of the Suns (that is, by Barkley). In my twelve years there, no one or nothing came close to forging that level of community pride, not even the 2001 Diamondbacks World Series win, as amazing as it was.

This photograph was made during the pre season and even then Charles was positively elevated in his play, unusual since most players in that time are easing into playing shape.

Just prior to making this photograph, Charles had stolen the ball near mid-court, and raced for a slam dunk.

Fumbling as I was changing from my down court 400mm lens, I couldn't quite put that lens down and grab the second camera around my neck with a 100mm lens that I would use for the forecourt action. I had to one-hand the camera with the 100 and wasn't able to swing it to a vertical orientation in time.

I was able to focus using the back-button on the camera and Charles finished off the slam with a flourish, going almost parallel to the floor -- had I been able to turn the camera to a vertical position, the resulting image just wouldn't have had the same impact as it did as a horizontal framing.

The photograph finally ran at the end of the season, four columns wide in my own paper. Ironically, my former employer, The Chicago Tribune, ran this photograph six columns wide as it ran an NBA Finals preview on Barkley and the Suns.

Mom Visits

2007-06-15T14:57:00.000-07:00

My Mom has been with us for the past week and it's been great to see her.

The weather has been absolutely superb and she's enjoying getting to know Katie better. And vice versa.

Kristi & Grant | June 9, 2007

2007-06-11T17:23:00.001-07:00

This past Saturday, Kristi & Grant were married at the historic El Cortez in downtown San Diego.

It was a fantastic wedding day -- the early morning marine layer ("June Gloom, as it is known here") stepped aside to a beautiful late afternoon wedding.

Both families made us feel so welcome and a part of the day -- thank you for letting us into your lives.

(As you'll be able to tell from the images, I've been in a kind of "black and white" mood, though there are a few color images sprinkled into the mix.)