May 27, 2009
I was editing images today and eating a salad when she caught my eye. Perched on a piece of Feta cheese and looking incredibly happy…
Don’t worry, I moved her to the garden where she can eat all the insects that her heart desires.
I wish you all a delicious second half of this week…
March 4, 2009
What else is there to do on a rainy Tuesday afternoon but paint?
He opted out on paper, deciding instead to paint the easel itself. 
It sure looked like fun.
we wish you a colorful week…
January 26, 2009
Have you ever loved a big, furry dog?
Has a big, furry dog ever loved you?
I wish you a warm and comforting week…
October 23, 2008
Breakfast!
Trucks first thing in the morning
Reading Good Books
Staying Cozy
Kisses from friends
And last but not least, sunsets on the beach.
I’m not sure that life gets any better than this…
October 20, 2008
I feel October passing us by and I wonder where the summer went and why time has to move so quickly…but it’s now time to eat apples and bake pies and settle in.
We went to Swanton Pacific Ranch on Saturday to pick apples. It was the best day ever.
We were joined by the hop-hops. We call them the hop-hops because they used to entertain our little guy by hopping around like bunnies. They were his very first friends. He loves them more than ever. This is the only girl of the bunch, she led our guy around and helped him pick.
She even made up a really cool song entitled “Do Not Destroy the Apple of Peace”…not sure what that means, but I like it.
He ate so many apples…I lost count after 4.
Maybe not the intended use for the wheelbarrow, but it sure was fun.
As always, thank you so much for stopping by! Oh, I almost forgot…maybe “The Apple of Peace” could be our mantra this week, month, and maybe even year? What do you think?
July 12, 2008
We had so much fun at Swanton Berry Farm last weekend that we decided to join our friends for another visit yesterday. It was too much fun, so I had to share.
When we arrived, the sun was struggling to make it’s way through the fog and was offering the most gorgeous light.
Little Miss Aoiffa had a wonderful time.
The boys worked hard.
Dressed appropriately for berry picking!
Here’s the crew. Up to no good if you ask me.
The sun came out just in time for our picnic. After the picnic, Ki was the star of the show.
Can someone tell me why we bother buying toys?
Even Aoiffa got in on the fun.
We hated to leave, but plan on returning next week again. You can never eat enough fresh berries!
July 6, 2008
My awesome friend Marina told us that the olallieberries at Swanton Berry Farm were going crazy, so we took a drive up the coast and did some berry picking. I remember doing this as a kid in Ohio and eating berries until I felt sick. It was fun to basically watch my kid do the exact same thing. Here are a few fun shots from our adventure:
Our first stop was the strawberry field.
What do you think, Grandpa???
I had to get one of him on the truck showing off his goods.
And then off to the olallieberry fields. We went straight to work.
Busted snacking.
But they just smelled so good…
In berry heaven.
mmmmm…
On the way home, we stopped at Waddell Beach near Davenport to watch the kiteboarders.
If you live in town, check out the u-pick at Swanton Berry Farms, you’ll be glad you did. I’ve been inspired by the life and death of our cousin Meghan. She didn’t waste any time, so we’re trying not to, either. More adventures on the way…
June 16, 2008
How classic is this? I wish that I could have the guts to walk around with a colander on my head when I’m not in the mood to be seen. What a concept.
May 19, 2008
I’ve been having so much fun experimenting with Jesh De Rox’s fine art textures! Here are a couple of recent images that I’ve been trying things out on. I’ve posted both the before and after images.
It is such fun to experiment. Back to work, more later!
May 12, 2008
Ever since I went digital a few years ago, I’ve really missed shooting with a 50 mm lens. I learned how to shoot manually for the very first time using a 50mm lens years ago when I was shooting film and developing everything in the darkroom. I grew to absolutely love the 50mm approach as it is closest to how the eye actually sees things. I loved the powerful, poignant, and simple statement that the 50mm made and the way that it honestly and clearly depicted the world around me.
When I saw that Canon had come out with a 50mm f1.2, I knew that it had to be mine some day. So, I continued dreaming of that day…Well, thanks to a nice gift from my dear Uncle Sam last month, my 50mm 1.2 showed up on my doorstep last Saturday. I was like a kid on Christmas morning, grinning ear to ear as I opened the box. I put it on my camera where it has stayed for over a week now.
Here is my week through the 50mm f1.2 (I think I’m in love)…
The lens showed up just a few hours before we took off for the Monterey Bay Aquarium last Saturday. My awesome clients Jenn and Carter gave me tickets to the aquarium last week as a “bribe” in order to entice me to drive to Monterey and sign some images that I took of their family before they were framed at Aaron Bros.
Needless to say, the bribe worked (thanks, Jenn and Carter!)
These are literally my first two shots with the lens and are straight out of the camera. It was pretty dark inside the aquarium, but at 1.2 there was plenty of light to work with.
We brought our cousin Conor from Dublin, Ireland along. He was in town for business all week and it was so awesome having him around. He is so incredibly chill and easy to be around. He was quite a hit with the little guy as well.
During the week we went to one of our favorite places, Wilder Ranch. I brought the new lens along to document the sights:
A hungry rooster.
A mildly annoyed sheep.
A cool pair of Chucks.
An imaginary train ride, complete with a conductor.
A new accomplishment.
Life just as my eyes see it.
And a few family snapshots…
Over the weekend we headed up to San Francisco and met up with our niece Claire. She’s a student at SF State and lives in the Richmond District, just 2 blocks from where I lived ten years ago!
Isn’t she adorable? I just love her new haircut!
Before I get reported for child endangerment, I’d like to point out that this image was taken in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, which is closed off to traffic on weekends. We had to show Claire our new moves.
Conor and Claire.
Conor, Pat, and Dino (or Kosta in Greek) before Conor’s departure. We hope that he has work in the Bay Area again soon!
I have some portrait sessions coming up this week and definitely plan on giving the 50 1.2 a whirl! I’ll let you know how it goes.
