Southern California Winter

It has been more like summer than winter here the last week...incredibly warm, sunny, clear blue skies and beautiful sunsets.

The Birds

I am not a big fan of birds. Well, let me rephrase that...I am not a fan of coming into close contact with birds. They make for great photographic subjects and look cute on stationary and accessories, and I love to watch them from afar and very much enjoy the sounds they make. But generally I don't like to get too close. Maybe I was traumatized by Rio, the pet parrot of my childhood friend who chased me around the house trying to bite me. Or maybe it was the nesting birds on the SFSU campus who would dive bomb our heads trying to protect their nests. Or maybe it was the fear of coming out of the public transportation station and running into a giant pigeon.

Well whatever it is, I had quite an experience last week. I woke up to a loud banging sound coming from the living room. No one else was awake, and the first thing I saw when I went into the living room was soot everywhere surrounding the fireplace. Then when a small bird flew past my head, I realized what the sound was coming from! This little creature had either flown or fallen down the chimney, and was flying into the windows and walls trying to escape. Half asleep and freaked out, I woke up Aunt Lori, and together we shooed the little guy to safety.

I have now saved two birds. The first was a hummingbird at my mom's house last year I rescued from their feline hunter, Boone, you can read that story HERE if you want. It was actually a very touching experience. And now this, maybe I will come around.

My Brother

Happy birthday to my wonderful, caring, smart, compassionate,

accomplished, talented brother.

Happy happy happy happy birthday Nick!!!

♥ ♥ ♥

Shoot & Edit: Week One

Attempting to learn how to edit and enhance my photos with the help of the talented Ashley Sisk at Ramblings and photos!

SOOC (Straight Out Of the Camera) Shot

Edited Photo

Not a huge difference, mostly just cropped and played around with the levels. But I think that is the type of editing I like...making the photo just look better but not overly processed. What do you think...do you like the before or after shot?

Cracked

I have been taking and very much enjoying Tracey Clark's photography classes. I am in my third now: Picture Winter. Each morning waiting for me like a little present is an email with a prompt and her photo for that day. I usually open it first thing in the morning, mull over the prompt, shoot some different photos throughout the day and choose my favorite to submit.

Well the prompt a few days ago was "cracked open," and I may have unintentionally taken it a bit too literally. Driving home from Brent's house I passed Doheney Beach and it was so beautiful I had to stop to take photos. Maybe I would even find something that would apply to the prompt. Five minutes out of getting out of my car, I was taking this photo of a puddle covering cracked mud, when BAM!

My brand-new, six day old baby of an iphone 4 fell out of my jacket packet, from ONE foot off the ground, and when I picked it up, it looked like this:

Dad, if you are reading this, don't worry, you can stop cringing, this story has a happy ending, I promise. But needless to say, I was bummed. Iphones are NOT cheap and I had a feeling "stupid enough not to put the phone in a tight, safe spot" is not one of the problems covered under warranty. But it's me, I am a photographer who when I see something photo-worthy, I pull over the car, I make Brent wait for me as I fall behind on our walks oohing and ahhing at every little thing with my camera, and it's me, who, as freaked out I was about having to prepare an iphone funeral, I continued on to the beach to take some shots. I was already there dangit, and my phone was shattered, and it felt like someone was throwing softball-sized rocks at my back. I was GOING to get at least one good shot!!

Back to the phone. I went to the Apple store and just as I suspected, "stupid enough not to put the phone in a tight, safe spot" is not covered under warranty. "That'll be $199 dollars" says the apple genius man. But he waited just long enough for it to sink in and allow my eyes and mouth to grow into three gigantic circles before adding "but since you only had it less than a week, we'll cover it for you." OH MY. I had the case on. I dropped it from a foot off the ground. Why did it shatter? Apparently, it doesn't matter even if you have it in the strongest of cases, if it lands on the "sweet spot" it will break. But I think I was rewarded for being patient, for staying at the beach to snap those pretty photos, for keeping my cool and staying calm. Because on the drive home was this amazing sunset:

If this ordeal (I know, I know it is just a phone, but...) had not happened, I probably would have been inside the house and completely missed out on this incredible sunset!! Glad it is over.

Friday Five - Photo Style

It's Friday! Happy Friday everyone. I thought I'd share 5 photos from the week that made me happy. I hope they do they same for you as you ready for a fun or relaxing weekend!

Coffee Date-1.11.11

This photo is from yesterday's 10 on 10. If you aren't familiar with this, the concept is to take 10 photos on the 10th of the month...1 photo every hour for 10 consecutive hours. You can see the rest of my pictures on the previous post. It is so fun to find beauty in the everyday. Today is 1/11/11! Kind of cool. I am joining Amy for a coffee date today. If we were really meeting for coffee today, I would have a lot to tell you!!

On Saturday, I had a reunion with two of my college roommates. After the dorms I moved into an apartment with 3 other girlfriends, Kasey, April, and Kelly. We had a great time living together, and hadn't seen them in almost 2 years at another friend's wedding. Kelly is still living in Long Beach, but Kasey and April are local and we met up for dinner and a long needed catch up.

{Kasey, me, April - 2010}

{2007}

Last year I started something called Project 365...posting 1 photo every day for 365 days. I started it in July and was successful in posting every day, but at the end of 2010 I decided I wanted to start a new one for 2011, just to have it run from Jan 1 - Dec 31. You can see both projects on the tab above called "Project 365."

Sunday was a special day as well. I went to a volunteer orientation for a nonprofit organization called Art 4 Healing. They do art as a form of therapy with kids and adults suffering from trauma such as loss, disease, stress, etc. I hope to work with the cancer patients at the Children's Hospital...something very close to my heart. When I was in the hospital, I had a wonderful Child Life Specialist who provided endless projects, arts & crafts, and other activities that kept my mind off the current situation I was in. I am starting to realize more and more that maybe working with pediatric cancer patients is something I want to do, whether as a career or being involved in volunteer work. I went through that experience, may as well use it toward helping others in the same situation. At the orientation we did a mini painting workshop, this was mine:

So far this year has been great. Staying optimistic. Attempting to get the ball rolling on my next steps in life. I have already seen long lost friends, been participating in Tracey Clark's Picture Winter class (see my photos here), and taken lots of photos with my new camera. It always feels good to have a new fresh start. So...what's new with you?

Ten on Ten - January

Ten on Ten for January!

Waking up with tea, a nice stroll around the block, accomplishing things at home including making homemade caramel corn! Can't believe we are already 10 days deep into 2011!

A Little Sunshine

"Keep your face always toward the sunshine -

and shadows will fall behind you."

-Walt Whitman

I was inspired today by the prompt in Tracey Clark's Picture Winter class. Although we had some rain and cooler temperatures, Tuesday I awoke to an absolutely beautiful day. The sun shone bright, crisp clean air, and not a cloud in the sky. Everything was still covered in droplets of water from the previous day's rain, catching the gleam of the sunlight and sparkling like jewels. The backyard had been transformed overnight and the plants and flowers stood tall boasting their beauty.

{Project 365 Day 4}

I began to think about the magnificence of the sun in the most primitive sense. The word could not survive without it, allowing humans and nature to thrive. But it also brings out the best in people, and is used as a synonym for cheery, happy, and bright.

Tracey's prompt involved finding something to photograph that mimicked the colors and or shape of the sun. While sunshine is not in our daily lives, both physically and metaphorically, we can do our best to create our own. Some days are cloudy and gray, some are happy and some are sad, some are productive some are frustrating. But encouraging ourselves to find a little bit of sunshine in some form or another can keep us going. I am working hard to find those little moments, people, and places that light up my life, and surround myself with them daily.

{Day 4 Picture Winter - "A Little Sunshine"}

Breath of Fresh Air

New Years Day 2011. Woke up to a chilly but beautiful day. We wrapped our cold fingers around mugs of homemade lattes, silently perking up with each sip. Still in our pajamas, we threw on jackets and hats, and took a stroll along the path above the beach. Clear blue skies, crisp air, and a quietness that comes with the reflection of the new year. We passed a few pensive others, I like to think their heads were stirring with happy memories of 2010 and intentions for 2011.

January 2nd, I awoke to stormy skies and feeling hopeful for what is to come during this year. Excited for the goals I have set for the year, and for the ways in which I hope to make a great year for myself. Today I was focusing on really taking everything in and appreciating every last little bit of my life. When a negative thought popped into my head, I pushed it out of my mind and took a deep breath. I reminded myself that sometimes it as simple as taking a breather, focusing on the positive, and telling myself everything will be okay. I hope this will become a habit.