Monthly Archives: January 2012

Lunar New Year, Albany Style

Leave a reply

Every year the Solano Avenue Association hosts a performance to celebrate Lunar New Year. It’s a free community event that highlights music, dance, martial arts, Chinese language learners, and just about the cutest little kids you’ll ever see. The Albany Twin Theater was standing-room-only. I was tasked with covering the event for Albany Patch, and it was a challenge. There was no way to move around without creating undo disturbance, so I took all my shots from a center seat in the second row.

At one point I turned around, and I’m so glad I did. This is my favorite image from the day. I hope you’ll visit the gallery here. The little chicken dancers stole my heart.

I am so grateful to Albany Patch for giving me these opportunities to appreciate this town I live in. It’s pretty charming here, close to home.

Also? Contortionists creep me out. I got this shot before I had to look away.

Happy New Year, everyone!

A Moment In Time (Sisters)

Leave a reply

I have said many times on this blog how much I enjoy helping people record who they are right now. Time passes so quickly. It’s so worthwhile to take a few hours in a favorite place and let the camera capture the silliness, the joy, just the being together. The moment.

Last weekend I decided to take my own advice. Hilary is on the quarter system, so she was back at UCSB. Grace is on the semester system, so she hadn’t started back up yet. We decided a girls’ weekend was in order in the paradise that is Santa Barbara. Saturday afternoon found us at Goleta Beach where I watched these sister friends be sister friends. I enjoyed every minute of it.

Hilary has quite a repertoire of animal impressions. Here she’s winding up to do her velociraptor.

Just a couple of goofballs.

Thanks, girls. What a fun afternoon.

And here’s the ice cream I promised.

And . . . we’re done.

I’m so glad we did this. They both have big plans to be in places far away soon, and that’s good. But so was this. This moment.

You can see more of the shoot here.

If I can help tell the story of your right-now moment, please let me know. It would be my pleasure.

When “More” Is Creepy

Leave a reply

Well, I learned something about myself this weekend. I have always been curious about butterfly groves and put that on my list of Things I Want To See Someday. Not a “must do” — just a “that would be interesting” type of thing. This past weekend Grace and I went to Santa Barbara for a short visit with Hilary and made a quick stop at the butterfly grove in Pismo Beach to have a look. I almost said “to scratch that itch”, but that brought back the skin-crawling feeling I experienced when I looked through the powerful telescopes that bring this natural wonder too close for my comfort. Turns out one butterfly is beautiful, several can be quite interesting, but hordes? Creepy.

I know there are science-types who will disagree. For them I recommend the butterfly grove at Pismo Beach.

Beautiful:

Interesting:

Hmmmm….

Looking around for Alfred Hitchcock:

WAY too much of a good thing:

For me this is a classic instance of when less is preferable. I’m prepared to be in the minority here. And I’ll gladly give up my spot at the telescope.

Ingablog-2

Generations Together

Leave a reply

I first met Inga’s family this summer. You may remember these beautiful little girls.

Inga wanted me to come over because her sisters were visiting from Iceland along with a new baby cousin. She wanted a special record of the visit and her growing extended family.

At the time, Inga and Lior were expecting their third child. When Lior’s mother traveled from Iceland to meet her new granddaughter, they invited me over once again to capture some moments. I’m so glad they did.

Grandma Ruth and little Ruth have a special bond.

Three generations:

Celebrating family.

When family visits all the way from Iceland it is certainly an event. But I believe that any time generations of family gather there are moments worth recording. Take the time to notice the embrace and the story time and the laughter. Those little moments caught in a photograph will become treasures.

If I can help, please let me know.