Winner x2

Recently we entered and merited in the Professional Photographers of America Nation Print Competition. Two prints scored "Calm after the storm" (top) and "The mysterious properties of sand and the insignificance of man" (boy on the beach). The second image was also chosen to be printed in the book that represents the collection.

Embellishmint

What can be done with a tattooed model and more flowers than you can imagine...

Keep your eye out for a new Embelishmint Ad due out in ceremony magazine.

Maggie & Jared

First time for an engagement session with flamingos... don't worry, Maggie is a bird trainer and had permission to be in the pen (although we had to explain that to security a few times).

4th of July - San Diego Bay

The view from Harbor Island, if you look close you can see 3 of the 4 fireworks displays over the bay. Had a good time that included dinner at C level and the show... but then paid for it with the hour of traffic to get home.

New Charger Girl

Congratulations to one of our favorite clients, Tamara was chosen to be a Charger Girl...

Way to go Tamara!

To Campo and beyond

Tuesday brought a much needed break, as you would expect... on my day off I went to take photos. Fellow photographers Tom Phillips and Lisa Smith were up for the adventure so with 4x4's and cameras we went exploring. Our trip took us to an abandoned mine, natural rock caves and lastly to the Campo Railroad Museum. If you have the time and a 4x4, there are some wonderful areas around our county that beg to be explored. If you go, be sure to pack lots of water, sunscreen and CF cards...

Walked Away

Lets start with I am fine (thanks to good driving, German engineering and possible divine intervention).

Headed home from a Saturday wedding on the 805 south just before Murray ridge road, I was in the #5 lane and a red Acura Integra in the #3 lane had a blowout on the rear passenger side the driver lost control and shot across the freeway striking the front driver side of my car sending me 30 or more feet up a 60 degree embankment. The other car rolled several times and came to rest on its roof in the #5 lane. Two passengers were ejected from the rear of the car and all 5 (from that car) were taken in the ambulance. I walked away uninjured but my car will most likely be totaled (we will find out in a few days). Here are the photos I took today at the body shop... Not much hope for the old girl :(

It was a good car, I will miss it for sure.

Dog Day

Saturday was the 1st ever photo day at Barkin'dales dog salon... we had a great time and I was able to meet many great K-9 friends (and a few people as well). I was encouraged to find that most if not all of the dogs were from rescues or shelters.

As Kate will tell you we are big believers in "don't breed or buy when sheltered pets die"

if your interested in rescuing a pet, try the following:

San Diego Humane Society

Friends of County Animal Shelters

Adopt Me San Diego

San Fransico

Was in San Fran this week collecting images for the California Freemason Magazine, had a few moments while waiting for a bus to move out of a shot I needed so I set up and created this image... (with a bit of post processing my vision is revealed).

Man in a skirt

Ok, this is not an ad but I added links if your interested (I assure you I am not a sponsored photographer... yet).

Had a play day with Lisa Smith (of lensbabies fame) and Larry from Calumet. Yes Larry is Scottish and no it isn't a skirt... it's a real kilt. Larry was a good sport to dress up and model and Lisa was inspired as usual. All in all it was a great time tromping around in the thistle and high grass. Oh forgot to mention we got to demo the new Profoto AcuteB light system (thanks to Philip at the Mac Group, yeah Philip).

Jackie & Brad

Congratulations to Jackie and Brad on their sassy hot pink wedding! Jackie and Brad are a wonderful couple with the absolute sweetest engagement story... Jackie is a school teacher and Brad a firefighter. One day Brad was in Jackie's classroom giving a presentation on firefighting when his presentation took a very different turn; he had originally begun by quizzing the children about fire safety when suddenly he was quizzing them about how sweet and pretty their teacher is! Jackie became very concerned about the content of the presentation. She was confused about this, as well as to why Brad was now kneeling (on one knee, of course)! To her amazement, she discovered that her family was hiding with the video recorder to capture Brad's proposal. Jackie began to weep.

You will never guess what they used as a "get-away" car after the wedding - a firetruck, no doubt! Too cute!

Best wishes Jackie and Brad! May love and devotion always be yours!

ChileCo in the house

"in the house" literally in my house :)

Recently due to a logistics issue Kate had to have one of her wedding couples do a tasting at our home. The caterer was Chef Scotty of ChileCo, I have to tell you that I was skeptical (knowing what usually comes out of my kitchen) but I was amazed at the creations that streamed out of my woefully inadequate cooking space. Armed with two small coolers Chef Scotty prepared dish after dish of delectable Asian Fusion masterpieces, most of witch had several fresh ingredients that were so exotic I had never heard of them. 

With each course he would describe what we would be tasting, the descriptions were an appetizer by their own right. His passion for culinary creation is evident even when he is simply describing the dishes. With each sampling our favorite was trumped by the new offering. I won't attempt to offer any details about what we sampled as my words would be only a disservice. I will however give this to illustrate the harmonic explosion of flavors that night... it's like looking at the color of Van Gogh's "The Cafe Terrace" after only seeing the world in black and white.

Katie & Vito Engagement Session

I had a great time with one on my summer wedding clients this week, I met up with Katie and Vito on Coronado for an engagement photo session (if you're not in the know, the engagement session is used to capture images that can be used for announcements, save the date cards, autograph albums or prints for the wedding reception). The session went well and we made some wonderful images but something a bit different on this outing... randomly on the bay was a guy dressed as santa carrying a red and white umbrella (torn up and blown open). We all had a good laugh but walked a wide path around him. Later, I found a guy that looked like he was going to to jump from the pier, not sure what he was photographing because moments before I was standing just below him... maybe there is a photo of the top of my head now circulating on the web.

Las Vegas Road Trip

March so far has been a busy month, in addition to the many sessions we have photographed it also brought the annual WPPI (Wedding and Portrait Photographers International) conference and trade show in Las Vegas. This was my second year to attend and to add to the fun myself and 3 Resolusean photographers decided to pile in the jeep and make a road trip out of it. Every time I have driven to Vegas I have told myself "next time I will stop and take photos of that..." this time we did. 

As usual the conference was inspirational, the classes were informative and the trade show showed me all the new stuff I simply must have. However, the best part of the trip was all the great people we met and the old friends we reconnected with. We met great people from all over the world but had the most 

fun with a group from the Lake Tahoe area and a group of East 

coast.

Even though we had a wonderful time, I was happy to get home to San Diego... 8 days in Vegas is 5 days too many for me.

And remember, if you believe "what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas" then think about this... if that were true, you would have to hand over your cameras at the city limits. More likely is the statement "what happens in Vegas will be on 

youtube tomorrow". 

Congratulations

Long time friends and clients Anthony and Nancy welcome their new edition Ethan. I have to tell you that boy is going places fast... he was so afraid of missing out on the action that he invited himself to the maternity photo session. Arriving a full month early Ethan turned the maternity session into a newborn session. All worked out for the better and we captured some wonderful moments of his first week. Ethan is doing well and even though he was early, he is putting on weight and seems quite content. 

SoCal XJ

Was able to do a "ride a long" with the crew from the So Cal XJ club this weekend. Other than a lens full of sand I had an great time in truckhaven (due west of the Dead Sea). It is not for the faint of heart or faint of suspension. Take water, a buddy, at least one other 4x and lots of tow rope.