La Lune...
"Meditate. Live purely. Be quiet. Do your work with mastery. Like the moon, come out from behind the clouds... Shine!" - Buddha
Journey...
"Life is pure adventure, and the sooner we realize that, the sooner we will be able to treat life as art." - Maya Angelou
Dreaming...
"Sometimes on the way to your dream, you get lost and find a better one." - Lisa Hammond
Summer Swirl...
"There shall be eternal summer in the grateful heart." - Celia Thaxter
Cool...
On my way to a concert, I serendipitously parked near a Model A. I stopped to admire, and take a few iPhone photos (the hood ornament alone is outstanding!). Cooper, the car's owner, happened to be nearby and we chatted about the car's weathered cool. A couple weeks later, he met us for the Chatfield shoot (see below). So fun, and so grateful! Of course, the cool car has a cool owner. Check out Cooper's musical projects: Pretty Mouth
Rebecca + Evan (part 2)
This was a special afternoon. The light was dreamy, a slight breeze kept those pesky mosquitoes (mostly) at bay, and Rebecca and Evan brought the love. It was my first engagement session at Chatfield Resevoir, and I will be back. The car was a sweet bonus (more about that later). How fun to play with a Model A!
Awake...
"Awake, my dear.
Be kind to your sleeping heart.
Take it out into the vast fields of Light
And let it breathe." - Hafiz
Mt. Massive
I miss this view!
Spring!
"Spring has returned. The Earth is like a child that knows poems." - Rilke
Friends as Superheroes...
Friends are the superheroes of life. Their powers are more subtle than Superman, but no less dynamic. They possess the ability to make us laugh in times of sadness, listen in ways that make us feel important, help us see (and appreciate!) the brilliant absurdities of life, and feel connected to something bigger than ourselves.
This month I lost one of my heroines. She departed as mythically as she lived. She was a light in the world; enchanting all she met with her grace, warmth and humor. We were college roomates and friends for twenty-two years. As I try to comprehend the loss, I ask myself "what would Carrie do?" She always knew the perfect thing to say... a balance between pragmatic wisdom, and wit. How do we get through this in a meaningful way? I feel awkward and raw.
In the weeks that have passed, I have been comforted by the show of support for her family, the reunion of old friends, and our capacity for love and humor in the face of grief. There have been some breathtakingly beautiful moments. Our journey is just beginning; we will ache for a long time. In the meantime, I will strive to meet each day with an open heart, practice kindness with myself (and others), and keep looking for the delighfully wacky in life.
Goodbye, my friend.
Sisters...
These two were fun to photograph. Silly and sassy, a style all their own, and some inside jokes that didn't need words.
Muir Magic...
"Keep close to Nature's heart... and break clear away, once in awhile, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean." John Muir
Muir woods has long been on my "must visit" list. This fall I got to meander through the big trees, and swoon with the intoxicating air that can only be found here. We started high above Muir woods park, and walked down into the valley. The fog came just as we entered the park, which lent a mystical feel to a walk through the ancient trees. We ended the afternoon on the beach. My spirit felt very clean indeed.
Making a wish...
"Be thou the rainbow in the storms of life. The evening beam that smiles the clouds away, and tints tomorrow with prophetic ray." - Lord Byron
Happy Summer.
Friends recently gathered to celebrate a birthday, and learn a little more about the art of wine tasting. It was the perfect combination of weather, food and company that made for a memorable summer night. I hope there are many more to come. Happy summer! Cheers.
Cake!
I love cake. There, I said it. It's one of my favorite elements of a wedding day. I love the decadence, the (often) innovative designs, and a sugar rush at the end of a long day. I won a cake decorating lesson at a silent auction. I was curious, and my friend Caroline joined me. Julia taught us how to: level the cakes, frost, and add colorful accents. We had a laissez-faire style and, in the end, our cakes had a Dr. Seuss quality... colorful, a little wacky, and fun. I have an even greater respect now for those elegant towers of confection.
Happy Mother's Day...
I believe in the compelling power of love. I do not understand it. I believe it to be the most fragrant blossom of all this thorny existence. -Theodore Dreiser
Shine...
/SHīn/
V. 1. To emit light.2. To be bright by reflection of light 3. To distinguish oneself in an activity or a field; excel. 4. To be immediately apparent: Delight shone in her eyes.
Inspired by Sue Bryce, I have combined her excellent posing cues with my love of natural light. The result: consistently finding my client's inner shine in their portraits. I love that!