Film Friday - Dominican Republic Beaches on Ektar

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Film Friday - Views of the City

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Film Friday - Black and White Musings

Here are a few photos of San Francisco in black-and-white. The first two I shot on the same day as my first roll of Velvia with David - what a wet day! Whew.

And then these I shot on a day when I was on my way to a dentist appointment, and I took advantage of the little bit of extra time I had and made my way to the ocean. Something about that open space and infinity of beach and sky just gets me every time. And I knew it would look good in black and white. What I didn't expect, was to see the people working on the roof, or to be inspired by the row of houses all exactly the same except for the color (somehow still expressed well in black and white). 

And the calla lilies, effortlessly elegant as usual.

I've been experimenting with doing a little bit of meditation every day when I can manage it. There's something about five minutes of just relaxing not doing anything that really focuses the mind.  

Shooting film is like that for me. When I'm shooting a roll with only twelve frames, I don't think about anything except my next shot (and I know there's only going to be one photo of this particular subject, unlike my digital work) and that's very freeing. With digital I can take any photo I want, so somehow I don't want to take them as much. 

Of course, there are some limitations. For example, shooting film that's 50 ISO is really difficult. Even on a bright sunny day I find that there are compositions that are too dark to make the photograph. This is a problem you never have with modern digital. 

But maybe that's the point. Maybe it's the problems that make the solution feel more elegant. Get rid of the problems and what's the point?

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Wordless Wednesday

Film Friday - Some More Black and White

More from the Bronica. God, I love that camera.

Happy Holidays!

Home from another lovely weekend in Tahoe. There wasn't much snow, but we did get to go snowshoeing on Saturday, which was so lovely. Along the way we came upon this view and I knew I had to get a picture. Doesn't it look a bit like Yosemite?

I hope you're all enjoying a warm (emotionally) holiday season, with plenty of time spent with loved ones, but not too much stress or sniffles. We've been having a great time with lots of different family permutations, plus Evan's parents got a new puppy! Nothing beats a new puppy for sheer happiness per minute, I think.

Only a little more than a day left in this year - go make the most of it!

Lake Tahoe Weekend

It's something of a tradition in Evan's family to spend the Thanksgiving weekend at the family house near Lake Tahoe, and luckily I get to come along and make it my new tradition! The years when it snows are of course the best. What's better than finishing a delicious meal and then heading out into a white flurry to walk off the food coma? I can't imagine anything, personally, especially given our dearth of snowflakes here in San Francisco.

This year, sadly, the snow missed us by a few days (it's snowing there today!) but we still got to enjoy the crisp fall weather. And although my attempt at herding a group of us into a walk along the lake turned instead into a marathon rock-skipping contest, it was no hardship spending some time on the shore taking a few photos.

(See the ripples from the rocks?)

In terms of this sadly neglected blog, I am here again to make all sorts of wild promises. I have so! many! exciting! photos! to! blog! that I think I get a bit overwhelmed and just don't get started, one post at a time.

But watch this space. I've got a lot of fun things to share with you.

More from Yosemite

We had such a good time in Yosemite last weekend. Sometimes it seems like so much work to go away somewhere for a weekend: all the driving, and packing, and planning can make it feel like it's not worth it.

But it always is. I just love being somewhere new, with new smells, new sights, new breezes and pockets of beautiful light, and new attitudes and customs. Even if it's somewhere not so far away, somewhere I've already been a few times, it's still magical.

And if it's Yosemite, one of the most beautiful places in the world. Well. Then it's just something else.

The impetus for the trip was Evan's company, which generously sponsored most of it (for the whole company, not just us). We all went for a lovely day of spring skiing on Saturday. The weather was beautiful, the snow was a little slow, just how I like it. I'm not one for speeding down the mountain; I prefer to take a look around me as I go. And although I didn't bring my camera on the slopes this time because I forgot the right camera bag at home (and deeply regretted it), skiing unencumbered and without too much fear of falling was probably the right choice. (I do like the photos from last year's trip, though.)

Saturday evening we all sat around and ate good food, and inspected each other's weird sunburns. (I was good except for a tiny triangle right up near my hairline where the sunscreen apparently didn't penetrate.) Some had a midnight poker game, but Evan and I just crashed out early, and then the next morning woke up at dawn for a little frosty meadow photography.

The light was just beautiful.

And I have to say that I take secret pleasure in the fact that just as we were leaving the meadow, a bunch of other photographers showed up with tripods and fancy equipment, and *snap* just like that the gorgeous dawn light was gone. Ha!

After that we had a leisurely breakfast, checked out of our hotel, and with Evan's parents went to explore Yosemite Valley a bit.

It was beautiful; there's nowhere else like it.

We walked the tiny hike into Bridalveil falls and proceeded to be almost totally soaked by the fine spray that went everywhere! My lens got a thorough cleaning after that.

Then we wandered around the valley a bit more, and visited the Ansel Adams gallery, which Evan only tolerated but I really enjoyed. I couldn't afford the $45,000 prints of Ansel's that they had for sale, but I did get myself a pretty nice Michael Frye print of a photo of his that I've always loved.

And then we drove home. It was a lovely weekend. We need to do it more often! Anyone want to plan a Yosemite trip with me?

A Rather Snowy Weekend

We left Friday night at 8:30, hoping to make the drive to Tahoe by midnight. Knowing, of course, that it wouldn't be easy, and we might hit some traffic and some snow. Both seemed like they might be in the cards.

Well. They certainly were. We flew through the first 3 hours, with only 20 miles to go as it neared midnight. Seemed like we might get lucky.

That's when traffic crawled to a halt and we sat for 4 hours on the freeway. At a dead stop, not even inching forward.

And we sat for 4 hours, in the same spot, on the highway.

Only to make it to our exit, wend our way to the cabin, and realize that the last 50 feet weren't plowed and we'd have to trudge to the house instead of drive to it. Were it not for a very altruistic late night snowplow driver, we would have completely abandoned the car.

As it was, we made it to bed by 5. Zonked out, and went skiing the next morning at 8.

Which, I have to say, was totally worth it. What an amazing view. And great weather, all day long, with fresh snow to ski in.

The Waves Below

Taking the plunge is supposed to be the hardest part. You shut your eyes tight, breathe deep, and just let go.

Jump.

After that the momentum takes you down. You're not driving. The water meets you whether you're ready or not, and there's a certain peace to that. There's the first cold shock, yes, and the wait for the first gasp of air that lets you know you haven't drowned, but after that it's done.

It's a nice metaphor but it doesn't work that way in real life. Even after you jump you can't let go. You have to steer. There are rocks where you least expect them, and there's no one moment where you can realize you've made it, you've survived another jump. Other people will let you know when they think you've resurfaced. But to you? You're still treading water.

I'm not sure I'd have it any other way. But some days I long for the cleansing jolt of the water, and the satisfaction in the strength of my arms bringing me to the surface. And the clear, clear blue.

Camp Royaneh - Our Wedding Location

So THIS is where we're getting married.

Aren't you excited? I'm really excited. It's kind of perfect. Not too formal, with plenty of gorgeous trees and nature around, places for guests to bunk should they choose to spend the night, and it's not too far away. I can't wait, personally.

I just wish the wedding would plan itself. Little chance of that, though.

Yes, it's a Boy Scout camp. Isn't that cute? Evan even went here as a boy scout a couple of times. 

Here's the visitor center. At least I think that's what it's called.

The dining hall. 

Some of the local foliage.

I love all the wooden signs scattered about. They add such a great touch to the place. 

So, you could sleep here! You might want to bring a sleeping bag, though. 

And this is the "chapel." 

Other possible sleeping arrangements. Not the Hilton, that's for sure. 

We will NOT be using the shotgun range. I think that's a wise decision. 

Isn't it great? Where did you get married? Or where do you want to get married if you haven't tied the knot yet?