. a mother’s love
“When you are a mother, you are never really alone in your thoughts. A mother always has to think twice, once for herself and once for her child.” ~Sophia Loren
. the creative side of surfing
When I first took the time to learn to surf back when I was 32, I realized what a truly artistic yet athletic sport it is. It’s hard for me to call it a sport actually because the word “sport” conjures up all things jockish: football, soccer, baseball, basketball etc. Surfing and jock would never [...]
. courtneycourtney | big brother style
Just look at her now. Back in 2008 when Maliea was a baby, I found a cute line of girl’s dresses made out of upcycled Tshirts. The designer was Courtney Chu and I knew that she was creating something really unique and special. I tried to [...]
. he turns seven
Our beautiful boy turns seven today. We are so proud of all his accomplishments and enthusiasm for life. He loves the ocean—surfing—sailing—sea creatures—dinosaurs—trains—math—art—and especially his little sister—
. oh what an april
Our April was full of Maliea and Me time—Easter—school days—beach days—surfing—bonfires—field trips—a feeling of freedom—playfulness—accomplishments—setbacks—friendship—family—alone time. Photos of me were taken by Maliea. Maliea’s custom dress (on the bike) and tunic (at the beach) by courtneycourtney.
. the growth of a child
This is a fantastic time lapse of a young girl from birth to age 12. The motion gives us insight into so much character and personality that you wouldn’t get in perfect smiling stills. Once again, my faith is renewed that having photos of my children when they are expressing their true selves is more [...]
. loupe workshop contest
Hello enthusiastic photographers! Are you ready to learn how to make the images that you’ve been dreaming of? The Loupe Photography Workshop is gearing up and we have a contest to give passionate, aspiring photographers discounted tuition. Winners can save up to $300 (a 50% discount) off tuition. Directions: Think about a favorite [...]
. on landscape
“Every love has its landscape. Thus place, which is always spoken of as though it only counts when you’re present, possesses you in its absence, takes on another life as a sense of place, a summoning in the imagination with all the atmospheric effect and association of a powerful emotion. The places inside matter as [...]
. sailing away
” If you built castles in the sky; your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now, put the foundations under them. “-Henry David Thoreau Many of you know that I spent a couple of years sailing around the Pacific Ocean and living on a 38′ boat with my husband. It’s [...]
. a marvelous march
We had a full March with lots of great memories and milestones. Every day I am getting better at balancing my commitments to family and work. It’s a constant trial and error and I have found that the more I put my family and our home first, the easier all the [...]
. a long awaited snowball fight
Merrik and Maliea have been dreaming of snowball fight for years. They have both been in the snow but it wasn’t very memorable. Maliea experienced it pre-memory and Merrik made muddy snowballs from a small patch of melting snow we tracked down with friends last year in the San Gabriel Mountains. Our discovery of [...]
. a look back at how she’s grown
silly beautiful graceful calm confident stylish witty feisty Maliea’s birthday is coming up so this entire week is dedicated to preparing for her birthday celebrations. I have been going through all her photographs to compile posters for her Fourth Birthday celebration at her preschool. I was surprised to discover that there were quite [...]
. rediscovery of a time gone by
I recently stepped back in time to where my heart has been all along. I pulled out my 4×5 camera, some expired Polaroid 52 film and started playing like I used to do years ago. It was 2004 the last time I used my 4×5 for a project and since packing up and putting away [...]
. a creative collaboration
What Path Will She Pick? I was so fortunate to participate in Jane Fulton Alt’s Creative Collaboration!! It was such an amazing process for me and really gave my creative process the nudge it’s been needing. I have always loved ‘making’ images. From the moment I learned how to make high contrast masks of my [...]
. a worthy cause
Fellow photographer, Deb Schwedhelm is raising funds for Tanzania Children | The Foundation For Tomorrow. She will be riding a bike and photographing along the 400 mile trip from Kilimanjaro to the Indian Ocean to bring awareness to this cause. This cause is not only extremely worthy but really strikes a chord personally with me [...]
. february frenzy
Scenes from “The Picnic” A collaboration with Jane Fulton Alt: outtake Halfway through the year last year I decided I would much rather be compiling our family adventures month by month. I didn’t actually start the process until January 2012 and am so glad I did. It’s fun to see how [...]
.giving credit where credit is due
Behind the Bathroom Curtain So I know the big thing these days is Pinterest. Bigger than big. Everyone is doing it. Pinning photos that inspire, put ideas in your head and hope in your heart and throw your biggest dreams out into cyberspace. I see awe inspiring portraits, gorgeous homes, beautiful locales and succulent food [...]
.bringing art to life
I have been inspired for years by my son’s creative imagination and artwork. I’ve recently been spending more time archiving it before it turns into an overwhelming project and trying to figure out the best way to display it and incorporate it into our home as decor. Recently he drew a monster on paper as [...]
.a celebration of a vibrant life
I had the honor of attending the Celebration of Life for Beck Hollywood Matson a few weeks ago. It was a truly moving experience to witness the sense of family, community and love being shared at this memorial for a very young boy. His school friends, family friends, beach friends, friends [...]
.your road
All images from my series “Drive By” Your road is everything that a road ought to be…and yet you will not stay in it half a mile, for the reason that little, seductive, mysterious roads are always branching out from it on either hand, and as these curve sharply also and hide what is [...]
.maintaining moxie
This is a custom collage I created as a collaboration for a homecoming memory Going into business as a photographer has taken me years to commit to. I know myself well and the idea of having to do things because it’s business has put the ‘create-on-demand’ factor of having my own photography business off [...]
.happy <3 day
Wishing everyone a fun-loving and carefree valentine’s day. remember what it’s about. love. spending time with the one’s you love and letting them know how you feel about them from your heart. be patient. be sincere. be all the love for them that they need.
.a window into my world
My photograph “Sealevel” from an exhibition at the Millenium Arts Center in Washington D.C. Jim’s early self portrait paintings can be seen down the hall from the main living room. Our pillows are art too. We bought these in Tahiti and cherish them as a special purchase and memory of our time there. Merrik from the [...]
.begin it now
“Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits one-self, then providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one [...]