Its Not Easy Being Pink

My friend Gina and I recently spent an early morning at the zoo. This time of year, if you are not into air conditioning by noon or so, you melt- so morning was our only option. Fortunately, as the zoo opens at an ungodly hour this time of year, this worked out nicely for us.

As we sat, observing the flamingos up to their knees in mud and loving it we were fortunate enough to observe a symphony of flock behaviors. Fighting, preening, feeding, and more.

You could almost make out the cliques. It was like looking at a pink feathered high school in some ways.

Off a ways into the shade, a few of the larger and more colorful individuals fed and rested. On the other end, in the grassy area where the little wimpy pondy area was the younger and smaller individuals congregated.

Gina and I, both more than a couple of years removed from high school watched the situation and considered what the flamingos were thinking.

The truth of the matter is, its not easy being pink, and every species has its own society to climb up.

As the keeper drove up with the food, an excitement blew through the flock. Turns out that social classes no longer matter- at least not when breakfast is on the line.

As we finished our circle around the flamingo habitat, the masses were resettling into their respective groups. I guess some things never change.

Narcissistic Fred

Though lately I have been seriously strapped for time, I decided that since I had business that direction anyway to visit Patricia and Dutch on their ranch last Saturday. As usual, I was not disappointed. Being birdy breeding season, the peahens were on eggs and the males were displaying up a storm.This time of year is a great time to view and photograph peacocks- the males have big full trains and are actively displaying- a lot! Fred is no different.

Fred is Dutch and Patricia's "yard peacock" along with his mate, Mary who is brooding eggs next to the aviaries. While the rest of the birds are tucked into large aviaries to keep the birds in and the predators out- you can't contain Fred. He struts the yard, and leaps to the roof top- and at night roosts in the biggest tree in the yard. He and Mary (along with a few others) are tame and trustworthy.

Fred spent most of my visit displaying in the yard- to no one in particular. Mary was tucked away brooding her eggs- the rest of the hens were away in their pairs and trios.

Fred was displaying for beauty's sake alone.

Sepia Sweet

Recently, it has come to my notice that there is a serious lack of photographers utilizing sepia tones to their full potential. Why is this? The world may never know for sure, but allow me to speculate.


Color images are loved for their vibrant hues and black and whites are adored for their artistic simplicity and ability to convey strong messages. Where does that leave the warm, mapley sepia? Many consider this style only when thinking about early images or western style images- the ones you get dressed up silly for at the state fair. However, this sugary style has its own sweet points.

Sepia images convey warmth along with the emotion and drama of a black and white- all the while giving you a little something thats hard to place- something different and a little lighter than its monochromatic counterpart.

With the versitility allowed by todays digital imaging, I am counting the days until this style comes back a little more. There are many ways to accomplish the look and more than a few ways to customize it to fit your your image, your home and your life.

If you feel yourself ever needing something light and warm in an image- consider playing with sepias- We all could do with a little something sweet in our lives.

Into the Mist

This image has been hiding in my private stash for quite a while. Not terribly sure what to do with it or even if I liked it- it collected dust for a bit.

Of course, my friend Paul is right about it. It looks best in larger sizes on black.


I think the reason I was hesitant to post this, is the feelings it evokes for me personally. They were so personal and strong that I was not sure others would or could see the same beauty in it that I did. Apparently I have been proven wrong by the comments of my colleagues upon viewing the image.

As explained here: "Early morning in La Jolla- the cormorants literally fall from the cliff sides to begin their morning search for food. The sleepier individuals wait and preen on the rocks.

Watching this was honestly the most calm and peaceful thing I have ever experienced. The birds are beautiful as they glide just over the water."

La Jolla, California is easily my favorite place I have ever had the fortune to visit. If I could afford to live there, I would drop my entire life and go. I can breathe there- in a way not possible anywhere else on this earth.

Standing at the edge of the world, watching the birds and the mist roll out and into the dawn- a calm takes over. Cool sea air washes past, complimented by the sound of the waves crashing onto the sharply cliffed shoreline. If I do not turn east to see the civilized world behind me things change. I become the only one and the world solely mine.

I take off my shoes and venture out onto the edge of the cliff side to where the waves are carving new tide pools among the ones already filled with oceany inhabitants. Kirk jokes that I feel so at home because I am with other crabs (since he says I am crabby).

Regardless of the reason I go, this is my place. This is where I can go to hide from the world or to ponder its intricacies.

I can find peace when I go into the mist.

Double Daily and an Apology

Ok, here goes...

***I usually update at minimum M-Th. Lately I have failed slightly. I apologize for the lack of recent posts. Between the lack of new shots (camera went to Indy with the man) and lack of time due to personal and family obligations- my poor biz blog has been sadly neglected. To make up for this sad sad fact you get two today. Yipee!***

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Darin and Chelsea got married last month. They got their images about a week later and all was happy. I am in love with temple weddings and would happily do nothing but them all the time given the opportunity. Hooray.

As many know, I went over my files this weekend, did a little clean up and a little messing around. I realized that I had this one sitting there still and wanted to share.




I don't think they realized I was still snapping. Standing on the side of the temple, almost finished with portraits and trying to work around harsh 1pm light and landscape that was being extensively torn up- I wound up with a gem here.

So in love, always smiling, laughing and of course kissing!

I think that if every couple were like these two....this happy and this in love and in tune with each other- the world would be a better place. Its heartwarming just to be near them.

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Lately I have been taking more lighting equipment with me to shoot nature. Its hummingbird season, this years chicks are fledging into hovering jeweled swordsmen and the light really helps. Its also been putting some of my more stationary fare into a better light.



As I go out and shoot for personal enjoyment, I have learned to give myself time to study life. Patterns, shapes and functions. Intricacies. I have learned more in these explorations than I have in quite possibly all of my schooling.

One of my favorite new "Arizona Octopuses" are seed pods. The desert springs fourth millions of them this time of year. Each is symmetrical, and thoughtfully shaped for survival. They are beautiful and outlandish. Lit properly, they take on different colors and shapes as well. They are special because through all of this beauty- they have but one purpose- to give life to new plants.

People rarely take note. We decorate our homes with them in potpourri baskets and arrangements. Heck, Ikea carries them. We do not appreciate them as much as we should because they tend to take the place of springs vibrant flowers just in time for miserable summer.
But there they are... a perfect fusion of beauty and purpose if you only care to consider them.

Black and White Revival

Much to my dismay, this weekend I will be left to my own devices...and camera-less. Kirk is going to the Indy 500 with his dad and brothers (hoo boy!) and since hes been good I am lending him my camera and glass due to their superiority over his as well as my faster/larger memory cards. Commence happy because hes going to have a great time, and pouting because I will be sad and alone with nothing to entertain me.

So what on earth will I do with all my spare time and my itchy shutter finger?



Re edit. Due to my new infatuation with the happy replies on flickr, and some new techniques I am messing with- it gives me something constructive to do. Theres a gold mine on my RAID array- and I intend to pillage and purge.

These two are from an older studio shoot I did at Sarah's request so that she and her friends could get promo model jobs. It worked for them, but I never really played with the images. I processed them and tossed them at the girls to use without a second thought.

Now that I am going back and playing with them (and other older shoots) I am finding a veritable wonderland of stuff to edit and mess with- and stuff I will never ever do anything with that is just taking up space.

This weekend will be my black and white revival. Back to simplicity- and back to fresh edits. A chance to clean up and turn old images into new and exciting ones. Hooray!

Meanwhile, if anyone wants to go shooting this weekend, sorry. Its going to have to wait until Tuesday. I hope for Kirk's sake he has good images for me to play with when he gets back- for him its a trip of a lifetime.

The Illusive Arizona Octopus

Living in the desert is both a blessing and a curse. A blessing because I have something very different scenery wise than most of my fellow photographers and a curse because its all quite similar sometimes. Sharp, dully colored and well...the same. I suppose this happens to everyone- I just am not one to lie down and take it. My solution? Hunt the illusive "Arizona Octopus".
What is an Arizona octopus? Glad you asked. No, the image above you does not contain a sea creature that decided to move to the desert- though it is the image that inspired the phrase. An Arizona octopus is a subject that while common place in my environment (as this agave certainly is) appears to be something foreign and different.

This practice is an important one for anyone who loves to document their world with a camera. No two people have quite the same view of the world, and if we all took photographs of the same thing, life would be quite mundane. Instead we find new and interesting ways to present everyday things. A new view, new light and new life.

Every day, I hunt the Arizona octopus. Something the same but different to shoot...something new to give me life. What do you hunt in your life?

We Don't Need No Stinkin Badges!

Its obvious from a parking lot (or more) away. Everyone, even my little sister who does not know a Ferrari from a short bus, can call a vintage corvette when they see one. So why the big flashy badges?

Now, don't get me wrong, Chevrolet did these old badges right- and in a real big way! They stand the test of time and taste as one of the most aesthetically pleasing labels of all time. Its sad to say, but they just don't make them like this anymore. These days a photograph of an automotive badge alone rarely makes the cut. This is a big exception.

So whats the point? Its a label. A label that is meant to tell its viewer that the owner of this car has taste, class and style. A symbol of automotive fun and freedom with a pinch of power.

" Hello, My Name Is: Corvette"

No wonder every little boy aspires to be the man behind the wheel. Who wouldn't with a car like this...This car could bring the most stoic man to his knees.

The Secret Life of Plants: Part Two

There are two parts to nearly every story, and in this case of the agave that time and fast lane runners forgot- both parts are worth telling. In my haste to beat the sunset and get some shooting time in I had mentioned that I literally snapped and ran as is generally the case when I am in a hurry. As many know, I am slowly teaching my mother the art of digital photography. Its been a long and arduous process, moving as slowly as the glaciers that surely covered the earth during her youth. She does not know computers and email is a foreign thing to her. She has trouble retaining that kind information. The digital camera is not much better. She forces me to slow down.

This is a blessing and a curse. On one hand, I consider other vies and angles I would not have considered otherwise in my great haste to hit my hot spots for my favorite wildlife. On the other hand, well...she is certainly teaching me more patience.

The flower in the previous entry was toppled over, into another small tree. I had never thought to glance to the plant several feet below it to see what had given rise to one of my new favorite images.

When I did look down, I was greeted with an agave rainbow. Though its hard to see at the sizes I publish at, a wind-catching clung loosely to its spines.

Life had been accomplished. Tiny, hard to see with even the naked eye and very very delicate.

I wonder what the tiny seed will grow up to be? Will it make the journey at all? Only time will tell.

The Secret Life of Plants

Its magic hour. I have an itchy shutter finger and insist on dragging poor Kirk, sans his camera , to go do some shooting. As we drive I am racing the sun. Precious moments left ...I hope my flash holds out. Humans are fast creatures. We live for ticking clocks, moments and numbers.
I almost walked right by it, in my hurry to go nowhere and everywhere in my quest for light and a release from the photographic demons in my head.

But there the agave sat, stem so heavy with its alien like flowers that it had doubled over onto a nearby cactus. It was not preoccupied with time, its appearance or current events. Its only purpose and only care was life, and the continuance of life. Quiet. Calm. The world stopped for a tiny fraction of a second while the shutter released. A single shot and I was back to my rush, my ambition.

The agave paid no notice.

The secret life of this plant goes on. Quiet. Calm.