Sara's Shoebox

1/52

2012-01-11T15:57:00.001-08:00

I've decided to start a 52 weeks project. It's basically a less intense version of the 365 days project, where you post a photo a week instead of each day. Some people use it to track time, some to improve their photography. I'm doing it for both those reasons, but more importantly to push myself back into photography after a year of half-assing it (see above photo).

Like any bad start, I'm already behind in posting. I could technically start my year on the second week of 2012 and be up to date, but I like using an exact year as a marker, so consider this 1/52, and 2/52 should be posted before Sunday 1/15/12. Happy New Year!

A bottle of sparkling cider we wanted to cool in the freezer but forgot to take out. We weren't home at the time, but I wonder what it sounded like when it exploded.

Modelesque

2011-07-30T01:11:00.000-07:00

The peacock was so pretty she deserves her own post...especially since she was hamming it up for the camera. I stalked her for a good 10 minutes and came home with a newfound obsession with these birds!

I love her stance in the last shot. So graceful!

Flora, Fauna, Merryweather

2011-07-30T01:04:00.000-07:00

A lot of really bright colors in Hawaii!

(these chickens look like they're about to cross the road)

Where's the Beach, Pt. 2

2011-07-30T00:49:00.001-07:00

Color variation:

Zoom out...

There it is.

First photo taken from the balcony of our hotel room, second and third from the top of Diamond Head.

Where's the Beach?

2011-07-27T00:47:00.000-07:00

Summer Solstice

2011-06-20T22:38:00.000-07:00

2011-06-08T21:24:00.000-07:00

Today is My Birthday

2011-05-12T21:45:00.000-07:00

Okay, not really. But the packages I've been waiting for both surprisingly arrived today!

I hate to admit it, but sometimes, I'm a big blogger style stalker. I jump back and forth between fashion blogs because 90% of them annoy me, but I got sucked into the Cambridge Satchel hype when I saw the kelly green one featured on Where Did U Get That. So I ordered it that same day in yellow. Since they're handmade to order bags, it took forever. Well, forever compared to the instant shipping most online retailers have these days. When I do a lot of online shopping, I sometimes fall behind in keeping track of packages, so it took me a month after ordering before I realized I still hadn't received a "your order has shipped" email. So I emailed them and they responded a week later with some annoying PR about how they've been featured in magazines lately and are having trouble keeping up with their orders, etc. etc. etc. Anywho, my bag arrived today (in this oh so cute tissue with the little thank you tag). I love everything personal and handwritten so all is forgotten and the bag was every bit worth the wait!

The second package was silver shade Polaroid film (for an extra vintage feel) that I ordered via the Impossible Project two days ago. Here are some pictures of my new toys since my lazy butt never photographs anything interesting these days:

2011-04-27T23:30:00.000-07:00

Spring

2011-04-07T17:11:00.000-07:00

Chop Chop

2011-04-04T23:50:00.000-07:00

I've been growing my hair out since my college graduation in 2008. It's absurdly long right now, probably down to my waist, and really easy breezy low-maintenance. In spite of that, I'm fighting the urge to chop it all off for Scarlett Johansson's slightly grown out short-cut.

I'll probably keep it on the back burner until after September 30th.

Side note: ScarJo is pretty, no doubt. A terrible actress, but pretty. For some reason, I find her so much less annoying with this haircut!

Healthy Competition

2011-04-03T23:53:00.000-07:00

Everyone has their own reasons for getting fit, so my sisters, brother-in-law, Ata and I decided to start a workout competition. Week 1 is over and we're all doing really well, but no matter how much I eat, I'm always hungry.

Expect lots of food photography in the upcoming weeks.

Originally taken January 1, 2010

Sheep Pt. 2

2011-03-24T18:30:00.000-07:00

Here's the video I shot of the little sheep (also with my Evo). Ignore my stupid comments, I'm not used to doing voiceovers for videos.

Have You Seen My Little Lamb?

2011-03-24T17:51:00.000-07:00

I happened upon this flock of sheep in Chino Hills today, in the most random place. I shot a video that I'm currently uploading and will post later, but for now, here are some shots from my cell phone. My iPhone recently broke so I switched to an HTC Evo, and the camera on it is amazing! (no post-editing on these photos)

This is the same place that I took these pictures, and these as well.

My Boogie Shoes

2011-03-14T09:00:00.000-07:00

Interesting facts: I'm a total bozo at flash photography (hence the shadows), "shoes" is the third most common tag on my blog, and I've named this pair Tangela.

Drug Store Manicure

2011-03-12T18:13:00.000-08:00

I've never been a fan of nail salons. Well, maybe for short period in junior high/high school when it was cool to have acrylic nails (gag), but I find that almost every time I go in for a simple manicure, I regret it for weeks to come. Even though I've had good experiences with polish staying in tact, something about the way the manicurist files my nails makes them weak and brittle. I've tried different salons, but for the most part, the same problem occurs and it takes about 2 months for my nails to grow back to normal. So now I reserve my manicures for special occasions where it is an absolute must that I have professionally groomed nails.

Anyhow, I'm a huge fan of OPI nail polishes. Here are some of my favorites:

What's that on the end?

The newest addition to my nail polish collection: Sally Hansen Salon Effects Nail Strips. I never got into the nail art trend-- something about it looked too busy on my hands-- but I saw an ad for this in a few different magazines and couldn't resist trying it. The Sally Hansen Salon Effects kit comes with real nail polish strips in different pre-painted designs. I opted for the honeycomb/net print (there were about 10 other choices including lace, cheetah, faux-glitter, some of which were a little too over the top for my liking). Take a look at what comes in the box:

16 strips in varying sizes, a wooden stick for your cuticles, nail file for pre-shaping as well as trimming the strips once they're on, and simple instructions. All you really do is open the strip, stick it on, and file along your natural nail line. This took all of about 20 minutes, comes off with regular nail polish remover, and even worked on my super short nails.

What do you think? I still prefer solid nail polishes, but this was a fun $8 manicure for an otherwise boring weekend.

Sparkle

2011-03-08T23:10:00.000-08:00

Pet Peeves: Sunday Evening Edition

2011-02-20T18:25:00.000-08:00

While I can't deny that they are both talented photographers, Scott Schuman & Garance Dore come across as one superficial, super-pretentious super-couple in this NY Mag article from last week:

The Street Is Their Oyster

Why, you ask? Maybe it's because she refers to him as her weight loss coach and gushes about the Kiehl's special oil face massages he gives her every night. Or maybe it's because Schuman nonchalantly passes comments like "We bought them at Celine in Rome...they look really great" in reference to Dore's pants. We? Not sure why that bothers me so much, but it's not like they're a sofa or end table. I mean does Scott wear them on the weekends? If so, I'll retract my statement, but given the extra inches Garance has on him, I'm doubtful.

via Refinery29...not sure why a woman like this needs a "weight loss coach"

At any rate, my ick factor is a little high after reading this dual profile. Too harsh?

Golden Hour

2011-02-15T21:31:00.000-08:00

Golden hour is really beautiful, but I had no idea how difficult it was to shoot, especially in a place with unobstructed sunlight (which in restrospect, makes sense). Thanks, Ashley, for letting me stalk you with the camera.

Trapped in a Box

2011-02-12T00:21:00.001-08:00

I'm not sure about this. It's a lot more processed than my usual taste.

On Wednesdays We Wear Pink

2011-02-10T14:50:00.000-08:00

I accidentally overtassle-ified myself this morning.

I forgot my purse had that gigantic tassle on it until I was rushing into the elevator and heard it swooshing behind me.

**Also, I never crossed TP off my life list, so you can click here to see it updated...I really need to get more on top of this list...

iPhonography

2011-02-06T00:36:00.000-08:00

New Blog

2011-01-26T21:28:00.000-08:00

I started a new blog to keep track of all the crazy wedding plans going through my head. If you're interested: Sara's Wedding

Timeless

2011-01-24T12:00:00.000-08:00

"Wool plain weave and silk velvet with silk and metallic-thread embroidery, glass beads, and ostrich-feather trim"

I would kill for a jacket like this. From the Fashioning Fashion exhibit at LACMA, circa 1891.

Urban Lights

2011-01-23T01:05:00.001-08:00

I think they're prettier at night

Easy on the Eyes

2011-01-20T21:36:00.000-08:00

Ever feel like shutting your mind off and looking at pretty pictures?

Tonight, I bring you Liz & her Baubles.

In Richard Burton's dressing room before he took the stage as Hamlet

Love her eyebrows

Liz and Richard in Budapest for her 40th birthday

The Taj Mahal diamond Richard gave her for her 40th birthday. It says "Love is Everlasting" in Parsee.

Poolside with Mike Todd, just after being given the ruby and diamond necklace.

Pretty coral and diamonds

My favorite shot of her

These are all scanned from Elizabeth Taylor's My Love Affair With Jewelry, which I bought about 8 years ago, mostly because I knew the photos wouldn't disappoint and it was sitting on the bargain table for about $5. It mostly showcases Liz's jewelry collection, along with some sweet stories behind how/when she acquired them and personal photos of her and then-husbands Michael Todd & Richard Burton.

Prime

2011-01-15T00:30:00.000-08:00

I spent the afternoon in my backyard rediscovering my love for my 50mm lens. Despite the restrictiveness of all prime lenses, you really can't compare anything to their sharpness, focus, and fast shutter speed. The super-affordable 50mm is definitely my favorite lens.

It's Freezing!

2011-01-03T17:45:00.000-08:00

A shot of the snow on the mountains from this freezing (by California standards) weather

Cookie Time

2010-12-28T22:29:00.000-08:00

A childhood favorite I haven't been able to let go. Sort of a nightly ritual in this freezing weather, along with a glass of milk and syndicated TV.

Top of the Pops

2010-12-21T23:44:00.000-08:00

On our most recent sibling email thread (these happen quite often, even though 3 out of 4 of us live within 40 miles of each other), my sister asked for a list of Top 20 songs of all time. The first to go turned it into 25, the last ended it at 49, proving the difficulty of this task. I capped mine at 25 for fear of continuing all the way up to 100, and thought I'd post it on here.

Top 25 Favorite Songs of All Time (in no particular order)

"Freebird" by Lynrd Skynrd
"Soul to Squeeze" by Red Hot Chili Peppers
"Beast of Burden" by the Rolling Stones
"Like a Rolling Stone" by Bob Dylan
"One Headlight" by the Wallflowers
"A Day in the Life" by the Beatles
"Walls" by Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers
"Islands" by the XX
"Gigantic" by the Pixies
"Sleepwalk" by Santo and Johnny
"If You Leave" by OMD
"Beautiful Day" by U2
"Somebody to Love" by Queen
"Tears of a Clown" by Smokey Robinson
"Piece of My Heart" by Janis Joplin
"Home" by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros
"You Shook Me All Night" by ACDC
"More Than Words" by Extreme
"Push It" by Salt-n-Pepa
"Save Tonight" by Eagle Eye Cherry
"Juiciy" by Notorious B.I.G.
"Patience" by Guns 'n Roses
"D'yer Mak'er" by Led Zeppelin
"The Passenger" by Iggy Pop
"I Won't Back Down" by Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers

So there it is. Most of these have some emotional/sentimental attachment to them, so that's what qualified them for the ever elusive list. Some are just what I think are really beautiful and well written songs.

Year in Review

2010-12-19T22:21:00.000-08:00

I was reading the LA Times Calendar Year in Review and felt compelled to make my own. 2010 was an interesting year, so here are some highlights through my favorite photos:

A few trips here and there...

(John Wayne Airport, Santa Ana, CA)

(Pakistan)

(Monterey, CA)

(San Francisco, CA)

Lots of birthdays...

(My nephew at his 2nd birthday, March 2010)

(Albertsons marble cake is a staple at any birthday in our house)

My first trip to the races....

Experiencing Tom Petty live (albeit short...better than nothing, right?)

(Hollywood, CA)

A visit to my childhood home....

(Orchutt/Santa Maria, CA)

The opportunity to shoot some cool places....

(The Getty Villa, Malibu, CA)

(Fiesta de las Flores, Los Angeles, CA)

My first gig...

(Carlsbad, CA)

A few drives up the coast....

(101 Freeway)

And a new start...

(My engagement ring...and chipped nails in OPI "You Don't Know Jacques!")

2010 was pretty great. Wishing everyone a happy holiday season!

Collection

2010-12-19T21:42:00.000-08:00

Here's the newest addition to my camera collection!

It's an Exacta from Germany circa 1938-40. How cool is that?! It even has a pop-up viewfinder that you look down through while holding the camera at waist level. One of my sisters bought it for me as an engagement gift. I've already shot 1 roll of film, but need to get it developed to see if the camera still works (which according to the seller, it should).

My collection of camera memorabilia:

Clockwise from top left: Nikon, Exacta, Polaroid Super Shooter, Canon 50mm, Tamron 18-200mm, Canon 18-55mm, iPhone, Polaroid (Not shown: my main camera, Canon EOS Rebel XSi 450D, and most frequently used lens, Canon 35mm)

All of these work, but I've never used the Polaroid Super Shooter because it's impossible to find the right film. I also have an old non-functioning Argus that I bought off ebay sometime last year, but seem to have misplaced it during Spring cleaning :(

I hope to have a huge shelf full of cameras someday.

*On second look, that picture of all cameras is really dull. Maybe I'll try to shoot them again in a better setting.

Digital Double Exposures

2010-12-13T23:52:00.000-08:00

I don't shoot film very often, but I've always wanted to try double exposures. I just recently read about a photographer who used long exposures and photo slideshows to create digital double exposures. Phillip Maisel, who was inspired by the influx of photos on facebook, decided to shoot his computer screen while scrolling through different friends' photo albums. If you're curious, you can see the project titled "A More Open Place" here. I knew there were photoshop tricks like "layering" that can mimic a film double exposure, but I never thought to actually use a digital camera. Given how easy this sounded, I had to try it. Here are a few random photos I decided to turn into digital double exposures.

I loved the eerie vibe of one of the photos and had to use it more than once, but it was a little trickier than I expected. Maybe it's common sense, but I didn't think to use photos that had similar lighting until I did a few randomly paired pictures and found them severely overexposed. Either way, it was a fun exercise. I love websites like DPS and Photojojo that introduce me to these things.

I've Signed Off Facebook...

2010-12-11T20:46:00.000-08:00

...FOREVER! I was on it for about 5 years, and that was certainly long enough. Here's a funny article that does a great job explaining why:

You Can't Friend Me, I Quit!

The Art of Entertaining

2010-12-11T19:45:00.000-08:00

I never buy housewares. Mostly because I've been living with my parents since I graduated college, but also because I don't spend too much time in the kitchen (unless it's to pop a bag of popcorn or get some cookies...) Well, given recent developments (Ata & I got engaged), my inner 1950s housewife is itching to come out. I was at a random furniture store when I saw this Art of Entertaining line by Grasslands Road. I know it's a little soon, but I loved the vintage style of these pieces and decided to order a few key things for a future kitchen.

Cookie Jar

Nut Bowl

The inside reads "DONT PICK through the NUTS" and the spoon says "SIFT THROUGH GENTLY"

Chalkboard Memo Board

"Things which need REMEMBERING"

Serving Tray (that comes with a display stand)

It reads "don't bite off more than you can chew...IN FOOD & IN CONVERSATION"

Salt & Pepper Shakers

These remind me of Alice in Wonderland

Yes, there's still about 10 months until I'll need them, but collecting a few things here and there will make decorating a lot easier when the time comes around, right?

Yours Truly

2010-12-07T23:09:00.000-08:00

(But not taken by yours truly)

An Oldie but Goodie

2010-12-07T22:29:00.000-08:00

Another Favorite

2010-12-07T22:13:00.000-08:00

Something Good Coming...

Please click, I promise it's worth it!

A Current Favorite

2010-11-23T00:44:00.000-08:00

Photo taken by my sister, of me and Ata, wearing Zara & John Varvatos (in case anyone's wondering).

LA Cloudscapes

2010-11-23T00:38:00.000-08:00

Some shots from a very bright Sunday morning.

My First Gig!

2010-11-22T12:06:00.000-08:00

A friend of my sisters (different friend, different sisters from the last post...love my sisters for hooking me up with little photography projects!) put together a beautiful black and white themed dessert table this past weekend for her mom's birthday party. Maryn has a blog that showcases her amazing cooking skills, so I was so honored when she asked me to photograph the table for her portfolio/new website that she's putting together. This was the first time someone specifically asked me to photograph something for them, so it was super exciting! Here are a few photos from the shoot.

Check out that 9 layer coconut cake that Maryn made! The entire spread is posted here, and for other mouth watering plates, visit her blog Le Cupcakerie! Thanks again Maryn!

Extra! Extra!

2010-11-18T10:19:00.000-08:00

Awhile back, a friend of my sisters started up a law consulting website and asked to use some of my photography for the banners! It's really exciting to see your work up on someone else's site, so thanks Ken, for using my photos. If you're interested (or are in the NY area and need legal consulting), check it out over here.

Flaws, Being Thankful, and Inspiration

2010-11-15T22:33:00.000-08:00

On a trip to NY last year, we walked through a few photography exhibits at the Met. Robert Frank's The Americans still remains fresh in my mind. It's a beautiful series of photos shot all across the country of American society in the 1950s. I also remember seeing a gallery of self portrait photography, and one picture in particular that inspired me. It inspired me so much that I don't even remember the name of the photographer (whoops)....I remember taking a picture of the little blurb about her so I wouldn't forget, but I came home from the trip and could not find the photo anywhere on my memory card. I must have erased it by accident. A heavy search on the Met's website of recent galleries, as well as dozens of crazy google searches came up useless and to this day, I cannot find this anonymous female photographer that I admire and am inspired by. AFP (anonymous female photographer) had a self portrait on display. It was a very close up, very simple black and white shot, showcasing her extremely long and crooked nose and big ears. If I remember correctly, it was framed just to include her neck up to her ears. Nothing more, nothing less (like a reverse eyes without a face). AFP had written that as far back as she could remember, she hated her nose and ears. She was picked on by everyone from peers to family members, and grew up anticipating the day she could get a nose job. In the end, AFP was unable to get the surgery, and eventually came to terms with her "ugly" nose. The purpose of her self portrait was to illuminate her flaws and put them out there for the world to see, something she had probably feared her whole life, and something I can imagine was both terrifying and empowering at the same time. So a little more than a year later, I've been inspired to do the same.

When I was 1 year and 1 day old, I pulled a cup of tea down from our kitchen counter onto myself. The hot water burned nearly half my face, but being so young and under the care of an amazing mother, I was able to recover pretty well. In fact, looking at my face (then and now) you would never know that I spent 8 days in the hospital and had some 2nd degree burns at the time. My neck, however, was left with a few scars. I don't remember much about my scars as a child. I remember undergoing surgery to remove the small keloids that formed on my scars at the age of 6. I remember the scars were still there after the surgery, as well as the keloids. At age 14, I had minor plastic surgery that consisted of cortisone injections to flatten the scars. This actually worked (and was pretty painful) but flat or not, the scars were still there. After a certain point I do remember only buying high neck shirts, or big necklaces to hide them behind, and also going as far as not wearing my hair up for fear of someone noticing them (that last one was a high school phase). Can you believe that? For 4 years of high school, I never wore my hair in a ponytail unless I was wearing a turtleneck. In retrospect, I was just so afraid of being physically different. Well luckily, when I started college, something made me leave that foolish worry behind, though I have no idea what it was. Maybe my inner love for clothes and fashion got so big I couldn't convince myself to go another 4 years wearing boatnecks and scarves. I think mostly it was just leaving behind that high school self consciousness and desire to fit in. I was still self conscious of my scars in college, but it didn't control or consume my mind as much as it did in the past. Even today, I'm a little uneasy about them, and sometimes fear the awkward "oh, what happened to your neck" question, but I no longer feel that having a scar is something to feel weird about. Being insecure about your looks is probably one of those things that never fully goes away. I'm only 24, but can say that in 10 years, I've come a very long way. Imperfections make us unique, flaws are beautiful, and every scar has a cool backstory. Whatever your situation is, it could've been better and it could've been worse, but there's no point in dwelling. I'm nowhere near being a well adjusted and comfortable adult but thank you to AFP for pushing me a little bit further.

And because I love quotes:

"The imperfections of a man, his frailties, his faults, are just as important as his virtues. You can't separate them. They're wedded." - Henry Miller

Disco Ball

2010-11-15T22:01:00.000-08:00

I seem to have disappeared from blogger for awhile. Truth be told, I've been busy and haven't been making time for photography/blogging :(. I feel a little crappy for making my first post in over a month center around a pair of shoes, but that's better than nothing, right? So without further adieu, I introduce you to:

My new babies! Yes, they are bedazzled stilettos. Yes, they sparkle and shimmer when I walk. Yes, they are are outrageously over the top, teetering on the edge of tacky (but not all the way there!). And yes, they are mine mine mine! Normally, I would fawn over them online for weeks and resist the urge to buy, but I do actually have an event coming up for which I needed formal shoes. So I rushed to the nearest Bloomingdales and snatched them up! I love them, so much that I created an entire shoot around them. I had to move them around and try them against different textures in order to capture their true beauty. Enjoy!

Autumn

2010-10-10T16:46:00.000-07:00

Even though it's back to 90 degrees today, I think Autumn is here. I saw the prettiest tree while driving down one of my favorite streets the other day and felt compelled to pull over and take pictures. I love October!

T-2 days...

2010-09-29T11:24:00.000-07:00

...until Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers.

FINALLY! I've been holding on to these tickets since March, with the tour dates being juggled up and down (The original date was May 28th but the release date for Mojo was pushed back, forcing earlier stops on the tour to be rescheduled at the end). It has been excruciatingly hot in Southern California this past week but I'm pretty sure it will be perfect weather on Friday night for a concert at the Hollywood bowl. Hooray!

image via latimes.com

Romance Part II

2010-09-18T11:51:00.000-07:00

Romance

2010-09-17T23:13:00.000-07:00

Just Another Day On The Job

2010-09-07T00:00:00.000-07:00

Hat? check

Windbreaker? check

Sign? check

I wish I hadn't accidentally amputated his feet from the shot :/

Rice-a-roni

2010-09-05T23:23:00.000-07:00

Before coming home from Monterey, we decided to spend an extremely quick weekend in San Francisco. It was freezing cold and we didn't do much other than shop and eat. I did manage to snap a few pictures here and there though.

Shopping in Union Square:

The GIGANTOR Forever 21, which I was very excited about (despite the hour-long line at the fitting rooms) because they had a huge Love 21 section. Bought this dress in magenta (the model's weird pose is hiding how cute this dress actually looks on) and this sweater (hate the large diaper safety pin closure, but it's so soft and comfortable so I just wear it open). The store was 3 floors; I only made it through 1.

Yerba Buena Gardens:

Conveniently located around the corner from our hotel and across the street from St. Patrick's Church (pictured below). It was sunny that afternoon (but still freezing!) so the grass was full of people laying out.

St. Patrick's Church:

Contemporary Jewish Museum of San Francisco:

I didn't actually visit it but enjoyed taking pictures of this fountain out front. There was also a wedding procession leaving St. Patrick's Church next door, so I watched the wedding party while they were taking pictures on a trolley parked out front. It wasn't as creepy as that sounds...

And finally, it got too cold out so I went into a bookstore inside Metreon (right next to Yerba Buena Gardens) and bought this adorable little 8 oz bottle of Coke at a coffee shop.

So that's it, last Saturday in a nutshell. Happy Labor Day!

B&W vs. Color

2010-09-03T00:06:00.001-07:00

Sometimes I spend an absurd amount of time trying to figure out which is better.

I took the same photo in black & white and then color, no post-editing on either. Anyone have a preference?

*From our dinner at Old Fisherman's Grotto (which I keep thinking of as "Ye Old Fisherman's Grotto, argh!" in a pirate voice) at Fisherman's Wharf.

Shooting Animals

2010-09-01T10:00:00.000-07:00

Meet Ginger.

He's a guinea pig best friend is currently pet-sitting.

It's September

2010-09-01T00:08:00.000-07:00

Does that mean summer is over?

Lover's Point

2010-09-01T00:00:00.000-07:00

On Thursday morning, my sisters and I drove out to Lover's Point in Pacific Grove. Our main goal was to get their before sunrise since it's one of the only spots on the west coast where you can see the sun rise over the ocean. I guess Lover's Point (formerly known as "Lover's of Jesus Point") has a unique east-facing location, and the rocks kind of cut out into the ocean, making the sun appear to rise over the water. Well, we made it on time, but unfortunately it was one of the foggiest mornings of the entire week and we weren't able to see anything. We still had some fun climbing the rocks and relaxing to the sound of the morning waves, and I had a chance to experiment with long exposures (something I've wanted to do for awhile). I love the motion and "airy-ness" (yes, I just made up a word) a long exposure can create in a photo. I was really hoping to catch the clouds moving and wonderfully blurred colors from the sun, but the fog made this impossible for an amateur like myself. Instead, I came up with these:

The mist in the photos is actually the waves crashing against the rocks. I almost lost my camera, tripod and self while hiking up and down these rocks but luckily, we all made it out safely. All of these photos, except the last, were 25-35 second exposures, so it was actually very dark while I was taking them. Ah, the magic of photography :)

*My sister was snapping iPhone pics of me with my gear as I tried my best not to plummet to my death

I definitely need to go back to Lover's Point when the weather is more permissible!

Monterey Bay Aquarium

2010-08-31T11:30:00.000-07:00

Fishies, penguins, turtles and lots of jellyfish!

Such a cool place to visit! Jellyfish really freak me out, mostly because of their alien resemblance (i'm deathly afraid of outer space, space travel and aliens), but I was taken aback by how vibrant and photogenic they are in a tank! I wish I had jotted down information about these sea animals, but I was too busy being snap-happy with the camera.

Plastic Man

2010-08-31T00:07:00.001-07:00

Pacific Seahorse

2010-08-30T23:57:00.000-07:00

"These Latin lovers tango by moonlight. In the afterglow of the California sunset, these seahorses twirl and tango beneath the waves. Couples rendezvous each night during the breeding season to dance and renew their bond."

- Monterey Bay Aquarium

I wish I had better pictures of this! More fishy pics from the Aquarium coming soon.

Solvang!

2010-08-30T23:30:00.000-07:00

a.k.a. Little Denmark, just miles from where I was born (Santa Maria, California). We stopped for a quick lunch at the Big Bopper Drive-In on our way up to Monterey last week. Such a sweet little town!

**Not shown are pictures of the Hamlet Hotel (so nerdily awesome) that I did take but can't seem to find.

New York, Revisited

2010-08-18T00:05:00.000-07:00

Just a recycled picture, one of my favorite photos I've taken. My sister's cat, Isobel.

Inspiration

2010-08-05T00:17:00.000-07:00

It seems like everyone is traveling to Europe right now. True, it's summer, the season of travel. But I feel like every blog I browse or facebook page I come across (forgive me for citing a social networking site as source) is scrapbooked with European getaway pictures. It pushed me to look at pictures from my trip to Paris in early 2009. Looking back, that is when I caught camera fever and couldn't resist clicking at every building or monument I passed. I think Paris, in all it's photogenic glory, is responsible for inspiring my interest in photography. Here are my favorite photos from the trip:

The Hall of Mirrors at beautiful Versailles

Underneath the Eiffel Tower (obviously)

View from the 2nd level of the Eiffel Tower

A view from the bottom of Sacre Coeur

Galleries Lafayette

The Louvre

This is before I bought my DSLR. My little Nikon delivered pretty well on this trip (one of the few times).

2-4

2010-08-04T10:31:00.000-07:00

Every August (right around my birthday!) Free People seems to release their best catalog. It's for the upcoming fall, so lots of cute layers, chic jackets, and rugged boots. Instead of a mental wishlist this year, I'm treating myself to a shopping spree. Here's what's on the list:

I like all of these, but I've settled on the Sergeant Street Jacket and the OTK Boot. When OTK boots started popping up everywhere last year, I never bought into the trend. I saw it done well on many people, but could never find the right pair (also within my budget) that suited my style. I love the laces and low heel on these. They remind me a of an edgier version of the old lady that lived in a shoe. Regarding the jackets, I don't really need a flared short waisted blazer (even though I love the collar and shoulders on the red tweed one) so I've decided on the Sergeant Street Jacket. The white looks great, but I know it'll pick up any dust, dirt, stains, etc. in the air so I'm going to buy it in navy.

I'm also still looking for a cute pair of penny loafers, but that will have to wait 'til another time.

Home Sweet Home

2010-08-02T00:10:00.001-07:00

While I hate Long Beach Airport, my favorite part of flying in is deplaning--sans gate-- down those old portable stairs/ramps and breathing in the unbeatable California weather.

*We landed in Long Beach last night but these pictures were actually taken at John Wayne Airport when we flew out on Tuesday

Prima Ballerina

2010-07-27T14:20:00.000-07:00

2010-07-25T23:40:00.000-07:00

"All you've ever wanted was good weather, a strong man, and french fries."

What's New, Cupcake?

2010-07-23T12:29:00.000-07:00

Like I've said many times, I'm a huge fan of semi-homemade baking. Last year, I purchased Hello, Cupcake and have wanted to make every single cupcake in the book since. In reality, I've only tried a few but love the easy and inventive techniques that Karen Tack and Alan Richardson have come up with. A lot of these cupcakes are made with unusual mixes of candies/snacks, and I probably wouldn't eat them, but I think they're so fun to make and jazz up any dessert table. Most of the cupcakes are playful and better suited for children's parties, so last July I made these animal cupcakes to supplement the huge sheet cake at my niece's birthday party:

I was most pleased with the elephants, especially since it was my first time using candy melts (the trunk and ears). But the monkeys turned out kind of creepy...(reminded me too much of the scary-ass flying monkeys in the Wizard of Oz)

I just bought What's New, Cupcake (the second addition to the Tack/Richardson cupcake series) and thought I would try another one out for my niece's birthday this year. There were a lot of options for a 4 year olds birthday but decided on these candy flower cupcakes. For one thing, they are practically all sugar and I don't think my sister would be too thrilled if I showed up on any other day with these. And again, I thought they would add a nice decorative touch to the table.

Pink flowers made with marshmallows, spice drops, nilla wafers and melting candy.

Smaller flowers were made with m&m's and mini oreos (and pretzel stick stems)

Universally Speaking

2010-07-21T16:49:00.001-07:00

There are very few problems in life that music cannot ease the stress of dealing with. I'm sorry to say I forget how much I love music until these moments come along. Today, I'm reconnecting with an old favorite:

Travel Travel Travel

2010-07-19T21:20:00.000-07:00

With thoughts still lingering from last nights post, I did go out and buy Eat Pray Love and have fully immersed myself in it. Pleased to say I'm pleased so far, and still feel the need for a change of scenery. I don't think I've ever wanted to travel so badly. I'm going to Somerset, New Jersey next week for a wedding and I recently told a friend, "You know you're in desperate need of a vacation when you're excited to go to New Jersey." Just the thought of leaving for 5 days (even if it is for America's Armpit) is enough for me to look forward to.

A recycled photo from my trip to Pakistan earlier this year. I lived in these shoes for the 3 weeks I was there.

Big Screen

2010-07-19T00:52:00.000-07:00

I've unintentionally stuck to my new years resolution and have already seen more movies in the first half of this year than I saw altogether in 2009. I haven't been a huge Julia Roberts fan this past decade (much more impressed by her '90s movies like My Best Friends Wedding and Pretty Woman) and I feel a little bit like a sap in saying this, but the trailers for Eat, Pray, Love have really been overwhelming me. Having no previous interest in this book, I just spent some time reading the first 30 pages on google. I don't know if it's some subconscious "quarter century crisis" or this fleeting fantasy of disappearing with no safety net or obligations (I say fleeting because deep down this petrifies me) or the idea of traveling and immersing in different cultures, but I'm hooked and inspired (hopefully that isn't fleeting). "Buy Eat, Pray Love" has just been tacked on to my to-do list for tomorrow. And even though big screen adaptations rarely live up to the original text, I plan on watching it when it comes out.

Other summer flicks I'm interested in:

Inception

The Kids Are Alright

Easy A

Fever

2010-07-18T23:55:00.000-07:00

95% of the time, I edit my photos for the same effects: sharp, bright and vibrant. I don't experiment much, or stray from the norm (maybe I will if I ever invest in photoshop with it's thousands of options), but I felt like antique-ing this photo. Taken at a recent pre-wedding party for my brother-in-law's brother.

Nudes

2010-07-08T12:00:00.000-07:00

Though summertime is usually the best season for bright nails, I'm taking a break from stained fingers and wearing a nude shade. I've always been a fan of nude nail polish, it's less shocking that bright colors, goes with everything, and there's something very smooth and sleek about it. Last week I found the perfect shade:

Sephora by OPI in "Nonfat Soy Half Caff"

In general, OPI makes good nail polish, only trumped by Sally Hansen's Hard as Nails. Because you really can't beat $1.99 quick drying nail polish that is somewhat chip-resistant.

That was a pretty random post, but I just felt compelled to share my great find :)

Long Weekend Part II

2010-07-05T12:00:00.000-07:00

My dad loves to grill. Of all the things in our house, the barbeque (seen below) was probably the best investment. We barbeque about twice a month (sometimes more) so of course the 4th of July is no exception. This weekend, like most families in America, we had a BBQ with close friends.

My dad flipping burgers

Shrimp skewers

In the spirit of trying new things, my sister bought this croquet set. We never did get around to trying it.

I baked a red, white and blueberry cake.

Okay, so that is box cake mix, and the frosting is from a can, but I really suck at baking cakes from scratch. I think taste overrules being able to say "I made it from scratch!" so for now, I'm sticking to Betty Crocker. I saw a couple of variations of the strawberry/blueberry 4th of July cake decorating technique, but you wouldn't believe how fast and easy this was. I made a simple 2 layer white cake, filled and covered with vanilla frosting, and adorned with strawberry halves and blueberries. If ever decorating with strawberries, beware of their drippiness! I had to clean up/re-frost a few small sections before serving, but it certainly added a bit of festivity to the dessert table.

Good food and company aside, I'd have to say the highlight of the night was my 4 year old niece shrieking out of excitement when the fireworks started; we're lucky to have a decent view in our backyard of the fireworks from surrounding cities on the 4th of July. Not as good a view as last year, but oh well :)

Long Weekend

2010-07-04T14:50:00.000-07:00

I'm just about to get ready for a 4th of July family BBQ and thought I'd post a few pictures from the weekend thus far. Saturday morning, we had lunch in Palos Verdes and then explored a little bit. It was such beautiful weather, we hung out on these rocks/cliffs that overlook the ocean/South Bay and then ended up moseying around for the majority of the day.

"Rock climbing" in sandals and a maxi dress was loads of fun. Glad I didn't plummet to my death! Just kidding. I was actually more concerned about dropping my camera.

the seaweed/kelp looked like shards of glass in the sun

This guy was out there fishing for awhile

Wishing everyone a safe and fun 4th of July!

It's a Recession

2010-07-03T21:10:00.000-07:00

A cherry icee, 1 roll of Kodak B&W film and a nice little break from the day...all under $10.

Just a random train track we passed on the way home.

Clunk Clunk

2010-07-01T21:39:00.000-07:00

Did anyone else know that Lucky Brand makes shoes? And not just hippie-moccasin-hemp-shoes!

I almost bought these today. I love love loved the tan leather t-strap as well as the 1970s clunky, wooden platform (I'm a sucker for anything the slightest bit '70s). They looked really cute on and the sole was super soft and comfy. The more I stare at this picture from my phone, the more I'm considering buying them...

Currently Obsessed With...

2010-06-28T18:05:00.000-07:00

...the Sony Alpha Nex 3.

I've been looking for a good compact camera for awhile now. Since buying my DSLR, I've used my old point and shoot maybe once or twice. For one thing, the photo quality isn't too great (especially after seeing the shots from my canon). I've also misplaced the battery charger, so it's been dead for about 7 months. I love my DSLR and would recommend it to anyone looking for a good starter camera, but obviously I can't carry it around with me at all times and because of that, I don't have any pictures of my friends from the past year (unless they've accompanied me on one of my photo excursions) -- all the photo files on my computer are of my niece, nephews, and random inanimate objects.

My DSLR is a canon. A Canon Rebel XSi 450D to be exact:

I love this camera and don't think I would ever stray from the Canon brand for big purchases. I've heard the setup on a Nikon is a little more confusing (especially after using a Canon), but aside from that I just love the style and body of my Canon.

As far as point and shoots go, I trust the Sony brand. My very first p & s was a Sony, purchased back in 2004. It took excellent pictures and lasted about 6 years until it went a little awry, but even still when it works, it takes decent pictures.

I purchased the Nikon Coolpix most recently in 2008 and wasn't very satisfied.

The camera takes decent outdoor pictures, especially once you play around with the settings, but the indoor and night photos are terrible quality...very grainy, and the flash is so strong it picks up pieces of dust in the air, creating specks in the photos. The one plus of this camera: it's compact and thin design.

The Sony alpha nex series debuted earlier in May and is basically a compact point and shoot with DSLR quality and manual capability. There are also a variety of lenses available for the alpha nex (shown below), so it has that DSLR quality to it too.

Basic features include 14.2 megapixels, a tiltable LCD screen, and video recording capability. I think the main difference between the alpha nex 3 and 5 is the specifics regarding video recording capability. I didn't entirely understand the technical terms about this but the alpha nex 3 is $100 cheaper than the 5. I also wouldn't need the interchangeable lenses (I have my canon for that) so I'm seriously considering purchasing the sony alpha nex 3 that comes with an included 16mm lens. Any thoughts or suggestions?

This has been stuck in my head for the past few weeks

2010-06-28T10:46:00.000-07:00

All Aboard!

2010-06-28T01:32:00.000-07:00

Union Station is really beautiful.

I saw it for the first time last week.

Fiesta de las Flores

2010-06-25T01:06:00.000-07:00

I spent last Saturday morning at the Fiesta de las Flores in LA (on Olvera Street to be exact). I read about the fiesta on a photography website a few months ago as a great place for amateur and professional photographers to go shoot, so I was really excited when Saturday finally came around. I was a little put off by the fact that there were no flowers in sight, but there was still an overwhelming amount of scenes to photograph. A lot of dancers, musical groups, and street vendors. My anticipation for street photography was satisfied, which is apparent in the slide show I put together below (too many photos to post individually). For some reason, blogger never uploads my videos so I had to embed it through youtube.

________________________________________________________________

I just watched the video with the sound on and noticed there is background music. Weird, I didn't sync any music to the slideshow when I created it. This was the first time I've used iphoto to make a slideshow...I guess it automatically adds music?

Hey, Dolls

2010-06-16T18:03:00.000-07:00

Color

2010-06-07T13:47:00.000-07:00

B & W

2010-06-05T19:51:00.000-07:00

I have a penchant for leading lines, geometric shapes, and heavily-saturated-high-contrast black & white photos.

Clips

2010-05-25T23:50:00.000-07:00

The past few weeks...

...too much time at home, and a lot of time with my niece and nephew*

*now, nephews :)

Lights

2010-05-14T13:02:00.000-07:00

I rarely go to shows. Despite how good or bad the music may be, the one thing that always keeps my interest is the potential for cool shots. I'm amazed and awe-inspired by the combination of silhouettes and stage lighting at intimate venues. These pictures are from last night at the Troubadour. Most of the photos were somewhat similar and I didn't have the patience to sift through them, hence the massive upload.

Band: The Besnard Lakes

Venue: the Troubadour in West Hollywood

**a little bit of color-suck, so I posted a few of my favorites on flickr

Take Me Out To The Ball Game

2010-05-12T00:38:00.000-07:00

I went to my first baseball game yesterday. The game itself was pretty boring (not much into MLB) but I kind of fell in love with the atmosphere of a baseball stadium. I kept thinking of movies like "A League Of Their Own" and "The Sandlot" (2 of my favorites growing up...and still to this day I guess) and all that nostalgic Americana stuff I'm always rambling about that instantly makes me feel great.

Another photog in our box

The 7th inning stretch

There's a lot going on in the crowd at a baseball game, definitely a good place to people watch.

And if anyone cares, the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Angels 7-2.

The Wallflower

2010-05-05T23:49:00.001-07:00

Ever the oldies fan, I've spent the past couple of days listening to a lot of Etta James and decided that that is my ideal music. Everything she does is perfect-- covers and all! I hate ranking things because I feel like I end up doubting my choices, overanalyzing, or changing my mind. And once I change my mind, I usually feel lame for making such bold statements and claiming a favorite to begin with. With that in mind, I still feel pretty comfortable saying Etta James has the best vocals I have ever heard.

I'm not really sure if this was blogworthy but oh well. And I haven't taken any new pictures so here are a few of Etta that I like.

Now push play and enjoy the music :)

People Watching

2010-05-02T10:45:00.000-07:00

Spiderwebs

2010-04-28T22:12:00.000-07:00

A little bored so I've been playing around with this. Reminds me of that bubble wrap site that popped up a few years ago.

Soulful Strut

2010-04-26T18:20:00.000-07:00

I'm always excited when I'm introduced to little pockets of life and culture anywhere between the 60 and 15 freeways. I briefly blogged some photos of Euclid Street last summer and I often pass through the area while out doing "fieldwork" for my job. I was most recently there yesterday and decided to take a detour through Historic Downtown Upland. For anyone whose lived in or even heard of the Inland Empire, you know there really isn't much going on here (unless you're into mega-shopping centers and miles of tract houses). I may be biased, but Chino Hills is on the upper echelon of IE towns (if there is such a thing). It's closer to the beach and LA than the others, there are less bros and lifted trucks, sliiiightly more diversity, but it still isn't much more than a nice suburb. Downtown Upland was very 1950s Americana to me, and not just because I got a scoop of ice cream at a place called "Pop's Cafe & Creamery". The buildings were very old but well maintained, some stores were decorated with cheesy, patriotic American flags, the sidewalks were canopied by old trees, cute bikes littered every street sign...it's one of those places where you walk around and feel like saying "hello" to any and every person you make eye contact with. OH! And there is an old red brick firehouse they are in the middle of restoring. I tried to snap a picture but the construction fences were blocking my view. Also not pictured: a store called "Garden of Beaden" that I can't wait to visit next time. I doubt you'd ever be in the area, but if you do find yourself just north of the 10 on Euclid Street, follow the signs to Historic Downtown Upland.

George Chaffey Jr. stands outside the Upland Public Library and City Hall

I think this is where the school board meets? Not entirely sure...

Old school law office..I feel like the constitution is probably framed somewhere inside.

Neighborhood restaurant, literally. This place is surrounded by houses and is also across the street from the public library. I met a very nice waiter while attempting to take pictures.

I'm noticing a trend here and here and here, so I'm thinking of adding a "Hidden Gems of the IE" feature to the blog. Haha, what do you think?

2010-04-22T22:06:00.001-07:00

Happy 1st Birthday Bloggie! A year ago today, I started this blog and I'm glad I've stuck with it so far. Thanks to all those who read!

The first photo I ever posted, followed by the most recent:

Kinda weak post...I'll try to jazz it up next week with something interesting.

xoxo from the other side of the camera!

Pepto Bismol Pink

2010-04-16T17:30:00.000-07:00

Long Beach Harbor; Creepy Ice Cream Girl located on the pier

Mitsymoto

2010-04-11T21:04:00.000-07:00

RAW: Natural Born Artists is a showcase that displays different musicians, designers, artists, directors, etc. every Thursday night in Southern California. This past week, my friend Lauren's jewelry line Mitsymoto Designs was shown at the Hotel Angeleno in Los Angeles. Lauren has been creatively driven for as long as I can remember, so it's no surprise how professional and neat her line was. With that said, I was still really impressed by the variety and uniqueness of her work. Here are some pictures from the event, but if you'd like to know more, check out the website for Mitsymoto.

I loved this rocking chair necklace

My friend Ashley modeling the iPod knuckle ring...

...and also a cuff

The artiste herself, Lauren Matsumoto

Through the Looking Glass

2010-04-07T15:21:00.000-07:00

I spontaneously ordered a new lens last week. I wasn't prepared to spend hundreds of dollars so I opted for a generic brand. A few negatives from buying a generic brand: the auto-focus is a smidge noisier than that of my other canon lenses, it's heavier despite being advertised as light-weight (but it has a crazy zoom so that might account for the extra weight), and there isn't any image-stabilization which makes it a little difficult when fully zoomed out, but as a beginner not willing to invest megabucks into a new lens, so far so good. Lately, I've been shooting everything with my 50mm lens because the colors are much more vibrant and clear than the kit lens. Since it's a prime lens, that presents some obstacles but for the most part, I'm pretty satisfied with it. I was getting a little tired of it though, so I wanted a better day-to-day lens. The lens I ordered turned out to be a macro lens (I'm not sure how I missed that when I was buying it...). I'm not really interested in macro photography or super detailed close up shots, not right now anyway, but after playing around with the lens today, I think I'm going to keep it. It still works great for normal framed shots. I did some shooting around the house and I'm pretty pleased with the color and clarity. Maybe you don't need a macro lens for everyday shooting but the quality is pretty impressive, and I can't deny the great price tag on this lens...I think I'll keep it!

Top of the World

2010-04-04T17:08:00.000-07:00

Pacific Ocean on one side, view of Irvine on the other.

Irvine in the foreground, Mt. Baldy in the distance

You can't really tell where the ocean ends and the sky begins

I went to the Top of the World (it's actually called that...creative name, right?) with a friend early Saturday morning in hopes of catching the sunrise. I had no idea you could see as far as Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga and Mt. Baldy from Laguna. Needless to say, we woke up a little late and caught a nice sunrise on the 91 Freeway instead as we trekked to the beach. It was still a great place for an early morning hike (beware of mountain lions, rattle snakes and dogs that have escaped their owners). If you aren't an early bird, head up there in the evening for one of the best views of the sun setting over the ocean.

Where the Sidewalk Ends

2010-03-30T21:06:00.000-07:00

There is a place where the sidewalk ends

And before the street begins,

And there the grass grows soft and white,

And there the sun burns crimson bright,

And there the moon-bird rests from his flight

To cool in the peppermint wind.

Let us leave this place where the smoke blows black

And the dark street winds and bends.

Past the pits where the asphalt flowers grow

We shall walk with a walk that is measured and slow,

And watch where the chalk-white arrows go

To the place where the sidewalk ends.

Yes we'll walk with a walk that is measured and slow,

And we'll go where the chalk-white arrows go,

For the children, they mark, and the children, they know

The place where the sidewalk ends.

(From Shel Silverstein's Where The Sidewalk Ends)

random polaroid from last spring

Happy Birthday

2010-03-28T23:10:00.000-07:00

Photographing Photographers...and other strangers

2010-03-28T10:29:00.000-07:00

I like photographing strangers, especially catching them in candid moments:

The lead singer's little brother

Manager, I assume

Moon Duo

Gamble House

We went here for some live music on Saturday evening. I don't know much about either band other than I enjoyed photographing them, but you can find more on them here and here.

Downtown

2010-03-28T09:53:00.000-07:00

1 Scene, 3 ways

Too much noise in the photos, so I'm not sure I like any of them...except perhaps the black & white shot (cityscapes always look better in b&w to me).

Taken from the roof of the car while overlooking the 101.

Seafoam

2010-03-24T21:41:00.001-07:00

#20

2010-03-24T00:17:00.001-07:00

Remember last summer when my hardcore obsession with Tom Petty took off? I'm glad to say that phase hasn't passed (and hope it never does). Remember this list that I sometimes blog about? Well...

I was really getting worried that he wouldn't be touring again in my lifetime, but in 58 days, I will see Tom Petty (and the Heartbreakers of course) perform live!

Film

2010-03-23T15:36:00.000-07:00

That necklace was my sisters in high school. I'm not sure if she made it, but it somehow wound up in my room recently.

I'm starting to shoot film, or trying to anyway. I'm using an old Nikon n60, and it's pretty similar to using a digital, with one obvious difference. Every time I click the shutter, I instinctively pull the camera away from my eye and look at back door expecting to see the image :)

A random street in Chino Hills.