Thrive Photography

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

Father's Day 2009 + Ethan Charles Litwin

2009-06-21T14:44:00.000-07:00

Father's Day this year has been one of the most memorable in recent years for our family. One Wednesday, June 17th, my sister Laurie gave birth to a 6lb/4oz little man. He is the first little bundle of joy to grace the presence of my immediate family so you can imagine the amount of happiness that comes with it. My mom and I have spent nearly the entire week with Laurie and her husband Adam as they have begun to adjust to this little life in their home. What a couple of amazing days it has been! My dad was able to make it down yesterday and we have not been able to wipe the smile off of his face since. We are all looking so forward to seeing this little man grown up before our eyes, and could not be any happier for Adam and Laurie and their now family of three.

here's the little man about an hour after he was born...all kinds of awesome

first bonding with mama...tear, tear

yaaaaaaawn!

um, yeah, he's the man!

cute little nose...

yep, daddy is smitten

mom turned into grandma in a day...yep, she loves him too!

no father's day is complete without a guest appearance by the new grandpa

Kevin + Christen : Engaged

2009-06-21T00:35:00.001-07:00

More to come asap!

Erica + Josiah : Married . Just One

2009-06-08T15:27:00.000-07:00

So much to say and show about this wedding, but for now just one of literally one of the most gorgeous brides I have seen, Mrs. Erica Reid.

New England Adventure + May 2009

2009-05-29T11:13:00.000-07:00

Last week I set out with great friend for the east coast. Our plan was to see as much of the New England states as we could in about 4 full days, and that we did. We landed in Boston at 7am last Thursday morning and hit the ground running. First stop was the beautiful Cape Cod.

Next stop, was the middle of nowhere in NY. It was full of all kinds of awesome. We went white water rafting along the Hudson River. It was the one of the best parts of our trip...one of the best ways to experience nature for sure! I didn't get a ton of pictures here for obvious reasons, but here is the stellar school bus that we rode on to get to the start of our adventure on the river.

Next stop was Mendon, VT, where we stayed on a apple orchard for the night. This place was amazing!

For those of you who don't know her, meet Reena. Along with being one of the absolute travel friends you could ever ask for, she is just downright one of the most incredible human beings on the planet. She is kind, wise, loyal, honest and amongst many other things loves to laugh out loud quite often! Anyway, snapped a few of her in the orchard.

We took off from there and headed for New Hampshire, driving through the White Mountains. We stopped off for a hike, which proved to be nothing short of breathtaking.

To finish up our trip, we headed back for Boston. We took a bit of the long way and drove through the southern part of Maine on the way.

I loved the fisherman on his boat at sea.

Boston, MA. This city is quickly becoming on of my favorite that this country has to offer.

Josiah + Erica : Engaged

2009-05-15T13:03:00.001-07:00

Three weeks from today, Josiah and Erica will be wed! A few weeks a ago we headed over to USD for a little engagement session. Josiah is studying law there, so the location was special to them! These two are easy on the eyes to say the least and a lot of fun to work with. I have very much enjoyed their friendship and absolutely cannot wait for their wedding. It is going to be one beautiful occasion and I know they will shine in front of the camera! Congratulations you two. You guys are amazing!

Cianna Nichole Dean + Born 5.11.09

2009-05-12T14:57:00.000-07:00

I met Eric and Adj in college at Cal Poly. No need to mention how many years ago that was! I actually spent an entire year sharing the same room with Adj in a house with 6 roommates. Our room was predominantly purple (not my choice) with several N Sync posters (ok, so that might have been my choice!). Needless to say it was a great year. We all became very close friends and to this day remain that way.

Eric and Adj have been married for a couple years now and I was so excited to hear a while back that they were expecting their first child! Yesterday, Cianna Nichole Dean was born at 5:49pm, 6lbs/13oz/17.5 inches. I was able to get to the hospital to meet this beautiful baby girl, and that she was. Adj is doing great, I had so much fun spending some time with the three of them today. For those of you who know Eric, he is the proud papa that you could imagine he would be.

Seeing these little humans reminds you of the miracle that happens when a child is born, and how precious and special their souls are. I know that Eric and Adj will provide an amazing and loving home for Cianna to grow up in. As an honorary aunt, I will certainly love to spoil her when I can!

So, without further ado, here are some photos of the gorgeous Cianna. Congrats Eric & Adj. She is a beauty!

She has got a head of dark dark hair going on. In my book, that makes her awesome!

She decided to open her eyes (and her mouth) for the camera!

She loves her mommy!

Her precious little feet.

Her first head shots. Never too early to start a portfolio!

Proud Papa!

Good Night!

Maddux

2009-05-11T12:37:00.000-07:00

He's got a rough life.

Laurie + Ethan

2009-05-05T13:13:00.000-07:00

I couldn't be more excited to be blogging about this! Laurie is my big sis and she is due to have Ethan somewhere around the middle of June. Ethan will be the first grandchild in the family and will be my first opportunity to experience being an aunt!! Words cannot describe how excited I am to meet him and to see my sister and her amazing husband Adam become parents. Adam, Laurie and Ethan...we love you more than you know!

John + Julie : Married

2009-04-25T12:13:00.001-07:00

John and Julie are amazing. There is really no other way to describe them. I am proud to call them friends and was honored to experience their wedding. It was one of the most laid back and peaceful weddings I have ever been a part of. A true reflection of their personalities. The day was perfect from start to finish. The weather was beautiful, the ceremony was perfect, and the attitude of the day made me smile! I truly cannot wait to see what unfolds in the lives of these two. They have a life full of blessing ahead of them and I cannot wait to see what the future holds. Congrats John and Julie. We love you!

This set pretty much shows the attitude of the day!

Julie Fay + One Beautiful Bride

2009-04-20T20:39:00.000-07:00

Just a little pic from this weekend! Julie was quite the beauty on her wedding day!

Giada Michela Coldani + Born 1.22.09

2009-04-10T14:01:00.000-07:00

Giada Michela was born earlier this year to two very special people to me, Mike and Julie Coldani. Julie and I met our very first day of college at Cal Poly. She came walking by my room, must have seen the name "Julie" posted on my door, then proceeded to come in my room and stick out her hand to introduce herself proclaiming "hey we have the same name". Her story is that I wasn't overly excited by her warm introduction, but I don't remember it that way :). Anyway, needless to say, I'm glad she did it because we have been friends ever since.

It has been fun to go through college, see each other graduate, get our first jobs, and get married. Julie is the first of our close college friends to have a child and it has been fun to see! I have to say that I was so excited to meet Giada, and when I was able to this past weekend, as an "auntie", I fell instantly in love. Giada is so precious and Julie is a natural amazing mom just as I thought she would be! Giada seemed to have a great weekend hanging with the girls and cruising all over LA. She hung in there pretty darn good and was a joy to be around!

I love her and hope you enjoy some shots I got of her throughout the weekend.

Bill + Kelly : Engaged

2009-04-01T16:40:00.000-07:00

I had so much fun with Bill and Kelly a couple weeks ago running around Carlsbad and hitting up the beach for their shoot. They are full of life, tons of laughs, and so much fun to be around. I loved our time together and can't wait until their wedding in August!

Oh yeah, and for those of you who might have thought you were in the wrong place, well you're not! Thrive Photography is going through a much needed face lift! This has been in the works for a while I'm loving the change. Stay tuned however, because this is certainly not the end.

Enjoy!

Tara

2009-03-19T13:27:00.000-07:00

I could probably write an entire book on how amazing and beautiful of a person Tara is, both inside and out, but perhaps I'll save that for another time. Tara truly has one of the kindest hearts of anybody I know and I am blessed to have her in my life. We went out earlier this week for a little portrait session that she will be using for some upcoming exciting adventures she is embarking on. We had so much fun, and hey, lets admit, the fact that she is absolutely gorgeous makes my job fun and perhaps just a bit easier! Enjoy, and thanks Tara for the fun times!

SD Views

2009-03-12T12:24:00.000-07:00

I hope I never take for granted all of the amazingly breath taking views that we experience daily in San Diego. This particular view I get to see almost ever day on my drive home. Its different all the time, and that in itself never seizes to amaze me. It is a view of the ocean, which on this particular night was coated with a marine layer as the sun was going down. I often stop to admire and this time I had my camera.

Something Different

2009-03-11T11:57:00.001-07:00

We have had some "weather" in San Diego over the past couple weeks, and certainly some great clouds in the sky...I just came across a couple of random shots that I have taken while I have been out and about.

Chris

2009-03-07T22:59:00.000-08:00

Liberty

2009-01-30T13:33:00.000-08:00

Hello World...meet Liberty. Liberty was rescued by Jen, who happens to be one of my very best friends! They named her Liberty because she was introduced to her new home on the historical inauguration of Barack Obama. We headed down to the beach for a very impromptu photo session of this amazingly cute puppy. She is a pit bull/lab mix, so it will be fun to see her grow up. For now though, we wanted to get some photos to remember her as a pup after she is all grown up. Enjoy...she is a lovable one!

Proud Mama!

Proud Mama and cute old man in the background...

Pier

2009-01-30T12:56:00.000-08:00

John & Julie : The Rest of the Story

2009-01-13T11:24:00.000-08:00

Three facts about John and Julie:

1. They are incredible people with huge hearts.
2. I am incredibly thankful to have them in my life.
3. They are getting married in April and have an amazing future ahead of them!

John & Julie : Engaged : First Look

2009-01-12T23:53:00.001-08:00

Chrissie Bash @ CCC San Diego

2009-01-06T18:09:00.000-08:00

Ok, so I DO know that the holidays are all but a distant memory by now (slight exaggeration), but I wanted to get these pics up of the Chrissie Bash that we put on at our church. It was a fun night, and as always the amazingly talented people that go to CCC San Diego put together an amazing production...all with a few fun and creative twists! Here are a quick sample of photos from the night. I already can't wait until next year!

Dan & Ashley :: Married

2008-12-08T11:25:00.000-08:00

A couple weeks ago Chad and I had the pleasure of visiting his hometown, Valparaiso, IN to shoot Dan & Ashley's wedding. Dan and Ashely are amazing, the wedding was huge success and I am excited to share some images with you. They met while going to school at Valpo, so it was fitting that they were married on campus at the Chapel. They day was amazing and I wish Dan and Ashley the very best!

The beautiful Ashely getting ready.

Had to throw these in...long live the edible arrangement! Big hit as you can tell!

Dad getting some last minute help.

It's showtime!

Our Most Amazing Pastors

2008-11-25T17:00:00.001-08:00

This past week I was honored to spend some time with the most amazing pastors on the planet from our church. They are an amazing family with brand new addition, baby Zoe, to their family as of a couple months ago. I believe one of these photos may land on the Christmas card that some of you may receive from the church, so keep your eyes peeled for that.

We had just a short time together, but I thought these photos show the fun loving spirit that they carry with them!

It was foggy out tonight...

2008-11-19T23:39:00.000-08:00

Guitar Hero?

2008-11-16T22:11:00.000-08:00

Ok maybe not...but he has perfected the air guitar like nobody's business! Chad was busting out some mad fake tunes prior to the wedding madness on Saturday that do believe you all need to see. It was funnnnn!

Reward

2008-11-14T15:46:00.000-08:00

I will admit that it is not very often that I am up to see the sunrise. Chad and I had to be at the airport extremely early the other morning which is not necessarily my favorite time of day! That being said, once we were up it wasn't so bad, and this was a bit of a reward for the early rise. It was a beauty.

Nestor & Kara Engaged!

2008-11-10T21:30:00.000-08:00

A couple weekends ago I had a ton of fun running around North Park with Nestor and Kara. Much to the credit of Nestor, he was still alive, kickin' and fun after a long shift in the ER! They were so much fun and full of personality and it was all in all a fantastic afternoon spent. They will be getting married in April in Indiana, so wish them the best. Enjoy!

Boston, MA

2008-11-03T18:38:00.000-08:00

City Lights

2008-11-02T17:41:00.000-08:00

The past couple days have been spent with my mom and my sister in the lovely New England area. Tonight we are staying in Boston and my sister picked out a hotel with a killer view of the river and the Boston skyline. I love cities and the architecture that comes along with them. Here are a couple shots I grabbed from just off our balcony at the hotel.

The Vesseys : The Rest of the Story

2008-10-13T19:24:00.000-07:00

So since the Vesseys are so darn cute, I had to share the rest of our time with them at Balboa Park. Thank you guys to being so amazing!

Vessey Family : Sneak Peak

2008-10-12T20:45:00.001-07:00

Today we had a blast running around Balboa Park with the Vessey Family. They are an incredible family and so much fun. That is a combination that makes my job easy :). I'm just working on going through the session, but saw this pic and had to share. More to come!

A Girl's Best Friend?

2008-09-24T00:54:00.001-07:00

I have often heard that a diamond is a girl's best friend. While I like diamonds, I would argue that shoes may beat out the diamond. I love shoes. You can have on a relatively boring outfit and throw on some funky shoes and be completely transformed. Shoes have been known to put a smile on my face and to even inspire me. Silly? Maybe. But I do love them.

From a very young age, my parents would joke that I would grow up and own some sort of specialty shoe store. Hasn't happened yet, but as of now, my life is not yet over.

Nonetheless, I just bought a pair of yellow high heels. I love them. They are fun and I feel fun wearing them. Here is a piece of them. Enjoy and happy shoe shopping!

forward I THINKING I back

2008-09-16T12:13:00.000-07:00

Lately I have been doing a lot of forward thinking. Setting some well thought out, attainable goals. Taking as clear of a look into the future as I can. Dreaming a bit, if you want to call it that. I like to dream. I think its good for the soul.

Inevitably, however, whenever I find myself dreaming of the future, I always find myself looking back. Thinking about just how I got to where I am today. I have been looking through some of my images from the past, and came across these again. Willie Nelson. Willie Nelson! He's a legend to many. At least those who enjoy the rich history of country music. Even to those who don't, its Willie Nelson.

While I was working in minor league baseball in Nashville, TN, we got word that Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan would be doing a tour stop at our home field, Greer Stadium. At the time I wore many hats for team I was working for, one of which was the role of "staff photographer". I spent many of my nights running around taking photos of anything that was going on at the ballpark. Mostly to document for our sponsors that their money invested in our team was actually being put to good use. But every so often I was able to do something that was really fun...to take advantage of the perks of the job.

This was one of those times. I got the opportunity to be in press row for the first three songs of Willie Nelson's set. I can look back and chuckle quite a bit now. I was one of the only girls in the row, which actually worked out to my advantage (I got quite a few more glances than the men in the row). Here's the kicker though. I snapped all of these shots with a video camera...yep, a video camera! Why you may ask. Well at the time, logic told me that it had the strongest zoom, so that was the obvious choice. Needless to say, everybody else had their big fancy cameras, zooms, and flashes, so next to them I'm sure I looked pretty ridiculous. I can admit, it must have looked silly!

To me at the time, that didn't matter though. It was all about the experience. The rush of being in front of the entire crowd...a position that thousands would have killed to be in. I had the time of my life. And in the end, I had picture of Willie Nelson in concert that were taken by me. A proud and exciting moment.

Why all of this you may ask? Because, I think it is healthy to remember the exact time when photography became the thing that I wanted to do for a living. I mean, I had always enjoyed having a camera in hand. Loved it in fact. But I had never had a burning desire to eventually do this for a living until that night. Every time I think about those three songs I get excited again.

So, what does the future hold? I can only dream and continue to work hard. The rest I believe is not entirely up to me. Do I have a long way to go? The short answer...yes I do! That is the most exciting part. I can't wait to learn, grow, and embrace the times ahead.

House Red

2008-09-11T09:58:00.001-07:00

A while back I got the opportunity to do a photo booth shoot with our awesome worship band, House Red. House Red is lead by Ps. Andy and Rachel Bennett who have an amazing anointing in the area of worship. The entire band works tirelessly to bring an incredible worship experience to church every Sunday. You can view the entire set here. You can also download two free tracks (highly recommended) here.

Thank you to all involved in House Red for your dedication to bring amazing worship to CCC!

Lauren & Brian :: August 3rd, 2008

2008-08-23T15:36:00.000-07:00

Lauren and Brian are the REAL reason that we paid visit to Savannah, GA earlier this month. When I got the phone call around Christmas of last year that they were officially going to be getting married, I can honestly say I couldn't have been any happier to hear about their plans.

There aren't enough kind and amazing words to describe this couple. I met Lauren while living in Nashville. Her friendship has truly been a blessing from God. She has so many amazing qualities and I will just list a few. She is loyal, hard working, funny, devoted, honest, positive, real and inspiring. She has been such a wonderful friend and without a doubt will make Brian very happy as his wife.

I had the opportunity to get to know Brian and to see their relationship grow before I moved on to Dallas and now to San Diego. Brian is nothing short of perfect for Lauren. The more that I get to know them and see them together, the more I know they were absolutely meant to spend the rest of their lives together.

Lauren and Brian, from the bottom of my heart, congratulations on your marriage. I wish you all the best that life has to offer and can't wait to hear about the moments that are held for you in the future. I love you both and may your lives together be blessed!

Here are a few photos from the rehearsal and of Lauren's hair and make-up. Enjoy!

Savannah (Cont.)

2008-08-11T22:03:00.000-07:00

Here are a few more from our trip. I have been super busy since being back, but wanted to post some more. These are mainly from our day trip to Tybee Island. We visited the lighthouse, then spent the rest of the day exploring by getting "lost". All in all, it was cool to see the architecture there and get the sense for a much slower lifestyle that they lead there.

Sneak Peek from Savannah

2008-08-05T23:59:00.001-07:00

We have made it back from the south! I have had a little time to start going through some of the photos from the trip and this one caught my eye. Chad and I took one day to visit Tybee Island. We spent most of our time away from the touristy sites (my favorite!) and did a little exploring by way of getting lost. I hope to get more up soon, but for now, here is a little taste of what we saw.

Extra Extra

2008-07-31T08:02:00.000-07:00

We've made it to Savannah. I love so many things about the south!

Just ran across this...

2008-07-28T01:05:00.000-07:00

and had to share. Happened to get Chad in apparent deep thought...or possibly just pondering his wonderful wife :)!

Mya & Koy

2008-07-25T13:06:00.000-07:00

I made the trek up home to Klamath Falls, OR about a month ago. While I was at home, I was able to spend some good time with my friend Booie, her husband Jeff, and their two beautiful kids Koy & Mya. I spent part of one day chasing them around with my camera.

It is so amazing to see a friend with such fantastic children, and to be able to observe the differences in them. As you will be able to tell by the photos, Mya is very outgoing, always on the run, and a woman of many, many faces. Koy on the other hands enjoys to sit back and observe a bit before acting, and always seems like he is analyzing the meaning of life. He takes the time to crack many smiles himself and is just a joy to be around.

Booie has been such an amazing life long friend and it was truly a joy to be able to spend some time with them.

Maddux

2008-07-14T21:23:00.000-07:00

World, meet Maddux. Maddux actually belongs to us. He is a min pin and is right around 7 months old. We picked him up yesterday and have been getting him acquainted to his new world. So far he has been a joy and we are happy to have him in our home!

I realized after my last post that I confused a couple of people. My last post featured Boss who actually belongs to our friend, Jon...sorry for any confusion!

Anyway, we took Maddux out for a walk today and stopped for some very quick photos. He wasn't too sure what to think of the camera, stay tuned for later when he will flat out be workin' it for the camera!

Meet The Boss

2008-07-11T00:35:00.000-07:00

Everybody, meet Boss. He is far cooler and more sophisticated than most dogs. Just ask him. I happened to catch him at a time when he was completely worn out from a day's work of dog stuff, and ready to embark on nap time. All he needed was a bit of shade and he was ready to do his time with the lids closed.

Next time around we'll try the crazy acrobatic action shots. This time we will settle for eyes open one second, eyes closed the next. He's tricky like that. Just ask him.

HI from Chad

2008-07-06T16:56:00.000-07:00

HI everybody! That's it.

Arbuckle (cont.)

2008-07-01T22:13:00.000-07:00

I love being out of my element. I find I learn the most about myself and others when I am. I realize that everyone has a story to tell and that everything has a story behind it. I am especially intrigued by things that have been around for a long time. I often find myself wondering what has gone and who has passed through old buildings, houses, churches, towns. I also find myself wondering what story the people that I pass daily have to tell.

I know one thing...I wish I would take more time to find out.

As I was driving from Sacramento to Oregon last Thursday I decided to pull off and explore a small town off I-5. When I saw the sign for Arbuckle I pulled off and began to look around. I didn't see a whole lot of people, but I did see a ton of things, and old and worn things at that.

I did meet one man along the way, a barber named Carlos. Here he is.

Carlos was awesome to say the least. Here is his shop.

And a few other frames from the day.

And the grand finale...I have mixed emotions about this one.

Coming to you from Arbuckle

2008-06-27T12:37:00.000-07:00

This weekend I am spending at home in Klamath Falls, OR. The main objective of this trip is to kick some tail in a golf tournament that I am playing with my mom in. The second objective of this trip was determined after I got in the car from the the Sacramento airport to make the four hour journey home. I wanted to not be in a hurry, make a few stops and grab some photos along the way. I haven't gotten the chance to go through them all, but here is one that caught my eye right off the bat.

There was some very interesting lighting going on yesterday as a good majority of Northern California as on fire. It was fun to play around with and made for some interesting skies. Anyway, here is one quick shot from yesterday.

Middle of Nowhere

2008-06-26T07:18:00.000-07:00

I find myself pretty much daily in spots just like this...spots that can easily be classified as the middle of nowhere. Its amazing though how beautiful nature can be and how much can be learned by just taking the time to look around at your surroundings. It reminds me just how intricate our world is, and reminds me how thankful I am for all the beautiful spots in the middle of nowhere.

Little Italy

2008-06-14T17:20:00.000-07:00

I spent some time in Little Italy a while back, which happens to be one of my favorite areas of this city. Interesting surroundings and even more interesting people seem to flock here. I love it! Anyway, I spent some time hanging around this gelateria and started to get to know a lot about these folks. There was some crazy conversation going on! Here are a few frames from that day.

Flowers Are So Cliche

2008-06-12T23:43:00.000-07:00

So though I understand it is a bit cliche to take a picture of a "pretty flower", let me first explain my reasoning behind this little side project. I was in Ramona (and for those of you who know where Ramona is, that should be enough said) for a real estate shoot, and had about an hour to kill. I often find myself in some interesting spots in my travels, and am faced with a decision on how I will "kill" my time. Today, the house I was shooting was in an interesting and somewhat secluded location, and as I as I started to make the last leg of the journey toward the house, I noticed the variety of flowers along the road I was traveling on.

I decided at that point that I would get out of the car and see what I could do. At first glance, I saw all the beautiful flowers in full bloom and started to think of what I could do with them...at that point I was somewhat uninspired. I started to look a little closer, and found the "weeds" to be even more interesting that the flowers that were over taking the road. So, here is what I came up with. Hopefully you can see that looking beyond the surface can be gratifying.

War Photographer

2008-06-10T21:42:00.001-07:00

I just finished watching the documentary, War Photogrpher. I can honestly say that I have never seen any documentary that has evoked so many different emotions of sadness and disbelief. James Nachtwey has spent the majority of his life emersing himself in war zones, and has brought to the world the harsh reality of war through his photography. It is a truth we don't want to acknowledge, but something that is real and is occuring all over the world today and throughout history. I believe everybody needs to see this, and that you will feel differently about the true state of some areas of our world after doing so.

Nachtwey took the time to write his credo, which offers fascinating insight into his mind: (You can find this text and more information here)

There has always been war. War is raging throughout the world at the present moment. And there is little reason to believe that war will cease to exist in the future. As man has become increasingly civilized, his means of destroying his fellow man have become ever more efficient, cruel and devastating.

Is it possible to put an end to a form of human behavior which has existed throughout history by means of photography? The proportions of that notion seem ridiculously out of balance. Yet, that very idea has motivated me.

For me, the strength of photography lies in its ability to evoke a sense of humanity. If war is an attempt to negate humanity, then photography can be perceived as the opposite of war and if it is used well it can be a powerful ingredient in the antidote to war.

In a way, if an individual assumes the risk of placing himself in the middle of a war in order to communicate to the rest of the world what is happening, he is trying to negotiate for peace. Perhaps that is the reason why those in charge of perpetuating a war do not like to have photographers around.

It has occurred to me that if everyone could be there just once to see for themselves what white phosphorous does to the face of a child or what unspeakable pain is caused by the impact of a single bullet or how a jagged piece of shrapnel can rip someone's leg off - if everyone could be there to see for themselves the fear and the grief, just one time, then they would understand that nothing is worth letting things get to the point where that happens to even one person, let alone thousands.

But everyone cannot be there, and that is why photographers go there - to show them, to reach out and grab them and make them stop what they are doing and pay attention to what is going on - to create pictures powerful enough to overcome the diluting effects of the mass media and shake people out of their indifference - to protest and by the strength of that protest to make others protest.

The worst thing is to feel that as a photographer I am benefiting from someone else's tragedy. This idea haunts me. It is something I have to reckon with every day because I know that if I ever allow genuine compassion to be overtaken by personal ambition I will have sold my soul. The stakes are simply too high for me to believe otherwise.

I attempt to become as totally responsible to the subject as I possibly can. The act of being an outsider aiming a camera can be a violation of humanity. The only way I can justify my role is to have respect for the other person's predicament. The extend to which I do that is the extent to which I become accepted by the other, and to that extent I can accept myself.

James Nachtwey

Please take the time to check this out...I believe you will be changed in some way through Nachtwey's photographs and depictions.

Printer's Alley

2008-06-10T00:43:00.000-07:00

I was going through some photos of our trip to Nashville in March and found this one of the historic Printer's Alley. For those of you who have never been to Nashville, seriously, stop what you are doing and book a flight now! I absolutely loved living in this city, and think that everybody should experience this superfabulous city and all it has to offer!

Congratulations Marathoners!

2008-06-05T00:36:00.000-07:00

This past Sunday, San Diego paid host to the annual Rock 'n' Roll Marathon. I was lucky to have three very special people to me there to cheer on, all of whom I am very proud of! In the midst of running, or rather taking the trolley, to various mile markers to cheer on all of my people, I was able to grab some random shots of the race. I'm just so proud of all these brave folks. I once ran the Chicago Marathon, and it will literally remain a once in a lifetime experience. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad I did it, but not so glad that I strive to be repeat offender of the 26.2! Anyway, congrats to all involved!

Went the wrong way the other day...

2008-06-03T20:31:00.001-07:00

and ended up here. Not such a bad mistake. Had a great view of Rancho Bernardo, Escondido, Ramona area.

80's Rewind

2008-06-02T22:02:00.000-07:00

I'm just really not sure when wearing jeans this color ever seemed cool, in style, or otherwise fashionable. All you children of the 80's...we made some totally RAD fashion statements...NOT!

Stephanie & Luke

2008-05-27T00:15:00.000-07:00

As promised, here are the rest of the shots from my day with the wonderful fabulous Stephanie and Luke. What an amazing couple! They are so cute together and were and absolute ball to work with. They live in the wonderful north county city of Oceanside, so we met up there a couple weeks ago to hang out and have fun...oh yeah, and to also grab some photos along the way.

They are getting married June 8th and pretty much glowed in excitement the entire day! It is so much fun to be around that energy and excitement.

So, with further ado, here are they are! If they both don't have the most amazing set of eyes I'm not sure who does!

Disneyland!

2008-05-25T17:10:00.000-07:00

I have been married to my wonderful husband Chad for two years now, and to celebrate I decided to surprise him and take him to Disneyland. He has never experienced the magic of Disney, so I figured that streak had lasted long enough. Sooo, yesterday morning I loaded him in the car and we made the short trip to Anaheim.

We had an amazing day riding the rides in both parks and walking through downtown Disney. It is truly impossible to be there and not have a smile on your face.

Chad bought me a cool new point and shoot, so here are some photos I grabbed in the middle of all of our fun! Note: You may see a reacuring theme of the sky in these photos, but that is just because the textures and the color yesterday were too beautiful and inspiring.

Renee is Graduating...Tomorrow!

2008-05-22T23:21:00.000-07:00

Renee and I set out for a quick spontaneous shoot today in honor of her graduation...she is a smart one...tomorrow she says goodbye to her bachelor's degree status hello to the much more distinctive master's degree! Renee is very gifted in sales and amongst many thing is also a fantastic writer...oh yeah, and she is pretty darn photogenic too!

Although we went against that lesson we all learn in school to not procrastinate, we managed to get some good ones in time we had!

Stephanie & Luke - Preview

2008-05-12T00:29:00.000-07:00

Just realized I haven't posted in a while. Here's an image from last week. Stephanie and Luke were amazing to work with! More to come...soon and very soon.

China Town

2008-04-21T20:37:00.000-07:00

I Was going through some images from our SF trip and found this. We were running and had to scoot quickly through this area of the city, but it was a crazy spot...keep in mind this was probably the least crowded corner in sight...I just happened to be sitting on the right side of the super bad to the bone go-car thing we were driving!

Trekin' With The Gals

2008-04-18T00:03:00.000-07:00

Made the short trip up to our big brother LA a couple weekends ago for my wonderful friend Jen's birthday bash! On Saturday afternoon I set out on a hike with some of my closest gals, Jen, Julie and Adrian.

We had a ton of fun hiking in the canyons far above the city and spending some quality time together talking, sweating, talking, making the buns burn, and did I mention talking?? For some reason when we all get together that seems to be something we all do best...ahhh....thats what friends are for...keep smiling, keep shining...ok enough...cut to reality. Here are some photos from the big bad hike into the woods.

Notice a trend in the next set of photos?

Jen LOVES to talk with her hands, and I think that is fabulous! Thanks for the great day girls!

Cassie & Alex

2008-04-12T17:56:00.000-07:00

Love them!

Brian & Lauren

2008-04-10T11:46:00.000-07:00

When I was in Nashville last month I got together with Brian and Lauren for a quick photo engagement session. This time was extra special because these two are very good friends of mine. They will be getting married in August in the historic Savannah, Georgia which I am so excited about!

I couldn't be happier that these two have found each other and to be a part of their lives. They truly special to me.

We unfortunately didn't have a ton of time for the snaps because Brian had a crazy busy weekend when we were there, but we were still able to squeeze out some good ones. Makes it easy on me when I have such great subjects! Love you guys and can't wait for the big southern style shindig!

Soriano Being Soriano

2008-04-05T11:58:00.001-07:00

Ok, so for those of you baseball fans, its not quite like Manny being Manny. We attended two Cubs games at Spring Training a couple weeks back though, and I found that Alfonso Soriano has quite the ham personality of his own. Here is one good example. As he was running in from the outfield he spotted my camera decided to make my picture worth taking. Thanks Soriano!

Fun Accidental Fire

2008-03-27T21:44:00.000-07:00

I was treckin' along this afternoon after a shoot, probably in some sort of deep thought, as I heard my camera fire. I've done this plenty of times before (accidentally taken a picture that is), and most of the time it is some weird shot of my foot or something. Thanks to the wonderful world of digital, the delete button comes in handy in those situations.

Well, today was a bit different. I got home and loaded my pictures to my computer, and as I was going through them, I found this. It took me a second to figure out what it was, until I realized it was Me! Anyway, since I had no intention of taking this picture, and it actually turned out pretty cool, that I would share it with you.

Wildflowers

2008-03-26T13:46:00.001-07:00

They're all over right now...California is awesome!

Family Vacation Quick Pic

2008-03-24T23:20:00.000-07:00

Just got back from Arizona with Chad, my parents, and some of my in-laws. We all got together to see some Spring Training baseball games...GO CUBS! It was a monumental experience for our families as both sides got together for the first time since our wedding almost two years ago. I've gotta say...I'm extremely thankful that I have in-laws that I adore and very much enjoy spending time with :)

Anyway, we have two very special cousins in the family, Cassie and Alex, who are two of the most lovable, squeezable, huggable kids I know...even though I may be bit partial ;). I spent a lot of time with the camera pointed at them, but for now as sneak peek of the adorable Alex.

Nicole

2008-03-13T23:23:00.000-07:00

While I was out in Nashville last week, I spent some time with Nicole at the Opryland Hotel. This shoot was extra special since Nicole is now family...thanks to Chad! Nicole is coming up on her high school graduation this year, so she asked if I would do her senior portraits. I of course jumped at the chance! We had a ton of fun getting lost in the mini world called the Opryland. There was definetly no shortage of beautiful backdrops for photo ops, and Nicole made it pretty easy on me :). Enjoy!

Makin' A Livin'

2008-03-10T21:04:00.000-07:00

One of the many things I love about Nashville: LIVE MUSIC 24-7. Today I spent some time walking around downtown Nashville and decided to pop into Tootsies. Not so surprisingly, the place was packed (on a Monday at 2:30pm) and there was a band up on stage just working away for tips. Something about this just makes me smile.

Paul & Sheena Squared

2008-03-09T22:40:00.000-07:00

The first time I headed out with Paul and Sheena our time got cut short due to rain. Not this time though! We stumbled upon a gorgeous day and headed back out to get some more shots. These two are so great to work with. They just like to relax and have fun. Makes my job easy!

I will have the privilege of doing their wedding in October and will be traveling to Iowa for it and I can't wait! It will be a special day for a very special pair!

Bay Bridge

2008-03-07T21:34:00.000-08:00

Wanted to share this one I caught as we were driving across the Bay Bridge. Thought it was kind of a cool perspective. I just love SF...so many cool things to look at!

The Big 29!

2008-02-26T21:56:00.000-08:00

Well, yesterday was my birthday and Chad decided this year that he wanted to do something special for me. We took a trip up north to visit some our best friends from childhood and college in the Sacramento area, then headed over to San Francisco to check out the city...and what an amazing city it is.

We had a great time visiting our friends (thank you Mike, Julie, Mark and Whitney) for the first part of the weekend, then spent Sunday night in S.F. My one request for my birthday was to get up and see the sunrise at the Golden Gate Bridge. Chad obliged, so we packed up quite early and headed that way. We then decided to be the ultimate tourists rented a GoCar, which is some type of car/motorcycle/scooter thing. We spent the day touring the city with a lovely GPS tour guide, who very politely told us when we went off course. I also must say that I have never been laughed at so many times in one day! We apparently looked pretty ridiculous in our convertible motorscooter with our big doofy helmets on....go figure!

Anyway, here some shots that I got along the way.

A shot of the Golden Gate at sunrise

Another of the GG...black and white style

A pier near the Golden Gate at sunrise

More of the Bridge...on our tour later in the day

One more view....it was just too pretty of a day to pass all of these up

The Bay Bridge...which I might argue is even more impressive than the Golden Gate

A shot of the famous Lombard Street...notice the helmet!....Chad claims he was "haulin'" here ;)

A shot out the back of our scooter...just cruisin' down the mountain!

This is Mark & Whitney's 5 month old Golden Retriever, Sawyer....he is still ALL puppy, but very adorable.

And we can't have leave out the cat...here is Bell...relaxing as far away from Sawyer as she can get...she's still not very fond of the puppy...

New Camera Funnness

2008-02-16T23:37:00.000-08:00

So I haven't been this enthused about a gadget in, well, ever! I just picked up a new camera the other day and got the chance to put it to work at dusk...which is in so many ways the best time of day to shoot.

Chad and I took our friend Matt to La Jolla to experience the cliffs. It was a beautiful night complete with huge waves, some great cloud textures in thy sky and some very helpful and lighting from the surrounding city. I had so much fun testing the new equipment. What a beautiful night!

Always a good time...

2008-02-15T17:59:00.000-08:00

When friends come to visit. This weekend we have Chad's good friend Matt in town and have just begun to show him all the sites of San Diego...and there are so many! Sometimes we forget how lucky we are to live in such a beautiful city.

We took him down to beach today and enjoyed the crystal clear day that we had today...thanks to the rain for washing all the smog away! I of course took some snaps while we were out.

Notice the third...Chad and Matt decided to destroy a sand castle that had been built by father and son earlier in the day. Luckily they had abandoned their castle prior to my mischevious husband and his good friend using it for target practice. Boys will be boys!

Don't Look...UP

2008-02-07T00:30:00.000-08:00

UrbanScape

2008-02-03T12:41:00.000-08:00

I was downtown shooting a condo in Little Italy and as I was leaving I pointed my camera out a view window in the building and got this shot. Every once in a while, I literally "point and shoot" blindly just to see what I can come up with. I thought this perspective of downtown San Diego was kind of cool. Combined with a little PhotoShop fun, this is what I ended up with.

Day In Temecula

2008-01-15T23:07:00.000-08:00

This past Saturday I spent the day in Temecula some of my favorite girls for to celebrate my sister's birthday. Temecula is known for its wineries and for being situated a valley surrounded on all sides by beautiful mountain ranges. The weather was sunny and in the high 70's...not bad for the beginning of January....gotta love So Cal!

2008

2008-01-01T15:27:00.000-08:00

With each New Year it seems as though it is harder and harder to believe that another 365 days has passed, and this year is no exception. 2007 was an exciting year full of new adventures, and looking back today it seems to have sped right on by. I'm ready to turn the page however and very much look ahead to the New Year. I am excited and what it has in story for not only us, but all of our friends and family.

Chad and I have spent the past 10 days in Oregon visiting my family for the holidays which has proven to be a great time to relax in a peaceful environment. We have taken some time to reflect back on this past year, and to also look ahead to our tasks when we return home to San Diego tomorrow. We continue to find ourselves more and more blessed with amazing family and friends, and to be given the ability to work the jobs that we do and to experience each day as it comes.

May you all enjoy a happy and healthy 2008!

Micah

2007-12-30T18:12:00.000-08:00

I gave my hand at my first baby shoot a couple weeks ago and had a great time. Micah was an adorable and very well behaved baby. He is only three months old and has more than enough hair to get it cut! He was a great subject and very aware of the camera and his surroundings. Here is a shot of him after our shoot when he had just fallen asleep...kind of makes the heart break a little...in a good way of course:).

Paul & Sheena

2007-12-12T09:06:00.000-08:00

On Saturday I had the chance to spend the afternoon with Paul and Sheena. They are an amazing couple and so much fun to hang out with and so easy to work with! Barring the cold December weather, a bit of wind, and a rain storm that cut our shoot short, we had a great time and were able to get some good photos of them.

Patrick & Michele Tie The Knot

2007-11-27T21:08:00.000-08:00

I had so much fun with Patrick & Michele! They celebrated their wedding last Friday, September 23rd. Besides the fact that they are very much in love with each other, they are two friends of ours, which made the day that much more special. They got married at Presidio Park in downtown San Diego, then we made our way to the Oceanside Pier to shoot some photos...which also happens to be the same place they got engaged!

The whole day was very special from start to finish, and I wish Patrick and Michele only the best!

Beautiful San Diego

2007-11-20T21:57:00.000-08:00

I Love Cool Architecture!

2007-11-13T22:04:00.000-08:00

Have I ever mentioned that I love my job! Today I got the chance to photograph this beautiful home in La Jolla, CA. There is a concentration of unique and amazing homes in this area, but this on in particular is worth showing. I personally love the modern feel of the home, and of course the added bonus of having the ocean staring back at you wherever you turn.

Growing up, along with sports, I always had a passion for creating art...namely I loved to draw, paint and charcoal. I also went through a phase when I wanted to be an architect. On days like today, when I get to combine my passion for art along with being able to see some amazing architecture, I feel especially blessed to be doing what I am doing.

Oh yeah...and by the way if anybody is interested in purchasing this home it is running a cool $7.5 million!

Anybody Recognize These Chairs?

2007-11-12T22:14:00.000-08:00

Cute Shot of Emma

2007-11-04T19:31:00.000-08:00

Chad and I went over to check out the progress on the new home and decided to take Emma along for the ride...it must be nice to be a dog and to have going for a ride in the car the most exciting event of the day...the simple pleasures in life!

Science Projects At Their Best

2007-10-24T20:35:00.000-07:00

This past weekend Chad and I decided to revisit our childhood and carve some Halloween pumpkins. The night went quite well actually. We broke out all the supplies, drew the faces on our pumpkins and proceeded to carve away. Much to our delight, our pumpkins came out quite nicely. We both felt good to know that our 'mad pumpkin' carvin' skillz' from childhood had not vanished over the years.

So we did the whole bit. When we were finished, we took the pumpkins out to the front of the house and even conducted our very own pumpkin lighting ceremony. Boy were we proud. And to make the situation even better a neighbor walked by and complimented out fine work.

Our smiles quickly turned to frowns as I discovered that after we had brought our pumpkins in for shelter from the fires, apparently extreme climate had caused the perfect scenario for a mold farm inside our pumpkins.

Needless to say the fruits of our labor was very short lived...there's always a bright side though right...well in this case I believe the moldy pumpkins have at least made for some interesting pictures.

CA Fires

2007-10-23T22:25:00.000-07:00

Hello to all...well this blog is coming from a bit of a somber note, but I figured I would portray the scene of the Southern California fires from a bit of a first hand account. Instead of hitting you with the bad news first, I would like to start with the bright side of the situation. The San Diego government, fire departments, police departments and residents have responded to the fires in an extremely heart warming and encouraging way. There have been many homes lost and people displaced, yet as it all unfolds, everyone has done their part to chip in and offer support in areas where they have been able. It has been encouraging to see the community come together as oppose to destruct in the time of crisis.

I would also like to mention that my immediate family and all of my friends that I have been able to keep account of have remained safe throughout the last couple of days. As most of you know who have seen the news however, many of our neighbors have not been so lucky. I'm not sure the most recent count, but many homes have been lost and unfortunately we are not in the clear as of yet. Due to the very dry weather conditions along with the Santa Ana Winds many of these situations pose potential dangers that are unpredictable. There are still some major fires burning that are threatening homes and the lives of our courageous citizens, firefighters and other local officials.

In times like this it easy to question why such things happen, but I would like to send along some Biblical encouragement for us all to keep things in perspective and perhaps find some comfort.

James 1:2-5 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

2 Cor 1:3-5 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. 5 For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.

I have also included a couple of pictures from our neighborhood taken very early Monday morning prior to our neighborhood being evacuated. I am by no means a storm or disaster chaser, these are simply a couple of shots I took literally from our front yard and these do not even signify the worst of scenarios that the people of San Diego and LA have experienced in the last couple days.

I would ask you all to keep our those in the City of San Diego as well as Los Angeles and all other areas effected by these fires in your thoughts and prayers.

The Most Colorful Season

2007-10-21T15:59:00.000-07:00

I would have to say that the fall is one of my favorite times of the year. Although it is a sign that the summer has ended and winter is upon us (and I use the term "winter" loosely as a resident of Southern California), I just love to see so evidently that the seasons are changing. I have always loved to watch, and have been amazed by the fact that leaves that were once a very pretty green turn to some of the most vibrant colors all at the same time. One of my favorite things to do at this time of year is to go for a drive or take a hike through a forested area and just take in the beauty.

I have not gotten the chance to do this yet this year, but here is a photo from my time in Nashville. Chad and I were hiking through the woods and I got a shot of this tree.

Fun Game!

2007-10-14T16:53:00.000-07:00

OK, just humor me...the name of the game IS...name that state capitol.

GO!

Family Trip to Lake Havasu, AZ

2007-10-06T12:06:00.000-07:00

As promised, here are a few more photos from our trip to Arizona with the Hager family. It was extra special for my parents because for the first time what used to be our family of four is now a family of six. I have been married to my wonderful husband Chad for about 16 months now, and my sister, Laurie and her husband Adam were married in April of this year. The times that we get to spend with my family and my husband's family are very special as we don't live in the same city or even the same state as either of them. As we grow older it is is nice to come to know our parents and siblings on a different level.

On that note, the trip was so very special to us all. Here are some photos of our time there.

Here is a shot of the house that we rented for the week...this is the way to go on a vacation like this one. You get a private pool and spa, a bbq for some down home grillin', plenty of room for privacy but a big space to hang out as a family.

I was able to sneek a shot of Adam and Laurie having a moment while the sun was going down.

A shot of our family of six!

Just look at the respect that each Son-In-Law has for their new Mom and Dad...gotta love it!

This is a shot from our day on the boat. The landscape in this part of Arizona is either fairly desolate (it is the desert!), or made up of these beautiful red rocks.

Can somebody please tell me how these kids are walking on water?!?! I want to do that!

Oatman, AZ

2007-09-26T19:53:00.000-07:00

Well I'm officially a very bad blogger...I have neglected to post in quite some time, but am now back in action! We just returned from a much needed relaxing trip with my wonderful family in Lake Havasu, AZ. We spent some good quality time relaxing, playing games, spending a day on the boat and just hanging out and laughing. It was wonderful, and I will include more extensive photos in the next couple posts.

For now however, I would like to share with you a little day trip that we took to the sprawling town of Oatman, AZ. It was quite an experience. First you must drive a very long way through the desert before arriving in a small mining town, perhaps most well known for their pet burros that wander the streets. It was extremely amusing. To make matters even better, we found that the people of Oatman know all of these little burros by name and can tell you their life stories...I suppose that is the best gossip they get around there:)

Anyway, I snapped quite a few photos of the town, but here are a few that I am especially fond of.

Third Coast Sports Presents Faith Nights

2007-08-21T13:59:00.000-07:00

This past weekend Chad and I traveled up to Los Angeles to attend a Dodgers game. Although we both love baseball, that day baseball was a secondary reason for taking us out to the ballgame. It has been quite apparent over the past few years, that there is more than just the game itself making fans flock Minor League and Major League stadiums across the country. A new trend in sports promotions that involves pre and post game Christian concerts are giving a wide variety of people reason to attend a baseball game this summer.

A very good friend of ours, Brent High, founded Third Coast Sports in conjuction with Third Coast Artist Agency, both based in Nashville, TN. They have found a way to combine two of America's favorite events, baseball games and concerts into one amazing event. I encourage you to visit their website to find out more about their beliefs, values and visions for the future.

I have had the opportunity to work closely with the Faith Night events in the past, and personally believe that it is an amazing opportunity for Christian churches to use as an outreach event for the entire community.

Sunday was a great time for Chad and I to catch up with some friends, and to support Third Coast Sports in their efforts to bring these outreach events to a city near you. For a full schedule or the remaining 2007 events click here.

Here are a few photos I took of the band that took the stage on Sunday, Hawk Nelson. To see additional photos from past events taken by the staff at Third Coast Sports click here.

Tupiov

2007-08-12T22:16:00.001-07:00

Don't even try to Google it because as I found out this weekend at a dinner party hosted by my sister and brother-in-law that this is in fact a made up word. They enjoy taking the run of the mill dinner party and switching it up a bit. The basic gist of this occasion is that they provided a very nice set up including three tables for two (there were three couples), yummy appetizers and drinks, and a sit down 8 course dinner.

When we sat down at our respective tables, were asked to fill out a sheet complete with 8 courses, only the catchy part is that the 8 courses were all in a made up language just as the name of the dinner party, Tupiov. We were each to fill out our own sheet, without "borrowing" any answers from any of our neighbors. Once our answers were turned in, my sister Laurie, the Executive Chef for the night, and my brother-in-law Adam, the matrade for the night, began to bring out the courses in the order we selected them. The 8 courses were as followed: knife, fork, spoon, bread, salad, main dish, desert, and of course the mint and toothpick.

Now if you have an imagination, you can see how it may be if you were served the main course first, without any silverware! Thankfully, nobody did that exactly, but my first two choices were the knife and the main dish....so you guessed it, I ate my pasta and chicken with a knife....it just gave me a good excuse to slurp my noodles.

Here is a picture of the my main course, and my trusty butter knife! It was a fun night with some family, and hats off to the hosts who threw a wonderful party.

Construction Progress

2007-08-06T10:05:00.000-07:00

Well, there has been quite a bit of progress from the concrete and stacked wood that I posted previously. We have driven by quite a few times in the past few weeks to check the progress but have only been able to stop and look when the workers have gone home for the day...from the looks of it they are working long hours over there to complete the home prior the the year 2008...that is their goal, but you never can predict with construction.

Here are a few photos updating the construction....it is starting to actually look like a house!

Our garage door will be the one on the left in the picture. We will only have to share walls with one neighbor which will be nice.

This is a view of the side which will be a grassy area and lead to our front door.

Front door leading to first floor w/ one bedroom and one bathroom.

This is a view of the fourplex that our unit is a part of. Our home is the one farthest from us on the end.

Staris connecting the first and second floors!

The is the very beginning of the third floor which will consist of two bedrooms and two full bathrooms.

Just a picture of Chad that I shot as he was looking out from the second floor.

5 Hours in the ER and 30 stiches later...

2007-08-05T18:26:00.000-07:00

Chad has a smile on his face as he is relaxing at home. Unfortunately, this came after a very scary accident suffered earlier in the day. Chad and I had planned to spend our Saturday cleaning up the house as we had not done a good deep clean in a while. We had an event free weekend so we figured there was no better time. Chad was helping out by cleaning in and around the shower when all of the sudden the glass door on our shower shattered and fell to the ground and on top of him. To spare the minute by minute details, Chad basically ended up on a floor full of glass with cuts on his head, arms, and legs and consequently a trip to the ER.

Once we got to the ER we were reassured that none of his cuts were too threatening so they took him in the back to clean him up a bit and we were then in for a long wait in the waiting room....to my joy Chad was in good enough spirits to convince the security in the lobby to change the TV to the Cubs game! That made our stay there go by somewhat faster and more smoothly, especially considering the the Cubs won the game 6-2.

As we sit here today enjoying our Sunday we feel thankful that the injuries suffered by Chad were fairly minor. He ended up with cuts all over his body, about 30 stitches with most of them in his head, and a few scattered throughout his arms and legs. I can honestly say that seeing Chad in that condition was by far the worst and most scared feeling that I have ever had in my life. It is so cliche to say, but we often take our day to day lives and our loved ones for granted, and an incident like this reiterates that we should treasure each and every day and the people that we love.

To give the story the happy ending that it eventually had, Chad is feeling well and we have spent today relaxing, watching some baseball, and fitting in the wonderful Sunday nap.

Nash Metropolitan

2007-07-27T00:00:00.000-07:00

For all of you car enthusiasts out there, this one's for you! And for those of you who like pretty things, you may just like the great color combination. Anyway, here are a few photos of a cute little car I ran across in my travels recently...I had never heard of it so I looked it up when I got home and here's what I found.

Floating Flower

2007-07-25T21:01:00.000-07:00

Is it real or just a photographic illusion? Hmmmm...either way I thought it was cool enough to share with you!

Week 1 Construction Photos

2007-07-17T08:18:00.000-07:00

As promised, here are a few photos of the very beginning stages of the construction of our new home. You may have to use your imagination a little at this phase considering it is pretty much concrete and stacked wood at this point. Anyway, we went over last night and here is a little bit of what we saw.

Two essentials of an construction site...an 11mph sign and an outhouse!

Here is Chad standing in what will be our garage.

Here are a few photos of the ever exciting concrete and wood. The first looks to be our eventual stairs, the second is, well, just a stack of wood, and the third shows what will be the view from our balcony when it is all completed.

And finally, I was messing around taking some pictures of the concrete as it was getting dark at a longer exposure. Here's what I came up with.

Fun Night

2007-07-14T22:08:00.000-07:00

Chad and I decided at about 7:30pm tonight to make our way down to the beach and spend some time together as the sun was going down. We have had a very exciting and busy few weeks with a variety of fun events with our friends and being in the process of buying our first home (stay tuned for pictures of the construction progress), so we decided to take a night to relax and spend some quality time together. We had a fantastic night relaxing at the beach, enjoying each other's company, and of course snapping a few shots along the way.

And for those of you who don't know Chad, and can't identify him by his feet :), here is a face to put with my stories.

Going Industrial

2007-07-12T11:16:00.000-07:00

Country Roads Take Me Home

2007-06-06T21:58:00.000-07:00

Any John Denver fans out there? Talk about a classic! Anyway, I spent the better part of today photographing houses very much off the beaten path...it was pretty great actually, and the best news of all...I didn't even get lost! So I managed to grab some extra photos along the way. Can anybody name that fruit?