Karen's Photo Journal

Beauty Everywhere

I am constantly surrounded by beauty and I feel so fortunate.  It doesn't always come wrapped in sunshine, although it certainly did today.  Often times it is merely shadows, textures, warmth and cold, flare, wrinkles, stillness and energy.  I hope you all see it, but I know as an artist it encompasses me at all times, embracing me... sometimes when I need it the most.

Today was the tenth anniversary of my mothers passing. Ten.  Sometimes it seems a life time ago, sometimes like yesterday.  I took her grandchildren to visit today.  A grandson that has grown from the five year old he was and the granddaughter she never met.  It was an amazing little visit full of blue skies, sonic booms, fond memories, a stop by my grandparents down the hill and a fun surprise at the end to help remind me to laugh.  Miss you mom...

Kindergarten

I ran across this photo recently and thought I'd scan it in for all my Facebook homies.  I recently went to a mini-reunion for the high school class that graduated the year before me and ran into so many people. One, Danny Alonso, was in my kindergarten class with me  (that's him on the second row, second from left - givin' you a shout out, Danny!)  I have known him since we were 5!  I won't tell you how long ago that was but it was a freakin' long time ago! It was so great seeing him and catching up along with the others.  Maybe that's me craving that small town, community feel or that strange nostalgic vibe that runs through me.  Whatever it is, it was nice to catch up with so many great people.  

Can anyone spot me?

In Between Basting

I wanted to post a few craft projects before I continue cooking.  Not technically a photo shoot but whatever. (The blog takes on a life of it's own sometimes!)  The first one is a craft project my daughter and I did for our table setting. I love doing crafts with her!  And, for the record, I still ask my 14 year old to do this stuff with me but he just laughs at me, showing no interest what-so-ever unless it involves a can of spray paint and a wall.  These were fun little Pilgrim hats to make for the family and A already informed me that she will have her children make some too!  Okay... she is eight...

The second thing I did this holiday was made 3x3 cards for a scrapbook page I plan to do to remember today.  I rounded the corners and distressed the edges and will add more squares for photos to complete the page.  Each member of the family will write something they are thankful for. I can just see their eyes rolling now, as I ask them to do this!  LOL  Oh well, they usually put up with me.  Oh, the font is 'Boyz R Gross', one of my favs.

Giving Thanks

We all know that we should give thanks everyday for the little things in our lives but life gets busy doesn't it? It's good to have a national holiday that makes us, hopefully, stop and take it all in.  Between the cooking or traveling hopefully you will hear the laughter of people you love, get hugs from the people that know you better then anyone, look up and notice what a beautiful day it is.  Those are my plans and my wishes for you. Happy Thanksgiving Day everyone!

One of my favorite environmental portraits

This past Saturday, I had the good fortune of photographing producer/songwriter Michael Gordon for an up and coming project he is working on.  We decided on an environmental portrait and those are my favorite kind. I really feel that shooting in the familiar surroundings of my subjects helps illuminate who they are more fully.  We had an easy time settling on the numerous movie posters and records to serve as backdrop of his creative life.

 

Kevin's Fund

I recently had the pleasure of photographing a charity event for the Talbert Family Foundation over at the Calabasas Country Club.  The "Courage Strength Believe" Golf Tournament honored Kevin, a local 11 year old, his uncle Carl and his friend Emily... all battling life threatening disease. It was an amazingly beautiful day to be celebrating life and there was so much joy and love at this event that you almost forgot why you were there. Easy to do with Kevin toodling around in a golf cart with his buddies!  If you'd like to make a donation to Kevin's family or the Talbert Family Foundation, please visit the links above.  Here are some highlights from our day.  If you participated in this event, please go here to visit the online gallery and download your photos.  The passwords are Kevin's first and last name.

Here is Kevin during the ceremonial first tee...

The fabulous threesome...

 

 

I was set up at the ninth hole so I could catch all the foursomes (six and nine-somes) coming through.  I had the delight of sitting with these fun ladies at the wine tent that was set up there.  That was fun!

 

A fist full of man love.  There was ALOT of male bonding going on this day!

This is John on the left who hooked me up with the foundation. The guy on the right, Dan, grew up right next door to me!!!  He has a lot of elementary school dirt on me so I can not reveal his last name for fear of someone contacting him...

 

 

Another group that was having waaaayyyyyy too much fun!

A very kind lady chastised me for shooting into the sun and told me how I should be shooting... she obviously doesn't know that I am in love with my yummy flair!

Who is up for a game of golf this time next year?

Thank you for your thoughts...

My Firefighter called this morning, and he is doing great. Thank you all for the kind words, thoughts and prayers. I will try to be less of a nervous nelly.  LOL  Here is a little firefighter humor to add some levity to the smokey day.

 

Luna

Perhaps tonight's waning full moon will help illuminate the dark for our firefighters tonight.  The orange glow reminds us of the devastation that is occurring throughout the southland.  Please keep the firefighters and those in the fires path in your thoughts...

Scottsdale, part 3

Here are the ultra fun Sullivan family.  These guys are so easy to photograph; they make my life a breeze. Here are the kids last year.  You can see how much they have grown... and there are more teeth this year.

There are a few of these that I loved and couldn't just pick one.  Look at all these adorable expressions! Which is your favorite that I should put on my new web site?

What's that smell?

Sometimes I get so involved in editing pictures that I forget I have other stuff going on at the same time. You know, laundry, dinner, a boiling pan on the stove, water running in my planter... I am a woman and I can do it all... I just get so, I don't know, focused sometimes.  After feeding my hungry Labs in the morning, I noticed my hummingbird feeder was empty so off I went to make some more food for those hungry little guys.  While the sugar water was boiling, back I went to edit my portraits.

IF you are going to boil sugar water and IF you are going to forget and IF you let it get to the point of toxic fumes filling your house and IF you get to the stove before the whole thing catches fire and IF you can bring the whole stewing toxic volcano outside and IF you can race around opening every door and window and turning on every fan... you might just notice while racing for one more sliding door that, wow, the morning light is streaming in through all the smoke and IF you can still breathe you can grab your camera and catch this through the spokes of your sons bike:

Or this as you rush back into the kitchen to open one more window (I have my priorities straight, don't I!)

Here is the offending pot.It looks like a lump of coal or lava, doesn't it? It is a hard shell of burnt sugar, in case anyone was wondering what that would look like!  But judging by the photos above beauty is everywhere, even in toxic swirls!