Karen's Photo Journal

iPhone Pics

Any camera you have on you is the right camera. I take photos everyday. I can't help myself.  And often, the closest one to me is the one in my iPhone. I am so loving the imagery I get with that little two megapixel (I haven't up-graded), non focusable box.  Just point and shoot.  And although I have learned a few tricks and found some really cool apps, it is as basic as just pushing the button.  

Recently I submitted a few of my favorite iPhone pics to a contest. I follow an amazing editorial photograper Chase Jarvis who was having a little giveaway. He did up-grade his iPhone and he decided to give away his old one. The rules were simple: send in some of your iPhone pics and his favorite will win. I had planned to give the phone to my son had I won, but alas, no...  

I am excited, however, that he picked one of my photos (out of 3,500!) to make his top 100 honorable mentions. When another artist you respect notices your work, it's a big deal! Here is the image he liked:

This is also one of my favs.  Here are a few more iPhone pics that I love...

I often post iPhone photos on my twitter account. Follow me there if you'd like to see them.

Ten

Ten years ago today I married a man I had known for only four months. Was it craziness, infatuation, love, excitement, stupidity, lust? Yes. But what else do you do when you meet someone that you know will love you to the end, no matter what? Someone that loves your children, no matter what? Someone that will rub your feet any time you stick them in front of him, no matter what? Someone that puts up with your quirks, no matter what? Someone that supports all your crazy ideas, no matter what? Ya gotta marry them, right?

And to all the people that had bets on us that June day ten years ago, we win so pay up!

Photo of the Day

My Sister's Dog

This is Lunchbox, my sisters dog.  This is the closest I am getting to her having babies right now, so this is like a furry little nephew to me.  Isn't he cute?  I would however, prefer a real, human-like nephew... or niece... come on sis, no pressure!  ha ha

 

This was taken with my kids little point and shoot camera.  Not bad, eh?

Children's Portrait | Los Angeles Photography

Okay, I feel safe posting these photos now.  They were commissioned for a Fathers Day present and I didn't want to chance the dad seeing these before he opened his gift.  Of course my favs are the ones on the skateboards!

 

Ode to my Fathers and Other Ramblings...

I have my blog so people can get to know not just my photography, but me as well. Good, bad and ugly, right? I'm not sure which category this post falls under. Maybe all three, with a little joy and confusion thrown in the mix...

I have three fathers (and two mothers but that's another post!) You see, I'm adopted. My family tree has all sorts of off-shoots, twists and turns. I have siblings, step-siblings, half- siblings... (I consider all to be siblings though, no prefixes, for better or worse.) 

I only met my birth father once. He looks something like this:

He was actually very handsome, a model, and guess what? Did some photography from what I understand... and music. My two favorite things! I think he was freaked out to met his 20 year old (at the time) daughter when he was only 38 himself, hot and single.  I am now older (only slightly, people!!!) then he was when I first met him.  Weird. I have tried to find him again so I can send him photos of his grandchildren but have had no luck tracking him down. I have a half sister too I have never met, my only blood-sibling.  I'd love to met up with them one day...  Maybe the laws of attraction will bring him to this post. How about The Locator?  LOL

Alright, shifting gears to stop my eyes from welling up... enter Dad number one. (Yes number one.  Sorry birth-dad, you didn't raise me so you just get an honorable mention.) This is the fabulous man that adopted me when I was just four weeks old. He and my mom first adopted my brother, then me. Thanks dad, I owe you!  The kids and I had lunch with him today:

(OMG, my kids are getting huge.) That white haze behind us turns into an ocean on clearer days.  Lucky guy has lived here since my parents divorced when I was four.  I grew up watching the Z-Boys surf and skateboard around this Ocean Park neighborhood every weekend I was here. I fell in love with it and became the first girl I knew to have a skateboard.

So I am adopted and a product of divorce.  See, it's getting interesting isn't it?  You want to start analyzing me now, don't you???  "No wonder she feels such an urgency to preserve memories via her photography!"  Yea, yea, whatever.  I'm an artist, photography is my medium and that's all there is to it!  LOL

Okay, enter Dad number two, my fab step-dad!  He's been around since I was seven and lives three minutes away. Even with my mom passing away he has been there for me and my brother.  He has seen a lot of loss in his life but I will really start crying if I write about that so... well.. here is a photo of us from last Fathers Day.  He is currently visiting New York so that made the Fathers Day visits a bit easier this year.  Happy Fathers Day dad, if you are reading this.

So, yea, go Dodger Blue and yes, my son cut off all his gorgeous curls (although it's hard to tell how nice his curls were in this photo).  I think he looks good with the short hair too.  You can see how handsome he is! (Yep, I'm the dork on the right.)

And of course I have to wish a happy Father's Day to the Firefighter.  He was off saving lives today (I love saying that! hee hee hee) so we will celebrate his special day tomorrow.  He has been such a great daddy to the kids. Here we are at his station.  He looks sooooo good in his uniform! 

So there is a piece of my crazy life, and I wouldn't have it any other way! I love my men - good, bad, ugly, joyful and confusing!  Happy Father's Day!

Quickie Prom Portrait

My BFF Gina asked me to do a five minute photo shot of her son before he went off to get his girlfriend for prom. We literally only had a few quick moments and got some great stuff.  Christian will be graduating next year so I look forward to doing his senior prom photos next time!