Sunday, November 29, 2009

Fall Color

Since Thanksgiving has just past and before we get to far along with our tree trimming, gift shopping, and caroling, I thought I should send off fall with some colorful images.

I traveled to Kentucky in October when fall was just arriving to the area. There were pockets of color to be found. However, I was a little early for fall's full display.






















I had the opportunity to visit Bernheim Forrest to view the color with my friend Stacy Smith who is a graphic artist and my driver around the park. She dressed for the day.















However, this is my favorite image from the day. Summer was holding out with a few bright green leaves. I love the yellow, orange, red, and even the warm browns.














Thanksgiving I was in California's Central Valley rich with orchards and vineyards.


Sunday, November 22, 2009

Catching Up

Once again it has been some time (ok 5 months) since I last updated my blog. I don't know how people do it every day or so.

Not a lot to say except through photographs ... so here goes.

Earlier this year Derrick and Kimberly and I met at Huntington Beach for engagement photos. In August, we shared the day at their wedding along with some their really great friends and family. The group was great fun and had some fun playing in a few photos.





Hot Time for All
Then there was the outdoor wedding on the hottest day of the year - it was between 104 and 108 that day. It sure was a good thing that the bride, Erin, and her her husband, Eric, are adventurous people with family who know how to throw a great party.



































The Beach and Marina
I had the opportunity to photograph James and Ennette's engagement photos at the beach and followed that up by being one of three photographers at the wedding. This was the first time I worked with other photographers at a wedding. It made the day close to stress free. Ennette and James are friends with so many photographers we got to enjoy the day while we were not on assignment. I photographed the women and the reception.



















































All in the Family
The fall brought the first wedding in my family for the next generation. Aaron Ocegueda, my sister's son, married Victoria Porter on October 16 in Louisville, Kentucky. The were married in the beautiful stone Duncan Memorial Chapel in Olden County.



























I had to get a shot of the incredible stain glass windows.














Duncan Memorial Chapel is located at a cemetery which had several interesting features














Aaron and Vicki were good sports and let me use the environment for a bit of an unusual shot.














But we also took some shots of the beautiful bride














And the dip



















But the Groom has a great sense of humor and the rest of the wedding party played along ...














It was a great wedding and lots of fun.

Congratulations folks!

Monday, June 8, 2009

Spring Cleaning 2009

It has been too long since I last updated this blog. It is not because I have not been busy taking photos ... well I am not sure really why I have not blogged in so long.
I hope to show you what I have been up to during the past few months.

Let me start with an update on my youngest photo subject - Austin. I took the following photos the week he turned six months. He is a happy little fella.






Isn't he just a doll

Since January I have photographed three weddings, several graduating seniors, and some headshots. Take a look at some of my work.

Aubrey and Joey were married at a church in Riverside with a delightful reception that featured a taco grill for dinner and cookies instead of cake. Joey was not sure if he wanted many photos but they both came alive in front of the camera, wouldn't you say?









For Nick & Sarah's we were outdoors with a sunset wedding in front of a mansion.




Sarah is a beautiful woman and seemed to enjoy the time alone for photos during the moments before the wedding.







I had the wonderful opportunity to photograph Caitlin whose spirit is as bright as her smile. Despite many setbacks in her life, Caitlin's senior year has been full of excitement and she looks forward to going to college in the fall.



Then there were the three chums who grew up together at church and yet they had their own successes at their own high schools. Chris, Garrett, and Kevin were loads of fun to photograph. They were great on their own and so creative together. Originally, when I was asked by one of the parents to take her son's photos, I immediately thought about taking shots of all of them together. Then the other parents started asking me to take their images too.







Garrett decided that he wanted to do a Gap commercial jump and the others decided join him.



On one of the hottest days of the spring - I met Derrick and Kimberly at Huntington Beach Pier along with a million other people who were trying to cool off. We ended up cooling off by putting our feet in the water under the pier. Boy was that water cold. Getting to know Derrick and Kimberly was great as I will be photographing their wedding in August.








I had the opportunity to take photos of the staff of my church Magnolia Presbyterian Church in Riverside. The lead pastor, Brad, gave me lots of leeway with the images of the staff. I really wanted to go with a more relaxed look to the images verses more official portraits. The following are sample of the staff photos: Brad, Andrew, and Cindy. To see the website go to www.magnoliapres.org



Then there are some headshots I have done for some friends.

Cynthia Wright, my best friend who was laid-off from her job of almost 22 years, recently started a consulting business for non-profits in the fundraising and business writing area. I had the opportunity to take photos for her website, which was developed by our other best friend Stacy (www.thewrightimage.com). Stacy is a fabulous web designer. Cynthia has signed her first contract and I am sure that her headshots were what won them over.



Lalit, my co-worker at my day job, is applying to be on the board of directors for Sister Cities International so he asked me to take a quick shot of him to send off. I told I would be glad to do so but I would not take a quick one of him at the office without my good lights and backgrounds. He really doesn't like to have his picture taken so I set up my studio at home and got him laughing about some silly thing and we got a few good shots of him.



I have also spent some time working events - most of which I will not bore you with such as Valentine Balls or company parties. However, I was blessed enough to share with two friends as they celebrated their accomplishments in different arenas. Debby Chaddick had a book signing for A Spirituality of Hope My Journey Through Pain and Grief (www.chaddickshope.com) so I was there with my camera. Veronica Lucas had her first solo art show of her print making and sold a large print on the spot.





Also this spring, I was able to spend some time with my parents, Fred and Hattie. This was their first visit to my home in many years, so it was a pleasure to just relax and enjoy them. They live in Kentucky and most often I see them in the winter around holidays. I was glad to take several days off from my day job to run around with them and drive them on to San Jose to visit my brother, John, and his family. This is one of my favorite photos of my parent while on this visit.



I think the most rewarding yet difficult things I did this spring was spend an hour or so with the Castro family. You see this was one of the few family portraits they have ever had. However, it was one of the hardest photo shoots I have had the privilege to take. George had been struggling with a very painful fight with cancer - which he lost just a couple of months after we took the pictures. It is my hope that his wife and daughter will treasure these images as I know they will treasure the memory of him.



It is with a grateful heart that I share these images because I have shared unique moments in so many lives.