like a lazy river

things are picking up

i feel it in the winds

they knock things down

only to better replace them

in my core

i feel a rush

beaming in the center and then spreading out

surging through my body

like breaching the surface of water

deep breath

and it subsides

slowly

slowly

like a leaf

sitting calmly

on a lazy river

in the middle of a warm summer day

a girl sits at the bank of the river

thinking life's a bummer

until she picks it up

pulls it from the water

it splashes at her feet

golden yellow with brown specs

a long stem and wounded edges

holding it up to the sun

translucent golden viens

light radiating from the center and spreading out

hazy rays falling off the edges

she holds it close to her chest

takes a deep breath

and the realization is becoming more clear

slowly

slowly

like a lazy river

in the middle of a warm summer day

things are picking up

solitute

Having a week off, I took some time to myself and went exploring a little, back in the mountains, trusting my instinct and making turn offs that just "felt right." I am sure a lot of you know what I mean.

Anyways, I have been really inspired by the words of Lord Byron lately...

"I only go out to get me a fresh appetite for being alone."

somewhere off paradise road...

Adventure calls! Deep in my soul, I hear the ring and know it's time to go. Luckily, I have good friends that also hear the ring and sometimes we go traveling together; to unseen lands, we explore and sit under trees whose shade has yet to touch our skin. Until the sun sprays its last mist of rays across the hills and mountains, we hike the land with backpacks full of gear and maybe a beer or two. It's always a good time and at the end of the day I feel so free and alive. Here are some shots from a recent adventure, somewhere off Paradise Road, tucked between mountains, we are small but our souls are never ending...

Fungus! ewwww ;)

The fungus on this tree was fascinating!

interesting tree rings..

my good friend

the evening beam

"Be thou the rainbow in the storms of life.

The evening beam that smiles the clouds away,

and tints tomorrow with prophetic ray."

Lord Byron

Rainy Day in October

I have been loving the weather lately! I enjoy a little change of pace here in the mostly sunny California. As soon as it starts raining, you can just feel everything around you soaking it in, drinking it up, and stretching out at the same time. When you drive down the coast, the ocean to your right is all different tones because of the partially cloudy sky above it; to your left are tall mountains, covered in green and yellow wildlife, with misty clouds rolling in and out and between them. The weather makes me feel adventurous and I can barely keep myself from shooting because the sky looks so good. Here are some images from some recent hikes/explorations...

so.many.ladybugs.

leaf dangling from a spider web thread

peek-a-boo?

a new direction

I've officially decided to incorporate writing into my photography.

It's really fun and I'm excited to start thinking in a new direction.

for starters...

Tales of the Winds

they move the clouds above your head

whisper secrets of the dead

tell you tales about the trees

as they dance among their leaves

in the comfort of each blow

they pick you up toe by toe

fill you in with warmth and flight

turning on an inner light

they carry you to higher ground

to purple mountains never found

glistening in golden rays

tall grass delights in their playful ways

birds catch a lift

resonate and drift

sweeping side to side

feathers fluffed to glide

fly away with me

float above the sea

in and out of clouds

nothing out of bounds

(written 9/12/10, on a plane.)

Black and White Holga

miss Tay

miss Arna

our dangling feet...

blue

in the morning

before the rise

the tone is blue

between me and you

illuminate

me

i want to be

in your arms

in your light

wrapped up in blue

me and you

a hue

cloudy day at the sea

This is my favorite part of a breaking wave...mmmm

rock puzzle

Still life photos from my room

The other day I spent a lot of time "chillin" in my room...

I turned around and was surprised I had never noticed

how very similar the design on the mirror on one side of my room

was to the design on my painting, directly across the room.

Funny how things like that happen.

oh, hiiii

Nostalgia

What we were, what we are, and what we are soon to be are all interwoven...

these days, I feel like I am searching inside myself for clues from

what has already happened, and what is soon to be...

I feel a lot of change coming,

the vines on my wall are shifting place and growing in a new direction...

chasing the sun, I'm always chasing the light...

so the other day!

this is why I love my apartments...

"the mop"

I have no idea what this is...

other than a tilt-shift lens, a living room, a good time with friends, some fun in photoshop, and f/16 at 1/2 ISO 800

Inspiration

Lately, I have been working on a black and white 35 mm series of nudes in nature. For this series, I have added some male models. Posing men for fine-art nudes has been a little bit of a challenge for me. I am used to working with women's bodies and curves, working with a man's shape is a totally different ball game. As a result, I've been looking around online for inspiration for shoots; especially when it comes to posing and composition. Here are two images I found particularly inspiring for some reason...