Just got back from Hawaii where I was covering a Birthday Celebration.  Elaina was having one of those milestone type birthdays and her husband Wa planned out and executed a wonderful week of fun and activities to celebrate.  Aside from all that, I also got some time to play on the beach with my little girl and see an old friend as well.  Maybe I'll post some of those pictures later. 

I titled this entry the way I did since I sort of feel like I have been all over the place with the holidays and then going to Hawaii.  I am not complaining as it was all great but sometimes it just left me a bit in a daze.  Well I have some other stuff coming up soon as well so we'll see if I ever get my head together.  Alright, no comments about my head from those of you who know me!  =P

2008 was an incredible year with changes that I had not foreseen but I think I will continue to go with the flow and push forward in the things I have started.  Thanks to my wife and daughter, I know I drive them crazy but I love them and couldn't get along without them.  Thanks also to Scott and the entire Scott Robert Community for the wonderful things I have learned and expericenced this year.  And thanks to Brian who really made me realize there is more to an image than what is seen.  Like I said 2008 was great but I am looking forward to an even better 2009!

Here are a couple of shots of Wa and Elaina in Hawaii.  I will post more later.

Awhile back I had the opportunity to second shoot for Junshien at the wedding of Mandy and Lawrence.I had not met them until that day but right from the start you could see that they were an easy going and fun couple.I have to say that Lawrence was an incredibly good sport about things, Mandy’s family and friends really put him through the paces and made him earn his way into the house to get his lovely bride.So as you can image the day was filled with laughs and silly goings on.This was capped off with this kind of…well…eeeeck…game that they made Mandy & Lawrence do, just look at the pictures near the end of the slideshow since I don’t want to explain it.Well our couple were real troopers to do it, I know I wouldn’t have.Kids don’t try this at home!!!

As an extra bonus for me was I soon realized that Mandy & Lawrence attend the church that I did back when I was in college.As a result there were a ton of people there that I knew.Some of which I had not seen in forever.So in a sense it was like a little home coming for me.The only problem was I had to try and still stay focused and do my job while taking little moments to catch up with folks.

So thanks Mandy & Lawrence it was a hoot of a day and a very nice opportunity to reconnect with people.All the very best to you and God Bless you and your marriage.

As a photographer I am always searching for inspiration.  I think that especially with things that are creative and artistic we as humans need to find that something that will bring forth what we would consider beyond ourselves.  I have been blessed to have many sources of inspiration in my life, God, my wife, my daughter, talented mentors and peers, friends, the beauty in nature, etc. 

My friend Eric, especially of late, has been an amazing inspiration.  Not necessarily in terms of art and photography but in LIFE.  When I first met Eric he was struggling with skin cancer, which later went into remission.  During that time he came to know the Lord and found the love and peace that came as a follower of Jesus Christ.  Well Eric is a great guy and many of us have been blessed by his joyful spirit and friendship.  He found a mate and partner in Alice and together they are a dynamic duo. 

Recently, Eric’s cancer came out of remission and they have been struggling with all that comes with it.  Of course it is a very difficult circumstance but it is amazing to see the strength, courage, faith, and love that Eric and Alice have found through the Lord during this time.  Eric is a writer and he sends out the most eloquent and inspiring updates on what is going on.  Through these updates, I and many others have seen how their lives have been transformed, and the strength they draw from God and each other.  Eric and Alice’s love for one another is an inspiration in itself. 

Soon after hearing about Eric’s condition I felt that the Lord was nudging me to offer to take pictures of them as a way of giving them something and a way of supporting them.  Also, it might be a nice way to record the way they are right now, no matter what life brings at them in the future.  Well with all that they were dealing with, it was understandable when Eric said to me that he and Alice had a bunch of photos so thanks for the offer but they were okay.  So I told him the offer is always open but then let it go at that.

The other week I was shooting some stuff at church, so I happened to have my camera.  As it ends up I was sitting behind Eric & Alice and just seeing them together sharing this moment of worship together really struck something in me.  I did not want to disturb them or others but there was just something that urged me, so I pulled out my camera and fired off a couple of shots.  I know that this picture can’t even begin to show or capture what Eric & Alice really feel for one another or the comfort and strength that they draw from the Lord right now.  But I hope it will at least be a spark to help them remember what they felt at that moment and what they mean to each other. 

Eric and Alice, thank you for being an inspiration.  You help all that know you to find something more than what is just evident before us.  We’ll be praying for you. With Blessings.

Today we got together with Diana's Mothers Group.  This is one of those groups that was formed for new moms so they can have support as they enter a new phase in life.  Diana's group was a great source of encouragement and support and she was so grateful for it.  The group met quite a bit in the beginning, which seems to be when the most support is needed.  However, as time passes many of the moms go back to work or have other things going on so it makes it hard for them to meet as much.  They still manage to put these little events on once in awhile though, so it is a nice time for them to reconnect and see how all the little sprouts are growing. 

Todays get together as usually, was a nice time to catch up and eat some pretty tasty food.  All that while trying not to step on all the little ones running around.  Well, hopefully it will not be too long before we can all gather again.  Since all the kids are about the same age it is fun to see how they are all growing and developing. 

This first shot was taken by Tim (one of the other fathers) of his little girl.  We were actually having a conversation about photography which precipitated my camera actually making an appearance out of its bag.

Awhile back I had the chance to trek up to Mendocino to shoot the wedding of Lily & Avery with Junshien.  I must say that it was a long drive but well worth every mile.  First off the last hour or more of winding roads were a blast and my poor little car that seems to spend way too much time in the back of the garage was able to stretch it's legs a bit.  Once in the quaint little village of Mendocino, the weather was perfect and everyone in the wedding party were getting ready for the big day.  The setting was beautiful and Lily & Avery put together one first class event, from the venues to the fantastic food.

As an added bonus we got to work with Stillmotion, they are a video company based out of Canada.  Well to be honest sometimes wedding videos can be sort of cheesy but when I saw their same day edit of the wedding I was totally blown away.  It was pretty awesome!  And they were very cool to work with.  It was great shooting with Junshien and since we were so far from home we ended up staying overnight.  As a result we got a chance to hang out a bit and talk story about life and photography after our duties were done.  Definitely good times. 

Congratulations to Lily and Avery, may you have a fantastic life together.  And may I say you put on one heck of a party. 

Hope that everyone had a great Thanksgiving Holiday.  I know I ate too much...funny how that seems to happen around this time of the year.

Well it is back to the grind, which reminds me.  The other week I took some pictures at work since they wanted to put together some stuff for a booklet/information package.  I shot some headshots for folks and all that but as I had a captive subject to shoot I thought I would experiment a little with some lighting to see if I could come up with something else.  I will say I was a bit inspired by what Junshien shot awhile back with his roommate’s band but I thought I would try and do a little more with it as well.  As a result I think the whole effect came out pretty cool and I was pleased with it.  We probably will not use this particular image since it came out being a bit too hip for what they wanted but that is why there are other shots as well, right?  Hey you never know until you try and now I have this particular look in my little bag of tools.  Ha ha…who would have known that I could take a bunch of government workers and make them look too hip.  Take care everyone and have a great week.

Okay, going to try something new to me.  I have been really trying to learn ways to better show my stuff.  Problem is I am a bit challenged in all this web stuff so it is a true learning experience.  Well but they say one must always be learning right.  Well I wanted to post a show, so what better subject than to try it on one of the fun couples that I had the pleasure of helping to cover their wedding.  I know, I know, I keep saying how much fun Azarah & Russell's Wedding was, but hey it was.  Well hopefully this works and hopefully you enjoy it.

Okay, I know that I have not posted anything for a bit now so I feel sort of guilty.  What I have been doing is trying to finish up my website.  It is up and running now so if anyone wants to take a look you can go to:

www.wmericimages.com

At any rate I am going to make this short but I will leave you with a couple of random shots.

Here of course is my favorite model running around just having a blast.  What she is having a blast about... Who knows but it doesn't matter to her and as she was so happy, it did not matter to me either.

I just thought the clouds looked pretty cool so I had to take a shot of this.

Today we went to another birthday party.   Seems like we go to a lot of these now days, I guess that is just the stage of life we are in now.  Our friends Wayne and Jodie have three kids, all adorable, but as it happens two of them have the same birthday.  And no they are not twins!  They are like 5 years apart but are born on the same day of the year.  They had the party at Le Cheval down in Oakland, if you are in the area check them out I don’t think you will be disappointed.  Well it was a fun time catching up with friends and eating some good food.  And all the kids are just too cute.  Well off to another party next weekend.

I was trying not to really shoot much but here are a few images I ended up taking.

My day started with an early morning trek to Half Moon Bay over on the coast in Northern California.  It had been so long since I have been there that I forgot how quaint a little town it was.  One of the last times I was over in that direction was when my wife and I were looking for wedding site ourselves, on that particular day the traffic going over the hill was so crazy it sort of made us hesitant since we would have had the ceremony somewhere else and then would go over there for the reception.  We thought if the traffic were anything like it was that day there was no way that we or anyone else would make it over there and keep any type of schedule.   We ended up having our event up in San Francisco but this visit made me realize we should head over there sometime and take it all in.

On this day I was shooting with Kristian so images are for KI Photography.  We were to cover the wedding of Christine and Vivek.  Aside from them being a cute and fun couple and the venue being  a magnificent one, what made this wedding even more special was it was planned as a green wedding.  Christine and Vivek were determined that they could put together a great event and still be socially responsible.  Apparently, others thought so as well, since Bloomberg News was there to cover the wedding.  Needless to say the day was a memorable one for all involved, myself included as exemplified by how many images I recorded that day. 

Congratulations to Christine and Vivek, it was an honor to be part of their special day.