My first camera and tears of joy.

It started with putting away the Christmas decorations, followed with a full blown organizing frenzy and ending with a huge realization.  I'd forgotten that I’d signed up for Apartment Therapy’s The Cure.  “The perfect excuse to kickstart the process of getting our home (and, at the risk of sounding overly dramatic, our lives) back in order.”  (When the heck did I sign up for that?? AND why???)

The first assignment was in my email box early January 1.  Loved the first part: reward yourself with flowers, houseplant or a bowl of fresh fruit.  Easy Peasy.  A friend had given me a small olive tree a couple of months ago and I hadn’t potted it yet.  Out I went, potted it up, put it in a basket and felt super accomplished.

But there I walked back in the house to all the Christmas decorations and the hardest part of assignment—clean ALL the floors.  I boxed up all the decorations, got them in position to go into the attic and hit not only the floors, but the baseboards too (!) of the bottom level of the house.  Heading upstairs, my husband opened the attic.  And there's where things took a left turn.

I have to tell this part of the story so you'll know why I spent the next several hours sitting in the attic.  A couple of months ago, I wanted to find a video project I did in college.  I’d searched everywhere I could think of in the actual house and still hadn’t found it.  It was on VHS and I wanted to have it copied to DVD so that I wouldn’t lose it to forward advancement in technology.  (Hmmmm.)  My husband thought perhaps it might be in one of the boxes in the attic.  (I hoped not, but was willing to take a look.)  We climbed up and spent the next several hours going through the boxes.  (In the end, I found it along side the other VHS tapes in the media center, happily NOT in the attic!!  However, Michael ended up bringing down several boxes of his work related stuff to purge—long forgotten and obviously not needed after 9 years in the attic!!

Going through his boxes, he pulled several brand new boxes of Microdisks that hold a whopping 1.44MB of data.  1.44Megabytes??  Whaaaat?!!!  AND we couldn't play them if we wanted to.  What if there were images on there??  I’d just held tangible pieces of my past in the form of photographs and albums (yes they were in the attic, but they are in AMAZINGLY good shape and now they're not!) and we had laughed and giggled at the memories.  

Today storage is ridiculously inexpensive and we can afford to keep the majority of our memories on 3TB disk drives or in the clouds somewhere.  But I encourage you to print those memories as you go along.  Put them on the wall, put them in an album.  Enjoy them, live with them, everyday.  You’ll be so glad you did.

I mean really, you'd want to miss out on something like THIS??  

Shooting for the Moon.

Always remember to shoot for the moon. :-)

Taylor and I collaboration: her iPhone neighborhood shot and my moon image.

Super moon in the man.

Je suis heureux (I am happy)

I'm off to the UK to shoot for my corporate client, global PR company Citizen Relations.  But first, a side trip to Paris.  I mean, if you're flying all the way across the pond, you might as well.  This isn't my first time in Paris (or London for that matter), but it is for my family and I'm so excited to share this trip with them, particularly my daughter.  I hope this gives her a travel bug to last her lifetime.  I wish we had more time to visit more of France and definitely Spain (I love Spain!), but alas, unlike the Europeans (who laugh at us Americans with our small sized vacations), work is an unavoidable limiter for my husband.  But what an amazing way to kick off the summer!

A little time in Paris and then the Eurostar to London, where I'll be shooting.  And then a little time to wander London.  Perfection.

From the top of the Arc de Triomphe.  The last time I was here, I was amazed that there was not a fence around the top and thought that would never fly in the States.  Evidently, it didn't in France either, as now there is a large perimeter fence around the top of the monument.

The bridge of locks.  Although most of the bridge has been dismantled, there are still many areas where the locks still hang.  While damaging to the structure, it is really amazing to see.  We spent quite a bit of time in the area.  It's quite by accident that my daughter wore her heart on her shirt, but so fitting.

My personal challenge to find ways to be in the picture without handing my camera off to a total stranger.  Keeps me thinking.  Oh, and there's that fence.

Au revoir pour le moment.

In my datebook: Ansel Adams, Edward S. Curtis and Edward Weston: Photographers of the American West--Exhibition at Bowers Museum

It could be that most of the image in the show are on loan from the University of Arizona's Center for Creative Photography and that I've had a chance to see them at one time or another during my time there as a student--however, I still can't wait to see this show.

Since studying them in college, (particularly Adams and Weston) I have loved the idea of Adams and Weston's group f.64, called that in reference to the smallest aperture opening on their large format cameras enabling them to create images with incredible depth of field and sharpness.  (Contrasting with the wide apertures and concurrent bokah that are so in vogue today) (I especially loved photographer Willard Van Dyke's home gallery space called 683 "as our way of thumbing our nose at the New York people who didn't know us."  Brilliant.)

The influence that Adams had on photography, still today a growing and changing art, is so vast--from the Zone system to his idea of (pre)visualizing an image prior to shooting it, to an understanding of light like few others.

But my favorite has, and I think always will be, Edward Weston.  Perhaps it is seeing the growth in his work or romanticizing his life in the Daybooks (his personal journals) or the way he took ordinary to sublime.  I was so excited last year, when we took our trip to Pt. Lobos where he took his last images brought me that much closer to my favorite photographer.

Whatever you think of Adams' landscapes and Weston's Pepper No 30, their work helped shape photography as we know it.  Well worth the visit.

Now through November 29, this show with three of the most well known 20th century photographers is happening at Bowers Museum in Santa Ana.  I'm planning on it, how about you?

Succulent
Laura Schmidt

Flying from the nest.

Dear Taylor,

You just left for science camp for the next 4 days.  I'm so proud you held it together and were so brave--I know how nervous you are.  Remember when you get nervous and scared to take big deep breaths and take things one step at a time.  I'm doing that now.  I took big deep breaths as the bus drove off and now I'm taking one day (one hour) at a time.

I can't wait to hear all about camp.  I KNOW you are going to have so much fun!!  I can't wait for you to come home and I can't wait to see how proud you are of yourself.  Right now, I'm that mama bird I told you about.  I know I'm doing the right thing and pushing you out of your comfort zone to make you braver and more confident and more courageous, but can I tell you?  It's hard for mamas too.

I love you little bird.  Be brave and fly!

Back in the big city.

A week ago found me traveling to New York City for one of my favorite corporate clients, Citizen Relations. I was so excited to be back shooting in my "Madison Avenue" studio again-with it's gorgeous light and fantastically New York background.  And now, as I write this, so excited that it wasn't THIS week, with a weather forecast of upcoming blizzard!

I woke in New York to a sunny--but brisk day--27 degrees for the high—and very happy that there wasn’t a need to contend with snow, ice or rain!  I thought about how amazing it was that Monday morning, I took my walk on the beach and watched two dolphins and a sea lion frolic in the surf (no, for real!!) and Tuesday morning, I was walking to work on the streets of New York.

I finished working Tuesday evening and felt like a real New Yorker as I walked back to the hotel to drop off most of my gear.  Shoot, (pun intended) I was in New York with a little time on my hands--I decided to head out and see what I could capture at night.

Off I went, bundled up, gloves on.  This isn’t so bad, I thought.  The last time I was here, in August, I’d wandered my way to Times Square and all the way to B and H (only to find them closed—probably good—who needs more gear anyway!).  So this time I wandered toward Rockefeller Center (with The American Girl Store as a pitstop along the way.)  I took a few shots--"This is refreshing" I thought to myself.  I took a selfie in front of NBC studios which required my gloves to come off and the 18 degree cold made my fingers scream at me to hurry up all ready and take the picture!

My legs also started feeling a little cold because my jacket is only 3/4 length.  The wind picked up and I could hear the flags frantically flapping in Rock Center. I headed toward 49th and buried my face in my scarf a little more.  The American Girl Store’s heat never felt so good.  As I came out and all 18 degrees hit me.  I decided it was time to head back to my hotel.  This might be why I’ve never yearned to be a landscape photographer!

Landscape photographers need to brave the elements for their shots.  They go out in the cold and look for their image.  They brave early morning darkness to wait for the sunrise shot over the city.  Nope, not me.  My warm cozy bed beckons.  That’s not to say I’ve not gotten or am going to get some great shots that don’t involve people, it’s just that they are going to be a little bit warmer terms!

I was heading back home to California Wednesday morning, but as I watched the news while packing in my hotel room, I decided I wanted to get out one more time and headed back out to NBC studios to see the TODAY show being taped.  I arrived just in time to catch the crew outside for the last outside segment of the morning and braved another half hour to see the interview with Sienna Miller.

Al Roker doing his thing.

See the numbers behind the camera man?  They say 23.  As in degrees.

As they began the segment, the camera panned the few standing outside the studio braving the 21 degree morning.  We waved.  Well, I took a photo--that's me, all the way to the right on the cameraman's screen--taking a picture.

When I got home, my husband had taped the segment and we ran it back to find my 5 seconds of fame.  Thankfully, I still have 14 minutes and 55 seconds left.  See, there I am waving.

Stay warm and safe my New York friends!

Behind the Scenes

My best assistant ever (my husband!) took this image as I was shooting my last session of the year last week.   He's so proud of the way he captured me, silhouetted in the light, capturing the family.  I love it because he told me that he took it because he thought I'd like to see how beautiful it all was.  Indeed.

Gratitude.

grat-i-tude
/'gradǝ, t(y) oōd/

noun
The quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return the kindness.

To you, dear reader, who has taken a little time to read my words or look at my images, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.  A very thankful holiday to you and yours!
xo


"Now and then it's good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy."
Guillaume Apollinaire

Moving forward.

I recently read a short little article  on 99u.com about moving forward--and when you should.  Should you wait until everything is perfect and you feel comfortable before you make your move?

“Move before you are ready…Most people wait too long to go into action, generally out of fear. They want more money or better circumstances. you must go the opposite direction and move before you think you are ready. It is as if you are making it a little more difficult for yourself, deliberately creating obstacles in your path. But it is a law of power that your energy will always rise to the appropriate level. When you feel that you must work harder to get to your goal because you are not quite prepared, you are more alert and inventive. This venture has to succeed and so it will.”

Robert Greene

It reminded me of the experience that I use to bolster my confidence on many occasions.  I remember walking into The Bob Poe Gallery in Bergamont Station in Los Angeles with a girlfriend several years ago.   We went up to see a show on Lillan Bassman.  Bassman was a fashion photographer from the 1940's through the 60's, working with the likes of Richard Avedon and Robert Frank.  (Helloooo!!) She essentially got fed up with fashion and quit for a while, but in the 90's her work was rediscovered--when she was in her EIGHTIES.  Not only was her work beautiful, but in her 80's, she and her work experienced a resurgence of popularity.  Her story spoke to me and I wanted to see her show hanging at the Peter Fetterman gallery.

After we saw the Bassman show, we wandered around Bergamont Station, and came upon the Bob Poe gallery.  Poe produces large scale canvas using his iPhone to create abstract and very painterly images.  We chatted with the gallery manager and I asked several a questions about Poe's images.  He asked if I was a photographer and when I said yes, asked if I had a portfolio.  They were looking for one final artist to complete an upcoming show.  He gave me the submission information and asked if I was interested.  Umm.  In all of Los Angeles, you haven't found a photographer?  His response?  In a nutshell:  Most people don't follow through.  They say they will submit, but they don't.  It's not perfect, it's not this or it's not that.  Fear.

"It is as if you are making it a little more difficult for yourself, deliberately creating obstacles in your path."

My girlfriend and I went to lunch and she talked me into submitting.  We sat giggling and imaging the opening night of the show....Then I still had to go back home and gather my images and push the SEND button.  Lots of opportunities to back out.  I hadn't had my personal work in a gallery setting since college!  But, somehow, I pushed past the huge amount of fear and push send I did.

"But it is a law of power that your energy will always rise to the appropriate level.  When you feel that you must work harder to get to your goal because you are not quite prepared, you are more alert and inventive.  This venture has to succeed and so it will."

And my work was chosen.  Was it perfect?  No.  Was I ready? Definitely not.  But it was going to be up in a Los Angeles gallery in a matter of months, ready or not.

Since then, I have used the memory of that experience on many occasion in which I have felt fearful, unsure and unready.  Deep breaths, push send.

"...the law of power that your energy will always rise to the appropriate level."

What do you do to push past the fear and put yourself out there?

"There's always a picture in front of you."

I had Peter Hurley lighting in my hotel bathroom in New York!

Peter Hurley said that this morning on his live webinar on CreativeLive.

I'm at an industry conference this week, but I haven't left home.  It's Photo Week 2014 on CreativeLive and I'm watching!  It's like going to a industry conference but without the travel.  Part of my job description as a professional photographer is to keep abreast of my industry and CreativeLive allows me to do that easily.  This week's schedule has an amazing list of instructors that will cover topics from running my business more efficiently to learning new lighting skills to improving my SEO.
So this week, in between working, (which is something I couldn't do if I was actually at a conference!) I'm off to learn and grow.

What do you do to grow yourself in your career?

The Land of Enchantment

I promised a share of some of my images from our recent trip to New Mexico. I could have never imagined the changes in scenery from mile to mile on our trip to New Mexico. From prairie to scrub brush to pine trees, New Mexico has such a wide variety of landscape. Visiting during monsoon season provided even more dramatic skies that added rich texture to an already impressive vista.

Sometimes I tried to drink it in in my mind rather than capture in in camera, but seeing with my camera is what I DO and I couldn't resist. So many photographers have captured the southwest; sometimes one image blends into the next. These are my memories of our trip. I didn't aim to create a new vision of New Mexico, just to enjoy and represent what I saw. I may have some skills with a camera, but there are some places that are so beautiful they only require someone to push the shutter. 

"Sometimes I do get to places just when God's ready to have somebody click the shutter."Ansel Adams

Indeed.

Top left to right: flower Playa Blanca. Photographer's husband waiting. 18th century mission. Part of Georgia O'Keeffe's cookbook collection.
Middle left to right: Playa Blanca (Georgia O'Keefe's "white place"). On the high road to Taos.  Taos Pueblos.
Bottom left to right: Chimney Rock.  Rio Grande River. Taos Pueblo door. Taos Pueblos and the mountains.

Our finished project.

Several weeks ago, I had photographed a beautiful Spanish home and came home sooo inspired.  I showed my husband the images and our wheels started turning with projects for our own house.  We decided to tackle removing the last two remaining planters in the front courtyard.  Long story short, our smaller project turned into a bigger project as we discovered the structural insufficiencies of the pillars that held up that part of the roof.  No strangers to remodeling, we completely understand that demolition of any part of a house most often results in a bigger job than originally intended!  So being that we had to redo the footings, we decided to tackle the front walkway as well.  We'd always wanted to replace the red cement tile trying to be saltillo with flagstone.  (We'd done this at our old house and loved the look.)  We dived in.

It's been many weeks, but we've finally finished!  We pushed hard over this past weekend to put the finishing touches on the courtyard which included repotting and reorganizing most of my succulent collection.  Succulents are fantastic--mostly slow growing, lovers of packed containers and low water, but just as with any plants, they need a clean up now and again.  A new glazed pot and red blooming aloe for the entry and "I just couldn't resist the tillandsia" from Plant Depot (I attached them to a piece of driftwood we found last year at Doheny and they now  grace my sofa table.) completed the project.

Zoe (always willing to have her photograph taken) seems to like the new walkway and Michael and I, while not ready to quit our day jobs, think we did a pretty good job!

Before

After!  I can't wait for the plants to grow in!

The welcoming committee

After

My experimental planting!

Tillandsia project

Vacation!

Last week, we went to visit Michael's family in Chicago.  This was different than our regular visits, in that it's summer in the mid-west.  No snow and no cold!  Flying in and seeing the water of Lake Michigan and boats...totally new experience!

It was also different in that, instead of heading into the city, we'd actually be driving up to my in-law's cabin on a lake in a remote area of Wisconsin. On our way up, we stopped off to pick up a few groceries.  By the way, in Wisconsin, cheese heads are readily available in stores.

And even the rest stops were scenic, full of flowers and worthy of portraits!

After a four hour flight and a almost four hour drive to the cabin, we spilled out of the car.  Taylor and her cousins RAN around for what seemed like hours and then jumped in the lake to swim for another couple of hours.  It was dark when they got out.  All the tensions of travel fell away as I documented their joy of being back together and exploring the lake.

 We had four days of a  true vacation. We relaxed, kayaked and boated.  The kids had an amazing time.  The weather held.  And at the very end, I took an updated Schmidt family portrait in our last 15 minutes on the lake.  Camera on a rock on the beach, remote in hand, it has to be one of the most scenic family portraits I've ever taken.