Practice Sesson #1 – Reflections in the Panhandle
I wanted to keep track of what I learned in my practice sessions so I figured I would just blog about.
Yesterday, as has been common place this year in San Francisco, there was crazy rain up until 4pm. Rain was so heavy in fact that I had tentatively canceled the practice session. But the sun popped out so I ran down to meet Annika, Loden and baby brother Shael in the Golden Gate Panhandle. I was there to practice reflection shots but Loden was there to fish. Cutest thing – he kept handing me a stick and asking “do you want to fish with me?”
I was inspired to try reflections after seeing the work of FC Wong (http://www.fcwongweddings.com/). His work is awesome and so original that I wanted to give them a go.
What I learned:
* colors look great after a rain storm
* Reflections for reflections sake don’t work – entire image still needs to have artistic quality
* With a reflection, I need to clarify what is the main focus – the reflection or the real item/person. If it isn’t identified, then the observer has the unsettling experience of going back and forth between the two.
* Make sure that that the reflection contains everything – I have one shot below would have been the money shot of the shoot if I hadn’t cut his head off in the reflection.
* in a flat reflection like a puddle, you can turn the image upside down for an interesting effect.
Great first practice session – that you Ehrlich family.
Gallery is here.
Blog Link: http://jchandlerphotography.com/1135
Tamar’s Birthday Party
On Saturday, Tamar had her second birthday party at Ruby’s Tumbling in Alameda. Tamar is the daughter of our good friends Tora and Shi. There were about 20 kids and their families there and everyone seemed to have a great time. Ruby’s is a perfect spot for parties for children. Lucius loved the rope swing and all the padded blocks and balance beams. Yet another reason why leaving San Francisco is actually an OK thing to do.
Thanks Tora and Shai. Happy Birthday again Tamar.
Gallery here (password required).
Trip to Northstar
Put the photo business on hold for a day last week and went skiing at Northstar with my Aunt Kelly and my cousins – Kaitlyn and TJ. Leaving San Francisco at 4 am made for a long day but it was worth it. We went up as part of a school trip. Kaitlyn and TJ took lessons in the morning and then we all skied together in the afternoon. They did great considering they have only skied/boarded a few times.
On a side note – snow photography is tough. Have to juggle the angles, the light and the colors to get a good photo. I may have to plan a few more trips this winter so I can practice. I’m sure that will go over with Sue.
Snowy Tahoe Weekend at Anne’s
Our good friend Anne organized an amazing weekend at her place up in Tahoe. There were fours families, loads of great food, and lots of wonderful food. A snow storm kept us their for a couple extra days and we had a blast making snowmen and igloos. The kids and dogs supplied us with a constant supply of giggles and laughter. Lucius loved being up in there and we really need to figure out a way to get him out of San Francisco and up to Tahoe. Anne – thank you so very much!!
Complete Gallery here.
Grandma Mary’s Funeral Weekend
My Grandmother – Mary Chandler – passed away last week from complications resulting from a stroke she suffered about 10 years ago. Till the end she was a fighter and lived with all the dignity she could muster. She was a long time fighter for civil, worker and human rights. “Everything is political” she once told me. The thing that impressed me the most about my grandmother was how many people she impacted over the years. People from all walks of life talked about how she stood by her principles with a ferocity and dignity that challenged and inspired them. One gentleman described how she was the one adult that he looked up to during the drug crazed 70’s. He remembered thinking “I hope I am as cools as she is when I’m her age.”
For me, I will always remember my Grandmother as the woman that could make meals out of nothing (depression era cooking), that would chop wood all day long because “it needed to be done”, and would hike all day by herself in the Sierras. I can’t say that I always understood or accepted my grandmother’s politics and beliefs. But I never doubted here spirit and gumption.
But I think my dad summed it up best when he said “I don’t know what is on the the other side. But whatever it is, there better be justice for all because if there isn’t Mom/Grandma will start organizing for sure.”
We had an amazing weekend celebrating her life and coming together as family. A few photos from the weekend are below. All photos are here.
Isis Oasis Weekend
We spent the weekend in Geyserville at the Isis Oasis Retreat House. Definitely an interesting place with a collection of parrots, Peacocks, spooky black swans, ocelots and a slew of other animals. Plus there is an Egyptian temple and all of the rooms where we stayed had an Egyptian theme. Had some amazing wine for from the local wineries and generally spent the weekend stuffing our faces.
Katy and Kyle send off weekend
My sister and her boys (Kyle, Liam and Whylie) are embarking on a cross country journey. They are visiting friends and family while searching for a place to call home. Should be quite the journey. Sue, Lucius and I met them at our Aunt Kelly’s house in Auburn for a send off weekend. I loved seeing how much Lucius explored and played in their huge yard. Definitely makes me think we need more outdoor space for the little one.
All photos are here.
Scouting Ft Mason
Next week I have a photo shoot with a family that lives across the street from Ft. Mason. Lucius and I took a trip this week to scout out the area. Not necessarily a playground but plenty of room for the little ones to roam. Lucius found the statue of Phillip Burton, spent a good amount of time sweeping the dirt with his lacrosse stick, and jumping off the stairs.
Good news is that the bridge and the grass will make nice backgrounds for the shoot. Plus there is great old downed tree in on the north east side that will make a nice to set up a family shot. All that we need now is good light. And since we are in San Francisco, that won’t be decided until we meet.
JC and Tom’s Wedding
Spent a wonderful weekend in Waitsfield, vt. Sue’s parents have a ski house there and it made a perfect location for Tommy’s (Sue’s Cousin) and Jo Curtis’s wedding. The rain came off and on all weekend but fortunately when it mattered most, everything was beautiful. Great fun too see all of the family and to meet their friends. Photos are from John and Barbara’s house, the rehearsal dinner and the wedding.
All photos can be seen and ordered here.
Dumptrucks and beautiful kids
Spent the evening with long time friends of Tom (my brother in law).
Fran and Julie are super nice and their children- Lilly, Molly and
Gavin are crazy photogenic. One look at their eyes and I just had to
get out the camera. Gavin was sleeping after a long day but we met
Devin (blond boy) on the beach and had a great time. Lucius has
fallen in love with his “really big dumpi truck” and pushed it around
all evening. I had a yellow dump truck when I was young so it makes
me proud.
Photo can be seen and ordered here.
