Crusty.

I don't know what this was connected to...but it looked pretty intriguing to me. It just makes me think, "Crusty". I like when photos really stretch my mind to such boundaries....(sarcasm) It's still intriguing nonetheless.

Timid/Conversation.

Scenes in a coffee shop...

Wonderment.

More scenes on a Sunday...

Blue Jeans.

Scene on a Sunday.

Trust.

I feel that when someone is photographed, there has to be some level of trust. You're allowing the photographer to come into your personal space, capture your image and trusting that they won't make a mockery of you. I’ve never necessarily felt that one’s soul is stolen when being photographed. However, I do feel as though it is possible to see a glimpse into the very depths of their being. I'm grateful for those that allow me to step into their world and catch a glance into their life and soul.

Scrumptious!

Earlier this month, my family and I spent the whole weekend together due to General Conference. I don't know what it was, but man did we have the greatest Sunday dinner!! We had Steak, Crab Won Tons, Rice, Potato Salad and Corn...with Homemade Red Velvet cake to follow. SOOOOOOOOO DELICIOUS!! I don't know what got into me, but I felt like taking some Macro shots that day...so here's a peek into the greatest Sunday dinner EVER!

It was also my friend, Khany's birthday that day...so I made her her favorite cake-Pineapple Upside Down cake. Doesn't it all look so good?! Dang, now I'm actually hungry for all of these foods....

Imperial Beach, CA

Imperial
im·pe·ri·al - adj.
1. belonging to empire or emperor: concerning or involving an empire or its ruler
2. indicating a country’s authority: involving or relating to the authority of a country

3. supremely powerful: holding supreme power All are subject to the imperial power of the state.

4. grand: very grand or majestic
5. superior: better in quality or larger in size

Maybe sometimes IB can really be an 'Imperial' beach.

Yes, I know Superman. Don't you?

It's a bird!

It's a plane!

No! It's my 12 y/o nephew to wearing his then 6 y/o brother's Superman Halloween costume in April.

However, I love this pic because it really does look like he's flying.

And no, I did not photoshop this pic...I've just got some sweet photo skills.

The Volleyball game.

Yesterday we attended my 15 y/o nephew's varsity volleyball game. It was a GREAT game! A very close game that played thru 5 sets, only for the visiting team to win :( In tow to the game were my brother, sister-in-law, 12 y/o & 17 y/o nephews and 6 y/o niece. As I mentioned, it was a very looooooong game, a lil over 2 hours long. It felt long to me, so I know it started to take a toll on my poor niece, Noe. She was restless and wanted to go play outside on the stairs. Luckily, I had my camera with me so I was able to help direct her restlessness into something productive. I’ve let her use my camera many times before to shoot photos and she loves it. I love sharing my love of photography with my nephews and niece. Yesterday I showed her how to take macro-lens/short depth of field photos-I thought I’d share some of her photos here, since I think they’re pretty great….but then again, I am a lil biased :)

Self Portrait:

I love this last one of my nephews. I love the angle in which it's shot because it's from her 4ft. view of the world...or in other words, her brothers. There's always a different feel in the photos I take and the photos she shoots of people. I've noticed that people are a lot more laid-back, lighthearted and approachable when she points a camera at them. Their smiles are more playful and their eyes are a little more relaxed. As mentioned before, I think she does a wonderful job behind the camera as well as in front of it.

[to explain some of the photos...I included the one of her Lilo doll, because shooting photos of my Barbies was what got me interested in photography. I think Novee's well on her way to bigger and better photo shoots :) The rest are just random photos she took while shooting short depth of field/macro. I asked her mom why she decided to take a photo of just her mouth and an orange peel, her response "because Novee liked it". At least she's random & original.]

1:48am

Movie: The Darjeeling Limited

Purpose: Found something better to do than watch the movie--shot photos.

Result: I lost 2 hours of my life but gained a neat random photo.

M I S S I O N... A C C O M P L I S H E D!

Magic...Vegas style

Salsa Napkins

The story of the Salsa Napkins.

Yesterday I went out to lunch with my parents. We went by Cotija’s Taco Shop to grab some food--delicious, scrumptious Shrimp burritos, may I add! They like to eat their lunch down at ‘J’ Street Marina Park. Off we went…
I finished my burrito before my parents were done eating. As I was waiting for them to finish, I noticed all the birds on the grass in front of us. I wish I had pieces of bread to feed them…but I obviously didn’t. Since I didn’t have bread, what do I decide to feed them--lemon wedges. Apparently they don’t like lemons, nor do they make a ’sour face’ when they bite into them. Suddenly, I was transformed into a 10 year old/mad scientist-- “Lemme dunk the lemon wedges into the hot sauce and see what happens”. I threw them out the van door. THE BIRDS ATE THEM!! Wow! I anticipated a ‘sour face’ from them. No reaction, but they ate them. “So if they’ll eat lemons with salsa, maybe they’ll eat napkins drenched in hot sauce”. Don’t forget “13 year old/mad scientist” mind at work here….Napkins dip away!
Tossed them out---
THEY ATE THOSE ALSO!! It was trippy!! I liked the way the “salsa napkins” would SPLAT! on the ground as I threw them out---like a spit wad. (typing this I feel like an immature idiot! How do I even have friends?) Anyways, I sorta felt bad that I was feeding the birds NAPKINS dipped in SALSA! But I justified it into thinking “I was feeding them leaves w/ tomatoes” Problem solved.
Note to self: Carry a piece of bread with you next time.

Fake

My friend Liz mentioned that our friend J was wearing "Real Fake Lashes"--pretty funny, if you ask me. I took a look at them. expecting to see "real fake lashes" that RuPaul would wear....but J's were pretty nice. She was pretty nice to even let me take a photo of them.

Star Post

While waiting outside of the "Harbor House", I looked down at the fence in front of me only to notice a star atop of a fence post. Wasn't expecting to see a star there, but thank goodness I had my camera.