I took them to my favorite alleyway in Old Pasadena where there is always great light and plenty of room for these two boys to do what boys do best… play!

I had to get a couple shots of the boys with their mom, who they absolutely adore!

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I first photographed John when he was a newborn (he was a natural at being photographed even then).  I think I probably say this about all the babies I photograph, but looking back at those photos, it’s amazing to see how much he has grown!

In any case, I was particularly happy with how many great shots we got in such a short period of time.  Imagine what I can do with a full photo session!

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With 545 million tons of solid waste handled by waste management companies across the country last year, this is clearly a big problem. While recycling has become more and more prevalent, I bet you would be pretty shocked at what you’d find going into your local landfill. Yet, I’m optimistic that it’s something we can do something about.   But I’ll stop there before I get too preachy.

The story behind these photos is that I called up my pal Scott who has a landscaping business here in Pasadena.  He makes frequent trips to the local Scholl Canyon Landfill hauling a ton or two of green waste at a time and he let me tag along a few days ago to check it out.  It was fascinating to me.  When we arrived there were at least 10 trucks ahead of us–garbage trucks, those trucks you see around filled with junk like the Grapes of Wrath and construction-looking trucks—all waiting in line to get up to the landfill.  The landfill itself was a trip because it looked just like a big dirt hill but in fact was layers upon layers of garbage.  But the thing that really got me was thinking about was the fact that this landfill was just a few miles from La Canada, Eagle Rock, Glendale and Pasadena and yet most people probably don’t know that it’s there.

Well, here are a few shots from my field trip to the dump!

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This first set of photos are from client photo sessions:

I still love this shot from a dog show I covered in Dubuque, Iowa.

I’ve taken many pictures of people’s horses for some reason but this is one of my favorites.

This a photo I found of my family’s pooch, Murray, when he was a younger fella.  It makes me smile because he’s pretty old now and it’s nice to remember when he was 100%.

The rest are of my two kitties, Ruby and Gus, who possibly get photographed a little too much.  I can only imagine how many photos there will be when we have kids!

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It didn’t seem like it was working until I drove past the main Pasadena library.  I felt strangely compelled to pull into the parking lot and as soon as I did a flood of memories came back of all the time I spent there as a teenager.  I remembered always loving going there because it was such a cool building and it felt a little extra special for a library.  So, I started exploring inside and out and snapping away.  But, when I happened upon the photography section on the third floor, I was struck by a very poignant memory.

While my interest in photography was first sparked by a photograph I saw of the Great Depression in my history textbook, it was this very library that my mom took me to when I wanted to know more.   I could spend hours looking at books about the pioneers of documentary photography like Walker Evans, Dorothea Lange and Cartier-Bresson.  I was fascinated with how these photographers could express so much about their subjects in a single image while making me want to know more.  I wanted to know how to do that so I can do the same.  When I least expected it,  I rediscovered a part of my own photographic story that has taken me to so many incredible places… I rediscovered the beginning.

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A few years later, in 2008, I returned to West Africa.  This time I spent a month in the region, specifically in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Ghana.  (As a side note, I started my blog while on that trip.)  Again, the experience was transformative but in a way I didn’t expect.  Rather than feeling overwhelmed by what I saw, I felt inspired by the people I met and photographed.  I felt hopeful.  Despite having experienced horrific conflicts in recent history (in Liberia and Sierra Leone), there was such a sense resilience and optimism, especially among the youth.  It was something I missed the first time around.  There is something truly beautiful amount humanity and hope, don’t you think?

So for this week’s Taking Focus, I thought I would share some of the photos I took on those trips that, for me, define hope.  Yes, I didn’t have proper time to take new photos this week.  But, I’ve also been wanting to share some of these images for a while and this seemed like a good chance.  Enjoy!

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As I expected, Sarah was an awesome model… very natural and at ease in front of the camera.  I think that combined with the setting and what Sarah chose to wear, the photos say “Spring” in a beautiful way.  I’m so excited to share these photos with you!  Enjoy!

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The weekend’s rain also left Pasadena with some wonderful, clean, fresh air… a small treasure I relish living in LA.  The last photo was taken just above La Canada Flintridge looking down at Pasadena on my way up to the mountains.  And,  I couldn’t do a “fresh” theme without including fresh coffee!

The photos I am really loving were inspired by the idea of a fresh face.  There were so many great shots of my beautiful friend and model Sarah that I decided to break this week’s Taking Focus up  into two parts.  I will be publishing those photos a little later today.

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Happy first day of Spring!  I couldn’t think of a more appropriate day to announce this year’s Spring Mini-Sessions.  This year, I am offering two different days at two different locations around Pasadena.  These shorter 30-minute photo sessions are an excellent option if you have been wanting to get updated photos of the kids, the whole family or you and your main squeeze.  They’re also great for Mother’s Day or Father’s Day gifts for grandparents or your spouse!

If you are thinking about reserving a spot, be sure to so soon as slots are limited and expected to sell out quick.

Here are the details:

Sunday, April 22 from 3pm – 6pm  SOLD OUT!
Arlington Gardens, Pasadena
(As seen in the above photos)

OR

Saturday, April 28 from 10am – 1pm
Old Pasadena

…

Session Fee – $50
includes:
30-minute session for up to 5 people ($15 for each additional person)
15-20 retouched images provided in an online gallery

Fav 5 – $50
Your favorite 5 images provide as high-resolution digital files for your personal use.

Top 10 – $100
Your favorite 10 images provide as high-resolution digital files for your personal use.

*prints, cards and other products sold separately

To book a mini-session, please email us with the date and time that you would prefer.   The session fee is required at the time of booking to reserve your spot.  Mini-sessions are first-come, first-serve.

And, to wet your appetite here are a few of my favorite shots from last year’s Spring Mini-Sessions.

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After the first week of the “challenge,”  I have to admit I am pretty excited because it had an unexpected yet welcome effect on me.  I found myself being very observant of my surroundings.  Even if it was just while walking around my neighborhood–something I’ve done many times before–things seemed a little bit more beautiful and interesting.  That was SO cool!  Needless to say, I’m very much looking forward to seeing where this project takes me.

So, here are my “green” photos.  With the Spring Equinox next Tuesday, my theme for the week is going to be “fresh.”  Get it?

What do you think would make fun, interesting themes?  While I have a list started, I would love to get some more ideas.  You can share them in the comments section below.  Can’t wait to see what you come up with!

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