New Year/ New York/ New Sunset

My cousin believes that the way you spend New Year's Day is a representation of how you will spend your year.  In some ways it makes sense as you are setting a precedence when you choose how to spend your first day of the year.  So, knowing that I want 2012 to be a year of beauty and excitement, my friend Sarah and I spent the day eating wonderful food, walking until we had to sit, and seeking out beautiful spaces and inspiring settings.  For me, Central Park is one of those places.  I feel instantly calm even amongst the masses.  And while I have never enjoyed winter in the past (I'm from LA, so you have to give me a break….), this year I'm loving the eerie shapes the naked trees form, the crispness in the air, and the opportunity to enjoy a slight bit of hibernation.  Here's to a beautiful new year…and a wintery first sun set to accompany...

Oh, it's been a while…let's start small

So, I've been a very bad blogger.  To my credit (sort of), I have been traveling an insane amount.  And while I have tons of new material to post, I wanted to start small, with some beautiful leaves that I photographed for a Chiropractic office waiting room in Chicago.  Yes, random, but oh so pretty.  There are tons of shots that will be decorating the halls of the office, but I chose 4 to post that I adore and that are simply leaves.  I love that the color green can not be defined as one shade.  Have you ever walked into the woods, a park, or a jungle and just been stunned by all the amazing shades of green?  I know that I have - and it's mind blowing.  Sometimes in the city we tune out nature, and I think it's nice to remember that nature is pretty unbelievable.

Curious about the office I photographed these for? Check them out:

http://www.wholehealthchicago.com/

They have the BEST health tips and hilarious newsletters, so definitely sign up for fun random health facts - they seriously make my week.  The last one was about the benefits of wine for sexual happiness…pretty fabulous!!  I'll make sure to do a post of the final waiting room look once the art is installed, so stay tuned…

Inspiration: Texture & Color

For most designers and artists there is a balance between limitless possibility and grounding reality/ constrictions.  While I think most people dream of a life with no boundaries, in the end, we are often overwhelmed when we find ourselves in situations that actually seem completely limitless.  So, for me, when I find myself in those situations, I start to regroup and look for inspiration.  This week I'm working in NY on a project and found myself completely stressed by the idea that I was working from scratch on a project that could turn out to be really huge for me.  That is, if I make it great.  So, I was looking through design books, photography magazines and blogs to get excited and find direction and a "voice".  Towards the end of my search I procrastinated a little by looking at some photos I recently took and needed to organize when I stumbled upon some photos I took at the Chicago Lincoln Park Conservatory.  The textures, colors and patterns of nature completely inspired me to look at the project with new eyes….

Here are a few to inspire:

Want to visit the conservatory next time you're in Chicago?  Click here to check it out.

So, what inspires you?  Leave a comment - I'd love to know!

Hosted by Cecily and Lolli

A Date with Nature

I have an obvious obsession with texture and light.  These photos were taken around dusk on a walk in LA.  The bark and rough textures were so pretty in the sunset and crying out to be photographed.  The variations in bark types was bewildering up close.  And the beautiful thing about LA is how easy it is to find a trail to hike on.

Sandy Sunset & a Nikon

My friend Jaymi started a photography blog last year and has been upping her game ever since.  She recently bought the new Nikon D90 and made the impressive New Year's resolution of photographing more people.  She asked my friend Kristin and I to hit the beach in search of portrait possibilities, and of course, I had to bring my camera along to document the experience…

Want to check out Jaymi's Blog? www.jaymiblog.blogspot.com

California the Beautiful

I just feel so lucky to be a resident of this state.  And today it was made official!  I am now a card carrying (well, driver's license paper, but soon to be actual card) Californian.  While I appreciate the uniqueness of each place I have traveled or lived, it is always nice to be "home".  So, to celebrate, I wanted to share some snapshots I took just today while I was driving around for work.  While the iPhone is not ideal for many things (as a phone especially), it's at least handy when I leave my cameras at home.

My iPhone loves LA:

 the best of both worlds…palms and pines

a little fire in the sky

Everyone says the 5 is Ugly…..they must be blind

So, yesterday I was stuck in a car for, wait for it, 12 HOURS….. What could have been a horrendous day turned out to be fun, silly, and a great time to catch up with a good friend. We were diverted from the 5 south to the 101 when the grapevine pass was closed due to SNOW. California's weather is sure confusing me this year….Rain, snow in low altitude, and green pastures. It's like a different state completely! Overall, even with the weather, it was a great day. We sang, told stories, and took random photos of the world going (often slowly) by.

Here are a few gems of the 5 Freeway coming south from the bay area:

Want to go? I'm sure you do! These photos were taken in Gilroy, and on the 5 Freeway between Tracy & Lost Hills, CA.