Green Rush: California's new gold

Today I photographed the opening of iGrow, a special horiticultural superstore...for marijuana...weed that is. It is the first and biggest in the state of California...and most likely the US.

It was a day filled with Oakland Council members, really really nice cars, a lot of news stations and of lot of interesting stories from the people. Here are five of my favs after a fifteen minute edit. Ok had to throw in a sixth.

Hallelujah

Today was the first day I feel like I've seen light in weeks. The rain stopped. The skies cleared and I went for a walk. As I continue my wedding portfolio journey, I came across this image taken from a beautiful and colorful Sikh wedding I photographed in the fall . I've been re-living that day...all day...and it's been a good day. It's not easy editing down a wedding from nearly 2,000 images to my goal of 12...the magic story number. Not that every story's number is 12. It's just good to have a goal. 

I was called last minute to be a second shooter for a wedding I knew nothing about. But of course I hopped on the opportunity. It was like shooting my first wedding. I had no idea what was going on or where was appropriate to stand. I photographed barefoot with a scarf on my head and loved every minute of it. 

It was kinda like the feeling that Avatar created...being in a world not your own...but really we all speak the same language....just a little less blue.

This is my "teaser" post while I continue to widdle down images from this wedding for my next post.

The title comes from the song played at the time of naming this post.

Music Ad

After reading an article on photographing music shows I was inspired to make this ad. Music photography is one of my first loves and one of the many things I would photograph even without backstage passes...although that seems to improve the quality of the images. ;)

I began photographing musicians in college when I started hanging out with the town punk band, "Nonstop 3" or rather, "the kids" when I first met them. I fell in love with the excitement of being around these guys who were like my own personal Green Day...and I may have had a small thing for the drummer. I thought my path was sealed and hung on to the romantic idea that I'd one day shoot for Rolling Stone Magazine. Well...it might still happen and I did find myself a good drummer. Regardless, I hope to be shooting A Lot more music. So maybe this advertisement will help me get some work doing what I love.

I should also mention the band in the ad is The Midwest Avengers. I had the privilege of hanging out with them for a few shows in St. Louis. A super cool and talented group of guys that I hope to photograph on tour in the future.

Dunes West Golf Club | Adam + Ashley

It's still raining outside and after dealing with a flooding kitchen and bathroom, too much time in front of the tv, books in bed and new food creations, it's time to get back to pictures. A new wedding portfolio is long overdue. I photographed Adam and Ashley's wedding in November of 2008 in South Carolina at Dunes West Golf Club. Reliving through these images reminded me of how much fun (and beautiful) this wedding was. I wish I could take Spanish Moss to all my weddings...as well as the southern hospitality I encountered immediately. Because I traveled across country, I got to spend a few extra days with the Adam and Ashley and their family. We met the day before their wedding for casual portraits, family portraits and then a bbq on the beach with family and friends. By the time wedding day came, we were old friends eating grits and shrimp and there is nothing better than shooting your friend's wedding. Thanks Adam and Ashley! Y'all kinda rock!

Here are a few of my favorites that will most likely make it into my new portfolio. I've also started using Kevin Kubota's photoshop actions...aka new toy. Hope I didn't overdue it. Would love to hear which ones are your favorites.

Tracy + Shannon + Orion | St. Louis Art Museum (outside)

Over the holidays I had the wonderful opportunity to photograph my friends' family portrait. I've known Tracy and Shannon since I was...well...since I was very little. We are camp friends from Sherwood Forest meaning we spent our nights under the southern Missouri stars while singing songs, acting goofy and running after a few crazy kids while we were also crazy kids.

A few years ago, I photographed their family portrait.  Orion was one year old and stunning. Big blue eyes and very well behaved. He's still stunning...but lets say...the running after crazy kids continues! It was a blast! These are a few of the shots taken from that cold winter's day. Thanks Tracy, Shannon and Orion! ENJOY!

Anne + Steve | Claremont Hotel

Sunday I had the pleasure to photograph Anne and Steve's wedding at the Claremont Hotel high up on the hill top overlooking Berkeley, Oakland, and all the way to San Francisco. I photographed it along side Fu with Red Letter Weddings. The view from the balcony was gorgeous although mostly grey and foggy as the day was blessed with rain...and lots of it. But that didn't stop this from being a beautiful wedding. Anne and Steve were classy, fun and filled with adventure and LOVE. She was literally glowing surrounded by so many family and friends. I was telling a friend today who is planning her own wedding, that the day seems like a chance to create your own personal utopia by having all the people you love together...to celebrate you and your partner. It's pretty great.

Like every wedding, it is unique. Anne and Steve had a Jewish ceremony. Their kiss was shared with the Jewish community surrounding them via blanket. And of course...my favorite always is the Hora dance! ENERGY!!!!! These are my favorites in both color and B&W. I was raised to believe that mixing color with B&W is a no-no...but...well...now I can brake those rules. :) Thanks Steve, Anne and Fu! ENJOY!  Check out my facebook page to see more images.

Great Photographer and Great Aunt

Alvera Steinman March 24, 1922 - January 3, 2010

Great Aunt Alvera passed on from this world Sunday morning in St. Louis, Mo. She was 87. Alvera worked mostly as a wedding photographer with the camera that sits on her lap. This was of course long before I ever imagined shooting weddings myself. It was actually because of her, that I never wanted to be a wedding photographer.  She photographed my parents wedding delivering a total of eight prints developed in her downstairs darkroom. All posed with eyes painted in if she caught a blinker. Apparently she was pretty bossy with the camera and never quite understood my interest in photojournalism. Her darkroom was in her basement surrounded by mallard duck paintings from my Uncle Jim and many many jars of preserves.

I took this image with my mom's point and shoot on the day we were cleaning Alvera's house and moving her into a nursing home. It was the last time I sat with her and the only time we sat down with her cameras. She had given me a few tours of her darkroom while growing up and always offered to let me have her enlarger. And despite our differences in photography...we did have that as a common bond. I think because of that, I was able to understand a small portion of my great aunt that others were not able to.

Thanksgiving day, Alvera had her first experience with today's technology, Skype as my father passed the computer around the family table. Zeta and I were on the other end in California and the family was in St. Louis. We were placed down in front of her when a huge smile came upon her face. "Where are they?" she asked my mom seeming totally confused but also amused. Between my mom's voicelessness and Alvera's hard of hearing, the conversation was just an exchange of smiles.

My grandfather, Alvera's brother, passed away two years ago. And my remaining Great Uncle Harold, her other brother passed away in 2009. Alvera was the oldest.