Today I had the joy of photographing an event.  This particular event was for a 50th Wedding Anniversary!  It was so great to see so many friends show up to help celebrate this special occasion.  It’s encouraging to think about Leslie and I, 50 years from now, still being in love.  Sappy, I know.  She’s the one who has the hard job.  She is easy to love, and I am … well, I’m me.

This weekend we had a great time hanging out.  Saturday morning I bought some storage for our kitchen, and she went to work, but after that is when the fun started.  We went to the local Lexus dealership for a radio event.  My buddy, and DJ, Chris Cantore was hosting an event with a sweet jazz band and some giveaways.  We were going specifically for a getaway trip (for a honeymoon that we’ll take someday) or tickets to go see Phoenix in September.  We didn’t win the trip (because they haven’t picked winners yet) and we didn’t win Phoenix tickets, but the person who won them did give them to us! 

After that we went to the beach.  We were talking down the stairs and saw a rock that looked like a sea lion on the beach.  Sure enough, this rock was breathing!!  I took a rare chance and kneeled down and pet its tail.  It looked up at me like, “What the crap do you think you’re doing?” and eventually made his way into the waves to escape my tormenting.  We walked a while, saw a jellyfish, and then made our way back to the car.  Here’s where the weekend gets really good.  We got SLURPEES!  If anybody knows me, you know how much I love these things (hello 7-11 sponsorship). 

So there you have it, my weekend in a nutshell.  I’d add more about a great conversation with Chris Cantore but some secrets are better left as secrets.  All I have to say is that I’m glad this guy is on the radio again, and I’m glad he stayed in San Diego.  He loves this town and that’s what really counts.

A while back I had a chance to go “work” out in Palm Desert.  I say “work” because taking pictures for me has always been a hobby, and now it’s my “job” too.  If you love what you do, is it really work?  Anyways, I was driving out there to shoot a couple of houses (which for the record, didn’t go well thanks to my arrival being a surprise to BOTH of the homeowners … thanks realtor) when I realized my GPS was taking me through the scenic route.  I loved it.  Winding roads, trees, and well, mailboxes.  I didn’t have time to stop but told myself I’d make it happen on the way back.  So I did.  As you can see.  The scary part was that when I put my camera back in my car (2008 Scion xB - look it up, it’s ugly and I love it), I forgot to close the back hatch.  I’m driving back down the road and I look in my mirror only to think about how clean and clear my back window is!  Then it hits me, I’m going 50 MPH down a road with my back hatch open with ALL MY GEAR hanging on for dear life.  I carefully pull over and run to the back of my car to see it all safe.  Thankfully!

And that’s why you don’t use a one-armed person to scare someone!  Thank you Arrested Development (RIP).

A few weeks ago, I was in Yosemite.  Sleeping in a hammock.  Fighting off bears.  Tubing down rivers.  Not showering.  It was awesome!  This is a photo I took from the base of Half Dome.  A bunch of us were at Mirror Lake playing in the water and jumping off a big rock, when I looked up and realized what I was looking at.  I was standing at the foot of one of the most famous rocks in America.  It was absolutely breathtaking.  At this moment I didn’t see anything else around me.  I didn’t even realize I was standing in 3 feet of water with my camera!  This was my first time at Yosemite, and I know it won’t be my last.  Can’t wait until next summer.

Sea Otters … Seriously, crazy little creatures.  Not so little though.  These suckers are HUGE!  These are in the Monterey Aquarium, but while I was in Monterey I saw otters in the water in the wild!  So awesome!  Enjoy this shot, and keep watching for more.

The Lone Cypress on 17 Mile Drive near Pebble Beach.  Beautiful view.  The poor weather worked for this image.  I would have preferred the ocean be smooth, but there was kelp EVERYWHERE and nothing I could do about it.

Viva La Revolucion is going on in San Diego, and artists such as Shepard Fairey, Banksy, and Invader are in town. Can’t wait to spot a real banksy. For now, here’s a Shepard Fairey print he put up on the wall of Urban Outfitters in Hillcrest, San Diego.

My friends are baby-makers.  9 babies to 9 couples in 9 months.  Yesterday I had the opportunity to photograph the parents of Baby Elijah, due in approximately 3 weeks.

Travis and I have been friends for a long time now, our parents even work together.  He met Olivia and fell in love.  They are total nerds, and completely awesome.  They were married in May of 2009, and just a little over a year later, they are going to be parents!

It was an honor to photograph my friends, and I eagerly await the arrival of Baby Elijah!