I'm not a hand model but...

As a creative person - I appreciate all types of art and am a big fan in particular of artists I get to meet in person and have a personal connection with.

David and I often bring back local art from places we travel. I LOVE my hand carved wooden tiki mask we picked up in Maui for our 10th anniversary. Here is a gallery of the artist carving his signature into our piece in the open air market in Lahaina. We've also blown our own glass floats in Newport, Oregon (the gal helping us was an amazing craftsperson). I can't tell you how many pieces of jewelry I pick up on our travels (but my husband may be able to!). In fact - the brown and brass bracelet you see below is form our recent walk through Pike's Market!

Bringing talented henna artist, Allison Dickerson of Allura Henna for Studio 3's Last Saturday Art Tour was a perfect opportunity to experience this new (to me) type of artwork up close and very personal!

I have loved my own personal canvas for the last week - and am quite certain to work with Allison in the future... I'm seeing special henna for my birthday - maybe the holiday parties... New Year's Eve!

For more henna photographs - check out this gallery.

Sam's design - Scorpio in FLAMES! 

Max's awesome dragon.

A bit of personal history... and another reason why I do what I do.

Four by four, I've been scanning photographs in honor of my wedding anniversary all day today. My husband was reflecting fondly on some not-so old pictures while the boys and I were away - so I thought it was high time I scanned my pictures from the time I met David, until I went full-digital. Shhh... he doesn't know yet - it's his surprise after work! Popcorn and digital slideshow on the "big" screen!

This image was in a stack of older pictures - and like many my dad has taken over the years - I love it.

It's a classic image - one that nearly anyone can relate to. All the more special that its of my mom, brother and I circa 1974.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. I'm so thankful that my family has so many wonderful images in our history. Dating back to the late 1800's in fact. Having just gone through our recent history - I'm hoping the boys love the fact that we have so many of our moments documented... I know I've loved reminiscing this afternoon, and I can't wait to show my honey tonight!

Chelan - great memories!

I do love our week (s) at Lake Chelan. Here's one image that was quite familiar: boys swarming the skate park - conveniently located next door to our campground.

Welcome, Teachers!

Welcome teachers, to a brand new year!

If you’ve landed here, you’ve likely received the Welcome, Teachers flyer with a personal discount for photography as well as this chance to enter to win a classroom visit by yours, truly!

You’re ALMOST there!

By clicking on this link here, you are signing up for my photography newsletter, which only comes out when I’ve got news about special offers or promotions, or announcements about my photography workshops at Studio 3.

Once you complete the sign-up process through this link, you are automatically entered to win the classroom visit. You must teach in the Bend-La Pine School District to qualify for the visit. Don’t forget the deadline:

You must enter by FRIDAY, September 9th

Winner to be announced Monday, September 12th

(you will be contacted via email - which will be provided during the Enter to Win process!)

I’m happy to answer any questions! Drop an email here… or line via 541-410-6368.

Have a fantastic school year - and THANK YOU for all that you do for our children!

Iconic Seattle – A Pike’s Place Market Tour

With so many displays of colorful fruits, flowers and vegetables – who couldn’t walk away with a few beautiful photographs? 

Like shooting fish in a barrel, though, most are a bit predictable, fairly easy to capture – and similar to most other images you may have seen. But here’s the good news: like your all-time favorite movie from your teenage years – they’re still fun to look at!

Here are my top 10 photographs (in no particular order) from last week’s walkabout with my favorite shooting partner, my husband, David.


Note: As I'm still struggling with tennis elbow (should call it "photographer's elbow!") - I opted for my much smaller lens - the 50mm 1.4. I do love that lens, and am actually thankful for the excuse to use it!

Beautiful Skylines

We ate dinner at the waterfront last night with 3 other couples, and it was a gorgeous evening. I wasn't planning on taking any pictures - and only had my G12. 

Well, I wasn't feeling all that great, and my dinner got ignored, so what else could I do? 

Nice work, little G12!

Moonlight Play

We're in the middle of a fantastic August in Washington... and while most of this vacation is a camera-vacation - I did break out the tripod & made some long exposures this beautiful moonlit night. 

I call this "Max Walks Through Camp With Lantern." 

You can see his red checkered PJ bottoms, a hint of the teal flannel top (no fashion judgements please - we are camping!) - and best of all, the rhythm of his steps as the lantern sways with the cadence, lighting up the campsite around him - including the tree we are sitting beneath. I love that the sky looks blue - almost dusk-like... but it was far beyond sunset - and the sky is purely it by the moonlight and a 4 second exposure.

I'm certain I'll be adding posts to my travel blog - Wildfire, about this trip, in case you'd like to see more images from Chelan.

Have camera, will travel.

We travel to Lake Chelan every August, and typically it is a camera vacation for me - but this year it just so happened that my husband's cousin was wanting some pictures taken, and just so happens to live on our way to Chelan, in the Yakima Valley. She suggested the beautiful Yakima Arboretum as a venue - and I'm so glad she did. It was a beautiful evening, and I had 3 extra assistants helping out (Thanks boys!). 

Here are just a few of the images from last night's session... the rest are all here!

Bend's own competes in Hershey, PA - GO DAWSON!

This week, I'd like all of you to go out and buy a Hershey Chocolate bar. Go out and support this company - as they are doing some amazing things for kids. 

Meet Dawson - Bend's own High Desert Middle Schooler (and family friend), who just completed his first of 4 full days in Hershey, PA competing with kids from across the country at the Hershey Track & Field North American Finals. At no cost to the families, students from across the country have gathered in PA to meet, compete and play together from August 4-7. They get to not only compete, but are treated to special tours of the chocolate factory, amusement park visits, extra competition shirts to trade with the other competitors & a souvenir stipend. 

So, please take a moment, eat some chocolate and think good thoughts for our Central Oregon competitor!

GO DAWSON!

*** 8/6/2011 UPDATE! **** Congratulations, Dawson, on your GOLD MEDAL finish in the 100mm race! National Champion! Great work!

A few of you may notice its similar to another photograph I've recently taken... Dawson and his brother, along with my two boys were light testers for me the night I did a trial run for the cover shoot for this month's True North Parenting Magazine. They were HAMS, and gave me some amazing shots to take home. It was quite the entertaining evening!

Croissant {love} at Sparrow Bakery

I spent the morning strolling about my studio's new neighborhood (the Old Ironworks District) with my camera - and was lucky enough to watch this beautiful and labor-of-love process...

Thanks, ladies, for letting me take a peek!

For just a few more photos from this morning at the bakery - click here!

Must be in the blood...

I know my dad will wake up tomorrow morning, grab his cup of coffee - meander to his office and log on to his computer. Lilly the dog will be hanging out at his feet, and he'll make his usual rounds 'round the web, including checking up on his daughter's web activity -

Lo and behold!

A landscape. A black and white coastal landscape.

This one's for you, dad!