A fun part of my job is getting to scout different locations. This is crystal cove in Laguna beach California. I will post photos of how the photo shoot turns out.
Concepting the shot list
Oldest winery in Somoma /
If you make it to Sonoma. Check out Buena vista winery. This winery had a 4 million dollar remodel. The interior had some really cool decor as pictured. They specialize in Pinot noir but have a great selection wines.
Classic point break /
One of the best thing about living in Northern California is being so close to Santa Cruz. When the winds have the surf blown in San Francisco its great to make the drive down the coast to get some fun waves as shown.
Santa Cruz, California
Eat Local /
Sapa, Northern Vietnam
Every Morning before I would go off for my hikes. I would sit at the local market in Sapa and have this for breakfast, Tofu and Pig fat. At first it took me a little time to figure out that I was eating pig fat, which would give it a little salty taste. By the end of my trip I would look forward to having this every morning. I think at the time it was around 10 cents and I would usually be the only tourist sitting with all the locals eating it.
Visit my Vietnam page to see more images on Northern Vietnam.
Tofu and Pig Fat silver gelatin print Sapa, Vietnam
Mouth full- Phuket Vegetarian Festival /
The Phuket Vegetarian Festival is a colourful event held over a nine-day period in October, celebrating the Chinese community's belief that abstinence from meat and various stimulants during the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar will help them obtain good health and peace of mind.
Though the origins of the festival are unclear, it is commonly thought that the festival was bought to Phuket by a wandering Chinese opera group who fell ill with malaria while performing on the island.
They decided to adhere to a strict vegetarian diet and pray to the Nine Emperor Gods to ensure purification of the mind and body. To everyone's amazement the opera group made a complete recovery. The people celebrated by holding a festival that was meant to honour the gods as well as express the people's happiness at surviving what was, in the 19th century, a fatal illness. Subsequently the festival has grown and developed into a spectacular yearly event that is attended by thousands with participants flying in from China and other Asian destinations.
The Ceremonies
One of the most exciting aspects of the festival are the various, (and sometimes gruesome) ceremonies which are held to invoke the gods. Firewalking, body piercing and other acts of self mortification undertaken by participants acting as mediums of the gods, have become more spectacular and daring as each year goes by. Men and women puncture their cheeks with various items including knives, skewers and other household items. It is believed that the Chinese gods will protect such persons from harm, and little blood or scarring results from such mutilation acts. This is definitely not recommended for the faint hearted to witness.
Taking a break from the procession, this is a really heavy piece of reinforcing steel.
Make your own Luck- Happy St. Pattys Day /
Fun photo shoot I did for Peek kids, We got lucky with a beautiful day in Golden Gate Park.
Happy Birthday Kai /
"When I was a little kid, I loved imagining things. I'd go outside and put on a cape and just imagine I was somebody else"
Haley Joel Osment
One of my favorite photos of my son, really captures his true spirit, never stop dreaming.
Yangon /
I photographed this Hill tribe man in Yangon back when Aung San Suu Kyi was still on house arrest and would be for the next 15 years. I thought it was really interesting seeing this hill tribe man set against this weathered wall in this crazy city just taking a rest. I am guessing by his age that his tattoo's were not done in a studio and his leg tattoo's indicate he is from a hill tribe. I didn't get to experience any indigenous cultures in Myanamar as the government had closed off all travel to those parts of the country. During this time I only shot with 35mm film and a 50mm lens. I would have to get really close to my subjects to get photographs like this.
