Spring

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Photography: Egret Nesting Tree

A few weeks ago, a friend showed me this nesting tree near me. It’s located behind a fast food restaurant, in between two strip malls, if you can believe it. I pulled out the tripod Neil left me, and sat behind the stores to watch these beautiful creatures flying in and out of their nests.

I couldn’t get close, so I used my lens with the greatest zoom. These aren’t the best quality, but I still like them. They tell a story of resilience and community. You’ll notice that among the egrets, there was a pair of herons, and several red-winged blackbirds.

Let me know if you have a favorite and have a fantastic Monday.

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#20: Here’s my setup and how far away I was (taken with my iphone).

  • These were taken with my Olympus E-M1 MarkII, using a 75-300mm lens and edited with Lightroom Classic.
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Photography: Springtime at Coyote Pond

She turned to the sunlight
And shook her yellow head,
And whispered to her neighbor:
“Winter is dead.”
—A.A. Milne, When We Were Very Young

Yesterday, I returned to Coyote Pond to see if it might be a good place to take senior portraits (yes, yes it is). My first visit was during a rainstorm, and I took some of my favorite pictures of birds. This time, the sun was shining brightly and the entire morning felt like magic.

Sure, some of these photos are too bright and the focus isn’t technically perfect, but I’m so in love with these images. The world right now feels unsettling, and I’ve got too many things to think about, but there are still baby geese and turtles and ladybugs. I can’t stop thinking about how much Neil would have loved these photos, and maybe you will too.

Let me know if you have a favorite and have a fantastic day!

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  • Photos taken with the Olympus E-M1 MarkII, using a 14-150mm lens and edited with Lightroom Classic.
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Photography: Boldly Go

“The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one.”—Spock

What do you do when you want to practice photography and you’ve got no models? You find some around the house. These are silly, but they are me trying out some new settings on my camera. I’m starting to get the crispness I’ve been lacking. What do you think? Do you have a favorite?

I’m headed to visit a friend for the next five days, and I’ll be taking her portrait photos at sunset in a beautiful location. I felt legit packing up my camera gear, including my brand new fancy flash. Thank you to every single person who checks out my journey and follows along.

And if you know me in real life, or live in the Sacramento area, I’m looking for models to practice with. Please don’t make me keep using toys 🙂

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  • These were taken with my Olympus E-M1 MarkII, using a 14-150mm lens and edited with Lightroom Classic.

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Photography: Macro Backyard

“You need to let the little things that would ordinarily bore you suddenly thrill you.”—Andy Warhol

Yesterday, I took my macro lens into the backyard in search of color and texture. Despite how it looked when I took the photo, I’m still not getting the crispness I want. So, I pivoted and edited these to make them look more abstract, focusing on one detail. The story behind these photos is the emerging of spring, and how my yard is shifting. I’m curious what you think and if you have a favorite.

My lovely friend Anna asked me to join her in the #100DayProject. If you’re unfamiliar, the concept is simple. You choose any creative project you like and do it every day for 100 days, sharing your process on social media using the hashtag #The100DayProject. This year the dates are Feb. 22-June 2.

For my project, I’ll be taking photos every single day. I won’t post them here, but you’ll see some of them weekly. If you want to join, please do so and let me know. I’m excited to see which project calls to you.

And if you’re curious, here’s my attempts at the #100DayProject over the years:
2023: Watercolor painting (I quit after week 5)
2022: Photography (It’s interesting to see how far I’ve come)

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  • These were taken with my Olympus E-M1 MarkII, using a 12-50mm macro lens and edited with Lightroom Classic.
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Photography: May Day

It can be hard right now to think about light streaming through ribbons, flowers, and youthful hearts, but the world still contains all the beautiful things it always has. Let me take you away from the news for a moment as we dance around the May pole and celebrate the spirit of spring. Let me know if you have a favorite photo and have a wonderful day.

“It is spring again. The earth is like a child that knows poems by heart.”
—Rainer Maria Rilke

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  • These photos were taken with an Olympus OM-D and edited with ON1 Photo RAW.
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Book Release Week: Time to Party!

This Sunday, I’ll be standing in my favorite bookstore reading from my book. It’s literally a dream come true, and while I’ve still got a little voice telling me how embarrassing/cringe this all is, I’m letting myself be excited. It’s also my birthday today, so I’m feeling all celebratory and reflective. Maybe even a bit proud.

You still have a few days to pre-order yourself a copy and get the bonus stuff:

  • Autographed copy of the book
  • Bookmark with links to a photo collage and Spotify playlist for all 52 stories
  • A printed and autographed copy of an additional story not in the book titled Through the Glass Windshield

Thanks for cheering me on.

Books, books and more books.

Giant sign for the event.

Shipping boxes.

My pretty pen for signing books.

Stickers, anyone?

And here’s some pretty flowers blooming in my garden, because it’s Spring and I’m feeling all hopeful and stuff.

  • These photos were taken with an Olympus OM-D and edited with ON1 Photo RAW.
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Photography: May Day

“As full of spirit as the month of May, and as gorgeous as the sun in Midsummer.”
—William Shakespeare

Today we celebrated May Day by watching a group of 8th grade students dance around in the pouring rain. It was a lovely morning and a wonderful reminder of beauty and connection. I hope you enjoy these photos and let me know if you have a favorite.

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  • These photos were taken with an Olympus OM-D and edited with ON1 Photo RAW.
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Photography: Spring

“If we surrendered
to earth’s intelligence
we could rise up rooted, like trees.”
—Rainer Maria Rilke

I’ve been sick for two weeks with a terrible virus. It started with a fever and ended with a horrible nonstop cough. I stayed in bed, minus a trip to the doctor, but barely got any rest. It was one miserable day after the next. It made me appreciate my health and fully understand the word surrender.

To celebrate returning to the land of the living (maybe a bit dramatic), I dusted off my camera and visited the local plant nursery this morning. The bees, the colors, and the sunshine all did wonders for my mood. I hope you enjoy these photos and please let me know if you have a favorite.

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  • These photos were taken with an Olympus OM-D and edited with ON1 Photo RAW.
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poetry: snow cave

in Winter
in all Winters
it lays dormant inside 
domed darkness

you walk past it looking nowhere
anywhere, but not there
  never there

yet it goes still
growing bedrock feral
mushroom bellied
lichen ferocious
trapping pain web-like
crackling like ice
smelling like bruised desperation
like untouched skin
like hot ash scattered by eroded winds 

you don’t need to see
to feel

you walk faster looking nowhere
anywhere, but not there
  never there 

yet it goes still
like tides
like movement 
Spring saplings tap-dancing
on rooted tiptoes
daffodils issuing battle cries
thrusting spears upward
dandelion puffs cooing
dreaming light again
there’s a light somewhere
he says

your nested winds sigh
your meadow grasses rustle
your waters ripple gently

just a bit longer
you tell your forest
  hold tight