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Enoch + Sonia in San Diego

April 30th, 2009

Mormons don’t get married by a pastor or priest. And there is no “til death do us part” either. They get sealed by a sealer for eternity. ETERNITY. Photographers are not allowed into the temple. We wait outside as our couples seal the deal without us. Tough job but somebody’s gotta do it. It did get a tiny tough in a competitive sort of way when scrambling for photo spots amid a dozen of other wedding parties and their photogs. Of course you know who always comes through…check it out for yourself.

SLIDESHOW - click here

After family pictures and formals, we headed to the beach.

Many family members and friends could not attend the sealing in San Diego so a small ceremony was held in Torrance a few hours later.

Moments before hitting the dance floor.

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Thailand 2000 - 2003

April 20th, 2009

Another nostalgic night.

***4-23-09:  Today I asked my mom if she’s checked out my latest blog entry thinking she might like some of my shots of the motherland. She replied, “Did you take those or did you get them from somewhere else?” Is that a compliment?

Pai

Chiang Mai

Outskirts of Bangkok

Ayutthaya

Takad Ngow

Songkla:  Birthplace of my father

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Disneyland + California Adventure + Rosanna + Matthew

April 20th, 2009

Fun in the hot hot hot sun with Rosanna and Matt at Disneyland and CA. Here are 2 quick shots from today’s engagement session. More to come soon.

For those of you who are Nikon people, you’ll be happy to know that all Disney photographers at both parks shoot with Nikons.  The pic below was taken by a Disney guy shooting with my D700. For you Canon folks, most of the patrons walking around with dSLR’s were packing Canons. Once again, its a draw.

Funniest picture of the day. A man on his honeymoon.

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Ryan Andrew, Autumn Star, and Crystal Rain

April 14th, 2009

Kids photograph better than adults. Even when formally posing, their spirit surfaces.

When Violet contacted me to take pictures of her daughters and nephew, I was delighted. A chance to shoot kids! My Nikons and I had already gotten to know them a little bit at Violet’s and Rick’s January wedding. Some of my favorite shots of that particular day were of Ryan and Crystal. They’re natural posers. Have a look at my top 3 pictures from this session.

Ryan Andrew

Autumn Star

Crystal Rain

Nostalgia, Guatemala 2006

April 13th, 2009

I get nostalgic. Music triggers it. So do the smells of diesel fuel and sewage.

Guatemala Summer 2006: An adventure. Fun with like-minded travelers and locals. Language barrier. Then off the beaten path. No tourists in sight for days. An underground railroad. Danger. Undocumented border crossing. Resemblance of love (more danger).

This video was created by Pep Nogueroles, a Spanish friend and videographer: INEPAS documentary. You’ll catch footage of me with my host family and at school. INEPAS is a small Spanish school. Tuition paid by foreigners go to social aide programs and rural communities.

The following videos were made by me and a friend I met while traveling. He wasn’t your typical visitor. Ask me about it in person. Long story. Enough to fill a thin book of 186 pages.

Photos were snapped here and there. Audios were taken but I haven’t managed to send them off to a server yet. Someday I’ll piece together the audio NPR-style and make a story of it. In the meantime, enjoy the slideshow.

Saturday Night is Photo Night (again)

April 12th, 2009

My cousin Meth and I just got back a few hours ago from an LDS wedding.  Great experience.  Twelve weddings were held at the temple today.  Yes, 12.  You can imagine the gridlock of photographers vying for the same photo spots around the garden.  Luckily, this photog goes where no others dare.  That patch of grass where there’s no lingering bodies or passerbies looks great!

As I was transferring the image files to my computer, I noticed something cool: pictures of me!  Besides lugging around all my gear as we scurried through the San Diego Temple and around a beach near Torrey Pines, Meth actually took shots of me shooting.  Finally, the photog gets some nonself-portraits of himself.  Thanks man.

By the way, Meth is 15 years old and I don’t think he’s ever picked up a dSLR prior to a couple of days ago.  Check out the angle he put on the first pic.  A natural.

Enoch curiously supervising as I take some bouquet shots.  Check out my favorite lens, the 50mm/1.4.  When I latch it to my camera, I am comforted knowing it’s going to always come through for me because we go WAAay back.


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Happy Birthday Samani

April 10th, 2009

Each year we have a big party for Samani.  It’s the biggest annual event for our family that far surpasses Thanksgiving, Christmas, and all other holidays combined.  Of course we want to celebrate the little guy.  After all, turning 5 is monumental.  So was turning 4, 3, 2, and 1.  Equally important though, it gives us reason to hang out with some of the coolest people on Earth, our friends.

Pooh and his dear friend Piglet:

“When you wake up in the morning, Pooh,” said Piglet at last, “what’s the first thing you say to yourself?”
“What’s for breakfast?” said Pooh. “What do you say, Piglet?”
“I say, I wonder what’s going to happen that will be exciting today?” said Piglet.
Pooh nodded thoughtfully.
“It’s the same thing,” he said.”

It’s exciting to be around friends, and friends of friends.  Have a look!

==

My mom and her beloved grandson preparing food for his party.  He helped peel the egg roll wraps apart until he couldn’t keep his eyes open any longer.  Then he rolled up into his makeshift bed and slumbered until grandma was ready to call it a night (around 3 AM).  I think she kinda likes the little fellow.  As an aside:  Yes, we cook on the kitchen floor.  Don’t worry it’s clean.  At least cleaner than your kitchen counters!  OH!

The day’s first activity was painting.

Then face painting to turn the kids into monsters.  If you’re a parent those terms are synonymous.

Mom (right) and my aunt

The dolls were designed and made by my sis.  The cake was a replica of the invitation created by her as well.

Kiki thinks this is how you hold a camera because she’s only seen it from the vantage point of the subject.  You can grab the camera, flip it around, and hand it back to her.  Doesn’t matter.  She’ll flip it right back to her normal picture taking position.

Short flix:  They have a little connection.  See if you can catch it.

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Vanessa + Mario from Hacienda Heights to Laguna Beach

April 6th, 2009

Watch the slideshow for complete coverage of the wedding.  You’ll see Vanessa talking and texting on her cellphone before the first ceremony nervously guiding her father to the church.  The procession started practically as he stepped out of his vehicle.  Two ceremonies, a late dad, some car troubles, and a train crossing later…happily ever after.  Quite the adventure.

Ceremony #2 and the reception were held at Tivoli Terrace in Laguna Beach.

The second big kiss of the day

More kissing

==

Links and things:

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Laugh

April 1st, 2009

“It is an amazing thing to watch people laugh, the way it sort of takes them over.  Sometimes they really do struggle with it.  I see that in church often enough.  So I wonder what it is and where it comes from, and I wonder what it expends out of your system, so that you have to do it till you’re done, like crying in a way, I suppose, except that laughter is much more easily spent.”  - Gilead by Marilynne Robinson, pg 5

My favorite funny people: