New Year

New years always brings around a time to start over, make new goals and push ahead with a fresh start. This blog entry will be the fresh new start for my blogging.
I thought it would be fitting to give credit to some bloggers that I follow and truly enjoy!
http://www.pifphoto.com/
http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/
http://www.tofurious.com/
http://www.shootsacblog.com/index.cfm?catID=2
http://www.jasminestarblog.com/
http://thepioneerwoman.com/ (if you haven't read her and Marlboro Mans story you are missing out)
http://coffeeteaphotography.blogspot.com/2006/11/textures.html

There are more that I have come across but these always draw me back.

If you have a favorite blog site leave it in the comment below so we can all check it out!!

I was honored when Tamra of http://www.seaofserendipity.com/and I had the opportunity to shoot engagement photos for Elizabeth & Mike. I have known Elizabeth for years in fact she was in my wedding 14yrs ago. Mike I haven't known near as long, but I can tell by the way he looks at her that life is good and the future will be bright for them.

Thier story is straight out of a storybook. Years ago they were together as a couple but life got in the way. They each followed thier own paths not knowing that later as the stars would have it they would cross paths again. It was the perfect time and just looking at them you know they couldn't be happier.

While shooting them I couldn't help feel the warmth and love that was deep and strong but fresh and new all at the same time.

What a special couple ~ Congratulations & all the best!

Amanda

(I know you want to see so here is a quick peek:)

Had a chance to shoot Rachael and Brody at Agua Caliente Park. Wow he is growing up so fast. They are both so photogenic that it was easy to shoot great pictures of them.
Fun morning and great opportunity to get out the 70-200 and spend some time with it. I really like that lens so- much that I don't mind "hauling" it around anymore.
I haven't been to that park in quite a long time and am kicking myself now. What a pretty place. I even think it was cooler temp wise then the rest of town. If you get a chance go visit http://www.naturalwonders.net/agua/ it truly is an oasis in the desert!
Couple of shots from the morning~~

They grow up too fast & new point and shoot

I bought a new point & shoot after the last one died a dusty death from being out on one too many buggy rides at the dunes. This new one past the test of time on the Utah quading trip. Through dust (and I mean alot of dust), lakes, rivers and Gizmo lickings it kept on shooting. For inexpensive go everwhere I have to say the Olympus 550wp is pretty darn good so far.
I had it in my purse the other day when the girls hit the mall for school shopping. First ever eyebrow wax - ouch. And now thanks to this handy dandy pocket sized p&s that event has now become part of the family video library!!

Caribbean Vacation!!

A week that just went by way too fast!!

Craig stayed home to have quality time with Gizmo:) and "hold down the fort" while CJ, my two sisters and I were lucky enough to spend a week visiting mom and Paul at thier apartments on St. Thomas and then sailing on thier sailboat the

"Sail Marilee".

After we all arrived we left the apartments and ferried over to St. John to the boat which is kept in Cruz Bay. CJ got her hair completely braided on St. John and to this day still has the braids. (If you get there look up Philomen for your braids she has done CJ's numerous times and they stay in!!). Snorkeling was great, we swam with ramoras, rays, parrotfish, barracudas and so many other types of fish! If you see Becky be sure to ask her about being the "bird whisperer". We visited the world famous Yost Van Dyke http://www.b-v-i.com/JostVanDyke/default.htm"Soggy Dollar Bar" http://www.soggydollar.com/soggydollarbar/and "Foxys" http://www.foxysbar.com/home.html for our Painkillers & Bushwackers. After sailing for a couple of days we ended up back over on St. Thomas staying in the apartments and doing some quick shopping downtown St. Thomas.

We had so much fun- hard to leave!

Already thinking about next summer:)

**Special thanks to Mom & Paul for everything**

If you are headed to USVI St. Thomas and are looking for a rental apt. Let me know-I'll put you in touch with Mom & Paul one of thiers may be available....

To view more pictures of the trip check out my portrait and scenic galleries on the website.

meetup in the park

Last week I came across a meetup group in Tucson called Arizona Photo Events http://www.meetup.com/ArizonaPhotoEvents/ The group is organized by Corinne http://www.modelmayhem.com/DoubletakesByCorinne & http://www.onemodelplace.com/photographer_list.cfm?P_ID=3894 a great lady with incredible energy! Anyway this past Sunday they were having a meetup in the park & a bbq. Sounded like fun so after a little reorganizing we managed to get there for a couple of hours...(We being me and my assistant CJ. She is just amazing ~I don't know what I would do with out her)!!

What fun and and a great way to network! I was able to work with two fabulous models ~ Corey http://www.modelmayhem.com/662887 & Goz http://www.modelmayhem.com/242554. Both are incredible and great fun to shoot.

Here are a few from the morning

~ Corey ~

~Goz ~

We were able to get away this past holiday weekend to Roosevelt Lake. Thanks to Ralph & Virginia for having an open campsite for us. Spent each day, all day long, on the lake wakeboarding, kneeboarding and hanging out. Was able to try wakeboarding behind a tower-wow! much easier to get up! (Thanks Tom for giving us the chance to try that). Now if I could feel my shoulder and straighten my arm soon it would be nice. Maybe I need to start weight training or something~problem probably is I am not quite as young as I think I am??
Our site was nice with great views, but a little hike down to the water.





I took Gizmo walking in the mornings and grabbed a couple of shots here and there of the camping area. This one is processed with a new photoshop action - kind of a HDR look to it (High Dynamic Range). What do you think??





This one also processed with a new action...I am on the fence with this painting look and may have to try it on some other images to decide if I like it or not. What do you think??