Love Yourself- Life in Southern California

Off Of My Haitus

2009-03-26T16:17:00.000-07:00

It's been way too long since I have posted anything new. The more time that has passed, the more difficult it seems to start blogging again. But I am going to approach it differently and just write whatever is on my mind, and think less about it. I also want to start blogging about some local LA spots, as well as cool places throughout California- since that is really what I love to do. Discover new things.

So thanks for being patient.. And I look forward to creating some new posts..

Los Angeles Updates

2008-02-10T11:58:00.000-08:00

This is a picture of me taken on a shoot about 2.5 months ago. Not the most recent photo, I know but there is just something so real about it. On shoots I try to be so serious and on top of my shit- and it's just so funny that a photo like this reflects that so well. That side of myself only comes out rarely in certain situations. And usually I am so focused and peacefully stressed that I would never notice it. But here it is.

It has been so so long sonce I have posted anything! That makes it all the more interesting to sit down and write right now- there are so many things I could write about. So many experiences I have had in the last three months. But I will stick to the basics- have amazing house. I have been getting amazing shoots. I have wonderful friends. I love Los Angeles. I feel so fortunate.

This is the entrance to my little studio. I live in Laural Canyon- which is technically part of the Hollywood Hills. It cracks me up to tell people that I live in the Hollywood Hills- but it is true. Laurel Canyon is probably the most down to earth section of the hills. The roads are barley wide enough for two cars. The wind obscurely through the canyon, some paved, some simply dirt. Houses sit on the edge of cliffs over looking the city below. The other night as I was getting ready for bed, I heard a pack of coyotes barking for minutes at a time. Being in the canyon, all of the sounds below of dogs barking, birds singing, and people in their backyards is amplified. It's a fascinating place to live.

More photos of my house:

Photos of Laurel Canyon:

more to come soon..

I Am Alive in Los Angeles

2007-11-29T08:55:00.001-08:00

Venice Beach, CA..

I took this picture late yesterday afternoon. I was in Venice Beach for a photo shoot and had about an hour in between subjects. It was surprisingly peaceful out in the Pier. Even right on the beach in Venice, the grittiness of Los Angeles still permeates even the calmness of the ocean. But yesterday it was quiet.

It's been a while since I have posted anything. Mainly because I have been in limbo, commuting back and forth between San Diego and Los Angeles. However this week was monumental in that I made a life changing decision in about an hour.

On Sunday evening, I drove down to San Diego from LA after a rich and relaxing Thanksgiving weekend. On Monday morning, I decided it was time to cut the crap and move to Los Angeles. On Tuesday morning I was in my car, on my way up to LA. By Wednesday morning I had a two month sublet and a photo shoot.

The time was right for me to move to LA and now that I am here, I couldn't be happier. This is the first step towards getting settled again, having a home-base, and building a new life!

More updates to come...

From San Diego to Maui!!!

2007-10-26T23:34:00.000-07:00

I left San Diego on Wednesday morning. It was such a relief to get out of there. The fires had been burning since Sunday. My lungs were at their capacity- and my entire body was feeling affected by the smoke. I had been evacuating from place to place for 2 days. But the stress I was under was nothing in comparison to thousands of people who lost their homes. Either way, I was glad get out of there. I had a trip planned to Maui for several months, and it couldn't have come at a better time.

Here are some photos from our first day....

San Diego Fire Evacuees, Qualcom, Stadium

2007-10-26T23:11:00.000-07:00

I got a call from People Magazine to shoot portraits of evacuees at the Qualcomm Stadium. I had a little over 2 hours to make these portraits, however I am really happy with them.

Overall, it was very easy to get these people to be real with their emotions in front of the camera. Most of the people there had been under so much stress and lack of sleep- the last thing they wanted to do was smile in front of a camera. While they agreed to be photographed- most boundaries that keep people from being comfortable in front of a lens had dissipated.

I encouraged them not to smile- but to express what they were feeling in that moment, in front of the lens. It really worked. As I was taking these portraits, I was floored by how powerful the experience was. I don't think I have ever made a series of portraits of people in a traumatic situation such as this. It was an amazing experience.

I LOVE my friends!!!!

2007-10-10T17:45:00.000-07:00

(Rachel Lane and Nicole Bernhardt)

Well, it has been a little while since I have posted anything. I guess I have just been caught up with everything- I went to New York for a week and a half, was in Seattle visiting my family, and now I am in Venice Beach.

But first, I need to focus on what this blog entry is all about, my amazing friends. I was in New York from September 19- 28. I got to see my brother, my great friends, visit with my agency (www.reduxpictures.com), and print all of the work I have been making over the last 6 months. It was an incredibly productive 10 days. I worked in the darkroom for about 10 hours a day, then spent quality time with people in the evenings. The time in NYC was so great, I have to dedicate a special blog entry to these people.

One of the first things I did when I got to New York was head upstate to the Bard area. My friend Nicole, Melissa and I rented a car and headed to Tivoli to visit my old friend and roommate, Sam. Sam is a chef and cooked a huge, amazing meal of swordfish, polenta, and an array of spanish cheeses. It was divine. We ate, drank, laughed and danced around the living room, just like old times.

Sam..early on in the night.

Melissa

Taun, such a wonderful person.

Rachel, on the Trapeeze.

The next day, we were mostly hung over. I cut Sam's hair, we did a fashion shoot, swam in the Hudson..

Sam..man of many identities (above and below)

cutting Sam's hair..

Our Jaunt to the Hudson.. It was a perfect Indian Summer day..

-Bryn and Tim in Fort Green Brooklyn-

I know Tim from studying abroad in Ecuador. We hit it off, then I met his amazing girlfriend Bryn. We became neighbors and fast friends.. now they are two people I know I will be close with for the rest of my life.

CLARISSE LABRO.. famous french architect in the making
Clarisse and I lived together during our time at Bard..Many wonderful memories with her. And she's moving back to Paris!

Love to my peoples in Nueva York!!

Malibu Longboarding Contest

2007-09-12T15:40:00.000-07:00

On Sunday morning at 6am, I got in my car with a nice full mug of coffee and drove up to Malibu. Sunday was the finals for the Malibu Surfing Association longboarding contest. This was my first surf contest, so I was anxious to see what it would be like.

When I arrived at 8:30 am, the heats had already begun. The best surfers were left on Sunday- after winning all of their heats the day before. There were men and women of all ages, the youngest being about 4 and the oldest, 85. Sitting on the beach, it felt like a family. Many of the spectators and surfers have grown up surfing together and competing against each other. It was a beautiful day. The waves were small, but everyone made the best of it.

Sycuan Traditional Powwow Gathering

2007-09-11T17:36:00.000-07:00

Last week the t.v. was on and a commercial came on advertising the annual Sycuan Powwow Gathering in El Cajon, CA - only 30 miles from San Diego. I have always wanted to go to a traditional Powwow. Since I have been out on the west coast, I have been flooded with creativity. I feel so inpspired by the landscape and culture out here. Every weekend, somewhere within a 4 hour drive is a surf contest, rodeo queen pageant, or a powwow. All are diversely cultural events with incredible subject matter for portraiture.

I knew that the powwow could be a pathway to another potential project. I decided to go there and focus on using my digital camera. I really want to get comfortable with it. I may never be as comfortable and satisfied as I am using film- but it may just be a matter of time.

I spent almost the entire day at the powwow. It was a wonderful day. I spoke to families that had driven over 10 hours- from Arizona, New Mexico, California, Washington- all over the west.

Life in San Diego, CA

2007-09-11T15:53:00.000-07:00

I have been in San Diego since early September. I am staying with a my brother's best friend's family, the Winetrouts. The Winetrouts used to live in Eugene and I have faint memories of being with them when I was three and four years old.

They have been incredibly generous having me stay with them in San Diego. I have a wonderful little bedroom. They treat me as if I were their own daughter. I can come and go as I please, and they are always there to welcome me home with open arms.

In San Diego, I have mainly been focused on my girl surfer project. I have had a few meetings with Roxy/Quiksilver, who have given me many contacts with sponsored surfers. I have also just been going to the beaches and looking for the right subjects. Right now the project has such a nice mix of regular girls that love to surf, and pro short and long boarders.

I leave for New York in a week. There, I will be spending a solid week printing everything that I have been shooting for the last 3 months. I am so anxious to see everything and begin editing it. I want to make several new portfolios to add to my website. I am anxious to put the surfer project together and figure out it's right destination.

Right now I am really torn about where I want to settle for the next year. I have fallen in love with a little town called Encinitas in North San Diego County. It's about 20 miles north of downtown San Diego- and about an hour and a half south of Los Angeles. I have met amazing people there, they have a little capoeira group, yoga studios, and coffee houses. People are laid back and open- and it's right on the beach.

But I also love Venice Beach. I think Venice is the only neighborhood in LA where I could really live. It's funky, creative, on the beach, and full of galleries, bars and restaurants. It's going to be a really tough decision- but it may also become a decision that I will make over time. Luckily I have places I can crash so that I can give the decision some time. But sometimes it's also really important to just make a commitment to a place one way or another. I could drive myself crazy moving from place to place and back and forth. Hopefully my time in New York will bring some clarity.........

The Harley Ride, Pheonix, AZ

2007-09-11T15:25:00.000-07:00

I had to peel myself away from the rocks in Sedona. I left after the sunset and started my drive to Pheonix. As I headed down the highway, a full moon was rising behind one of the famous rock formations.

I was headed to Phoenix to visit the Barnwell's, my stepmom's son and his family. They live in Mesa, Arizona, a suburb of Pheonix. As soon as I got up the next morning, Kevin told me to get dressed, we were going on a motorcycle ride.

And that we did. We headed out of Mesa on a backroad towards Apache Junction. It was fantastic. I have been on a few motorcyle rides, and each one, I will never forget. One was on a little moped in Hanoi, Vietnam with my older brother. Another was on the back of a crotch rocket, on my birthday in Miami, with a hot French guy. And now on the back of a Harley with my step brother, winding through the canyons outside of Phoenix.

By the time we got home 4 hours later, my butt was in so much pain. But it was well worth it.

Sedona

2007-09-11T14:47:00.000-07:00

After the Grand Canyon, I decided to drive to Sedona. I know that I already partially covered the trip to Sedona in a previous blog entry, but I feel the need to go back to it. Sedona is one of the most spiritually powerful places I have been in my life. The earth there seems to be charged with an energy that is not found in many places in the world. I felt calm and at ease there. I only stayed one night, I wanted to stay longer but I needed to continue to Pheonix.

I shot a lot in Sedona. I photographed Slide Rock- which I posted in a previous blog entry. I drove through Oak Canyon on the way to Sedona. Oak Canyon is just outside of Sedona, and Slide Rock is only about 3 miles from the little town. On my way in, I stopped at Slide Rock to shoot a 4x5 from the bridge. It was a Saturday and there were about a hundred people swimming in the creek at Slide. I found this out the next morning, but many times in the summer, the city has to close the creek because tests indicate that there is an unhealthy amount of urine in the water. Ewwwwww. Luckily I had no idea as I splashed around the creek with all of the other tourists and Sedona locals.

When I went to photograph Slide Rock, I had to park about a half mile from the bridge. After parking, I walked on a pathway tucked in the trees along the highway. I was there in the late afternoon, and there were plenty of cars on the highway, and people in the river below the path. But the path was strangely secluded and devoid of any people.
As I walked down the path, weighed down by three cameras and a heavy tripod, I approached a woman. As she came closer, I noticed she was in her mid fifties or early sixties. She looked beautiful. She had long blonde hair. Her skin was tan and glowing. Here eyes were blue, and her clothes were clean and pressed. But there was something about her and the way she carried her that told me she lived on the road, and she didn't carry much to her name. As I approached her, I got a very cold feeling. We passed one another and a few seconds later, I could hear her yelling to get my attention. I turned around to see that she was talking to me, walking towards me. She was telling this story about her apartment getting broken into, her car getting stolen, she had no phone and needed money. As she spoke to me, she came closer and closer to me. Out of no where, a chill started at my scalp and washed through my entire body like a wave. I felt fear. I was holding my tripod on my shoulder, but I calmly pulled it in front of me to set a distance between us. I was unsure of what she would do, and the fear told me that she could physically come after me, even though she was clearly in her late fifties. I calmly interrupted her and removed myself from the situation as quickly as possible. As I walked away, the fear continued to wash through me, and I was scared.
I found it so interesting because I lived in New York City for three years, and never felt the fear that I felt when I was in her presence. I think that my body sensed something that my mind could not understand. It was beyond any physical or real comprehension. I just wonder what that something was- but thank goodness nothing happened. I will never forget that experience. I also think that my sense were heightened because Sedona is such an energetic place.

Cowgirls, Rodeos, Sashes, and Buckles

2007-08-27T08:45:00.000-07:00

This blog entry is specifically dedicated to a new project I am working on. I have started photographing rodeos. Not only am I shooting rodeos, but I am shooting Teen Rodeo Queen contests. This project began when I was visiting my dad in Boise, Idaho. One Saturday morning, we took a trip to Idaho City, which is only an hour from Boise. Idaho City is an old mining town with all of the late 19th century buildings intact. When we arrived, the town was having a old fashioned, "Quickdraw Rifle Contest". At this contest was a 17 year old girl who had just been crowned the Idaho Gold Dust Rodeo Queen. As you can see, she was beautiful. She was humble, and glowing with the confidence of a strong, courageous woman. It was not only this confidence, but the shimmer of her brand new sash, and the gleam of her hat's medallion that inspired me.

It was that moment that I realized what my next project was going to be. Teen Rodeo Queen Contests and Pageants. When I got back to Boise, I immediately got on the Internet to find out when and where the next rodeo contests were taking place. Since I was flying back to Los Angeles, I looked for rodeos close to the city. I found one in Tehachapi, California, only 2 hours from LA.

The Tehachapi Rodeo Adventure:

When I got back to Los Angeles, my friend Paloma and I decided to visit Joshua Tree. We decided to first go to Joshua Tree, then drive to Tehachapi on our way back to Los Angeles.

Tehachapi is a little town that sits at the base of a mountain range. It took us three hours of driving in my un airconditioned car to get to the Rodeo. We arrived in Tehachapi, sweaty and exhausted. We had lunch at a truck stop. Then, I had the brilliant idea of sneaking into a hotel pool to cool off before we hit the rodeo. Needless to say, there were no showers, rivers, or lakes in Joshua Tree- we needed to refresh.

After a nice refreshing swim, we got ready for the rodeo. Luckily I remembered that I had my favorite pair of turquoise cowboy boots in my car. So I put them on, got all of my camera equipment ready, and started shooting.

Paloma was the best companion to have with me. Not only was she easy going- but she was genuinely interested in being at the Rodeo, and learning about the competitions. She sat in the stands with the Tehachapi townsfolk, chatting it up with ranchers and local families. When the sun set, I joined her on the bleachers- and we finished off our camping fare of brie, crackers and beer.

The Tehachapi Rodeo was my first official stab at this new project. Luckily rodeos happen throughout the US, throughout the year. One of the biggest rodeos in the US is in Prescott Arizona. Because of the year round heat in Arizona, the Rodeo happens in December. And of course the National Rodeo Pageant is in Las Vegas, Nevada in December. That will be an unbelievable photo opportunity.

The Grand Canyon to Sedona, Arizona

2007-08-24T13:21:00.000-07:00

My friend Bryn, who lives in Brooklyn left me a message as I was on my way to the Grand Canyon. She made a wonderful observation when she said “ seeing the Grand Canyon can be compared to seeing Ella Fitzgerald live. It is a well known fact that both the Grand Canyon, and Ella Fitzgerald are internationally famous. But it is not until you actually behold the magnitude of the Grand Canyon, or Ella’s voice in concert, that you actually get what all of the hype is about.” When I first pulled up to the overlook at the Grand Canyon National Park, I was absolutely astounded. It was so incredible that it almost looked like a fake photograph- like the kind that covers an entire wall in a Chinese restaurant. It was breathtaking. I spent the afternoon at the Canyon, shooting tourists, overlooks, and the canyons. I still hadn’t decided how long I wanted to stay there. I considered driving back into the park the next day. But something told me to move on. I had another realization while looking at a map. I realized that Sedona was only about an hour from the Grand Canyon. And if I decided to drive all the way to Sedona, I may as well drive to Phoenix, and visit some extended family. I had everything I needed. Why the hell not?

The next morning I set off for Sedona. I began to realize how many Indian ruins existed in Northern Arizona. I decided to stop at Walnut Canyon, so see an ancient city that has been a home for Native Americans for centuries. It was essentially a canyon of cliffs that have extending overhangs. It was within these overhangs that people build their homes. It is incredible to realize that this was an ancient city that many migrating peoples have used for their homes for thousands of years.

Approaching Sedona... Slide Rock (below)

More on Sedona to come, need to run..

From Los Angeles to Las Vegas!!

2007-08-24T12:32:00.000-07:00

In one week I went from the city of Los Angeles to the strip of Las Vegas, to the Grand Canyon, then to Sedona, Arizona. I am sitting in a coffee shop in Sedona, using their free wifi. I have had so many adventures in the last ten days, I can hardly catch up with myself. I packed my car intending only to do a quick 3 day trip to Las Vegas. Luckily, I don’t mind wearing the same outfits because that 3 day trip turned into a ten day adventure.

I drove to Las Vegas to meet up with my friend Jenny (above). We used to work together at Men’s Journal. She was coming out to Vegas for a National Bar League pool tournament. I decided to drive over and meet her. I have always wanted to go to Las Vegas. Not only because it is a place that everyone should visit once for the sheer craziness of it all, but because it is filled with photography opportunities. The city is surrounded by beautiful red rock formations. Newly developed cookie cutter neighborhoods are beginning to creep their way closer to these beautiful mesas. Exactly what I love shooting. Not to mention the strip which is ripe with fake jungles, Egyptian pyramids, and castles- as well as fake versions of New York and Venice. Las Vegas is unbelievably weird but incredible at the same time.

I met a woman at the Mirage from Las Vegas. She told me not to miss seeing the Hoover Dam. I have always wanted to shoot the Hoover Dam, I had absolutely no idea it was only 15 miles from Las Vegas. The next morning, my alarm went off at 6:30am. While everyone else was sleeping off their hangovers and mourning their lost money, I got up and set off for the dam.

Driving through the canyon that leads to the dam, I saw that they were rebuilding the highway. The section they were working on was one that links to cliffs together, with a 400 foot drop below. The presence and control of humans within this canyon was astounding. And the magnitude of this dam was incredible. I took many photos with my 4x5.

During little trip to the dam, I realized that the Grand Canyon was only 4 hours away from Vegas. I couldn’t think of a reason not to go. I was already half way there, I had all of my photo equipment and plenty of film. I had no reason not to go for it.

This was the actual moment I had the realization- over a fantastic plate of Huevos Rancheros.

I left Vegas the next morning.

I Heart Idaho

2007-08-02T13:28:00.000-07:00

This is our cabin in McCall. My great grandfather build it in 1920. I have been coming here every summer since I was born. That porch has seen many talks, parties, weddings, and great meals. Our cabin in McCall is truly my favorite place in this entire world.

For the past 2 weeks, I have been visiting family in Idaho. I truly think that Idaho is one of the best kept secrets of the United States. So shhhh, don't tell anyone. The photograph below is the view you see from that big porch.

I usually visit Idaho at least twice a year. My dad, and most of my dad's family lives in Boise, which is the capital. We have a cabin up in McCall, which is about a 2 hour drive from Boise, into the Payette National Forest. My cousin Carrie, who is on my mom's side, has a cabin in the same general area. Her cabin is on Warm Lake, about an hour from McCall. I wish that I could convey to anyone who reads this, what the Idaho mountain lifestyle is like.

At my cousin's cabin in Warm Lake, there are no phones. No computers. Her cabin is so hard to find that I have gotten lost each time I have driven there for the past 3 years. The days are centered around meals, swimming in the lake, and drinking coffee. No one ever knows what time it is. The major event for the day usually involves rowing a boat to the North Shore Lodge, which is the only place with a payphone, and a fantastic bar with karaoke.

To get to Warm Lake, one must pull off of Highway 55 and drive into the mountains for another 45 minutes. In McCall, things are a little different. It is still a mountain town, although not as remote because it's located off of the highway. In McCall, things are changing rapidly. A new luxury ski resort opened about 3 years ago in a neighboring town. It is something that locals have predicted would happen for the last 15 years. And it finally has. The ski resort has opened, and for 30 miles north and south of it, for sale signs sit on the land where ranches and farms used to be. I try not to think about that will occur over the next ten years.

Tractors and trucks are already bulldozing and flattening this land. Condos of all price ranges have popped up out of no where. Of course this development is inevitable. And of course it has created wonderful opportunities for these depressed logging towns to become prosperous again. But nonetheless, what this development is doing is really sad to me because the environment is changing. There are three story summer homes that sit empty, where there used to be pastures and wildflowers. There are SUV's with out of state licence plates everywhere you look. A Verizon cell phone tower was erected across the lake from our cabin, and now anyone can reach us, anytime. Technology has finally reached one of the most sacred natural spaces I have known. I kept my cell phone off for the 2 weeks and just pretended like things were the same as they have always been.

The following photographs are a mix from my entire vacation.

This is my cousin Carrie and her friend Anna, up at Warm Lake. This is one of our favorite hot springs. It's called Molly's. It's just a handful of old bath tubs that sit on this riverbed. Hot springs come out of the rocks. We fill up the baths with a mix of the hot springs, and buckets of cold water from the river. It's all natural. Only locals know how to find it.

Bergdorf Hot Springs. Bergdorf is a hot spring located about 30 miles north of McCall. It is commercialized, but still very authentic. It was opened in late 1800's when there were miners looking for gold. It was a hot spring resort built for them. They would come to Bergdorf to relax and cleanse themselves after weeks of mining. There is an old hotel on the premises as well as a handful of old cabins.

This is Justina, my Aunt Mary's niece. I am not related to Justina by blood, but I feel like she is my cousin or niece. I lived with her family when I was in Santa Barbara.

My dad driving his 60's speedboat in McCall.

This is my brother, Andy. He lives in the East Village in New York City. But his second home is in McCall. That's the face he makes when he is telling a story and cracks himself up.

This is Justina again. She was so patient with me. I was always snapping pictures of her.

This is my cousin Chelsea. She grew up in Boise, Idaho. But in less than a week, she is off to Geneva for a an internship. Then she is moving to Paris for another 6 months. I am so proud of her.

My brother driving my dad's boat.

Justina, on her 12th birthday..or 25th? She is much ahead of her time.

My cousin Bobby, also a Boise native.

My uncle Randy, on the day we celebrated his 60th birthday.

My brother Andy dancing at my Uncle's birthday party.

My cousin Carrie, and her niece Olivia, playing dress up. These are the kinds of things we do for entertainment when we are up there with no phones, clocks, or tv's.

This was one of the most beautiful nights in McCall. There were several forest fires across the lake. Thankfully, a rainstorm came in and cooled things off. After the storm, we had an hour of incredible colors and cloud formations.

Andy and Bobby singing along to "Blinded by the Light"... Also at Uncle Randy's 60th birthday Day party.

Aunt Mary (married to Uncle Randy) rockin' out..

Above: This is probably one of my favorite pictures from the entire week. To the left of me is my cousin Bobby, my brother is to my right, and my dad is behind him. We were driving the boat back to our cabin after water skiing.

Andy and Eyal, cooking in the kitchen in McCall.

My favorite Aunt Mary, and her mom, Francis. Again, I lived with Francis in Santa Barbara.

Above: Justina. This time I caught her thinking. She had no idea I was taking a picture of her. I love this image.

On Monday I am off to Los Angeles to continue my roadtrip. My final destination will be San Diego. I will be shooting women surfers all the way down the coast.

SURF WARRIORS

2007-07-13T11:36:00.001-07:00

Demi, 16 Anastacia, 18 Bo, 18

( These are just digital snapshots. I shot formal portraits of them with my 4x5.)

Wow. It wish great pleasure that I am creating this post. It's funny because I am leaving Santa Barbara in 2 days, and I feel like I am picking up so much momentum with my photography work. Last week, I was standing on a bluff on the beach, underneath my black cape, behind my 4x5 camera. Gazing through the ground glass, I was looking at 2 women, sitting in the positions I had directed them to, preparing to go out surfing. There was something about that moment that was indescribable. A feeling came to me that was so strong, and direct, telling me that that image represented everything that I was looking for in California. But I realized that I needed to take that image, and break it down into all of those pieces, and photograph each one.... thus, my project on Women Surfers.

These portraits above are the result of my inspiration and motivation from last week. After I experienced that epiphany, I put a post on Craig's List, posted fliers around town, and spread the word that I was looking for dedicated female surfers. Women began to call me and email me. So far, I have photographed 6 women in the Santa Barbara area.

I am feeling really motivated and fueled by a more concrete purpose as I travel down south. I think leaving New York, seeking my artistic voice again was purpose enough.. But after 2.5 weeks of shooting everything that attracted me in Santa Barbara, I finally hit something that struck a cord seep inside of me. There is something about surfing itself that I respect and identify with. I think there is something magical in being submerged in the saltwater, moving to and fro with the currents and rising with the waves. It is a feeling of being one with nature- away from other people, cars, concrete, and sounds of human activity. You are completely removed and almost in between life on earth that humans are so used to ... and on the surface of the ocean world, something we know very little of.

The women I have met thus far have something special about them. They are humble, beautiful, calm, strong, brave, and respectful. I am so excited to watch this project unfold. . .

Ojai Revisited...

2007-07-08T18:20:00.000-07:00

I had heard of a town called "Ojai" for the first time as I sat behind my desk at Men's Journal Magazine. Through some photo research, I learned that Ojai was a funky little town of beautiful hikes, camping, art galleries, and bookstores. I remember going onto Flickr, and searching through people's vacation photos of Ojai. After that, I noticed when people talked about Ojai. Then I found out that a friend who helped me move in New York was from Ojai. There was something special about this place, so I filed it away in my mind as a place I wanted to visit.

When my cousin Chelsea came into town last week, she was just as game for an adventure. I suggested we go to Ojai and explore for the day. It only took us about 40 minutes to drive there from Santa Barbara. It's located about 15 miles east of the ocean, tucked behind the mountains of Ventura.

The first thing that we did was stop by the local coffee shop. We asked one of the girls working there, if she had one day to spend in Ojai, what would she do? She immediately suggested the "hot springs". However, after the words "hot springs" came out of her mouth, she hesitated and said " well, as long as you don't tell anyone where they are, I'll give you the directions." So she called her friend to get the specifics, and we wrote them down anxiously.

Chelsea and I went there in the late afternoon. When we arrived, no one else was there. We were both awestruck at the beauty of this special place. It wasn't visible from the road, hidden behind bamboo and tall ferns. But as we proceeded down the steep dirt path, we began to see the pools through the clearing.

I have to say that these hot springs are perhaps the most beautiful I have visited. It is one of the few places where it feels like the earth opens up and seeps all things indescribable. Each pool is a different temperature, and the water is crystal clear. The glaciers and centuries of the earth shifting has helped these boulders and rocks create perfect pools. The bushes and trees shade the area so that you are provided protection from the hot sun. Red dragonflies buzz happily around, landing on a piece of bamboo, and then a wet stone, and then your fingertip. Every living thing, animate and inanimate lives in harmony. Sitting in those pools I felt so connected to the earth. I felt I was absolutely grounded, and creativity felt like it was pouring out of me.

I went back to Ojai this weekend to go camping. My friend drove up from LA and we camped further into the hills, but visited the hot springs numerous times. Each time we went, there were a few people from all walks of life. Some people who truly loved the space, and were there to soak in the baths to heal. Families came with their children. Some came with coolers of beer, liquor and tanning oil... But no matter who came to enjoy the baths probably left healed in some way, whether it was their intention or not.

Spending time in these hot springs energized me. Last week, I had a bit of a breakthrough with my photography. I decided to focus on portraits of female surfers. Being in these springs inspired me to follow that inspiration. I met a woman in the springs who lives in Ojai. She gave me some tips, and told me about a local diner where the local surfer girls work as waitresses.

Ojai is the bomb!!!

Angie Smith Photography on Flak Photo

2007-06-28T07:36:00.000-07:00

Before I left New York, I was running around the city like a crazy person. I spent most of my time at ICP (the International Center of Photography), printing for a group show that I was scheduled to be in. Now, that show has opened- and is still up.

In fact, if you want to check it out, it is at the Gitana Rosa Gallery in Williamsburg. (http://www.gitanarosa.com....19 Hope st, 1st Floor, #7, Brooklyn, NY)

An online photo publication covered the show. I just went to the site and saw that they used one of my images to open the article! Check it out below..

http://www.flakphoto.com/

CAMBRIA- South Big Sur Coast

2007-06-25T09:32:00.000-07:00

This is my friend Mirlet. He was visiting friends in Santa Barbara so we met up one day and went for a hike. He lives in New York and we train Capoeira in the same school. This photograph was taken in this beautiful forest of Eucalyptus trees.

Once we got through the Eucalyptus forest, we got to this view of the beach.

Angie, Ralph Lauren Style.

We also checked out Hearst Castle. This was pretty unbelievable. This castle sits on top of a hill about 10 miles north of Cambria. William Hearst spend millions of dollars building this structure after he inherited thousands of acres of land from his father. Most of the artifacts and art within the castle was from the 14th, 15th, and 16th centuries, imported from all over Europe. He even had his own zoo- with polar bears, grizzly bears, zebras, and giraffes. It was the most fantastic and random tourist attractions I have visited.

Santa Barbara, California

2007-06-20T22:27:00.000-07:00

I decided to open with this image because I am really feeling inspired by my surroundings in Santa Barbara. I have been here since Friday. I am staying in Goleta, which is about 10 miles north of Santa Barbara. I am finding it really interesting to just get on my bike and ride around town instead of driving. Today, I managed to squeeze my digital camera as well as my Mamiya 6x7 into my backpack. I rode around the city and stumbled upon this skate park on the waterfront.

I had been meaning to find this skate park because it's where all of the teens congregate. It's a perfect place for portraits. The space is expansive, surrounded by palm trees and interesting plants. As the light changes, the trees cast shadows across the bowls.. That coupled with all of the skater boys- eager to impress the girls. There were a few girls peppered around the skate park. They were there in cute, bright colored bikini tops and skirts, watching and whispering on the side.

I spent about 3 hours there today, just observing and shooting with my digital camera. I think I will go back in a couple of days with my 4x5.

The photo above is Alex Hall- my cousin once removed (?). He's my Aunt's brother's son. We aren't technically blood related- but he's just like family. Yesterday we went surfing at a beach outside of Ventura. We had a blast. The water was fairly warm. I almost stood up. I could have but my mind was the only thing holding me back. Tomorrow I'll stand up.

This bus just caught my eye as I was pedalling down these residential streets. Sights like this just illustrate why I love the West Coast. There's so much character to this bus. I'm sure it's seen many places- Zion, the Oregon Country Fair, Yosemite, Palm Springs. It just rests underneath these palm trees like it's taking a siesta. No parking meters. No garages. It can just sit on the street until someone decides to move it. The only thing more interesting than the bus is the character who probably drives it.

I took another little bike ride after dinner. When the light is like this I just can't stay inside. There's always going to be something interesting to take a picture of. I love the the quietness of this parking lot. The sign is the only indication of the life that usually inhabits this space. But yes, throughout Santa Barbara and the rest of the US, "school's out for summer"!

This is pretty much the landscape in my backyard. This was one of the last pictures I took before the sun disappeared behind the mountains. Today was a great day.

The Esalen Intitute; Big Sur

2007-06-17T22:10:00.000-07:00

(above) a man enjoying a flower design some people had made that day.

(above) one of the great sunsets..

(above) the usual sunrise ..

(above) a man during the closing Yoga ceremony.

(above) Some friends I met over the visit.

(left) A path at Esalen. Highway 1 above. (right) Just a view to part of the garden.

(below) The house of an employee at Esalen. To the left you can see the fire and the Sweat Lodge.

(above) the view from Julia Pfiefer State Park.

(above) Myself after the sweat lodge. Whew! Was I chilled out. Had to take a picture.

Esalen is one of the most magical places I have been. Nestled on a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean, Eslaen is a place of spiritual growth.

From the Esalen website:

"What is Esalen Institute?

Esalen is a non-profit organization that has been devoted to the exploration of human potential since the 1960's. Historical luminaries like Aldous Huxley, Joseph Campbell, Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, Joan Baez, and countless others have gathered here to develop revolutionary ideas, transformative practices, and innovative art forms. Today Esalen is a retreat center where people live and work in a communal setting. Residents and guests participate in an incredible variety of alternative education and personal growth programs in subjects ranging from meditation to massage, yoga, psychology, ecology, spirituality, art, music, and much more."

I stayed at Esalen for about 4 days. It was a wonderful time of self reflection. I met some amazing people and really pushed myself to to experience things where my natural tendency is to hold back.

The highlight of my time at Esalen was to take part in a sweat lodge ceremony. This was one of the most powerful experiences I have had in my life. It was incredibly spiritual. It really pushed me to the edge of my physical comfort level- and then some. Not only did I reach my physical boundary, but pushed past it. And that's were the process becomes so purifying. There's a photo of the Sweat Lodge and the fire next to it, heating the stones.

Big Sur, California

2007-06-17T17:22:00.000-07:00

I have been lucky enough to travel to many places in this world. I can confidently say that Big Sur, California has to be one of the most amazing places IN THE WORLD that I have been.

It is located off of Highway 1, about 2.5 hours south of San Francisco. Here's some info from Wikkepedia:

In the early to mid-twentieth century, Big Sur's relative isolation and natural beauty began to attract a different kind of pioneer - writers and artists, including Robinson Jeffers, Henry Miller, Edward Weston, Richard Brautigan, Hunter S. Thompson, and Jack Kerouac. Jeffers was among the first of these. Beginning in the 1920s, his poetry introduced the romantic idea of Big Sur's wild, untamed spaces to a national audience, which encouraged many of the later visitors. The region also became home to centers of study and contemplation - a Catholic monastery, the New Camaldoli Hermitage in 1958, the Esalen Institute, a workshop and retreat center in 1962, and the Tassajara Zen Mountain Center, a Buddhist monastery, in 1966. Esalen hosted many figures of the nascent "New Age," and in the 1960s, played an important role in popularizing Eastern philosophies, the "human potential movement," and Gestalt therapy in the United States. Big Sur acquired a bohemian reputation with these newcomers. Henry Miller recounted that a traveler knocked on his door, looking for the "cult of sex and anarchy."^[12] Apparently finding neither, the disappointed visitor returned home.

Monterey, California

2007-06-17T17:12:00.000-07:00

Monterey is about an hour drive further south from Santa Cruz. It's known for some of the best scuba diving in the United States. There was a surfing school right next to the pier that I was standing on..

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Santa Cruz, California

2007-06-17T17:08:00.000-07:00

I made one stop in Santa Cruz. I had to take care of things at the post office. But this caught my eye as I walked to my car. So I snapped, and kept it moving...

East Bay Inspiration

2007-06-17T16:40:00.000-07:00

Inspiration is a funny thing. Especially how it waxes and wanes...In some ways I am feeling overwhelmed with inspiration. But at the same time, I don't know where to start, or how to channel it. Sometimes I mistake that feeling for being a lack of inspiration. But as I am spending more time in California, and getting deeper into this adventure, I am realizing that it is not a matter of not being inspired. I simply need to articulate all of my ideas through pictures. I am also realizing that the only way I am going to figure out what projects I want to be working on is to shoot constantly.

While I was in the East Bay, I took several drives into the Berkeley Hills. The Bay Area is probably at the top of my list for places to move, but I still needed to drive into the landscape to see how it inspired me. It was amazing to me how quickly you can get access to nature. While Oakland feels really crowded to me, I was able to get to this spot in about 10 to 15 minutes.

OAKLAND!!!

2007-06-17T15:38:00.000-07:00

I arrived in Oakland at 8:30pm on June 6th. I was hoping to make it just in time for a capoeira class with one of Mestre Acordeon's student's, Professor Cravo. But, fate would not have it. And I arrived just before sundown.

I pulled up to my friend Sam's house in East Oakland. This is Sam...

I know Sam Mende Won from my days at Bard College. When I got back from Brazil and Ecuador, my junior year, I met Sam. In those days I had just started capoeira, and was interested in Breakdancing. We would all meet up several times a week and practice our moves in the campus center. Now Sam lives in Oakland and works for a non-profit called Destiny Arts Center.

Saturday at Half Moon Bay

On Saturday we gathered the troops: me, Sam, Gabe, and Thandiwe. We got a cooler full of beer, groceries and a BBQ. We headed to Half Moon Bay for a day at the beach.

....Sam and Thandiwe... ....Gabe telling a story....

And this was Half Moon Bay when we arrived...

We spent the day making food on the BBQ, drinking beer, and running around on the beach.

Here are some more photos of that day..

Through Southern Oregon and into the Bay Area..

2007-06-17T15:16:00.000-07:00

The first part of my road trip really began once I left Eugene, Oregon. Simply because it was road and land that I was not as familiar with. I have spent most of my time in the last 8 years between Portland and Seattle.

I left Eugene in the morning on June 6th. I took I5 South. It took me about 8 hours total to get to San Francisco. This was definitely my longest day on the road. But that evening, by 8:30pm, I arrived in Oakland, CA.

This picture is an old abandoned roadside diner in Southern Oregon. I was probably about 100 miles from Ashland, OR.

Pine and Evergreen trees slowly changed into an Ecosystem that resembled Northern California. The climate became more arid and my excitement began to grow. I was getting close r to the Bay Area..

I shot this picture when I pulled aside for gas near Lake Shasta, CA. I was still about 4 hours from San Francisco. This funky painting was beautiful sitting in the window of this mountain diner.

The Adventure Begins...

2007-06-08T17:15:00.001-07:00

This adventure begins with my time in Seattle. I spend three weeks in Steilacoom, with my mom and step dad. The image above is the view from their front deck.

I was in Seattle to prepare for my drive to California and spend time with my family. My sister in law Missy was due to have her third child on June 15, but we all had the feeling Lydia would come earlier.

Lydia decided to make her appearance in this world on May 29, 2007. Here are some photographs from the hospital. And then again, within her first few days with us.

Heart Yourself Official Launch

2007-01-26T10:47:00.000-08:00

Thank you for visiting the Heart Yourself site. These t-shirts are a great source of creative inspiration for me. They were inspired by a very difficult experience- and the simple statement "Love Yourself" was what I took away from that experience. I decided to put the statement on a t-shirt, simply because it is so simple, but so important, and very easily forgotten. Most importantly, when we can love ourselves, it becomes easier to truly love on another.

Please contact me for details on the t-shirt sizes, and styles. I am working on my advertising campaign. But the image above will give you a basic idea for the design. Although the t-shirts aren't nearly as fitted as it appears on the model above.

Available for Purchase:

Racer Back Tank Tops: $18
T01-small
T02-medium

Wife Huggers: $18
T03-small
T04-medium

T-Shirts: $20
To5-small
T06-medium

All are printed on American Apparel products.

Please contact me if you are interested.

Angie
646.509.5171

or

angelasmithphotography@gmail.com

**There is another really cute love yourself themed t-shirt company to check out as well. Check out: