My Sweet Valentine

My best friend. My bride. The moment we met, and I shook your hand, my breath was taken away and replaced with a joy that will never say farewell. By God's grace I will love you like no one ever has or ever will.

Storm Clouds

The last few days have been perfectly made for hot soup, blankets and a good book. There is nothing quite like the smell of rain and the sound of water splashing into puddles growing underneath the windowsill, but now I think the clouds are retreating. Sunny SoCal needs a good washing every once in a while. *update* It is Monday morning and the storm has returned. Yesterday's retreat was a major deception. The rain continues to fall.

Nicole and Scott

It was a great privilege to shoot these photos for Nicole and Scott Kruse. We only had a short window of time to capture a few, fun images but they jumped right in with some great energy. My wife, Kristen, and friend, Jon Troast, helped to make this possible by lending their new-found talent with reflectors.

San Clemente Pier

Old Mans

This photo is from a well-worn lifeguard tower that once overlooked the classic surfing break, "Old Mans" of San Onofre. Now it sits on a parking lot far above the beach it used to guard. Yellow tape drapes from its corners to caution us, I am sure, of this recently evicted tenant's displeasure. Much history has passed under its watchful eye, including my own. My first session was during the winter of 2005 when the water was a chilling 57 degrees and a constant pulse of waves hammered the very willpower of my desire. I confess I more or less crawled up the beach nearly drowned with exhaustion, but I wanted to go back. I needed to go back. Floating on the surface of the deep, faced with an immense, borderless horizon, hoping that a set will rise. It is striking, really. I am certain the tower remembers.

Sea Glass

I had the pleasure of taking pictures of a real treasure hunter. Once discarded trash is now collected and transformed into beautiful jewelry by metal smith, Monica Branstrom. Sea Glass. It's true! The coast was once a dumping place for refuse, but over time man saw the error of his way and cleaned it up. Some of what remained was broken glass. Time, sand and saltwater of the Pacific smoothed the rough edges and formed beautiful shapes of all colors and sizes. Please enjoy Monica's site which is dedicated to showcasing her unique, hand-crafted jewelry.

Footprint

The trash bin can be so therapeutic. Is it not? Ridding our lives of useless nick-naks, countless plastic bags, anything now devoid of any sentimental attachment that might be cluttering our personal space. And that man comes, you know, the one who's job we envy so much, and it all just disappears. Or does it? Maybe it's time for some of us to consider what type of impact our living is making. Are we being responsible with our consumption? Reduce. Re-use. Recycle.