Home to California

I went home for Christmas. And, of course, had to take a ton of photos of my family. First it was off to see my father's side of the family. There are a ton of us, and we always get together for a big dinner. Here are a few photos from the party.

Then it was down to Santa Cruz, to see my Mother's side of the family. I had ordered some light stands and I was very excited to take some photos of the four generations of women we have. I set up a mini-studio and shot away.

Robin and Maurice

Four Generations

Cutest baby

Cutest Grandpa

Cracker, the tortoise, was an excellent prop

Young and Older

Studio

We have been granted keys to the studio, at school, which is pretty exciting. I came to school because I didn't feel I knew enough about how to work in a studio, with lights, etc, so I am pretty happy we are starting to cover it, but it is still a bit intimidating. I have been in a few times though and things are becoming easier. Here are a few shots from the last few weeks.

Alright this one isn't actually from the studio, but I like it all the same. Jeremiah and Allison.

Reuben trying to explain something.

Grimace and Amy.

Amy and her Leica, of which I am jealous.

Farm Photos

Yesterday I went out to an Organic Farm out in Sooke. I wanted to go out to a farm and take some photos to show where food comes from. I am starting to think about what I want to do for my portfolio, mostly food related items, and I thought going to a farm would give a be an interesting location and offer different point of view towards food. Although I had never met the people who run the farm, they were courteous enough to let me wander around their greenhouses, which in November is where most things are being grown. I hope to go back in the spring. I would also like to get in touch with the owner of a local smokehouse here in Langford, and do some shots of their food and prep. The farm I visited yesterday sometimes supplied produce the Smoken Bones, so it would tie together nicely.

And here are the photos:

A view into a greenhouse, growing lettuce

Daikon and gloves.

Chard.

Looking between the greenhouses.

Manual Labor.

Since School Started

Since school has started I have been taking lots of photo's, duh! Some for school, some for fun, and some just to practice. Here is a random assortment of photos. For more photos you can check out flickr (www.flickr.com/photos/jessegirl/).

In other news, I am stoked about Obama winning the election.

This is one of the first photos I took for school, down at Clover Point, Victoria.

I built a light box and took some pictures of a plant that I accidentally killed. Ooops!

Two of my classmates fooling around for the camera in Beacon Hill Park.

Goldstream Park

Some local wild life and fauna.

This and That

For just over a year after coming back from America I worked and tooked some photography classes. Oh, and I found out that I had to have a third knee operation. After the operation, and subsequent rehab, I decided it was time to go back to school. Before moving to Canada I took a trip to Europe, to visit a friend in Spain and attend the wedding of another friend in Italy.

A few shots from that trip:

Rome

Vatican City

Vatican City

Genova

Barcelona

Figueres

Figueres

Genova

Madrid

Returning to America

After all my travels I was happy to return home. I returned to work at Chez Panisse, a restaurant I worked at while at Cal, and started taking some photo classes at Laney Community College. I couldn't have asked for better teachers while at Laney. Both in the dark room and behind the camera I was learning a lot. After saving up some money and some generous donations from my family, for my birthday, I was able to finally buy a digital SLR.

Here are some of the shots from my classes at Laney and my new experimentation with my new camera:

Robin

Dutch

Ms. Mere in our Grandparent's backyard

Fourth of July Party, Berkeley

Taken for my Art & Design class taught by John Lodata

Travel

After living in Japan for over a year I decided it was time to see more of the side of the world I had been living on. I was so close to the rest of Asia that it would have been a waste not to go. With a backpack and Carlos' voice in my head telling me to "shoot from every possible angle," and to just "shoot everything," I set off for China, Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia. On this trip not only did I realize how awesome it is to travel alone I grew to LOVE taking pictures.

Here are a few shots from that trip. Shot with my trusty Canon IXY:

Forbidden City, Beijing, China

Coral Island (i think), Thailand

Top of Wat in Siam Reap, Cambodia

Another Wat, Seam Reap, Cambodia

The Beginning

For me the beginning of my journey into photography didn't start the day my parents handed me my first camera, though I do still remember the first camera I was given, and the subsequent trip to Yosemite. But the beginning of the journey that I am on now started in 2006, at a basement bar in Osaka. I don't remember what night of the week it was, but I had decided to go to Mojo's, with my friend Jeremiah. While there I met Carlos. Carlos was there with another one of his friends and we all ended up drinking, dancing and taking pictures together, with Carlos taking the majority of the photos. Carlos and I became good friends and my photography instruction began. At the time I had just a point and shoot, but Carlos convinced my that it wasn't about the camera it was about the photographer. This is something that has been reinforced to me many, many, many times.

The first photos that I am posting represent the beginning of my foray into photography, a road that I anticipate I will walk on for the rest of my life. I have learned a lot about camera's, composition and how to take criticism since these were shot, but they are still important to me, and I think will show where I started.

The most expensive drinks I had in Japan,
Bar where "Lost in Translation" was shot,
Tokyo

Cha at hotel in Shirihama

Geta in Shirihama

Maiko in Kyoto