This Season of Life: 15/52 “mission scenes”

This Season of Life is a 52-week photography project through which my friend Mary and I will share photos that depict various moments from the current season in which we find ourselves. Having remained friends for the past 12 years, we have experienced a lot of seasons together (and some apart), as we now live in very different places. Having stayed in touch, we continue to share our life experiences and challenges with one another. This has been an incredible gift that continues to shape our friendship. We hope you will follow our Project 52 and enjoy the images that we share.

This week we had the chance to revisit the mission in San Juan Capistrano. We’d been before, but this time we were with family and the mission was much more crowded. I was able to capture a few photos of my favorite little patio there. It was a nice end to a fairly stressful and hectic week. I hope everyone’s enjoy a long weekend (or at least those of us in the U.S.!).

Now, take a moment and check out my friend Mary’s photo this week: Tollwood Summer Festival. While you’re at it, look around her site, Moe-Digger Photography, a bit more and view our last Project 52. I am sure you will fall in love with her photos and see what a special person she is, just as I have.

 

La Jolla, California

This past weekend, we took a quick overnight trip to San Diego to do a bit of hanging out and exploring. On our way down, we stopped in San Juan Capistrano, a quaint little town that I have always enjoyed because of its beautiful scenery and walkability. We checked out a new (to us) coffee shop, Hidden House, and it was fabulous. It’s nestled in a small area behind the train depot and has several other small shops and cafés nearby to drop into if you’re in the area.

After our coffee stop, we continued on our way down to San Diego. We decided to stay in La Jolla overnight. After dropping our stuff, we chose to spend the last couple of hours of daylight at La Jolla Cove, another favorite place of mine in SoCal. Besides the stunning views and sunsets, there’s always loads of people milling around the shore, which means that people watching is at its best.

The seals were out and about, playing with their pups and posing for the sightseers and tourists with cameras. It was fun to see that they had moved further down the shore from when we were there in March during pupping season. At that time, they were much less active, waiting for their sweet pups to be born and resting on the beach. Here are some photos from last weekend, albeit a cloudy afternoon.

 

This Season of Life: 9/52 “day trips”

This Season of Life is a 52-week photography project through which my friend Mary and I will share photos that depict various moments from the current season in which we find ourselves. Having remained friends for the past 12 years, we have experienced a lot of seasons together (and some apart), as we now live in very different places. Having stayed in touch, we continue to share our life experiences and challenges with one another. This has been an incredible gift that continues to shape our friendship. We hope you will follow our Project 52 and enjoy the images that we share.

Living in Southern California, we always talk about how much we have at our fingertips in terms of what there is to see and do. However, we seem to get so caught up in work projects, things to do around the house and other commitments like most people do. This past weekend, we took a day and drove an hour and a half to hang out in San Diego. Our first stop was La Jolla, where we had brunch at a place I’d enjoyed before.

While waiting for our table, we made our way down to the cove, and to our surprise, we found out that it is pupping season! I knew that seals could be a possibility at the cove, but I didn’t realize just how many would be there! It was so much fun to watch them sunbathe, play in the water and wash up on the shore with their pups in tow. This short day trip reminded me of how often we say how there is so much nearby for us to do, and yet, we don’t take advantage of it. Here’s to making more time to disconnect and explore. I think one day trip a month is quite doable! What do you do to explore when life gets busy?

Now, take a moment and check out my friend Mary’s photo this week: Glasses. While you’re at it, look around her site, Moe-Digger Photography, a bit more and view our last Project 52. I am sure you will fall in love with her photos and see what a special person she is, just as I have.

 

This Season of Life: 1/52 “new adventures”

This Season of Life is a 52-week photography project through which my friend Mary and I will share photos that depict various moments from the current season in which we find ourselves. Having remained friends for the past 12 years, we have experienced a lot of seasons together (and some apart), as we now live in very different places. Having stayed in touch, we continue to share our life experiences and challenges with one another. This has been an incredible gift that continues to shape our friendship. We hope you will follow our Project 52 and enjoy the images that we share.

This first set of photos in our new Project 52 series are ones I recently snapped during a trip to Brazil to visit family. My nephew and niece were so excited to discover new surroundings throughout the week we traveled with them, and it was fun to watch them get so excited about the new adventures. As we start off 2016 and this new season of life, I too am excited about the year ahead. As I told Mary, I wasn’t very excited at the beginning of 2015 for some reason. I didn’t have anything special in mind I wanted to achieve or see or do. This year is different. 2016, here we go!

Now, take a moment and check out my friend Mary’s photo this week: Bark. While you’re at it, look around her site, Moe-Digger Photography, a bit more and view our last Project 52. I am sure you will fall in love with her photos and see what a special person she is, just as I have.

 

Perfect Timing: Week 50

Perfect Timing is a weekly photography project by two friends who met in college, became roommates and have been close ever since. We share a love for languages and travel, and although we’re from the same southern state, we now live on different continents, balancing a demanding work life with a private life. We both agree that everything happens for a reason, whether we see these moments as positive or negative at the time, propelling us ahead or slowing us down. We hope you will join us each week, as we share little moments of Perfect Timing with you.

I was in Miami last week for a conference and had very little time to explore. I didn’t see a lot more than what was around the conference hotel all week, but in the two hours I got to spend hanging out, I did get to snap a few shots. From the various points around downtown that I saw in the evenings over the course of the week and the overall vibe I felt on this trip, the image below pretty much sums up my perception of Miami and the upscale lifestyle many there seem to enjoy. While it’s not my favorite city, it was worth seeing (at least what little I did see). I am definitely glad to be back at home, though. Southern California is much more comfortable and laid back, in my opinion.

{miami sunshine and palm trees}

Mary of Moe-Digger Photography and I became friends in college after we realized how much we had in common. We each grew up with three brothers, played sports and studied history, languages and cultures. I still remember our SLR cameras and our love for shooting with film. We have shared many wonderful experiences together over the years and have supported each other through some of the most significant moments in our adult lives. I am excited to take on this project with her. Check out Mary’s Perfect Timing photo for this week, too: Corner.

 

Perfect Timing: Week 47

Perfect Timing is a weekly photography project by two friends who met in college, became roommates and have been close ever since. We share a love for languages and travel, and although we’re from the same southern state, we now live on different continents, balancing a demanding work life with a private life. We both agree that everything happens for a reason, whether we see these moments as positive or negative at the time, propelling us ahead or slowing us down. We hope you will join us each week, as we share little moments of Perfect Timing with you.

This blurry image was a total mistake, but as soon as I saw it on my LCD screen, I really loved it. Can you tell what I’m looking at here? It’s an image of the beach with a seagull prancing by. You can make out the sand and the waves. It’s quite abstract if I do say so myself. 😉

{blurry beach scene}

Mary of Moe-Digger Photography and I became friends in college after we realized how much we had in common. We each grew up with three brothers, played sports and studied history, languages and cultures. I still remember our SLR cameras and our love for shooting with film. We have shared many wonderful experiences together over the years and have supported each other through some of the most significant moments in our adult lives. I am excited to take on this project with her. Check out Mary’s Perfect Timing photo for this week, too: Party.

 

All About Light: Week 46

All About Light is a weekly photography project by two friends who met virtually while working on their respective Project 365s in 2013-2014. We quickly realized that we enjoyed each other’s photos and always looked forward to seeing what the other one shared. Since we both have a love for the genre of street photography, we found ourselves capturing intriguing signage in unexpected places and laughed about who might get the next best shot of a crazy sign. After finishing our Project 365, we decided to take on a weekly project to study the use of light and learn about ways to improve our photography by focusing on different light sources. Each month we will focus on a different source of light in our photos. We hope you enjoy what we capture as we learn all about light.

The sky was so gorgeous a few weeks ago at the beach. I’m still daydreaming back to that weekend of no work and total relaxation. Check out the glorious view we had of some tiny silhouettes on the adjacent rooftop.

{glorious skies}

Beth of Beth Moses Photography and I became friends in 2013, while sharing our photos in a large group of Project 365ers online. As the year went on, we realized how much we had in common and even had a friendly competition of shooting odd signage and tagging the other one with “Your turn!”. Besides our shared interest in photographing everyday moments, we also share a passion for coffee and the south. I’m so glad I get to continue to share my thoughts on photography with Beth, and now, this project, too. Now, go see what Beth is sharing this week: The Alley.

 

All About Light: Week 45

All About Light is a weekly photography project by two friends who met virtually while working on their respective Project 365s in 2013-2014. We quickly realized that we enjoyed each other’s photos and always looked forward to seeing what the other one shared. Since we both have a love for the genre of street photography, we found ourselves capturing intriguing signage in unexpected places and laughed about who might get the next best shot of a crazy sign. After finishing our Project 365, we decided to take on a weekly project to study the use of light and learn about ways to improve our photography by focusing on different light sources. Each month we will focus on a different source of light in our photos. We hope you enjoy what we capture as we learn all about light.

I never thought I’d be posting photos of two birds in one week! This past weekend the birds were out in full force at Pismo Beach. As my friend and I were observing them on the pier, people started to gather to look at these beautiful pelicans. A man standing next to me explained that this particular kind is called the California Gray because of the color of the feathers. I don’t know enough about birds, but I wondered if this one was a male, due to the bright yellow on its head. Another one nearby didn’t have the yellow coloring. We stood and watched them diving for fish off the pier, using the hook at the end of their beaks, and coming back up to perch on the rails like this. The man told me that he and his wife come to this beach often and they enjoy watching the California Grays in the evening when they move back to the cliffs to roost.

{California Gray}

Beth of Beth Moses Photography and I became friends in 2013, while sharing our photos in a large group of Project 365ers online. As the year went on, we realized how much we had in common and even had a friendly competition of shooting odd signage and tagging the other one with “Your turn!”. Besides our shared interest in photographing everyday moments, we also share a passion for coffee and the south. I’m so glad I get to continue to share my thoughts on photography with Beth, and now, this project, too. Now, go see what Beth is sharing this week: Buc-ees.

 

All About Light: Week 41

All About Light is a weekly photography project by two friends who met virtually while working on their respective Project 365s in 2013-2014. We quickly realized that we enjoyed each other’s photos and always looked forward to seeing what the other one shared. Since we both have a love for the genre of street photography, we found ourselves capturing intriguing signage in unexpected places and laughed about who might get the next best shot of a crazy sign. After finishing our Project 365, we decided to take on a weekly project to study the use of light and learn about ways to improve our photography by focusing on different light sources. Each month we will focus on a different source of light in our photos. We hope you enjoy what we capture as we learn all about light.

Jamón ibérico. One of the finest things about Spain, if you ask me. We had the fun experience of walking through the Mercado de San Miguel with my cousins when we were in Spain last week. If you’re a foodie and in Madrid, you must go. The mercado is housed in one of the few remaining market halls in Madrid and located in the Plaza de San Miguel. Its construction was completed in 1916, and the pillars outside with glass surround are stunning. Stay tuned, as I have a great image of it to share soon!

{market scene}

Beth of Beth Moses Photography and I became friends in 2013, while sharing our photos in a large group of Project 365ers online. As the year went on, we realized how much we had in common and even had a friendly competition of shooting odd signage and tagging the other one with “Your turn!”. Besides our shared interest in photographing everyday moments, we also share a passion for coffee and the south. I’m so glad I get to continue to share my thoughts on photography with Beth, and now, this project, too. Now, go see what Beth is sharing this week: Road Trip.

 

Perfect Timing: Week 35

Perfect Timing is a weekly photography project by two friends who met in college, became roommates and have been close ever since. We share a love for languages and travel, and although we’re from the same southern state, we now live on different continents, balancing a demanding work life with a private life. We both agree that everything happens for a reason, whether we see these moments as positive or negative at the time, propelling us ahead or slowing us down. We hope you will join us each week, as we share little moments of Perfect Timing with you.

This is a laid back, slow week for me, as I’m taking it off from work. The timing is great, since the past couple of months have been extremely busy. When I saw this sign in the window of a shop, the reflection of the busy street behind caught my eye. It’s a great reminder to take a break every once in a while, let the rest of the world keep on and just close for business for a bit. We can all use some relaxation, and the work will always still be there when we get back.

{closed}

Mary of Moe-Digger Photography and I became friends in college after we realized how much we had in common. We each grew up with three brothers, played sports and studied history, languages and cultures. I still remember our SLR cameras and our love for shooting with film. We have shared many wonderful experiences together over the years and have supported each other through some of the most significant moments in our adult lives. I am excited to take on this project with her. Check out Mary’s Perfect Timing photo for this week, too: Fishing. Family. Fun.