Happy New Year!

In the last day of 2014 I rented an 85mm Nikkor, f/1.4 lens and went down to Mountain View to test it.  Shooting candid street photography and taking portraits of strangers is one of my favorite pastimes, but between hanging out with my kids and doing family sessions I haven't had the time to indulge in proper improvised photo walks....

As you can see, the lighting conditions were not perfect; at high noon the sun beats very harsh even in the Winter.  The lens is a bit narrow for my taste, through its sharpness and speed makes up for it at least partially.  Next I really want to try one of the ultra-wide lenses, 24mm or so (or even a fisheye), again with such a large aperture.  Stay tuned!

P.S. My favorite image must be the jumping shot - thanks Jeff and friend (sorry, I'm terrible with names...)!

A Family Affair

Today I share a photo collection of my lovely friends N&J, who also happen to be my most loyal customers so far.  This is the fifth time I take their family portraits, and every session seems to include one more kid than the previous!  And let me tell you, getting everyone to look at the camera at the same time is the best kind of practice I need for my craft.  Luckily, they are all very photogenic and good looking, so the fun is always greater than the work.  Thanks, guys, for sharing your happiness with me, and letting me try and capture it!

P.S.  The next session will be exclusively for goofy faces and poses.  You rock at it!

 

A Good Sunday

We attended a great birthday party today - there were animals to pet and friends to talk to, and although we couldn't stay for the cake, we had such a fun time.  Getting out of the house and taking photos was long overdue!

I am loving the beautiful warm light in these.  As the season changes to Fall, the sun shines so softly! 

And We'll Never Be Royals

One of the reasons I love photography so much is because it mixes work with pleasure perfectly!  

Last weekend I attended my friend Annabelle's baby shower, and besides having lots of fun (and binging on delicious Persian food) I also took some photos with my new camera.  Thanks, Annabelle, for opening your home once again, and for sharing your lovely friends and family with me!  I can't wait to meet Tristan soon!

Technical notes: I used my Sigma Macro lens as I had a momentary trouble mounting my 50mm Nikkor and I panicked a little... but it performed excellently even in the low light indoor settings.  This also necessitated the use of flash, and I really really need to get me a speedlight sometime soon (and learn to use it - I'm exclusively a natural light photographer and indoor events get me in a lot of trouble).

Nikon D7100, minimally processed to sharpen and convert to .jpg, otherwise mostly SOOC.  With the exception of the black and white images, for which I used VSCO for Lightroom.

P.S. This crown-shaped cake was simply heavenly!

The Wonderful Twos!

Tomorrow my great love Johnny is turning two.  We celebrated on Sunday with family and friends, and it was great!  There were snacks and games and toys and presents and balloons and bubbles and laughs and a "Tommy Choo-Choo" cake, and even a little photobooth fun!  

I can't believe it was two years ago when he was born....It seems like a minute, and like forever at the same time!  Johnny, you make everything harder but so much better.  Life is now wholesome and meaningful in ways it never was before, and even though I bitch and moan about motherhood all the time, know that I wouldn't have it any other way.  I am truly happy, baby, and I hope you are too!

Certainly looks like it from the photos.  I wish I could balance being the hostess and the photographer a bit better, but hey-ho, I improvised to my best ability.  I love the light in these - it's bright and rich and warm.

Special thanks to my amazing guests for making this day special!

Enjoy, and hope to see you all again soon :)

P.S.  This was the most pregnant party I've attended so far.  One of the invited expectant ladies didn't make it but even with the three of us it was bursting with hormones.  Good times!

 

Life As It Happens

I think I got hooked on photography because it compliments my obsession with documenting life so well.  I like to witness how events unfold - be them big and important or just everyday - and I like to keep them.  They remind me that I am still here, still a part of things, still alive to experience them and awake enough to appreciate them.

Last weekend we met with our Bulgarian friends up in Burlingame.  We had crepes, walked about downtown, and watched our kids hold hands and play together.  What a lovely way to be!

As you can see, the bright California sunshine is back and it makes it very hard to take any photos past 10 am.  I ventured into it nevertheless, and despite that being out and about with kids made it ridiculously complicated to compose the shots properly.

Enjoy!

P.S.The last couple of images I took at home after we came back.  Shelby really wanted to go out and plop in the back yard in this gorgeous weather.  Also, I really need to take some selfies against the backdrop of the red-leafed tree there.

 

What A Difference A Year Makes?

Yes, I meant to put the question mark up there in the title.  Really, what has changed since last December?  Everything.  Everything is different...yet some things, I think the most important ones, are exactly the same.  And thank goodness.

A year ago I went for a photowalk around downtown Sunnyvale with my friend, then-neighbor, and fellow photographer Parisa.  The other day I met her there again, only she is now a he, as Parisa has become Paris.  This should have made all the difference, but somehow it didn't.  It was just a photo date with my friend, and although I was excited about the new developments in his life, our time together felt familiar and comfortable.  Same place, same time, same person...same fun!  And then it struck me - the trick in life is to embrace change while preserving your essential self and the things you believe in, the things you love most.  A few of us manage that balance easily, but I don't think it was ever meant to be easy.  It's right, however, and that's that.

Many people I know have difficulties understanding and accepting different sexuality and gender identity, and I am so very glad that I don't.  One less thing to worry about, I guess.  Besides, I have discovered that whatever the sexual preference or the chosen gender belonging, no one is doing anything to me, or against me.  This is not about me.  It's about the freedom of being yourself, whoever this might be sexualy or in terms of gender.  I was never a fan of boxes and labels, anyways....one must be careful with these, because otherwise you might wake up and realize you have become a walking stereotype yourself.

Paris and I always have these great conversations about life and art and personal struggles and soul searching.  I wish you guys have a friend like this in your life too!  Please enjoy these portraits and have a great weekend!

BECOMING PARIS.

PARIS TRYTTEN photography.