We I always manage to find something regarding where we I live to complain about. The pristine blanket of glistening snow draped over the towering pine trees makes for an arduous commute to work in which we I cure the entire way at the driver ahead. The glorious sun that streams between the slats of the mini blinds in the early morning and warms up a cloudless afternoon becomes a nuisance and “wayyy too hot” when the desire arises to enjoy a dinner on a restaurant patio. Pesky mosquito’s there, heavy fog here … the grass is always greener …

The seasons change, leaves come and go, crops bear the fruits of their labor and then are consumed. But the landscape of the land on which they affix themselves remains relatively unchanged and spectacular!

Dictionary.com defines a landscape as:

“The category of aesthetic subject matter in which natural scenery is represented.”

which I thinks suits that aspect of my photography quite well.

Years from now a certain Meyer Lemon tree (which I happen to find delightful) which showcases its bounty in the front lawn of a neighbors home may fall victim to a cold winter frost or be torn down to erect a new taqueria or Subway. Or perhaps the rugged terrain of costal Big Sur may erode from the harsh Pacific gales further inland or collapse upon itself in an epic earthquake.  However, the photographs of their lives will remain forever.

Highway 1, notably the stretch through Big Sur, is often referred to as the most beautiful stretch of highway in the United States and has been quoted as being “the most spectacular meeting of land and sea in the World”. I couldn’t agree more. I love the way in which the heavy costal fog creeps up along the rugged land and the pure teals of the ocean water.

Vibrance. Life. Enough said.

The adorable community which I call home has a fantastic farmer’s market each Sunday morning. The fruit, vegetables and flowers are the most fresh and in season picks you can find. Each stand is covered by the sellers with an awning to shield the shoppers and workers from the prominent pulse of the glaring sun, but I love the way in which it managed the peek through and fall upon these vegetables.

What I enjoy most is the life which is exuded through the colors and shapes of the various flowers. I look forward to the new blooms which will awaken with each new season and until then below are a few of my favorite floral shots thus far.

I came across this Calla Lilly while at Villa Montalvo in Saratoga. What I find most beautiful about Calla Lillies are their strong form, causing them to almost always appear “fake” to me. I love the contrast in this photo of the stark white against the rich green foliage in the background.

This photo (along with many, many more of my floral shots) was taken at the Heritage Rose Garden in San Jose. It was shot in direct sunlight, which I often find quite challenging. As I mentioned earlier I love the ability of flowers to emit life in photographs which I think this does exquisitely. The stamen resemble little bugs which I adore!

There is a wonderful trail here in San Jose which is spotted with thousands of these flowers along side. They must be very sweet and delicious flowers because theses bees were workin’ hard for the money! I love the vibrant purple against the deep greens and actually find myself slightly less terrified of bees for a moment!

• OBJECTS

• FLORAL

• LANDSCAPES

• LIFE

Dictionary.com defines an object as:

Anything that is visible or tangible and is relatively stable in form.

… yadda yadda yadda …

Behind my lens, an object is defined as a non-living, non-breathing, still life something or other! Whether it has been molded, carved, built or otherwise. The objects I photography may include sculptures, monuments, automobiles or other man-made entities. Their form is static, and their lines are defined.

Below are examples of objects which I have photographed as well as a short explanation.

There is a nice incredibly chic outdoor shopping area half a mile from where I live which boasts some of the most high end and fabulous shops, restaurants, bars and hotels in the Bay Area. You will always be certain to find the most amazing vehicles (Lamborghini’s, Maserati’s, Bentley’s, etc.) lined up down the row like little ducklings floating swiftly down a stream. Their immaculately cleaned and polished interiors and exteriors make them look more like art then practical mode’s of transportation. This Lamborghini couldn’t echo that idea more!

Years ago I saw an episode of Sex & The City (which I may or may not have watched 23873487 times since then) in which Berger and Carrie are out on a date, wandering the poetic streets of New York. Berger comes across a playing card lying alone on the sidewalk and proceeds to explain the strange occurrence of stumbling upon playing cards all over the city. Since then I have found more then forty … FORTY CARDS! I have found them in overflowing gutters, beneath overgrown shrubs and just sitting in the middle of a bicycle path. Some of them appear crisp, appearing to be dealt only a few lucky rounds in their life. Others are tattered, certainly a marker of their success at a black jack table in a seedy casino somewhere far away. I love the unique character that each card has and the way it is portrayed in this picture.

The other day when I arrived home I was greeted with a San Jose Firetruck parked conveniently in front of my parking spot in my complex. My initial anger and frustrations waned when I took a moment to admire the vehicle in all it’s polished chrome glory. I found the shape and reflection of the gauges mesmerizing and am very pleased with the way the translated in to the photo.

This drinking fountain is one of my favorite photos. I adore the extreme aperture and the antique feeling of the fountain itself.

If you have never had the opportunity to wander around the campus of Stanford University in Palo Alto, California you are missing out! The architecture and featured sculptures all over the grounds are breathtaking. I love the way in which this sculpture appears to be a scope to the heaven’s and the way in which it appears to continue on in to the cloud above.

As a child, I never found myself secretly squinting at the blackboard in elementary school, and I was always thrilled when I aced my vision screening the first week of classes each year. I never had to endure the “four-eyes” jokes and my only association with coke bottles was the kind I would find chilled on the bottom shelf of my fridge on a sticky summer day.

As an adult, I haven’t been forced to purchase seven pairs of readers to stash in every purse I own, in my car and on my nightstand. In a dimly lit restaurant I pick up the menu printed in the most fine scripted font and am able to scan it’s options instantly, saving my arms for the in-n-out zooming workout.

So when I purchased my first big girl SLR camera with a few pennies that Uncle Sam awarded me (read: returned to it’s rightful owner) three tax seasons ago I figured we’d be the best of friends. As I floated on air out of the store, Nikon in tote, I imagined all of our future moments together. The cocktail parties, the Christmases and road trips – all the “ordinary” places. I figured, with a tiger’s eyes like mine, we’d make beautiful art together.

I never realized that the images captured in those moments had nothing to do with my 20/20 vision. Whether I donned contacts, bi-focals, or readers as I peered into the viewfinder meant nothing at all. As Elliott Erwitt says, each photo had nothing to do with the things I was seeing, and everything to do with the way in which I saw them.

The way I feel when my finger depresses the silver dome atop my camera and the shutter snaps closed, and the emotions that very photo brings forth in you are often quite different. However, therein lies my ultimate goal – feeling.

It is my hope that whether you sat in the front row in second grade to see the chalkboard, hold the daily newspaper three inches from your peering eyes each morning, or like me, are able to read the highway exit sign from a mile away … that my photos allow you to feel.