Fav 5 on 5 - October 2013

Oh October. You've been so good to me.
Red. Yellow. Orange. Brown.

This month's installment of my favorite 5 on 5 includes many of my fall favorites (so far). There has been so much color this year, like I've never seen before. Much of it was found during a quick trip I took to Seattle where color was exploding above and below (you Seattleites don't know how good you have it!). Color and fog are such a good mix. I'd be interested to see if you agree below.

After a quick trip through my October fall keep on trucking to the next photographer's favorites for last month. The link to Alison's picks are at the bottom.

Tell me, do you heart Fall as much as I do?

Saying goodbye to October and on to November where I will be focusing in on gratitude.

Find out what everyone else was up to in October by following the photo circle.
Up next is Alison, view her favorite 5 on 5 at  Alison Bents Photography >

Fav 5 on 5 - September 2013

Hello! It's  Fav 5 on 5 time once again.
Five of my favorite photos (that I took) from September are here. View other collections of fav 5 on 5 by clicking on Alison's link at the end of this post.  She'll show you her fav 5 and then take you on to the next collection.  Get comfy and enjoy the ride. 

The above "Hello" was taken while out on a "photowalk" with a friend. This was one of only a handful of photos I took that day. Sometimes photowalks are more about catching up than actual photo taking (you can quote me on that).  I love the layers of this photo. I love seeing things that I didn't see when I was there, just look at those two tiny love birds up at the top.

I am considering blowing this one up really, really big.   Don't you think those deep reds would pop on a neutral wall? (who prints BIG really well?) 

One weekend in September we decided to take a drive. We drove until we reached the city of Alameda. I love this little island.  We spent time on the beach and then went downtown for dinner and gelato. We haven't been here in years and now wonder what took us so long to return?! 

This image reminds me of home and that early morning stillness, when no one else is awake, when the new day light has just started peeking through the curtains. 

One of my 365 photos. It's the end of the day, after a long day of work, I'm tired and see this. There is something about the chaotic wires and the last bit of light that like.

That was a look at my September, find out what everyone else was up to by following the photo circle.
Up next is my friend Alison, view her favorite 5 on 5 at
Alison Bents Photography >


Join us again next month for another round of fav 5 on 5!

Fav 5 on 5 - August 2013

Oh August you just flew by. Can't believe it is already time for another installment of our favorite 5 on 5. This is our photo circle where once a month we gather to post our favorite 5 images of the month. You can get to the next photographer in our circle by clicking on the link at the bottom of this post.

For the month of August I was sick for most of the time which is probably why when shooting I was on the hunt for comfort food and bright warm colors. All of these images below were taken with my iPhone. I blame being sick for not wanting to take out the "big" camera. It's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.

Below is the day that we sold our first home. I always loved the long shadows found in our driveway. It was a day to say goodbye but also a day full of relief and hope for the next chapter.
Always look up. Color found on a deary day.
Simple quick comfort food. Wishing on stars and hoping to feel better.
Always amazed at nature's color palette. I keep thinking this color/combo/pattern would make a great print for a shirt or skirt. Dark and light purples, hint of yellow and white with a bit of green - there is definitely inspiration here.
One of my favorite things to bake: banana bread with chocolate chips.
Note that the chocolate chips are key. Downside to making banana bread is that I am usually the only one constantly cutting away at it bit by bit. I then realize that I've practically eaten the entire thing, by myself!

(Sixth image alert!) An extra image just to note that we did get out and about this month. August did hold some wonder and magic. This was a day well spent at the museum.
Thanks for taking a look at my colorful fav 5!
Continue the photo circle by finding out what Alison was focusing on in August >

Fave 5 on 5 - July 2013

Another month has passed and it's time for another round of Favorite Five on Five. This is where I gather with a few of my photographer friends and we each pick our own favorite five photos for the month. It's a photo circle, so at the end of this post there is a link to the next photographer. Be sure to visit Alison to see her favorites picks this month.

I love this photo. Mostly because it's me and my Mom during her last visit. We came across this heart and I'm so happy that she paused with me for a moment so that we could take this quick photo.

"Notice: People Watching Zone"
I love all of the blue in this photo in the water, the sky, the sign and that amazing floor!  What a perfect little spot.

Summer back seat reading.
A good kind of quiet coming from the back seat.

It's a red glitter bike (which reminded me of Dorthy's shoes). I loved that pop of red and the pigeon who slowly walked into this scene.

Treasure Island Flea Market
I love going to a good flea market. Here's a little "where's Waldo" moment with a reflection of me.

Next up...
Keep the circle going by visiting Alison's favorite five on five!

Food Trucks

Check this one off of the list. I have wanted to go to a food truck meeting for quite some time. I've heard how some of these are "Sooo Amazing". Could they really live up to all of the hype?! I'd say yes. Maybe it's because I was at a flea market, maybe it was because we were on Treasure Island, maybe it was because we were looking at the amazing bay view, whatever it was this food was GOOD.

We started with dessert first. If you see Harvey's Gourmet Mini Donuts you must run to this truck. Hot-fresh donuts that are covered in chocolate served in a paper cone that you eat with a spoon are in fact pretty "amazing". My mouth was not quite prepared for this holy goodness. I only had three but the word "mini" makes me think I could have eaten the whole batch. Run I say. Trust me.

Now, if you ever come across a food truck called "The Chairman" eat there. They sell Gua bao, or bun sandwiches. We tried two: Coca-Cola Braised Pork with Savoy Cabbage & Preserved Yellow Mustard Seeds on a steamed bun and Spicy Chicken with Toasted Sesame Purée, Pickled Carrots-Cucumber & Cilantro on a baked bun. More than just an average sandwich. Both were so tasty. I surprisingly preferred the steam bun. The Chairman will not disappoint.

Again it could have been the fact that I was outside with the bay breeze blowing through my hair that made me think that this was the best day ever. Eating interesting food on the lawn while listening to live music WAS pretty great. Thinking about it I'd have to say that the Treasure Island Flea Market was worth the drive. While I didn't really find any treasures at the flea market the stop is worth it for the views, the possibility of finding treasures and the great variety of food. Heck, I'd head back just for the mini donuts. (Run I say. Run.)

Favorite 5 on 5

Today marks the start of an exciting new project for me. I have joined a collaboration of photographers who will pick five of their favorite photos and post them on the fifth day of each month. As part of a "blog circle" you'll be able to visit each one of the photographers by clicking on the next photographer link at the bottom of each post. It's a very talented group so grab a cup of coffee (or wine) and join us for this month's Favorite 5 on 5! 

When asked to pick my favorite 5 from the last month I knew it would be a bit difficult. Last month I went on an exciting adventure to a far away place that I had never been to before.
Jamaica.
I took lots of photos, as I do. I took photos of people, and of the many colorful houses that are sprinkled about, as well as photos of popular spots. However if I am looking for my favorite ones, the ones that take me back, then those would be the ones that remind me of what a "get-away vacation" truly means to me.

It means the sun on my shoulders, seashells, water and lots of lounging.

Follow the circle of photographers by seeing what Alison picked for her fav 5 on 5!

color, stripes, patterns

I have been so busy accomplishing number 4 of my 40 before 40 (eek!) that I have been left with very little creative energy at the end of the day. After doing the 8-5 thing, I return to the new home to find boxes still needing to be unpacked, naked walls, unorganized stuff everywhere. So I thought for this round, instead of pulling from my "big camera" that instead I'd post a few of my recent iphone favorites (I'm still doing the iphone 365 so I've got, oh, just a few to choose from).

Hoping to post more about the big move once we're settled in.

First game of the season

Number 36 of my 40 before 40 is complete. Athletic event has been checked.

I love driving into the city, over the bay bridge, to see this view.

Just 4 days after the Boston Marathon terror attack the flags were flown at half staff.

Wouldn't be a game without beer and hot dogs. (The hot dog was quickly consumed, no time for a photo)

What are all those "K"s and why are they backwards and forwards and orange? Here you go:

'K' is a Strike.
One theory is that the symbol "K" is used because it is made with 3 strokes of the pencil, symbolizing the 3 strikes for the strikeout. A backwards K means that the batter has struck out watching the third strike go by while a forward K means that the batter struck out swinging the bat, but missed. Every third K is orange.

A perfect night for baseball. The Giants won and we were treated to the opening of the season fireworks.

I can tell you, that after a hard week, that sharing a baseball game in a stadium with 40,000 other people, clapping together, doing the 7th inning stretch ritual together and watching the fireworks was pretty awesome, and a wee bit magical.

Chinatown, Color, and Me

Last weekend I had a meet up with lots of photography friends. We walked and talked and all the while took photos. It was a memorable day of laughing and smiling (and dim sum!).
We met in the city at the gates of Chinatown. Immediately when you step through the gates you are bombarded with color. Above and below color is everywhere. Since "color" is my one word of the year I was pretty excited to be traveling through these streets.
Self portraits are also a focus of mine. I'm taking a 52 week self portrait photography class so I am always on the lookout for something interesting to bring to a self portrait.
With SOOO much to take in along the streets of Chinatown I was happy to have these two key themes to focus on.








It was such an amazing day there is more story to tell. Stay tuned...