lather, wash, rinse, repeat.

 i have an unhealthy relationship with the  rain. i love it. i love the wetness, i love the pounding noises it creates, i love the tink tink tink that the drops make as they hit my furnace. it's a symphony of sounds and i love it all. but the coolest part of the rain is what happens when the rain lifts. the way the lighting reflects off of the clouds and the trees. the rainbows it creates. ah. i just love love love it! i crave it, i want it. again with the unhealthy relationship thingy......... anywho, yesterday was terrific! it would downpour in bone soaking spurts. and then it would clear. and then it would pour. and then it would clear. 

it's really a lot like shampoo, lather, wash, rinse, repeat.

 

  

  

  

  

xoxo.

lounging with the lions and the gorrilas.....

one of the most common experiences at any type of zoo environment is that of lazy animals! i swear, do they ever get up and run around? here is a few images from the wild animal park in which i got to document the lounging that takes place.....

  

  

  

  

 

xoxo.

birds of different feathers flock together.

as promised here are a couple more photos from my wild animal park adventure. theses are of the winged variety. in fact, if you could capture an animal that is the most opposite to an elephant, i would have to say a bird fits that bill! from the dainty size, delicateness of feathers, and fluttering of activity, i would definitely have to say opposite indeed....which brings me to think about how opposites attract because often (not here) you will see images of birds catching a ride on the back of an elephant.....i'd like to thank paula abdul at this time for making that song which now won't exit my head and subsequently imputing  that video in my brain too so now i have images of an animated wolf with eyes popping and tongue rolling out.....(maybe i should have rethought making that second pot of coffee...)

anywho, back to the birds......

 

those aren't ears ps. just some feathers to make him look more mammal like in case of a threat! doesn't he look like a furby??!!!

  

  

  

  

these two were fighting for fish! it was like a bird bill sword fight! 

 

 

 did you know that flamingos could walk on water? and here i thought that was reserved for jesus...

  

xoxo.

le elephante.

so yesterday i went the the wild animal park. it is a wannabephotographers dream! the fact that you can get fairly up close and personal with animals is just amazing. and at times, i would swear to you that they are actually posing! well i took a crapton of photos and i want to share them ALL with you. but that would just make for one long snoozefest of photo after photo. so here is what i am going to do. i am going to divide them up into several different posts so that you have something to look forward to all week long. can't promise that they will come daily, but they will come. so today i want to share with you one of my very favorite animals, the elephant. i am not really sure where this obsession of mine comes from but i absolutely love them. their wrinkly skin. their long eyelashes. the oddness and dexterity of their trunks...... the list is endless! i even love the view from behind! strange i know.  so here are some elephant pics, mind you the little tiny one, was only 8 days old! adorable!

 

  

  

  

 

i also did a little playing with depth of field. it's fun to see what happens when you shift your focus around a little, such a small adjustment can change a photograph so dramatically! love it!

this one is.....

 

kinda cool.

where as this one is.....

 

eh... boring and normal.

but this one.... this one is.....

  

my favorite.

xoxo.

birds a humming.

very rarely do hummingbirds stop and just sit. their little wings laying still. well by my house, this is no rarity. a family of birds teasingly hum by window, stopping and winking as my kitties watch on. the other day, i was able to actually capture this. so here is my ode, to the little birds, that rarely stop humming.

 

  

xoxo.

mardi gras gaslamp style.

so last night i went to the mardi gras celebration in san diego's gaslamp district. for those of you who know me, although i have a predisposition for parties and fun, i'm not huge into the whole over crowded, wasted frat boy, half naked chicks scene. so to go was a bit out of character. but as i find myself recalibrating, i need to step out of my comfort zone every once and a while. not only that BUT, i won free tickets AND the thought of the photographic potential was amazing.  and that it did turn out to be. i have to say, i was really happy with the outcome of the whole evening, the photos and the fun. from a brief encounter with a canadian of a beautiful kind, to the non stop dancing and laughing, to the 22 year old navy boys buying us shots, its a wonder that i was even able to take photographs. but somehow, somehow like always, i not only managed, but i also managed to surprise myself. as a disclaimer i'd like to add that camera's weren't allowed, these photos were taken with no flash and a shaky hand.

laissez bon temps roulez!

  

  

  

  

  

  

xoxo.

it's a mardi gras kinda day.

for as long as i can remember, i have found beauty in some of the most unusual things. i love the good, the bad, and the ugly. i find equal beauty in gorgeous flowers and broken buildings. so naturally, when i was in new orleans back in 2008, i fell in love. no doubt about it. the sights, the sounds, the culture the people. the good, the bad, and the ugly. and i can think of any better way than to share a little bit more of my visions of new orleans with you, on this mardi gras fat tuesday.  ya you right!

 

  

  

  

  

 

 

xoxo.

big open skies.

last night i went with some of my besties to the movies and watched "crazy heart". and let me just say, i am crazy about it. it wasn't just the superb acting or the phenomenal soundtrack.(i have been totally obsessed with one of the songs but didn't write it down and can't find it ANYWHERE. waaaaaaah.) it was the off the charts incredible cinematography. holy crap, it was just beautiful. the big open skies, extended wide angles, oh my i could just go on and on and on and on.  it made me want to jump in my car and embark on a life altering road trip. it made me just want to go go go. 

practicality putting a damper on my parade, i did the very next best thing. i reviewed my last phenomenal road trip, hopefully putting a plug on my desire to go, at least until my next BIG, life altering, road trip commences in june. 

these are a few images of some big skies and wide open spaces that i have been able to capture. 

ryan bingham is behind a lot of the music in "crazy heart". i am crazy about his voice and i stumbled across this song in my searching today. he could sing me to sleep any day, or to rise and shine for that matter. i know not everyone like country music but i happen to love it and this is my world here so, suck it up and enjoy! :)

 

  

  

  

 

xoxo.