{San Francisco} Part II

See Part I HERE.

My sister and her family visited San Fran this last week, and so did another friend. I've been missing that city since my visit last month and have enjoyed reading their posts on Facebook and taking a peek at their photos. So I was prompted to post part two of my travels to San Francisco.

So let me tell you just a bit of a back story why I love this city so. I grew up in the stix of Olympia, Washington. We lived on several acres of property and were many miles from "town" (as we called it). I never knew any different until I was a teenager and transportation became an issue. Before driving, nobody ever wanted to come pick me up because it was so out of the way. It was a bummer and I quickly began to loathe living in the country. My older brother by 10 years lived in Seattle and I lived for the weekend getaways that I could stay with him. He introduced me to city life. I began dreaming of living in the city from those experiences as a teenager. Of skycrapers. And cabs. And people a'bustling. There is such an energy in being in a city. My dream was always to live in Seattle, which I did starting in 1997. By 2000, I was California bound for my current home of Long Beach.

Even now, living in a community that I love dearly....I still miss "the city". A place of skyscrapers, endless places to eat, live performances to see, and a neighborhood for every culture. I love that you can live in the heart of a city and never have to use a car. If it were up to me...I would probably live in San Francisco or New York. There is just something about both of these cities that just make me come alive.

The only thing I ever knew about San Francisco growing up came from a TV commercial, "Rice-A-Roni, the San Francisco Treat". Those trollies still hold a place of admiration for me...

 Ahhh, Amanda is such a beautiful girl! I'm so happy that she will be shooting all of my 2011 weddings with me. We are only two weddings in to 2011 and we have already had so much fun and funny stories to tell.

 We pretty much WALKED this city. We were too impatient to wait for our turn on the trolley...so we just walked to the top of Hyde Street. It was a hike!

 But the view was well worth it.

 Of course we had to walk the Crookedest Street.

 Once again, the view was stunning.

 There is something about this next photo that I just LOVE. 

The colors, shapes, textures...are all pretty much awesome!

 There is so much character in their homes, doors, and entrances. 

 My favorite hour of sun down. A magical hour when the sky is an awesome shade of blue. 

 I was telling Amanda about this hour and she was so excited to see it captured on the back of her camera too. 

 Day Two: Wedding Day - Amanda & I in the photo booth at the wedding we captured together. Aren't we cute?

 Day Three - The Painted Ladies. Having loved John Stamos for years, we had to visit "The Painted Ladies" that appeared in the opening credits of Full House. 

 San Francisco City Hall in the distance. So pretty.

I'm already conspiring when I can return to San Fran. So much more to see! Who wants to join me?

{Florence is a Gift} Italy Travel Photographer

 

We just recently read the book My Name is Asher Lev as part of my girl's book club. It was chosen by a friend and I was a bit apprehensive at first by the cover of the book (I know, I know...don't judge a book by the cover...but don't we all?). But because I'm commited, I dove in! I absolutely fell in love with the book and the main character, who happened to be an artist. He was a devout Hasadic Jew, so he was faced with many challenges in his artistic expression that conflicted with his faith. His artist mentor encouraged him to go to Europe to study all the great artists. So he arrived in Europe and to the artist heart of Italy, Florence. His mentor often stated "Florence is a Gift", something Asher never really understood until he visited. There may be no other way to describe it! It is a gift! It is one of my all time favorite cities. I have to go back because there is no way I could absorb all that it had to offer in one trip.

Some of my most fave travel images ever were taken here! All of these images were taken in 2007, prior to my discovery of photography as an art (although I always had a passion for taking pictures). All images were taken with my point & shoot, a Nikon Coolpix.

 

 

 

{Basque Coast} France Travel Photographer

I've been in love with Europe since living and studying in Spain in 1997. It is definitely my happy place! I wonder at times what is my attraction? Why do I feel so at home there? Well, here are only a few reasons.

I love the history and age in the archeticture. It's old and weathered and tells stories on it's walls.

 

The rituals. On any given day, you'll find the cafes and bars filled with friends and family enjoying the moment. A hot coffee. A chilled soda. Or a yummy gelato. There is no need to wait until the evening to enjoy your loved ones. Europeans seem to know how to seize the moment.

 

I love the color and ornate detail in the signs, door screens, or building faccades.

 

 

{Basque Coast} France Travel Photographer

Such a beautiful coast on a cold day. A few more captures from my travels in Europe 2008.

 

 

 

 

{Loire Valley} France Travel Photographer

After returning from a trip and sorting through my images, I often wonder if I realized the beauty of what I was viewing in the moment that I saw it. I'm pretty sure I didn't, because I'm always struck by the images when I get home. I think that's pretty normal when you travel to Europe. You encounter so much beauty, history, and mystery...that it can become a bit overwhelming! I think it takes some time for it to all soak in to really absorb it all. And that is the wonderful thing about photography! You get to relive it, forever! I have to say that France is not my favorite place to visit...but for photography purposes, it is! I know, I'm conflicted and that may not make sense...but it is what it is.

 

 

 

 

See the full book HERE...

Loire Valley, France by charla BLUE photography

{Central Park} New York City Photographer

My editing frenzy of travel pics continues! This time I visit a domestic favorite...New York City! I can't tell you how much I love this city. It is like no other. So much crazy awesome energy & talent comes from this electric place.

I have had the opportunity to visit New York City three times. The first time in July of 1999 when the Towers still stood. In fact, I even had a huge print of the the NY skyline with the Twin Towers above by bed, when they fell. It was kinda eerie to look at it, once they fell. It was such a reminder of so much tragedy and sadness. The second time was in 2002, only six months after 9/11. I saw Ground Zero and all it's devastation. I could not grasp the loss nor remember the reality that stood before. Most recently, I visited NYC in January of 2008. It was only the month before getting pregnant with Brooklyn and I went with my two girlfriends Danielle & Julia. This trip was, of course, the best because I had an awesome camera to capture it in all it's beauty. I visited Ground Zero again on that trip and even six years later, the wounds still seemed fresh. There is an amazing sense of patriotism and comradarie in the city as a result.

There are so many amazing and wonderful places to visit in NYC, but Central Park will continue to be a fave! Especially in the winter with it's twiggy trees, frozen lakes, and frosty blanket.

 

 

 

 

{i heart London} England Travel Photographer

Okay, so I wanted to share more of the images I've been working on recently for my London coffee table book. March of 2008 was the last time I traveled beyond the US, while I was 12 weeks pregnant. Of course, Brooklyn arrived in October of 2008...so my international travel has been put on the back burner since then.

I actually had planned on going to Europe in the spring of 2009, but I decided that before I knew what it would really be like to travel 12 hours on a flight with a 6-month old. I always had visions of continuing to travel with her internationally and she would go where I went, strapped in the front pack (ohhhh...I miss the days when she was small enough to fit in the sling or snugli). We have traveled quite a bit to Texas and Washington together (in fact Brooklyn went on her 12th flight this past weekend), but those flights are only 3 hours or less. And let me tell you that there is nothing more stressful so far in parenting than trying to keep a temper tantrum throwing toddler confined on my lap during a fight. It's pure torture. By the time we exit the plane...I am hot, sweating, and wondering where the nearest bar is (not like I'd go...but trust me, the thought is there). Brooklyn actually did really well for 3/4ths of our flights this past weekend, entertained by new books, stickers, iPhone kid apps (thanks Brandi for the awesome ideas) & Yo Gabba Gabba on a borrowed DVD player (thanks Dana). It's just that last half hour when you have to return the seats upright, put tray tables up, and put electronics away...when things start getting ugly. I hear it eventually gets better, closer to 3 or 4 year olds. So it may be a couple more years before I brave a 12-hour flight across the Atlantic to continue my travels.

In the meantime, I'll miss it terribly but live vicariously through my images and new projects. That cute little girl is worth it, for sure!

Now, on to London! I love this city! I first went to London in 1997 when I was going to school in Spain. It is very reminsicent to Seattle to me, especially the weather! And as much as I love Seattle & London, you know how I feel about that dark & dreary weather. I need to remember to plan my trip next time in the summer. I was in London on Easter of 2008 and it SNOWED! And it was cold! Yes, I know snow and cold usually go together...but 10 years in Southern California has spoiled me!

These are all of the sites that remind me of London...the red photo booths, the London Eye, the Bridge, Big Ben, and the row houses. I'll share the complete book, just as soon as I finish it.

 

 

 

I saw Phantom of the Opera at this theatre in London in 1997 (bottom right collage image, from 2008).