Is the year REALLY half over already?

June.  The halfway mark for the year.  How is it possible?  Wasn't it January just a few weeks ago? Time is brutal. 

Just ask the crows feet around my eyes and the grey hairs on my head.

I wanted to post about this right after the trip like a normal person but today will work.  Especially when I SHOULD be packing for the big move tomorrow.

Procrastination is a very misunderstood and undervalued talent.

6 months ago while recovering from a very mellow New Years Eve....so mellow in fact I have no memory of what I actually did. Probably just went to bed after watching the fireworks from mom's balcony - that sounds about right.

What I do remember is excitedly getting ready to travel outside of the country, for the first time in several years.  People who know me understand why this was such a huge deal. It had been over 3 years since I had left the country, something I used to do multiple times a year.  I was jones-ing in a bad way for a stamp in my brand new and pathetically empty passport.  Yes turning 40 meant a brand new passport and it looked far to shiny, new and lonely without stamps and visa's from other countries. My old one was 2/3 full  and I am optimistic in the next 10 years I can do the same or more to this one.

Meanwhile this virgin passport was headed to Nicaragua.

I was thrilled to be invited on this incredible trip.  My roommate from college Betsy decided to organize a trip there for HER 40th birthday, 1 month after mine and I was flying to meet her, the 2 Heathers (the other half of the "fearsome foursome" (don't ask) and about 24 of Betsy's closest friends and family.

I could write and write and write about the trip, but I think it is better shown photographically with a brief summary.

Great food & drinks, old friends, new friends, sun, heat, pool time, exploring, lakes, mountains, buses, horse drawn carriages, boats, roofs of busses, monkey's, bats, mean ducks, volcanos, tunnels, adventure, hiking, volcano surfing, dancing and more drinking.

Almost there!

Here are just a few of my favorites, in no particular order - actually completely and ridiculously out of order. You can check out more on an album on my Facebook Photography Page if you are so inclined.

Just hoping I get to go on another adventure during the second half of 2013!

Choices Choices

The Fearsome Foursome still going at 40 and Fabulous!

This is just a given

Thanks to our hosts this was home for the week

Private Island - oh ok.

Splash

Perfection

Hike to the top and then surf down?  Ummmm Ok.

Close to the top now as the sun starts to set

Yup. Volcano Surfing.  We did that.

Sunset Post Surf

Our lodgings were an oasis 

My new friend

Sunset on Lake Granada

Volcano Gasses

Happy Birthday Girl!

My Favorite spot

Mean Ducks

Seeing the photos makes me want to go back! I miss everything! 

Well except the mean ducks.

Go West My Girl, Go West

2 years, 296 days and 2 1/2 hours ago I pulled my highlander away from the curb in front of my house in Venice Ca to head east on the 10.  But who's counting?

Yesterday afternoon, my plane skimmed over Sepulveda right before it hit the tarmac at LAX with the big blue pacific in view ahead of me and my eyes filled up with tears.....of joy.   I was born and raised in Philly and Jersey,  spent 4 amazing years in New England, and half of my family and loved ones live with me in Florida - so those places should be home.  And they are, in a sense.  There are many things I love and miss about all of those places.  However, on an early morning walk down the hill to the pier this morning, Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf coffee in hand, the pacific ahead of me, the sun shining on me face while I was bundled up against the crisp cold morning I can't deny the truth that tugged at my very soul.

I. Am. Home.

Mountains.  How I have missed them!

My host Nick.  Missed him so!

Just a beautiful Southern California Morning

Waves!  Surf-able Waves!

This is how to start a morning.  Hello Surfer boys!

This is just the beginning.  I have days of reconnecting with friends, my old home and if I can get ahold of a wet suit and a long board - the Pacific.

I'm back where I belong.

Popsicle Art

I shouldn't play favorites - I know that...but you can forgive me knowing that this little ray of sunshine is my first and only God-baby and her equally beautiful siblings all share a special place in my heart.

I shot these in their backyard on a beautiful sunny afternoon in NJ. The mood and the feeling invoked by the sharing of popsicles inspired me to do some creative editing on them - beyond the normal B&W.

The light seemed to want me to soften the colors they wore into this pastel magic - and I couldn't say no.

Little brothers

Another set of beautiful children that I have been lucky enough to have seen from the times they were born. Jonas is almost 4 and his brother Christian is almost 2.



Kids are tough - but little boys are even more challenging to photograph as sitting still is not a concept they yet grasp! I had to chase them all over the beach and the playground - making it a game - but in the end it was lots of fun and worth it!

Family of Friends

Ahhh my little Raguse babies are growing up so fast! I love shooting my friends families - watching them grow and change. Mom and I were remembering when Jackson was born and now he just turned 4! In addition now he has his beautiful sister Ryan to play with!

Family portraits are a tricky thing because you are at the mercy of children and their ever changing temperaments. We had a few moments of light before the clouds completely blotted out the sun and the cold wind picked up - making it un-ideal for our youngest subject - but we did capture a few.


Jackson is such a sweet older brother to his baby sister Ryan. We got to play for a few hours which was so wonderful! Then we got some of these wonderful family moments.




I felt a little sad during this shoot. We plan to do another in the next few weks - but knowing I am moving away from LA and will no longer see them on a regular basis - to watch and photograph them as they grow saddens me. I guess I will just have to come back and visit as much as possible!

Guerrila Shooting

Sometimes you have the best light, the best weather/conditions, a totally mellow baby and all the time in the world to shoot. Other times you have 20 minutes before the sun sets, chilling air with gale force winds and a beautifully dressed mom and babe with the babe all about doing anything but staying still! Regardless you have to work with what you get and sometimes it is this "Guerrilla" style shoot (as coined by mom) that you can get the best real life moments.


In the end - I may not have gotten the photo I had envisioned in my head - but I did get some wonderful candid moments of mum and daughter having some girl time during the sunset at the beach.

The best part? Mum LOVED the outcome - and is willing and excited to do more.

To see more of this shoot - visit my website and look at LuLu in Client Galleries.