Free Photo Giveaway!!

Do you like free stuff? Of course you do!

Do you like pretty stuff?? Check!!

So do yourself a favor and head on over to the Facebooks where you will:

– Like our photography page
– Comment on the contest photo (same one you see above, but it will be on Facebook), telling us which 8×10 print you want to win

So easy, even a caveman can do it! (Assuming cavemen had electricity.)

For a bonus entry…that’s right, TWO chances to win a free print…share the contest with your friends!

(Sharing is caring, afterall.)

So…what are we gonna do!!??
Like, comment and share.

When are we gonna do it??
Now! (Or sometime before Friday, November 29, because that’s when the winner will be announced!)

Go team!

XOXO
Thank you all for your continued support.  Happy Holidays, Friends!
Shannon

Finding Peace

Blue Serenity

“Complete peace equally reigns between two mental waves.” –Swami Sivananda

This photo was taken in La Jolla, California a few months back during blue hour.  I believe this was taken right after I narrowly missed being swept out to sea by a gigantic wave. haha  Since the moment I decided on this composition, before I even snapped the shot, I loved this scene.  It gives me a sense of calm.

Call me a peace-loving hippie (because I am), but I spend a fair amount of my time on introspection.  What is worth dumping my energy into, what will yield results that will increase the quality of my life, are my actions ones I can live with long term, etc….  My goal for every day is to resist the negativity around me.  Aggravations and annoyances happen, and there isn’t much I can do to control that.  I can only control how I react.

Often, during trying moments, I will remind myself of the logic of the situation.  I tell myself, “It can always be worse.”  During my saddest and angriest moments, I remind myself to be grateful for the good things in my life.  I have food, shelter, and family that loves me, friends that support me, and a great set of basic rights protected by my government.  I’m not desperate, I’m not property, and for the most part, I’m safe.  In the grand scheme of things, whatever is bothering me is probably relatively insignificant.

I suspect at this point, if you read the blog, you know music and musicians are a big part of my life.  This month, one of the musicians in our circle passed away.  He was a young guy, always happy and full of positive energy.  He made a huge impact on the people in his life, both through his music and his attitude.  The tragedy shocked our community.  It is never easy to lose someone who had so much life to live still, but in particular, it was hard to lose a shining light in the sea of humanity.

Events like this are a huge reminder to appreciate the things we have and to live our lives to the fullest every day.  We are but a sum of our experiences, and every day we face choices that will lead us down the path of anger, or the path of quiet peace.  I can’t say that every time I take the high road, but I’m trying. haha  At the end of my days, I don’t want to carry the weight of regret.

We only get one shot at life.  It’s a wild, unpredictable journey and it’s up to every one of us to seize opportunity, to feed our passions, to encourage happiness and to find love.  I’m rooting for all of us. 😉

XO
Shann

La Jolla Essentials

La Jolla Sunset

In my opinion, one of the elements that tends to enhance a seacape is a great rocky shore.  Not to say that sand and a nice sunset aren’t spectacular on their own…but add a nice interesting rocky foreground and I’m hooked.  (Let’s blame my Connecticut upbringing here…our beaches just don’t do “drama”.)

 

Things to keep in mind while shooting on or near awesome rocks in the middle of a deep ocean though.

1) Rocks + waves = ocean spray (and not the delicious cranberry juice kind).  Make sure you have a cleaning kit handy, and be prepared to cover your lens between shots or you’ll find they turn out a bit…um…misty.  Unless you really like practicing your clone stamping skills in photoshop. haha

 

2) Rocks + water = slippery. One big wave can spell disaster.  (Funny story about that…remind me to tell you later! haha)

 

3) Rocks + a vast, flat ocean = no wind breaks. Dress accordingly! If the weather is at all, possibly, maybe going to be uncomfortable, bring gloves and a weather/water resistant coat. If it’s going to be windy, also be prepared to secure your tripod. Last thing you want to do is fish your expensive camera out of the ocean.  Second to last thing you want to do is suffer through a tropical storm just to find out that every shot over 1/60 is blurry courtesy of the hurricane strength winds you endured to snag that beautiful sunset.

 

In this particular instance, we were perfectly safe (but very wet and chilly) – however, we all know as photogs we take risks.  I really did almost get swept into the ocean at one point, mostly due to my own stupidity, and I don’t advocate that.  Keep your common sense close and do your best to prepare for most scenarios you’re likely to encounter.  Safety first…no photo is worth your life.