A Leica, a 50 and a couple of rolls of Tri-X are all you ever need …

Leica M6, Canon 50 f/1.5 LTM Sonnar, Arista Premium 400 (Tri-X 400)

After the big day was done, Leon and Cindie treated everyone to a backyard BBQ.  Maggie and Alex opened up their pile

of loot and we even had a little cake for the kids.  We did some patio sitting, cold beer drinking and had a good old time.

Very happy to get a shot of all the kids together; we don’t get many opportunities like this very often.

Waiting patiently for the cupcake cake …

Who are those old folks ; )  If I’m lucky, that might be me someday …

Love that Sonnar signature, makes for a lovely profile shot of Lauren here …

I’ll be Leon couldn’t have imagined this some 20+ years ago when these two were in diapers.  I’m steeling myself for the future

and hoping it turns out as well for Naomi and Ava as it has for Lauren and Maggie …

I got the crazy weave lamp!  I think Maggie would have given up everything for just the lamp.

Another Sonnar moment, it’s just lovely how it draws the light …

Thanks to all back in the heartland, until we see you again.

Some more here

more …

See the full galleries here

more …

See the full galleries here

for me on my wedding day so I tried to be brief and let them get back to their friends, but on the other hand I just wanted to

keep shooting and shooting because once our time was up there’s no way to ever get it back.  And they looked spectacular

in the late afternoon light, just bloody fabulous.  I hope I did them justice.

Canon 5D, Canon EF 24-70 f/2.8L, Canon 580 EX

1/400 @ f/2.8, ISO 200

I wanted a little separation between Alex and Maggie plus the club in the background for a more interesting composition.  I hope

Alex didn’t mind being out of the spotlight for a minute : )

Canon 5D, Canon EF 35 f/1.4L, Canon 580 EX

1/800 @ f/2.0, ISO 200

The happy couple all lit up with their best smiles.

Canon 5D, Canon EF 35 f/1.4L, Canon 580 EX

1/800 @ f/2.0, ISO 200

Alex and his best men, bound for Monte Carlo.  International men of intrigue, mystery and danger all.

Canon 1DsMKII, Canon EF 24-70 f/2.8L, Canon 580 EX

1/400 @ f/2.8, ISO 200

Love the color pop with the fuchsia and sage green dresses, I thought it was a nice touch to add a little extra variation to the

bridesmaids’ palette.

Canon 1DsMKII, Canon EF 24-70 f/2.8L, Canon 580 EX

1/160 @ f/5.6, ISO 100

One wedding party, ready to party!

Canon 1DsMKII, Canon EF 16-35 f/2.8L, Canon 580 EX

1/160 @ f/5.6, ISO 200

We got a little extra surprise at the end of the session when a brand new Porsche appeared in front of us, just waiting to be used.

I’d say this is a little nicer than rain on your wedding day …

Canon 1DsMKII, Canon EF 16-35 f/2.8L, Canon 580 EX

1/80 @ f/5.6, ISO 400

Well, there wasn’t much drinking going on, us being mostly teetotalers and all, but

we felt like we were a world away in the Marin headlands over spring break.  This is

one of the buildings on the site, a former army base, that’s now been converted to an

artists’ residence and studio complex.  I’m not much of a landscapist, but the lovely

soft tones of the Portra film lend themselves nicely to the subject.

Leica M6, KM 50 M-Hexanon f/2.0, Kodak Portra160NC

We stayed at the Marin Headlands hostel over spring break as a way to jump start the summer and get out of city.  The hostel

is what you would expect – a little funky, a little ramshackle and full of interesting people from all over.  But though it’s just a few

miles from SF, it feels a world away once you get over the bridge and get down into the headlands.  Peaceful and quiet with miles

of trails to explore and beaches nearby.  Ask Kim about the racoons sometime ; )

The trusty Tacoma hauled our bikes and trailer so we could get over to the Presidio and take in the trail around Crissy Field and smell

the fresh ocean air.  Since Sausalito is just up Hwy 1, we made a day trip there and rode the trail along the bay.  Of course, when in Sausalito

one simply must get to Lappert’s for ice cream and rest assured we let no opportunity slip by.

There’s also a terrific hands on museum for the kids on the Marin side, the Bay Area Discovery Museum,

where I got a fun shot of Naomi up in the crow’s nest with the bridge behind her …

Leica M6, KM 50 M-Hexanon f/2.0, Ilford XP-2

And since I couldn’t resist the view, no matter how cliched the shot, I had to try framing the Golden Gate myself.  Do you prefer

the straight B&W …

or the cross tone?

Leica M6, KM 50 M-Hexanon f/2.0, Ilford XP-2

More to come, see the full galleries here

FaceBook album here

Full set here

Canon 1DsMKII, Canon EF 20-35 f/2.8L, 580EX

f/4 @ 1/250, ISO 100

Naomi Mae and Ava Rae got all dressed up in their favorite finery for all the big Easter day festivities at Papa’s house.  They decided

to peruse the backyard and find just the right floral accent to complete their outfits.  I persuaded them to take a few turns and

show off, which wasn’t hard : )

Hand in hand, sisters forever …

Canon 1DsMKII, Canon EF 20-35 f/2.8L

f/3.5 @ 1/40, ISO 800 w/flash (580ex)

and one more …

Canon 5D, Canon EF 24-70 f/2.8L

f/2.8 @ 1/1600, ISO 400

Just finishing up the full set in color but couldn’t resist doing a few BW conversions.  I think there will be some

nice black and white material to work with though most of it looks great in color as shot.  It was a beautiful

sunny day so the colors saturated well and provided lots of natural pop.  I’ll sort through everything once

it’s posted and see what works.

And since this is a photo blog, I can’t let you leave without a little eye candy …

Canon 5D + Canon EF 24-70 f/2.8

Leica M3, 35 Summaron f/2.8, Kodak Portra400NC

and a few more …

So I’m a sucker for that backlit, windblown, Brigitte Bardot look – I’ll admit it.  But when you look like Ava, why not go with your best look?  It’s scary to think how beautiful she’s going to be.  All I have to do is look at Naomi to see what’s going to happen.

Some more here