A Few Photos

I did a little recon mission to the park Saturday morning (where I was going to shoot the family on Sunday). As it ends up, I'm thrilled that I did because the park is ENORMOUS and I couldn't find the spot that Shelia described on the phone the day before. Thankfully, she answered her cell and straightened me out, therefore I was confident I could get back there on Sunday. So at about 10am I shot a bunch of pictures, including these of what I am guessing to be a resident kitty:

Those little shrines along the background are everywhere in the park. I assume they pay respects to local ancestors there, but don't really know.

So after arriving back home (also having seen a high-end audio store that Craig will drool for - I brought home some Marantz, Accuphase, and Esoteric brochures with those "if you have to ask how much you can't afford to go into the store" looking things) and describing the stuff at this amazing park, Craig figured we should all go. Mia was excited for the play structure I saw, and we all were going to feed ducks & fish, etc.

Well, once again, mother nature thought differently - we got out of the car and the first thing I noticed was purple-black sky over blue-green water. Nice looking but threatening. We played at the park for a while before it came - and I told Craig to put away the camera, we'd be soaked. Boy was I right - we ran to an awning nearby to "wait it out" - something you might be able to do in Miami, but definitely NOT here. Finally after killing time for 15 minutes we decided to make a break for it. The last couple of pictures in this latest album are of our hysterically laughing soaking wet kid.


The photos from before and during the rain can be seen here.

No, I Hadn't Been Drinking...

Wow, that video was herky jerky, but I realized I was also talking to Mia in between a little - here's another, from when they moved down the street to right in front of our building ("The Beach" hotel!).

Onward

I think it went great today - what an incredibly lovely family I got to shoot. Their daughter, almost 3, was gorgeous and incredibly smart and friendly. Definitely loved shooting the whole family, they were such fun - and the sun wasn't on top of us, so we didn't have as much heat going on as we could've (though I still was sweating like it was going out of style).

And now we wait again - I should hear by the end of the week! Thanks, all the well-wishers and wonderful people - those I know and those I don't - for the support and compliments. I just thrive on hearing all of it! I'm still of the opinion that job or no job, this experience has been fantastic - I'm so lucky to have found something I enjoy doing so much and I do plan to continue no matter what!

We're going to hit the Futenma Flight Line Fair today, I hope to pig out at dinner on awesome food. Pictures to come....

Just In Time For Mine...

Blogger added VIDEO!
Sweet.



I'm off to my photo shoot - wish me luck!

A Big Fat Reason I'm Happy We Live Off Base

I'm playing Zelda on the wii tonight (yes, I know - ok, I gave him a hard time - I play the stupid wii too... it's FUN, ok!? Now shut up - and if you tell Craig I said that, I'll deny it until he reads this post) and Mia's watching me. Craig had to go in to his office (across the island about 20 minutes away when it isn't rush hour) and wasn't here. Of course. Suddenly I'm hearing drum beats - but it's not from the video game. I pause it, and open our sliding doors. DRUMS! SINGING!

"Mia!! Come on! Put on your shoes, let's GO!"
"What? Why..."
"JUST DO IT! COME ON!"

We run down the street - It's so amazing - a big parade of Eisa dancers!

The good news: I have video, I just need to cut down the size a bit so it can be posted. They proceeded from a purple apartment building at the end of our block (drummers pictured here):
To right in front of our building (this is the front entrance to the hotel that is our home - we're on the 4th floor - here are the dancers):
And then down the block (this little cutie had whiskers painted on):
The bad news: Besides the fact that Craig missed the whole thing, as you can see - I left the SLR in the apartment and ran outside only with the small Canon to take video mostly - the pictures are pretty awful. But hey, I got AUDIO and VIDEO, people! Be patient, it's almost midnight now when I'm posting this, so I'll do it tomorrow. I wouldn't live on base if they paid me! What a great night.

America's Favorite Pass-time

Or so it's called. Funny, I heard about that Rangers/O's game on the radio today- the Rangers broke the all-time record for runs scored in one game with THIRTY - Poor O's - final score, 30-3. Ouch. After Barry Bonds broke Hank Aaron's record, and the A's (I believe it was) broke the record for most runs scored by one player in a game (10), I guess it was only fitting that Mia picked up a bat & ball when we went to play with Casey & Brice for a bit while they were running their gorgeous pointer, Scout. For the whole lot of pictures, click this.

It's All Good

The critique was so great last night, I'm truly giddy. I think I was so giddy last night that I probably talked their ears off - I left the house and I'd predict they looked at each other and said, "Whew! Well that was exhausting." It's happiness and excitement - and it's up to level 11 at this moment, so it's hard to turn it down...it's all so FUN. Such an amazing experience, and as I had mentioned before, I'm honored and happy to even be considered by an established artist.

My shots came out well (it was very satisfying to get to see them all, and there were a lot of really precious ones in there), and the criticisms were all things I truly knew were coming. Nothing came as a surprise, except the amount of positive feedback. (You're always your own worst critic, right?) I mean while I was there, I cringed at some shots with orange construction cones in the background - but with 15 minutes I knew I couldn't run fast enough, I'd lose the moment. Next time, I won't even set myself up for that fall. I was especially happy because it was Shelia's family that I shot - and that's Serena Nicole's right-hand girl. She knows better than anyone what works and what doesn't, so it could have made or broken me.

My friends and family know I have no confidence issues, I'm proud of the things I do and I know when I do well. (Thanks for that, Mom & Dad!) But because I went into it all not knowing, and not having the real experience in that field, it added this "doubt" factor - kind of like after a regular job interview when they give you no indication of whether you're right for it or not.

So - I'm more excited than ever for Sunday's shoot, wherever it may be. I want to use every bit of advice & critiquing to take it to the next level. And really, "criticism" isn't even the right word - I was a design/art major in college, and when they put your piece on the wall in front of the class and everyone has at it - wow, you really develop a thick skin. I definitely felt the positivity in the room last night, and it was a wonderful thing. An environment that is positive and fun while being professional. Sounds like my job at the credit union, really. And that is high praise.

Anyway, here's a hilarious shot of Mia jumping into her dad's arms off the sea wall - something I think both she & her father would do over and over again forever.
Lastly, a very VERY excited YAAAAAY! Jake (my Army Offcer brother-in-law) is now back in Baghdad awaiting a trip home to his wife after (groan) 15 months away from her. In a few more weeks they'll be reunited, and Craig, Mia and I - not to mention the rest of our family - are so excited and happy that they'll be together again soon to enjoy the amazing city of Seattle together at last! Safe travels, Jake. We miss you and we can't wait to hug you too!