Whenever I’m trudging along on vacation dragging my 4×5” camera and tripod, there will invariably be a point where I’ll ask myself, “why can’t you leave the cameras at home and just enjoy yourself like a normal person”? I have to admit there have been many occasions when carrying this rather cumbersome load has been not only an exercise of my forearms but also of futility. But on this day, the long hike from the parking lot down to Ruby Beach proved to be fruitful.
It had been raining since we arrived in Washington but we decided to not let bad weather stop us from exploring the coast. Just as we reached the shore, the rain stopped and the clouds started to dance for us. There is no time more magical than the moment between the end of a storm and the coming of the sun. Every time I look at the series of photographs I made that afternoon, I am immediately transported back.
On those occasions when I consider leaving my cameras at home, I’ll think back on days like this, pack up all the gear and trudge on.
“The virtue of the camera is not the power it has to transform the photographer into an artist, but the impulse it gives him to keep on looking.”
~Brooks Atkinson
Full disclosure time…when I bought these pencils in a flea market in Buenos Aires, I had every intention of giving them to my little niece, Celine. She inherited the art bug from her mother and me and we’ve spent countless hours hunched over her kitchen table sketching and painting together.
Whenever I travel, I’m always on the lookout for interesting art supplies to bring back for her. Over the years she has scored coloring books from Mexico and very elegant watercolors from Paris but for some reason, I just never got around to giving her these pencils. I think it’s because they are just about the prettiest thing in an art closet where pretty is kind of scarce and desperately needed. I guess I’ll just hang onto them for now. Hmm…I can always save them for her kids.
I thought I would share with you another one of my Happy Places. It’s a place that really appeals to my inner diva and it’s called appropriately enough, Diva Décor.
Diva Décor, located in the Howard Hughes Promenade is a treasure trove of all things girly and lovely. Whenever I’m searching for a great gift for a client or need a cute journal for my travels, I pop in for what I tell myself will be just a minute but before I know it, an hour has passed and I’ve smelled every delicious candle, and tried on tons of sparkly jewelry.
Barbara the owner, stocks a wonderful assortment of wedding accessories too like, elegant garters and ring pillows so pretty you’ll want to display them in your boudoir after the wedding. You see what this place does to me? It’s got me using fancy French words like boudoir!
There are very few places that make me want to sip champagne out of crystal encrusted flutes while lounging on a silk divan wrapped in a feather boa, but Diva Décor does just that.
Phone no. (310) 642-1910
Hours: Mon.-Fri. 11am – 7:30pm Sat. 11am – 8pm. Sun. 12pm – 4 pm
Twitter.com/1divadecor
“Wherever you go, go with all your heart.”
~ Confucius
Anita and Gabriel’s pink and black themed wedding was a perfect reflection of their day – elegant and whimsical.
They were married at Black Gold Golf Club in Yorba Linda on a crystal clear day. The view over the golf course was breathtaking. It looked more like the Italian countryside than Orange County.
Gabriel impressed us with his mad putting skills during the groomsmen’s photo session and Anita looked simply stunning as did her bouquet of pink roses and white ranunculus.
Matthew, the groom’s little boy was very dashing in his tuxedo but he didn’t let his fancy suit keep him from indulging in lots of playful antics.
At the end of the evening each guest received one of the best favors I’ve ever seen – a bottle of wine with a personalized label featuring a photograph from the engagement session we photographed at Rideau Winery.
Congratulations Anita & Gabriel! We wish you and Matthew lots of laughter and happiness.
If you would like to see more of Anita & Gabriel click on:
https://blog.isabellawrence.com/2009_11_01_archive.html
www.blackgoldgolf.com/layout9.asp?id=200&page=5391
To me, Paris is the quintessential European city. None other is more romantic, elegant, or beautiful. Turn a corner and the most fabulous lingerie boutique or bakery awaits. The Parisians even manage to make suckling pigs hanging from hooks in the butcher shop window look like fine art.
This carousel was a complete surprise. I came up to street level from the subway and there it was, like something out of the early 1900’s.
I wanted to maintain the illusion of a past time in this photograph and exclude any signs of the modern age. It took a lot of patience and two visits but I did finally manage to click the shutter at precisely the right moment.
This image is our July Print of the Month. For those of you not familiar with our monthly print sale, let me explain. Each month Larry and I take turns offering one of our favorite photographs for sale at a vastly reduced price. These are limited edition museum quality images printed by master printer Robert Cavalli on fiber paper under an enlarger. We have sold photographs like these in galleries for $500 but are making them available to our clients on our site for just $50.
If you would like to purchase this photograph contact the studio or click on the link below. We will only make 30 of these available at this price so seize the day!
www.isabellawrence.com/printom.html
