Christmas family portraits

I had a great time shooting some Christmas/ Family portraits on Sunday. We started off in the morning at Waimea Valley and then headed down to a quiet beach for some morning beach images. They were loads of fun and little baby Sal was asleep almost the whole time.
Thanks for a lovely morning!

Nineteen Owls Photography

I'm back!
Just to let everyone know, I'm going to start faithfully updating this blog with my favorite images from different shoots. So keep checking out the blog to keep up with my latest photo adventures and the wonderful people I get to shoot with!!

But don't worry,
I'll also keep you updated with other random documentation about other adventures- work and play!
Like this:
floating for my roommate Angela's 28th birthday. Decadence, I'm telling ya - it was a day of decadence.


Aloha,
Christen

Cherry Blossoms

Hey all ( and by all, I mean all two of you that may occasionally look at my blog!),

I've been pretty bad about posting regularly.. but that's okay - because there's very few of you that read it anyways...

In any case,
look ---> a picture I took in the Star Bulletin - It's always nice to see your pictures somewhere new.

I'll try to do more photoblogging .. someday.

Kauai

John and I went to Kauai last weekend for his 30th birthday. It was so beautiful. I didn't take as many pictures as I normally would ( I was too busy enjoying my wonderful company and RELAXING!) But here are a few for ya! As usual, you can click on the images to get a bigger view.

kilauea lighthouse

Path to our pool


The most obnoxious fountain I've ever seen. Such an eyesore! Why would they put something like THIS in Hawaii? It has no Hawaiian or polynesian origin at all!!
Crazy underwater caves. Beautiful and all, but I wouldn't want to go swimming in there.
This was the BEST food ever. Vegan Spanokopita from the upscale, vegan restaurant, The Blossoming Lotus, in Kapaa.



The view from our hotel/condo room at the Hanalei Bay Resort.

Haleiwa Jodo Bon Dance

So, this past weekend, I attended my first Bon Dance. The Bon Dance tradition originates in Japan but has evolved slightly after being a part of our culture in Hawaii for so long. Originally called the O-Bon Festival, the event celebrates ancestors as they join their living relatives for a dance. It normally takes place towards the end of July.

In Hawaii, we have an entire season dedicated to Bon Dances (early June through late August) with Bon Dances held on various weekends throughout the state at various temples. The Haleiwa Jodo Mission has an extra special bon dance tradition based in lighting lanterns and/or straw boats and sending them to sea as a farewell until the next time they are invited to dance with the living.

The rules at the Hawaii Bon Dances are a little more lax (depending on the temple). Everyone is encouraged to light a lantern and join in the dance, even if they're not dressed in the appropriate bon dance attire. If you want to see more pictures and learn some more about Bon Dances, check out my feature @ www.mixedplatespecial.com

Here are a few pictures to whet your appetite. Check www.mixedplatespecial.com on Friday for more pictures and a more detailed description of bon dances and their history!
Please click on the images for a larger view.

ahhh, life.

Lately I've been spending a lot of time at home. In doing so, I've reacquainted myself with my yard.
I know what you're thinking: " Your YARD?"
Trust me...
it's beautiful.
Here's a few pictures I took while escaping from the computer today.











growth

FreeSurf Fashion Favorites!

After constant harassment, I've finally conceded to putting up my favorite images from my May fashion shoot. It was a great experience and I'd love to learn more about fashion photography. The models were all great to work with. Jessica, the blonde, was my favorite: so pretty and professional!
Here's your special blogger sneak peek:

A bird in the hand is worth... what?

Although I haven't blogged..... at all! I'm about to start. First off though, I'd like to introduce everybody to this little guy:





John and I found him outside his apartment and couldn't leave him out to die. He's a 2 week old mynah bird. Just a word of warning to everyone who may find a wild baby bird: Even though you may start to think of it as a part of your family within a day or two: DO NOT SNUGGLE.
Yea yea - this seems like common sense right? You'll be amazed at how much you'll really want to snuggle.. Then next thing you know: BIRD FLU.
No no, not media hyped bird flu - Just the flu. But a flu that takes a while to go away and is pretty incapacitating.
I've been resting up and saw my herbalist/acupuncture/fix everything with chinese medicine guy, and I'm feeling a lot better. John's been watching the bird while I'm sick.
Well that's all for now!

Christen

Blog Beginnings

I'd like to start this blog thing off by saying thanks to Stephanie (of the one and only Stephanie Williams Photography)for continually harrassing me to start a blog. Thanks to her relentless quest for my betterment, I have officially entered the world of BLOGS. I'll mainly be using this forum to keep the world updated on my photography endeavors, but will more than likely share my thoughts on life, humor, justice, peace, fashion, music, culture, (etc etc etc)also.

Please check in later this week for an update on my latest photography gig: FreeSurf Magazines Fashion Issue, out in June. And, as always, Free in Hawai'i!


Aloha!
Christen