Engagement Photos

I had the pleasure of doing engagement photos for my best friend Sarah and her fiance Jeremy. We chose to take them in San Jose and San Francisco, both places that are dear to them. 

This was my first time doing an engagement photo shoot and working solely with the 30d. I was nervous! Of all days, the day we shot was extremely bright with no cloud in sight. With this challenge of not over exposing Sarah's light skin and not underexposing Jeremey's tanned skin. However, I set out, determined to get the best shots I could because it meant a lot to be a part of this moment for them. 

I thought the shots turned out pretty well and Sarah is happy with them and that's all that's the best confirmation I can get.

The rest of the images can be found here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lannysphotos/sets/72157624230088067/

Day 115: Back....Home?

(San Jose, December 2009) 

When does it stop being home and become your parents' home? It is my hometown, is it my home? I will come back in due time. I wonder about that every time I come and go.

Day 99: Season of Change

(San Jose, November 2009) 

While driving to pick up my friend, I drove past this tree. I remember thinking it was gorgeous. I thought about taking the picture, but then drove past it. After 2 blocks, I turned around and came back to the tree. I knew if I didn't take the picture, I'd regret it.

Day 93: I Fall In Love Every Time

(San Jose, November 2009) 

San Jose has so many nooks and corners in it, it's amazing what we can find. I've lived there practically my whole life and I still don't know where a lot of places are. This past weekend, I was home for Thanksgiving and my cousin and I took a short drive from her place down White Road (a road I have gone down many times) and we kept going. The road led us through a the foot of a mountain that I had no idea would be so close.

It was a short trip, but during that time we were able to stop and take some pictures, catch up and just enjoy it together. She is very special to me because she was the one who introduced me to photography when I was a child.

Photography has always been a part of my life, from toy cameras, to my first point and shoot. I owe a lot of this to my cousin. She was constantly taking pictures, and from her, I discovered the beauty of photography. When she was taking a class in college, she took me along with her to the dark room and I remember thinking, I will process my own film one day.

She was the one who I went to when I told her I was going to start taking classes and she was the one who helped me find my first SLR for 35mm. It was really special to take a photo excursion together in our hometown and do what we both love, photography.

Day 88: The colors

(San Jose, November 2009)

Fall and spring are my two favorite holidays. They both represent change and the colors during these seasons are fantastic. Fall graces us with deep rich colors of orange, red, yellow and brown. I didn't truly appreciate how beautiful it was until I took a trip home to San Jose and walked around downtown.

Day 39: Calm in Chaos

(San Jose, September 2009) 

After a week of readjusting my schedule and life to focus more on photography, I can say that I haven't felt this passionate or happy about doing something for a long time. I don't look at this as a chore, a project in which I dread, but force myself to do. This has grown far beyond being a hobby for me. I want to pursue this and continue to do this for a long long time. I know I have a great amount to learn and try, but I am ready.

I have become obsessed some may say with all this and I don't look at my projects as dreadful, but as challenges in which I know with dedication and effort I will be able to do.

In the past I dived into a good number of activities, done my best, reached a peak then shelf it. I felt comfortable knowing I had the skills  should I need them.  I always told myself I would come back to it.

WIth this, I don't think I'll be doing that. I have found something that I have integrated into the fibers of my being and I feel this is what I am to be doing.

(San Jose, September 2009)