Yesterday, my family celebrated Easter at my sister Carol’s house. Carol and her husband, Burt, put together a delicious spread that included lamb chops, prime rib, brussels sprouts, and honey baked ham. From lunch to dinner we just kept eating. Sam and I assembled 120 plastic eggs and then some of the kids hid them in the backyard. Half of the eggs were filled with chocolate and candy and the other half were filled with tattoos, balls and stamps. Overall, it was a fun time had by all. Here are some pics from the event.
Above: Parker decided to break into the loot early and take out all the balls.
Carol put together an Easter egg tree, with eggs that the kids decorated by hand. Reminded me of the smaller version of this guy’s.
These are the plastic eggs we hid around the backyard.
One of the adults attempting to hide Easter eggs in a birdhouse.
This weekend was packed! A neighborhood couple threw a birthday party for their daughter on Saturday and my sister put on an Easter party on Sunday. Amidst it all, we found time to go on a hike. This time, we took our dogs, Charlie and Fozzie, with us. They loved exploring new territory. Though we had to watch out for bicyclers, overall we enjoyed being out in nature. Now that spring has arrived, everything is so green. I love it.
Parker decided he was now a “big boy” so he could take on the responsibility of holding Fozzie’s leash. Whenever Sam and I screamed “Bicycle!”, he’d quickly hand me the leash. Sam was a such a champ, he carried Logan and walked Charlie. I got to snap a few pictures of the experience. Loved the trees and rocks all around us.
Fozzie in search of a lizard. That dog is lightning quick.
I like how the trees look like they’re framing Sam and the kids.
When Eugene and I spoke at Alt Summit, a few winters ago, we ended our speech with this video that shows in visual form Ira Glass’s now famous speech.
Here’s Daniel Sax, the creator of the video, explaining how it came about:
“I think it was in the time of spring 2012, when I came across David Shiyang Liu’s lovely piece of work about Ira Glass. It was the most inspiring and motivating video I had ever seen in my life. I watched it over and over again, listened to Ira Glass’ voice, and told myself, that I am not the only person who is constantly disappointed about the gap between one’s taste and one’s skills. Later in 2012, I decided to do my own filmed version of Ira’s interview – using my own language to tell his message. It took me about a year from concept to upload.
“I made it for myself and for anybody who is in doubt about his/her creative career. I also think that Ira Glass’ message isn’t only limited to the creative industry. It can be applied to everyone who starts out in a new environment and is willing to improve.”
It was, for lack of a better word, an interesting week. As I wrote about in my first blog post, I have bipolar. A few days ago, I woke up feeling a tremendous amount of energy pulsating throughout my body and I knew at that moment that something was off. That day I felt great, my mood was elevated, I was making lists and checking each item off. The night prior, I had a dream that I went manic which I chalked up to being strange but not unusually abnormal. Then, two nights ago, I woke up at 3:30 am and had that feeling of restlessness that comes with the disorder. I had four hours to kill before my family would wake up so I read a book, watched a few videos and then went on a hike. Oh no, I thought. Here we go again.
But then! Sam had kept my medication schedule from my last manic episode so we looked to that for guidance. We upped my dose and voila! Last night I slept a full nine hours. No time for high fives, just yet. I have a psychiatrist appointment scheduled in a few hours so we’ll see if we’re out of the clear. Though I enjoyed that hypomanic day, I know I can’t sustain that level of energy. Our bodies (or should I say minds) are just not built that way.
I digress. Now, let’s get into the top 10 moments of the week. We went on a lot of hikes and saw my sister Carol a few times. I got to practice my photography, which is always good. The photo above is from a newly explored trail at Santa Rosa Plateau. Sam and Parker are walking hand in hand. It looked that beautiful, like we were walking through a fairytale forest.
Once a week, Parker goes to gym class. Here he is with his favorite coach, “Coach Nick.”
Parker gets exhausted after his hour at the gym. This moment was caught as we were leaving. I love how Parker is holding on tight to Sam. Also, love the trees and their reflections.
I took this snapshot of Parker sleeping. Sam’s looking at him endearingly, he doesn’t want to wake him. That’s Fozzie’s fur you’re seeing on top of Parker’s pillow. He loves sleeping right next to Parker’s head.
Logan loves being held and he requires it during hikes. I love how Logan’s blue stripes match Sam’s. It’s like Logan is an extension of his father.
This is Fozzie giving us his cutest look. God, I love that dog.
This is my sister Carol’s kid Riverton. Parker’s in the background. Here, the two boys are scooting around Carol’s backyard.
My sister Carol went to a painting class this week. She made these flowers which have an Impressionist feel. I love the colors.
On my morning hike, I snapped this picture of a bridge. I was playing with perspective.
On that same hike, I caught this picture of a bird soaring through the sky. I love the shades of blue and the bird’s soaring wings. How awesome would it be if we could fly?
My go-to photography blog, Petapixel, recently released an article titled 40 Tips to Take Better Photos. There are lots of great gems in there. I’ve reduced the list down to 10 of my favorites.
Shoot every day
The best way to hone your skills is to practice. A lot. Shoot as much as you can – it doesn’t really matter what. Spend hours and hours behind your camera. As your technical skills improve over time, your ability to harness them to tell stories and should too. Don’t worry too much about shooting a certain way to begin with. Experiment. Your style – your ‘voice’ – will emerge in time. And it will be more authentic when it does. — Leah Robertson
See the light
Before you raise your camera, see where the light is coming from, and use it to your advantage. Whether it is natural light coming from the sun, or an artificial source like a lamp; how can you use it to make your photos better? How is the light interacting with the scene and the subject? Is it highlighting an area or casting interesting shadows? These are all things you can utilise to make an ordinary photo extraordinary.
Buy books, not gear
Having expensive camera equipment doesn’t always mean that you’ll take good photos. I’ve seen some absolutely amazing images shot with nothing more than a smart phone. Instead of having ten different lenses, invest in some fantastic photography books. By looking at the work of the masters, not only do you get inspired, you come away with ideas to improve your own photos.
Slow down
Take time to think about what is going on in the viewfinder before pressing the shutter. How are you going to compose the shot? How are you going to light it? Don’t jump straight in without giving it some thought first. — Brad Marsellos
Shutter speed
Being aware of your shutter speed means the difference between taking a blurry photo and a sharp photo. It all depends on what you are after. If you are shooting a sporting event or children running around in the backyard, you probably want your subjects to be in focus. To capture fast action you will have to use a shutter speed over 1/500th of a second, if not 1/1000th to 1/2000th.
Keep it simple
Don’t try to pack too many elements into your image; it will just end up looking messy. If you just include one or two points of interest, your audience won’t be confused at where they should be looking or what they should be looking at.
Be aware of backgrounds
What’s in your frame? So often I see great photos and think “didn’t they see that garbage bin, ugly wall, sign, etc?” It’s not just the person or object in your frame, it’s everything else in the background that can make or break a great photograph. So don’t be afraid to ask the person to move (or move yourself) to avoid something ugly in the background. — Marina Dot Perkins
Hold your camera properly
You might not know it, but there is a right way and a wrong way to hold a DSLR camera. The correct way is to support the lens by cupping your hand underneath it. This is usually done with the left hand, with your right hand gripping the body of the camera. This helps to prevent camera shake. If you are gripping your camera with your hands on either side of the camera body, there is nothing supporting the lens, and you might end up with blurry photos. To get an even stabler stance, tuck your elbows into the side of your body.
Inspiration from all forms
Take in as much photography as you can – online, and in books and magazines. But not passively. Look at different styles. Work out what you like or don’t like about them. Look at the technical elements of pictures and think about how they were made, and what the photographer is trying to say. The more you take in, the more arsenal you’ll have when creating your own work. — Leah Robertson
Be patient and persevere
With time, patience, and perseverance, you will get better; with each and every photo you take.
Sometimes I turn to turn books when I need a good recharge. You know, you feel low on energy or you need a much needed break from studying. I just finished reading the book A Philosopher’s Notes and what I loved most about it was the overall sense of optimism it gave me. Though there are a few chapters I didn’t wholeheartedly agree with (mostly on depression and taking medication), I still enjoyed the book from cover to cover. The author, Brian Johnson, intersperses meaningful quotes which I feel compelled to share with you.
Mostly, I loved the ones that pertained to persistence or not giving up. After that episode I had with Sam over being discouraged about my current skill level in photography, these quotes gave me a new perspective.
“A person can make himself happy, or miserable, regardless of what is actually happening ‘outside,’ just by changing the contents of consciousness. We all know individuals who can transform hopeless situations into challenges to be overcome, just through the force of their personalities. This ability to persevere despite obstacles and setbacks is the quality people most admire in others, and justly so; it is probably the most important trait not only for succeeding in life, but for enjoying it as well. To develop this trait, one must find ways to order consciousness so as to be in control of feelings and thoughts. It is best not to expect shortcuts will do the trick. ”
– Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
“We fail to realize that mastery is not about perfection. It’s about a process, a journey. The master is the one who stays on the path day after day, year after year. The master is the one who is willing to try, and fail, and try again, for as long as he or she lives.”
– George Leonard Quotes
“Do not be impatient with your seemingly slow progress. Do not try to run faster than you presently can. If you are studying, reflecting and trying, you are making progress whether you are aware of it or not. A traveler walking the road in the darkness of night is still going forward. Someday, some way, everything will break open, like the natural unfolding of a rosebud.”
– Vernon Howard
“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”
– Howard Thurman
“Then the time came when the risk it took to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.”
– Anais Nin
At the end of the book, Jonson gives us his list of top 50 books. Get ready to dive in.
This past weekend, my family and my sisters’ families went to Pelican Hill to celebrate Parker and my niece Berry’s birthdays. It’s become a sort of a tradition, this is our second year doing it. We rented one three bedroom villa, which accommodated us all. The villas are perfect because they’re near one of the resort’s main pools and they have a full kitchen so you can cook.
Can you believe the pool and jacuzzi are open 24 hours? We did a bit of night swimming, ate Sprinkles cupcakes (in lieu of a cake) and then, when the kids went to bed, enjoyed wine and ’80s music. We danced in our robes, playing “old school” jams like those from Erasure, Depeche Mode, Cure, OMD, Pet Shop Boys and even PM Dawn. (Who doesn’t love Set Adrift On Memory Bliss or I’d Die Without You?) We winded down the night with some Mariah and Whitney.
Overall, the kids had a blast, the adults lived it up and we swore we’d do this again next year. Heck, we had such a good time that we’re even thinking about making this a bi-yearly thing. Love this place.
We came in a few hours before check-in time and went to the magic show at the clubhouse. This is Hector the Magician, he was amazing! That’s Parker in the red and white sweater, raising his hand to be picked to come up. Love how that kid’s so brave.
Parker was such a trooper. Here he is getting his hat on to help Hector with one of his acts.
My niece Berry was loving the magic show. I love her beautiful laugh.
This is my nephew Bobby, my brother-in-law Linker, Sammy and Logan hanging out at the balcony of the clubhouse. Bobby looks like he’s hovering in mid-air.
After lunch, the kids played with the bocce balls, throwing them around.
We asked for an early 3pm check-in (it’s usually 5pm) but we still had a few hours to kill before we got our villa. The cool thing about Pelican Hill is that you can use all of their amenities on the same day, before checkin-in. We decided to hit the pool for a few hours. Carol’s family hadn’t showed up yet.
This photo of my older sister Grace was taken on the balcony of our villa. We had a spectacular view of the ocean.
My sister Carol, her husband Burt, and her three boys arrived and they prepared a Korean dinner which consisted of bulgogi, chadolbaegi (two different types of meats) and green onion salad. Here’s Parker happily hanging onto his cousin Evan.
I love how, in this photo, it looks like the three boys are huddling. In actuality, they’re trying to see if they can all do the “kimchi squat.”
We all headed to the pool for a late afternoon, evening swim. Here’s the outside of our villa.
By the time everyone got in the pool, the sun was setting and the sky gave off a beautiful purple light. No one else was in the pool, just my family. Logan’s the one in the center.
I was experimenting with symmetry and perspective here. Love how everyone is pictured as silhouettes.
Sam holding Logan in the middle of the pool.
I caught My nephew Grayson mid-air jumping onto a pool float. Love the colors in this shot.
After our evening trip to the pool, we all went back to the villa to sing happy birthday and eat cupcakes. Here, the family has gathered around the two birthday kids, Berry and Parker.
I’m glad I caught this photo of the two kids blowing out the candles.
After the cupcakes it was time for movie night. We brought an air mattress and set it up in the living room. All the kids piled on top of it to watch Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2.
The next morning, we all took another dip in the pool. The adults donned comfy robes and sat poolside.
Sammy and Logan coming back from the pool and walking to our villa.
Here are my brother-in-law Burt and Sam with the babies. It had been a rough night.
The kids all got together for a group picture.
Here’s the whole clan. We’ll be back Pelican Hill!
This past weekend, I went with my family (sisters and their kids included) to the Pelican Hill Resort. While a more thorough review of the experience is coming, along with photos, I thought I might start off by telling you my most shocking experience of the last two days. On Saturday, we were swimming with our kids when I noticed a father and son near the steps of the pool. The father was distracted, looking around, when I noticed his son bobbing down the pool steps until he reached the last one and went completely under water.
My first instinct was to ask the dad, “Is he okay?” To which he quickly replied “Yes”. I don’t think, at that point, he even knew where his son was since his son was completely submerged. I had finished swimming and was drying off, I had my bathing suit on underneath my towel and t-shirt. Instinctively and without his consent, I jumped into the water to pull the boy out, while he gasped for air. Afterwards, the father gave me a quiet “thank you” for saving his son’s life.
What I learned from this ordeal was that when kids are drowning it’s not like what you’ve seen on tv or in the movies – there isn’t any flailing of arms or splashing around. Instead, there’s silence. Sam and my brother-in-law Keith told me about this right afterwards and then, this morning, I started researching online. In a Slate article titled Drowning Doesn’t Look Like Drowning I learned:
The Instinctive Drowning Response—so named by Francesco A. Pia, Ph.D., is what people do to avoid actual or perceived suffocation in the water. And it does not look like most people expect. There is very little splashing, no waving, and no yelling or calls for help of any kind. To get an idea of just how quiet and undramatic from the surface drowning can be, consider this: It is the No. 2 cause of accidental death in children, ages 15 and under (just behind vehicle accidents)—of the approximately 750 children who will drown next year, about 375 of them will do so within 25 yards of a parent or other adult. According to the CDC, in 10 percent of those drownings, the adult will actually watch the child do it, having no idea it is happening. Drowning does not look like drowning..
Scary stuff. Sam was in the water and saw the whole thing happen. I was standing outside the water, closer to the boy, so was in the right position to save him. I know that if I wasn’t there, Sam would have done the same. But what would have happened if both of us weren’t there?
To celebrate the arrival of spring, which technically started yesterday (March 20th), National Geographic has created a gallery of cherry blossom photos. All of the photos were submitted through Your Shot, National Geographic’s photography community. I’ve always loved seeing cherry blossoms in photos, the stunning pink color of the blooming flowers make for stunning shots. Soon, I’d like to take my kids to the LA Arboretum so that they can experience these in person. Check out a recent maternity photo shoot there by Love & Lemonade photography.
Here’s a quick few facts about cherry blossoms (or sakura in Japanese): They’re the unofficial national flower of Japan. Cherry blossoms symbolize clouds due to their nature of blooming en masse. They’re a metaphor for the ephemeral beauty of life, an aspect of Japanese cultural tradition that is often associated with Buddhist influence.
The Travel Channel put together a list of the best places to see cherry blossoms in the US. On the west coast, there’s a cherry blossom festival in San Francisco. This year it’s being held from April 9-10 and April 16-17. This annual festival — the second largest festival outside of Washington, DC – attracts an annual crowd of more than 200,000 people. Have you been? Sounds like a fun festival to celebrate something so beautiful.
Above: Old Couple An old couple was enjoying the most beautiful moment of a year. Photography and caption by Joe Ishikawa/ National Geographic Your Shot
Sakura River Inokashira park where some Japanese celebrate their hanami party under the tree of cherry blossom. Photograph and caption by Danilo Dungo/ National Geographic Your Shot
Japan’s Cherry Blossom Festival. Photography and caption by Ryan WH/ National Geographic Your Shot
Chidorigafuchi Chidorigafuchi is one of the popular spots for cherry blossoms (sakura) viewing. It is just a couple of stations away from our office. Seven springs had already passed since joining our company but I never had the chance to do a hanami there. That changes last Saturday…Photography and caption by Totomai Martinez/ National Geographic Your Shot
Land of Mist Mt. Yoshino is well known from old times for the best cherry blossom site in Japan. It covers all over the mountain paths around 8 kms, from the north end to the south of Omine Renzan mountains. It is also a base of Omine spiritual mountain walk for decipliants. A path between Yoshino-Omine and Yuya is called Omine Okukudou and is still used for religeous training. The spiritual site and path in Kii, including Mt. Yoshino, was approved as one of UNESCO World Heritage. Photography and caption by Yoshiki Fujiwara/ National Geographic Your Shot
Over the years, I’ve been following a number of photographers who each have their own distinct style. What I mean by this is that when you see a photograph, you know it was taken by one of them. That’s one of the ultimate goals, isn’t it? To stand out from the crowd, to be unique, to have your own voice. Lately, I’ve taken a keen interest in wedding and family photography, mostly because I can connect with feelings associated with them – being a bride and a mom. Seeing brides and grooms on one of the happiest days of their lives makes my heart sing. (Sorry that was a little bit cheesy.) Being a mother I know how quickly babies can grow into kids so I’m excited when I get to capture their fleeting moments. I love seeing their countless expressions, from over-the-moon glee to uncontrollable sorrow.
The eight photographers in this post aren’t family or wedding photographers (except for Max Wanger). However, they’re photographers who’ve made a big impact on me by making me fall in with the whole genre of photography. While some are masters at creating whimsical scenes (Annie Leibovitz, Rodney Smith, Tim Walker) others are incredible at capturing the perfect moment (Henri Cartier-Bresson and Elliot Erwitt). Below one of their photographs, I’ve added in some quotes by them. If anything, I hope you come away with this post inspired.
Henri Cartier-Bresson
He was one of the most accomplished and influential photographers of the 20th century; he was the acknowledged ‘master of the moment’, and many of his images are masterpieces of photographic history.
“To photograph: it is to put on the same line of sight the head, the eye and the heart.”
“Your first 10,000 photographs are your worst.”
“To me, photography is the simultaneous recognition, in a fraction of a second, of the significance of an event.”
“Your eye must see a composition or an expression that life itself offers you, and you must know with intuition when to click the camera.”
“We must avoid however, snapping away, shooting quickly and without thought, overloading ourselves with unnecessary images that clutter our memory and diminish the clarity of the whole.”
“You just have to live and life will give you pictures.”
“Of course it’s all luck.”
Tim Walker
He is a British fashion photographer, who regularly shoots for Vogue and W Magazine. He’s known for his whimsical sets. Think Annie Leibovitz in male form.
“Only photograph what you love.”
“It is very difficult to make the ideas in my head come to life, but what is harder is making them look effortless.”
“Storytelling – fanciful storytelling – can only be told through fashion photography. It’s the perfect way to play with fantasy and dreams.”
“Looking back at my earlier pictures, I think that the work is very much coming from the same place. I have gone through a period of challenging myself with a complicated idea to currently challenging myself with the idea of simplicity.”
Annie Leibovitz
Annie Leibovitz is an American portrait photographer known for her elaborate sets.
“A thing that you see in my pictures is that I was not afraid to fall in love with these people.”
“The camera makes you forget you’re there. It’s not like you are hiding but you forget, you are just looking so much.”
“If I didn’t have my camera to remind me constantly, I am here to do this, I would eventually have slipped away, I think. I would have forgotten my reason to exist.”
Rodney Smith
With an illustrious career spanning over 45 years, New York-based photographer Rodney Smith has produced countless images that are a perfect blend of style and sophistication. The man is a genius at composition.
“People use the terminology ‘He’s a commercial photographer, he’s a fine art photographer, he’s a landscape photographer.’ I think it’s hard enough just to be a photographer. I think that in using the term ‘photographer’ one should be very careful about what that really means. I grew up in a tradition where being a photographer was a very noble pursuit. You pursued it for the love and the passion, and doing it was a very difficult thing to do. There are thousands and thousands of people who take photographs, but very few photographers, because one has to have an eye, one has to have the vision, one has to have something to say.”
“Many people believe that one is born with talent and some people have it and some people don’t. I actually don’t believe that. I believe that everyone has the ability; because everyone is a human being and everyone has feelings. If they are able to express those feelings, than that is part of their talent.”
Steve McCurry
Steve McCurry, recognized universally as one of today’s finest photographers, is best known for his evocative color photography.
“Most of my photos are grounded in people, I look for the unguarded moment, the essential soul peeking out, experience etched on a person’s face.”
“My life is shaped by the urgent need to wander and observe, and my camera is my passport.”
“The photograph is an undeniably powerful medium. Free from the constraints of language, and harnessing the unique qualities of a single moment frozen in time.”
Martin Schoeller
As a staff photographer at The New Yorker for more than a decade, Martin Schoeller captured a wide range of famous characters, from President Barack Obama and Lady Gaga to the skateboarder Tony Hawk.
“Don’t think you have a Vanity Fair cover and you’re done; you’re only as good as your last photograph.”
“I think the best way to describe it is a certain moment of intimacy, of vulnerability, that I’m striving to capture.”
Elliott Erwitt
Elliott Erwitt is an advertising and documentary photographer known for his black and white candid shots of ironic and absurd situations within everyday settings— a master of Henri Cartier-Bresson’s “decisive moment”.
“All the technique in the world doesn’t compensate for the inability to notice.”
“To me, photography is an art of observation. It’s about finding something interesting in an ordinary place… I’ve found it has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with the way you see them.”
“I appreciate simplicity, true beauty that lasts over time, and a little wit and eclecticism that make life more fun.”
Max Wanger
Max Wanger is a Los Angeles-based photography known for his simplicity and use of negative space.
“What makes photography interesting is that almost all photographers are unique. It’s very rare that two people are able to share the same moment from the same perspective. I guess that means my pictures are unique simply because I am who I am wherever I happen to be. Eyes (and shutter) open, of course.”
“Love what you photograph. if you love what you shoot, it comes across in your images. Also, scour books and magazines. And study composition.”
Hello, I’m Alice Yoo! I’m founder and CEO of Skylar Yoo, a company dedicated to inspiring and empowering women to be bold. We sell apparel, art prints and accessories to the modern feminist.
In my former life, I was editor-in-chief of the art and culture blog My Modern Met, which I founded back in 2007. I curated and wrote about art, design and photography for more than seven years. (In fact, I published over 7,000 articles which were seen by millions of people worldwide.) I’m also co-author of a book called For Love: 25 Heartwarming Celebrations of Humanity, which is on Amazon and wherever books are sold.
I live in southern California along with my husband and my two toddler boys.
This blog is about what I love, the tough experiences that I’ve learned from, and my journey as a second time entrepreneur. Right now, I’m in the midst of a 365 day challenge, to read one book a day. If you share my passions or want to learn some cool new facts, come along for the ride. I hope to inspire, educate and entertain you!
