Adventures of Yoo

March 18 2016

The Pep Talk That I Needed

Ok, so it’s been exactly month since I first declared to the world (that’s the five people reading this blog) that I want to become a photographer. I thought, “I’ve finally found my true calling!” Well, then yesterday, I was walking around Target with Sam and I was explaining to him that I just don’t know how I’m ever going to get to the level of those I follow. Could I ever get so good that people would actually pay me to take pictures of them? Will my photos ever be considered fine art? Will someone ever hang a picture I took on their wall? Discouraged, I asked Sam if he would give me a pep talk. (He’s good at those.)

He reminded me of how far I had come with My Modern Met. Seven years of my life was poured into that site and I saw it rise from zero visitors to millions. Online, I helped lead the art movement. I co-authored a book. I spoke at Alt Summit and Dwell on Design. Heck, I did all of this while having two kids! I should be proud of my accomplishments, plus I’m only a month into this gig. Some people take years if not decades to get proficient. Could I be patient enough to last?

I was lucky enough to look at and curate art, design and photography for the last seven years. That counts for something, right? I know I have an eye for photography but I feel lost when it comes to finding my own, unique style. That will come in time, he says. I just have to be patient, ~~plug away at this~~, work my a** off, and one day I’ll be there. I feel like this girl, closing her eyes, wishing to see a whole new, bright and colorful world.

Today, I read this quote from, The Paper Deer Photography that I liked: “This business is tough and there are times when it feels like nothing is going your way but if you put your head down and hustle, it will come.”

Now to turn impatience into hope…

Image via DesignLoveFest

Books

March 17 2016

For Love: My First Book Was Just Released!

Wow, March 15th was just two days ago and I forgot to post this news on that monumental day. My first book, which I co-authored with my brother (and co-founder of My Modern Met) was just released. Called For Love, 25 Heartwarming Celebrations of Humanity, it’s a feel good book that, through photos and words, tells incredible stories of people who performed magnificent feats in the name of love. From weddings in far off locations to shelter dogs, we’ll make you feel a wide range of emotions (hint: mostly happiness).

It’s weird to see words you’ve written on a computer now in actual print form. The book was seven years in the making, we culled stories we’d written about for that long to create it. The actual book making process was two to three years, which is still long. Finally it’s here, though, and in the hands of family, friends and fans of My Modern Met. Hope everyone enjoys it!

You can buy it now on Amazon.

Life

March 17 2016

Life Unfolding: Top 10 Moments of the Week

With my recent foray into photography, I’ve decided to start a new series called Life Unfolding: Top 10 Moments of the Week. I found this quote from Charles Bukowski that resonated with me in regards to photography: “My dear, Find what you love and let it kill you. Let it drain you of your all. Let it cling onto your back and weigh you down into eventual nothingness. Let it kill you and let it devour your remains. For all things will kill you, both slowly and fastly, but it’s much better to be killed by a lover.”

Now that I’ve found my true calling, I’ve been diving head first into it; watching Skillshare videos, practicing post-processing in Lightroom, shooting every evening, reading countless articles. I know it’s going to take a while before I feel confident enough to share my photos, let alone have actual clients (gasp!), I’m working hard at the craft and, to my surprise, enjoying every minute.

We’ve been visiting Santa Rosa Plateau often, it’s such a beautifully pristine area, a photographer’s dream. This past weekend, my sisters came over with their kids and we all went on a hike to the vernal pools. Kids and adults alike were blown away by such breathtaking scenery.

For practice, every day, I’ve been taking photos of my kids. Hope you enjoy these shots. In the photo above, Parker and Fozzie put their heads side by side. Don’t they look alike?

This is Riverton, my sister Carol’s youngest son. This fearless tyke ran way ahead of his parents, which you can see as small figures in the distance. This photo reminds me of just how independent this kid is and how my sister and her husband give him so much trust and freedom.

This is my niece Berry with my nephew Evan. They’re the two oldest kids in our family. Here they’re on the boardwalk of the vernal pools. As kids do, they’re dipping some leaves into the pools, causing ripples in the water. Since this was sunset, the sky was very dramatic.

Parker has a special bond with my niece Berry. They adore each other. When Berry comes over she sleeps right next to Parker and they play fun games like telephone, as you can see here.

Though Logan can usually be found hanging over Sam’s left shoulder, when Sam’s not around, Logan’s asking me to pick him up. (He’s not a fan of walking.) Here he is pleading with me to give him a ride.

This is a rare shot of the two boys hugging. It was taken in front of our garage. I wish I could have taken this in front of a cleaner background. This is Parker’s fake smile, his eyes get super squinty, which is cute.

A few years ago, Sammy bought me this rainbow umbrella from the MOMA store. Logan loves picking it up and twirling it around.

Sam loves horsing around with the boys. Lately, Logan has been jumping on his daddy’s back, and this time, Charlie climbed onto the bed to see what all the commotion was about.

Yesterday, at Santa Rosa Plateau, we hiked a different path. This one was more rocky and narrow. Here, I was playing around with negative space; I called upon my inner “Max Wanger.”

On our hikes, Parker likes to stop every so often to play with the leaves and dirt. Here, he let me take a quick portrait. I like how he’s not fake smiling at me. Rather, he’s just naturally looking towards the camera. I wanted to capture that wide-eyed wonder only kids have.

Art & Design

March 16 2016

Love Print by Max Wanger

I just scooped up this “lovely” print by Max Wanger. I’ve been following the LA-based photographer for awhile now, his Instagram is filled with delicious visual goodness. I particularly love the way he makes his subjects appear small against an enormous background, it’s his trademark style.

While looking over A Cup of Jo, I spotted the “Love” piece in the post about Joanna’s sister’s home makeover. After a quick search I found it on One Kings Lane for 52% off! (I chose the large 40″ by 28″ size print.) It comes framed in white, which is perfect for my house since all of my art is framed in that color.

When he was just seven years old, Max constructed his first camera out of just paper and scotch tape. As you can see, he is fond of simplicity, negative space, to less is more, and to the beauty in the unexpected. (Isn’t that balloon shot just perfection?) Max’s photographs have been exhibited all over the world. He currently resides in LA with his wife and business partner, Margaux, and their son, Dash.

I’m also eyeing this Hawaii beach scene print.

If you’re looking for Max’s wedding and family photography, it’s not on his main website. Check out Max & Friends. Gorgeous, inspiring stuff.

Parenthood

March 15 2016

Parker Gets His First Bike!

Yesterday was a monumental day, not only did Parker turn four he got his first real bike. Sam and I had been planning this moment for awhile, he started off by riding a Radio Flyer 4-in-1 trike, but had slowly outgrown it. For balance, he still needed to stay on more than two wheels but we decided to bump him up to a real bike with training wheels. After looking over all the inventory at Toys “R” Us we decided on the 16″ Disney Cars bike.

Sam’s parents asked us to buy Parker the bike on their behalf so we took it to their place for the big unveil. Parker got right on that bike and rode it like a pro! We were so impressed. In these pictures you can see the big smile on Parker’s face as we showed him his gift. Of course, we had to get a present for Logan too (since we didn’t give him a proper birthday present) so he got the Activity Ride On Thomas. Instead of actually riding it, he scooted it around. In between, Logan found some time to stop and smell the flowers. Love that mindful kid.

(We bought Parker a helmet but it didn’t fit on his head, that’s why you don’t see it in the photos.)

Books

March 15 2016

Book Review: When Breath Becomes Air

Every so often my sisters and I choose a book for our book club. We don’t have any rules, anyone can suggest a book at any time, as long as you think the others will enjoy it. When my sister Grace told me and Carol about “When Breath Becomes Air” I had already known about it because I follow the blog A Cup of Jo. The book was written by her brother-in-law, a brilliant young neurosurgeon who comes face to face with death when he’s diagnosed with terminal lung cancer.

What makes the story so heartbreaking is that it’s completely true, Paul Kalanithi died of lung cancer just last year, leaving his wife Lucy (Joanna Goddard’s sister) and his daughter Cady behind. Paul loved the English language immensely, you can tell by the eloquent way he writes. As he describes life as both a physician and a patient, he makes the reader think about what life means on both sides of the equation.

I was most moved by his wife’s epilogue at the end. Paul died before he could finish the book so his wife took over, completing his journey. She describes the moments surrounding his death, the family gathering, the way she lied next to him in his hospital bed, and the many visits to his gravesite.

The book will make you think about your own mortality, what values you have, what you would do if you were in Paul Kalanithi’s shoes.

I loved this review the most:

“A tremendous book, crackling with life, animated by wonder and by the question of how we should live. Paul Kalanithi lived and died in the pursuit of excellence, and by this testimonial, he achieved it.”—Gavin Francis, author of Adventures in Human Being

Parenthood

March 14 2016

Happy Birthday, Parker!

Today, my first child Parker, turns four-years-old. Where did the time go? I still remember his birth like it was yesterday; the grueling 26 hours of labor and then the critical C-section that followed. After that unspeakable ordeal, I was both physically and mentally exhausted but I remember waiting anxiously in the hospital room until the nurse wheeled him in. Though I should have rested, I cradled Parker in my arms and kissed his sweet head for hours on end promising him that no matter what, I’d take care him. There was no greater or purer love than this, I felt in my heart.

His first few years are now like beautiful dots in my memory. Dancing to “Gangnam Style” while standing up in his crib, his first walk cajoled by a promise of a sweet potato. The body convulsing glee when he sees his grandparents. Now four, Parker is a curious child who challenges us every day. Though he can be trying at times, he shows us love like we’ve never experienced before. From his tender “I love you”s to his warm hugs, we couldn’t ask for a more loving son. I feel as though I’ve been blessed a million times over for my family.

On this day, I give an extra “thanks” to the man upstairs for my son Parker. I call him my angel, someone I don’t deserve to have in my life but one I wouldn’t give up for the world. Happy Birthday, sweetie. Mama loves you most in the universe.

Travel

March 11 2016

The Breathtaking Vernal Pools at Santa Rosa Plateau

Yesterday, Sam, our nanny Cindy and I took the boys to our favorite hiking spot, Santa Rosa Plateau. (See older post, here.) With all the rain that recently fell, we chose to hike to the vernal pools to see if they had any water in them. Because they’re usually dry, we don’t often see them teeming with life. Yesterday, however, there were ducks swimming and flying about, enjoying the pools that had now sprung to life. We all walked onto the boardwalk, bent down on our knees, and looked closely to see if we could see any fairy shrimp. According to Riverside County Parks, of the two species of fairy shrimp that live in these seasonal vernal pools, one is found only here and nowhere else on Earth.

For those unfamiliar with vernal pools, they’re shallow depressions in the soil which fill up with water during spring rains. Fairy shrimp and other minute crustaceans hatch during this time and lay eggs. These eggs remain dormant during the dry months until the next rainy season allows them to hatch.

Sam’s father, who used to own this land, told us that the water in the vernal pools could get as high as right under the boardwalk, completely covering the rocks all around us.

In addition to the waterfowl, on our hike, we spotted two coyotes. The kids were over-the-moon excited. While we were walking back to the car we experienced a beautiful sunset, all of us held our breath in amazement.

I got a chance to practice my photography a bit, capturing some photos I hope to add to my ongoing series “Appa.” I love how in the photo above all three of my boys are bent down and you can see a peek of Parker’s Ninja Turtles underwear and Logan’s diaper. Also, notice Sam’s tight grip on Logan. How much longer can they stay my babies? (That was a trick question. The answer is always.)

Photography

March 10 2016

Family Then and Now Photos by Tara Whitney

I was looking for some inspiration on family photography when I came across Tara Whitney’s Then and Now series. With her repeat clients, the photographer takes pictures of a mother pregnant or a couple with their young children and then fasts forwards us to when the baby is born or when the children are older. Love seeing the progression of time.

2009 – Then

2013 – Now

2009 – Then

2011 – Now

It’s nice to see that though the couples may have aged, their free spirits stay the same.

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