Film (Part II) Black and White

Some more film photos for y'all. There is something about black and white film. I remember my first time stepping into a darkroom and falling in love with it. Processing photos on a computer is so different than being in a darkroom. Our generation, I feel, has literally lost touch of things. Everything is becoming virtual. I don't know about you, but sometimes I feel it blurs the lines of what is real and what isn't real. It can get confusing. Anyone else out there feel the same? It is kind of frightening to be honest. I think any artist can agree with me, in that, there is something so magical about creating something with ones hands. Your own two hands. It is like magic. Something being birthed out nothing, your baby, your creation. 

Film, a two part series

I never thought I would say this, but I am missing city life. The hustle, bustle, honking horns, and especially riding my bike all over town. Tel-Aviv, you won me over. Here are some film photos I took with expired film of all my regular stops/walks/life in general: Shuk Ha'Carmel, the park by my home, and bus rides + reflections. Until we meet again. 

Jordan-Part II

Day three we drove down to Wadi Rum. We took a wee camel ride out to a tent in the desert filled with people and tea. Then jumped in a jeep and drove around the desert stopping at all the famous sites (mostly Lawrence of Arabia stuff). The views were breathtaking. Close to sunset we arrived at our final destination: our "cave" for the evening. Our tour guide made us a lovely buried dinner (chicken, vegetables, and rice) and sang us traditional songs around a campfire. We slept literally under the stars in the middle of the desert that evening. Also unforgettable! 

I wondered why my heart was longing for the desert before, while, and after I visited. Pondering these thoughts, with the help of friends, I realized the desert is a vulnerable, lonely, life or death, spiritual, harsh, quiet place. At that time I needed all those things. My intuition was right in guiding me there at that particular time. I needed time alone, in silence to meditate on what my heart was saying to me. If you have not gone to the desert, go! There is something so special about it! While you're at it, read the Alchemist too! 

Jordan-Part I

I recently read The Alchemist, again. While reading, I kept thinking, "I have to go to the desert!" So I did. Three glorious nights and four days of pure red sands. First day of arrival my friend and I picked up our rental car and headed straight for our bedouin camp in Little Petra. Shortly after arriving we headed straight to Petra by Night. If this is not on your bucket list, add it! I still cannot articulate just how magical this experience was. Let's just say if a guy were to purpose to me right then and there I would have married that fool. Seriously, unlike anything I have ever experienced before!

Day two we hiked all around Petra. Let's just say it was h-o-t. Stopped and had tea a couple of times and made friends along the way. 

Wonderspaces

It has been so life giving to have friends from all over the globe visit! Michaela and I were roomies in Israel and she came for a wee visit this past week. Yesterday we went to Wonderspaces, a traveling exhibit currently in San Diego. I highly recommend it if you haven't had the chance to go yet. WOW, is all I can say. My brain and eyes needed a little bit of reality after for a bit, but man it was worth it! 

Check out the wonderspaces site to see and learn more https://www.wonderspaces.com

The Vasquez Family

Cristian, Savannah and Emmanuel came to visit last week. What a treat! Savannah and I traveled the world together with a group of other lovely ladies doing photo documentary work. Cristian and I used to hang out in my early years of college. I did their engagement photos at Leo Carillo Ranch a couple of years ago and last week I got to do family photos for them in the same spot. Check 'em out.

Habibi Tel Avivi

I have been living in Tel Aviv almost eight months now. Here are some photos I took a couple of months ago walking around the city. If you want to see 3 of them in print go to the Prima Hotel,  105 HaYarkon Street, Tel Aviv from 0900-2200 until July 2017. 

http://us3.campaign-archive2.com/?u=c51c84801ecd3f3fa30ab757e&id=1d9b4ae698&e=fd802dce74

Jack & Rawan's Wedding

I have known Jack now for nine years! I had the privilege of getting to know Rawan, his wife, last year while I lived in Haifa. She is a lovely human being full of grace and beauty. I had so much fun taking photos of their wedding and celebrating their union! I feel so blessed to have friendships like this one: where time somehow stands still, yet we as individuals continue to progress. It blows my mind. Jack and I met in a different country (N.Ireland) and are still the same people, just a wee bit more grown. Life's journey is amazing. Enough of my rambling. Here is there beautiful wedding. 

2016 Year in Review

Wow. Where do I start? 2-0-1-6 you were a year for the records.

I lived in Haifa half the year, then Tel Aviv for the other half. I dug deep into my emotional health in ways I have never done before and really came to own art therapy as my calling. 2016 health wise, was not the best. Let's just say my health went majorly down hill towards the end of the year: we're talking 90 degree, San Francisco downhill. Yet amidst all the suffering, pain, grievances I find myself experiencing J-O-Y in a way I have never known and sympathizing/empathizing in a way I could not have done before. Thankful 2016 is over, yet looking back, I can say I am overall humbled and grateful. I ate some really good food in 2016 (and continue to do so), met some really rad people, had thee best roommates, and I grew quite a bit. 

Dorm room at University of Haifa

Dorm life

Haifa Roomies--Love these guys

Art Therapy

Art Projects with Michaela

More art projects with Michaeala

Tel Aviv with Amanda

Hadar on a Friday--local super market in Haifa I would go to every week

Went to Haifa beach a ton in 2016

Haifa sunset

yoga and runs at the beach too

Good food, good conversations

In March a friend and I worked on a project together

Paint layers

Camera obscura

In April some friends and I rented a car and drove all around Israel. The diverse landscape here blows my mind. 

Masada

En Gedi, Solomon's Columns

Dead Sea

Road Trip!

Galilee 

Sea of Galilee

Banias Falls

Masada

Passover 2016, all wheat products are covered at the stores in plastic. 

In July I went home for a wee bit

While home I had the opportunity to be a photo assistant for a handbag website

I got to see Yayoi Kusama Infinity Mirror Room. Wow!

Spend time with friends

And family

I had a long layover in Madrid on the way back to Israel and decided to go explore.

Madrid layover

Guess where Dora is?

Day Trip to Akko

A few months after I was back in Israel I moved to Tel Aviv

New Apartment

Yom Kippur

In October, a good friend, Layla, came to visit from Japan.

Layla

Jerusalem

Jerusalem

Jerusalem

Jerusalem

I got to hold a puppy on the train, on my birthday!

November was the start of my health decline

ER visit

Scars series. Self portrait.

December

Christmas with the Munayer's

Jack and Rawan's wedding

The Taylors

Damon and Tiffany's lovely Sacramento wedding. 

A dear friend

Post-graduation the hunger pangs for making art are no joke.

I miss art SO much. Knowing that a sea of ideas cannot come into fruition, frankly because there literally is not enough time, hurts. I feel like a piece of my soul has died. 

In a vain attempt to VIVA LA ART. I have decided to tell more of my stories. My heart and mind have so many stories that have not been shared with the world. So world, here we go. Here are my stories (+ photos) from the last 6 plus years of my life. 

I R E LA N D

I never had any desire to go to Ireland. But I am so glad I did go. Can a continent become like a friend? If so, Ireland has become a dear friend of mine. I have visited twice since living there in 2008. The second time I visited I learned how to drive a manual, just a mere week before arriving, and drove around Irelands windy roads (sometimes 10 plus hours a day.) 

Some may say learning to drive a manual in a week and then proceeding to drive round the whole island is bravery. But isn't bravery simply facing challenges like you know you have to? With mother's day quickly approaching, I think of all the Mom's out there who made sacrifices for their kids, because they had to. To me that is bravery. Laying down your life for others takes a great amount of courage. Happy Mother's Day to all you Mom's out there! Thanks for all your sacrifices, both big and small! Thanks for being brave.

Here are some photos of my manual road trip. Grateful I got to see parts of Ireland I never got to experience the first time around. 

Film Blues

There's something nostalgic about black and white film. I feel like it's like watching an old western film. It takes you back to the glory days. LOL. Missing film today: the smell of chemicals, the red lights, and the slowness of producing a perfect print. P e r f e c t i o n. Here are some film photos I took while in South Africa last year. 

Senior Portraits

Spring Song by Lucy Maud Montgomery

Hark, I hear a robin calling!
List, the wind is from the south! 
And the orchard-bloom is falling
Sweet as kisses on the mouth. 

In the dreamy vale of beeches
Fair and faint is woven mist, 
And the river's orient reaches
Are the palest amethyst. 

Every limpid brook is singing
Of the lure of April days; 
Every piney glen is ringing
With the maddest roundelays. 

Come and let us seek together
Springtime lore of daffodils, 
Giving to the golden weather
Greeting on the sun-warm hills. 

Ours shall be the moonrise stealing
Through the birches ivory-white; 
Ours shall be the mystic healing
Of the velvet-footed night. 

Ours shall be the gypsy winding
Of the path with violets blue, 
Ours at last the wizard finding
Of the land where dreams come true.

A South African Wedding

A little over a year ago I had the great privilege to fly to South Africa and photograph Nosipho and Siyanda's wedding. It was a blessing to be a part of their big day. The heart and soul of their community was beautiful to witness, everyone helped in making the wedding extra special. Water went out the night before and the day of the wedding, yet people remained in good spirits for a celebration was to be had. Happy one year Nosi and Siyanda! 

2014 Year in Review

I cannot believe how quickly this year has gone by! SO much to be grateful for: I graduated from college this year, had a senior show, and went to some amazing places (old and new). My parents got to see some of my favorite places in Ireland. Once upon a time I lived there. Crazy. I made it through college debt free, barely making it through finals with a horrible cold (I seriously thought I had strep). In February I went to South Africa and got to take wedding photos for my dear friends Nosipho and Siyanda. 

God has been so faithful to me. This year I have cried a couple of times in realization that I do not deserve all these things. It has not been all sunshine and rainbows this year. In hindsight I definitely had some moments in my college years where I was sure I was not going to make it. Starving artist is a real thing. Below are some photos of my year. Thanks to everyone who was a part of it. Family, friends, peers, teachers you guys helped me be a better me this year. Most of all I thank God for getting me through college, financial circumstances, and for constantly blessing me beyond what I deserve. Here is to 2015! 

p.s. Most of the photos are from my sisters instagram. You can follow her here: http://instagram.com/___bvb___/

Damon & Tiffany

I had the pleasure of taking Damon and Tiffany's engagement photos not too long ago. Damon and Tiffany met at work and feel in love. These people are true gems! They both work so hard and are a lovely pair. Excited for you guys to get hitched next summer! 

District of Columbia

To round off our family vacation we landed in Washington D.C. for a couple of days. It was my first time in D.C. and I really enjoyed it. All the museums are free in D.C. and there are tons!!!! I could have spent 2 weeks purely dedicated to museum going.  

Lincoln's booth at Ford's Theatre

Where Lincoln passed away 

Library of Congress

The Capital

The White House

Air and Space Museum. One of my Dad's favorite places in the U.S. Dad gave us a full tour of the museum; teaching us about all the airplanes. It's fun to see your parents passionate about things. I felt like a 5 year old all over again on a field trip. Field trips were my favorite part of school. 

España

Five words

Paella. Sangria. Zara. Tapas. Picasso. 

My sister and I stayed in the Gothic Quarter through airbnb. Our location couldn't be more perfect. It was right in the heart of the city: a stone's throw away from the Picasso museum and within walking distance from a handful of really delicious restaurants. 

Paris and Barcelona had the best food out of all the places we visited this summer. My sister and I even went to Bar Brutal two days in a row to try almost everything on the menu. Lucky for us it was just across the street from where we were staying. 

Je t'aime Paris

In June, my family and I went to Paris. While there my sister and I opted out of the touristy stuff: we meet with my friend Holi, got wine at a local wine shop, walked down a street market Julia Child's often frequented, and truly experienced Paris in way Parisians themselves do. It was lovely.

One day my family and I took the train to Versailles and instead of touring the inside Britt and I decided to bike around the outside. It was g l o r i o u s. We got away from all the crowds and enjoyed Versailles like Marie Antoinette once did. My sister and I ran circles in the grass and raced our bikes. I felt like a five year old all over again. 

Until next time Paris. 

JR's exhibition at the Pantheon. 

Below are some insta's by my lovely sister: http://instagram.com/___bvb___

London

My sister and I have been digging deep lately. Yesterday we were talking about simplicity and beauty. In my 20's I have come to realize that simple beautiful moments need to be enjoyed: good wine, good conversation, proper sleep, and good food are close to the top of that list.

My family and I are on vacation in Europe at the moment and my sister and I are trying to enjoy each moment. Every time I go to a new place I want to see and do everything. Try every trending topic of a place: restaurants, tourist attractions, etc but this time I want to enjoy getting to know my family more, do what the locals do, and most of all enjoy good wine, conversation, sleep, and food without the stress of wanting to take everything in. I want to look back on this trip and say I got the rest I needed, had fun, and learned something new about myself, my family, and the places I visited. Most of all, everyday, I want to see life in this way: each moment as a beautiful note added to my life song.

"And in the end I think I've learned the final lesson from my travels in time; and I've even gone one step further than my father did: The truth is I now don't travel back at all, not even for the day, I just try to live every day as if I've deliberately come back to this one day, to enjoy it, as if it was the full final day of my extraordinary, ordinary life," from the movie About Time.