Endless Summer

Sunset at Ventura Beach in California. The end of a fun day at the beach...picking up the sand toys, folding up the umbrella, pulling on a sweatshirt against the chilly evening breeze, your skin still hot from the soaking up of Vitamin D during the sunny day.

These are the days I remember from my childhood, and I got to revisit--ever so briefly--during our trip to the beach. I also got to show those days to my wife and my children; maybe that will help them understand me a little bit better. Who knows!

© 2009 Mexipickle

Island Girl

More playing at the beach. I don't know this kid, but she was so cute running around the beach.

© Mexipickle 2009

Childhood

While we were catching the sunset, these kids had the right idea---playing in the sand! They were oblivious to the waves, the sun, or the fact that they were soaking wet and sandy in blue jeans and long sleeve shirts! Perfect, pure joy and fun.

© Mexipickle 2009

Golden Hour

Sunset at Ventura Beach in southern California. The gold was so gorgeous, I couldn't stop snapping the shutter!

© 2009 Mexipickle

Getting Air

The family and I went to California for a wedding this past weekend. During our few days there, we got away to the beach a couple of times. This was on Saturday morning. The weather was terrific--sunny and 80s. the kids played in the water, folks were playing on the beach, surfing, and boogie-boarding. What a nice get-away!

© 2009 Mexipickle

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My daughter, wrapped in a quilt, and smiling at me. This isn't an unusual occurrence. We joke and smile and laugh and pray and talk together frequently. She's a great kid, and I think it shows through in this shot.

© 2009 Mexipickle

Mr. Tumnus

This is my nephew. According to my other neices and nephews, with his hair done like this, he looks like Mr. Tumnus from Chronicles of Narnia. I have not seen any of that, so I am merely throwing that out there. He seemed to enjoy modeling for me; I just wish my lighting gear was working right.

I used Poladroid to create the Polaroid effect.

Strobist: SB600 camera right, 1/8 power (I think) through shoot-through umbrella, about 5' from subject. fired remotely by D70 CLS

© 2009 Mexipickle

Oh Yeah, He Blew It!

During the Christmas holidays, we have been spending time visiting with family in the Cincinnati, Ohio area. Yesterday, my sister-in-law took me and kids to Newport on the Levee, a shopping mall/entertainment area on the banks of the Ohio River. While A and my sister-in-law saw a movie, J and I went to the aquarium. After that, we found 2 buskers playing in the mall, one on the sax and one on the drums, playing Christmas carols. (This is the guy with the sax, in case you couldn't tell. ;)) We put some cash in their bin, and they invited J to play along, using some plastic clapping hands and a drum. While J played, some other kids came up, their parents gave them some cash to add to the bin, and they all joined in the playing. It was fun, and raised a few bucks for the musicians.

© 2009 Mexipickle

He Contemplated the Long Road Ahead

This is my son, looking across the "Purple People Bridge" across the Ohio River from Newport, KY to Cincinnati, OH. He's somewhat scared of heights, so this pedestrian bridge (an old car bridge) was a bit daunting. He did great, though--we made it halfway across, then headed back where we started. He was amazed at the ladders and walkways overhead on this bridge. He was sure he'd never go up there!

© 2009 Mexipickle