Somber Days

 

I used to be more of a writer, thankfully (for my audience) that ended. These days I keep a running ‘to do’ list and rely on photography to remind me of what’s happening in life. This is one I shot last week from my office window.

The scope of these fires burning in California at the moment has been so huge that I feel the need to take a moment to pause in respect for everyone affected by this situation. My brother and his family live in Santa Rosa, and have come to stay with us in Oakland for a few weeks. My parents had to evacuate my 92 year old Grandfather from his care home. We’re the fortunate ones. So many people have lost everything, including their lives, in this fire. ‘Heartbreaking’ doesn’t even begin to describe.

Yesterday was also the anniversary of the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, and another reminder of how quickly things can change. I grew up in Stockton, in the Central Valley area of California and we felt that quake all the way out there. It was terrifying, and so was watching the news footage of how it impacted the Bay Area. This is to say.. Everyone should have an emergency kit. Food. Water. There is a wealth of information on this online, as well as places to purchase fully stocked kits. Much of what is in ours I was able to find via amazon.com, which made it much easier to make sure we are well supplied if when the inevitable occurs.

Thank you for taking this little pause with me, it just didn’t feel right to continue the stream of joyful wedding photos when so many people are still evacuated and uncertain about the future.

 

 

 

A Day We Hoped Would Arrive

“No union is more profound than marriage, for it embodies the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice, and family. In forming a marital union, two people become something greater than once they were. As some of the petitioners in these cases demonstrate, marriage embodies a love that may endure even past death. It would misunderstand these men and women to say they disrespect the idea of marriage. Their plea is that they do respect it, respect it so deeply that they seek to find its fulfillment for themselves. Their hope is not to be condemned to live in loneliness, excluded from one of civilization’s oldest institutions. They ask for equal dignity in the eyes of the law. The Constitution grants them that right.” – Justice Kennedy on today’s historic ruling making marriage for all a legal right across the country.

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San Francisco Artist Portrait, Ted Naifeh

I’ve known Ted Naifeh for a long, long time (15+ years! eeek!), and have photographed him many times. We collaborated years ago (10!) on a graphic novel about San Francisco counter-culture, called ‘How Loathsome’. Ted’s become known for writing and illustrating several groundbreaking young-adult graphic novel series including ‘Courtney Crumrin and the Night Things’, ‘Princess Ugg’, and ‘Polly and Pirates’.

 

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San Francisco Wedding, Sunnyside Conservatory

The stunning Sunnyside Conservatory in San Francisco was the location for this intimate and community-filled wedding.

Tina and Beth are longtime volunteers on the AIDS Lifecycle, their family and friends gathered last year in San Francisco to celebrate their love and longtime connection

 

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More below!

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