Perpetual Flux

Maria Popova and her blog, Brain Pickings, are a never-ending source of inspiration for me. Maria spends so much time quoting other people, and not nearly enough time quoting herself. 

This particular quote comes from this post, and it neatly pinpoints a topic that has been on my mind a lot lately: who/what am I? I've been struggling with my inability to put myself into one particular box and stay there; I can't seem to be the same person or think the same thoughts one moment to the next. 

The sociologist major in me is shouting that labels are social constructs and that I don't have to be any one thing, and I love the concept of "being in flux" (hell, I named my photography business Ebb & Flowtography, which is a play on that very idea), but at the same time it makes it difficult to create a brand for myself, which (the ever-elusive) "They" say is necessary if you are starting your own business. I keep hearing about artists needing to find their "niche", but what if I don't have one, or what if mine is less of a niche and more of a crevasse? I am nothing if not "a locus of exceptions, a complex cluster of contradictions", and I wouldn't want to be anything different, but I do wonder sometimes if it's detrimental to achieving what I want to with my photography. It certainly leaves me feeling a little directionless sometimes. But if we're all human beings perpetually in flux, then all of the fantastic, creative people that I see making seemingly branded and consistent work must be struggling with the same thing, right? Or have they somehow been able to overcome it?

In the typical blog formula of today, now would be the time for me to be self-helpy and give some answers to the questions above, but alas, mine is a blog of examination and conversation (and existation and exploration and pictures), not so much of solutions. Anyone have any thoughts on all of this? I'd love to hear from you.

Happy day!

Hide & Seek

A few more photos from my session with Belle & Piper to brighten up your day. These girls almost make me wish I had a sister. Almost. 

To & Fro

I've had a fascination with the marine layer and its comings and goings since I moved to Los Angeles. It is thrilling to me that the ocean creates a giant pile of cloud that creeps in over the land as the day cools and burns off as the sun gains strength. I love it when the meteorologists on the radio talk about how long it will take for the fog to subside and how that will affect the weather for the day. It's just so  damn coastal; in the midwest, the clouds puff along across the sky on their way to their next destination; here, they move as one, to and fro, from sea to shore and back again. 

Sometimes you can see the marine layer hovering far out at sea all day long, and as the sun sinks towards the horizon, the bank of clouds slowly makes its way back to land, growing bigger and bigger until a giant wall of mist overtakes you and you are suddenly shrouded in fog. This happened on my family's first day here this past week, while my brother played in the ocean and my parents and I sat on the beach soaking up the sun. They quickly retreated back to the house we were renting, but I lingered, exhilarated by the sudden eeriness of the beach that had been sunny and cheerful just moments before. It was beautiful.

I hope everyone had a cozy Thanksgiving weekend! I had a wonderful time with my family, and will be posting lots of photos from their visit soon. I'm already counting down the days until Toby and I head home for Christmas. Minnesota, you are under strict orders to have lots of white fluffy stuff on the ground when I arrive. I will accept nothing less than a winter wonderland. 

Happy Monday!

Oh, what a difference...

...a few minutes can make.

Same shot, ten minutes apart. I love me some marine layer action.

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I'm up north in Ventura County for the long weekend with Toby and my parents and brother, who are visiting from Minnesota. Hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving (unless you're not in the USA (I'm lookin' at you, Martin), in which case I hope you have a horrible Thanksgiving and a wonderful weekend)!

Ebb & Flowtography: Belle & Piper

A little over a year ago, when I was just dipping my toes into family photo sessions, my cousin Grace got in touch and asked if I could take some pictures for her family. I had such a blast with them, and I've only gotten the chance to see them a couple of times since, so I was thrilled when Grace asked if I could do another photo session for them, this time just with Belle and Piper. 

Looking back on the photos from last year, it's fun to see how much they have grown, and yet how some things have stayed the same, like Piper's diva pout. These sisters are such good friends. They showed me the games that they like to play and cheers that they like to practice together that Belle learned for her cheerleading squad at school. And let me tell you, though a lot of photography is sitting on the couch and editing photos, it's sessions like these that make up for that time spent being sedentary; I ran all over the place trying to keep up with these two as they played tag and hide and seek through the gorgeous cactus and rose gardens at Balboa Park in San Diego. 

Enjoy!

Piper was very concerned that "Sissy" was climbing up the hill without her, so she yelled at her to come back down and then pouted when she didn't listen...until I distracted her by asking about the stick she was holding. =]

Happy Monday!