The Machine

I've been a biker (bicycle rider) since the days when the training wheels came off!  As a kid, our only mode of transportation was Schwinn bikes which we cobbled together with spare parts from various junks we came across in the old neighborhood (we were poor kids, but didn't know it).  We boys (my three brothers and I) were all paper carriers in northeastern Indiana, so the bicycle was the mode of choice for getting those papers delivered.  Bikes were the mode of transportation to high school for the first couple of years, purchased new from saving our after school work.

Today, I still ride 3 or 4 days a week; we have a good "hill" near our house which I tackle as my physical fitness regimen. I use a Trek mountain bike which is now about 5 years old; a couple of new tires and tune-ups keeps it going.

But two weeks ago, I met my match:  the asphalt pavement!  A nice lady turned in front of me and I went down.  No broken bones, but man-oh-man, the pain of it!  A quad injury and tear of the sheath surrounding the upper quad muscle.  Talk about pain.

Two weeks off the bike and maybe a couple more... bummer.  But she was a nice lady!

In Remembrance

A Sad Day.

Family Fun

It's always fun to photograph a family gathering, especially when they are honoring a parent.  Three families gathered this weekend in Laguna Beach to celebrate their father's 80th birthday with a weekend of sun and fun along the beach.  They all stayed at the same hotel so they could be together during the weekend to honor Leonard who turned 80.

I was referred to the family through another photographer and I drove up to meet with them on the beach at 9:30 am.  They were all ready to go, so we spent time working with the group, then individual families.  As I was about to leave, two of the families wanted to frolick in the water with the patriarch -- and he was game to get wet!

So I had them do a birthday cheer!  The celebration of family was a delight!

1st Place

As you know from a previous post, the North County Photographic Society held their annual member showcase at the Encinitas City Hall during the month of October.  Tomorrow is the last day for viewing the almost 100 works by the members.

This year I submitted two images; one in the Portrait Division, and the second in the Black and White open category.  I was delighted to learn that my image, seen below, won First Place in the Black and White category.  The title, "Refreshing Moment," is an image from a photo session at my studio.  I was photographing a band and during a break, one of the band members grabbed a refreshment.  I knew it would be a great black and white image.

Congratulations to all the winners and exhibitors for a successful show.

Coming to a House near You!

And that would be the Swine Flu! 

Sure enough, the Influenza A strain has come to our house through our daughter.  At her Saturday soccer game, one of the girls was sick.  Forty-eight hours later, our daughter comes down with the symptoms.  So the good doctor today confirms the flu.  He was rather non-pulsed about it... I guess it was because the waiting room was full of sickies.  Like he said, "Hey, when you get back to school you can join the crowd of swine flu recipients... it's like a cool thing."

Ok, so now how long before I get the award! 

Hate in Carlsbad

So it was inevitable that the Phelps from Topeka, Kansas would make their way out to the San Diego area (maybe we have nicer weather right now) to spew their version of hate.  This small "church," founded by a lawyer and preacher named Fred Phelps are infamous for their anti-Semitic, anti-Catholic, anti-military, anti-Protestant, and anti-gay hatred.  They call themselves the Westboro Baptist Church (giving a bad name to St. John the Baptist!). 

Anyway, one of their targets was the little Jewish congregation in Carlsbad known as Chabad La Costa.  Why them?  Who knows.  I talked with the Rabbi on Friday, the day of the demonstration and they were ready to proceed with their Sabbath service, regardless of what happened at sundown.

The WBC demonstrators - all six of them - (three adults and three children) showed up; however, they didn't approach the synagogue, rather they hung out at the busy nearby intersection for maximum visibility.  As a free lance stock photographer, I couldn't resist the opportunity to record the day hate showed up.

My impression was one of sadness as I watched these young children participating in the hate-of-the-day.  It reminded me that I have to be careful of what I instill in my child;  good or evil - we have a choice.

(Photo by free lance photographer Ashi Fachier)

Fall Wedding

We photographed a lovely wedding this weekend in Del Mar in the Seagrave Park.  The weather changed a bit on the cool side as a front approaches. 

The wind was whipping up a bit and I was standing next to the bride discussing the pros and cons of the veil: I love the veil blowing in the breeze but I didn't want it to be too obnoxious to the bride. 

Anyway, the groom said something funny about me and the bride and urged Amy to snap a picture.  So of course we hammed it up a bit for a humorous moment.  They were a lovely couple (not me and the bride) and we enjoyed working with them.