Seattle

July 17, 2014

10 days in a beautiful city visiting a beautiful friend. Between the usual hotspots and places off the beaten path it was a photography haven. My top 5 things in Seattle:

decent public transportation // light rail, bus, ferry, train...all for a decent price
Pike Place Market // flowers, street food, cafés, brick streets, street musicians, fresh produce (also a good place to gawk at nice cameras)
sandy beaches // refreshing (read: cold) water of Puget Sound, jellyfish that look like egg yolks, kelp, options to rent kayaks and paddleboards
International District // both authentic and American-style Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese food within walking distance of downtown
green space // contra-dancing at Green Lake, walking around Volunteer Park, and walking the trail to Golden Gardens

Three Girls Bakery, open since 1912.  Seattle Times article about the bakery here. — Three Girls Bakery, open since 1912. Seattle Times article about the bakery **here**.

Monorail between Westlake Center and Seattle Square

That landmark that's kinda popular...I think it's called the Galaxy Probe...or maybe it's the Space Needle...

Ferry to Bainbridge!  This seagull guarded the life raft capsule en route.  The mark on the underside of its beak clearly marks its induction into the secret society of Avian Water Guards — Ferry to Bainbridge! This seagull guarded the life raft capsule en route. The mark on the underside of its beak clearly marks its induction into the secret society of Avian Water Guards

En route to Bainbridge on the ferry I captured this time lapse of the Seattle shoreline using the ferry's railing for stability. I still have a ways to go in terms of timelapse photography, but I am proud of this one!

I traveled north of Seattle to the mid-sized city of Edmonds, a gorgeous 20-minute commute along the edge of Puget Sound on the Sounder train.

Fishing for King Salmon on the Edmonds pier

Sunset over the waterfront as seen from the highway going into Seattle

Megan - Class of 2015

July 01, 2014 in high-school senior

There was some amazing light and a healthy dose of shenanigans for this shoot...

// We found this tree ready for its portrait.

Traditional senior photos are overrated. [shenanigans] Click 'like' below <3

Emma - Class of 2015

June 29, 2014

This early morning session was downright beautiful. Emma proved daring in the face of swarming mosquitos and a master of being in front of the camera. Props!

Make sure to 'like' this post! <3

Rachele - Class of 2015

June 26, 2014 in high-school senior

Rachele has stage presence, which is why I love working with seniors who do theatre. So. Stunning. Also, shout out for being the first senior shoot of the summer! (even though we had to finish up in a second session to avoid the crazy weather) *Click photos to enlarge*

Cat - Class of 2015

June 22, 2014

This shoot was awesome. Such gorgeous scenery and lighting. Cat found the light. All of the light. *Click on photos to enlarge*

Carissa - Class of 2015

June 21, 2014

Carissa swims, lifeguards, and studies her butt off. And is an awesome human being and friend. Boom. *Click to enlarge photos*

Cecilia - Class of 2015

June 14, 2014

Theatre, International Baccalaureate coursework, and more, Cecilia is part of the IB Class of 2015 and I was so happy to be able to work with her!

Skateboarders of Puriscal

May 21, 2014 in travel

When I was in Puriscal, on the way back to the farm, a group of skateboarders gave me permission to take their photo. I don't know much about skateboarding vocabulary (in English or Spanish), but this is what happened...

Cuando estuve en Puriscal, en el camino de regreso a la finca, un grupo de patinadores acordaron a darme permisión a tomar fotos. No sé mucho del volcabulario de monopatinaje en íngles o en español, pero esta es lo que pasó...

I put my camera on the ground so they could jump above it.  Thanks to them, they didn't break it. // Puse mi cámara en el suelo así que podían saltar arriba de esa.  Gracias a ellos que no la rompieron. :) — I put my camera on the ground so they could jump above it. Thanks to them, they didn't break it. // Puse mi cámara en el suelo así que podían saltar arriba de esa. Gracias a ellos que no la rompieron. :)

Preparation before a trick.// El preparación antes de un "trick".

It only took them two times to achieve synchronization. // Sólo tuvieron que intentar dos veces a lograr sincronización.

Costa Rica

May 18, 2014 in travel

Two point five months spent traveling and volunteering at a chocolate farm in rural Costa Rica. To fully encapsulate this much time in a few photographs isn't possible, so here are my favorites. You can learn more about La Iguana Chocolate and the wonderful family at its core here, or connect with them on their Facebook page here.

Dawn breaking on the first morning of my stay.

Árbol de Marañon: Another volunteer and I spent an hour picking cashew fruit, separating the fruit in one bag to make juice, and the cashews in another.  The cashews must be toasted and removed from their shell to avoid the oils. — Árbol de Marañon: Another volunteer and I spent an hour picking cashew fruit, separating the fruit in one bag to make juice, and the cashews in another. The cashews must be toasted and removed from their shell to avoid the oils.

A swimming hole within a slow-flowing river, shaded by trees of the primary forest.  We returned to swim when the organic debris from recent rains settled and the water was clearer. — A swimming hole within a slow-flowing river, shaded by trees of the primary forest. We returned to swim when the organic debris from recent rains settled and the water was clearer.

Green and black poison dart frog near the waterfall

Toasted cacao beans ready to be peeled by hand, one of many labor-intensive steps in the chocolate-making process.

The color tone of each cacao bean varies based on the type of cacao and the length of the fermentation process.  The lightest bean, Porcelana, is valued for its quality and taste, and is preferred to make dark (high % cacao) chocolate. — The color tone of each cacao bean varies based on the type of cacao and the length of the fermentation process. The lightest bean, Porcelana, is valued for its quality and taste, and is preferred to make dark (high % cacao) chocolate.

Chocolate Oscuro: This tempered dark chocolate is a mixture of ground cacao and cacao butter that has been processed in a special tempering machine for at least 24 hours and then poured into molds.  So. Delicious. — Chocolate Oscuro: This tempered dark chocolate is a mixture of ground cacao and cacao butter that has been processed in a special tempering machine for at least 24 hours and then poured into molds. So. Delicious.

Fire grass: one of the beautiful decorative plants grown in the garden

Terminal Atlántico Norte, a bus station in San Jose, on the way to La Fortuna.  Overall the busses in Costa Rica were some of the nicest I've ever ridden: modern, clean, and reasonably priced. — Terminal Atlántico Norte, a bus station in San Jose, on the way to La Fortuna. Overall the busses in Costa Rica were some of the nicest I've ever ridden: modern, clean, and reasonably priced.

The roof of the plant nursery with a backdrop of stars

The grandchild of La Iguana, gazing intently at a visitor

In the Valley of Marañon: Jorge stands among the cashew trees with the cloud forest in the back ground

Turmeric sliced and placed on screens, ready to be placed in the solar dehydrator and then ground in a hand grinder.

Seeds from the Guanacaste tree, the national tree of Costa Rica.  La Iguana uses them to make jewelry beads, funds of which go to support the farm and its operations. — Seeds from the Guanacaste tree, the national tree of Costa Rica. La Iguana uses them to make jewelry beads, funds of which go to support the farm and its operations.

One of La Iguana's horses grazing in the moonlight.

Santiago de Puriscal, the nearest town of substantial size to the farm. Its landmark church rises out of its center, still standing after being damaged by an earthquake.

Monopatinador:  A skateboarder tricks in Puriscal's central park — Monopatinador: A skateboarder tricks in Puriscal's central park

Night scene from San Jose, Costa Rica's capitol, several hours away from the farm by bus, on my last night in Costa Rica.

I sat on the yoga deck in the early hours of the morning to catch this sunrise time-lapse.

Portraits: Lamia

February 27, 2014

It was really, really cold and yet Lamia insisted on wearing flats in the snow to show off her traditional outfit. Dedication. And gorgeousness on so many levels. I'm so luck to photograph these amazing Grinnellians...