in search of flowers

spring has arrived! the roads along the 5 are on fire! i've never seen anything like it. i grabbed a few unsuspecting friends over the past few days (i think i promised one we were headed to a pool downtown) and scoured the land for flower fields. the weather has been crazy wonderful. i'm also always looking for new places to take couples for photos, so i considered it official serious business.

i hit up a few burn areas where the flowers have just taken over. it's pretty amazing to see this vibrant new growth sprouting up from the destruction.

lake hodges is a great place to see the new life sprouting up from the fires.

kevin in flip flops and swim trunks (i'm not sure he'd have come along had i not promised swimming).

friend and fellow awesome photographer Aaron posing among the flowers. i get so excited when i hang out with other photographers who get as giddy as i do over things like trees that most other people think are dorky.

i've found lots of cool new places. im just sad these flowers aren't going to last. that means i'll just have to get out as much as i can this week to continue my work.

off to Loma Linda!

and so begins the crazy kim seidl spring 2008 tour of planes , automobiles and.. chickenbuses.



i am super excited to be hitting the road, even if it is just to loma linda (my apologies to those of you who love it and call it home..) i've been wanting to go this conference for nearly a decade now. it's only held every other year, and it was always so danged far away from the east coast where i was a starving student for so many years. vegetarianism is what initially inspired me to go back to school to get my masters in nutrition (didn't know i had brains in addition to my extremely good looks and my kung-fu photography skills now did you?).

much of the pleasure center of my brain is made up of parts that like geeky science things, creativity & problem solving and the desire to make people happy. i love it when the these come together. it may not be an obvious connection, but to me, photography and nutrition have these things in common and make me happy for similar reasons. food is such powerful medicine, and i love helping people make healthy lifestyle changes. i've been so fortunate to be able to do this in the past through working in hospitals, clinics and even help run research studies.

while i'm not sure what kind of nutrition game i have left in me these days, this conference will help me get me back on top of it- even if only for a bit. i'll be catching up with all the latest and greatest nutrition research from speakers that i admire, as well as catching up with old colleagues and friends i haven't seen in awhile. you know that i'm a serious geek when i say i'm more excited to catch a glimpse of the leading vegetarian diet and heart disease researcher than i would be to run into brad pitt.

there may even be a jaunt out to joshua tree to snap some photos of a desert that i'm hoping is in bloom. you wouldn't really think i'd go out there without my camera, would you?

Jodie + Manny. E-session at the Presidio.

Meet Jodie and Manny! they're both wonderfully sweet and funny. manny has vans. that always wins points in my book. i had an awesome time with you guys and i'm really looking forward to the big day.. it's coming up May 25th!

i couldn't get enough of these doors

check out that dimple! how adorable (i mean manly and handsome) is that??

jodie has some pretty killer eyes.

and, because all the cool kids are doing it these days, thought i'd play with a little texture. the presidio has such a textury feel to it anyway, seemed appropriate.

Allison + JC - Lowes Coronado Bay Resort

first wedding of 2008!

Allison and JC were married at the marine recruit depot chapel. both were adorably nervous before the ceremony. there's something about a tough marine in uniform weak in the knees over a lovely lady that was incredibly endearing. i caught him wringing his hands behind closed doors at the church. he looked a little like a deer caught in headlights. but when i asked him to tell me the story of how they first met, his face just lit up. they had literally crossed paths on the street and caught each other's eye. he said he knew "i had to go talk to this girl". and so he did. he deployed for Iraq shortly after they started dating. she waited.

so often there isn't enough time set aside for pictures of just the couple, or things run behind and time just runs out. this was a couple after my own heart. they allotted tons of time to run around the fabulous grounds at lowes to find some really great hidden spots and take some fun shots. they were also just so comfortable with each other and being in front of the camera that i mostly just sat back and watched. the way JC looked at her all night made me all melty.

to think these guys normally carry around big guns :)

so so so sweet.

everything was just lovely. it was a beautiful day, the wedding party and guests were wonderful and Lowes Coronado Bay Resort is one heck of a place to throw a party. and thanks to everyone who made it happen so smoothly.

Ceremony: Marine Recruit Depot Chapel
Reception: Lowes Coronado Bay Resort
Wedding Coordinator AND DJ (awesome husband and wife team): The Best Wedding for You
DJ: The Best DJ for You

What a way to kick off 2008! And to Allison and JC, what a way to kick off what will hopefully the best part of the rest of your lives.

Workshop Update!

I've had a great response so far to the first workshop on Jan 27th. Ii think the seats are filled (i'll know for sure by monday), but I can always take backups. if you wanted to come along but couldn't get in, never fear, because i've opened up a second one on Feb 9th. the price for the workshop will be $100. details will pretty much be the same, but if there are any bumps to iron out from the first workshop, i'll make adjustments as needed and let you know.

just a review of what we'll be covering:

-a tour of your camera and many of it's mystifying settings
-the importance of and relationship between shutter speed, aperture and ISO and how these three things control all things exposure (or "how to take non-blurry pictures of your kids").
-depth of field
-a little geeky gear talk
-a trip to the park to practice practice practice

what you need:
-a digital SLR
-at least one zoom or two primes
-the knowledge and ability to get your photos onto your computer for viewing

more details are below a few posts ago. you can always email me with questions.

i look forward to hanging out with you guys and talking geeky photo talk!

Patricia + Jim - Maderas Golf Club 12.29.07

what a way to close out '07. this couple, their friends and the whole wedding was just so much fun! i'm not sure i've experienced a wedding with so much laughter. this truly was a celebration. if there were nerves, i didn't sense them once. everyone was there to kick back, have a great time and celebrate this super special couple. jim and patricia love to laugh, and this day was an obvious extension of their personalities. and what a lovely place and day to do it.

Location: Maderas Golf Club
Catering: Maderas (and thanks to Susan Khania for the lovely veggies and her day-of coordinating)
Wedding Coordinator: the whole family (and special shout-out to the best man for keeping this puppy on track- huge help!)
Cake: (need to find her card! coming soon)
DJ: Kris with Positive Energy Productions

they arranged a first-sight meeting out on the course. they were so excited. one of my favorite quotes from patricia "tell me if i smile too big!" are you kidding?? she has one of the greatest smiles and she was very liberal with it.

they did this alot. i loved it.

a little private time before the action

maderas is really scenic. it was gorgeous. and the music was provided by friends- really cool and personal.

not hard to see where patricia got her smile. look at her happy dad!

did i mention that they laugh alot? so my favorite quote was delivered by the officiant. apparently our couple got a little slap happy the night before and came up with some funny vows and forwarded them on. they weren't supposed to be used. but, the officiant decided to keep them. when asked to repeat "I promise to make the bed because i get up later than you" came out, I thought patricia was going to laugh herself off the side of the ceremony site. it was hillarious.

told you they did this alot :)

a little mood-lighting experiment under the lamp post

one more example of their sense of humor. every plate came equipped with star viewers. even flat guest got one.

i think i also see where she got her sweetness from

Patricia and Jim, thanks so much for having me be part of your day! have a great time on your honeymoon. i have no doubt the laughter will ever run out between you two.