Capture the Beauty Before the End - Los Angeles Fine Art Photographer

I know, I know, I haven't posted for a month.  On the surface, it seems that I've slacked off.  And in reality, it may still seem like a slack-off to some of you.  The truth is (warning: whether something is true depending on the angle that you view it from, ha!), I just can't take my eyes off of the golden sunsets that we've got.

I love sunsets, especially the ones during summer here in LA.  This, in my opinion, is THE reason why California is dubbed the "Golden State".  The richness of the color makes the heat during the day more than worth it. 

Now, I'm sure some would argue that sunrises are just beautiful, if not more so.  I wouldn't disagree.  But I wouldn't agree either.

California Sunset - ©Jean Huang Photography

You see, I'm not an early riser.  And someone once said, the most important step in achieving success is to know thyself.  Therefore, early on in my photography career, I've come to the acknowledgement that if sunrise photographs are the most beautiful (and the most profitable, although most photographers would agree that money is not the motivation behind getting into this field) images in the world, I just have to live with the fact that I may never have this type of images in my portfolio and may never get rich. :-)  But, I will for sure be a happy photographer shooting sunsets.  

Now, if everything has a "grand finale" before it disappears from our sight, like sunlight, what do you have in store for the fast approaching end of this year?  If you don't have recent family/children's portraits on your wall, you know you'll regret that you didn't talk to someone named Jean. :-)  Not to scare you, now is your LAST chance to get in line.

P.S. All images in Fine Art Photography can be acquired for collection and/or home decor purposes.  Please call or e-mail me here.

The Angel's Turned One (One Month That Is) - Los Angeles Newborn Photographer

Any parents of a newborn baby would know how fast time swoops by in between the feeding-peeing-pooping-cleaning and feeding-peeing-pooping-and-cleaning-again kind of cycle.  It was just 2 weeks ago when I photographed this little angel.  Before the world had much chance to meet His Cuteness (as opposed to His Highness), he's one (month young)!

Last night, I had a dream and Cooper was in it.  Here's what he told me in the dream:

"Me a happy baby.  I like to check things out and I like to smile, a lot."

"Tehe...Daddy doesn't know my secret.  I just peed again...Tehe..."

"Daddy looks sharp in this outfit.  I can't wait to grow up to be like him."

"But it sure is boring work.  It ain't easy for my daddy to bring home bread everyday...  Ahhh...get me out of this!"

"Nothing beats a good sleep after all that work.  Dream, sweet dream..."

"They say I'm one month old.  Woo hoo... I'm a big baby now.  I want you all to know that I am dealing with some 'growing pain'.  But don't worry, as I will soon learn, 'no pain, no gain'.  I will be OK 'cause I'm Cooper the Trooper."

"You ask where's my mommy?  I hid her from you 'cause she's myyyy mommy.  Shhhh, don't wake her up.  Ever since I came around, she hasn't  slept 30 hours in a day."

Jesus, Carol, your baby reads your Facebook posts? 

Bob, see you later! - Los Angeles Photographer

I have to prefix that this is not my normal post. I was reading an article about traveling in Ireland and it reminded me of Bob, an Irish descend.

Bob was my professor in graduate school.  He gave me a few "A"s and I hated it when he gave me a "B".  I was in a few of his classes and he would normally not say much.  He'd ask questions to "probe" around and see if he would hit a sparkle from someone in his class.

Bob was a cancer survivor.  From all I could see, he looked normal.  He said he had cut down on red meat.

A few of us students grew close to him.  We would share aspirations with him and ask questions about our career.  As usual, Bob would not say much.  He'd listen and smile.

After graduation, life took us in a wind-swirl.  But we kept in touch with Bob.  I'd get an e-mail from him once every few months or years.  I'd be so happy to reply right away and to only hear from him again months or years later.  Every time I changed job, Bob would be happy to be my reference and not ask or say much.

Last summer, a friend mentioned that she got an e-mail about keeping Bob in the prayer at the end of 2009.  I said to myself, if anything happened to Bob, it'd be so significant that I'd know about it.

So today, when I realized that it's been a really long time since I heard from Bob, I went and searched for Bob's e-mail.  The last that I heard from him was an e-mail forward in June 2009.   I decided to take one step further and Google searched him.

My heart started wrenching and my stomach churning.  I so hoped that the obituary on the top was not you, Bob.  When I saw your picture, I was so not ready for the emotions that follow.

Bob, you've always known me better than I do.  Through years of growth, I now finally understand the wisdom that you so casually uttered.

I remember, one time, when I so excitedly told you about the offers that I got from two of the "Big 4".  You replied, "go to the one with the higher signing bonus".  At the time, it seemed such an inappropriate attitude to such a serious decision.  But, seeing me putting myself through the wild chase in the rat race, did you know that I was meant for something else?  And yet, you watched and let me go through life in my chosen path.

Bob, I am finally where my heart is and, seriously, I don't take myself that seriously anymore.  But Bob, all the learning in life did not prepare me for this moment.   

I'm confused.  How can I still have years of e-mails from you when you are not with us anymore?  How can you check out early when you are one of the influences that shaped me into who I am today?

Bob, I know it will be hard to accept for a long time that you are somewhere else now.  And I want to thank you for being there all these years.

I know you loved horses.  Do you have horses up there?  Here's one for you, captured and processed with my new found talent/passion (and hope that you have internet up there too):

Grazing Horse - ©Jean Huang Photography

P.S. Had it been an article for our class, how would you grade it? ;-)  Thanks for teaching me how to write!