A Small Tribe

P52: Week 21/52 Children- Serious, Meltdowns

noreply@blogger.com (Marina) — Tue, 21 May 2013 16:00:00 +0000

My sweet Bean.

At four years old, so sensitive.

So worshiping of his older brothers, that any small slight or perceived insult will send him to curl up inside himself where he feels safe.

I love this boy so much.

Grateful that he knows how to find comfort inside of himself.

Hoping that he learns what strength resides there as well.

Next up is Sarah Maxey Photography from the Kansas City area. Sarah is an on-location, natural light photographer specializing in birth photography, lifestyle newborn photography and modern maternity, baby/child and family portraiture.  Please click here to see her take on this week's theme.

PS52: Week 20/52 Children, Mother

noreply@blogger.com (Marina) — Tue, 14 May 2013 16:00:00 +0000

Next up is Tricia Burrough of Lilac Blossom Photography. Tricia is a portrait photographer and freelance photojournalist based in Collingswood, NJ. Please click here to see her take on this week's theme.

PS52: Week 19/52 Children, Laughter

noreply@blogger.com (Marina) — Tue, 07 May 2013 16:00:00 +0000

The theme this week is children laughing. I will tell you now that my boys are being monsters and I am choosing to punk out by using an old photo than trying to capture a moment of fake hilarity.

There are simply not enough chocolate chips to use as bribery to get them to laugh and not enough vodka to make me want to do it.

Apologies with promises to get a more recent and sincere photo of laughter in the near future.

Next up is the immensely talented Lanie Coulter. Lanie is a natural light photographer that specializes in newborn, family, senior and wedding photography in the Chattanooga and North Georgia area. Please click here to see her take on this week's theme.

PS52: Week 18/52- Spring Self-Portrait

noreply@blogger.com (Marina) — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 16:00:00 +0000

The theme this week is self portrait. This past weekend I ran the Big Sur International Marathon. Though I had run it last year, it was still the hardest race I've ever completed. Having said that, I know that I will return. If you are going to find out what you're made of, there is no place as beautiful or as challenging as the California Coast to test you.

Here I am, letting my poor battered feet soak in the Pacific ocean with my hard earned medal.

Next up is my dear friend and mentor, Jen Dunham of Jen Dunham Photography. Jen specializes in creating artistic newborn portraits for her clients and is located in the San Francisco Bay Area. Please click here to see her take on this week's theme.

P52: Week 17/52- Spring, Macro

noreply@blogger.com (Marina) — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 16:00:00 +0000

Watering the kale

Next up is Andrea Orozco of Drea Lyn Photography. Andrea is an on location, natural light photographer specializing in children, seniors and couples from the California Bay Area.  Please click here to see her take on this week's theme.

P52: Week 16/52- Spring, Landscape... For Boston

noreply@blogger.com (Marina) — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 16:00:00 +0000

It is here at Inspiration Point where you will find me running most Sunday mornings. I have to admit that while the landscape is beautiful here, I had never found it all that inspiring. High up in the Berkeley Hills, the wind will push against you, making all the effort you put into moving forward feel fruitless. The hills are relentless and with few people who run that trail, it can sometimes feel desolate.

But as I spend more time up here, I've come to love the solitude. The running has become easier and there is more room in my head to think about things other than the pain and effort. I dream and think about the places running has taken me and where it will lead me.... and yes, I'd come to believe that running the Boston Marathon (with a lot of work and discipline that could take years) could actually become a reality.

I'm still holding onto that dream, despite the tragedy that happened yesterday. If truth be told, it makes me want it more. My heart feels broken, but my spirit is not.

My thoughts and prayers go to those in Boston and runners everywhere...

*Next up is Megan Lee of Amber Decadence Photography. Megan is a natural light, modern lifestyle and portrait photographer specializing in children and families. Amber Decadence Photography is based in Singapore. Please click here to see her take on this week's theme

P52: Week 15/52- Spring, Portraits

noreply@blogger.com (Marina) — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 16:00:00 +0000

My Beloved

Next up is Sarah Maxey Photography from the Kansas City area. The wonderful Sarah is an on-location, natural light photographer specializing in birth photography, lifestyle newborn photography and modern maternity, baby/child and family portraiture. Please click here to see her take on this week's theme

P52: Week 14/52- Spring, Color

noreply@blogger.com (Marina) — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 16:00:00 +0000

I really don't have much of a green thumb, so I was surprised to see these pansies pop up after dying a slow death last summer. Rain this past weekend, warm temperatures following. I guess that is the ideal climate for these little pops of color to emerge. Spring has sprung, indeed :)

TRICIA BURROUGH

Next up is Tricia Burrough of Lilac Blossom Photography. Tricia is a portrait photographer and freelance photojournalist based in Collingswood, NJ.  Please click here to see her take on this week's theme.

P52: Week 13/52- Macro, Flowers

noreply@blogger.com (Marina) — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 16:00:00 +0000

Ahhh, the last week of shooting macro. I had every intention of renting a macro lens and then life (and marathon training) got ahead of me and I ended up shooting with the 50mm this entire month. I think this was a good exercise though and I think a macro lens will be the next addition (when funds permit) to my camera bag. Thanks for joining me this month as I played with with seeing the world up close.

* Next up is Lanie Coulter. Lanie specializes in newborn, family, senior and wedding photography in the Chattanooga and North Georgia area. Please click here to see her take on this week's theme

P52: Week 12/52- Macro, Bugs

noreply@blogger.com (Marina) — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 16:00:00 +0000

Sigh... blur. Still shooting with the 50mm lens for lack of a macro. Though I wished this was sharper, I am still charmed by the color and almost "paint-like" look to it.

* Next up is my dear friend and mentor, Jen Dunham of Jen Dunham Photography. Jen specializes in creating artistic newborn portraits for her clients and is located in the San Francisco Bay Area. Please click here to see her take on this week's theme.

P52: Week 11/52- Macro, Color

noreply@blogger.com (Marina) — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 16:00:00 +0000

*Next up is Andrea Orozco of Drea Lyn Photography. Andrea is an on location, natural light photographer specializing in children, seniors and couples from the California Bay Area.
Please click here to see her take on this week's theme.

P52: Week 10/52- Macro, General

noreply@blogger.com (Marina) — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 17:00:00 +0000

This week's theme focused on shooting macro, or close-up. I was without a macro lens and at my husband's suggestion, tried using a 70-200mm f/2.8 lens with an extension tube. It was difficult to say the least, the weight of the camera with the enormous lens made it impossible to hold it steady for a good shot! So I went back to my tried and true 50mm f/1.4. A friend of mine sent along some suggestions and helpful article about shooting macro. As this is the theme for the month, I thank you for joining me as I learn more about shooting up close :).

* Next up is Megan Lee of Amber Decadence Photography. Megan is a natural light, modern lifestyle and portrait photographer specializing in children and families. Amber Decadence Photography is based in Singapore. Please click here to see her take on this week's theme.

P52: Week 9/52- Shadows... Black and White

noreply@blogger.com (Marina) — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 17:00:00 +0000

My exuberant little one

* Next up is Sarah Maxey Photography from the Kansas City area. Sarah is an on-location, natural light photographer specializing in birth photography, lifestyle newborn photography and modern maternity, baby/child and family portraiture. Please click here to see her take on this week's theme

P52: Week 8/52- Shadows, People

noreply@blogger.com (Marina) — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 17:00:00 +0000

Brotherly Love

**Next up is Tricia Burrough of Lilac Blossom Photography. Tricia is a wonderful portrait photographer and freelance photojournalist based in Collingswood, NJ. Please click here to see her lovely take on this week's theme.

P52: Week 7/52- Shadows Architecture

noreply@blogger.com (Marina) — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 17:00:00 +0000

The Mills Building, San Francisco

Mostly bathed in morning light, I was struck by the bright columns and the recesses of windows hidden by the shadows in this glorious building in San Francisco's Financial District. I had taken a few architecture courses in college and fell in love with the Chicago School of Architecture. It seemed serendipitous that my favorite architect from that time, Daniel Burnham also designed a building so close to my California home.

* Next up is Lanie Coulter. Lanie is a natural light photographer that specializes in newborn, family, senior and wedding photography in the Chattanooga and North Georgia area. Please click here to see her take on this week's theme.

P52: Week 6/52- Shadows

noreply@blogger.com (Marina) — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 17:00:00 +0000

My little boys love playing monsters :)

Next up is one of my dearest friends and mentor, Jen Dunham of Jen Dunham Photography. Jen specializes in creating artistic newborn portraits for her clients and is located in the San Francisco Bay Area. Please CLICK HERE to see her take on this week's theme.

P52: Week 5/52- Winter Landscape

noreply@blogger.com (Marina) — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 17:00:00 +0000

Living here in Northern California, I'm very blessed to have incredibly mild, lovely weather for most of the year. Finding a traditional winter landscape is difficult as everything always seems to be sunny and green! To the consternation of my colder climate friends, I share with you one of my favorite landscape views here year round ... Sunset on the Golden Gate Bridge :).

Wishing you all a lovely week filled with love and light,
Marina

* Next up is Andrea Orozco of Drea Lyn Photography. Andrea is an on location, natural light photographer specializing in children, seniors and couples who is also from the California Bay Area. Please CLICK HERE to see her lovely image for this week's assignment.

P52: Week 4/52- Winter Macro

noreply@blogger.com (Marina) — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 17:00:00 +0000

My oldest finally lost his second front tooth. I have to admit I was a horrible mother about it. The tooth had been sitting there, barely hanging on, all cockeyed and uneven- looking like those fake bad teeth that people wear during Halloween. I have to admit, when my darling boy smiled at me... I *shuddered* inwardly. I think it was a relief to him as well that it had come out, he had been having trouble eating with the loose tooth. Though now he has difficulty saying words that start with a "th". When he expressing his gratitude, it comes out adorably as "fank you".

This week's theme was macro, which is the idea of shooting things close-up. There are special lenses that do shoot macro, but for lack of one, I used my 50mm f/1.4 lens. I do love the sharpness and the lovely depth of field it offers. Nothing better for shooting a little boy's front tooth

Fank you and have a great week :)

*Next up is Megan Lee of Amber Decadence Photography. Megan is a natural light, modern lifestyle and portrait photographer specializing in children and families. Amber Decadence Photography is based in Singapore. Please CLICK HERE to see her beautiful take on this week's theme.

P52: Week 3/52- Winter Blues

noreply@blogger.com (Marina) — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 17:00:00 +0000

The theme this week was Winter Blues. It was a challenge to capture that for me. I played with the idea of blue, what things are blue? Does it get cold enough outdoors for anything to turn blue? Do I feel blue because of the season?

... and then I thought about my favorite blue, the blue of my husband's eyes. He's in a moment of rest after chasing our boys that afternoon, indulging me as I try to capture this moment.

Thank you for joining me as I am learn and grow through this project.

Next up is Sarah Maxey Photography from the Kansas City area (honestly one of my favorite places filled with the nicest people in the world!). Sarah is an on-location, natural light photographer specializing in birth photography, lifestyle newborn photography and modern maternity, baby/child and family portraiture. Please CLICK HERE

P52: Week 2/52 - Winter Backlight

noreply@blogger.com (Marina) — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 17:00:00 +0000

One of the things I love about photography is the ability to play with the light. The wintertime has such gorgeous lighting with the sun so low in the sky. When photographing with the light behind your subject- the sun creates a beautiful outline. Many believe that flare from the sun should be avoided, in this case I happened to like the symmetry of the circles and rays of light as part of the composition. I thought that this was an interesting assignment and am looking forward to playing with the idea of backlight even more.

Thank you for indulging my musings about photography and light play.

Next up is Tricia Burrough of Lilac Blossom Photography. Tricia is a portrait photographer and freelance photojournalist based in Collingswood, NJ. Please CLICK HERE to see her take on this week's theme.

P52: Week 1/52 - New Year Inspiration

noreply@blogger.com (Marina) — Tue, 01 Jan 2013 17:00:00 +0000

Chicago, October 2012

One of the privilages of photography has been that it has led me to see the world through different eyes. There's a magic in the unintentional patterns and texture in nature.... in capturing an unscripted moment of children at play or rest.... the wonder in all that feels so fresh and new, like you are discovering the world for the first time... everytime.

I have the privilage of joining 7 other photographers in a special project for 2013 as we examine and explore different themes each week. This first week, the theme is "Inspiration" and I chose an image from my trip back to my adopted hometown of Chicago in October. A city that I had lived in for 10 years, after this long absence felt so new and so exciting. These balloons around the city with inspirational phrases perfectly captured the feeling. Photography does this for me every day, the familiar becomes magical at times, with just the change of the light.

Hoping that this year brings inspiration to you in all things...

Marina

**Next up in the circle of photographers is Lanie Coulter. Lanie is a natural light photographer that specializes in newborn, family, senior and wedding photography in the Chattanooga and North Georgia area.

A Moment

noreply@blogger.com (Marina) — Sun, 23 Dec 2012 03:09:00 +0000

sharing a milkshake with my Bean

Dipping my toes back in the waters of blogging. The water is always warm here, the people lovely, the thoughts that flow so much more fluidly than other places where we find ourselves interacting with others... "friends".

So much noise in my head, space filling with minutiae of peoples lives, that while interesting (or honestly, more often not) take the space and energy of other things, like the silence I find myself craving.

I'm tired of crying as the flow of information of sadness and tragedy seem to pop up with every update I see. I'm weary from the arguments people want to share of what we should or should not be doing.... I think I am just tired. In need of a place that has always been so warm and familiar, like the threadbare quilt that covers me as I write.

So I'm back... I hope that you've all been well. Look forward to catching up...

Love, Marina

Sweeten

noreply@blogger.com (Marina) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 19:24:00 +0000

Trying on his coat and tails for the Nobel Prize ceremony

A few weeks ago my lovely husband, Ivan, got a phone call from the Nobel Laureate, Saul Perlmutter. Except when Ivan knew him 15 years ago, Dr. Perlmutter was not a Nobel Laureate, he was just Saul... a professor that Ivan worked with at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (aka, the Berkeley Labs). With his wicked Fortran programming skills :), as an undergraduate Ivan worked with Saul, writing software that would eventually be built upon to assist in discovering the speed in which our universe is expanding. Ivan worked on this project for many years, as a lone engineer amongst academics until the private sector called with more room for advancement and financial rewards.

A wonderful thing happened this past October. The project that Ivan worked on, The Supernovae Cosmology Project, won the Nobel Prize in Physics for Dr. Perlmutter... and thus the phone call to Ivan, with an invitation to attend the ceremony in Stockholm to recognize and thank him for his contribution.

This incredible, loving husband, father, brother, son and friend will be crossing the ocean today to be recognized for his work in discovering the expansiveness of the universe. We will miss him as he will be away from us for a week, but there are not enough words to describe our pride in him.

We love you, Ivan. You are amazing, you are cherished and we are proud to be yours.

Congratulations, My Love.

A Tale of Wildwood and Anansi...

noreply@blogger.com (Marina) — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 18:44:00 +0000

Once upon a time there were two little boys, Matteo and Nico. Oh, how they loved to pretend to be warriors, vikings and knights! Using sticks, they'd duel each other...swinging and poking, slashing and screaming, their poor mother was at her wits end! What power these little boys had! What energy! Then something magical and wondrous happened... she met Master Alejandro.

Master Alejandro is part wizard and part craftsman. Quite learned about the ways of knights and warriors, he created special swords for the two boys. The little boy Nico, chose the sword which carried the image of a spider, bearing the gift of cleverness and cunning to the one who holds it. He christianed his sword, Anansi. The other sword held an image of a tree, bestowing the one who wields it a mastery of the Forest and Trees. The older brother Matteo, chose the name Wildwood.

The boys were in awe of such wondrous blades! Made of leather, the swords had the ability to strike down evil while still protecting the boys from harm. The boys mother taught them the responsibility of having such swords...

Respect Anansi and Wildwood and the power that they hold
Never let the blades fly in anger
Use them to protect that which you love and honor
and lastly...

Do not use them on your brothers!

The boys were so very happy, swinging and jousting these beautiful swords. They wanted to know more about Master Alejandro. Their mother told them of how Master Alejandro was from a land of many lakes and that he had travelled to a far, far country to learn the art of making leather swords, shields and masks. She told them of the care and love that went into creating these magical swords... and of the great responsiblity that came with bearing such great power.

The boys gave heed to their mothers petition for care with their new blades. They roamed the countryside, looking for dragons, monsters and furies... protecting the world around them and those that they loved... as all wonderful little boys do.

Sending much gratitude and love to Alejandro Ortega, aka "Master Alejandro"! An artisan skilled in creating the punchinello masks from the Italian art form of Commedia d’el Arte, he has taken this talent of working with leather and applied it to the making of swords, daggers, shields and even the occasional adorable elephant :). These beautiful, heirloom quality items can be found in his Etsy shop, Made By Alejandro

{this moment} brothers and joy

noreply@blogger.com (Marina) — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 15:21:00 +0000

{this moment} A single, special,extraordinary moment. A moment in time that I want to pause, savor and remember.

{Inspired by SouleMama}