The Westgate San Diego
March has been a month of lots of things to celebrate. The pandemic seems to be ending, at least in San Diego, life is getting back to normal, and it is the 5 year anniversary of my marriage. The day of our anniversary we decided to get brunch at The Westgate Hotel. It is really a diamond in the rough, considering the hotel is not located in the best area. The entire hotel feels like you have stepped back in time, with decor that reminds me of Versailles. We ate a delicious brunch here in their light and airy dining room. The truffle and leek quiche was one of the best quiches I have ever had. They also have afternoon tea in the lobby but we will just have to try that another day!
Chamomile
It has been a new ritual that every week I head to the Farmer’s Market in San Diego and pick out a bouquet of fresh flowers. They have the most beautiful selection there, and I am always testing out new species of flowers. This week I chose a bunch of beautiful Chamomile. I feel like they go with my home decor incredibly well. I love how they are so delicate and look like tiny daisies. After I purchase flowers I like to read up on how to care for them. Chamomile are great because they do not attract bugs often, they do not need direct sunlight, and you can use the flower to make tea!
The ASU Art Museum
In keeping with my minimalism theme lately, I had the chance to go to Phoenix and photograph the ASU art Museum. I find this series similar to the one that I did of the San Antonio Library back in 2017. You will find much of this style of architecture in the southwest. This time I stuck with my Fujifilm x100s camera instead of my DSLR which I have been only using this year so far. It was harder to zoom into the shots that I wanted because of the fixed 23mm lens (which is 35mm full frame) I just had to move my body instead. I still found it much more enjoyable to shoot with.
An Ode to Ranunculus
A few days ago I purchase a bouquet of gorgeous ranunculus from the farmer’s market. They were hiding in the back and I asked if I could buy them. The man there said they were straight from the farm and not ready yet but that he would sell them to me anyway. I was so happy to get these beautiful flowers so early in the season. I truly felt so inspired to capture their beauty.
I spent a few hours photographing them in all kinds of ways. I finally settled on this lighting because I feel that it captures the elegant folds and details of the flowers. I also love the shadow play. That was fun to work with. These photos remind me of Irving Penn’s work, but are not directly inspired. In fact I only thought of his work after the shoot was over. I looked online at his flowers series, and while they are similar he mostly photographed flowers when they were decaying. In contrast, I enjoy photographing them when they are bright and living. I think this photo series might just be some of the best work I have done.
San Diego Water Front
The weather is finally perfect in San Diego, and a great time to walk around by the water. It is 75 degrees out which i think is the best weather, not too hot or too cold. I love that the waterfront is only a few blocks away from me and I can be by the water at any time, now I just need to hop on one of these beautiful boats!
Angelina New York
Angelina is a French tearoom that originated in Paris in 1903. I have never been to the one in Paris but when I heard there was one in New York that opened up I had to try it. Luckily it was located right around the corner from our hotel in Bryant Park. It was freezing cold that day so we rushed inside to warm up. We ordered tea, breakfast, a pastry, and their famous hot chocolate. I do not have a big sweet tooth, so I did think everything was a bit too sweet for me. The hot chocolate was very balanced but incredibly rich, I could only have a few spoonfuls. After a few bites of everything, I was stuffed with way too much sugar. I enjoyed the experience but I honestly think it is a place to come and take photos, not to eat. I do wonder if the Paris location is better, one day I will go and compare!
Hotel Le Mars
For my birthday last year we stayed at the beautiful Hotel Le Mars in Healdsburg, California. I love to visit wine country because it feels like a little bit of France without leaving the country. This hotel was no exception as it is a French hotel. I feel like you could find this little chateau on a quiet street in Paris. I loved the Parisian furniture and wrought iron balcony, sans the Eiffel Tower view.
A Stroll Through Central Park
Central Park is one of my favorite places to walk around in New York. I have been doing it since I was a child and have a pretty routine way that I walk in order to take in all of the sites. I do not live in the city anymore so any chance I get to come back here I am so excited for. I also got used to using my Fujifilm camera instead of my DSLR. I think the images are quite dreamy and cinematic.
Seneca
If you are in San Diego, there is a good chance you will eat Italian food at some point. The Little Italy area is one of the best in the nation, and possibly better than New York’s in my opinion. One of the best new restaurants in San Diego is Seneca. It is not located right in Little Italy but it is just a few blocks away on the 19th floor of the InterContinental Hotel. I have been here many times for dinner but as soon as they opened up for lunchtime I knew I had to go. It is much quieter during the day and you actually get to see the water from the rooftop views which is hard to see at night. The decor is beautiful and it truly feels like you have jetted off to the Amalfi Coast. Everything I have ordered here has been great so it is hard to choose a favorite. A must do though is their hand pulled mozzarella cart where the server makes the cheese right in front of you.
A New Year
A New Year
2022 is a new year and a new beginning for positive change. This year I am hopeful that life can return to normal or at least closer to the normal that we were used to. I am making a lot of small changes in my life that so far have been incredible. One big change is a rebrand and a restart to my photography business. I have had a lot of time to think about my work and what I want it to portray as both a photographer and an artist. I decided to enter into a new creative phase. We all grow and change who we are all the time, and our work is a reflection of who we have become.