In Memoriam

 It's my first day working on a memorial album for Richard Zanuck, and I thought it would be easier. It feels like this ache may burst my heart if I don't stop to process.   I have been seeing, reading, and learning so much.  Richard had a big impact on my life even with our limited contact.  Multiply that exponentially, by those who knew him better, longer, or simply through sheer number of people who knew and loved him (and there were so many), and it all means being flooded today with wave after wave of memories and sorrows.  My heart breaks for everyone right now, especially those closest to him.  How to put right in our minds the loss of someone so loved, who burned so brightly?  Who, no matter his age, left us before his time?  To love and be loved is all that most of us can hope for…and Richard achieved so much more. Stacks of letters and emails speak to the amount of admiration and respect people had for him.  That doesn't mean he was perfect.  Anyone who has listened to his stories or watched the documentary will know this, but one of the wonderful things about Richard was his openness and honesty, and his ability to learn and grow.  Not to mention his wicked sense of humor and bullish determination.  He was a force to be reckoned with in life and is still a force even now.  In honor of Richard, I'm posting this scan of an ad Disney placed in Variety, with one of my photos from Alice in Wonderland.  This was only a make-up test, but he was still there, always a dependable presence.  I needed to get that out.  I suppose it is human to want to share.  I think my heart will be ok now.  Thanks for listening. Richard - you will be missed so much.

cat heaven (or hell)

While in Seoul this past December, on our day exploring, my friend Holly and I visited a cat cafe.  For those who have never heard of such a cafe, it's a place where you can go for tea or coffee....and cats.  Lots of cats.  It sounded bizarre and fun, and it turned out to be both.  

Part of the scenery

Cats.  And lots of them.

Compositionally, this is my favorite photo.  It feels like a near miss though. Ideally the walking cat would be in focus.  But considering the quality of light and low shutter speed, i didn't think it would be possible, and the cat from the far right had just turned towards me.  In any case, I made my focusing decision and can't take it back now...even though I have often stared at this picture and wondered what it would look like had I chosen differently. 

 
 Cat hammock.

The sanitary perils of a cat cafe.  Yep, this is the kitchen where all the tea and coffee is made!

life on the road

My friend Emily told me I shouldn't be overly critical of the pics I post on my blog; just to keep posting them, from day to day events, as an exercise.  In honor of her I'm posting this very ordinary picture from my stay at the Chateau Marmont in LA during the Golden Globes (no, we did not attend).  It's the only picture I felt inspired to take during our four day stay (aside from trying unsuccessfully to capture a strange, owlish, alien glow emanating from my eyes in the fog of the bathroom, but I digress).

Our life can be fun.  It can seem glamorous.  It even is, occasionally, glamorous though I rarely am.  I shook Samuel L. Jackson's hand at an airport, and met Sergeant Brody in my pajamas (I would have rather been suitably clothed, but as mentioned, I am rarely glamorous).  I have been to Russia, South Korea, Japan, France and Mexico, all in the past year.  The downside, as any traveler can tell you, is living out of a suitcase, in a constant haze of jetlag.  This picture, to me, somehow represents that balance.

maple leaves

It's a cold, cloudy, drizzly day in London.  Here's to remembering sunnier times.

 In November, maple leaves carpet the landscape at the Ryōan-ji temple in Kyoto, Japan. There was something really beautiful about baskets full of leaves.  I wanted to take one home with me.  

sleeping

This is one of my favorite photos from Christmas...Ben, cherubic and peaceful, my dad, a true Gallo, napping whilst balancing a glass of wine...taking this photo was like capturing the eye of the Christmas storm.  Later I will revisit Japan and post something from Seoul, but in the meantime, I offer a bit of serenity (and that's so rare these days).

hats in mexico

Just to confuse the timeline of my blog even further, I'm going back to our days in Mexico from September 2012...I'll get caught up chronologically someday.  This one's theme is hats.

 Remember the two hour canal ride we took to the Island of the Dolls?  No? Well anyway, this was a shot from that boat ride.

 Pyramid of the Sun in Teotihuacan, outside of Mexico city.  It dates to around 100-200 BC (except the orange stuff).

 Our tour guide.

At the restaurant La Gruta, which is built into a cave.  A fun and unique eating experience.  This picture has no hats but I threw it in there anyway.  3 out of 4 ain't bad.

Here With Me

Two photos to represent the Here With Me music video I photographed in November.  It was grimy, dark light but the combination of my Mark III and Lightroom does wonders.

This is our friend Sabrina, the three handed ticket master, waiting while they light her.  I thought she and all of her hands performed brilliantly.

This is our friend, Santa-turned executioner, between takes, resting on the Torture Chair.   Hooray Glen, for your chilling performance :)