GO FISH!

Christmas Day, Mark and I had to work. I had made up my mind months ago that I would try and make it special, after all, we could take a few minutes for "shits and giggles!" And so we did. After our first assignment we came back to the office and I brought out his small yet meaningful gift.


Now, I looked for fake fish, in a real fish store, after going to three, the sales lady at the last one said, "you don't find fake fish at a real fish store." How stupid was I.. Not stupid enough to go Toys R Us!


So the next best thing was Sherlock, because he's looking for fish of course, and there he stands on Marks computer. Maybe one day he'll have a new friend, but until then....






















We made the best of the day, and soon it was the next assignment. Here's some fish for you! The Long Beach Rose Float, fish and all... it was beautiful. These fish will have to do for now.

SAINT FRANCIS

Watching over small things, gentle things, Saint Francis of Assisi, in gardens everywhere. I could be anywhere, and at times I wonder if he is watching over me too, I turn around and there he is.... There is so much to learn from nature, it takes only what it needs to survive, death is never wasted. Beauty can be found everywhere, and anywhere, and each second counts. People are so complicated, and negotiating this world is challenging. Yet, hope is all around us, goodwill too. Speeding into the New Year, I hope that I am able to leave more goodness through the days in the lives of those I brush by during the course of a day. My secret is that a smile goes a long way, and kind touch can be a gift. Words matter, and they can be used for good as well as for harm.
And for anyone who reads this and thinks "oh brother!" When's the last time you thought of this stuff....? Now, I'm done!

CHRISTMAS MAGIC

It appears that I have been blamed for the fog today! Well... you should have had Christmas yesterday like I did, then you'd have no reason to complain. But seriously, before I make French toast for my daughter this morning. And before I split to work, some highlights from yesterday (once again, I know JB.. it's digital.. I'll see if I can pull some more Holgas out later.)LOOK OUT! Dad's got a gun! Thanks Donald.. (who gave him that gift) now he can have one more Clint Eastwood day dream... anyway, he loves to hunt. That being said, I'll leave it alone. We started a new tradition of "secret santa," where we pick numbers and get to choose a gift. It is always a highlight, Rachel was the lucky winner of a set of pliers... there were numerous jokes made, as she is the last girl you might see with pliers. She begged someone to take her gift... no go... (we ended up giving it to my horse training nephew. RICKY LIKED IT)This however was another matter... my brother took my gift! Yes, he said "I need it on those cold nights when I'm fighting fires," CRAP! Who does he think he's fooling?
ENJOY YOUR BLANKY DONALD!
This is a curious site.. and it might be disturbing too, in a few different ways, since Rachel is not a hunter. There's a gleam in her eye, could it be that she didn't like her presents and she wants Dads gun... Good luck Bunny! You'll get that when hell freezes over!
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL... AND TO ALL A GOODNIGHT

WE'RE NOT IN KANSAS ANYMORE!

Today is Christmas Eve, and it is also my day off to celebrate with my family. Rachel and I started out very early this morning, around 7:00 a.m. The traffic was light, and the weather was beautiful, who could ask for more on a 3 hour drive. As were were dropping down via the Grape Vine, my daughter suddenly said with a fright, "Oh My God, what is that?" I must admit, I have never seen the Tule Fog like that, as if kept in a box, or gage. It was like an ocean, except there was no ocean. Only Bakersfield looming in the far, far distance.

You know what comes next, I figure out how I can pull over to take a picture. Little did I know how tricky it was going to be. Why only last week I was on the 210 Freeway shooting trucks for an illustration. As soon as I got out of the car I knew it wasn't a normal Freeway stop. The wind must have been blowing 60 or 70 miles an hour, hard enough to tweak my trunk door, so now it rubs every time I close it. I was really angry to discover that. Anybody know what that's going to cost me?
Rachel thought I was crazy, and she reprimanded me, or as I told my sister, maybe she just wanted me to be carried on the wind like the "Wicked Witch of the West." although I've done the driving for the first 18 years of her life, safely I might add, she thinks I can't drive anymore. (See the last post)
My sister Ann told me that she had heard that sone in her head all morning. HUMMMMMMMM... Sometimes I wonder how connected everyone really is.
Anyway, this is my Merry Christmas Fog, wishing those who venture in a safe passage, and that they one day see the light once again. It's a little creepy in there to say the least.

P.S. Though I shot plenty of Holga today... I know, that you know this is not a Holga... but this is! Fog does not like HOLGA...

THE TRUMP... S CURVE

Yesterday I received a call from my daughter... During an assignment. Mom, uh I have a problem... keep in mind that I only get calls when there is a problem.
Rachel called to tell me that she hit a slick in the road, and the car spun out... but "don't worry, I'm ok and the car should be fine, just the tire."
Thank God she is fine, except for her wrist which she somehow hurt.
News is a funny thing sometimes, as a journalist, I am always skeptical about initial reports. Listening to a Police Scanner, you learn fast that what may seem to be mundane, may be a ragging fire, or a ragging fire may be just a little smoke.
In this case, smoke became a fire... which grew into a flaming dawn of dread.
The mechanic, my beloved mechanic called to tell me, "Rachels car is totaled." The frame was bent into an "S curve." When I phoned her she started to scream, NO WAY!!! In disbelief, "it can't be true." Turns out she came home, and was screaming on her phone at me from her room. NICE!!!

David had come to take me to the Skirball to see a photo exhibit and we looked at each other... she in her bedroom! Well, he diffused the situation and explained the facts of CAR LIFE to her.... while being the quintessential photojournalist, snapping pictures of our discourse. Funny thing when you're the subject of the camera eye.... I'm not used to being the subject. But I took my own medicine and tried to ignore the fact that I was under the proverbial microscope for a change, taking it in, and trying to learn something about how it feels for a change... for the future.
Anyway, when we returned from our little field trip, I took her to collect her crap out of the car. And what a load of crap it was... I told the mechanic Danny that I think she was running away from home. Just to lighten the situation.
So today is the day my baby's first car died. We're working on regrouping, as hard as that is. KIDS.
Could there be a way to bind them so they don't grow into teenager and young adults? That was my question to our Sports editor yesterday, I was kidding of course, but man when they grow up... "BABY IT'S A WILD WORLD," expensive too.
I remember the days when it just took a book to make her happy........................................
P.S. JB... DON'T TOP THIS GIRL..... I win this time.

BLUE SKY AND FALL LEAVES

The last of the tree's leaves are falling, what a beautiful sight.

STOP OR GO?

Cars are a very personal thing. Everyone has their own idea of what is cool, color, size, model, etc. This person had an idea, taking the car and turning into one big reflector. I don't know how legal this is, and at night I wonder if other drivers just pull to the side, making way for what might be an EMERGENCY? The emergency might be... STOP SHINING THAT CAR IN MY EYES!
Well, I'm sure great fun is had by all. And certainly, it caught my attention. There are a few vans out there that are decorated, but we may soon see a new trend in making a car our own personal collection spot.

GOD'S HERE

I was shooting a soccer game, when I turned around and saw the most amazing sight I've seen in a long time, it had to be GOD. You never know where or when a reminder will pop up, as if to say, "here's a gift, or I'm here, or don't forget about me." How amazing.

FROM MY CHAIR

I have spent many hours in my sun room, looking at the sky as it changes from my special chair, and if it could talk, the stories it would tell. It was passed down to me by my old roommate, who's family was very interesting. It's a story for another time. Today, the sky was so blue with the clouds, and the little rain from last night glistening on the palm trees, simply beautiful. The colors were so vivid, it was breathtaking. I wanted time to stop, but it kept passing, yet I have this little moment frozen in time. Like so many other moments in my life.

Porterville High School: Calling all Bloggers

I welcome all my former classmates to my Blog... just a little taste of my life as a photojournalist and anything else that strikes my fancy!
Best to you all,
Tammy

HERE AND THERE

It was a busy holiday week, catching up here, going to my parents house up in Springville, and coming back home once again. It's always good to leave, and it's always good to get back home, to the little box that I keep all my worldly possessions in, my house. I arrived safely back home, but almost poked my eye out with a charger cord, I'll see if I can get a picture of it. Somehow I'm always hurting myself. Oh well, I'm still in one piece, for now that is.

A strange cast came over the film when I took this picture of a new found friend. She taking a photography class, and wanted to know what a Holga was. Well, this was not so impressive, but I will send this along to her, with better photos and I know there will be one more convert. I just wonder if I get a commission or something?.... No.

ASK YOUR MUMMY

No, this isn't Halloween, and I wonder if those wild and crazy people at the DooDah parade used it as a test run for their antics today. It's a great event. Everywhere you look there are amazing images, like eye candy to the photographer. I took these in 5 minutes, that's all the time I had, but it was enough to capture some 'WILD THINGS."THIS ONE'S FOR YOU RACHEL...in all his pink angora glory!

GARDEN OF EDEN

This is William Crite, I met him today while on assignment. The warmth of his smile and the light in his eyes were simply a sight to behold. Not only that but his art is just beautiful. He took a little "mini-park," in Glendale, and turned it into a Jewel. Tile Mosaic is the everlasting method he used, it will outlast us all, thank goodness. I plan on showing a little more of the park in the coming days, and maybe more of his artwork. But for now, this will have to do.
It's VACAY time....but I will still be here, looking for those wonderful holga moments, hoping for some good shots over the holidays.

QUEEN OF THE HOUSE

How can any creature be more noble, more commanding than the feline species. My cat Minky, aka Pussy, after the James Bond Movie, is in charge around here. She does what she wants, and she only wants to be loved when she feels like it. But, there are many times that I must insist and pick her up to give her a hug.
I have had her since she was only 5 weeks old, she was the "runt of the litter," and never grew that much. She almost died once, but luckily a very good vet caught her swollen ovary just in time, and she came back, spunkier then ever.
When no one is here, she sits by my side, my constant companion. When something is wrong, she growls like a dog. She's playful, but as go grows older, not so much anymore. Isn't that the way it goes?
Her eyes say so much, sometimes, I wonder what she would say if she could speak. I expect that she would sound like the Queen of England, or France, maybe in the 1800's.
"Aowhh.. don't bother me right now, I need a cat nap!" "You look ridiculous, change you clothes," "I'm not going to eat that crap," etc.
Yes folks, I'm tired. It's my only excuse.

A BIG FAT 0

Some days are just plain hard, and I have trouble making it though to a time when I can rest, when my body can rebuild itself. Today was one of those days... but tomorrow, I hope I will be back with a vengeance, ready to take on the world, get the great shot, or something like that. I have some time off soon, and I think that will be a very good thing.

SAY A LITTLE PRAYER

I bet you gave up on me JB... but you know it's hard to keep a good girl, or bad girl as the case may be, down. I've been all over the place in the past few days, up, down, sideways, far away, close.. but today while I was looking for interesting images I saw St Francis, the keeper of nature, one of my favorite Saints, as Saints go, and there's not too many of those around these days, look at him, he's turned to stone.
Anyway, I love you... and I'll try to keep up with you once again.

IT'S A BREEZE... PHOTOJOURNALISM

Well, that's what I was doing up until the time I went flying with my camera, and although it could have been much worse, it wasn't pretty. I was on my back for about five minutes, in extreme pain, wondering if I was o.k... I hit my knee so hard.. Slammed my camera and broke my flash. It happens every year, so this better the one, 'cause I don't want to fall again, at least for a while.
This week hasn't been very good, I keep waiting for a turn-around. Anyway, it's been a long day, and it's time for me to rest. Tomorrow will be Homecoming football games. I'll have to be on the look out for runaway tackles!
P.S. This isn't the best picture, but I'll be damned if I waist another piece of film on this!

Some Days Are Like This

Some days are like this, I just feel like throwing in the towel and walking into oblivion. Some people, like David, are able to just give a one finger salute and carry on. I'm not like that, I get my feelings hurt, yet know that if I show it, that won't help either. So I'm stuck, frustrated and wondering why I'm misunderstood. I know that I'm having a real pity party over here, but please indulge me...I can see it's time to snap out of it and hope that the rain washes all this negativity away, David's giving me that look... it's funny, these were taken last week, and I waited for just the right time to use them.
I did have one other suggestion, that was to beat my pillow with a tennis racket! If only that would take away the feeling that now matter how hard I try to please others, at some point it's never enough. I'm too sensitive. But that's what makes me who I am, so "Why Not Take All Of Me." (I used to sing that song to my daughter when she was little, scatting and all.)

Chrome and Leather

Today I spent a day with the Glendale Harley Club and fell in love with the feeling winding wiping around me, the open road, and the camaraderie that comes with owning one of these amazing Beasts! I could really get hooked... yes I still worry about the crazy drivers in their cars, but when riding with a pack of professionals,
I felt it's a really safe way to "have your cake and eat it too." Today was the kind of assignment that photojournalists live for. Although I must say that next time I go out, I will know more of what I should do, and can do. It's hard to imagine when you've never held two camera bodies on your knees and you can't see through the view finder, but hey... every now and then "Hail Marys," are good things! (That is say a prayer before you shoot because you only hope you're getting what you think you should be getting. Anyway, it was a great ride from Glendale to Camp Pendleton and back, smooth as glass!
Something unusual happened when we stopped for gas... a Ladybug landed on my driver, Jeff, he was a great driver by the way, and for his good deed today, maybe just an extra helping of luck too.
P.S. Don't tell my Mom!

SURFS UP!

Driving to a seminar this weekend, I thought that there were so many things that I would like to photograph. Places to discover, people to meet. I stayed on the beach in Ventura, at the Holiday Inn, it was very nice. I was surprised...
In the morning, I woke up and couldn't resist going down to the water for the first time this year, yah, I know, and I live here.. no I don't get away often. There were surfers all over the place, and I couldn't help myself, so I helped myself! This is Gene, he retired after working for 35 years, and now is having the time of his life. This was just a typical morning for him, I thought it was really great to see someone having so much fun!

NO SMINT.. NO PHOTO

It was another crazy day for me today, which in the end, ran away with the daylight... and then editing ran away with any possible free time that I could find to get my Holga fix for the day. I'm sorry JB... I will make up for it though. I think the "fall back," change of time has something to do with it.
Today I had to cover two water polo games, not one, but they were both really good and that always makes great photos, at least I hope it does. That was the highlight of my day.
As for Mark, I'm sure he'll be getting me back for yesterday's post, but it's all in good fun. And now I'm too tired to think, so I'll see you tomorrow for our weekly Bfest! And then it will be a full day of STUFF TO DO!

A DAY LATE ... A LITTLE SHORT?

I regret that I missed the first day of November, I had too much work, and too little energy. And today, it appears that JB kicked my ass. But that's ok. If I didn't think she could, it wouldn't be any fun. With that said, I will spin a little story about a Man and his Fish.

One of the reporters I work with has a collection of fish on his computer, and as it happened one day, I decided that they should be moved around for not only my amusement, but just in principal. At first Mark took offence to my "hand of god," way of putting them in different parts of an imaginary sea. Then, as time passed, he came to enjoy the surprise positions he might find waiting for him. I almost always leave after him, so last night I left the last cookie..(he is a cookie monster in (disguise) with the fish circling, waiting to attack. I think it amused him.
I am looking to add to his collection, and when it expands, I will post more images of new sea creatures that might bear more cookies as the days go by.

BEWITCHED or NOT...

I saw images everywhere today, of everything from a walking banana to a tea cup from "Beauty and the Beast," to this witch, at Whole Foods, more than happy to scare the case out of you. Another words, check you out... so to speak. But everyone was checking her out, she made a great witch, green and haggard, warts and all. What was really scary today was my mid-term.. but I didn't take a picture of it, I was afraid the teacher wouldn't understand and kick me out of his class for something like lack of respect. Is there such a law? Well if there were, he would know it, seeing how it's a Law Professor. Ouch!
My daughter, dressed to the nines is cruising around tonight, I think she just dropped in to say Hi, or else ask for a $20.