I missed seeing Chalk the Block live in action last year, so put it on my calendar this year, to make sure I caught the artists in progress creating their art on the sidewalks of downtown Pacific Grove for the 4th Annual Chalk the Block hosted by Art Abilities. What is Chalk the Block? It’s an event anyone can register for, with kids and adults taking a section of sidewalk and making it into their own work of art. From professional artists, to young kids, a wide range of creativity was on display. For passersby, you could pick up a piece of chalk and add your own little contribution as well!
I could not have been more surprised to learn I was to receive the Paul Harris Fellow recognition from the Pacific Grove Rotary Club. The award, named after Rotary founder Paul Harris, recognizes service and contributions supporting Rotary’s mission of “Service Above Self.” I am very grateful to be part of such a welcoming and community-minded group of people here in Pacific Grove and am very humbled by it. I have not previously felt this desire to serve a community like I have since purposefully moving to Pacific Grove a couple of years ago. I will do what I can for as long as I can for PG.
Thank you to President Dr. Sarah Frahm and the other board members, and to Tracy for wielding my camera for me so I could be in these photos.
I was very glad to be asked back for a second appearance on Monterey On Tonight hosted by Gary Morris! My first appearance earlier this year turned into a conversation about photography, community, and especially drone video after they played my surprise engagement drone video on air. Now knowing the freewheeling interview style that Gary has, I had a few things prepared to talk about, but like before, things just went in a natural direction talking about my drone work and then how I got started in the photography business itself. It’s a rather unusual story about how I became a professional photographer, so be sure and listen to the interview about all the way through for the full story!
This shoot was a role reversal for me. Instead of being behind the camera, I asked my friend Felix to come into the studio to help make photographs of me! I am not often the one in front of the camera, especially not my own camera. Felix knows about photography some, and we have known each other for a while, so it was easier for me to relax a little while he was making headshots and branding photos for me that I really needed. I set up the lighting and the background, described what I was looking for in terms of photos to Felix, and he helped out also with posing ideas, getting me to relax (not look so serious, ha ha), and just general reassurance — all the things I do for my clients normally!
A networking event at Monterey Airport was winding down. I was about to leave with fellow PG Chamber Ambassador VJ (owner of Monterey Car Company) when he said let’s go check out this area down a long, empty hallway. We discovered a viewing deck to the runway! In the twilight light passengers were boarding a plane. The railing was pretty high, so I had to hold my camera up over my head to get a clear photo. After a couple of attempts, I was able to get this one with the composition I wanted, a level horizon and since I could not clear the railing in the frame, I decided to use it as a leading line into the photo frame itself.
I have only flown once in the past 16 years, and it was in fact from Monterey Airport, but I do not remember seeing a viewing deck or my own plane boarding experience so this all felt like seeing a secret world I had no idea existed in the Monterey area. It is also a good feeling that “finding” a photo like this can still excite the old photographer side of me. I am glad to now share it.
A Quiet Afternoon with an Old Friend Along the Carmel Coast
My oldest and best friend, Terry, made another visit to Pacific Grove recently. On a spectacular February afternoon, we went back to Carmel Meadows Trail, a place we first visited when he helped me move to the area. We did not hike far after finding a bench with the view you see above. The view was just stunning, and we both just enjoyed some quiet contemplation time as the fog rolled in below the setting sun. Just one of the many, amazing, and totally free places along the Monterey coast one can enjoy an afternoon unlike anywhere else in the world.
From Rotary Club Connections to Family Portraits at Lover’s Point Park
Even though I have photographed dozens of families in the past, mostly on the west coast beaches of Florida, since pivoting to focus on commercial photography 12+ years ago, I still have the occasional family portrait session come up. This family portrait photo shoot at Lover’s Point Park in Pacific Grove, California came about through me joining the Pacific Grove Rotary Club last year, which is were I first met Richard. We went on to judge a car show together put on by the Rotary Club. Since then we see each other every 2 weeks for the Rotary Club luncheon and have become friends. I have helped him with photo prints of existing photos of his a couple of times. This time, he asked me to make new photos of him and his wife Beth and their dog Gino, and then help them with designing their Christmas card (see below) using the photos we made together. I enjoyed the experience of making family portraits again, and getting to know Richard even better outside of the monthly Rotary Club events. Thank you Richard and Beth and Gino!
