A MAJESTIC BULL BROKEN

This morning Kevin was awoken by our neighbor with the news of an injured bull elk that was resting in a field just behind our home. He was informed that fish and game had already been alerted and was on their way, so he quickly grabbed the camera gear and headed over to photograph it. We have been so bogged down in weddings that our poor 500mm F4 lens (I lovingly refer to it as my baby bazooka) has been severely neglected as of late, sitting in a corner accumulating dust. It was nice for it to see the light of day again :-).

Kevin used the car as a blind (this often works very well when photographing wild animals) and a beanbag for support. I am usually the one who photographs wildlife and I must say I am quite good at it - better than he is :-). Not really, I am just teasing him because people see my work from Kenya and often give me a lot of the credit for our nature and wildlife work, but Kevin is an amazing photographer at this style in his own right, so I am glad to show off some of his photographs - love ya dear :-).

All kidding aside, we really felt sorry for the elk. We often have a bachelor herd of five that visits our yard regularly and we wondered if this was one of them. One of his antlers was broken and he was limping quite badly. It is possible that the rut took a heavy toll on him, but who knows what really caused his injuries. Whatever the reason, his life is definitely in peril. He was eating which is a good sign, but ultimately we will probably never know what his future holds. When fish and game arrived, the bull was scared off and limped into the depths of the forest and disappeared in the mist of a fine rain. We wish him well and hope he doesn't suffer too much.

AN ARTICLE ON LADYBRILLE.COM

Several weeks ago I was contacted by the publisher of an on-line magazine called Ladybrille. Her name is Uduak Oduok and she is both inspirational and a joy to speak with. In Uduak's words, the goal of her website and magazine is to "fuse Western and African cultures through fashion." This really struck a cord with me as Africa, its lands, its wildlife and its amazing cultures, are very dear to my heart. I have had the joy of traveling to Kenya, East Africa several times and have had the rare opportunity to spend time living with the Maasai Tribe and learning their culture. From these experiences I have formed a deep love and appreciation of this place, and I always ache to return. So anything or anyone that attempts to bring these two cultures together is great in my book.

Uduak did a month long series on weddings in Africa and she ended it with a piece on wedding photography, which she gave me the honor of writing. She was so kind in her introduction of myself and my work and I cannot thank her enough for the opportunity. Thank you Uduak - keep up the wonderful work!

To view the article and related photos, "10 Essientail Questions to Ask Your Wedding Photographer", or to read all the interesting information available, visit the Blogazine at www.ladybrille.blogspot.com . It is the newest posting right now, but in the future just click on "weddings" under categories.

DANIELLE AND SCOTT WEDDING

This past Saturday we went to Old Town Scottsdale to photograph the wedding of Danielle and Scott. The wedding took place at the Old Adobe Mission and the reception was held at the Kerr Cultural Center. We instantly fell in love with the church. It is currently under restoration and its architecture smacks of the old southwest - so cool! The block surrounding the Church was all we needed for formals, as every step revealed a colorful doorway or avant-garde sculpture.

To transport their guests the two-and-a-half miles to the reception location, Danielle and Scott retained the services of a trolley system aptly named Dolly the Trolley. This was such a great idea and so much fun for everyone. A special thanks to the driver who let me crawl all over the trolley throughout the ride so I could get the best photographs possible :-). The reception was full of surprises too with a pasta saute station, people cross-dressing for cash and everyone having an all around riotous good time!

Danielle and Scott, thank you so much for having us! We had such a great time and your families were so welcoming and kind. Thank you too for all your kind compliments on our photography. It means a lot coming from two accomplished photographers in your own right - we would love to see some of your work sometime :-). Have a great month in Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands - we are sooooooo jealous! Let us know what it was like when you return because that is one of our dream trips that we plan on making a reality one of these days. One last word ... for those who view this, take a good look at the ring photograph - these are some of the most unique rings we have ever seen - LOVE THEM!

CYNTHIA AND DANIEL - ENGAGEMENT SHOOT

On Sunday we met with Cynthia and Daniel for their engagement shoot. They live in Northern California and are having their wedding in Sedona this June. Due to the distance between us we had not previously met, so it was really nice to meet with them and get to know them on a more personal basis.

The Superstition range holds a special place in Daniel's heart so this was their choice for the location. I have to confess that I couldn't agree more with Daniel. The Superstitions have held a special place in my heart as well ever since arriving in Arizona five years ago. Along with a couple of spots in the White Mountains, it is one of my favorite places to visit in this state. It has such a powerful effect on me and I love to just lose myself in it's landscape. So after all that reflective rambling ... I was really excited that they chose it :-).

We spent the afternoon traveling from place to place using all kinds of cool props and landscapes along the way, before ending up at a beautiful overlook with the perfect saguaro for sunset. The temperatures were perfect as was the light (nothing like the golden glow of a late afternoon sun.) Cynthia and Daniel, it was so much fun getting to know you and sharing some drinks after the shoot. We really liked hanging out with you and can't wait for the wedding - Daniel, we are going to hold you to the fishing pole idea :-). You both did beautifully in front of the camera and the photos definitely reflect that! Only one bad note about the day ... Cynthia again, we are sorry you got a cholla bite (those buggers are so hateful.) Daniel said it best when he proclaimed that you aren't a real Arizonan until you have been bitten by a cholla - so true. Hopefully it was still worth it. Thanks guys!

ALYSON AND JOSH WEDDING

This past Saturday we photographed the wedding of Alyson and Josh. It was held at the University Club in Downtown Phoenix. The venue was so quaint and charming and fit the couple perfectly! If you view our blog regularly, you may remember this couple as being the unlucky pair we dragged through creeks and over boulders in near hundred degree heat for three hours for their "relaxing and fun" engagement shoot. They were troopers though and fortunately for us, they still allowed us the honor of capturing their wedding day.

Needless to say there were no big obstacles to overcome on this day, just the beauty and joy that typically accompanies this once-in-a-lifetime event. The colors were a lovely mix of fall hues, which blended beautifully with the bright red colors of the traditional Scottish kilts worn by Josh and his father to honor their heritage. That, coupled with the ground's lush green grass and tall palm trees and Alyson's beautiful hand-sewn gown, made for a magical day!

As usual you were both a pleasure to work with! Thank you for having us and remember, if you are ever in the high country give us a call - maybe we can go for a hike :-).

SHAUNDAY AND VICTOR WEDDING

A couple of weeks ago I was contacted by an old co-worker from the White Mountains. Her sister, Shaunday, was getting married and she asked if I would photograph the wedding for her. I love visiting the Pinetop area , so it was an unexpected treat!

Shaunday and Victor got married at the Munich Haus in a small ceremony overlooking a tranquil lake just before sunset on Sunday. Tranquil that is, except for a flock of geese that let out a collective honk and took flight right in the middle of the vows (definitely a humorous moment for all attending.) Shaunday's daughter was an absolute doll and Victor's daughter was beautiful.

Shaunday, Victor and Mimi - thank you for having me! It was a beautiful day and I really enjoyed myself. Mimi, thank you for thinking of me and as always you are the consummate perfectionist - job well done! Don't forget me when you get married :-).

IN MEMORY OF AN OLD COMPANION

You may have left us, but you will never leave our hearts.


Today one of my dogs passed away. He is actually my mother's dog, but seeing as how he came to live with us when I was 18 years old and still living at home, in my mind he has always been my dog too. His name was Mac and most recently he made an appearance on the blog on Halloween dressed up as "The Old Wizard". He was 19 years old, so I guess you couldn't ask for more than that.

Mac, you were a wonderful part of our family, and after almost two decades it is not going to seem the same without you. We loved you dearly, and for a dog who began life so sickly you really surprised us with your resilience and determination. I hope you have rejoined Winnie now and the two of you are running together like the old days. You won't be forgotten - rest well little peacock...

MARGARITA AND RAMON - ENGAGEMENT SHOOT

I swear there is no prettier place in autumn than Oak Creek Canyon in Sedona! The colors are simply amazing! This is where Margarita and Ramon decided to stage their engagement shoot. We conducted the shoot Thursday and it was a blast. We did plenty of hiking, but the views and weather were well worth the effort! After taking in all the reds, oranges and yellows we could ever hope to see in one place, we headed back into town for a few shots at Tlaquepaque. Ramon had a sharp new suit he wanted some shots in and the location seemed a little more conducive to the look.

Margarita and Ramon, I really enjoyed getting to know you two better! I have to say, you both dress up very well which makes me all the more excited to see you both on the wedding day - and at Ashley Manor no less. It is going to be beautiful! Kevin and I hope you enjoyed our recommendation for dinner at the Barking Frog - I know we enjoyed ours :-).