Castle in the Sky - Part 2

Part 1 HERE! So, back with part 2 of the castle ruins shoot. One of the first photos...a nice 'classic' family portrait!

Little Miss. M here exploring...What's in that hole?

Running from the light...makes for a nice shot!

The 'let her run free' part of the shoot...

She is so photogenic...HERE is one of my fave child portraits in 2010...in BW

Love these too!

Peek-a-boo...

Some family time again...

It was getting to be winter in Oki!!! {and it hasn't stopped!}

A quick one of Mum and Dad before we chase M down a field!

And saying goodbye to the ruins and Okinawa for this family. I hope you love your new life...

Thank you Anderson Family and I want to thank you again to my long distance pal Shelia Stone (who I wish was still here) for sending them my way in the first place. Thank you!

I Heart Faces - Best Face Photo of Jan 2011

I completely forgot about the challenge this week and just happened to stumble upon the post on facebook just now. The first photo I thought of is this one of the gorgeous Feven. Myself and fellow photographer/friend Katey decided to do an exotic inspired shoot a couple of weeks ago and I really like how this one came out. It's so mysterious and well, exotic LOL. Our friend Glamoureyes Kim did the make up which was just perfect for the shoot...I dug out my scarves and bindis and bam! we were ready to rock 'n roll!

I Heart Faces - Innocent wonder

I chose this photo from a recent session because, well, first I thought the theme was 'soft and sweet' LOL. I think innocent wonder works just as well because, for me, it's all about the eyes. Little M's eyes just show so much soul and wonder for the world. This is my fave portrait from the session and I just love the silence, peacefulness and the connectedness of the image. She is in the moment of 'innocent wonder'.
Have fun checking out all the inspiring entries xxxxxxxx
PS: Thank you I Heart Faces for making my winter wonderland entry last week one of the winners. My daughter was so chuffed too. I think that is her 2nd or 3rd win for themes! Next, I'll have to get her uploading her own entries! On a side note: It's 48 here tonight but has a wind chill so pretty cold for Okinawa!

In an Okinawan state of mind!

Back to blogging oh procrastination central that I can be!

Noraida, also known to me, as the Space A Queen, is one of those people that has the purest hearts: so happy and joyful and full of life energy, in a non-condescending way - just very humble and true and real. I just love her! She knew EXACTLY where she wanted to shoot and it wasn't the beach and the usual spots. She wanted the back streets of Okinawa and took me down the winding roads...

and past many an interesting concrete building (with mirrors of course) to get there.

It was a great shoot! Thirsty work!

We first met through a mutual friend of my husbands way back in 2008 when we first got here. Noraida is the sweetest person and invited our whole family over for a Puerto Rican dinner and that is without even really knowing up for more that 5 mins. You know us Puerto Ricans have to stick together (you see since I am married to a Puerto Rican I am therefore Puerto Rican by default LOL). Noraida is just gorgeous. Lucky me, I get to take pics!

I just LOVE this one of Noraida and hubby...

And Mummy and daughter...

Here are the kids...first S. So fun and beautiful...

Then E...sweet and quiet...

and H...So mature and such a great young man...

Anyone for another drink break? Not hard to find a vending machine here!

Thank you Noraida and Fam. You are all wonderful!

Have you ever...

thrown a fistful of glitter in the air?

Loubie loved it...

So did April!...

This photo idea came to mind after listening to the pink song, actually while in zumba: the endorphins must have given me a burst of inspiration! Of course, it was weeks before I actually took the pics! The kids enjoyed this immensely, as you can see! Fun and creativity all around: I get my photo fix and they get their kid fix!

I Heart Faces - Winter Wonderland

OK, so it's not snow, it's glitter! But, I thought it looked kind of wintery and I do supposedly live on a sub tropical island (although you wouldn't think so lately, it's been freezing -Oki freezing 48 at night Brrrrr, I know some people will read this and want to drop kick me right now!) It is taken in January though! It's hard to get that winter wonderland effect unless you go to the one fake snow place on the island or the ice skating rink! And, honestly, I am too cold to go! LOL

Out of the darkness, came the light!

I don't even know where to start with the Crow Family! I had shot this family before helping Annya out with her family shoot in Naha almost 2 yrs ago (wow, time flies, miss you Annya!). They are a wonderfully photogenic family and so laid back, just like most of my clients I am happy to get! Early Dec had some crazy rain...It was like out of the darkness came the light!

I don't remember a crazier season full of rain and trying to shoot in it! But, the sun came out for this shoot!

So much so that we actually scheduled earlier than usual because the weather had been so cloudy, so of course, we get to the location and it is SO bright!

So, what did we do?

We took the session slllooowwwwww and we got some great shots...

and llloooonnnngggg shadows! Luckily as well, the kids are older. I know for younger kids there is a time limit and when they are done, they are DONE!

and we shot in the shade! Good looking parents...(If you're on Oki, you might recognize Jeannette as she is a boot camp instructor and fitness class teacher (a very good one I hear, I need to try a class one of these days!)

and three good looking kids...

Beautiful pensive moment...

Love the eyes...I LOVE eyes!

We did that until the sun went behind a cloud...

or two (When I saw this on the LCD, Jeannette and I knew it was a fave!)

They ordered this on a 16x24 standout which looks great and is a nice and light alternative to gallery wraps! Here's an iphone pic of it!

Finally the sun actually went down for sunset readiness!

Fisheyed of course! It was a glorious night!

I'll leave you with this image which I love in colour and also LOVE in BW x

The weather is a big part of the shooting story and it's actually fun to play with it. In fact, I will eventually blog about the full torrential downpour that I helped shoot for Mad Banana! Now, that was something else!

Castle in the Sky

The kids and I watched the movie Castle in the Sky recently. I love all of Hayao Miyazaki 's films, I think my fave is spirited away. Ponyo was great too and Howl's Moving Castle. OK, OK, I love them all! Well, there is a castle in the sky here in Okinawa (sort of!).

This was the 2nd shoot featuring Little Miss. M. She was just ONE then! Now look at her!

Had to get a quick couple shot with the beautiful surroundings!

This family are were so great to shoot. Plus, we got lucky with a fantastic sunset that night!

This is the first part of the family shoot I recently did there...I was so happy this is where they wanted to shoot because I haven't shot there for ages. It was great to go back! Part 2 coming next...Great memories of Okinawa. Safe travels :o)