Ahhh, vacation

The last week has been great, minus the slight sunburn. I got to Portland, OR on Friday evening and went to the Oregon Conference of S.D.A.'s annual campmeeting at Gladstone. It was great to be back with Stephanie and to be out of the intense sun of Southern CA. We spent the weekend and the first couple days of the week in Portland, where I got to see a couple high school friends, which was really fun, and also just relax. Then on Tuesday we headed to Sunriver near Bend, OR. What a beautiful place to be. We spent the rest of the week, relaxing by the pool, eating way too much, riding bikes, hitting golf balls at the driving range, and more relaxing. We headed back to Portland on Saturday afternoon, after stopping by Big Lake Youth Camp where Stephanie worked for a couple summers in college. While we were there we got to spend some time with Dick and Brenda Duerksen. They are parents of friends I went to elementary school with in Maryland. And I also got to check out his new EOS1 Mark III. Its not a bad piece of equipment.

We got up early this morning and headed to the Portland airport. It was a great week but it was nice getting home. There is nothing quite like it.

Here are a few photos from the week.

Vacation

I'm heading out this afternoon to Portland, OR for a weeks vacation with Stephanie's family. I'm also going to pick up Michael and Kristines engagement and wedding albums in Bend. I should have some new photos to share when I get back so check back in a week or so. In the mean time, have a great weekend and a great week.

FREE Portrait Session

I still have some openings so if you are interested and are in the area, send me an email.

info@kclarsen.com

For more details.

Details

This evening I had the opportunity to shoot some detail shots at a wedding reception. No, I was not invited by the bride and groom, I was there on behalf of the caterer. Loma Linda University catering, directed by Najwa, does an amazing job with so much attention to detail. The tables were beautiful and the fruit carvings were amazing. Here are a few of the shots from the evening.

And congratulations to the bride and groom.

Our first car

Last week, Stephanie and I sold the first car we purchased together, a 1998 Toyota Camry. It's been a good car and we have put about 130,000 miles on it in the last 7 years. Before we actually turned it over to the new owner, I had to get a patriotic photo of our 3 cars.

San Gorgonio Campground

We went camping this weekend at the San Gorgonio campground in the San Bernardino National Forest. Friday evening I was messing around taking pictures around the fire and trying to get some of the stars and such. The women went to bed while Duncan and I stayed up a little longer. We were out on the road by our campground and while my camera was doing it's thing, I heard some noise to the left of me. So I slowly pulled my flashlight out of my pocket and pointed it in the general dirction of the noise, right into the face of a black bear. It was standing about 15-20 feet away from us. Once the light hit his eyes, he turned and walked away and proceeded to walk around a couple more sites before walking through ours. It came a couple feet from where Christina and Isabella were sleeping. Needless to say we stayed up a little while longer to make sure it didn't come back. We were told the next morning by the campground hosts that it got in to their neighbors ice chest and containers and ate some of their food, but it didn't harm anything. So that is 2 out of the last 3 camping trips that we have had an encounter/issue with a bear, Yosemite last year and this year in S. CA. Anyway, it was fun...here are a few photos from the evening. And no, I wasn't thinking clearly enough to use the pop up flash on my camera to get a photo of the bear. I'm kicking myself now.

FREE Portrait Session

I'm offering a FREE Portrait Session to the first 5 people that contact me.

Email me for details and availablity.

$150 value

info@kclarsen.com

David Hessemer of Hawaiian Images is doing a special photography project in Africa. A group of photographers, including Jessica Claire and David Jay, are going to Africa to teach some local children about photography. Each photographer will be assigned to a child and will work with them for a few days in an attempt to get them past the fascination of just taking pictures but in a hope to get them to document what they see and what they experience in their day to day life. After the photographers leave, the children will be left with the point and shoot cameras for a time to continue their documenting. When they are done, the photos will be send to the photograhers who will edit the photos and turn them into a traveling gallery exhibit and a coffee table album that will tell their story.

"Our hope is to provide maximum exposure to those in the most need in thei world in a way that communicate the uniqueness fo their culture. We want to creat a platform to get much needed financial help to the people we work with."

To learn more about the project and to donate to this cause, click on the link below.

www.throughtheireyesafrica.com/

Happy 4th

Wow, it's been a while since I wrote or posted anything. Too much going on.

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday. I got up early, thanks to the dogs, spent some time out in the garage working on a 6 month old project, then went to some friends house for a 4th of July bash, or whatever you want to call it:) Thank you Gina and Ed for your hospitality. You have a beautiful home and a great view of the fireworks. Let us know how much admission will be next year:)

Here are a few from the evening.

And yes, the Henry's like to play air hockey and are not competitive at all. Even Isabella got in on the action, as did Aunt Stephanie.

This is the view we had of the fireworks at the University of Redlands.

And a special thanks to the past, present, and future members of the United States Armed Forces. We would not be what we are today if it was not for the sacrifice you and your families make everyday. And to President Bush...no, I won't go there...but thanks:)

I hope you all had a relaxing day...now back to work.