Find a friend who knows me and they will tell you how I truly love food. Hence, it seems so right to start with a mouth-watering dessert.

I’ve just spent five days up north in San Francisco and I left a piece of my heart there. My friend Katie Mahoney and I got to offer our photography service to a non-profit organization called Flashes of Hope. A big thank you to Jay Ganaden for letting us participate. Check back soon as I will be posting an update when Katie posts some photos on her blog.

SF had so much to offer and I could never soak it all in! I discovered the great downtowns of the Bay area such as Burlingame, Palo Alto and San Mateo. I also checked out Chinatown and North Beach. It was such a delight I got to spend time with friends and have my fair share of photography work. I’ll be posting other photos soon, but for now, enjoy some of these food photographs.

It’s officially a highlight! I was in San Diego photographing a wedding with Chaz Cruz on June 14 when I got a text from my sister. A while back, I wrote that I was going to be an aunt, times three. Well, it’s finally complete. Garrick (Dec 30th), Maribelle (Jan 22nd) and last but not least, Jasmin (June 15th). My younger sister is the youngest of six siblings. My new niece Jasmin is the youngest of six grandkids. It’s pure serendipity.

Congrats to all my siblings on their beautiful/handsome babies. Father’s day was even better than we anticipated. :o)

I love the flow of my website, but I thought it was time to do a little cosmetic changes. (If I didn’t mention it here, would you have noticed?) What better way to show “time” than through the wonderful invention of timepieces.

I know that the latest trend is to go to a photographer’s blog, but for my sake, don’t forget to view Gallery > Still-Life/Product/Food/Bev for more photos not posted here. I like to update not only my EVENTS [blog] page, but my whole website, because 1) It doesn’t make sense to have a GALLERY [portfolio] if you’re not adding to it, 2) I’m a sucker for details, and 3) I have a background in web design! :o)

The wheels are turning and I know you probably just guessed where these photos were taken. It feels like summer already in California. I spent a Sunday afternoon enjoying some decadent Chinese cuisine and traipsing through small markets. When it hits the 90s in mid-April, who wants to be indoors? Throw on some sunscreen and you’re good to go for a little adventure in LA.

I quite enjoyed my day ‘people watching’. Some showed the wear of long days at work. Some were glowing with their excitement at shopping from little vendors. Some threw pennies into wishing cups. Others just sat leisurely in the shade conversing rapidly in their native tongue. I walked, observed, then just kept walking. I stopped only for a few photos.

I feel like I haven’t blogged in such a long time. I’ve been wrapped up in a different world of photography (assisting, the post production, etc.) and I absolutely love it. As a photographer, you realize you love it all because its from your peers that you get inspired by, so assisting or retouching for them is icing on the cake… and going on location. :o)

I had dinner with my friend in LA and during our meal, we where showing each other our camera phone photos of the latest location we went to. Hers was of modern interior and exterior. Mine was … well, let me just show you:

Majority of the time, I’m behind the scene (or in front of a computer). But of course, I can’t be a photographer and not take photographs! So every now and then, I try to take time to photograph things that I love. With training like mine where portrait photography is mixed so well with commercial/still-life, I’m happy photographing jewelry and food. With that thought, let me leave you with something bittersweet…

These ladies worked it! Las Vegas was suppose to be warm, but not on our day of shooting. It decided to snow that morning and the models were freezing! I felt bad since I got to wear my sweater while most of them had… well, you’ll see. Let me know what you think.

Here’s a behind the scene photo: [Inset, © Gabe]

I was at a shootout in Las Vegas, NV. Technically Bonnie Springs, but close enough to Vegas. :o) At every photo job, there’s anticipation. You prepare yourself but there’s still that nervous feeling of “what if it all doesn’t work out?” I was going to be among my peers and though that was exciting, it threw in another factor: a challenge. I love a good challenge.

“Extend your vision: see not only with your eyes, but replicating that vision through your camera.” That’s what goes through my mind as the photographer, the director, the artist. It’s an adrenaline rush.

Here’s a teaser. Enjoy!
[Model] Kari Anderson

I love California for its ever warm weather and right now, it’s a beauty: all the wild flowers are in bloom so the hills and mountains are splashed with bright yellow and soothing lavender. As we say hello to spring, I want to share some images from the winter splendor I experienced in the east coast.

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I love the following photo. This road is known as the hairpin turn and right as we were about to take it, I was struck by how the rocks looked like they were leaking with ice. I’m not a native of snow so this was unusual and cool. I made my friend pullover (who cares if it was 10 degrees or lower). I walked away with this cool memory.

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A whole day of snow. More than 12 inches of it blanketed the ground. I shoveled my friend’s walkway. I daydreamed. A snowy day has that affect on me…

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This view was from my flight from Hartford, CT to Minneapolis, MN. The busy town below shows how life goes on in winter.

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After taking this photo, I kept thinking it looked like a war scene. But it’s not. They’re just frozen lakes, that’s all.

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Check out these little bundles:

Meet Maribelle and Garrick. Aren’t they the cutest?

I find children such a miracle. They remind me everyday not to take anything for granted and that there’s joy in the little things. I also enjoy listening to other people’s thoughts about life and I think Jesh de Rox had such a meaningful thing to say on his last post about how we are our own richness. [Check out Jesh’s blog posting]

Here’s to finding our joy in ourselves!

I just returned from a two week vacation on the East Coast. Some may think I was crazy for visiting MA and NY in February because their winter isn’t over. Oh and yes, I did get lots of snow. The day after I arrived, it snowed. The day before I left, it snowed. But who can argue about the beauty of a town or city being blanketed by snow? As a California native, I was able to appreciate a good winter storm.

I have a few favorite images that I have to explore and post, but for now, I want to share a couple of images I took on my camera phone. I can’t believe how advance technology is but boy am I glad that it’s available.

Long Beach, NY: It was a clear day in New York, a few surfers waiting for waves and a group of boys playing football. I was freezing, but I’m a sucker for sunsets so I couldn’t let this go, especially since I’m seeing it in the east coast rather than the west.

Spice Restaurant, Pittsfield, MA: My phone service in MA was ridiculous. One minute it was full bars, the next, it was completely dead. Definitely not something I miss! I had dinner with my friends at this great restaurant in Pittsfield (where my phone service worked) and while I waited for my friend Kate to finish photographing the band, I looked up and saw these chairs hanging on the wall. Those who know me will tell you that I can’t resist restaurants. My eyes dart everywhere itching to photograph everything. I walked away with this image…

Well, I’m winding down from my trip, but I’ll be posting again soon to share stories. Until next time…

A week after their Asian ceremony, Sorina and David Highfield exchanged vows at Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, CA. We had a long day, but it was an eventful one. The reception was crazy fun: so many people! Some familiar faces were a sight for sore eyes [Pamela, Melissa, Veronica, Edith, Keith, Dennis and Sekla]… It’s been too long since.

To the happy couple, it was a pleasure. I wish you both nothing but the best.

[*passage shown below]

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” [John 13:34-35]

I graduated from Hallmark Institute of Photography and walked away not only with a great education but some wonderful friends. We just finished a workshop in Balboa, CA and it was amazing. Having my colleagues around was an aphrodisiac and I took so many photos. Everyday that I held my camera, I looked at my environment differently. Nothing was normal anymore.

Following are some of my favorite takes.

December 30th, 2007, my sister Elena gave birth to Garrick Josh Lo. He’s adorable.

January 22nd, 2008, my other sister Ella gave birth to Maribelle Kayleene Quintos. She’s a beauty.

I was there for that long night on January 21st. I thought I’d stay for an hour or so, but then I couldn’t leave. I had to see it through. Though I didn’t get home until 4am, I didn’t feel any exhaustion. My fatigue was nothing compared to my sister’s.

It’s truly a wonder seeing a new person be brought into this world…

Maribelle Kayleene Quintos [First Day]

I got a pleasant call from a high school friend when she told me she was getting married. I hadn’t seen Sorina for a good five years though we’ve known each other since we were in middle school. Besides being a guest, Rina asked if I’d photograph her wedding. Oh, and that there would be two ceremonies: an Asian ceremony and a Christian ceremony the following weekend. I was taken aback when I realized that the Asian Ceremony was going to kickoff the next day. No pressure, right?

With a bit of schedule rearranging, I was able to cover the Asian Ceremony the next day. The intricate preparation for the bride and her ladies, from the clothing to the jewelry–tiara, earrings, bracelets, etc–was beyond anything that I have ever seen. I walked away from the event realizing that though a wedding is a joining of two individuals, it was also about bringing families together.

Sorina and David, thank you for allowing me to be a part of your wedding. It was a great way to end 2007 and start off 2008.

NOTE: I’m doing some final edits but will be posting some of the Christian ceremony photos soon. So, stay tuned for my next post…

Todd Cooper Barnes was home for the holidays and asked if I wanted to do a shoot with his nieces and nephew. Of course, I couldn’t say no. :o) Our other friend Chaz Cruz also drove up from San Diego, CA. Here’s a look behind-the-scene as Chaz photographs:

Some of my favorite takes:

Go to Gallery > Feature Portraits for more photos.

My friend Eva was headed to Salt Lake City, Utah for the holidays and asked me if I was available to photograph a family on Christmas day. I come from a big family and I love it. Whether we’re having conversations about day-to-day events or watching television, I enjoy being around them. So, when asked if I could photograph a family of twenty with four generations, I was excited. No hesitation, no regret.

It was a wonderful Christmas. From the great-grandparents to the great-grandchild, I felt the love, the joy and the meaning of family.

Inspired.

I had an instructor ask his students how long they were inspired after hearing a great lecture. Then, I claimed i was inspired all week. Looking back, I realized I was inspired for a day. I sit in and listen to a great photographer talk about his experiences, methods and recommendations. I’d take pages of notes thinking how I would do what he/she says. But then the next day comes, and already my overactive mind has moved on to a new concept, topic or idea.

Now, I realize it’s not about holding on to an inspiration. It’s about building on to it and remembering.

As a photographer, I have archives of photographs. I’ll forget about an image, a scene or a moment. Today, I want to remember a beautiful moment.

The image below was taken at my friend’s apartment. I glanced outside and saw the sun disappearing behind the horizon. The sky was changing to a darker shade of blue. Cars were speeding by on the highway. The apartment was sparse, but that’s not a complaint.
The scene was set.
I was ‘looking’.
All that was left was for me to capture it.

Congrats to Maria and Sal on their wedding. I’m so happy I got to photograph their special day, especially knowing how camera shy they are. You guys were great! Thanks for braving the chill!

[Sal (and little Sheila), welcome to the family.]

Wonderful news: I’m going to be an aunt… times three! I bet you read that and are thinking triplets. Though that would be a blessing to one sister, actually, three of my sisters are pregnant! (FYI, I’m one of six children and I only have one brother). One sister is due before the new year (a boy), so pretty soon, you’ll be seeing tons of baby photos on this website. But before the births, we’ve already had two baby showers.

A big thanks to Dani Evangelista from Pacific Event Productions, Inc. for the beautiful decoration at Ella’s Baby Shower:

Can anyone guess where I photographed this pink daisy??? If you can, tell me and I just might have to give you a prize.

More posting soon, I promise. For now, lots of love, lots of laughter!

No matter where you live in the country, it’s almost impossible not to be exposed to different cultures. Although, when you take a trip, it gets even better. Here are some memorable takes from my recent trip to SF and Napa. I meant to visit the wine country to indulge in some Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, but my plan never goes accordingly. Rather, I soaked in the blue skies, winter chill and photographed moments.

Alma, the perfect subject! You rocked that leather jacket! Oh, and there’s JB, the photographer, who kept getting in my pictures! (I didn’t know you liked being in front of the camera, too!) The reflection was nice in the last of these photos so I included myself!

The city of San Francisco welcomed me with clear nights perfect for witnessing all the holiday decoration. I got to capture the city life and lights, and the best part of all, eat delicious restaurant, cafe or home cooked meals with friends. Thanks to everyone in SF! I’m happy you didn’t tell me to get out and go home, but rather, got me to stay another night. It was great plan!

Lastly, a composite piece that reflects how I felt while at Castello di Amorosa.