The Adventurers, Days 2 and 3

Here are soome photographs from our brief stint in Flagstaff, Arizona, and our first day in Las Vegas, New Mexico. Las Vegas is a fascinating little town, and soon I will have many photos to share. We arrived just before sunset, to find Vince's Airstream trailer awash in sunlight. She's a beauty!! Check out more of our Airstream photos on Josh's Design Blog. The weather is beautiful, sometimes stormy, and the skies are cloudy and incredible.

Grand Canyon Chop Suey

The Way Home

America, Scene 1

The Painted Desert

The Painted Sky

Airstream Sunset
(Check out more Airstream pictures here!)

A colorful place to rest our weary heads...

Our Room

Awake, enjoying a new day...

The Adventurers, Day 1

Here are a couple of photos from Day 1 of our Las Vegas, New Mexico roadtrip. My first time traveling on Route 66!

We saw....

many beautiful Motel signs, against a perfectly stormy sky...

ice cream colored chairs...

visions of America on a one street town...

graceful lines and curves...

a simple truth for the traveler to take home...

friendly cars in a field...

a tattered pinwheel standing proud...

a colorful creature, tall as the sky...

rainy sunlight reflecting on an old western town, and a fantastic green van...

nighttime illuminated through a rain covered windshield...

a sunset so peaceful and inviting,

that we pulled off the road, to stand quietly and watch.

Yesterday's drive from Southern California to Flagstaff, Arizona, was absolutely beautiful. The day drew to a perfect close as we watched a brightly colored train wind its way through sunset. I look forward to sharing more photographs when I have a little time.
This morning we'll explore Flagstaff just a bit, and then we're off to New Mexico!

The Adventurers

"What is that feeling when you're driving away from people and they recede on the plain till you see their specks dispersing? — it's the too-huge world vaulting us, and it's good-by.
But we lean forward to the next crazy venture beneath the skies."
- Jack Kerouac, On the Road

Tomorrow I hit the open road in search of adventure
and a shiny Airstream trailer.

We're driving to Las Vegas, New Mexico, to pick up a lonely Airstream,
ready to find out what life is like in California.

And now, let me introduce the Adventurers....

Josh, crew pilot and dashing young husband.

Vicente Aello, charming friend and talented painter.

and Me.

Check out Josh's artwork here, and Vicente's paintings here.
You'll get a good idea as to why I'm so excited to embark on a roadtrip with these two...

I'll be sharing snapshots of our journey, and I hope you'll check in on the fun.
If you think of any sites in Arizona or New Mexico that we should absolutely see,
please do tell...!

On the Road...

I'm in an L.A. state of mind, which is convenient, because that's where I'm at.
I made a postcard for you
One part Miami, Two parts L.A., all parts awesome.

(sorry, must be the heat.)

Transforming the Sun

"Some painters transform the sun into a yellow spot; others transform a
yellow spot into the sun..." Pablo Picasso.


Can this sentiment apply to a photographer and a yellow Volkswagen?

I suppose it doesn't matter what Picasso would say.
This little beauty offered me sunshine,
and maybe, just maybe,
I managed to reflect it back...

Noticed in New York!

Hi everyone,
This morning I awoke to a wonderful surprise -- "Mammoth Orange" on NBC New York's Weekend Shopping Guide.

Just wanted to take a quick minute to share... Hope you had a fantastic holiday!

Two Little Elephants, from the Archives

I came across this photograph today and it made me smile. I shot this photo almost fifteen years ago, in the months before I left home and moved up to Berkeley.

In those days, there were expansive fields of fig trees near our home. I loved to photograph their beautifully gnarled limbs. One day I had a whim to tromp through the figs, and I came across an old, rusted trailer, with two little elephants on the side.

I smiled then, and I smile now, at their sweet, simple presence. I love that a person, or a company, decided that as good as it was, the trailer would be even better with these two elephants. If you look closely, you'll see it says "Movin" just above their heads (It really says "Movin On" but the "On" has worn away.) Nervously anticipating my own big move, I was comforted by these two elefantes, and the many moves they must have made.



I shot these photographs with 35mm slide film. A couple of years later, when I began to transition into digital printing, I scanned the slides into Photoshop. These images are from my first round of experimentation with a "digital darkroom," I guess about ten years ago.



So much fun to look back, and keep on movin' on...

Walk On...

This Photo from Life Magazine.

Before Josh played the album featuring "Walk On" one Sunday, I never knew the Jackson 5 could sound so tough. Listen to this song real loud and I can promise you'll love every second. Check out this live performance clip and see what I'm talking about... The performance transitions into "The Love You Save" and I'm pretty sure you'll love that too.

A small tribute to MJ, the way that I'll remember him best...

Lush Interlude

I found this album at a local re-use store over the weekend.
Simply beautiful, don't you think?

Summertime is the sweetest time...

Poppytalk Handmade has been down for a few days, so I've been waiting to show you images from my new Summer Series. They're back up and running, so here you go! What do you think? Are you thirsting for a day at the beach, a hotel hideaway, or a week on the road?

I think

Summertime is the sweetest time...

to race your ice cream cone to the finish line...

to enjoy lazy days with family, food, and a sweet drink on ice...

to put that hot dog on a stick! ...

to stroll the sea in search of shells...

to sleep the day away in seclusion, with the shades drawn and fan on high...

to hop on the road in search of nothing, so you can see everything.

Be sure to check out all of the talented Artists participating in Poppytalk's Summer Market. I'm really enjoying Trace my Face Design, and Ladies & Gentleman (especially their Vintage Travel Bag!)