More shots from the past several days (non-family related)…
Our friends garden (more shots)
U Village
Opera Bldg, South Lake Union
across from Rain Fitness
Tag: iphone
Sunday Clouds
Clouds at sunset on Sunday evening…the kind I’d like to paint.
Schooner’s Personal Space
When Schooner wants something (i.e. attention, solitude, the brush), he lets you know it vocally and/or with distinct body language. If you don’t give it to him, he also lets you know it – he’s a very good communicator. For as aggressive as he can be (sometimes when he’s really mad he’ll chase me down and nip at my leg as I try to leave him alone), he is oddly afraid of any loud sounds or quick movements, including the seagulls as they walk around on our roof.
He was declawed (all 4 feet) by the people who used to own him and their young children used to tease him pretty badly, so he tends to bite when he’s both mad and playful (harder when he’s mad), and uses rapid punches or ‘swats of the paw’ when defensive, which are quite powerful. We love him anyway and we’re slowly gaining more and more of his trust…besides, he feels really bad when he’s gone too far and draws blood.
Letting me know with ‘the look’ while holding my hand down that he doesn’t want me to pet him. Actually, I think he’s just mad at me because I stopped brushing him when he clearly wanted more, so he jumped up on the couch next to me and then gave me attitude when I reached out to him. Very finicky this cat…
I stop petting him but leave my hand on the couch too long…
…and suffer the consequences. He only draws blood if I persist or fight back, but in this case I let him get in his bite without reacting and it’s enough – point made and taken.
Friday’s Trip Home
The cool little brick building across the street from our office has always piqued my interest so today on the way to and from the car (I’ve been driving to work this week since Sara is in SoCal at a wedding) I grabbed some shots. I also sprinkled in some shots from the drive home.
Mini finds a cousin on the way home, only to discover he (she?) comes from the slow side of the family. Shyly, we are compelled to pass at some point…neither of us were made for such a slow stroll home.
Sunshine on my shoulder…
It was one of the first sunny & warm days this Summer so we went out on the roof deck for an afternoon break.
These were pretty clouds…
…but this one got my attention. And before I knew it, it was gone…
A quick look down…
…and then up before heading in.
My screen saver and a reflection on my computer display…couldn’t resist.
Nor could I put my phone down. Whatever, I liked it.
Schooner
Schooner, hanging out in the cubby of our chested drawers. His way of coping with the trauma of being away for two weeks while we were in the Bahamas.
The Brush Stand
Bahamas – Day 3
Thursday
June 3, 2010
First day of shooting. We started early at the white beachhouse next door to Hibiscus Hill. Actually, we started on the beach since the morning light was so beautiful…pretty much a theme for the entire shoot (starting on the beach). Breakfast was at 5:30 a.m. with a call time of 6:00.
We had all 4 models today (Julie, Johannes, Danielle & Chad) and did a number of variations of one to all four. Of course a lot of my time was spent photographing product with Greg & environmentals when I had some down time. Since I didn’t get any of the product shots with my phone I’ll have to add them later, but I think we got some good shots in spite of fighting some rain showers towards the end of the morning. It gets pretty hot while shooting outside and with the rain it was very humid, so I was constantly sweating and looking for some AC time and cold Vitamin Water to quench an ever-present thirst. While taking a shoe shot in the seagrass near the beach (we try to shoot around where they photograph the models), I stepped barefoot into a fire ant hill and got a number of stings/bites on my left foot, which the next day and onward itched worse than anything I can ever remember.
The beachhouse is pretty nice, but not quite the style we’re looking for so none of the shots were done inside, just around the beach & outside decks and sun rooms. We shot until about 10:30 or 11:00 then took a break for lunch (12:30) and picking back up at 4:00 or so.
During the break Sara and I went for a swim on our beach back at Coral Sands. Once the sun gets above the cloud bank in the morning it gets pretty hot and humid (today felt really humid), but the ocean water is a perfect, cool temperature so it’s quite refreshing, especially after spending much of the morning outdoors. Add the incredibly blue water and easy waves and, well, it’s hard to imagine anything better frankly. I was too full after lunch to go back in so it was off for an air conditioned nap to try and recoup some still-lost sleep, which turned out to be a good call as a thunderstorm passed overhead while we were asleep waking us with loud thunder claps and heavy rain. By the time we woke up and headed out it was relatively clear and beautiful once more.
For the afternoon/evening part of the day we started at King’s Treat on King Street, another of India Hicks properties in town near the bay or waterfront (where 3 from the crew are staying). Like HH it’s beautifully decorated but the structure is quite old (the old, black shutters have countless layers of paint on them) and the yard is lovely. Her attention to detail is amazing, and her taste impeccable – there’s nothing but authentic about what she does, even the Pottery Barn towels & Restauration Hardware lamps and outdoor furniture feel natural and real. Now I know why Sara loves her style so much!
Again Greg and I, along with Sara, who joined us for the afternoon/evening, shot product and environmentals while everyone else was involved with the models. Speaking of which, I think we gave a great group of models this time (two are repeats, the other two new). The rest of the crew is top notch, and I think it was fun for Sara to see how it works and what’s involved in a big commercial shoot (altough afterwards she said once was enough and after the novelty wore off it was ‘just work’ so she’d rather do something else for the rest of the shoot…like take her own shots and check out the town).
After shooting around King’s Treat house we walked and shot around the waterfront. We got a few gawks and inquiries into what we were doing but mostly from visitors. The locals see this so often I don’t think they give it much thought. There are some great homes around where we shot – one in particular was one of my favorites – and the waterfront, while pretty much what it’s looked like for 100 years or more is pretty simple but cool, and beautiful at sunset (it’s on the west side of the island). Lots of little shacks and shops, several docks and a lot of fishing activity – small time stuff, not commercial. Conch is a big deal here and apparently plentiful (for now), so there are a lot of discarded Conch shells around. Where they remove the Conchs from their shells there are huge piles of shells in the shallow water..kind of sad…then again, they’re kind of just big sea snails 🙂
We wrapped up around 7:30 or so then did a quick change and headed to dinner as a group at a great little Italian restaurant called Auquapaza (not sure of the spelling), near the fishing docks by Valentines. The food there is amazing – we ate there twice during our stay – and the atmosphere is charming. It was Lance’s birthday so there was a little celebration, then off for our respective dwellings for what remained of the night. I didn’t get to sleep for a while since again I ate so much, but it was a great day. I love this place!
-C
Pre-sunrise from Coral Sands at breakfast.
Sunrise.
The light changes quickly and in this case it gave us a cool, even morning light.
A view of the crew at work on the beach while I’m back up the house looking for something…a little perspective.
While Dewey Nicks, our photographer, shoots beautiful people Greg and I shoot cool shoes…hey, it’s something!
Looking out through the shutter doors to the ocean.
Dewey photographing one of our models (Danielle, from Argentina) up at the beachhouse.
Our other model Julie Henderson doing what she does best while waiting for her next shot, next to modeling that is – texting (or Tweeting). I suppose when you’re on the road as much as they are (she’s on a shoot almost every week), it’s one of the best ways to keep in touch with family and friends…
Looking up the stairwell at the beachhouse. Again, the hurricane lights make perfect sense when you live in a hurricane zone.
Art or decor? Whatever it is, I liked it.
Morning sun reflecting off the Atlantic…or is it the Caribbean? I can’t remember which side of the island is which…
Julie and Johannes, our ‘main’ models, working it TB style (which is to say fairly relaxed).
Another product/shoe shot…we shot a lot of shoes today.
Like some of the hardware from HH I don’t know if these are really old or just weathered, but they’re pretty cool either way.
Gotta hand it to Greg – nothing escapes possibilities for props.
Always searching for a great beach shot…
Beachhouse detail.
How many people does it take to photograph 1 model? More than you would think…
Back at Coral Sands for lunch and the afternoon break, looking out over the pool area. Notice how intense the color of the water is as it reflects the blue sky…
Some of the perfect palms looking back up towards the resort as I head down the path down to the beach.
The view over one of the palapas to the beach and the big, white puffy clouds that are always on the horizon.
King’s Treat for the afternoon session. This is one of the locations on the lower deck we shot shaded by shutters on both sides.
It’s second floor counterpart. The frame leaning against the wall was beautiful and seemed strangely out of place just sitting ‘outdoors’ as it were.
Can’t resist a good palm frond…we use these kinds of things in our designs back home all the time.
Sara talking to Chad (not pictured) about ranching and farming (Sara wants to have a farm with Gernsey Cows that we use for making cheese in either Hawaii or Filmore, Utah…touch choice between Hawaii and Filmore eh?!).
Inside the home was a really cool tray of old bottles that I couldn’t resist taking outside for some close up shots.
Actually, this is the close up…
L to R: Heather, the producer from the Bahamas and her California counterpart Susan.
The small guest cottage in the yard and the path leading up to it.
On the way out to shoot around town I grab a quick shot of the weathered latch and fence gate.
One of our product shots around town (when they shoot, we shoot). I’d like to take more credit for how good this bag looked in our shots, but between the natural light and the color & material of the bag it was hard to take a bad shot…
Sara in front of the ‘Loyalist Cottage’ built in 1797 (I’m sure it’s had a few updates since).
One of the waterfront shops. Most are colored pretty brightly.
Another crew shot…we shoot until there isn’t any more light.
Looking out towards one of the local fishing docks at low tide.
How ’bout these beauties?! ‘Creation clouds’ if there ever were any…
Lights running up the support column at the restaurant. I wish I would have gotten more shots at dinner, it was a fun little restaurant on the water’s edge…
Bahamas – Day 1
Photos from day 1.
Hard to write much on my phone, but this place is amazingly beautiful! The weather was overcast today with occasional sun breaks, but the temperature was lovely and hey, it’s the tropics, I have no complaints.
There’s definitely a third-world feel here but it has charm. Locals seem friendly enough although we’re definitely visitors here (at least that’s how it feels). We were all pretty wiped out so we didn’t do much scouting today (that’s on tomorrow’s schedule). After a long, post lunch nap I awoke and went to dinner with the crew (Sara wasn’t up to eating again so soon, but I was). We ate in the harbor and the food was as good as the views and the beautiful evening light.
I’m writing this as we wind down, laying in the hammock outside our building (the 2-story white building in the photos). For some reason I can’t add captions on my iPhone app so I’ll have to add them later, but the photos start in Miami as we’re waiting for the shuttle to take us to the puddle jumper to Eluethera (we took the redeye out of Seattle and didn’t get much sleep).
Enjoy! More to come…wish you were here 🙂
-C
A view out the bus while we wait to be taken to the plane for Eleuthera.
It was freezing in the bus, resulting in the condensation on the windows.
Do we look tired yet?
Sara getting ready to board the plane.
Our fellow Bahama-bound travelers.
Me, boarding…
Not sure what islands these are, but it was beautiful and exciting to think what awaited us.
A slow shutter and a fast-spinning prop make for a warped photographed, but pretty cool.
The endless ocean below.
Penny for your thoughts?
A portrait of the mundane (or unexpected). You never know what you’ll get until you try…
North Eleuthera International Airport, right before the big guy with dark shades told us ‘no photos!’. Apparently they take their security risk seriously here in the Bahamas…
The boat that took us to Harbor Island from ‘The Land’ (local name for Eleuthera, which is also known as the “island of Freedom”).
Our arrival to Harbor Island…not what I had expected…
Looking left from the dock.
Landed. It’s hot, but never too hot for a quick photo amidst the greetings and culture shock.
Most travel by foot or by golf cart. In my case, I was on the back of the golf cart as we headed for Hibiscus Hill, the residence and estate of India Hicks and her partner David Flint Wood, known for their inspirational island interiors and good taste, which we found to be true and impressive.
The palm grove right outside the Guest House at Hibiscus Hill. Perfect palm trees, with a hammock perfectly shaded.
The Guest House. I could live here, but would need more income to afford it. That’s Sara and our producer Susan walking ahead of me.
The lower porch as we were heading inside. The contrast of the white against the greenery was, well, perfectly tasteful.
The decor was beautifully simple (the chest these are on was wrapped with old maps and glazed over).
Tortoise shells on the walls as decor are petty common here. They’re beautiful, but it’s sad knowing a living creature gave it’s life for this ‘art’. In the Bahamas they’re considered a delicacy, but as endangered creatures it shouldn’t be legal.
Correspondance desk with personal treasures, photos and other cool knick-knacks…OK, so I’m not a writer equipped with language skills to describe what a cool place this is!
Living room/space wall, upstairs (2 couches facing each other, both with walls of photos, prints and other artwork.
Island Colonial with a dash of Africa…seriously, I want to live here!
Our bedroom (king bed) for the first night. Given the circumstances of the shoot, we ended up moving the next day to Coral Sands resort, but at least we got one night at Hibiscus Hill. Hopefully it was enough to ‘rub off’ on us!
Sara. In Heaven. Check that one off the bucket list (too bad she didn’t get to meet India!).
The upper deck sitting area (mirrored on each side of the French doors leading out).
Looking down on the hammock and perfect palms.
Just another angle…one I would shoot several times while there during the shoot.
Lunch at Pink Sands restaurant overlooking the beach.
Loved it so much I had to include another shot.
Greg exploring locations while we wait for an ice-cold lemonade. Notice the pink sand? Unique to the Bahamas, it’s amazingly find, beautiful and apparently never-ending (they don’t truck it in here!).
Heading down to the beach after lunch.
Greg.
Heading back up off the beach next door at Coral Sands, our eventual place of residence for the next week.
Beautiful plants that I never could get enough of…
The alo plants are huge…feels like a million years ago.
Sadly, those close to the path get their share of graffiti even here…
Fan palm outside Coral Sands.
Back at Hibiscus Hill…detail of a little triptik.
The road leading to the beach from HH.
Valentines for dinner…a modern group of buildings at the sport fishing docks, predictably period, but still charming.
Views from around the docks. Didn’t really fancy the vibe around the sport boats – too much testosterone for even my likes.
There were a number of overly large fishing boats, costing small fortunes I’m sure (even the NBA ball player Jerry Stackhouse was down here on his boat, although his was a pleasure yacht). Notice, no closeups of the macho guys around the boats 🙂
The gull in the middle can’t seem to decide which boat to call home (or decorate)…
My favorite shot of the day…didn’t have my SLR so this is as good as it gets, but I love the painterly feel of it and the colors.
Early Spring Hike in Discovery
Posted out of order…the park is beautiful in the Spring – one of our favorite times of the year.
More Car Grabs
Sometimes you smell the roses when you least expect it…having a sun roof doesn’t hurt.
