All's Well That Ends Well
“You gotta be chill. Just take what’s good in your life and more forward cautiously and carefully.”
Snyder Trail!
On Sunday, Anthony, Alexa, Ciara, Sophie, and I climbed up Snyders Trail and had an amazing time! The views of the surrounding geology are stunning. Explore this 6.9-mile out-and-back trail near Santa Barbara, California. It takes an average of 3 hours and 59 minutes to accomplish. This trail is popular for hiking, mountain biking, and running, yet you can still find seclusion during the quieter times of day. The route is available all year and a great place to explore at any time.
We grabbed lunch at Cold Springs Tavern and sat inside. They serve typical American cuisine prepared with fresh local ingredients. Their meals include our legendary tri-tip sandwiches, bar-b-q ribs, beer battered onion rings, and Cold Spring chili. They also serve various mountain-inspired dishes, such as our buffalo burger, venison steak sandwich, and wild game black bean chili.I got the Tavern Burger, and it was terrific.
Weekends at Cold Spring Tavern are special. On Saturdays and Sundays, they serve the famous tritip barbecue sandwiches at their walk-up bar-b-q. Customers enjoy coming up to hear great music from local bands, as well as food, drink, and fresh air. Many people follow a weekly ritual. I highly recommend it if you’re in the area.
After Hours
Rest Stop
On the way to the Central Valley, I stopped for some fuel and noticed an old restaurant behind me. I spent a bit of time taking some photos of it and went on my way. There is another one around here that I believe I saw traveling back to Santa Barbara, but I decided not to venture too far from the fuel station. I will keep an eye out for it the next time I travel that route.
In Los Angeles
Congratulations Dean and Kirithika!
Summer Sweat & Soak with Bridget Lewis and Sean Yeager-Diamond
Acorn & Oak is a boutique fitness studio and wellness center in Santa Barbara, CA.
Acorn & Oak is committed to assisting those around us in improving their longevity, performance, and recuperation using traditional and scientifically proven methods. They provide private and group sessions that include personal training, contrast treatment, hyperbaric chamber therapy, red light therapy, and more!
Coach Bridget Lewis and the owner of Acorn & Oak Sean Yeager-Diamond, organized a delightful Summer Sweat and Soak event. It was a wonderful opportunity to bring the fitness community together for both exercise and relaxation. If you haven't had the chance to visit Acorn and Oak yet, I strongly recommend it, as it offers a fantastic space to unwind and rejuvenate. For more information about Acorn and Oak, feel free to explore their website.
A couple of vendors participated in the event, among them was Danny Welch, who offered his DJ services. The other vendors present were Schwartz Sports Massage by Amanda Schwartz, Restore Santa Barbara, and Sweet Fuel by Jewel. If you have a moment or two check them out.
Thank you everyone!
Yoga in June!
Fitness!
For the past month, I've had the privilege to photograph Orange Theory and a couple of their classes. I met some of their incredible trainers and community. I just wanted to share some of my favorites.
Photo Drop
I enjoy capturing moments in both the fitness and portrait realms. Juggling my camera between these passions often leaves me unsure where to showcase the surplus images.
The images will expand if you click on them :)
Cambria
Cloudy Days
Cloudy days offer contrast. There aren't many days here, so I appreciate the ones I get. This statement will definitely cause folks in Portland, Seattle, and other parts of the world to roll their eyes hard. I occasionally feel envious of artists who can create sorrowful pieces in response to the moody weather. Santa Barbara has beautiful weather for the majority of the year.
Would I trade it? Ehh.. :)
For several weeks, I had an obsession with birds in power lines. I couldn't help but look upward. They were just hanging around with their friends, getting a bird's-eye perspective of the world.
G Shoe //
Everything Else Comes Second
I am thankful that families trust me with their images. I usually take on as many family projects as I can throughout the year. I enjoy watching everyone communicate with one another and share their individual qualities.
When I edit, I am reminded how fortunate I am to have the family I do. They are amazing and loving people.
Newly-weds Matt and Kat! Congratulations!
Happy Sunday
Alexa, Gianna, and Tristan and I were excited to see False Puppet play at the Avocado Festival last Sunday. The audience was enthusiastic and engaged when the band began to play their blend of tunes, guitar solos, and rhythms. Both the standing and sitting crowds had a good time. I went in and took a couple photos of them as well as the audience. After False Puppet the rest of our day was filled with other lively music, tasty food, and neat shops. The festival started in 1986 to help local non-profit organizations and promote Carpinteria as a weekend vacation spot.
Generations
When I was young, my mom would show me old photo albums and tell me about our relatives. I learned about my family, from great grandparents to uncles. In high school, I started taking portraits and continued in the Army. Friends asked me to photograph their families, which made me happy. While my amazing two friends Andrew and Rachel posed, I realized that one day they would show these photos to their own child, explaining that it was them inside mommy. These memories will last for generations. As time passes, I see the families in those photos growing up on my social media feed. It makes me smile, remembering the day I captured them when their children were just 2 or 3 feet tall.
Thank you both for letting me be a little part of your journey.
Journey Towards Success
Because I haven't been shooting as often as I wanted to lately, I set a tiny goal for myself to photograph at least once a month and it’s been working out well.
Small goals to me are crucial in my journey towards success. They act as stepping stones that propel me forward, providing a sense of accomplishment and motivation. Whether it is completing my daily workout, cleaning out a junk drawer, or a blog post, small goals bring me sense of direction and focus to my life. They allow me to break down complex tasks into manageable parts, making the seemingly impossible suddenly attainable. By setting small goals, I cultivate a habit of consistent progress and personal growth, paving the way for bigger and more ambitious aspirations.
Ryan Declouette was kind enough to help with my goals. If you've decided that you want to set some basic health goals for yourself and are looking for some direction, look no further. Ryan offers one-on-one training as well as remote programming.
Sean V
Over the past year, I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know Sean. He and I met at our local CrossFit affiliate, CrossFit Pacific Coast, where we both spend a lot of our time. His passion for fitness and the joy he gets from sharing his health journey with others, caught my attention. Sean motivates others with not only his physical capabilities but emotional encouragement as well, and I am honored to be able to contribute to his story through my images.
Edinburgh
Katelyn and Mike, two of my best friends, were finally getting married and decided to have a destination wedding in Edinburgh, where they met. Edinburgh is Scotland's tiny, hilly capital. It has both a medieval Old Town and a lovely Georgian New Town with gardens and neoclassical buildings. Alexa and I stayed with the most wonderful family friends, Pam and her three sons. Alexa and I went on ghost tours, toured castles, enjoyed the downtown area, and most importantly, witnessed the most lovely couple get married.
