Fisherman's Wharf is a huge tourist attraction. Sure it's over run with people, and it's way too commercialized. But still, I would argue it's worth a visit. Some may call it a tourist trap, but I think the masses of people just sort of add to the charm. I enjoy the crowd. I think the masses bring a necessary energy to this place. It's full of crappy souvenirs and more often than not, a seagull is trying and steal a bite your bread bowl (or poop on you - trust me, it's happened). [Shot on Portra 400 taken with a Mamiya 645]
Red Rock Relay
I never thought I could fall in love with a landscape. I always thought that happened to other people, but not me. Southern Utah, however (more specifically Moab), gets me every time. I've run the Red Rock Relay in Moab for three years now. Each year it's like I rediscover what it's like to connect to a landscape. Waking up in the pre-dawn hours and running through a red canyon as the sun rises. Nothing can replace that feeling. These images are a reminder to me of the importance of being out and experiencing nature. [Shot on Ektar 100 taken with a Mamiya 645]
Provo Roof Top Concert
There's something about live music that's just good for the soul. It's a beautiful thing when you can take some hipster teenagers, new families, and even some seasoned adults, put them on a rooftop and let them experience music together. When you're in the middle of something like that you really get to experience community. When music brings a community together something powerful happens beyond each individual and I think everyone walks away a little better for it. [Shot on TriX 400 taken with a Canon EOS-3]
San Francisco China Town
I never tire of visiting San Francisco's China Town. Each time I visit I'm overwhelmed by the mixture of tourists and locals, the abundance of color, and the history. I can't help but feel like I'm stepping into another culture, another world. On one block you see a park full of locals with children playing on the playground and the sidewalk lined with elderly Chinese men an women playing dominoes. On another you see endless tourist shops filled with trinkets and then there are all the restaurants. With so much to photograph it's always a challenge and a thrill to simplify and capture San Francisco's Chinatown. [Shot on Portra 400 taken with a Mamiya 645]
Big Cottonwood Canyon
A few Sundays ago my husband and I headed up to Big Cottonwood Canyon. There is nothing I love more than going for a good drive. I love the feeling that I'm going somewhere. It makes me feel like I have purpose. My favorite part is looking out the window and imagining all the possibilities (untracked roads, hidden gems, adventures). I drove the fun, winding roads and it was so refreshing to be outside the city, even if only for a few hours. [Shot on TriX 400 taken with a Mamiya 645]
Highway 191 Gas Station
Every time I go to Moab I always notice this great old gas station off the side of Highway 191. I am always attracted by the splash of color that it brings to the landscape. I have always had a bit of an obsession with photographing gas stations. I'm not sure where it comes from, perhaps I was a bit too influenced by Edward Ruscha and his 26 gas stations. Regardless, I find there is a sense of mysterious history attached to abandonded places. It makes me wonder how something like a gas station, a necessity in the barren Utah desert, just falls into disrepair. Anyways, if you ever find yourself along Highway 191 I would highly suggest stopping and checking this gem out. [Shot on Ektar 100 taken with a Mamiya 645]
Sri Sri Radha Krishna Temple
My first experience at the Krishna Temple was back in 2010 at the Utah Famous Festival of Colors. Although fun, I wanted to see what the temple was like without all the glitz and color. What I found was a peaceful, beautiful place that I really enjoyed spending time at. [Shot on Portra 400 taken with a Mamiya 645]
South Provo
I lived in South Provo for nearly two years. To be honest, it was never a place I wanted to live. But when you are newly married and looking for an affordable place it's hard to complain about the cost of living. For reasons I can't put my finger on I never felt like I fit in South Provo. I did, however, eventually come to appreciate its quirks. Since moving away a few weeks ago I thought it might be time to reconcile some of these feelings and explore the city through the lens of my camera. I ended up getting drenched in a rainstorm, but I did find some fun color and solid lines. [Shot on Portra 400 taken with a Mamiya 645]
Grandma Robertson's House
Nearly every Sunday Grandma Robertson invites my husband, Keaton, and I over for Sunday night dinner. After supper we almost always retire to the living room. She usually spends the rest of the evening coaxing her grandkids to sing for her while she accompanies them on the piano. Grandma has taught piano lessons for over 40 years and is a music lover to say the least. Although I'm quite challenged in the music department, I love these nights at Grandma's. [Shot on TriX 400 taken with a Mamiya 645]
#vanlife
To me, the VW Bus is a symbol of everything great in this world. Okay, maybe I'm being a little overzealous - but I do love the VW Bus. I love the design, the great vibrant colors, the wanderlust vibe that seems to come with them. I have a few friends who own their own buses, and I find it hard not to be just a tad bit jealous. I hope one day I can count myself among these awesome humans and call myself a bus owner. These photographs were taken at this little epic VW Junk Yard / Repair Shop that is somewhere in the town of Moab. [Shot on E100VS taken with a Holga]
Rock Canyon
Rock Canyon feels like Provo's best kept secret. At least it felt that way to me until I realized everyone else knew about it too. Located just a few minutes from the Provo City Center, it feels like a rocky oasis in the middle of the valley. Rock Canyon brings a diverse crowd, you've got the avid family day hikers, the long time hardcore rock climbers, and then you've got the average joe. (I'd argue I fit best into the last category.) I do love the beauty in this place. Along with the rugged and glorious rocks you have these little hidden meadows, and the picturesque stream running through the whole thing. A great place to spend a Saturday. [Shot on Portra 400 taken with a Mamiya 645]
Washington DC
Back in 2012 I got the chance to live in DC for four short months. I absolutely loved living there, and I just felt such a connection to the city. When I walked the streets I felt like I was part of something bigger than myself and was inspired by what I saw everyday. I was also happy being in the middle of the hustle of it all. For example, commuting on a crowded metro car on my way to and from work and pretending to ignore everyone around me, running up the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and being entertained by all the foreign tourists, and finally, overhearing the spirited political debates in my apartment building - I experienced most of this on a daily basis. Although I would say street photography is not my forte, I felt the only way to capture DC was by shooting on the streets. So here are a few of my shots from around the District. [Shot on TriX 400 taken with a Canon AE-1]
