Melissa Fuller : Adventurer: Photographer

Erica + Justin

2012-01-22T23:06:00.001-08:00

SWEETNESS

2012-01-09T23:26:00.000-08:00

Trespassing and Running

2012-01-08T01:31:00.000-08:00

Today I went to Point Richmond to have my mechanic take a look at a squeaky sound in my brakes. He said, "What is your plan?" I said, "I could go for a run.. about how long do you think its going to be?". He said, "About an hour, you could run to Starbucks or something," I said ,"cool." Then ran the opposite way. what happened was me trying with all of my discipline to keep running but failing in order to take instagram photos of the port. Here are a few of my faves.

WHAT I LIKE TODAY

2012-01-05T20:22:00.000-08:00

I am sitting on my couch right now looking at images from other photographer's bodies of work onine as I sometimes do and watching a documentary on Annie Leibowitz on TV at the same time. The show just brought up an interview with Yoko Ono and talked about this image that Annie took of Yoko and John Lenon just a few hours before he died. Now, I have seen this photograph tens of times but have never looked at it so closely.or spent time on the image nor really considered it's context or what it took to capture such a moment. I guess because all of this happened before I was born. I have loved the beatles, thought Yoko reminded my of my mom and my aunt, but perhaps because of the publicity around these people and the fame of the still the thoughts stopped there. But man. This picture truly is phenomenal. I don't think I even need to say why. I am going to post it here nice and big for you all to have the same experience.

YOSEMITE CHRISTMAS DAY

2012-01-03T21:44:00.000-08:00

A visit to Grandma Gong's house and a little road trip with my good friend Qianjin on Christmas Eve. We woke up early on Christmas day and drove the hour north of Madera to the South gate of Yosemite. This was Q's first time at the park. She kept saying, "wow.. someone found this..." It was quite cute. So then we drank beers, ate cheese its, layed around on the grass and listened to This American life all day as we meandered around the valley floor. All of the waterfalls were frozen and the stream was so cold. Qianjin and I even stopped to test out her wellies.

Mothers. Sisters. Daughters.

2011-12-31T15:59:00.000-08:00

Welllll Mr. John Mayer, girls do become mothers who turn into lovers and yes; I hate to say it but kudos on writing such a sweet song that sums it up so nicely. Women are such a special gift to earth, so kooky and adorable in our imperfections. If you haven't yet seen shit girls say please click the following link. We are these silly creatures who talk way too much, who ask people to "look" at everything we are interested in (sorry Reubes), we are tirelessly creative. We want to be making, holding, and adoring "little things" at all times. Also we are a lot of fun... in all stages of life. I really had a great time shooting Gillian's family photos. We work together at Pixar, I have always enjoyed her beauty and witty sense of humor. She is such a fun gal herself that it was neat to see her with her own little girl monster running around with just as much personality.

FAMILY PHOTOS AT LITTLE FARM

2011-12-27T16:43:00.000-08:00

Fun holiday card shoot at little farm with Donna, Art and their own littles.

CASSIE + JEFF

2011-12-25T21:19:00.000-08:00

Holidays have been keeping me away from post love. But here is a little something. Cassie and Jeff's engagement shoot sneak peek.

xo
Melissa

ITS TIME

2011-11-25T20:17:00.001-08:00

This commercial just made me real teary eyed. I'm not going to tell you anything. Just watch :)

JENNY+ JOHN

2011-11-24T21:22:00.001-08:00

MARY + AJ

2011-11-17T17:51:00.001-08:00

Mary looks like J Lo and AJ looks like some sort of Kardashian basketball playing husband. No, they are not models, I agree, their good looks are just unfair right? This engagement shoot at the DeYoung was so much fun. Can't wait until the wedding with these two all fancied up!

JESSIE + MIKE

2011-11-14T18:36:00.001-08:00

Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park.

COURTNEY + JOHN

2011-11-09T22:28:00.000-08:00

A few favorites from Courtney and John's engagement shoot this weekend. Fun couple with the looks of Ralph Lauren models and the attitudes of east coast baseball fans.

AMBER + JOHN ENGAGED

2011-11-08T17:56:00.000-08:00

Well, tis engagement photo season. And it just so happens Nor Cal'ers are blessed with sun and rain then more sun then more rain. John and Amber got rain. And wind too... In my opinion it made for a totally fun and unique shoot because the dogs were crazed from sitting in the car. By the time we got to the beach it was a total circus. Here's their lil slideshow. Had to share this one because they are such a cool couple.

Big ups to mallory for wrangling dogs and coats.

From August 8, 2011

EAT. SLEEP. DIVE. REPEAT.

2011-10-24T19:13:00.000-07:00

I think I have been begging the guys to take me on one of their abalone diving trips for a few years now. "I don't know" they would say,"there is an initiation." Then they would go on to horrify me with stories of how they gave each other matching burns on their backsides while drinking around the campfire; at which time I would stop asking to go on the trip.

Timmy and I drove up the coast on Tuesday night to Van Damme State Park, a camposite in the south side of Mendocino. Dave and Rob had left earlier that day to take a dive and set up camp. When we arrived things were just right. The fire was already going. We kicked back a few beers and caught up on stories until the wee hours, passing around Rob's ipod speakers and jockeying tunes like Momma Tried by Merle Haggard.

We woke up the next morning with the sun and headed to the dive shop to pickup some extra gear. Once we got to the site we packed up our tubes and then hiked down one of the steep bluffs to a cove below using ropes that had been anchored by previous divers.We dove. I pulled my signature seasickness move and threw up in the water while everyone else caught the full limit of abs (3).

We passed out in the car ride on the way back to the campsite and then went over to Van Damme beach to dive again at sunset . This time the water was much calmer and I was able to get down to the bottom and try again to pull some abs while the boys spear fished.

Twas fun times. At night we grilled the abs up encased in two blankets of bacon. Yumm!

LAURA + AJ ENGAGED

2011-10-08T10:57:00.000-07:00

ROCK CLIMBING IN A PREGNANT SUIT.. THATS NOT A SUIT

2011-10-07T16:12:00.000-07:00

Now I showed this video to a man who made me laugh when he said, "Now, doesn't that just seem like the worst idea? I mean. She looks like she knows what she is doing but if something happened that would be like the worst."It made me totally laugh.1) Because it was true.2) Because I hope that I have enough disregard to caution to do something like this when I am peg.3) Because I like when my interests combine: outdoorsy well photographed video+ companion pets+ and pregnant people= a cool videoAnyways, it is interesting. And girls are cool. The end.

PAMELA + JOSE

2011-10-03T22:48:00.000-07:00

These two are as awesome as they look. Pamela, though tiny really went for the tackle when she charged Jose. So much fun!

SLOW MOTION GLAM AT ITS BEST

2011-10-03T10:32:00.000-07:00

Just make sure you make it to 14 minutes and 22 seconds. I love the cinematography. And at 15:05 the backflip over the dirt road may be the raddest baddest. I'm just saying...

STACY + ARIEL

2011-09-30T10:21:00.000-07:00

NICKY AND JOE

2011-09-20T16:38:00.000-07:00

Reppin the Orange and Gold over at the ballpark! I loved taking these, maybe it had to do with the hour I spent at the public house before shooting :)

PORTRAITS OF MARA

2011-09-17T08:34:00.000-07:00

Individual portraits are one of my favorite things to shoot. Unforunately on a real wedding day time isn't always permitting. So I took matters into my own hands. Thank god for friends because JJC huffed the strobe all the way up to the top of tilden park only for it to die on us! Tyler, Tay and team did a beautiful job with this stylized portrait shoot of singer Mara Hurby a few weeks ago. I hope you enjoy the photographs, we had a blast making them. :)Photographs by yours trulyMakeup: Jenni TayHair: Tyler Tobeyand a little help from some friends John Coyne and Mallory Phillipy

REASONS TO HAVE A CAMPING WEDDING

2011-09-15T11:18:00.000-07:00

Never thought I would be the type of wedding blogger to take the time to put together an idea like this but I couldn't help myself. I have been so busy this season attending other people's weddings that my inner creative self was itching to show you how I would do it. At this point I should assure my boyfriend that you can remain calm. This is not a hint, but I think the world needs to know how cool a camping wedding could be. So without further adieu here is my petition for gearing up and getting outdoors on such a weekend. I gleamed some inspiration from the web so please pardon me if I don't have links giving credit where credit is due!

Invitations by the Rifle Paper Co. Why are these so insanely adorable. Each element is handcrafted individually. I love love love these illustrations.

And Like So Calers go on a morning Surf trip I would say a NorCal fishing trip the morning of is in order.

Lastly all hail and praise goes again to the talented photographer Max Wanger whose work continues to inspire me to greatness. Look at these amazing photos he took at a wedding in butte hot springs last year. Gorgeous work.

THIS INSPIRES ME

2011-09-14T16:06:00.000-07:00

There is a part of me that admires people who work with wood. The closest thing I can do in my Oakland flat is to drag home moss covered branches and sticks every time I go on a walk like some sort of nature hoarder. I love this little documentary short about this woodworker. It speaks a little bit about what drives all of us to create something with our hands. Very beautiful piece. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

JESSE BOYKINS

2011-09-01T23:12:00.000-07:00

I am lucky to call such talented people my friends. beautiful new work by Jay Woo and Jesse. You guys are so good at being you.

A FEW FAVES

2011-08-28T08:06:00.000-07:00

Victoria and Georges for starters are ridiculously good looking individuals. Vic is that long limbed classy girl who looks just right in a set of pearls. Georges has all of the charm of a presidential candidate. No surprise that they polish up quite nicely. Here are a few favorite shots, mostly of the dress, it takes the cake for best dress I've seen this year. I love how unique it looked on her. With so many brides choosing the tube dress these days it was nice to see one with a little detail.

WHALE SHARK DIVING

2011-08-22T22:09:00.000-07:00

I have always wanted to dive with whale sharks. Unfortunately my first time doing it I also got pretty seasick. Nothing like trying to hurry and quit puking so that you can put your mask back on and keep up with a 25 foot fish. Despite all this the times were good. We went to a location about an hour off the shores of Isla Mujures where the whale sharks are known to come up in the morning to feed on plankton before returning to the deeper waters. The sharks were actually totally aloof to you there in the water with them, I pulled my camera down from my face once and...woosh...the big guy was way closer than I thought nearly knocking my in the face with his 8 ft tail fin as he powered away.

WHAT I LIKE TODAY

2011-08-17T11:40:00.000-07:00

Someone just shared this. Great camera work. I want to go there now.

On Assignment from Camp 4 Collective on Vimeo.

I GOT MY FLIPPY FLOPPIES

2011-08-16T16:37:00.000-07:00

Ahoy,
I just returned back from a super relaxing Vacation in Mexico with the bf. Boy was it HOT. Here are some snaps form the trip.

AMANDA + TREVOR

2011-08-14T23:47:00.000-07:00

Two talented friends of mine teamed up for a show last week called Tierra Y Agua. Lots of color, beautiful lively shots that captured the couple's travels. Check out Amanda Lopez and Trevor Traynor's beautiful work!

T&A from Trevor Traynor on Vimeo.

ERIC + HEATHER

2011-08-08T16:56:00.000-07:00

MOVE. LEARN. EAT.

2011-08-05T23:35:00.000-07:00

I like these :)

MOVE from Rick Mereki on Vimeo.

LEARN from Rick Mereki on Vimeo.

EAT from Rick Mereki on Vimeo.

MOVING ON...

2011-08-02T11:07:00.000-07:00

A few weeks back I wrote about how people should photograph other changes in their lives more. So often people focus on capturing the big day… the wedding.. the engagement session.. the baby… But I got to thinking why not get that other good stuff to. Moving into your first home. Your first pet. A day in the life kind of stuff.

Well, when Isabelle came knocking on my door to do a shoot of her last days in her "single girl apartment" before moving in with her husband I was so excited. The shoot was so much fun to do. I love how you can really see who people are in their belongings.

SHAUN + JOHN

2011-07-20T09:38:00.000-07:00

ALSO, its nice to be sweet and all but I really wish more people took advantage of creaming their significant other in the face with a big handful of cake. I'm just saying... can't stay clean all night anyways.

GETTING READY WITH THE GIRLS

2011-06-28T21:29:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Becky and Tony Caselli for tying the knot last weekend. Here are some of my favorite shots from Becky getting ready. Hope you enjoy. Makeup as always by the wonderful Jenni Tay.

BRAVE TRAILER released today

2011-06-27T22:59:00.000-07:00

Well, some of you may know that I also work at Pixar Animation Studios and today we released the trailer for the movie we have coming out next. There's some goodness to come.. Bears.. Badass chicks... what else could you ask for? This is the kind of movie that makes me proud to work where I do.

Also, I am in love with the art that this team has been making. Really great work Brave :)

SARATOGA SPRINGS

2011-06-14T18:46:00.000-07:00

DOODLIN

2011-06-13T00:07:00.001-07:00

UMMMMM.. WHY DIDN'T I THINK OF THIS

2011-06-12T18:29:00.001-07:00

I am spending most of the Spring/Summer or whatever season it is right now crushing on the work of other photographers. I am loving this new video out of a proposal by Ryan Polei of his friend Barrett popping a knee. What a simple and cute idea to capture something like this on video. Also, I love the papparazi style angle. Also please note how charming these people appear to be. I think they may or may not be real life.

I like this shot Rayn took of Barret looking back at him.

So,in conclusion, I have been thinking about ways of expanding the photo horizons I shoot. Weddings, babies, same same... but wouldn't it be a cool idea to do other stuff? People moving into their first house... first birthdays.. all of the stuff before and after the whole wedding thing.. you know the stuff that really matters?
Ponder that. Then tell me your ideas. Ok? Ok.

And now watch this video cuz its real cute

Barrett & Asia - Engagement Session from Ryan Polei on Vimeo.

I FELL IN LOVE...

2011-06-09T22:26:00.000-07:00

I fell in love with a new blog. Its called http://www.garancedore.fr I have no effin idea how to pronounce that or for that matter what anything on the blog says because it is all in Fraunch; however the illustration section is too good. First things first I am liking this its bitty skinny Japanese pen she is using to daw this stuff. Where can I find one of those? Please put one in the cart. Thanks. Second things second, I love the crisp clean black and white design and styley fashion girls she draws. She nails these poses with the simplest lines.

OCEANS APART

2011-06-02T21:05:00.000-07:00

Tay + Ty.. the beauty mod squad

2011-05-30T11:03:00.000-07:00

You may wonder who these lovely people are who seem to frequent my blog. These brunette babes are two of my closest girlfriends, Jenni Tay and Tyty Tobey- the beauty dream team. You know Tay, I talked about her in my post about simple makeup. But let me introduce you to the newest addition on the team… my friend Tyty.

Anyone who knows Tyler (TyTy) only finds it appropriate that she now walks around with a 25 pound cheetah print duffel bag in hand full of hair and beauty products. She has been "doing hair" off the books as long as I can remember her; always bringing a funky style. I think one of the first things she said to me when she met me, was …"you have nice curls… we should really pick those out and make it big." I shuddered with fear, my whole life I have been trying to do the exact opposite and keep my hair as close to my head as possible. Tyler wasn't having that and I am not hesitant to say that she has the unique ability to bring out a person's natural beauty with ease. But that is just Tyty: gold bangles, leggings, dresses she's tyed up and cut to make into cute shirts, dying her mop every 2 weeks. Let me explain this girl to you; she listened to Amy Winehouse before anyone really knew who she was, as she touted her grandma's vintage duds, looking ten times cooler than any of us who (cough cough) were still hanging onto the remnants of their Abercrombie and fitch wardrobe. She has a few friendship tattoos, lets just say the girl makes friends easily, and people have no hesitation writing how much they love Tyler on their bodies. She can listen to someone talk, wine, bitch and howl for hours on end if they need it. She is allergic to tomatoes. She cried when her friends got amped up for snowboard season this year and her preggo state of being did not allow for her to hit boxes or ride. Now she is beginning to grow her personal business doing hair- she brings her style and the warmth of her caring personality with her to every gig. I super excited for this new phase and can't wait to see her work.

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BABY LOVE

2011-05-02T20:45:00.000-07:00

Saturday afternoon I spent some time taking photos of baby Ace, Stacey and Teddy over in Cavallo Point. Check it out. Pretty cute little fam if I do say so.

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S U S A N + M A R K

2011-04-18T20:21:00.000-07:00

Susan and Mark were married in Big Sur last week. Highway 1 was closed so the town had become even more of a sleepy destination, secluded from passers through. What a beautiful two days, and what amazing people and friends!

Le Tigre

2011-04-08T12:38:00.001-07:00

Drivin through Truckee with Rubes...

2011-03-29T23:11:00.000-07:00

JANUARY AND MICHAEL

2011-03-20T12:11:00.000-07:00

Tony + Chan

2011-03-15T17:38:00.000-07:00

I love the work that Christine Chang did on my friend's engagement photos. Tony and Chandra are two of THE most good looking people I know so the task was most likely pretty easy ;)

I mean seriously... who looks like this....?

Baby Dahlia

2011-03-09T12:23:00.000-08:00

Baby Dahlia fades in and out of naps every few hours right now. She was born just around "girl scout cookie season 2011" which I notice as I round the corner to Nay and Cj's Noe Valley apartment. The new mom and dad have been on lockdown for 2 weeks, watching the scouts on the corner below hawk their goods on the busy street below. In contrast the apartment is really quiet. They seem really calm and well adjusted for two people put in charge of such a small fragile person. CJ explains to me how things are going, he seems at peace with his new fatherly ways...he has been tasked with the early morning bedtime shift so that Naomi can grab a couple of Z's- his secret pleasure? Battlestar Gallactica to entertain him, tight swaddling to calm the babe.

From Baby Dahlia

Mommie's Bunny and D's Bunny

Old Photo Set: Library of Congress

2011-02-28T20:30:00.000-08:00

I just got keyed onto some really cool old photo sets from back in the day. I love love love these!

Title: The Great Hostile Camp Bird's-eye view of a Lakota camp (several tipis and wagons in large field)--probably on or near Pine Ridge Reservation. 1891. Repository: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540

What's left of Big Foot's band Group of eleven Miniconjou (children and adults) in a tipi camp, probably on or near Pine Ridge Reservation. 1891.

Indian chiefs who counciled with Gen. Miles and setteled [sic] the Indian War -- 1. Standing Bull, 2. Bear Who Looks Back Running [Stands and Looks Back], 3. Has the Big White Horse, 4. White Tail, 5. Liver [Living] Bear, 6. Little Thunder, 7. Bull Dog, 8. High Hawk, 9. Lame, 10. Eagle Pipe Group portrait of Lakota chiefs, five standing and five sitting with tipi in background--probably on or near Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. 1891.

True Grit Set Photos

2011-02-25T18:15:00.000-08:00

My favorite movie this year was true Grit. It was a combination of good things, an old tymey western feel, Jeff Bridges, random encounters with old rifles, and the Cohen Brothers!

Jeff Bridges has released his personal photos from the filming of the movie onto a digital book. Super sweet stuff and his website is real cool too (if you can make out his handwriting). Check it out.

I love real books, I hope they end up doing an actual run of print of this.

2011-02-25T01:17:00.001-08:00

Making the Best of It

2011-02-20T21:04:00.000-08:00

Mayyyybe, just maybe, we should have not stayed out at the casinos until 5 in the morning.

Then, perhaps, we may have left the cabin for Sierra a bit earlier than 10:30 and made it to the lot before it completely filled up.

Maybe then we wouldn't have sat in traffic only to U turn and try and think of something else to do on this powdery bluebird day.

Maybe then, we may never have dropped that scary looking cliff at the top of Meyers Grade like loony bins.

I'm glad we went out to the casinos ;) And it sure isn't because of my luck at the tables or the impressive South Lake club scene.

Thanks to Jacks and Taylor for shuttling up the grade and pushing us out into the mountain. I'm sure we looked like little excited duckies scared and anxious. Nothing like a fresh run, in waist deep snow, and a pickup from a friendly face, warm car, and country music on the radio to bring in a Sunday.

I found the sweet picture of the mountainside at summertime. You can see the path we took so clearly in this shot, kinda rad!

I'm kinda bossy. You could say I get frustrated when people don't take my sage 26 year old advice on topics I feel I am right about.
And sometimes, I actually am right which is always pretty sweet. This was a standard sassy walkie talkie conversation with Johnny P90Xcellence. It goes a little something like this:

Me: Why are you guys in that car not turning around?

Johnny: Because this car has a commitment to excellence, and we may have a chance to get in Sierra to ride today.

Me: Dude, we just looked it up. Closed. Face the facts. Excellence is hiking this beautiful powder with a barrage of your best friends and doing something cool, not sitting in a line of traffic with a bunch of yahoos trying to get into Sierra.

Johnny: Copy.
(4 minutes of dead air goes by)
Turning Around.
Over.

The lines from me n Hot Tub Tim

Eshoo shoo waiving at the camera. Don't lose your balance Rob.. you'll be stuck until the snow melts in June.

My fav pic. Steven Michael Fakes scoping out his next moves.

Cal Academy of Sciences

2011-01-27T10:22:00.001-08:00

BABY EMMA: ON THE MOVE

2011-01-04T16:19:00.000-08:00

Last time I saw my friends daughter, little Emma James, she was just starting to get the idea to scoot around on her belly. This year she was running around, talking about stuff, laughin, jumping and eating dipping her fries in catsup. She sure didn't stay little too long.

H O L I D A Y S 2 0 1 0

2011-01-04T00:14:00.001-08:00

I decided to make my Christmas break extra ordinary special this year and use up some of those coveted vacation days on much needed family and friend QT - this has involved some serious time on the road heading up and down this here state of CA. My boyfriend got dragged along for a lot of the festivities- Christmas in Madera with Grandma Gong, 2 days in Pebble Beach visiting friends from Houston, up to Lake Tahoe again for the freshest powder day of the season, and now (leg 3) to Vancouver to visit my lovely friend Lori. So far I am having such a great time, doing some heavy duty catching up on my book that I have been reading for 6 months- pathetic I know, doing some cooking, and sleeping in - well at least what I call sleeping in.

I'm looking forward to coming back to the new year inspired and refreshed :)

Baby Milo -1 Month

2010-12-27T20:13:00.000-08:00

LOG DOG

2010-12-22T21:29:00.001-08:00

You Said There's Chicken and Beer in This Car?

2010-12-20T07:43:00.000-08:00

A L A N N A + M I K E

2010-12-13T10:15:00.001-08:00

Alanna and Michael tied the knot in style. Their romantic wedding took place at night, during a thunderstorm, at the beginning of the winter- making it like no wedding I had ever been to. I love it when people aren't afraid to break the wedding "rules." The candles in the church made for such a romantic feel. Congrats guys!

DENISE AND JEREMY: ONE FORT MASON

2010-11-21T11:19:00.000-08:00

What were you doing the weekend of October 16th? Well.. if you live any where near San Francisco the answer is probably watching the Giants make their way towards becoming the World Series Champs for the first time in close to 50 years.

That said, Denise and Jeremy were getting married.

That said, people were checking the score throughout the day and announcing updates to the wedding reception including Nick and Me.

In fact, as Denise and Jeremy had their first dance , someone in the crowd erupted with a big YEAH! To which I took a pause... was that kinda rude?

This is just the kind of thing that gets a guy frowned upon at a wedding. Can you just go ahead and scream that the giants won the game while a couple takes their first dance as husband and wife?

My wondering was abruptly stopped by Denise and Jeremey who then held up their arms and began cheering and screaming back with the crowd for Orange and Black.

Oh :) I thought.. it's like that.
Cool.

The wedding so entirely San Francisco. The ceremony and reception were both held at the General's building at One fort Mason, overlooking the Bay. Denise, a triathlete, swims in the waters in the cove below a couple times a week. Jeremy, recounted to his groomsmen stories from the night before at Shanghai Kelly's bar.

Whale Watching at The Farallon Islands

2010-11-13T16:31:00.000-08:00

Halloween Weekend I went whale watching at the Farallon Islands of the cost of San Francisco. Captain of the Salty Lady (part time fishing boat part time whale watching boat) claim that this season has had some of the best sightings of whales they have seen in years. Due to upwelling off of the continental shelf there are whole pods of whales there to feed in the krill-rich waters. We saw a bunch of humpbacks, even a little calf breaching 100 yards away!

Linds and Willsy

2010-11-07T09:55:00.000-08:00

She loves you yeah.. yeah yeah.

From Napa to Yountville and back

2010-10-18T23:12:00.002-07:00

"Let's do something outside and adventurous," is how Jacks got me this time. "Deal.. call me at 8," I told Jackie and we loaded up our bikes and hit the road to Napa Sunday morning fully covered in rain slickers. Wine tasting at a few vineyards, meeting friends at Buchon Bakery for hot coa coa and sandwiches to warm up and back on the bikes to complete the loop. All done in time to get back to the bay for the Giants game.

Will + Lindsay

2010-10-16T22:45:00.000-07:00

Well, when you shoot a wedding for a friend you are bound to end up with some really choice photos. Some PG, some not so much. Turns out getting your best 12 guy friends to listen to you as a photographer is not only a challenge but a downright joke. It made for some totally unique and hilarious photos that I hope Linds and Will will laugh at for years to come, lets just leave it at that. Now its just a matter of locking myself in a place for 12 hours to edit all of the craziness documented from the night!

Let's hope I get this one done before Thanksgiving.

Sebastian Junger

2010-10-08T10:27:00.000-07:00

LINDSAY'S makeup test

2010-09-22T01:38:00.000-07:00

My friend Lindsay just came over for her wedding makeup consultation with Jenni this weekend. Is it just me or does she look like a covergirl?

Macklemore

2010-09-21T20:29:00.000-07:00

Director/DP/Editor: Zia Mohajerjasbi
Produced By: Kirby Grey, Zia Mohajerjasbi & Sam Toloui
Everything Else: Steve Failows & Futsum Tsegai

Filmed with a Canon XH G1 + Cinemek G35 and Nikon Primes (50mm F1.4, 28mm F1.4, 14mm F2.8, 45mm F2.8 tilt-shift)

EDBO.

2010-09-21T18:36:00.000-07:00

SOUTH DAKOTA, April 2010

TIM + IRMA. STANFORD

2010-09-14T22:34:00.000-07:00

QUEENSBERRY: by hand

2010-09-09T19:16:00.002-07:00

Here is a sweet little vid sent to me by folks that make my albums. They do beautiful work by hand, this little vid really has some pretty shots of what makes them so special!

To show our appreciation to the people of Queensberry's Lab and Bindery who make our albums. Photography and video by Johannes van Kan. Music by Amy Seeley, licensed With Etiquette. Incidental wedding imagery by a host of talented Queensberry photographers. Thank you all.

Shark Pig Vid

2010-08-24T19:37:00.000-07:00

MAX WANGER is a photographer that I totally adore. Everything he does is so romantic and unique. Maybe one day I will grow up to be like him ;). Check outhis blog huuuuur. And also take a peek at his buddy, Shark Pig's video, that was produced for Max's very own adorable ass wedding.

Oh, and for those of you unfamiliar.. that's called film.. nice touch

This is The Flashdance in Full Effect! Never ending congrats to Max & Margaux.

Lynn C Robbins Website

2010-08-19T19:24:00.000-07:00

Over the years I shot the work of two talented designers and cabinetry makers in Orange County. The new website is all done featuring the shots. Take a look!

REESE LOVES CAROLINE.. no really

2010-08-12T23:17:00.000-07:00

Yes he does. "Ohhhhhh.. they like...really love each other," Kaitlyn Miller my second shooter said to me within the first 30 minutes into the getting ready photos, "I get it." Kait and I crooned as Reese told us that the handmade berry preserves for the guests to take home were home cooked by none other than he and Caroline. "Oh," I said, "right because you guys are unreal with how cute you are," I forgot. Perhaps I should have known when I received the copy of the invitation in the mail- a smiling kitty cat embossed in a wreath of leaves, the words inscribed below: Reese loves Caroline. Sure Reese, declare it just like that with that exact phrasing.. bring that bar up just a little higher; show the guys out there how to win over a lady.

BACKYARD RIDING + EAST BAY LIVING

2010-08-08T09:12:00.001-07:00

The other day my buddy Adrian rallied me for an early morning ride up tunnel road in the Berkeley hills before the workday.

In my years right after college I used to work for Clifbar; I became familiar with the typical road biker way: Lots of Spandex, skinny strong little legs, up before the sun, fancy coffee.. I have always thought to myself, "This is just the type of sport I should get into."

So, here we go, I am trying on my new biking legs whenever I can get a chance. This tunnel road ride was my first attempt at incorporating a road ride into my day to day lifestyle. I have gone on some rides on weekend afternoons over in Sausalito, but it is always a little bit more of a production: Call or get called by the friends Sunday morning: "Hey, It's Johnny... Sunday Fitness day is in effect. Commit to excellence. Get pumped Fuller were going on a ride. " etc. etc. more pep talk ensues. Following that there are usually five to six hours of straight up dilly-dallying while we gather from various parts of the bay and figure out rides, lunch, and last minute tune up procedures.

So, to my surprise, when I got out of bed at 5:30 and was on the saddle climbing up Claremont by 6:15 I hadn't yet had time to process that I was actually a quarter of the way into the ride. I always forget that when you wake up that early it is so dark and peaceful. Adrian and I wove up Woolsey and forked left along the North side of HWY 24 as the morning light washed over the view of the bay. Midway up I heard a duck quacking behind me. I kept looking paranoid over my shoulder to see what the little fella was up to following me so close, but I for some reason I couldn't spot him. After a minute or two I did a more full inspection and realized that that duck was just my standard iphone alarm stashed in my jersey. It was going off because it was 6:45 (the time I normally start hitting the snooze button). Oh yes, I'm a clever cookie friends. As my buddy leah says, "With this body, you don't just get the brains too."

As we got higher up, a herd of goats combing the hills for fire control kicked up dust on the steep shoulder to our right, their little white and taupe bodies forming a single moving mass of road. I felt like I was in a European excursion and we were only 20 minutes as the crow flies from telegraph. A lone red fox crossed the road and stared at us until we moved along. Wildlife safari!

I was back home and showering up within an hour and a half. More rides like this to come hopefully. Living in the Bay we definitely have it pretty good. I am hoping to make use of this big ol backyard.

DENISE + JEREMY

2010-08-01T11:15:00.000-07:00

CONGRATS MICHAEL+ VANESSA

2010-07-20T08:29:00.001-07:00

En Masse

2010-07-14T01:25:00.000-07:00

Bins of beautiful Carrots and Mushrooms await plating at a wedding I shot last weekend

Lurash.. you are so photogenic

2010-07-12T21:00:00.001-07:00

Early Morning

2010-07-09T19:29:00.001-07:00

MIKES BIKES EAST BAY SHOOT

2010-07-07T20:36:00.000-07:00

Just shot around with Mike's Bikes last week all over the East Bay.

JEFF + LAURA. TEMESCAL BEACH HOUSE

2010-06-23T01:34:00.000-07:00

BEHIND THE SCENES CALI LOVE SHOW

2010-06-14T12:02:00.001-07:00

What: Free Gold Watch Presents: CaliLOVE: New Work by Amanda Lopez

When: Opening reception: June 18th 2010, 7:00PM-11PM

Show dates: June 18th - July 13th 2010

Where: Free Gold Watch, 1767 Waller Street, San Francisco, CA [415] 876-4444
Cost: $0.00
VIDEO BY AMANDA MARTINEZ

www.amandalopezphoto.com
www.freegoldwatch.com

VANESSA AND MICHAEL TIE THE KNOT

2010-06-14T10:24:00.000-07:00

TARTINE BREAD. PHOTOS BY ERIC WOLFINGER

2010-05-25T22:42:00.000-07:00

I met this guy last year named Eric Wolfinger at a photographer social gallery contest thingy (you know a "show" that really is about free wine and networking in disguise). He was so charming and sweet that when told me he had stopped working as a professional baker for Tartine to persue his career in food photography I began to question why we shouldn't just start dating too. I Did the norm. Took the card. Put it in my back pocket for next morning googling, legitimacy checks etcetera etcetera... and to my surprise found his website to be a stunning portfolio of food and foodmakers from his travels around the world.

I check in with his work often; and after eating a rather delicious meal tonight by the line at my favorite restaurant Flora I was inspired to look up his photos again. Looks like his book for Tartine has hit the shelves. Published, of course, the the guys at Chronicle!

Check it out. I'm sure you will love his stuff as much as I do.

An Evening with the Saxo Bank Team for Mike's Bikes AFRICA Foundation

2010-05-14T22:42:00.000-07:00

Mike's Bikes owners have started a foundation where they send containers full of donated bikes to communities in need around the world. Rather than just drop the bikes off and leave them to become broken over time; the AFRICA foundation looks further than the immediate need. The difference is that the Mike's Bikes folks provide training training to local entreprenuers to run their own bike shops, price parts, make repairs, and guide the entrepreneurs, a quite successfully so, in how to maintain a profitable and growing business in their very own community. Definately a good thing. The Saxo Bank team ( including the likes of 2nd place Tour de France winner Andy Schleck and Fabian Cancellara, winner of the Tour de Flanders) stopped by for a Q&A and autograph signing at the Mike's Los Gatos Store; the fundraiser was a big success. Its so great to photograph an event for retailers making wise investments, personal investments, in support of a well thought out foundation.

Joe Aguirre

2010-05-14T10:47:00.000-07:00

Joe Aguirre is a director I worked with this year down in Juarez, Mexico. Check out this cut from this Red Bull spot he shot on for Brain Farm Cinema.
Pretty lil thing isn't it?
I think so.

Salt Lake City Airport. Waiting on a Connection.

2010-05-11T17:00:00.001-07:00

FLORIAN SCHULZ AND THE FIGHT FOR ARCTIC PRESERVATION

2010-05-06T13:17:00.000-07:00

Last night I stumbled upon the work of Wildlife photographer and activist Florian Schulz.
He was speaking and doing a slideshow in junction with earthjustice.org; displaying his photographs documenting wild Northern Alaska in order to bring awareness of the diversity of life that exists in a land most people typically consider to be too barren to hold life.

He clicked though his images, narrating in his Herzog-like voice and about midway through stopped on this images of two Musk Oxen caught in a storm. "I was there for hours, but within a few hours the weather deteriorated and the snow began to pick up in the wind. It felt like needles." he described, "I kept shooting, and this is when the really exciting stuff started to happen."

The high resolution photographs of the bulls caught in the storm were breathtaking; probably even more so because I had never seen a Musk Oxen before. It always throws me when after 25 years of life I see a new animal. I thought of these majestic bulls in the snow without a human presence. Their species has been creating unwitnessed scenes like this for years. Pretty cool.

As the show progressed Florian transitioned into photos of animals living on the fringe, adjusting to human life. He showed rigs, wild bears turned "garbage bears" who were now digging in dumpsters for scraps of food. All of it disturbing but none really as relevant to me as the shot of the Musk Oxen settled less than a few miles from what appears to be a town.

Please check out Thomas Freeman's article on offshore drilling and learning from the recent spill on the Gulf Coast.

And most importantly put your name to a letter through the earthjustice site by petitioning for more time for researchers to apply what we have learned from the recent explosion off the coast. It is really a three month time window as explained on the site to put some pressure on congress before the oil companies begin moving their freighters up the coast, investing millions of dollars, and thus making a cease even more difficult.

The Badlands, South Dakota

2010-05-05T17:41:00.001-07:00

Instructions for Living

2010-05-03T07:35:00.001-07:00

Lakota Instructions for Living Friend do it this way - that is,
whatever you do in life,do the very best you can
with both your heart and mind.
And if you do it that way,
the Power Of The Universe
will come to your assistance,
if your heart and mind are in Unity.
When one sits in the Hoop Of The People,
one must be responsible because
All of Creation is related.
And the hurt of one is the hurt of all.
And the honor of one is the honor of all.
And whatever we do effects everything in the universe.
If you do it that way - that is,
if you truly join your heart and mind as one -
whatever you ask for,
that's the Way It's Going To Be.

Robbie's Song

2010-04-29T23:10:00.000-07:00

Directed by Nick Lentz

Just remembered this video from a few years ago. Some A game production and songwriting from Robbie G.!

first flight of the morning

2010-04-29T22:11:00.001-07:00

Old Family Photos

2010-04-22T10:17:00.000-07:00

My mom was digging around at my grandmas house and found some phtos of the family. This one was taken in of my grandmas brother at his wedding in China.

For your guests

2010-04-20T21:06:00.000-07:00

A Polraid guestbook makes for funny guestbook after a few glasses of champagne.

2010-04-13T16:34:00.000-07:00

Keep it Simple ______.

2010-04-12T10:31:00.000-07:00

In shooting brides over the years I have found that the most gorgeous look you can go with is a clean and simple face. Besides the benefits of not having the burdens of constantly retouching your face, smudging etc. your future you will give you thanks for being so intuitive.

"Timeless moments needs timeless makeup and hair. Keep it simple, classic, and beautiful," says San Francisco based makeup artist, Jenni Tay who did a test shoot with one of her brides Rosie (below).

Illustration No. 4

2010-04-08T17:46:00.001-07:00

Anchi+David

2010-04-07T16:58:00.000-07:00

2010-04-02T14:23:00.001-07:00