2009 August | { Erin J Saldana Photography Blog }

Archive for August, 2009

Some. Times.

August 28, 2009 | Personal

Sometimes I enjoy a grainy picture. Sometimes. I am quite obsessed with sharpness…and getting photos to have that crispness as often as possible…Of course the beautiful imagery of sharpness and colors and all that great stuff is amazing. But SOMEtimes….I like it when pictures have some edge to them…some ugliness that can be quite artistic and beautiful in it’s own way. (not to say that edginess or graininess is ugly, but I’d say a majority of people tend to associate those together) And yes…I do love polaroids. So, I decided to have a little fun with a self portrait and just “mess up” a picture and make it grainy. I need to get my film camera back out.

Still working on Gabriel and Jimena’s wedding photos…I can’t wait to show ya’ll!

One of my favorite moments is after the wedding is all done, and the photos are all taken…I get home that same night…I pull out the CF cards and upload them to my computer. It’s as if there is a drum roll in my head as I preview the first few favorite photos. Sometimes even if I feel like I’m about to pass out from exhaustion, my energy comes right back as I preview the photos. I even get tempted to just start editing right then and there. Sometimes. I do.

SOMEtimes.

Other times, I just pass out from exhaustion (good, happy, accomplished exhaustion of course!)

Call me crazy, but I love what I do. It’s hard to consider it a job when I enjoy it so much. I’m truly blessed. God really does keep doing amazing things.

Every couple has a special place in my heart. I experience wonderful, intimate, joyous moments that even MY heart goes aflutter every time I replay the them in my mind. I remember the moments so well because…well… I captured them… and framed them seconds before they happened. In anticipation. Always.

reflections

Tags: Erin, grainy, Reflection, self portrait, wedding

Jedi Patrol

August 27, 2009 | Personal

For those of you who haven’t been formerly introduced… this is Jedi. She enjoys nice long scratches on her belly, yummy crunchy treats, races down the block (there AND back), licking my nose, wedging herself in snuggly nooks, balancing herself on her hind legs like a circus act, and car rides to nowhere in particular. (She especially loves to make a jail-break out of the house and just ADORES jumping into my car when I don’t intend on taking her for a joyride). I can’t help but laugh at her cute, little, furry face stare back at me as she sits in my passenger seat as if to say, “Okay mama, where we headed?”

I was rummaging while doing some laundry and I came across this tiny little t-shirt…and I mean, I know that I’m a tiny woman…but even I know that I couldn’t fit into that thing. I remember buying that little t-shirt with the proud stamp of my college days. I bought it my freshman year in college as a souvenir and really only put it on her once. So, I decided to let her strut her stuff in it one more time (I promptly took it off after I snapped these photos).

It suits her well. She’s definitely my little Jedi Patrol…out to save me from the world.

OKAY…maybe just save me from the mail man.

Hey. don’t underestimate her. She’s got a mean BARK.

What does she patrol for you might ask…

The scent of other dogs? Golden treasures? Maybe just plain ole dog poopy…The world may never know.

Jedi blog1

Jedi blog2

Tags: best friend, dog, Jedi, walking the dog

Armár @ the Airliner

August 25, 2009 | Personal

“Check, check….1,2.. ”

A plethora of equipment: tons of messy cords, speakers, monitors, computers, pianos, guitar, cymbal, and other technologically driven things I have no idea about…. completely engulfed these performers. Everything needs to be set up just right in order to be graced with that amazing sound.

A nice cluster of a crowd Sunday night trickled in from outside after the long awaited performance by this talented band. What was expected to only be the loyal fans/listeners, there were some 20+ people still there to see the experience that is Armár. It was Johanna’s birthday bash, and they were the closers. It was quite late, but the show still went on.

Then… “Click…click…click…click…click….”

That sound…they just couldn’t get rid of it. But thankfully, after a little while of on and off DJing… the problem was fixed.

They played and…………….well I guess you’ll just have to experience it yourself… to get the full effect of their work.

Pictures do not give you the full effect…but here’s a little taste.

You can see them perform again:

Dec 4 2009

7:30P

The Talking Stick in Venice, CA

Venice, California

airlinerblog4

That’s Omar’s “We need to fix the problem now” look of frustration…you can’t quite see all the equipment…but there’s a lot more on the right side.

airlinerblog2

pedal with wires

airlinerblog3

armár

Tags: Armar, Arthur, Band, electronica, experimental, Live performances at The Airliner in Los Angeles, Los Angeles Live music venues, Omar, The Airliner

Omar says:

August 25, 2009 at 7:46 PM

Thank you. Great pictures

ps
That future show is changed… sorry.

My Birthday Twin, Dana

August 24, 2009 | Personal

August 22, 1986….two lovely little girls were born on the very same day. No, we may not be biological twins…but hey, we were born on the most bestest awesomest day in the world together

I arrived just in time to snap a photo of her birthday cake/singing celebration. I walked up into their driveway, and shadowy figures whirled around me…eventually I realized who each person was…after of course feeling a little creeped out in the dark (but it added a fun suspense to everything…what’s a party without a little creepiness? right? haha.. I know.) It was super fun and we played apples to apples. And of course me and Corey won (woohoo)

Dana then proceeded to get ambushed by five——-count them 1-2-3-4-FIVE crazy guys. Quite hilarious.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DANA!

All in all, I’d say it was pretty fun, and judging by the photos, wouldn’t you?

–Oh and after that lovely celebration, I met up with friends later that night at the Airliner in LA to see Armar perform… Photos should be up tomorrow…

Stay Tuned.

cake

Tags: Birthday, Cake, Friends, Sing

Sneak-A-Peak :: Gabriel and Jimena's Wedding

August 23, 2009 | Weddings

Let’s just say that their love story involves shooting stars…

To be continued…

Sneak-A-Peak…. because I just KNOW you were dying to see some photos….AND to see the rest right?… right? yea. I thought so.

STAY TUNED.

for the rest of their story!

and of course self portrait on my birthday AUGUST 22, 2009

Tags: Ambassador's campus, Ambassador's campus photographs, Ambassador's campus wedding photographs, Ambassador's campus wedding venue, beautiful wedding venues in pasadena, Birthday, Cake, Ceremony, Getting married at the Ambassador's Campus, Getting married in pasadena, married in pasadena, pasadena, pasadena weddings, Wedding at Ambassador's campus in Pasadena, Wedding in Pasadena, wedding venues in pasadena, Weddings

Tetanus shots and Cheesecake, need I say more?

August 22, 2009 | Personal

Panic ensued. My birthday was coming up soon. Which meant, among other things…that my medical insurance would be expiring. So, I rushed to get an appointment for a physical ASAP…and by ASAP i mean…within the last few days before my birthday I got my butt into that doctor’s office. As unpleasant as the doctor’s office usually is for most people, it wasn’t that bad for me. My doctor was amazing and made everything a breeze….everything was dandy…UNTIL I had to get the tetanus shot. She said I was due for a new shot, so she scheduled it. The shot went wonderfully, only the tiniest prick of the needle (the guy did an AWESOME job) and I felt like I had conquered needles. The next day when I woke up, my arm hurt so much! It was like I had worked that arm out way too much and the muscles were sore. Literally anything that hit it, or if I flexed my arm, or anything brushed by that little circle bandaid…I shrieked with pain. Hugs made me cringe. That next morning I went to get my blood test…and they took………get ready for it…….. THREE VILES of my blood. I’m not even allowed to donate blood!

I’ve made it a habit to NOT look at the needles or make myself aware of anything that is happening to my arms. So, I laughed nervously at the guy as he joked and stuck that needle in my arm. After he finished, he smiled big at me and said I did a great job…no lollipop though. shucks. I guess that policy is only valid for children. I say they should give them to everyone. I mean, afterall…I was a pretty good sport.

Unfortunately, now my left arm and right arm were victims of the terrible needle. But, the good news is………I lived to tell you all about my story.

On a more positive note…as it is my birthday tomorrow (or I guess today) My family took me out to dinner to the Cheesecake Factory to celebrate. GREAT food. I’m scheduled to photograph Gabriel and Maria’s wedding on my birthday, so it just made more sense to go out the day before. I’m excited to experience this wedding at the Ambassador Campus! Should be SPLENDID! I’m gonna enjoy my birthday to the fullest while I get some amazing shots!

Here are some photos to help illustrate the events I have mentioned….