ars magna studio photo blog

allana August 19th, 2008

E pluribus unum – It was truly an American marriage, the twining of two adventurous souls, a celebration combining not only two people, but many families, cultures, traditions seamlessly, where the sum was substantially greater than its’ parts. Out of many, one.

The ceremony was held at the Swedenborgian church, an historic landmark here in San Francisco. The chapel is an intimate space made of handcrafted wooden pews, high windows bringing in streams of light, with the other walls bathed in candle light. Those congregated for the ceremony were sisters, brothers, friends from college, law school, childhood, nieces, nephews; all in attendance to witness and share an exchange of vows.

The bride and groom had issued invitations to close friends to read and sing at the service their thoughts, advice and poems on marriage and relationships. The groom sang a traditional African American spiritual in 4 part harmony with his siblings. All of this unified many voices into one communal voice in support and advocacy of their vows.

The couple later celebrated in true bay area foodie style, breaking bread at Greens in Fort Mason, enjoying a full vegetarian meal with featuring local produce and artisanal cheese, and ending with a chocolate laden desert bar. Everyone ate, and drank and visited to the mellow soundtrack of love songs, including a ‘make-out’ song to which the bride and groom disappeared around the corner for a bit of privacy.

Unfortunately, I am not able to share any images from last Sunday’s wedding, but it was a special day and a touching display of love, though I find it worthy of sharing a few words.

• weddings , compelling scenes from history
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allana July 3rd, 2008

It’s been an interesting two weeks of visiting people, making portraits of old friends, new friends, and little children new to the world.

It is energizing to feel and see these things reflected in people I care about; to those people who struggled and worked for happiness, for success, for families, for life. Friends whose life paths are opening to something new, paths that are revealing themselvs in directions that a decade ago, two decades ago we might not have thought possible or probable. Paved with experience, disappointments, reverse directions, the best intentions.

Many friends whom are nearly a decade out of school, seeing their work, dreams, sidebars, all come together for them. The energies invested and the diligence put into programs, jobs, busniess, personal exploarions and relationships come to fruition. Seeing this makes everything seems worthwhile. Life affirming. a good gift of awareness to me, on the 2 year anniversary of such a life changing incident. A reminder.

My husband reminds me often. To enjoy life, to make our time here together count, to move with purpose through the world.

• personal work , compelling scenes from history
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allana May 17th, 2008

I first met Liz & Steve at the Vermont wedding of Scott & Simone.  Turned out they were newly engaged and lived in San Francisco.  Liz & Steve invited me to come along with them as they applied for their marriage license at City Hall.  San Francisco City Hall is a gorgeous interior space. During the lunch-hour we were there we saw a couple get married at the top of the steps (only the officient and the photographer present whom we assumed doubled as their witness); we saw several other couples come through the halls and file their own paperwork; some dallying and giddy, some efficient and business-like; and Liz was even asked to be an emergency witness for another couple who were in a frenzy to get married right then and there.

It was cool to be there to photograph the first legal document of their marriage.

A ladybug party was discovered in a bunch of greens at the Civic Center Farmer’s Market.  Liz makes a wish.
Afterwards, Liz and Steve took me out to lunch at Tu Lan.  It was, of course, fabulous.

We are very excited to photograph their wedding in June at the Presidio.

• portraits , compelling scenes from history
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allana March 27th, 2008

Tori Poor, the fabulous owner of Little Fish Boutique in West Portal, called this afternoon to let me know that the canvas wraps we ordered had been delivered to the store. I hoped on the next trolley. Wow, they look gorgeous and are HUGE! A peek at some we propped up before they get permanently installed this weekend:

ps - more partnerships with Tori & Little Fish soon - stay tuned.

							

								
portraits ,  compelling scenes from history 
				
								
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allana March 25th, 2008

Happily coinciding with his last day at his ‘desk job’ - one of Trent’s pictures was chosen to accompany an article in the San Francisco Chronicle by Ben Fong-Torres. Very pleased about that and new beginnings all around, we are off to celebrate by enjoying happy hour.

Here is a portrait I made of Trent this morning. In his work clothes, ready for the last few hours of the cubicle. Here’s to transitions!

• compelling scenes from history
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allana February 14th, 2008

Ahhh, the joys of living in such a city as this. Trent and I began our Valentine’s Day evening at The Great San Francisco Pillow Fight. Happy Valentine’s Day!

• fun , compelling scenes from history
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allana January 15th, 2008

I’ve been postponing writing a New Year post, and the longer I delayed, the longer it was that I felt crummy for not being on the ball with being timely. This morning Trent and I went to the Steve Jobs keynote at MacWorld. He did, indeed, command the crowd, and went through 2007’s apple products and sales figures, and then introduced what would happen with apple products in 2008. Yes, we watched the ‘air’ debut. The people around us madly typed on their laptops, resizing images and sending stories into their editors. I realized that if apple could wait a few weeks to do their year in review and announce their launch plans for 2008, so could we.

Here, a few images from this morning -

And it is revealed. There IS something in the air.

Randy Newman singing a bit off the cuff, and a bit Toy Story. It was great.

Our studio year in review and new year plans to follow -

• compelling scenes from history
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allana October 28th, 2007

Kristen pointed out that we were nearing Salem; and it was the Sunday before Halloween. Hmmm . . after bungling it by following the signs to Salem, New Hampshire (uh . . at one point I did live in New England, but clearly California has pushed certain geographic information out of my brain), we did make it to Witch City. There was madness afoot everywhere. Take a peek.

Happy Halloween!

• fun , travel , personal work , compelling scenes from history
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allana September 15th, 2007

Our little Sadie is 1 year old now. At least another year to go of puppyhood.

• fun , personal work , compelling scenes from history
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allana August 31st, 2007

We stopped by to see Sam Corey, who is in the final stages of packing for his first semester of Sarah Lawrence. He is a writer, and I am lobbying him to get a blog to chronicle his college life. Not sure how effictive my efforts were. He is his own man. Here he is surrounded by his dorm room gear, waiting.

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