ars magna studio photo blog

allana July 25th, 2008

Though they both went to school in San Diego, it wasn’t until after they left California that they met as colleagues in Arizona. Katie and Scott fell in love in Phoenix, and are soon to begin this new chapter of married life in Boulder, where Scott will begin an MBA program and Katie will start teaching.Taking advantage of their knowledge of San Diego, the couple organized a wonderful weekend for their out of town guests.Beginning with a Mexican dinner in Old Town, and festivities at the new Gaslamp Marriot, complete with views into Petco Park.

Pouring champagne in the limo to begin, the bridal party took the limo up to USD, Katie’s alma mater, and there we created some portraits on campus.

It was very simple ceremony, in the grand Don Room at El Cortez. Candles in glass votives lined the aisles, reflecting off the polished dark wood floors.
The Don Room was flipped for the reception, and the tables srrounded the dance floor. I even found out the Scott hand painted the numbered table centerpieces.
The bouquets of roses were a delicate porcelain pink, the bodice was hand beaded, and bridesmaid dresses were a lovely shade of dark grey to set off the pinks in the flowers.
After the ceremony, friend and family celebrated, danced, and toasted the couple throughout the night. It was a beautiful wedding, and wonderful to share the delight with Katie, Scott and their families.

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allana July 19th, 2008

You’ve seen these two before, and now once again before they jet off for Japan. Taking a break from the packing of thier American life, Bronwyn and Jon shook out their wedding attire and met up with us in Echo Park for a little post wedding photo shoot. Where once they stood at a festival under an LA sky full of fireworks, this day was a sunny afternoon and the park was filled with families picnicking and absorbing the heat of the sun amongst the patches of grass. We returned to the site of the proposal.

Wishing them the best as they ready themselves to embark of their new (mis)adventures.

A few of our favorites from the park and further urban LA scenes.

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allana July 12th, 2008

Margot, one of my dearest and oldest friends, owns a complete and unapologetic enthusiasm for life. Truly, and always, herself with a wonderfully timed dash of slapstick thrown in. As my friend, she has stood by me, as side by side we made our way through the trials of adolescence. School dances, sleep-overs, double dates, inevitable heartaches, and various teenage misadventures not to recounted here. Needless to say, my emotional connection to this wedding was immediate. And I am so thrilled and honored to have been chosen to document and witness (through my lens) the bliss of their wedding day.

Margot approaches everything with zeal, and her wedding was no exception.  Matt, her new husband, seems to have every bit the humor and enjoyment of life that she does. Matt is a kind, wonderfully supportive partner to one of my dearest friends. I’m proud to have been a part of their marriage, and to be a part of the community of friends and family that were with them as they became partners in life.

They chose a Saturday in June; a beach house wedding in Scituate at Minot Beach. The ceremony held on the lawn between her family’s twin Victorian beach homes, and the respective back yards united under an enormous white tent. Beaming in delight, they said their vows with amazement and acknowledgement in their eyes.
Periwinkle-blue silk bridesmaids dresses, and a sash for the bride in the same color to accent the wedding gown, the
grromsmen dressed in classic New England navy blazers with creamy yellow ties and khakis. It was perfect summer’s afternoon wedding attire. The homes had been repainted and were in their coordinating displays of colors. Peonies sat in in glass jars at intervals alongside wicker chairs on the wrap-around porches. Baskets of sandals were thoughtfully set out for feet tired of dancing in party shoes. A sand strewn table of beach pebbles and starfish served for table cards.
Big familes on both sides alongside boisterous groups of friends from high school, college and work; everyone in attendance spent the rest of the evening celebrating. The men in the wedding party treated everyone to a loosely choreographed and joyously performed dance and pyramid formation to Mr. Roboto.

After the cake was served, the ice cream truck Margot had hired came up to the lawn, and the subsequent line of guests were ready to tuck into a choco taco or a strawberry shortcake ice cream bar. The guests were joined by a line of inquisitive and large eyed neighborhood children who were lured over by the jingle.

The party kept on after the band departed, with Matt’s ipod mix of classic rock and suddenly appeared trays of Fenway Franks and little bags of potato chips. The remaining party goers, at the end of the night, in exhaustion and contentment, sat on the porches enveloped in the cooling fog drifting over the shore.

Yes, perhaps I am waxing on and this is a kind of love letter to Margot and Matt.

Here are a few of the many favorites from the day.

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allana July 11th, 2008

Still acting like newlyweds, though 9 years in, and newly grandparents to an adorable baby girl, Elizabeth and Rick invited me over to make a few portraits of them together. Their home, a wonderful embodiment of their life work - building and playing with structure, color, texture, and form - is an amazing space to visit.

Elizabeth is a spinner, weaver and importantly a thinker, synthesizing her previous careers as psychologist and engineer into her current vocation as an artist. Rick, who Eliabeth jokingly refers to as her Pennsylvania Dutch Farmer, proudly hows me their collection of spinning wheels, their work in basket weaving, spinning and together they are working on a book on Mad Weave, a triaxial weacing technique that is usually done with caning, but they have begun creating with fabrics, papers and wood.

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allana July 10th, 2008

In honor of his sponsored attendance at Vienna’s International Dance Festival, Impulstanz, and his guest blogging invitation to chronicle said dance festival, I came through New York to make some street portraits of Will James Rawls, of Dance Gang.

Much of Will’s work is site specific, a dialogue in movement with his surroundings. He exudes a playful energy, using his height and limbs to explore the environment. Last time I photographed Will, he had just finished four years at Williams, and was entertaining the idea of moving to New York City to become a dancer. Seeing him now, making his mark in the dance world, I am thrilled to witness his hard work turning that dream into reality.

Learn more about Will and his Dance Gang partner, featured here in this New York Times article.

							

								
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allana June 26th, 2008

As my mother quotes, there’s nothing so lovely as a day in June. Though my experience of the seasons is much more mild now that I live on the west coast, I can still appreciated these perfect weather days as compared to the cold winters of my youth, that are still etched deep in my bones.

And to spend such a June day with a dear friend and her adorable daughter, to delight in a New England summers day, to feel a buttery wind across the pond, to take respite in the the dappled light, to swim out into a pond and be on all sides surrounded by trees and blue skies, and to continue to savor the day in the mix of pond and sunscreen on my skin.  It was wonderful.

All of this happened yesterday when I took off for Walden Pond with my close friend from college, Ilana Krepchin and her four month old daughter Molly, who due to her inherent smallness has earned the nickname ‘molecule’ from her cousin Rex.

Molly and I hung out at the water’s edge while her mom swam into the center of the pond and back out again. In her little sun-dress, Ilana bounced her around and dipped her toes in the water.  I told her about the wonders of pond swimming, after all this is no doubt the pond in which she will learn to swim, and the summer spot where she will remember picnicking with her parents.

Big blue eyes, and with an occasional chirp into the conversation to remind us of her presence, she was an easy baby to photograph.

Here a some of my favorites from our mini-session at Walden Pond.

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allana June 23rd, 2008

I first met Tristan when we briefly worked together, in the Education Department at the San Diego Museum of Art. She had moved to California from New York. I knew she was engaged, and was so flattered when she called last winter and asked me if I would photograph her wedding.

In an intimate ceremony overlooking the sun-drenched vineyards, Tristan and Brian said their vows on a Thursday afternoon at the Orfila Winery in Escondido.

Tristan and Brian wove thoughtful inclusions of their family into their wedding. The bride’s hand carved wedding band made to coordinate with Brian’s ring, which had been his grandfather’s. Cake topper from her grandmother’s wedding cake. Her mother, Rose, crafted a beautiful birdcage veil complete with a fabric flower made from a piece of the wedding dress.

Tristan’s favorite colors are red and turquoise, and the colors punctuated everything from the clusters of red roses, to the ring bearer’s pillow, to the table settings to the red velvet cake with turquoise icing. (Turquoise icing that somehow later ended up all over my pants).

And after the cake, Brian’s family set out a tray of cookies, almost like an Italian torta di biscotto di nozze, cookies that were stacked to make a tower. Absolutely amazing orange tinged dark chocolate over shortbread with a dollop of raspberry jam. Yum. I’d even say these were the best cookies I have ever had.

It was one of the lightest days of the year, close to the summer solstice. A good day to get married. The sun cast long shadows on the vineyards and they were still partying when I left the vineyard.

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allana June 9th, 2008

Delightful and palpable love. Merrymaking and revelry all around. It was the Jonwyn wedding.
Bronwyn and Jon, wearing their hearts on the sleeves and joy on their faces, were married at Pomona College; the campus where they met as undergrads. Their love encompassed everyone in attendance. It was truly a celebration of two amazing people who, gathered with their family and friends, joined their lives together as partners in life’s adventures.
Cupcakes and catci adorned the ballroom, the bridesmaids carried parasols and green clutches, the bride’s bouquet featured succulents. They definitely made this one their own. Rocking their reception was DJ Jester aka-The Filipino Fist, who kept the party going with an amazingly eclectic mash up of songs I don’t hear at weddings.
At the end of the night, my husband whispered to me ’seeing these two so in love and happy is how I feel about you.’ How’s that for sharing the love?

Next up for the newlyweds: a move across the Pacific to their new lives as English teachers in Japan.

Here are a few of my favorite images from their wedding.