// the redwoods are calling //

Before the holidays, Darren and I went on an adventure up the coast to one of the most magical places in the world -- Redwoods National Park -- where the tallest trees on earth live! It was a coooold trip, but when you're walking through lush forests such as this with the freshest air, the temperature doesn't matter. I often found myself staring up at the trees, wondering how it was even possible that they could be so tall, how they could fight the force of gravity with their majestic beauty and keep soaring to the sky. 

"The redwoods, once seen, leave a mark or create a vision that stays with you always. No one has ever successfully painted or photographed a redwood tree. The feeling they produce is not transferable. From them comes silence and awe. It's not only their unbelievable stature, nor the color which seems to shift and vary under your eyes, no, they are not like any trees we know, they are ambassadors from another time.” - John Steinbeck

// winter in california //

Here I am taking in those stellar views of the beautiful Joshua Tree ~~ aka Bedrock.

... while of course soaking up the golden hour sun (even though it was quite chilly!)

it started to get a little too chilly, so my Vagabond towel soon became a blanket ^_^ 

But with a cute/warm towel and a view like that (look at those clouds!), the temperature wasn't even a worry.

... and I just so happened to be drinking my favorite beer - Shiner Cheer, a seasonal dunkelweizen with hints of Texas peaches and pecans.

Cheers to you Joshua Tree - thanks for the sweet sunset.

// it's only water //

Shot by Mike Dempsey

I went on an adventure to the LA river to shoot this image with Mike! ^_^ This image took 2 days to shoot because the first day I actually fell in the river instead of gracefully defying gravity like I appear to be doing! Instead of waiting for my hair and clothes to dry (which would take forever), we decided to call it a day and drink some cider at Mike's nearby studio. We tried to create this image again on the following day, and we managed to get the exact shot we were looking for without me falling in the river - phew. If at first you don't succeed, try again!! This is one of my favorite images that Mike and I have shot together and it was well worth the time we put into it. 

On another note, Darren and I will be headed out on a new photo adventure starting tomorrow. Like always, I won't be revealing the location - but I look forward to showing you guys what we create along the way. Expect to see new content in a week or so!

Paisley on My Mind | Valley of Fire

// gateway to heaven //

Monumental Moment

Wanderin' through the desert never felt so good until I visited Monument Valley in Utah. This place is so dreamy and left me overwhelmed with its natural beauty. There are sandstone formations everywhere that appear to be man-made monuments each unique in their own way, but they are natural pieces of art and the effects of wind, water, and erosion. Our campsite was right where we shot these photos - waking up to a sunrise shining down on those formations was a moment I will never forget ~ a monumental moment, that is! ^_^