Kafka my love

"Youth is happy because it has the capacity to see beauty. Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old."

Franz Kafka 

My Alice

It has been quite a while, huh?

When 2015 started, I wanted to make this think seriously. But then life happened, and I couldn't even keep up with all the blogs in my reader! But this is a breath of hope. I don't wanna leave this space abandoned, because it is something I do for fun. And we have to have fun eventually, right?!

So, I'm gonna leave you with a few shots I did of my goddaughter in January. Just a few minutes in the park, talking, laughing and clicking. I wanted everyday to be like that. =]

Nikon F100

35mmf1.4

Portra 160 (exp may 2014)

Valentine’s day

We are together for more than 15 years now... an it still amazes me how much of a great person he actually is.

Clarion Alley - Frisco || Velvia 100 (exp)

Happy Valentine’s day for the one who pick me up every time I fall, brings me back to reality me when I dream too much for too long (and I tend to do that a lot), truly believes in me (sometimes more than I do), makes me feel the happiest woman on earth with just one look and is the best partner ever. For a movie night in bed or an amazing adventure in Yosemite... just being with him makes everything better.

3 of my favorite people in this video of one of my favorite songs ♡

Le chat

Boris Becker, always making my days happier...

Nikon F100
50mm f1.8D
Portra 160

Inspirational Wednesday

Anton Corbijn

If you don’t know his work yet, baby, you have to do it, NOW. He’s one of the best photographers of all time (in my modest opinion) and probably the reason why I decided to photograph. His work change the way we (or at least I) see photography in the music business. He started as a music photographer, being friends with the guys and then his talent introduce to new bands and then other bands, then he started to work for a lot of fashion magazines (because he was doing something totally new) and sort of mixed it all. The music shots were more fashion, and his fashion shots were totallly rock’n’roll. And, since he never settles, now he’s in Hollywood! I loved all of the films he directed and can’t wait for “Life” to be released (about the photographer who is assigned to shoot James Dean).

I have a bunch of favorite photos here, but the ones I really, really like are all of the Nirvana photos (I think nobody portrayed the band as good as he did) and the Metallica shots from 95 to 01, specially the Reload booklet photos. They are probably my all time favorite (unfortunately I didn’t find any throughout the web, and don’t have a scanner here to prove my point).

There’s an excellent documentary about his work called “Inside Out”. Sometimes it is on Youtube, sometimes they remove it. You can find it here, but I don’t know until when. Run. :) It is half english half dutch, but comprehensible. 

There’s also a film he did for Leica, with photography tips, which I find adorable! 

Hope you like it! 

Monday bubbles

Vanity and pride are different things, though the words are often used synonymously. A person may be proud without being vain. Pride relates more to our opinion of ourselves, vanity to what we would have others think of us.

Jane Austen 

Alcatraz in Colors - Chapter 2

Back to the Alcatraz in colors. I already told you I didn’t like the development and the colors of this particular film, right? But the only ones I did like were those from Alcatraz because, in a strange way, these tones remind me of the Clint Eastwood movie “Escape from Alcatraz”. Don’t you think they do? I’m not crazy, am I? Haha. Do you get what I’m saying?

Did I mention I miss San Francisco? California didn’t catch my heart they way Paris did, but it still one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever visit. From up north in San Francisco to down, really down south in San Diego (I almost passed the Mexican border), California is the kind of trip everybody has to do at least once in their lives. There are tons of pictures yet to share with you, hope you’re not bored.

Nikon F100
35mmf1.4G
Portra 160

15 things

Mushrooms in a trail in Point Lobos, CA. One of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen.

There we are. 15 resolutions for 2015.

(Believe me, I could come up with 112, but I though it would be prettier like that, 15 things to do in 15)

1:: Get more exercises;

I thing this is in everybody lists, right? While I was traveling I felt my body complaining all the time. It was a very physical trip. Lots of trails and bike rides. I’m not 20 anymore, but sometimes my body feels like 80. Got to change that. 

2:: Eat healthier;

I eat well, don’t get me wrong. My weakness is chocolate. Always has. 

3:: Travel more;

2014 was a slow year in terms of traveling. It only got good in the end, with California calling. But the rest of the year was really all working. Maybe that something to balance more.

4:: Learn (decent) french;

I’ve had french lessons for 2 years, in 2010 and 2011. I learn to comunicate, and I still understand so much better than I speak. 

5:: Get more organized;

This item is on my list since I remember making lists. But I truly believe 2015 will be the year I’ll be organized. 

6:: Blog more;
I’ll try to be more present here. And to be less critical with my photos. And to feel less guilty when I post something that doesn’t feel like the next best thing.

7:: Photograph more for fun;
2014 I rarely photographed for fun. Work consumed me. This blog was, in a way, a means to that. So I think, technically, 6 and 7 are the same. haha.

8:: Volunteer;
I use to do that a lot through college. And it felt so good. Don’t know why I stop doing. 

9:: Read at least 2 books per month;
I tried to do 1 book a month in 2014 and failed! Haha, even though, I’ll try to do it better. 

10:: Get back on the tennis court and learn to serve;
I love watching tennis, you all know that. I use to play a bit, just for fun, but until this very day I can’t serve, can you believe it? 

11:: Save money;
The thing is: I can’t deal with money. I always spend more than I earn, I make loans, I miss deadlines and I regret nothing. 

12:: Worry a little bit more on what I wear;
I’m not so much of a fashion person. I would leave the house in my pajamas, if it was socially ok. 

13:: Buy less make up (or wear more the ones I already have);
I buy tons of makes, but usually just wear mascara and concealer. 

14:: Watch more movies;
Just because is something I love, it makes me happy and I wanna be a happier person. :)

15:: Last, but not least: STOP PROCRASTINATING.
No explanation needed. 

And you?

And, of course, Happy 2015 for y’all! May this be the best year of our lives so far.

Alcatraz in Colors - Chapter 1

Some appendix from the Californication series. For some reason I hadn’t developed this film yet! The first film I used in San Francisco, because it was already in my camera.

A bit of Alcatraz in colors.

I must say (and it hurts to say it), but after developing my films at Richard Photo Lab, I’m a bit spoiled. Didn’t like this development that much. I’ll try to scan again some other time, maybe it helps.

Leaving San Francisco. Did I mention I’m in love with this place? 

Alcatraz seen from the sea

When arriving at the island, this guys provides us a bit of Alcatraz history.

Nikon F100
35mm f1.4G
Portra 160

Things I like lately

I love this tag in other blogs so much that I decided to do something similar around here.

Things I like:

- Being engaged! After 15 years together. I thought it wouldn’t be much different, but I must say I enjoy saying to people “let me check with my fiancé first” even when I don’t need to check with him first. It feels good.
- Spend the 23rd anniversary of my father’s death walking around with my goddaughter. I had to leave a few films at the lab and she made me company. I walked by my grandma old house, where I spent the whole “day” crying, 23 years ago. The house belongs to someone else now, and it’s all different. And to walk by that sad place, with a new life, knowing some how his blood still runs through her veins also made me think of how big this all is. He is alive with me in so many ways.
- Listening to the new Foo Fighters album. Good music from the guys I have loved since forever always cheers me on. I’ve always been a huge Nirvana fan, even before Kurt die, and have been following Foo Fighters since the very beginning. And when “follow” was more than a button on a Twitter/Facebook page. It meant buying records, going to concerts, buy pirate (which at that point meant live shows recorded underhand), buying magazines, and all that. And Dave have never failed on me.
- That the tennis season is about to begin! Finally my days (and nights) will be filled with the little yellow ball and much tension. Hope 2015 will be Roger’s year again!
- The book I got from my sisters-in-law. I love french cooking, love to cook, and the book is so well done. Beautiful pictures (pictures capture me more than the recipes, I must confess), cute drawings and very nice approach.
- That I’m writing again! It’s not gonna be a best seller, I warn you, but I like to write, haven’t done in a while but one day I woke up and felt like doing it.


Things I don’t like

- My neighbors have a rooster and it crows everyday from 1am until noon. It’s impossible to have a decent sleep.
- The heat is unbearable. Last night it was 39C at 10pm. THIRTY NINE DEGREES. At TEN PM. I wonder how I’m going to survive until the end of the summer.
- The feeling post-amazing-trip: when everything seems so boring. I have to learn how to get back at reality.

From the archives: Boris Becker, a little out of focus, but very charming either way. 

Californication II

I was thinking about posting the crazy bike adventure, but I decided to let you have a little bit of the touristy San Francisco.

Next post I’ll show you a little about Frisco, Sausalito and Tiburon. I biked for 9 hours. It’s hard to realize you’re tired when there’s so much beautiful things to see! But, believe me, I felt everything the day after. I’m not 20 anymore, you know. :)

From cable cars to the crooked street, to Alcatraz seen from the pier to the ups and downs of this magic city. A sneak peak.

Quick thought: I realized in this trip I need a smaller camera. I want a Leica for so long, but still don’t think it is my time to get yet (if you know what I mean $$$), I researched a bit and thought about a Bessa R3A, any of you have, had or used one before? Would you recommend?

The man I love

I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where. I love you simply, without problems or pride: I love you in this way because I do not know any other way of loving but this, in which there is no I or you, so intimate that your hand upon my chest is my hand, so intimate that when I fall asleep your eyes close.

Pablo Neruda

Nikon F100
35mm f1.4G
Trix 400

Californication I

I’m back. It feels like ages since the last time I posted... Did you miss me? I certainly miss you...

This trip was honestly the best thing I did for myself ever. California is really something else. The only part of America I knew was New York (which I love), but Califa is totally different. There’s beach, there’s mountain, there’s forest, there’s snow. And you can do all of that in one day. How can you not fall in love with this place? I’ll post in parts, of course. There’s a lot of photos and I don’t want you to get bored!

From the beginning: the first place I visited was San Francisco (and now I wanna live there so badly...). Frisco is amazing (I’m running out of words to describe all those places, I’m sorry!). The first day we just walked around, because we were tired from the flight. I’ll show you a little about the first real place we visit: Alcatraz. It is very tourist, but so nice. If there’s one thing americans are good at is to preserve history (and make money out of it). I thought since it was a place with so much heavy history, it would seem softer if I used some bw. So I took all of the photos with my beloved trix.  What do you think?

Nikon F100
35mm f1.4G
Trix 400