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I spent the last few days in New Mexico, a trip that involved a lengthy list of unexpected surprises.
The impetus for the trip was my long held desire to see White Sands. It was worth every obstacle (and there were many) to spend a couple hours in the gypsum.
A little over a month ago a friend and I departed for what turned out to be kind of an epic road trip. Initially the idea was just to drive straight to Portland (Oregon) to meet Lauren, and then drive back. Instead, we met Lauren in Portland and then decided to take the long way back, which happened to include an unplanned extended stay in Waldport, Oregon when the alternator of the Subaru died. It turned out to be kind of a blessing in disguise because Waldport, as it turns out is totally underrated. Especially in February. Most of the beach photos were taken there. Also, this video was taken there. This is just a glimpse of Roux’s first encounter with the beach. She ran circles like this for a good two hours. I didn’t bother to edit out sound, so unfortunately you have to endure my laugh. (Why is it so painful to listen to recordings of your own voice?!)
Crazy Dog from Claire B on Vimeo.
And here is a semi-random selection of photos from the trip.
/Shoshone Falls, Idaho/
/Hay bales on the side of the road outside of Twin Falls, Idaho/
/The Oregon Trail Motel, Baker City, Oregon/
/Portland, Oregon/
/Waldport, Oregon/
/Redwood National Park, California/
/Highway 101, Northern California/
/Napa Valley, California/
/Wine tasting + art viewing @ Hess, Napa Valley, California/
/Hanging out @ Rutherford Grove, Napa Valley, California/
/Killing fish in Palo Alto, California/
/Backyard art in Palo Alto, California/
/Vintage clothes shopping, Haight Ashbury, San Fransisco/
/Chilling in Palo Alto, California/
/The Bonneville Salt Flats @ dusk, Utah/
Phew that was a long one. And long overdue.
Back to regular posting tomorrow with a super fun shoot for Ideal Woman. (Sneak preview here).
Sorry to have gone MIA; a recent road trip was extended when the alternator in my car inconveniently died in the Middle-of-Nowhere, Oregon.
I’ll be catching up with clients this week, and then am off to WPPI this weekend/next week, so blogging will be light. In the meantime, here’s a quick shot of Roux’s first beach experience:
I am magnetically drawn to Scotland. It probably has at least something to do with the fact that my dad spent time there in his twenties and I like to imagine him ambling through the cobblestone streets of Edinburgh in his tweed, smoking a pipe. (I hasten to add that vision is entirely my own fabrication; I have no idea where he walked and even less of a historically accurate notion of what he wore). But my Scotland hang-up is mostly due to a little film called Made of Honor. If you haven’t seen it, no need to. It’s just your run-of-the-mill romantic comedy with a terribly predictable ending. I only mention it because one lazy afternoon last holiday season I was curled on the couch with the dog, surfing the web and watching Patrick Dempsey woo Michelle Monaghan. About half the film takes place in Scotland (there’s the connection; I’m sure you’ve been wondering). Admittedly, it’s a Hollywood-ized Scotland, a romanticized vision of an entire country. But it caught my eye and on a whim I looked up flights to Scotland. Flights were way cheaper than I’d expected, so I picked up the phone and called Sam. Three months later we arrived in Glasgow. That trip was phenomenal, and not only did we fall in love with the towns and cities themselves, but we also fell in love with a really fabulous group of people.
So this summer when Lauren and I were chatting about taking a trip in November Scotland came up again. Lauren had never been and I was happy to go back, so we decided to return. This trip was every bit as wonderful as the last one–different, but sensational nonetheless.
From the moment I set foot in Scotland last March I felt totally at ease. It just agrees with me. Some places are like that, and I think that not knowing whether a totally foreign place will feel like another home is part of what I love most about traveling. But I do love Scotland. I love the warmth of the pubs and the people, the verdant landscape, even the pervading dampness.
Keeping in line with my track record, I have yet again had good intentions of writing a blog post here and there and then really not followed through. Internet access is scarcer (and more expensive) than I’d prefer, which means I’m on it less than I’d expected. Lauren and I have spent the last week traipsing around Scotland. (For those of you who are interested, the loop went something like this: Glasgow –> Mallaig –> Fort William –> Oban –> Edinburgh –> Glasgow). Lauren heads home tomorrow, at which point I’ll zoom over to the Isle of Mull, and then intend to make my way to Ireland next week.
I am once again bowled over by the mild manners of Scottish canines. I’ve met several dogs this trip, including a Pomeranian + Chihuahua who came to our impromptu Thanksgiving dinner and this lovely Labrador who was doing his part to bring in the clientele for this street-side bagpiper:
A few other quick shots:
I will indeed try to update the blog at least once more in the next week. Cheers!
