Gorge Friends - Dave Matthews Caravan • 2011

This year was by far the most epic of all seven consecutive years that I've spent at the Gorge during Labor Day weekend where we gather for the Dave Matthews Band... and this years Caravan!!!! A huge reason this trip was so awesome is because of my three other traveling companions and of course seeing our friends from Canada!

Thank you all. Memories forever!

August Sunset - ' Top of Ferris Wheel'

'This is the life!'

Fair Rides & Trippy Colors

Mesmerizing Garden Spider

Yesterday while I was out creating my most recent self portrait I came across this most incredible Mother Nature creation! This is a female Argiope aurantia, otherwise known as a Black & Yellow Garden Spider. We have a garlic chive that blossoms every year at this time and this is just where I found this intriguing spider... 


In my research last night I found out that the Argiope aurantia species is known for their web creations. This morning when I woke one of the first things I thought of was my new friend out in the garden. When I rounded the corner I found her circling and dipping her hind-end every couple of seconds. As I got closer and focused my eyes I saw her starting her new web of the day! I couldn't stop staring... and staring! I had to remind myself to breathe.


These photographs are taken when she appears to be finished with her web... I will keep an eye on her throughout the day to see what she does next. She looks hungry!!!

...Waiting patiently...

Can you see something in the background?

This is me, Sarah - August 2011

...This is me...

...invisible but still here...

Life brings the unexpected...

This is why we are trained to expect nothing!

...Live... Learn... Give... Observe... Explore... Love... Breathe... Be...

Self Portrait created by SACS.

???????????

Northern Idaho - Harvest Season

Golden Hour is an understatement when it comes to this time of year and this time of day in Northern Idaho. I was about 10 miles outside of Moscow on top of one of the many rolling hills. In the distance, to the back of me, I could see the whole span of Moscow from water tower to water tower to Kibbie Dome to yet another water tower. To the front of me, it was just jaw dropping. What are the odds of a vehicle laying out a line on the dirt road at this very moment! Perfect, enjoy!

From Blogger Pictures

Twilight Criterium - 2011

This is one of my favorite events that Boise hosts. The athletes are amazing, the weather is perfect (this year especially), the people are respectful and in the thousands, our town is alive!!! Here are a handful of photographs that I made at the Twilight Criterium 2011!

Summer = Swimming

We have three lakes in our B-Town that are all so very convenient to get to. This particular lake is roughly a 5 minute drive from my house. Daphne, my small mutt dogger has two bad knee's so we take her swimming as much as we possibly can. She's an absolute champ in the water and loves that low impact exercise. Dazy my Pitty loves the water too but she feels most comfortable sticking close to Mom. The difference between these two swimmers is that Daphne has webbed feet, like a lab or retriever. Dazy has zero webbing, she has fingers like us humans. Don't get me wrong she's a great swimmer and loves the water but just not quite as natural as my little pup:)

In Boise, to our family, Summer = Swimming!

While Daphne is fetching her stick 25 yards out, Dazy splashes around in the shallow waters waiting to pounce on her hard working sister in hopes that she will be able to snag the stick away!

Dazy, my beautiful Pitty loves her Mamma!

   Daphne, my lil' mutt would rather be swimming:)

Backyard Life

I found myself wound up sitting at my computer....

I needed a quick fix....

Snagged my camera and headed outside....

My own backyard was full of fun....

Here's what I found....

This sunflower was planted by one of our neighborhood birds or squirrels

My dogs love the sticks that fall from the Sycamore after summer wind storms

Corn Harvest 2010

(Stay tuned for more fun with my gnome family)

Family Play Time

Family and kiddo photo shoots are proving to be some of my favorite types of photography yet and here are just a few reasons why...

• Being a kid a heart I completely relate to the kiddo's
• I get to witness the parent / child relationships
• I get to play with both the parents and the kids and help everyone including myself to forget about the stressors in life!
• I get to know the kids and parents on a different level and vice-versa
• I get to watch the transition of my subjects through the shoot as they get comfortable with the paparazzi (me) following them everywhere
• When the kids don't feel like 'cooperating' with the parents, making them frustrated, I get to add suggestions like, "Let's just go with the flow and see what happens!"
• When I get word from the parents after we part from the photo shoot that the kids ask about me and or express their excitement about the photo experience my heart is completely filled with happiness and joy!

Mattie (Mom) and I grew up together in the Wood River Valley.We have not seen each other since we were 12-13 years of age. She got a hold of me last September after I graduated from Photography School asking if I would photograph her family. We finally connected this summer and I couldn't have been more pleased with her three beautiful kiddo's. Funny how roughly 18 years pass by and Mattie is just as sweet of a person as ever. Thank you all for the great times!

This photograph is one of my favorites! 

Four shadows of the family plus mine and the baby of the family taking off up the hill, done and done!!!

2010 Fireworks!

What a great night full of thousands of fireworks!!! From our view around the corner from the Cross on top of Table Rock we could see everything. Here are a few photographs I made of the fireworks and cityscape. This was the first year I had the confidence to photograph the 'works' and I feel pretty good about the final outcome. Went in with a vision but came out with something completely different than expected. I'm still learning that I can be fully prepared, rehearsed and ready but sometimes things change, I need to go with the flow and more than likely everything will turn out!

CLOSE - Fireworks / Cityscape / Sunset

MID - Fireworks / Cityscape / Sunset

FAR - Fireworks / Cityscape / Sunset