Questions for me...#4 and misc...

Ok...so I'm really struggling to get my posts out on the timeline I said I would...I mean, it's past midnite and here I am trying to write a blog....ouch....

Well first...some miscellaneous. For my media packaging (the package I use to put the disc my clients receive after their wedding) I choose Loktah. As you may already know, I try to be green - that is environmentally conscious...so I dig this company. If you are vegan, the loktah tree packaging is dipped in beeswax...I buy the hemp one...it's vegan!

Questions for me...

Question #1:

Someone important wrote,"Personally, I want to know family background of the photographer I'm working with - wife, kids, pets, etc..."

Here's my answer - I'm married to my wife, Rana...for almost 10 years!!! We got married when we were pretty young...so I'm not super old or anything....I hope? I have a daughter who is going to be 4 years old this Monday...we'll be going to see the sunrise for her b-day...we do this every year! I also have a son who was born in December 2008. We have a cat...Sofia...she's about 9 years old...and I love to pet her...it's quite therapeutic. We also take care to two outside cats...and I think we inadvertently feed the raccoons too? I play a little guitar...love sports, even though I'm semi-retired...music is really important to me...and I love nature...especially the mountains....especially the ones in Oregon!

Question #2:

What is your favorite detail to capture at weddings?

This one is easy...shoes!!! Yes, I love photographing shoes...rings are good too...but shoes are the best!

Food # 8 - two days late: Don't Panic...and don't tell anyone where the secret button is?

Ok...two weekends ago after Emily & Mike's wedding, I lost my alarm pad...and my truck was in the parking lot of a Catholic Church...and people were still there!  See, I left for the reception with the bride & groom...Shain, my partner that day, drove up to the reception in his car.  So after the wedding was over, he took me back to my truck...and at some point between leaving the reception area and getting to the church, I lost the alarm pad for my truck....b/c the alarm pad broke from the key chain years ago!

So I had to break into my truck and try to manually disarm the alarm in the parking lot of a busy church.  The last time I tried this, I had Sound Advice on the phone telling how to do it...so I didn't have much faith that it would work...but I remained calm...and I DIDN'T PANIC!

Here's a little video of how the whole thing went down....

Truck Break in after Emily & Mike's Wedding! from ezra ayala on Vimeo.

The sad thing about all of this, is that after I shut the alarm off, Shain found my the alarm pad on the floor of his car....duh!  

Jayme & Wesley's Wedding...freewise style!

Hey...had an awesome day photographing Jayme & Wesley's wedding!  Their wedding took place at Laurel Island Links outside of St. Mary's, GA.  

Here's a few fotos...these really depict my style...freewise...nothing conventional...strictly "you never know what I'm bringing to the table."

Thanks Ronny for your help...much needed help!  

enjoy...

Today was draft day in the NFL...so we had to do something along those lines...

I paid the price for this one...a mosquito bite on the forehead...nice look for the ceremony!

Thanks Ronny for seeing this...thanks 90mm for being macro...and thanks God for helping me understand Shutter Speed, ISO, and Aperture...and thanks to anyone who I forgot to say thanks to...???

Sooo busy that....

...that my regularly timed posts will take a break this week and return soon...but keep your eyes open for new fotos from this weekend's wedding!

This is how I feel...if you can say that...I'm working hard!

Food #7 - a day late

I have been really busy the past week or so.  One day when things settle down, I'll have to write a blog or a book about these days.  

Well, because I am so busy I didn't have a chance to write a blog entry for Food yesterday...and that's ok, because I didn't have anything to write about...but today I do.

Today, during a group conversation, a person was stating how their job had changed it's hours - rather, months.  This person was stating that they used to work 10 months...and how it was hard when they had to go 12 months because during the summer all of her co-workers would be off.  This person stated she's better now with seeing her fellow workers take off for the summer, but she still wonders what she could be doing during those months off...and one thing she mentioned was traveling...she said she could travel.  And that hit me like a ton of bricks of sadness...

Food #7 - Don't settle for less in this life.  If you have dreams...things you want to do, places you want to see, experiences you want to experience, DO THEM!   Put your mind to it...set yourself up to achieve your dreams.  Yes, it is a mixture of being in the right place at the right time and having to push towards something...but you can do it.   So put yourself in a place where you can work towards achieving your dreams.  Don't miss out.  Don't be stuck in your office working while everyone is having the time of their life!

Redwood National Forest - one of the most fascinating places I have visited!

Emily & Mike...married!

Today...oh,it's past midnight...ok, yesterday, I had the opportunity to shoot Emily & Mike's wedding.  It was totally, insanely fun!  They got married at St. Joseph's Historical Church...the reception was at the San Jose Country Club.

Ah, and they got their hair & make-up done at Tranquility Salon & Day Spa.  The owner was nice enough to let us in and shoot the ladies while they were getting ready!

The reception was super fun...again, I wanted to get on the dance floor...when you play some salsa, merengue, and reggaeton...forget about it...you have no choice!

Here's few (a lot) fotos...thanks Emily & Mike for allowing me this opportunity...have fun in Jamaica...bring me back a Bob Marley souvenir!

Corinna (Corinnahoffman.blogspot.com) - I used the portable soft box here...

And here too....

And this one...with some severe back lighting/flares/blow-out!

Oh...this one too...

But not this one...it didn't recycle fast enough, but I'll take it!

Mama Fader trying not to breakdown...ah Mike...you have an awesome mother who loves you a lot!

Tidbits #4 & Questions for me & some...

So yesterday I was quite busy, so I didn't have a chance to do "Questions for me."

But I also have to do "Tidbits" & I owe little recognition to my family in Puerto Rico...

Questions for me:

What inspired me to be a professional photographer?

Well, it all started when I realized I had a serious dislike for the 9-5 world...so I went to back to college to get a certificate in Video Production...and that's how I got into photography.  At that moment I knew I had to do something with the camera that I could earn a living...and then I ran into Pop Photo's 2007 Top Ten Wedding Photographers in the World....and that was it...I wanted to do that...

Are you the paparazzi camera man really up close and personal or do you try to blend into the background?  Depends...I could be both...there's a time for everything...and sometimes brides and grooms want you to do whatever it takes to get the shot...sometimes you have to blend to get the shot.  Thanks sis' in Portland for the question!

"Tidbits"

Ok...I left off last tidbit with me living in Riverview experiencing the most extreme boredom. 

During this time period I dropped football for basketball.  I played point guard...I played on the Jr. High team and High School team...I did double duty...and I averaged like 17-18 points a game...it was ridiculous.  After my 8th grade year, I asked if I could go back to public school.  So I started my freshman year @ East Bay High - the worst school you could attend in Hillsborough county in regards to sports!  I knew no one at the new school, but I was well equipped to handle solitude.  I did.  Kept to myself and walked with dignity...no one messed with me...thank God.  I played on the freshman team, but that was a joke....it wasn't until the following year that basketball got serious again.  Also, at this point my parents had adopted a couple of kids...this changed the house a little, but I still kept to myself...

Recognition to a family member in my mother's land:

This past Monday, a relative of mine passed away.  Benjamin lived many years.  He's always lived in Puerto Rico except during the time he served in the United States military.  He served in WWII.  During that time period he became mentally ill - possibly due to the things he witnessed and the shots they were giving him to prepare for battle.  

Last year, I had a chance to visit Puerto Rico and I was able to talk to him...he was so kind...funny...and a true country man.  He lived poor...mentally ill...but he was content with the cards that were dealt to him (I honestly think the hills kept him happy).   Peace-out Benjamin...see you on the flip-side!

This is one of my favorite fotos of all time...

Food #6 - Reflection

This weekend as I was shooting that massive 9 session day, Dani and I were walking when we noticed Saw Palmettos were growing through the asphalt - yes, that's correct...little palm frongs were coming straight out of the parking lot...lots of them...I wish I would have taken a picture...

The Most High created the earth...the plants, the sky, the rain, the clouds, the wind and all other natural things on earth (sorry Atheists...hopefully no offense was taken).   It seems people forget that He is the artist that created all these wonderful things...and like a TRUE ARTIST, these things He created are a reflection of Him.  So, there you go...check the Saw Palmetto growing out of the asphalt...God is persistent...resilient...and simply can't be stopped!

*Note:  I refer to God as a he simply b/c of the culture I live in...but I don't think God is a man or woman...that's reserved for us on earth...but he created us...so it's a reflection of him...he can be your Father...and he can be compassionate, loving, and nurturing just like a mother can...hmmm...that's some serious food...

Puerto Rico from an Airplane...April 2008...

Natural trees near a golf course...El Conquistador - Puerto Rico

Jayme!

Ok...here's a little peek from today's freewise fantastic bridal shoot.  Jayme, her mother, and brothers came along for the shoot.  Jayme's mother was a model, so her knowledge really came in handy...I'm so glad she was there!!!  Also, if you are wondering why we're posting her bridal shoot on the web...well, it's b/c Jayme's soon-to-be husband isn't into the world wide web...so we're pretty confident he won't see these...but everyone else can!   Jayme's wedding will be 4.25.09...I'm eager!

*Today's shoot was at Fort Clinch...well, not the actual fort...enjoy!

Her brothers were having some serious fun!