new eyes

I know, I know you missed me so!! Or, you didn't realize I wasn't here.

In either case, I'm happy to announce that I'm back online after a period of being unplugged.

I was at an intensive photography workshop called A Natural Eye, taught by Eddie Soloway, an amazing photographer who specializes in (yup) nature photography.

It was great, but also totally exhausting. Sensory overload, you know?

Also quite humbling as there were many professional photogs in the workshop. And I am squarely in the "enthusiastic amateur" category. Oh well - it's a journey, as Eddie is wont to say.

And I feel like I have some new ways of looking at things, which - for me - means the workshop was a great success.

Liked Eddie quite a bit - great teacher and just an all-around good guy. He teaches at Santa Fe and all kinds of other spots, so if you ever get a chance to catch one of him workshops I say go for it!














These are his images, by the way... cool stuff, no?

getting to know the village

Today I got together for a picnic with several local families who have adopted from Ethiopia, or who - like me - are in the process of adopting.

I have to say, it is really nice to be a crowd where no one thinks it's odd that I openly stare at their children with covetousness. :-) They understand.

One of my favorite scenes was this one. A bunch of the kids lined up very politely to watch a couple of people launch their small sailboat. They seemed pretty fascinated by the whole thing.














It was a really nice sunny day, but a bit breezy The wind didn't keep the kids from plunging in to the very cold Bay with abandon, however:














And, will you LOOK at these gorgeous girls - they are stunning. Even when they are discussing the best way to get a bunch of rocks into your mouth without your parents knowing about it...



The photo below will take you to a web album with all the pix.

BayEthio August 2007er