Happy Thanksgiving!

Sometimes, it just doesn’t work out.
Two days in Montreal, both snowy and cold (obviously not the best shooting conditions!). Four days in New York. So far, the light has been flat, the streets incredibly busy and the shopping oh so very tempting. Thanksgiving. I envisioned a quiet city. New York and its inhabitants inside eating turkey and celebrating with their families. Stores closed. Streets deserted. What a great opportunity to shoot New York! But it was not so. I forgot about a little thing called the 'Thanksgiving Parade' that weaves through the city. Shops were open and Thanksgiving sales had started. Rockefeller Center was lined up around the block for a holiday skate. The city was busier than ever. AND the light was flat.
So, sometimes, it just doesn’t work out and you have to just enjoy it for what it is. The one photo I did catch this day was at the Spice Market, a great restaurant in the meat packing district. After a frustrating and non-productive day, seeing the chefs chowing down a plate of turkey made me smile. Happy Thanksgiving!

Midnight in Montreal

There is something special about the first snowfall of the year. Even though the days are frigid and icy and there is not a leaf left on a tree, this is the first real proof that yes, it truly is winter. Summer has turned to Autumn which has fallen into a silent, white, billowy winter. Experiencing a snowfall in the city can be a remarkable experience, and to experience it in the old part of Montreal at midnight is even moreso. It was as if the city had shut down for this event, leaving the street lamps to glow in the night, lighting the flakes as they whipped in the wind, eventually settling on the abandoned benches, the bare branches and the early Christmas decorations. The city was silent. Padded. And oh so beautiful. Walking the streets in old Montreal at midnight... a memory I won't soon forget.

Baja Bliss

Recently, it was our annual Baja pilgrimage. Just as everyone is going back to school, packing away the summer clothes, and getting back into the work groove after summer vacations, we are packing our surfboard bags and loading up on sunscreen for a family adventure.
I feel so blessed just to be able to take the time off, that we ALL are able to take the time off, and go hang out in the waves together. The best part is that they are not only my family, they are my best friends and some of the coolest people I know. What a lucky girl I am.
Back to the pilgrimage. This involves a really long drive, about 36 hours in fact. The destination is some property that my brothers bought a while back, property in the middle of the desert, property with world class waves out front. It’s an extreme environment. Extreme in its climate, in its plant life, in its inhabitants. Rattle snakes, scorpions, tarantulas, black widows, coyotes, badgers and more that I probably don’t even know about! However, watching a huge orange ball rise out of the ocean every morning, seeing the hundreds of pelicans and gulls fly their daily migration, and surfing alongside dolphins and sea turtles in crystal turquoise waters helps to overshadow the run-ins with the more disturbing creatures.
In saying that, after 2 1⁄2 weeks of desert life, I was ready for a hot shower and pedicure. I must be getting soft in my old age! Thank you guys, for such a special time. I treasure it.

Hong Kong Gone

I hit a wall. Not literally, of course, but exhaustion to the point where I could no longer get out of bed. Florence, Munich, London, Vancouver, Hong Kong… in 4 days. 5 flights, 5 different time zones, and not nearly enough sleep. It was inevitable, really. Perhaps it was 40 hours with no sleep, or maybe the last 13 hour flight, or the 33 degrees and 95% humidity… or maybe all the above. All I can be sure of is that in the 5 minutes before my 3 hour nap, my brain felt like mush, my eyes like sandpaper, my bones and muscles throbbed with fatigue, and my need for sleep was so intense that I would have sold my soul for a 20 minute catnap. Really, I was that exhausted.
Upon waking, I realized, hey, I’m in Hong Kong! And at once took to the streets to explore with renewed vigor that lasted about an hour before my body remembered I was still in a state of exhaustion and sent me right back to bed. In that short time, however, I did manage to find a market, one filled with fish heads, tables of beef and pork, fruit and veggies galore, jade trinkets, Calvin Klein knock-offs and many, many smiling faces (well, okay, they don't really seem to be smiling in these photos, but I was getting lots of smiles, I swear!).

Markets, Iron and Door Knockers Galore

The Italy tour is over, and I am left with a lingering taste of some of the most exquisite wines my palate has ever come upon, some of the best foods to pass across these lips, and pants that fit a little more snuggly. I am left with memories of people whom opened their world, sharing their home, recipes, wine and stories. As well, I am left with many, many photographs taken in attempt to capture this wonderful experience. As I sieve through these thousands of images, I begin to notice trends, or perhaps even small obsessions, with a few select objects. For example, I love doorknockers and unique entrances, so even though I was aware that I sought these out to photograph, I had no idea it would add up to literally hundreds of them! I also developed a fascination with wrought iron: fences, gates, doors… And perhaps my most obvious obsession from the trip was markets. I think this stems from early travel experiences with my family in countries all over Europe and Central America. I have memories of being in markets as a child, eyes wide with awe at the exotic food, unusual smells and striking people. Although each market is unique to its region and culture, ultimately, they all share the same purpose. Every market represents people coming together to buy, to sell, to gossip, to visit, to get advice, to share, to taste, to trade. This is something that has gone on for ages all around the world, and it creates a beautiful energy that is hard not to be drawn in to. For me, the local market is the best way to get to know an area: you can quickly determine the local produce and foods, the prices usually determine how isolated you are, the locals' reactions determine the frequency of tourists. Ultimately, it’s a no frills way to experience a place and its people. For me, it’s the best way.

Under the Umbrian Sun

To me, Umbria is a low-key version of Tuscany. It is still possible to find a medieval hilltop village without the overflowing tour buses, restaurants with no “touristico menu”, and vineyards that aren’t concerned with the wine tours. For me, the best part was the yellow fields of glowing sunflowers, dotting the countryside like a patchwork quilt. At the beginning of our Italy tour, I was told that this iconic symbol of wine country wasn’t yet in season, so it was a wonderful gift to see these stunning flowers on my last days!

Il Casale, Tuscany

3 km from the Etruscan town of Cortona, Il Casale is a 16th Century building made into comfortable apartments set in an English-style garden. The traditional brickwork, original sloping roof tiles, and the winding external staircase are testaments to the history of this residential complex. With a warm and welcoming staff, tours of the nearby villages, cooking classes, or wine tasting can be easily arranged, all of which helps to immerse you in the true Tuscan culture.

As well as the residences through Il Casale, you can stay in an upscale hotel at Villa Baldelli, rent an apartment in the city of Cortona at Belvedere Apartments , or rent your own private villa.

Serre di Parrano is a small hamlet located at an ancient crossroad dating back to the early 13th century. The villas and apartments were created from the original watchtower built in 1850, the school and the village chapel, which have all been beautifully restored in keeping with the traditional rural architecture of Umbria. With views overlooking the peaceful Umbrian countryside, Serre Di Parrano is a wonderful place to spend a quiet weekend or an entire vacation, relaxing by the heated pool or exploring nearby medieval villages.