I sometimes forget how much fun photography is. It’s really easy to get caught up in the latest trends, the great photographers out there, blogs, equipment, etc. and then just simply forget the part about having fun. After I took the above photo I laughed out loud. It was one of those moments where I thought, “I love it!” It doesn’t always happen like that, but apparently it’s the little things in life that really get me going.

I shot this wedding at Shutters on the Beach in Santa Monica and I was second shooting (assisting) Jen O’Sullivan. I realized later that it was 6 years ago this month that Jen offered me a job shooting for her… geeze, time flies. Here’s a link to a few more photos from the wedding.

Believe it or not, I wasn’t shooting a wedding when I captured this. I was actually in a wedding as a groomsman for my best-friend Zach, and this girl happens to be one of the pastor’s daughters. They had a backyard wedding reception and there was a tire swing in the very back that the little girl’s were playing on. I couldn’t resist once I saw what they were doing so I grabbed my camera and ran back there. I took about 3 photos and got this one. I was stoked.

Found our son playing in the tub with all of his bath toys — sans water and pants.

This is in Hananuma Baby. I love the couple in the bottom left getting the classic tourist shot. Everyone in our car was cracking up because the woman kept changing her poses. And we all know it’s the pose that counts.

This was just beyond Hanauma Bay. Absolutely stunning to see how blue the water was and to feel the warm wind coming off the water. The power of the waves crashing against the rocks was amazing.

This is Pearl Harbor. I shot this from the USS Arizona Memorial center that is across the water from the actual sunken ship. I love American history and this is a must see for any one interested in the subject. Somber place, but the beginning of a long and necessary war. If you look closely, the USS Arizona Memorial is just left of the middle of the image, on the water line (it’s the little white building on the water).

Last but not least, Waikīkī. The famous beach is just as beautiful as people had described it and Bethany and I enjoyed some Starbucks and walked along the water. This particular shot has about 15 photos from left to right.

Alright, here’s some photos from the first part of our day today. It’s only 3:50pm right now so there’s plenty of time left for more shots, so hopefully more to come. Photo captions are below each shot.

Here’s our legit, REAL leis that Megan greeted us with at the airport. The smell nice, and they make the whole room smell good. Bethany’s is on the left and mine is on the right.

Just a quick shot of Bethany and Titus, my two favorite people.

Family shot. Apparently Titus thought Hawaii was more interesting than this photo.

I just love his big blue eyes.

A shot of our friend’s daughter. She’s fun.

Titus with my lei on.

Our friend’s son with his “Automoblox”. They’re like the legos of cars or something. I’m way too stupid to understand it.

“Sorry dad, no more pictures.” - Titus

I love a good story–who doesn’t? But a good story can rise and fall at the mercy of the storyteller. That’s why I love the story and videos below. Yes, the story is good, but more than that, the way this young man tells the story of how he was able to reunite a lost roll of film with it’s owner is just great. Take a few minutes and watch these little videos. I think you’ll be blessed.

Found: Lost Pictures of New York Blizzard (part 1)

Found: Lost Pictures of New York Blizzard (part 2)

Found: Lost Pictures of New York Blizzard (part 3)

If you can’t see the above videos, here are links to all three parts of “Found: Lost Pictures of New York Blizzard”: part 1, part 2, part 3

Also, I’m realizing more and more that I’m still learning how to use my camera…hard to explain, but it’s true. For you photo nerds, I shot all of these with my 16-35mm f/2.8 and I plan on shooting with it a lot more often. There’s something right about the 35mm — it’s a classic and I think I need to trust it more. But more on that later…on to the photos!

Literally every book I got for Christmas (2010). 2011 is shaping up to be the year of “input” (and if you don’t get that reference, go watch Short Circuit). I haven’t decided whether or not I’m going to try and read all of them this year. That would basically be one book a month and a few them are in the 500 page range. If I can resolve to read twenty minutes a day, I think I could it — the real question is do I want to? The verdict is still out on that. Either way you can expect reviews on everything I read.

All the books listed from the top of the stack to the bottom (in the above photo):

1. Worldliness by C.J. Mahaney
2. Whatever Happened to Worship by A.W. Tozer
3. Dedication and Leadership by Douglas Hyde
4. Letters From a Father to His Sons in College by Samuel Miller
5. The Dumbest Generation by Mark Bauerlein
6. Why We Love The Church by Kevin Deyoung and Ted Kluck
7. How Should We Then Live? by Francis Schaeffer
8. Gospel-Powered Parenting by William P. Farley
9. The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer
10. Making Ideas Happen by Scott Belsky
11. The Apostles’ Doctrine of the Atonement by George Smeaton
*12. Style and the Man by Alan Flusser

*not pictured