HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Tonight I will be spending the evening with my mom, dad & some of the hula ohana!

Happy New Year (12/31/07)

Sisters

What's funny is that these 2 often get confused for being twins. Auntie Jos was a twin, but not to mom. If you put them next to eachother while dancing hula...its like watching them dance in to a mirror. They've known each other forever & while we don't see Auntie too often, I know that she continues to love mom as if she was her sister.

Mom & Auntie Jos at Todai (12/29/07)

Happy Birthday Uncle!!

This evening we had a reservation at Todai in Redmond for 48 of us. I believe we actually ended up with about 35, but who's counting!? LOL We had a great time spending time together, catching up on stuff & eating whatever our hearts desired. HAUOLI LA HANAU UNCLE!!

Uncle Hui & Makana at Todai (12/29/07)

Seattle Cancer Care Alliance

Today, mom, dad & I went to the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance to seek a 2nd opinion on mom's health care. We had a great appointment & they made us & her especially, feel comfortable. I hope to work with them in the future.....

Seattle Cancer Care Alliance Oncology Department (12/28/07)

Seattle Premium Outlets

Today, Hoku picked me up & we headed out to Marysville to the outlets. She made good money with her tips from the restaurant & wanted to spoil herself with a new Coach. However, she ended up not getting the Coach, but instead got some shoes from Sketchers & a REALLY REALLY cute dress-shirt from Michael Kors & it was a size LARGE & she was SO stoked!

Seattle Premium Outlet mall in Marysville (12/27/07)

A Few Cool Prints....FRAMED!

So I got the opportunity to frame 2 of my photos for 2 lucky folks. When I came back from Hawaii, I was showing Auntie Sue some of my photos from there & she came across 1 that she really liked & wanted framed for Uncle Pete for Christmas. She wanted a 24x20 print & have that framed. I named it "Pete's Place" added a sticker to the back with its name, who its named after, location of where it was photographed & then I signed it. Here is Uncle Pete's photo...

For my brother in law's girlfriend, Melisa, I had the opportunity to photograph her, her sister & her mom while her sister was visiting for their mom's bday. Melisa arranged a shoot with me because they hadn't had pictures together in forever & her mom still had photos up from when they were in grade school. The photo shoot was in July & whenever I talked with Melisa, she always told me that she hadn't had anything printed or framed, but she knew she wanted to get something done. So instead, I gave her a framed 11x14 of what I thought was the best photo from their shoot & it ended up to the photo that she would've chosen also. She loved it. Here's Melisa's photo....

Christmas presents for Uncle Pete & Melisa (December 2007)

Christmas with the Menza's

So on Christmas morning, we go to breakfast with my parents & then go our seperate ways for the afternoon & then meet back up at my hula sissy & bff, Kapua's place (or Sean's...lol) This year I had fun taking pics of the kids (and some adults), who had NO PROBLEM being hams for me!!

My Christmas Evening (12/25/07)

Christmas Eve with the Inlaws!

Every year we split Christmas.....Christmas Eve is spent with my inlaws & then Christmas Day is spent with my parents. We had yummy dinner & followed it up with opening presents. It doesn't get any better!

Nyomi taking time out to cheese for me (12/24/07)

Photo shoot at the Wylie's

Today I got the opportunity to spend the day with Auntie Sue & Uncle Pete & all of their ohana. Yes....ALL of their ohana. The 4 kids with their spouses & kiddos....& even Tammy's parents from Vegas. At one point there was 19 people in the house. It was a fun day full of laughter & lotsa pics!

Auntie Sue, Uncle Pete & their 8 grandbabies! (12/23/07)

Kahanu's Christmas Photos

This evening I took photos of Candace's youngest boy, Kahanu. He & his daddy met me over at Saghalie Jr High here in Federal Way & I let him just go where ever he wanted to & I followed with my camera. We shot about 75 frames & I got great shots from it. Here's my favorite from the shoot.

Kahanu in the tree (12/22/07)

A New Body for Me!!

So you've probably heard me talk about how I've been wanting a new camera body. It didn't have to be for x-mas, but it did have to be before May, which is when my first wedding shoot is. It is advised that if you're shooting a wedding, you should get another camera JUST IN CASE. People pay you money & you need to deliver. So yesterday a package came for me & Marcel instantly went in the room, examined it & wrapped it up. Well this morning when I woke up there was a note telling me that I could open it if i wanted to. I chose not to, because I wanted to wait until he woke up....so when he did, he brought it over & I opened it. It was MY NEW BODY!! A Nikon D80....the differences between my D50 & this D80....mine has 6.1 megapixels, this one has 10....mine has only 4-5 ISO settings, this one has about 8-10....the body is noticably smaller....and there's SO much more. You can tell just by looking at it. I'm STOKED!

My new Nikon D80...shot with the D80 (12/21/07)

Santa Baby

This was taken during the photo shoot with Kaha'i & Lehua. I love this photo & she was being so photogenic for me...it was GREAT! She kept looking at me & then when the flash would go off, she'd give that infamous Stephens scowl, blink a few times & then continue on....

Lehua Stephens (12/18/07)

Kaha'i & Lehua Stephens

Last night I had the opportunity to photograph Aloha's babies, Kaha'i & Lehua. The idea was to get a few photos of them together, but I realized soon in the evening that it wasn't going to happen to easily, but that's ok, because I was happy with the photos that did make it!!

Kaha'i pondering over taking pictures (12/18/07)

New Assignment...

So the assignment of the shallow depth of field is over & there are SO many great photographers that surround the Subaru community...its ridiculous. You think my good friend, Armin, is great?? He didn't even place...which baffles me...but whatever! LOL The new assignment from now til the end of the month is textures. So here is 1 of my entries thus far...

La'i from competition in.....2004??? (12/18/07)

Submission #2

Here is another thought for submission on the texture project. Rocks off of the bottom of Marcel's 125 gal fishy tank.

The rocks have a grainy almost slimey texture.... (12/18/07)

Park Photos

Yesterday I had a photo shoot with Jack & Liana Shanes. I've known Liana longer than I've known Jack, but I attended their wedding back in the day & that automatically gives me the right to say that i've known them for a lonnnnnnnnnnnnng time. :) I had a great time shooting them & laughing with them. Thanks!! :)

Loverbird picture on the bench at the park (12/16/07)

Permission

I was granted permission to use 14 photos for my boudoir photo shoot to show off. So I totally forgot about, so here's another submission from that shoot. (don't worry Liana, your photos are uploading!!)

Melisa Dutra for her hubby, PJ on their 14 year anniversary! (Nov '07)

Mokihana & Makana

I did a photo shoot for Mokihana Marticio & her ohana today. We caught up on some stuff & had a great time!! Here is a good pic of her & her daughter Makana.

Mokihana & Makana (12/15/07)

Umeke & Drums

This was another submission, but I decided not to go with it. I'm not sure why...maybe because it didn't have enough color. Not sure...but I still like the photo!

Umeke with the Drum in the background (12/12/07)

Whose slipper is this??

This is my bff's slipper at halau & Albert is holding it for me. I was again trying out the shallow depth of field thing...this photo didn't make it in the batch.

Cute Ladybug Slippers (12/12/07)

Submission for Depth of Field

I chose the photo below with Marcel's stein collection, the one with his stein in the front & also this picture below. I took this at halau the other night. Kinda a transition from summer to winter feel to it...

I don't like winter....BOO (12/11/07)

Halau Babies!

Yep, here they are...not all of them, but most of them!! All anxiously awaiting the arrival of Santa Claus at the halau Christmas party!!

Halau Babies (12/8/07)

Happy Birthday To You!

So I can post this photo because I did indeed take it of myself & Marcel!! HA! Today Marcel celebrates his 29th year of life...man, he's old!! hahaha jk! It'll be a night of video games, going out to dinner & that's about it. Hope you had a great day daddy! Love you!

Happy Birthday Daddy!! (04/15/06)

The Secret Society

Don't tell anyone, but they are a secret society. Made up of the aunties that are in the halau who meet often for girly-womens only-luncheons & shopping dates. Here they are at the halau Christmas party posing with Santa!!

The ladies of the Secret Society & Santa (12/8/07)

To submit or not submit - Take II

Ok, so here's another photo that I pondered on for this project. Another photo of Marcel's stein collection, featuring the one from Germany with his name on it....hmmmm....

Marcel's Stein - Take 2 (12/8/07)

Hmmm, to submit or not submit Part I

So I explained that there was a photo contest deal on a local Subaru forum that I frequently check & participat on. Well I've been going crazy trying to figure out what I want to submit. I only have 3 days left & I still have yet to put something in. UGH! Here's one photo that I've thought about. (subject: shallow depth of field - a.k.a focusing on something close up with the burry-ness in the back)

Marcel's Stein Collection - Take 1 (12/7/07)

Lani's Playing Basketball!!

I'm not sure if i'm as excited as she is. I watch her run & it scares me, because she runs the way I used to (i may still run like this, but my ass doesn't run anymore). It was this horsey-trot along kind of run. An "i've got a heavy-ass" run. I can't explain it. Anyhoo, she can shoo though. She shot her first 4 baskets at her first practice of the season. This should be fun to watch!

My NuNu at her first basketball practice! (12/4/07)

Yep! Its That Time!!

Every year halau has a Christmas party & every year for the past 2-3 years, I've put together a slideshow, going through all of the things we've done together. Its funny to go through all of the pictures & think "OH MY GOD...I REMEMBER THAT!" Well I've been having fun digging through photos, uploading music & putting it all together for our party this Saturday. Remember this??

The gang bringing in the New Year (1/1/07)

Another Project Challenge

I'm not sure if anyone knows, but I've been a member of a Subaru Forum called NASIOC. It stands for North American Subaru Impreza Owners Club. I've been a member since May of 2003. I've made many great friends on there (Pat, Armin, Erik, Erich, Russell, Jen, etc....which in turn leads me to meet more cool peeps). So there's a new thread on there that puts the local photogs, wanna-be photogs, and anyone that has an interest in photography to the test. Its a photography challenge where someone gives an assignment of what to shoot & anyone is allowed to enter up to 3 submissions of that particular assignment. The one who gives the assignment is the judge & whomever wins that challenge gets to pick the next challenge & becomes the judge. As if I don't have enough crap going on, huh? LOL Anyhoo, this go round is Shallow Depth of Field & this was going to be my submission, but it wasn't shot in the stated time frame (1st of the month thru 15th)....damn!

Dancing to the beat of the Uncle Earl's guitar (11/27/07)

Cycle World Motorcycle Show

We've gone to this show every year for I don't know how long now. It seems to always be close to Marcel's birthday, so we call it the Marcel birthday motorcycle show. Every year we go & paroose around the newest & greatest....and every year I get the same "I want this one.." "This is the one honey..." "I REALLY like this one..." LOL So this year it seemed more than a reality, because I think he's finally going to get his bike this coming summer. And I'm ok with that. I have a few guy friends that ride (and 2 girls) & they all ride relatively safely. Here's our adventure around the Qwest Field Convention Center...

Cycle World Motorcycle Show (12/1/07)