Fourth of July in Woodacre

What a fun little town! Just north of the city and through a few winding hills is a quirky and beautiful little town called woodacre. A good friend of mine moved up there a while ago, but I never had a chance to see the town. She invited me up for the fourth, but warned me that she would have to leave to ride her horse down main street for the parade. How cute! Ended up spending time at the barn afterward and falling in love with this town and it's amazing people.

A bittersweet celebration

Warren Hellman, the founder and funder of the HSB festival, among many other accomplishments, passed away last December. His service was touching and awe inspiring, having various speakers ranging from political dignitaries to fellow ride and tie cowboys, and of course, singers and banjo players. Though moving, it was fitting that his life needed a celebratory concert that the entire public could be a part of. Just two months later, the impressive HSB production and ops team put together a seamless full day concert featuring favorite artists of Warrens just at the end of Golden Gate park by the beach. Tears were shed, as were laughs and memories of the amazing things Warren had done in his life. He will be sorely missed, but his spirit was alive and well that day on the beach.

Underwater south of the border

Determined to travel whenever given the opportunity, I saw an empty five day block of time in my schedule I couldn't pass up. I jumped on scubaboard to get some ideas for some easy to get to dive sites that would be both economical and not effected by seasonal rains. The island of Cozumel off Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula was suggested enough for me to run a few flight and hotel searches. Soon enough, I was planning which bus and ferry I'd catch to get in as much island time as possible. Cozumel was everything I was hoping for, relaxed atmosphere without all the tourist traps and plenty of diving opportunities. I stayed further into town, well off the beaten path of tourists, and had the best time. My humble bnb was perfect, and the super friendly owner and his awesome overgrown lab were the best hosts. The local café and panadería were filled with friendly locals and delicious eats, and key to my trip, I found an awesome dive shop that was able to take me out on a number of dives. What a great time, looking forward to returning some day.

Annual Mahoney Chistmas

How did I get so lucky to be part of this wacky and fun Christmas project? My good friends, the Mahoney's, have taken the standard Christmas card to a whole new level. Lore says Ben is trying to out do his brother, but I can't imagine anyone topping them, ever. Thankfully Mel is game and they put out a much talked about and anticipating card every year. This years shoot was shot around Napa and Sonoma, their new backyard, featuring an old western theme. Sworn under secrecy, I had to wait to release these photos. Am already excited to see what they will come up with next year!

Sharkfest Golden Gate swim!

Just got back from a great open water swim - the inaugural Sharkfest Golden Gate Bridge swim. Couldn't have asked for a better day!

On my drive over the bridge, I got to catch the sun rise over the east bay hills, making the bay truly shimmer. Upon arriving, my nerves was instantly calmed when the registrants recognized my HSB crew shirt and I found out that they were part of the stellar info booth crew. Once boarding the ferry, we had to wait a bit for a cargo ship to make it's way through, and got to talking to a few hilarious and wonderful people. Love these events if nothing more then for the great people.

But then of course, the swim! Started off a little rough with the wake of said cargo ship hitting us upon entry, but was able to get a rhythm going a little ways in. Did ride a few of those wave though! Sight lines were confusing to say the least and my course would be anything but direct, but having the underside of the golden gate bridge as my view wasn't half bad.
Great swim and am so happy my friend Martha convinced me to do it. Thanks!

Hardly Strictly Bluegrass

To say I look forward to this festival every year would be quite the understatment. It truly is a fantastic music festival, but more importantly, a time that friends from all over the city, state, and country gather for the better part of a week in golden gate park to set it all up. Getting to work on this festival is part fun and part insanity. The hours are ridiculously long, but seem to fly by. Somehow in all the madness of the event and multitude of jobs I take on during the festival, I snuck in the time to get a few shots. Maybe some year I'll not work and just photograph the event... nah, it's too much fun not to work!

Oh how I love fall

With out question, October is my favorite month of the whole year. In San Francisco it means the warm weather is finally here, people get out of the fog and take advantage of all what this city has to offer. It starts with my favorite music festival of the year and ends with my favorite holiday of all time, Halloween.