Brittany Cavaco in Central Park…
Seattle is slowly blooming, which I’m always happy to see. A splash of color appearing on the mostly gray background is definitely invigorating. I should have some new work coming out in the next couple of weeks…Seattleites, contact me if you’d like to shoot!
One of the big downers of leaving NY is not being able to work with this lady again…stunning face and figure!
So, it’s my one year anniversary with this blog…I’ve had a lot of fun with it! You’ve met old friends, new friends, gotten naked, danced, gone skating, come along on a road trip, moved from NYC to Seattle, and most importantly, gotten real and vulnerable with me. I truly love what I do and can’t wait to make others (and possibly you?) feel wonderful in front of my camera. Thank you for reading and observing…stay tuned. And remember: you’re fucking fabulous 😉
I’m slowly learning Seattle, taking it one step at a time. In the pauses between rain, the sky opens up into beautiful cloud formations. It takes me some time to get my bearings in a new place, so I’m posting Veronica here as a reminder to keep leaping forward. I’m excited to shoot here…the bright, yet cloudy sky will function as perfect outdoor lighting.
I loved the air in Yosemite. Amazingly clean after all those years in NY. When traveling with pets, hotels tend to place you in rooms away from other customers, and that’s fine with me. It meant this very private back deck to hang out on with no one else around. Took the opportunity to do this: it’s a collaborative effort between my husband and I (he clicked, I directed and edited)…I was probably a pain in his butt, demanding very particular angles and moving so he wouldn’t take others. Photographer power struggle! Anyway, I decided to do this after some negative feelings and thoughts…call it a healing technique. The air felt amazing on my skin and everything just went quiet…bliss.
To be perfectly transparent, I’m posting this to remind myself of that quiet…posting this feels stranger that actually taking the shot, but it’s all a process…a fun one! And this also serves as vengeance for all my subjects that I may have frozen over the years 😉
If you’d like to give healing photography a try, please click here to request a shoot and we’ll talk! http://www.123contactform.com/form-1455719/
Road trip, day 12. Observations: breakfast with my high school best friend at her farm (Loo Loo Farm with yummy duck eggs), complete with puppy kisses…ridiculous levels of cute. Managed to avoid all the sportsball traffic…miracles do happen. San Francisco armory tour and dinner with the awesome Ryan. Too sleepy to even write this. Have some puppies. Armory shots will come a different day…because they just don’t quite go with puppies.
Road trip, day 13. Observations: I need more breakfasts with my husband and Ryan. Concepts like getting your brakes fixed before driving near Yosemite so you don’t fall off the edge are important to realize. Rear tires too. All this vehicle stuff is complicated. Windy roads are…an adventure. Apparently if you turn off all the lights everywhere, you see things called stars. What sorcery is this? If it’s possible to be high on fresh air, consider me flying. You don’t get much of either living in NYC…
Road trip, day 14. Observations: I didn’t want to leave Yosemite ever. You could bottle and sell that air. Except in the restrooms, which were something out of a horror movie. Easily forgotten, though, as you take in the outside beauty. Crows stare haughtily, waiting for you to be stupid enough to drop your lunch. So glad we had our brakes fixed or I might not be typing this. Leaving Yosemite is a challenge itself…narrow, winding roads, where boulders rest comfortably, blocking the view of oncoming cars. The trucks, of course, had to make their appearance as well. Props to the husband for getting us down alive. Less glamours stops included the Belching Choir Gas Station. Sailed past the motels that looked like you might get murdered and settled in for the evening…I wanna go back to Yosemite!
Road trip, day 15. Observations: calling my favorite chef and demanding he entertain us turned into a really entertaining recipe brainstorming session. Anyone who knows the husbands food combinations should rightfully be cringing right now. Lack of reception in the mountains cut it off before it got truly bad. More pretty scenery, and long discussions. If it’s possible for Applebees to knock up an Olive Garden, that’s where we had dinner. Tasty and not quite healthy. It’s our last night before we reach our destination. Part of me is relieved, part of me wants to keep going…still plenty to see, I’m sure. It’s been fun. But I think Lilly here has had it…what a trooper.
Road trip, day 16. Observations: final entry…we have arrived in Seattle! Woke up to rain which seemed quite fitting. Arrived at my brothers house, broke in, and immediately took control of the washing machine. Relieved that Lilly and her cousin Shadow get along beautifully. Bonus: Shadow didn’t try to eat Slinky. Big shout out to the pets for handling this move like champs. Happy reunion with the fam. My nephew was sent to retrieve four beers from the downstairs refrigerator. He came back, handed my brother two. When he was instructed to get two more, he gave my brother a smirk, and with a level of slickness usually only found in pro bartenders, whipped the other two out of his pocket. Well played, kiddo…well played. Zusev over and out.
Road trip, day 4. Observations: Total tourist mode today. The tour guide thought the most interesting thing in the cemetery would be the resting place of Nicholas Cage, despite the fact he’s still alive. It was not. Much preferred the older, crumblier ones with the occasional leaf poking out. Ireland defeated Mexico in the genetic war for my complexion, so had to make a stop at CVS for sunscreen…the first thing you see when you walk into a New Orleans CVS is shelves and shelves of alcohol. I have a thing for scrolly ironwork and drippy vines (moms influence, I’m sure), so enjoyed the architecture. Had my obligatory beignet, and henna tattoo. Managed to convince my husband that no, we do NOT need an antique cannon to put in the bedroom. I’m more of a sword girl, really.
Road trip, day 5. Observations: Jonette, my Louisiana IHOP waitress needs to be promoted to CEO. Spunky older lady, bristling with efficiency even the most jaded of New Yorkers can appreciate. Rock on, lady. This was the least interesting day due to bad traffic, and hours of scraggly trees. Luckily, I’m easily amused and Louisiana signage was KILLING it today. “Meet Moby Foot Alligator.” Maybe next time. “Hook-ups!” I wondered if this was the billboard version of Tinder, but alas, they were referring to RVs. “Rent me!” Plastered on a giant dumpster, overflowing with trash. No thank you. I had gone two days without any sign of fireworks or adult superstores, but finally saw two of each today. My new comfort zone? Made it to Texas, and yes, did the BBQ thing for dinner…much better than chain places! The pup gobbled down the leftovers and thinks she won the lottery.
Road trip, day 6. Observations: I think Tim Burton designed some of the trees. Encountered the biggest fireworks store yet. Texas gas stations have beer caves. Saw many billboards advertising beaver nuggets…was mystified until I learned it’s a sweet corn puff snack. Husband is devastated that they aren’t made from real beaver. Turns out I don’t hate driving, I just hate other drivers anywhere near me and not going 80 on a gorgeous open highway. Desert winds are no joke. Invaded husbands navy friends house for the night. And took over their washing machine. Thanks Hollo and fam!
Road trip, day 7. Observations: cows, cows, and more cows. Several billboards advertising “The Thing” but we were rerouted so I still have no idea what it is. Raced the Union Pacific train and won. Naturally someone had to spray paint a penis on one of the cars. Super clever, bro. One of the prettiest days we’ve had so far…mountains, desert, sunset, etc. Texas may have had the biggest fireworks store, but New Mexico had the most. Settled in AZ, ordered dinner, and received a call saying, so sorry, but they won’t deliver for under $20. Our total came to $21. Blinkblink.
Left NYC and taking the long way to Seattle…all I have so far are quickie phone shots, but thought I’d share anyway.
Road trip, day 1. Observations: the fireworks store is open 24/7 all year round for your firework needs. The adult superstore sign is about 10 feet away from the church sign. Snow covered farms are indeed picturesque. Sorry manspreaders, and showtime pole dancers…I prefer the open road to the subway. Onward!
Road trip, day 2. Observations: don’t worry, fireworks are still plentiful. I never noticed how much I needed fresh air until I actually breathed some. Godsends include bananas and hand sanitizer. The more south you go, the cheaper the gas. Macaroni and cheese is under the vegetable section on the menu. Long rides are perfect for productive discussions. I kind of wanted to prank call the billboard that said “available” and a phone number. In conclusion, I’m shocked my husband didn’t try to trade the truck for the gorgeous custom build motorcycle we encountered.
Road trip, day 3. Observations: started in frost, ended up in T-shirt weather. Driving is not my favorite, especially when every 18 wheeler ever is on the road. Alabama skies are, in fact, so blue…but Skynard neglected to mention the traffic in Birmingham. Trees grow in ponds. Grossest thing on the trip so far? Jerky in the form of chewing tobacco…still marveling in horror over that one. Landed in New Orleans till Sunday. I learned you don’t have to flash anybody for dollar store beads…they get hurled directly onto your dinner plate…while you’re on a second story balcony. Any of those sportsball teams need a pitcher or whatever? I’ve got your guy. I kept the green beads, because the pink ones obviously had to go to the husband…
LizZusev 