The Challenge - 12/05/2011 - Santa Rosa Trip

We had a blast in Santa Rosa this weekend.  It was exhausting at times with 4 kids running crazy through the house and through the hills but thats what family is all about, right?  Here are some of my favorite shots from the weekend:

"Check out my backpack its for hiking", still not sure what Jake had in there?

Which one do you think actually cares about being up on that wall?

The explorer

Way too pretty to be hiking up here

These are awesome!  (Not sure what "these" were or where he got them)

Uncle David can climb higher than you!

"I'm gonna hit you with this stick!"

Another tree to climb.

This looks like a good place to rest.

I'm jumping out! (2 foot fall)

"Does my hand look good here, how are my nails?"

Unbelievable light, less believable climber.

Dead deer and Scout felt the need to pick up his dome!

His dome.

The living deer went that way!

Another tree, this one was similar to the deer...dead.

Conqueror, seriously looks like a conquistador.

"I'm running from Jake!" (Jake not interested)

Grass?

Jake, "there was a little deer and a big deer here", Scout, "my belly is cold".

Beautiful.

Good place to stop.

That hoodie is so small on Scout!  It looks like its squeezing her head out of it.

One happy camper, just one.

Its pie time!  Amy is an incredible baker and she killed an apple pie just for me, seriously.

Waiting patiently for her slice.

Post dessert, now we can have lunch...not as interested in that hot dog is she?

Amy makes hoodies for really little people.

A beautiful day for a walk with the family.

Lincoln thought this would be a good time to run away, while Bryony was focused on smiling ;)

But he decided not to go very far.

Stop Sucking your thumb Scout, thats what babies do!

No.

Dad look what's on my finger!

As close to a family portrait as we get.

Scout, "I don't want to climb anymore trees!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

The front of Amy and Brandon's new home.  Beautiful isn't it?

Evy, "Lincoln climb in here and I'll push you (in baby talk)."  Lincoln, "OK (also in baby talk)."  Moments later crying ensued with an upside down carriage.

The day is ending and so is Lincoln's energy level.

Can we go now?

We had so much fun, we really hated leaving.  Lucky for us we'll be back there in a couple of weeks for Christmas!  Thanks for checking back in.  Send any photography related questions to david@dasophoto.com.

P.S.  I would like to say a special Happy Birthday to my brother Chris Sowers.  He's 35 today.  He's been a huge influence in my life and taught me so much, especially about carpentry.  He has a remodeling business in Houston, TX if anyone is in the market for a remodel, Solid State Construction.  He really is the best.  Thanks Chris for everything you've shared with me, I pray you have a great birthday, I love you brother.

The Challenge - 12/04/2012 - Santa Rosa, CA

I'm going to tell you now that this blog is going to be continued. My family has been in Santa Rosa this weekend, we're traveling home now and I'm exhausted. I rarely get to take a photo with my family so I thought this would be a good opportunity for that. Yes it's my big nose on the left side! There will be a much larger post with more photographs tomorrow but for now enjoy the portrait of our family. Thanks for checking back in.

The Challenge - 12/03/2012 - My Train Ride

Sometimes I jump at even the thought of something adventurous.  I always say that my mind has a little squirrel running around in it chasing around ideas that often don't seem to go anywhere.  So when my wife said that she was headed up to Santa Rosa, CA on friday, without me, I was a little bummed.  Then the squirrel started running around in my head about how I could get there Saturday evening, inexpensively and alone.  So the Amtrak idea was born.  The strange thing is, my father is a 32 year switchman for the Union Pacific railroad and I've never ridden a train.  Now I'm wondering why, this has been the easiest most relaxing trip I have ever taken, free wifi that is actually good, a dining car and no one even near me for a few rows.  I thought I would try and photograph some sites that you don't get to see on a normal basis.  See thats the beauty of riding a train in America, it opens up so many magnificent views and areas that we weren't even aware existed.

The beginning of my voyage:

I loved the layering of color and texture in the landscape:

Constructing some sort of pipeline:

Bells or lights:

Incredible landscapes along the San Joaquin Delta:

Yeah someone actually lives here:

I love old warehouses and have a dream of living in one someday:

Reflection at sunset, somewhere in Sonoma County:

Girl at sunset:

The end of my trip:

Thanks for checking back and don't forget to send me your questions!

The Challenge - 12/02/2011 - Recent Family Shoot

Had a great time a few weeks ago Photographing Claudia with her two children and her mother.  It was a beautiful morning here in Stockton.  Her son was full of energy, running around in circles, jumping on and off of everything and her daughter was a stark contrast to him.  She was way more mellow!  A couple of great kids and a beautiful family.  He was so excited at the end of the shoot when I presented him his reward...a piece of candy.  He worked so hard for it.  Enjoy! (Hint: Click on any image to open it in a larger gallery view, where you can just click next to see the following image large)

The Challenge - 12/01/2011 - Shutter Speeds

Talking about different types of shutters and how to use fast and slow shutter speeds to your advantage.



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