Time For Creativity

I love taking pictures almost as much as I love to write. I usually find inspiration at the beach, it just takes you to a different place.

The moment I get there, I find myself letting out a huge sigh. Just releasing all the cares & worries that have filled my day.

What is it about the beach?

I live literally 5 minutes away & I never seem to get down there as much as I'd like to.

Take a stroll with me along the beaches of Southern California (Double Click to Enlarge):

HUNTINGTON BEACH (aka- SURF CITY USA), CA
All Photos By: Lisa Petrarca

Sunset Stroll

Under the Pier

Lone Surfer at Sunset

Picture Perfect Moment...

Snapping a Wave

Local Surfer

Palm Tree Tips

Freedom



Volleyball at Sunset


NEWPORT BEACH, CA
Tube at the Jetty's

Hiding Crab

Empty Lifeguard Tower


BALBOA ISLAND, CA
Strolling Birds

Private Dock


BALBOA ART WALK

Bird of Paradise

Preparing For Flight


Washed Ashore

I wanted to submit some pictures to sell on a Photo site, but then I would have to Photoshop them to death.

It seems as though all pictures nowadays are fixed, enhanced, and changed to portray some kind of perfection.

I like my raw, un-retouched photos. It's what I saw at that moment. It's what I was hoping to share with others...bringing them to that exact time that took my breath away.

~Finding time to create~

~Finding me~

~Freedom~

~The ability to be who I really am~

Christmas Card Pictures

Sunday we scheduled a day with all of our kids to take our Christmas card pictures (they even brought their girlfriends and boyfriend for a couple of pictures).

The little guys making fun of the couples

This is quite a task, having teenagers means BUSY schedules. We had my two sister-in-laws and their kids meet us down at the beach and we took some pictures of their kids too. As you can see...LOTS of boys!

(The boys & the cousins)

It was very hectic, not to mention crowded with other people coming up with the same idea. This meant trying to find a spot that random people wouldn't be in the background, roaming around. Between finding the perfect area and avoiding the direct sunlight of the day (1:00 p.m.), there was a lot of shadows that I've been trying to correct with Photoshop. I don't know what I'm doing yet, so I'm trying to wing it! I hate reading directions, but I think I'm going to have to break down and do it.

Me & My Honey

My boys

My second group of amazing kids

We also decided to bring our husky, Allie. I left her treats in the car so of course she wouldn't listen. During the family picture we were all trying to hold her and make her look towards the camera, while we tried to pose and smile. We came up with only 1 picture that everyone looks somewhat normal, even though Elijah is choking the dog. Let's just say it was comedy...(picture the Brady Bunch vacation episode!) Never a dull moment in our family.

(Our family-Anthony punching, the boys struggling with Allie-Tasha was ready...LOL!)

After we finished, Allie decided to go chase after and stalk a little poodle. Dillon went to try to get her away, she slipped out of her collar, while my husband ran over to help. They were running around yelling at the dog and Allie took off straight towards a family and pooped right next to the mom's chair. Then I had to listen to everyone saying, "Why did we have to bring her!"

You would think since the kids are older it would be easier to get them to pose. Nope...now they think they are so funny, making faces, wrestling, pushing and shoving. I would say, "1,2,3!" Right when I was ready to snap...I would get some crazy pose...I yigh yigh!!" I screamed, "KNOCK IT OFF! I have a lot of pictures to take and I don't want to be here all day!" They just laughed at me and wondered off to explore on the rocks...getting in the background as I was taking my sister-in-laws pictures. I think people just stood there staring at us thinking, "They're all crazy." It's like a three ring circus when we all get together!

1...2...3....WHAT?!


1...2...3...tough guys

1...2...3...Real cute guys!

1...2...3...EWE STOP IT...not you too...LOL!

Finally...the one and only decent family shot...

I guess I would have to say...Christmas card pictures=lots of drama!

Sad and Scary Day Yesterday (Part 1 of 2)

I left work yesterday...late again to pick up the kids, but not driving fast like I usually do. Those of you who know me would be amazed how often I drive the speed limit, gas prices and my big gas guzzler has slowed me down. A lady in a blue Expedition was driving next to me, I noticed because every time we pulled up to a red light, she would gun it the second it turned green...I kept looking over because she was acting like she wanted to race...and she was about the same age as me! I guess I probably would have tried to beat her back in the old days when gas was $2.50 (always a little immature I guess.) Oops...I got sidetracked...it's hard to write about yesterdays events!

The lady beat me again, speeding past the kids school, I turned into the parking lot, spotting my two kids standing beside a group of about 20 other kids. All of a sudden I heard a loud chirping noise behind me as I stopped the car. The kids started screaming, "What the HECK!?!" My boys were running inside the crowd towards the street, into the middle of the road...I looked out my rear view window to see them standing in a circle surrounding something, on the ground. I jumped out of my car...worried they would be hit by oncoming traffic. Lying on the ground was a small white dog..the speeding lady had hit him, slowed down, looked in her mirror and sped away...with her child witnessing everything.

The owner of the dog was holding its little head as it laid there breathing hard and looking straight ahead, blinking and silent. It's right hind legs had missing fur and indented where the tire had ran over him. He had a little blood coming out of it's forehead. A neighbor came out with a flat cardboard box and a towel to keep him warm. We slowly scooted him onto the box and carried him onto the sidewalk while the owner ran to get their truck. I was holding the part of the box closest to his head...petting him, trying not to cry, he just kept looking, pleading with his eyes for help. We carefully put him in the back of the truck, they opened the back window to hold him in place as they slowly drove to the vet.

I don't know if he survived...but all night I just kept picturing his eyes and I felt so SAD! How could someone hit a dog and just take off!! What's wrong with people...and in front children!

After I got home the scary part of my day started...(part 2 tomorrow)...

Do You See It?

The white capped waves crashed, splashing up over the rocks, spraying the boy. The stick, which served as a spear, was dropped into the crevice of the rocks. The sand was white, scrunching between my toes with each step. It was the setting I had hoped for when I left my house to unwind and relieve the tension of the day. Allie rushed with sudden force trying to free herself. The royal blue leash stretched to its capacity, holding her captive from the freedom of day. A few steps more...I reached to unhook her...FREE, she bolted across the sand, as though she were gliding over it. Chasing, jumping, pouncing and howling...it was a perfect day, even for a dog.

I reached inside my black bag, to try and capture a day that was like no other. The lens, somehow able to see the exact picture that mesmerized me...freezing the moment, making it possible to share. This was what I needed, a day to stop, look, and appreciate God's gift to each one of us. The day may seem, dull, sad, or overwhelming...stop and look around at God's beauty. It's there, slow down, stop running, take a deep breath, and look around you. Do you see it? Can you feel the peace overtaking you? Breathe again...it's real, it's amazing, just STOP and LOOK!




STOP AND LOOK!

DO YOU SEE IT?!?