Sunset Cliffs Beach with Victor and Abby

I went to visit my cousin and his family in Chula Vista on Thursday and figured that I should offer to take portraits for them.  They said they new a cool location on a nearby beach.  I’ve been getting accustomed to the hot beach spots in Orange County. Beautiful, but crowded and always people taking pictures. I imagined something similar but boy was I wrong.  There were only a few people, mostly joggers running by.  There wasn’t much of a beach because the cliffs go right up to the edge of the water.  We arrived about 30 minutes before sunset and started shooting.  The sky was deep blue and not a cloud nearby.  Taking pictures at the beach is one of my favorite things to do.  It’s meditative.  Like looking up at the sky on a clear night for a good 10 minutes.  The beauty of creation is mesmerizing.  Your mind gets lost in thought.

Ortega family on Sunset Cliffs Beach

I think I’ve gotten the whole beach sunset photography thing down now.  It’s challenging because of the changing light.  At first, I was using Cactus V2 wireless triggers to manually fire my flash.  Now I let Nikon’s CLS work it’s magic.  To reach where I am today, which is by no means mastery but still I’ve grown, I must have taken thousands of pictures at sunset.  One time, when I was shooting with model Jessica Lopez MM#1196572, it was windy and my lightstand fell.  3 times.  Nothing was ruined but now my silver umbrella looks nice and rugged.  Like it’s been in a couple fights or something.  Oh and my Nikon flash has a chip in the corner and you can hear something move inside when you shake it.  Still works though!

Cute couple with fiery sunset in background

Victor and Abby, along with my other cousin Steve are the founders of the INV Artist Network, which is a Christian-art inspired shirt company.  Artists can contribute their ideas and win prizes including cash, money, dinero!  Be sure to add them to your Facebook account as well.

Steve, Abby and Vic of INV Artist Network

Baby Marley

I have a new niece.  Her name is Marley.  The magic of children is amazing.   There you are, comfortable in your own world and then suddenly, you don’t have time to fix your hair anymore.  8 hours of sleep?  Forget it.  Alone time?  Forget it.  But it’s OK because you have a child that is completely dependent on you.  They are part of you.  More important than you.  They are God’s gift.  Friends with kids would tell me that it’s a love you can’t describe.  It’s true.

Baby Marley and parents, Raquel and Mario

You gain alot of respect for your own parents once you have a child.  Marley was very colicky her first few days in the world.  Grandma said it was Raquel’s diet.  The nurses said it wasn’t.  Raquel changed her diet.  Nurses 0, Grandma 1.  Marley now sleeps much better and wakes up without as much crying.

Congratulations Raquel and Mario.  Marley, welcome to the world.  Oh and get used to me taking pictures =).