Bali

Oh, to be somewhere warm right now...

Want a print for your walls? You can view more images and order prints HERE.

Jason Canlas, my brother. 33 yrs old yesterday.

Yesterday was his birthday. Happy Birthday Ja, love you bro. Wish, oh, do I wish you guys lived closer. I could not imagine a more perfect birthday gift than having your adoption go through and spending it there in Cody WY.

Kristopher Orr on Snippet and Ink!

My good friend, super talented past intern, and FILM IS NOT DEAD San Fran attendee, Kristopher Orr is featured on the amazing blog Snippet and Ink with a RAD wedding he shot in Hawaii. Check out the feature HERE!

And if you are wondering how I met Kristopher, he came to the Film is Not Dead workshop out in San Francisco last year. I'm gearing up for Film is Not Dead San Diego which is July 19th-21st 2010. Email me for details.

Some down time in Houston - Fuji FP-3000B

Taken last month on our visit to see my brother and his family in Houston TX.

The other Canlas Family - Fuji FP-3000B

The one that lives in Houston TX. This photo is now obsolete, even though it was taken almost a month ago. A couple days ago, my brother got a call saying they needed to be in Cody WY THE NEXT DAY as their adoption they have been patiently waiting over 2 years for came through. He has a layover at SLC next week on his way back and we'll be doing more photos then. I can't wait to meet my new nephew. Rumor has it his name is Chase, which in my opinion is RAD.

Best Email E.V.E.R.

This landed in my inbox on Monday and it really, really made my day and I thought I'd share it with all of you who read this blog:

"Hi.

You don't know me. I am just a blog stalker. I am not a photographer. I'm barely even artistic. Not even in the market to get my photos taken. Just a stalker.

But you should know that your work makes me happy. Really happy.

I just love looking at your work and you should know, from a complete and total stranger, that you are very talented. I love the way you see things and I love the way you capture every day moments and the details that we often miss. And most of all, I love the smiles you capture. Which I have to believe comes from a. your talent and b. you.

I just thought you should know, that a completely random stranger gets a smile on her face pretty much daily when she looks at your work.

Hope it's not weird, I just thought that I would want to know if my passion/work made someone else happy....

So, Thank You!!
janelle"

No, thank you Janelle, and anyone else who reads/follows this blog. I post so much on this blog for the sole reason that Janelle wrote about, hoping that it makes other people happy.

My work is just that. I document the light found in people; people having fun, people in love, the love found in families, laughter (LOTS of laughter), and everything that goes along with being happy. And my wish is that you, the reader, are inspired in one way or another and feel just that, happiness.

So thank you Janelle, and all of you other readers. You made my day and here's to 2010 and more posts that will hopefully make you smile!

Get by with a little help from our friends...

I NEVER do this but my good friend Natalie is going through what I would call hell on earth and she needs our help. Her little newborn, Gavin, is up at the PICU at Primary Children's in Salt Lake City (we were totally there at the same time in the same building with them with our Weston) and is battling for his life. If you are inclined to prayer, or meditation, or just good thoughts in general, I'm asking for you help with prayers. You can read about what is going on HERE. I've known Natalie for almost 2 years now (she came to my first workshop out in Laie HI) and she is one of the most amazing example's of a mother I've ever met. She needs my help, and she needs your help and thank you in advance for any help you do or can give.