andrewcalofblog

[andrewcalofblog]

SOPHIE TEENER

Ring Ring. Click.  Beautiful classical music plays in the background, like something out of Motzart’s #40 . "No you haven't reached Orchestra Hall, you've reached 588-6717..."  Those were the words spoken by my late grandmother, Sophie Teener, on her home answering machine for as long as I can possibly remember.  Sophie passed away peacefully at Shalom Home East on Nov 11, 2017.

How does one even begin to paint a picture of more than a 101 years of life? I mean think about it, 101 plus years. Let me put some things in perspective - a woman who was born during World War I, lived through the Great Depression, began a family during World War II, chased the American dream by growing a theatrical business with her husband Jerry, raised four children in the midst of the most changing period of the 20th century, Civil Rights, Women's Rights, saw those children turn into adults themselves, the Cold War, Vietnam, the Space Race, Punk Rock, Big Hair, the tech boom, and so on. It's 2017, people. She was born in 1916. We should all be so lucky.

In the midst of all that, Bubby was the center of the universe, a huge breath of life and glowing beacon of hope that inspired so many of us to reach for our dreams. There are too many memories and moments to list, but here is what comes to mind. She was the center of our family - Shabbat dinners every Friday evening at her home when I was younger, a chance for us all to be together and for her to take care of everyone. We'd sit around her table as the smells from the kitchen would waft in, Bubby hard work, never wavering, barely giving an inch until everyone had food on their plate. Then, and only then, would she finally sit down herself. That was important to her and we loved her for that.

I close my eyes and I hear the voices in the room, look around the table and see the many faces - Sophie at one end, Jerry at the other, my Aunts and Uncles, cousins across from me, Steve next to Bubby, and so on and so on. If we were shooting a movie about Sophie's life, we'd steal from the final dinner scene of The Godfather: Part II. The family would be busy around the table, the rattling of dishes, voices speaking over voices, the energy of life booming off the walls, music playing. We'd hear Jerry's voices arrive at the door off screen, everyone would get up and run to him, and we'd find queen Bubby alone, relishing in the moment of how happy she was to have such a big beautiful family that was all hers.

She had a opinion and wasn't scared to share it. Those that new her well called her Sophie, Mrs. T, or Bubby. I nicknamed her "the godmother," she was the Queen Bee. I use to joke that she was Mrs. T by day, and a super hero with a cape by night.  It’s important to note, we are all so grateful and blessed to have only known Bubby one way. What I mean by that is she was blessed with great health, she never complained, she was sharp, witty, and she was with it. She went to shul until she was 100, she always had us over to HER house, even as recent as last July when we were home for a visit, food prepared, drinks out, table set. She talked and played with her great grandchildren, she wrote cards, she played the piano beautifully, spoke Yiddish and sang songs. She was a mother to my sister and a friend to my father when they needed her the most. And she still had that red hair!

To Bubby: I think there is something incredibly powerful in what we pass along from generation to generation. You taught me that. We look at you and only want to do as good, to be present, to live with love in our hearts that you so exemplified day in and day out, to instill Jewish values and traditions in our children, to be true to ourselves and as you said so many times before, to count our many blessings.  L’dor vaDor.  From generation to generation.

You have inspired us all and will continue to inspire us as your legacy, Mrs T, lives on in our hearts and in the fabric of our lives.

[andrewcalofblog]

CHICAGO 2017

Feels like practically a year ago and that summer has been long gone since then.  Only now finding the time to actually weed through the images taken over our week in Chicago, Aug 5-13th.

Something quite serene about the pace in the Midwest, as things begin to slow down, and crawl towards those last few weeks of summer.  Lazy days of sleeping in, taking advantage of the cicada white noise on dark nights, rain might come down at any moment, but then open up to blue skies against white snowflake clouds.  Ya, it’s better there, as you kick off your shoes, go barefoot in the green grass, maybe grab a bike and go for a quick ride.  

We had a great time and then some.  If only it were like that all the time.  We go back to our lives, our jobs, our daily routines, but that one week in August each year remains a treasure of memories.

Enjoy

[andrewcalofblog]

[andrewcalofblog]

YEAR IN PHOTOGRAPHS 2016

I’m not going to lie to you, it keeps getting better and better, life that is.  Maybe thats because I’m trying to suck up as much as I can all the time.  Why watch it go bye, but instead live it, be in it, take it, crush it, grab it, repeat.

I’m trying to relax.  It’s honestly hard, especially when you’ve been programmed to work work work, never a dull moment, can’t sit still.  If I’m not doing my day job working on movies, I’m with my lovely girls, I’m reading about photography, shooting, editing, shopping, eating, studying, upping my game, trying to swallow up everything I can while I can.  Why not, right?!?!

To say it’s been a year is an understatement.  I’m blessed, blessed on belief to have such a wonderful wife, kids, the JAY OHH BEE, home.  It’s like the world opened itself up to us and said come on in, make a mess of things, spray paint, laugh, cry, relax, go, go, go, etc etc etc.  Incredible on all fronts to have arrived at the end of 2016 with smiles, left nothing on the field, no stone unturned, no page unread, checked all the boxes, and then some.

I think the year shows, especially in these photographs.  The places we went, the things we saw, people we met, experiences we banked, the highs the lows and everything in between.  Milestones, journeys, down time, working, family, friends, traveling and more.

To my girls, keep on keeping on.  I will take you there, you can ride with me any day and I hope I can with you too.  Love you with all my heart.  To my wife, boy am I lucky.  My muse.  My love.  My Amanda.

Check out these photographs, no seriously - CHECK.  THEM.  OUT.  Don’t do that thing that we do, where you scroll through real quick and then click LIKE or simply move on. Rather take the time to read the captions, look at each photograph for longer than a second, let the picture wash over you.  We live in a world where our attention spans are five seconds.  Take it in for a bit. Whether you like them or not, that’s okay, at least, hopefully, they made you feel something!  Enjoy.

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1. Tree, Malibu, January 17, 2016

From below there is this beautiful park at the basin of a hill.  When you look up, the people hiking the hill look like ants.  So we decided to go for it and upon summiting, we came across this beautiful tree, weathered and old, recouping from the winter sun, with very few leaves, silhouetted against a California sky.

2. Sophie Teener’s 100th Birthday, Minneapolis, January 24, 2016

Words can barely describe the joy in my grandmother’s eyes as she turned 100 last January.  We celebrated with a luncheon at Beth El Synagogue, a very special place dear to her, friends and family traveled near and far.  This photograph is perfection like Sophie.

3. Sylvie, Palm Springs, March 26, 2016

We weren’t happy with our room.  We were on the outskirts of the property at La Quinta, but it all gets put in perspective when the girls couldn’t believe there was a pool right outside their door, basically our own private little spot.  With each stroke, Sylvie gained more and more confidence as a swimmer.  Each day she’d throw on her swimming suit, run out through the door, and into the pool. She wouldn’t sit still, until this precious quiet moment, with a towel around her body, eyes glazed over, staring off into the distance, silence, and then I clicked the shutter.

5. Palm Springs 5pm, Palm Springs, March 27, 2016

When I think of Palm Springs, this is the picture that comes to mind.  Old deco patio furniture, palm trees, clean line architecture, case study homes, my hero Julius Shulman, rolling mountains, green grass, blue skies, and flat roofs.

6. On Set Office Christmas Party, Atlanta, April 13, 2016

Those that know me well, know that I like to to creep around our movie sets, Leica in hand, when I come for a visit.  Office Christmas Party was some of the best times I’ve had making a movie because we were making it with good people.  The ‘magic of the movies’ is something special, and what I love about this photograph is that it exemplifies that magic.  The operator shoots the camera, the boom guy records the sound, fake snow falls from the cherry picker, Jason and Olivia perform, and the A.D. readies to yell cut.  Not mention the set is made to feel like it is the top of a building but is firmly planted on the ground.  Can you say, magic?!?!

7. Wellington, New Zealand, April 27, 216

Michael and I were on our way to the airport after leaving the set of Ghost in the Shell.  Our driver wanted to show us a few quick sites in and around Wellington, New Zealand before we caught our ride home.  So we drove to the top of Mount Victoria and the view was stunning.  The vast city below, the bay creeping its way inland.  We were on the other side of the world.

8. Blake & Sylvie, Los Angeles, May 21, 2106

This is what best friends looks like.  This was photograph was made just after their performance of Cinderella by Ovation Performing Arts School at Sherman Oaks Elementary.  Capturing that sense of purity, proudness, and exhilaration is something that makes me want to take photographs of young people.

9. Amanda, Louvre, Paris, May 30, 2016

That Day in Paris, we sat in Room 77 of the Louvre, 19th Century France, as the world swirled around us.  Though the pictures are stagnant moments in time, the room seems to breath life and energy as people from all ways of the world pass back and forth, looking at such beautiful creations.  It’s easy to get up in all of it, feel rushed to see it all, but instead we’d rather take a minute and soak it all up.  

10. Musee d’Orsay Clock, Paris, May 31, 2016

It was important to me to capture this image while visiting Musee d’Orsay.  I had a feeling this particular clock would be a busy stop for tourists.  To get it clean would have been a miracle, so instead, what made sense was to shoot all the tourists as silhouettes, clean edges but blow out the light coming through the clock face.  I love how it’s such a center piece of the museum.

11. Art Students, Paris, June 1, 2016

Place des Vosges is special, particularly on this day when we came across these art students sketching in the park.  Eager minds capturing the energy and flow that is this beautiful setting of fountains, trees, tourists, and statues.  This photography hopefully captures the beauty of those making beauty.

12. Pont Neuf, Paris, June 1, 2016

Classic Paris.  What’s unique about this photograph is the height of the water in the Seine.  Record rain fall blasted France while we were there, so much rain that even the Louve was shut down for a few days, art was moved to higher ground to protect against the chance of flooding.  This photograph was inspired by Peter Turnley’s book French Kiss.  It’s classic, it’s timeless, could be the 1651 or 2016.

13. Amanda, Jardins du Trocadero, Paris, June 3, 2016

This photograph was taken on our final full day in Paris.  There is only one place to truly shoot a subject against the Eiffel Tower skyline and that place is Jardins du Tracadero.  Amanda is so happy in this picture.  She wanted to recreate a photograph she saw on Instagram.  I love her black scarf, the way she wore her hair that week, and her cute little body.  I must’ve had her walk up and down the stairs ten times to capture this image.  It’s my favorite from our trip.

14. Estella, Chicago, August 5, 2016

It’s interesting how you can take many many photographs, create albums, selects, modify many, throw away lots.  And then go through those photographs some time later only to find a gem that you had originally thrown out.  When I originally made my Chicago album, this photograph wasn’t even included, but I absolutely love it.  Estella’s expression of feeling slighted (about what, I don’t know!), the bent knee, doritos, and those sunglasses right out of the movie The Crush.  It’s her to a T!

15. Shiloh, Sylvie & Friends, Chicago, August 6, 2016

I love Amusement Parks.  That sense of awe, energy, and excitement.  Feeling older like it’s a place you belong.  I have no idea what is driving their reaction, but I was lucky enough to capture their expressions.  And then the ride started…

16. Amanda, Santa Barbara, September 4, 2016

My Model.  My muse.  My Wife.  She’s my everything.  That black dress, that iPhone light just enough under her face to light it up, those high strappy heels, that necklace, and those little pockets.  She’s confident.  She cool.  She’s beautiful.  Amanda.

17. Ned Specktor, Los Angeles, October 9, 2016

Ned and I wandered Hollywood Boulevard shooting a marketing campaign for his upcoming show The Movement - a motivational musical that helps people grasp their passions through music and dance.  We came across this space just off the boulevard and Ned laid down like Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly before him, gracefully dancing in his white stans.  This kid was born to bring people together, dance and music his tool, his thought process his weapon, and much more.  We must have shot 100 frames alone in this little alley but his grace mixed with the his power seemed to have come together nicely in this image.

18. Estella & Sylvie, Carlsbad, October 22, 2016

We celebrated my dad’s 70th birthday in La Costa California this past October. For dinner one evening we went to the Chart House in Carlsbad, right on the ocean.  There were these amazing rocks and lights making the view of the ocean incredible. But the view was missing something.  Luckily Estella and Sylvie were near by so they jumped up on the rocks and held each other tight, two sisters connecting, letting their differences fall aside for a brief moment to show just how much they love each other.  And scene…

19. Estella, Madison, November 20, 216

This photograph was taken a top the Children’s Museum in Madison, Wisconsin.  It was important for us to take the girls there to see where their parents went to school.  There is this great lookout point of the capitol up on the roof.  Estella turned right as I clicked the shutter and we made this image together.

[andrewcalofblog]

It was a Planes, Trains, and Automobiles kind of Thanksgiving...well mostly.  Everything but the trains part.

What made the trip extra special was taking Sylvie and Estella to Madison, Wisconsin to the see the campus.  Amanda and I haven’t been back since 2008.

We visited many of our favorite stomping grounds, from up and down State Street, braving a hike up Bascom Hill, seeing friends and their kids, posing for shots outside of Jazzman, mixing with students to and from class, all the way out to Nielsen Tennis Stadium and Camp Randall.  We hit up the Children’s Museum, stocked up on Badger Gear at The Book Store and Under Armour.  We lunched at Graze, dinner at The Edgewater, and the next morning grabbed a coffee and croissant at Colectivo Coffee.  We even visited old apartments on Henry and Langdon, including Alpha Epsilon Pi.

Watching the girls brave the elements was fun, they could practically pass as freshmen.  I asked Sylvie what her “major” was, she didn’t understand the question quite yet, I told her she would one day and to get use to it!

Great to see Danny, Elizabeth, James and Thomas.

Memories came flooding back, all the hours logged at College and Memorial Library, the constant walking to and from class, late nights at Still Waters or the Angelic, wishing for those few months where you could spend a afternoon on Memorial Union Terrace.  We had it good, we worried a lot about grades and homework, but to revisit it now without the pressures of those things, was a incredible feeling, and to share it with Sylvie and Estella, made it that much more special.

Until we meet again, Madtown. 

#onwisconsin #wisconsinbadgers #uwmadison

[andrewcalofblog]

This is 40 Lee Dame Gordon!  

This past weekend in Chicago was wonderful, spending time with my sister in law and family to celebrate her big birthday.  Something about Northbrook, the suburb where she lives, that begs you to stay all summer long.  Sleep late, be outside, go for walks, take in the local fair, barbecue, swim, you name, it’s just easier in Northbrook.  Though I have to remind everyone that when we come, we are on vacation, it’s not real, its not every day, but it sure works for those days we are there.

Sylvie and Estella have a blast, being with their cousins who they so very much admire.  Sylvie seems to jump right in, never skipping a beat with Shiloh. Estella on the other hand, always eases into it, she marches to her own beat - I love her independence and then by the end, she’s flirting and making eyes with everyone.

These photographs are just a taste, but what I think capture the essence of the weekend.  We wish we saw them more, but we live in the moment while we are there - we stay present, the phone gets somewhat lost, the wine glasses stay full, the evenings go long, we wear our good clothes, but aren’t scared to throw on a bathing suit, we make a visit to Northbrook Days, and where we are going to eat is always up for discussion.

Lee’s birthday party was downtown, right across from Wrigley Field at Sluggers. We took a party bus, brought along some roadies which is a foreign word to someone like me.  We stayed out late, sang some karaoke - we had a lot of fun.

Until next year Chicago!  Stay young!

[andrewcalofblog]

TONGVA PARK

We celebrated Mother’s Day with brunch at Ivy at the Shore and then headed over to Tongva Park.  It was a beautiful day full of sunshine and love.  The girls had fun playing with Isla.  Wonderful color shapes and shadows.

[andrewcalofblog]

MINI SESSION - ESTELLA LAKE

This dress has a long standing history in our family.  It’s no “generation” dress though maybe it will become that one day, or not.  

Sylvie first wore the Cinderella Wedding Dress for Halloween 2012. She had to pick up the front of dress as she walked because it was too big and hung too far over her feet. Now Estella dawns the gown as we dress up from time to time.  She wears it with pride and confidence, like her sister before her.  There is much poise in her eyes, a voice of determination, to be heard, not silenced. She will let you know what she feels, never wavering, always firm and strong.

The dress has seen its days, but keeps its shape.  It is due for a long and heavy rinse cycle, perhaps a slow tumble dry.  I’m sure we’ll donate it before that day comes.  Until then, we’ll have to find real glass slippers to complete the look.

[andrewcalofblog]

YEAR IN PHOTOGRAPHS 2015

It’s tough to some it all up, but the one thing I do know is that we started a new chapter this past year, moving to a new house, a new community, started a new gig, and new schools, embraced new friends, we pushed forward and we came out the other end.  It’s been the most happy and satisfying year.

Because we were so busy with so much change, it was challenging to focus on my photography.  Sure, I took lots of Instagram photos (none of which these are), but it’s not the same of being out and about with your camera, a nice piece of glass, the sound of the shutter clicking as you capture an image, going home, wondering if you got anything good, uploading, editing, finishing, and then sharing.  It’s a process for sure, but that’s what I love about it.

With that said, I took less photos, but was more conscious in trying to get them right.  I think it shows, at least for me, my photography evolving, getting more personal, more intimate, and importantly, continuing to figure out how to see the world, which is constantly changing.  These photographs are me, they are truthful and honest.  I hope you dig them and feel a little something.  I only chose 10, as I always do, there are many more frames buried in the yearly archives.  Any feedback is welcome.  Instagram Year in Review coming later!

Love to my girls - Amanda, my soul mate, Sylvie and Estella, my two little angels, each of them my muses, that push me to be better every single day.

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Image 1.  Lunch with Alan Joos.  I don’t remember if I had the day off or if I was just playing hooky, but I met Alan for lunch in Venice on a whim.  Always good to see my friend of ten years.  We were both assistants at Dimension Films, then at Paramount.  We had some good laughs back then and still many many today.  It was nice light coming in overhead and through the front window.  We sat at a communal table and chatted about life.

Image 2.  Ashley & Serge’s Wedding.  I remember shooting this from the first row and wanting to juxtapose Ashely against the hanging ceiling lights.  The staircase made for nothing less than a grand entrance and Ashley looked stunning.  I love how it’s just her, nothing of the audience.

Image 3.  Halloween.  I was trying to go for an editorial type shot here that felt like you could find it in a magazine or on the front page of Arts & Leisure section of a newspaper.  The kids always look forward to Halloween.  I particularly am drawn to my daughter Sylvie’s expression of innocence and I hope that despite the older she gets, she won’t lose sight of what it means to be a kid.

Image 4.  Sylvie, Amanda, and Bubby.  Bubby’s expression says it all.  I believe she’s looking at a book that my cousin Deborah gave her.  Bubby’s appreciation for gifts like these is beyond, and how Amanda and Sylvie are consumed in what they are doing, only adds to the sincerity and appreciation for memories in this shot.

Image 5.  Hermosa Beach July 4th, 2015.  I opted to stay back in LA and went to Hermosa Beach early morning of July 4th to get a good spot on the beach.  I took my camera down to the pier, and popped off this shot.  I’m sure it looks better in color, but I love the contrast of lights and darks.  It’s vast and endless and draws your eye from the foreground to the background.

Image 6.  Amanda Calof in Minnesota.  Amanda doesn’t like when I photograph her unless she thinks she’s perfect.  But the purity in this picture is what I absolutely love - Amanda isn’t smiling, she isn’t posed, scar and all, and she isn’t wearing any make up - it’s real and it’s in the moment.  She’s definitely embarrassed but she knows that I take pictures - it’s what I do.  I love this woman and I love that she lets me photograph her - she’s a natural.

Image 7.  Inkt Photo Shoot.  My first call up to the big leagues as a professional photographer was when Joe Saladino asked me to photograph his t-shirt line Inkt Apparel.  One of Joe’s sketches on his shirts is a feather under the arm.   Joe brought some props and we had this idea of the blue feather against the blue sky.  We decided to go for it and Joe threw a feather into the frame and we nailed the image.  I think we got it on the second attempt.

Image 8.  Glenda & Estella’s Private Moment, Getty Museum.  Glenda is our savior, our own private personal angel, who swoops in and makes it all good. We spent the day with the girls at the Getty Museum and as I was coming around the corner, I noticed Glenda and Estella sharing a private moment drawing together.  She’s an amazing teacher, Glenda.  I raised the viewfinder to my eye, and clicked off this frame.

Image 9.  Estella in Bubby’s Chair.  What I find most interesting here is not Estella sitting in Bubby’s chair but everything around her - the books on the shelf, photographs on the wall, the couch, pillows, walker, etc.  It’s Estella in Bubby’s world that makes the photograph a powerful and memorable one for the ages. 

Image 10.  Father & Bride Dancing.  Emily Jaffy (now Emily Sirber) and her father Stan juxtaposed against this great space is vast yet intimate.  Aria’s space is amazing and for Emily’s classic look in a rustic midcentury setting only amplifies the emotion in the scene.

[andrewcalofblog]

These pictures can only try to do the Eli Broad Museum justice.  It was a wonderful day of incredible art and media.  From Murakami, to Lichtenstein, Warhol, Koons, Basquiat and more, we enjoyed soaking in this magnificent breath of work.  It’s a tough ticket to get right now, most weekend reservations out to February 2016, but Amanda worked her magic.

Unfortunately we didn’t make it to the infinity room, but we did take advantage of the escalator and tube elevator which we road a few times!

[andrewcalofblog]

A little over a year ago, my friend Joe decided to go walk-about to get answers to those nagging life questions we all ask ourselves - who am I, what is my purpose, where do I go from here?  The answer he found was in inktapparel.com - tattoo inspired t-shirt designs, curiously exploring the magic of life.

Joe told me about the idea and immediately I was hooked.  Plus, he was going to let me shoot it.  To get the opportunity to put Joe’s unique designs in front of the camera on beautiful people, direct and at the same time shoot it, what more could someone like me ask for.

We started prepping roughly two weeks out from the shoot, scouting locations Downtown LA as well as Venice.  We settled on an industrial rooftop, and were are also given the opportunity to lock up Gjelina, an incredible restaurant off Abbot Kinney with different facades, rooms, looks, etc.  Joe cast professional models (Karla Jordan, Octavio Pizano, and Brantley Watson, found fantastic hair and make up (RJ Jahanbakhsh), we pulled together a skeleton crew and created a look board for inspiration.  Even the music was awesome.

I’m forever grateful to have been given the opportunity to work on something that curiously explores the magic of life.  Joe is an artist and creator, his shirts are inspired and I know his creativity won’t stop here...this is just the beginning.

For more information about Inkt Apparel please visit:

Website: inktapparel.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/inktapparel

Facebook: facebook.com/inktapparella

Instagram: https://instagram.com/inktapparel

Or email [email protected]

[andrewcalofblog]

Black and White photography just makes sense when you are at a sprawling outdoor botanical garden, art collection, and library.  I was inspired by Michael Kenna’s book FRANCE, which is all black and white photographs.  His work at Versailles was particularly intriguing and though Huntington only compares on the smallest of scales, I was motivated to try and create some interesting images.

Despite the effort to trek there on a Saturday, the trip was well worth it - took us for-ev-er!  But better yet, we had the opportunity to spend it with Amanda’s dear friend Beth and her husband Jonathan, who were in visiting from NYC.

There is something so simplistic and true to Chinese & Japanese Gardens.  A place of reflection and contemplation, serenity and calm waters.  Sylvie and Estella had a wonderful time taking in the open grounds, plenty of places to run and of course get lost.

We ended up not seeing the whole park as we simply ran out of time.  But there were still many flowers to smell, ponds to gaze, and architecture to embrace.

Glad we went and glad I brought my Leica.

[andrewcalofblog]

PACIFIC PARK & NORDSTROM

Sunday at Pacific Park and Nordstrom of Santa Monica.  Sylvie had her heart set on the rides at Pacific Park, Santa Monica Pier so we made a day out of it.  Estella was a bit overwhelmed at first but immediately found the courage to go on some rides.  We had lunch at Blue Plate Oysterette on Ocean Avenue.  Finished off the day with some shoe shopping at Nordstrom, Santa Monica Place.

[andrewcalofblog]

YEAR IN REVIEW 2014

So this is it, I guess.  Another year in the books.  I'm a bit older, more educated, definitely more tired, happier, excited, in love, in awe, a bit petrified, don't know what tomorrow will bring, but thrilled to find out what.

It's tough to look back on a year and compile it down to ten images.  Whoever said it needed to be ten?!?!  Thought it would make for a good number.   I'm sure there are a few in the archive that are perhaps more deserving, but when I look back on the year, this is what I want to remember - family, friends, moments, creations, feelings, and emotions.  So I thought, why not write something about each image and what it speaks.

Image 1.  Alan and Carolina came to me to shoot their holiday card - I was thrilled.  It was important to them to show their love to one another but what also makes them unique as individuals.  I had always wanted to do a spin on a famous Faye Dunaway photo the morning after she won the oscar for Net Work, so I came up with the idea of Alan, Carolina, and Wrigley enjoying a morning together with all that represents them as people.  So in essence, this is the most produced photo I created this past year and proud of how it turned out.

Image 2.  We were in a Chicago cab heading toward Millennium Park and everyone was having the best day.  I sat in the front seat and set my aperture to 2.0 and 3.5 feet to get this shot.  Everyone's expression is priceless.  And its a testament to my love of photojournalism, being in the moment.

Image 3.  Speaking of "a moment."  A moment that if I tried to recreate again, 99 out of 100 times, I'd be far from it.  Long time friend Beth Liss came to visit Amanda.  We did hopscotch on the sidewalk.  I love the distance between each character in the photo.  The composition speaks.

Image 4.  Bobby invited me to a Dodger Game and I was anxious in getting a great shot of the field.  Lucky enough, his family's season tickets are right there on the first base line.  I remember debating whether to bring a 35 or 28mm lens...luckily I brought the 28 which let me get everything in the shot - the dugout, the lights, all the way from home to first.  In color, it just pops!  

Image 5.  My answer to the The Breakfast Club.  Good friends hanging out on a beautiful summer's day - Alexa, Sylvie, Gemma and Hudson.  The "structured" brick wall at the Stodel pad was perfect contrast to the "creative minds" of these beautiful children.  It's almost as if Alexa and Sylvie are admiring the cute couple just off to the side, in a way looking into the ambiguity of all they have to look forward to down the road.  It also blends my love of kids with my own style as a storyteller.

Image 6.  I call this photo Waiting for A Train.  The electricity of Penn Station makes you feel alive.  All day we had been going and going, so to find this moment of stillness in a place where nothing remains still was serene.  Only moments later did we take off, running to join the masses, catching a train to Great Neck Long Island.  Amanda, I love you for being my muse.

Image 7.  This shot is actually a composite of five  shots where I used the Guy Stodel shot as the plate.  I used some photo shop skills to make it look like everyone was jumping at the same time.  We had a ton of fun that morning - Canon Ball.

Image 8.  My homage to the JCrew Style Guide.  One of my favorite places in the house is in front of this grate in the dinning room.  There is just enough room to squeeze in these two crazies!

Image 9.  My favorite selfie of the year.  Not too presumptuous, but refined  in good taste.

Image 10.  I call this one Simon & Garfunkel.  Sylvie and Estella are my everything.  When I look at this photograph, that is exactly what I think of...everything.  These kids make the world go round.  And they will be best friends forever.

Hope you will take the time to look closely at each photo, and that it will strike a chord with something that you care about and love deeply - family, friends, moments, creations, places, feelings, or emotions.  To a great 2015!

#yearinreview2014 andrewcalofblog

[andrewcalofblog]

NUTCRACKER UNBOUND

Never been so proud.  Sylvie is my baby and will always be.  She grew up before my eyes yesterday performing in her first Nutcracker at the El Portal Theater in North Hollywood.

We had incredible seats in the front row.  There were a lot of tears of joy seeing her transform before our eyes - came, cool, and collected.  We heard she was practicing backstage prior to the show, readying for her big moment in front of the lights.  It was overly surreal.

I decided to keep the big rig at home and only shot my Leica.  Perhaps should have carried my 35mm instead of the 28mm, but the wide feel really gives a greater sense of scope to the show.

Hats off to Sylvie's friends, Hannah and Lucy who were right there growing into little ladies in front of our eyes.

#blessed nutcracker sylvierain ballet

[andrewcalofblog]

THANKSGIVING 2014

It was another great Thanksgiving in Minnesota.  We packed up our sh*t and headed to the Midwest for some beautiful yet chaotic time at home.  I can't even remember what we did.  All I know is we were busy.

All the cousins got to see each other which made it extra special.  And Bubby got to see the girls, which is just a blessing.

The temperature was definitely a factor.  Most days it was in the single digits but we managed.  Estella and Sylvie are true Californians, refusing to put on a jacket no matter what the temperature.

Turkey Day was great.  We split our time between my dads and Susan's.  We saw a couple movies - the Mann Plymouth 12 is excellent, well, if you get one the good theaters with the lazy boy recliners.  Dinner at Cov was definitely another highlight.

Good to be back home though.  Two more weeks and counting until the end of the year.

[andrewcalofblog]

ALAN & CAROLINA JOOS

Alan and I go back all the way to the beginning.  When I started off in Hollywood, there was this voice who worked at Dimension Films.  I heard it on the phone, but never met.  Finally towards the end of 2003, after being in Hollywood for a year, my company moved up to the Sunset Office, the voice came downstairs and introduced himself.  We immediately became friends and have been friends ever since.

Friends in Hollywood are far and few between, but Alan and I are going on  11 years strong.  He is a “true” friend and will always be. 

Alan and his wife Carolina asked me to take some holiday photos with their pup Wrigley.  We came up with an idea inspired by a famous photo that I’ve always admired.  Unfortunately I can’t share with you what we cooked up as it’s a holiday surprise, but here is a sneak peak of a frame that stood out as a winner.  More later.

#alanandcarolina