Monterey

A few images from our trip home to Monterey, Cal. 

I am always California dreamin' and would love to return there after I complete college and get better. 

A Pair of Pears?

The Boy has enjoyed having a garden this year. These are a few Japanese Pears from one of the trees.

Last Day of Summer in Riverdale, Utah

School started over a week ago for El Jay, but Labor Day was a holiday and we all stayed home. For me, Labor Day weekend marks the end of Summer each year. I do not go out often--it just takes so much energy--however, it seemed important to do something and to take pictures of us doing something. 

Close to home and free were two of the requirements. We decided the Riverdale Splash Pad would be a good choice. This park in Riverdale with the splash pad would make an excellent location for a family or child photo shoot. 

Check out the fun EL Jay had.

Jeddy & Delaney came along on our adventure and they brought something they enjoy doing which would also give them an interesting prop. When I do sessions I always encourage my clients to bring props. I have to admit that the hula-hoop was a bit of a challenge to get the timing right--but I'm glad to say that I did learn a few things about motion on this shoot.

An Offer You Can't Refuse

 I've said this before, but I have breast cancer. Plus, life has been complicated. I now live in Riverdale, Utah. I've  had to put photography on hold, but I am ready now to persue one of the things i love to do most. Take pictures. Specifically, portraiture.

The following is an offer from me:

Dear Utah Family and Friends,

I am giving away FREE mini-foto sessions. I need to get out of the house and do things and taking pictures is my forte. I need to find good foto locations. I need to meet people. And I need to decide if opening a photography business in Utah is what I want to really do. I need your help.

This is what I am offering.

1)      One (1) hour of on location photography. Could be an individual (baby, child,  adult—anyone, any age.) Could be a couple, family or a group—preferably fewer than eight individuals. It could even be a session with a pet—or include your pet in a session.

2)      You will receive a CD (or supply me with a USB-drive) with 6 to 8 edited images and the printing rights to those pictures. (If you want to buy all of the unedited images from the photo session—approx. 25-35 jpg files—you may purchase them for $35. If you would like additional edited images they are $15 each.)

3)      I will go to a location of your choice. I am willing to travel as far North as Logan, Utah and as far South as Mapleton. East and West is limited by the mountains and Great Salt lake. I am letting you pick the location because I want to discover the best photo locations in Utah.

I am limiting the number of sessions to twelve (with only one (1) per family) and they must be taken between September 1, 2014 and October 16, 2014. I may decide to schedule more photo sessions starting October 25^th, but I may not be able to promise to have those images processed in time to print for Christmas. 

Please feel free to contact me (Tina Gardner) either privately on Facebook or email me at gardner@unm.edu to set up your free photo session.  You may share this with your own  family and friends.

Thank You!

 Candid images of EL Jay with Beardo and Emma with Beardo taken while in Monterey. Beardo is Emma's furbaby--thus my furgrandbaby. Beardo is a tiny, spirited tough dog who loves to play with My Little Ponies and act macho. He was recently attacked by a pittbull and survived.

 El Jay at our favorite beach on the Monterey Peninsula--Lover's (of Jesus) Point.

A Journey Back into My Past

All of these images were scanned from portraits I took. 

I took most of them between the ages of 16 and 18--back in the 70's.

I made the self-portrait of myself with my then fiance in July 1983--at age 21. I made the last picture in this group in about 1987--at age 25. 

I am a classically trained film photographer who fell in love with digital photography and haven't looked back yet. I post these to show that even as a teen I had natural talent and earned skills as a photographer.  

I discovered photography at the age of seven. 

I knew then what I wanted to do with my life. I knew back then that I really was good at what I dreamed of doing.