Category: Landscape

I brought along my newly acquired Fuji GA645 to a recent engagement shoot at Venice Beach. I really wanted to know what this thing can do and to see the results of its much hyped about sharp lens. I tell ya, I was blown away. What I love about this camera is that it’s a medium format point & shoot. Large negative for a such a small camera. It’s auto everything, auto exposure, auto focus, auto winder, with even a very useful built-in flash. It’s a fantastic street photography camera. It’s a breeze to approach people with because it’s got a relatively unobtrusive lens yet it can capture with sharp details. Plus, it’s a rangefinder so it’s easy to hand hold under low lighting. It’s fun to use to say the least but it’s gonna come in handy in dark murky ball rooms or dance halls. Sweet!

A mini summer getaway to San Luis Obispo with family and friends was a little bit short for my taste.  Time flies when you’re having fun I guess. Besides, this wasn’t just a vacation, I brought along my Contax 645 and a handful of film to make things a little interesting. What I didn’t expect was a project would blossom out from this trip. On the first day, I walked the streets of down town at the peak of the San Luis Obispo Farmer’s Market (I intentionally scheduled our trip to start on a Thursday). There was so much to soak in, the sights, the sound, the smell of food and the faces! Interesting, diverse, and all walks of life right in front of me and my camera.  So I began asking complete strangers for a quick five second portrait everywhere I went.  This town has one of the most charming and delightful people I’ve met to say the least. Not one single person said “no” to my request.

So happy to see a great collection of creative people in this lovely post on SMP today. Chara Nicole of Open Box Designs made sure we were on our toes for this detail-rich of a wedding at Casa Romantica in San Clemente. Congrats to Jenny and Gray. You guys are awesome to work with.

San Clemente Wedding at Casa Romantica from Desi Baytan Photography

bride walking in meadow, groom kissing bride holding bouquet

Julian, a historical California landmark near San Diego, was a gold rush town back in the days of the Civil War. While James Madison’s apple seedlings which were brought up to the mountains, flourished in the clean crisp air made this town known for its baked apple pies.  Think Julian Apple Pie Co. Along these winding roads, bespoke a natural scenery of grass and oak, encapsulates a sleepy town of 1500 which also holds a kind of romantic setting you’ve read in fiction from the likes of Louis L’Amour. And more so evident in a place called Meadow View Inn where Cassandra and Koby held their storybook wedding. Though I would sometimes forget the venue I was in because of the attire and decor. Was I in a story, a dream or just a fanciful masquerade ball? Did I fall into a book where steampunk, Roaring 20’s, and Western were all balled into one? Nonetheless, I would go back to my photography to capture the fairy tale that was Cassandra and Koby’s wedding, enjoying every bit of detail that was to be but a moment in time.

wedding portrait looking out into the meadow, open field of meadowbridal portrait in a meadow, hatwedding bridal groom portrait under an oak tree, groom kissing bridegroom portrait, alice in wonderland, mad hatter, bride and groom portrait in an open meadowbride portrait in a meadow with a bouquetbride portrait in a meadowstring light among trees, bride and groom kissing under mistletoebride getting ready for wedding, curly long luscious red hairbride and bridesmaids portrait with bouquetsbride and parents walking down the stair in a parasol, decorated archway with floralbride with a parasol in bright lightwedding ceremony procession in Julian Meadow View Inn, bride and groom kissing under the archway after ceremonywedding couple exchanging vows at the Julian Meadow View Innnewly wedded couple kissing in front of cheering guestsbride and groom strolling in an open meadow at the Julian Meadow View Innwedding party portrait in a meadow at the Julian Meadow View Innfloral decorating using paper flowers in a tea pot, floral in a tin tea potdainty floral arrangement in a tin cop, bride's name card next to a rose arrangement in a glass vasewedding floral decorating using moroccan tea pot, DIY save the date card for Cassandra and KobyPeter Pan theme wedding, thimble and acorn charms bride and groom portrait under the mistletoe, bride portrait featuring floral bouquetfloral bouquet portrait, bride and groom portraitpastel color cupcakes with flags and bird cagecluster of dainty floral arrangements, dainty rose arrangement in a glass jar on top of a red cover Jules Verne bookrose boutounniere, pastel color cupcakes on tiers DIY guest cards, comic book, story book theme design guest cardsillustrated cake top of a bride and a groomliterary theme table cards, DIY table cards using literature DIY illustrated "save the date" card literary theme inspired wedding party outfits, groomsman wearing hat from the "treasure island", brides maid wearing outfit from the King Arthurliterary theme inspired wedding party outfits, groomsman wearing western cowboy outfit, brides maid wearing outfit from Steampunkold English librarian outfit, wedding outfitbride having fun with hat inspiration from mad hatterDIY bunting Happily ever afterliterary theme inspired wedding party outfits, groomsman wearing outfit from "Sherlock Holmes", brides maid wearing outfit from the Great GastyDIY stationery suite, literary wedding theme, illustrated cake top, illustrated save the date card, paper floral DIYDIY guest card

 

New to my blog is a travel section where I showcase places of natural beauty and places that inspire me.  Click image to view. Thanks for looking.

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