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It’s that time of year when parents and high school grads trek across the country in search of the perfect college. Jack found his at Loyola University Chicago. But before he goes, mom wanted some high school graduation photos to mark the occasion. A graduate of O’Dea High School and active in sports I’m sure his future is bright. Congratulations!
As I always say, it’s never too late for senior pics! Kayat graduates in June, THIS June! So we headed to Lincoln Park for some photos. This tall, casually dressed young man has the most disarming smile! He was easy to work with and took everything in stride as we wandered the park.
I did a business headshot of mom awhile back and was pleasantly surprised to have her call and set up our time with Sofia. The family spent a lot of time exploring Fauntleroy Park as the kids grew up so this was the perfect place for us to shoot on this softly overcast day. I just love her easy smile. Sofia will graduate from Vashon High School and plans to further her education studying political science.
I was reminded that I last photographed Keegan when he was 6 months old during a family session – look at him now! A little quiet yet he was comfortable in front of the camera as we wandered through Lincoln Park on this wonderful overcast day. He will be graduating from West Seattle Lutheran High and intends to pursue the trades where I’m sure he will find much success.
Educating myself about Black history in New Mexico
Cemeteries are one of my favorite places to photograph. So upon my return to New Mexico and traveling back roads I’ve come to discover some small lessor known plots. Recently my sister and I discovered the Vado Riverview Cemetery near Vado, NM. It so happens that Francis Marion Boyer, who was fleeing the Ku Klux Klan, founded the state of New Mexico’s first community of African Americans, known as Blackdom, NM. Both he and his wife Ella, were highly educated and made education a top priority in their communities. At its peak (1908) Blackdom had a ‘black’ population of 300 with local businesses, a newspaper and a church. But by 1921, many had moved on due to drought and the Great Depression. Some helped the Boyers establish Vado, New Mexico making it a mixed race community in Dona Ana County.
In case you are interested you can learn more here:
“Diamond girl, You sure do shine, Glad I found you…”
It was a dewy morning and great day for lifting off in a hot air balloon. Pilot Bud had a great crew behind him as the basket was unloaded and the envelop filled with helium. My cousin was invited to fly and the chase was on.
Diamond Girl floated gently across the sky for about an hour as I followed in my chase car. Before long Bud had put her down in an arroyo a tad off the beaten path. “You can’t get there from here” immediately came to mind. But before we knew it our lead chase car was being followed by the sheriff’s department! A local resident had called 911 thinking that a hot air ballon was in distress setting off a search by local sheriff plus fire and ambulance! Not true! The pilot and lead chase car were in constant contact so we knew there was no problem other than finding the right dirt road to reach them.
We finally arrived at the arroyo only to find three sheriffs curious about the situation. After educating them that a balloon does not have a steering wheel and that it lands wherever the winds blows, Diamond Girl was moved to a safe area where she was deflated and loaded into the trailer. I helped transport everyone back to our starting point where Pilot Bud came up with a unique distress code for the future – “We’re heading for Seattle!”
Adventure is out there. Fly safe my friends.
from snowy?! southern New Mexico! The great southwest was not immune to the cold front that is blowing across the states. We went from 65 degrees to 24 degrees with a wind chill of 13! In my quest to capture these images in historic Old Mesilla my car ended up coated in a sheet of ice….pretty! Normally on a Sunday you’d find lots of people attending mass and shopping the plaza. Not so much today!
Thank you for participating in Gail Ann’s Holiday Pop-Up at the Fauntleroy Schoolhouse. While Santa may not have been there in person his ‘spirit’ and the spirit of giving certainly was! Together we raised $250 for FSCA to distribute to the needy in our community. And, you donated over 100 pounds of food, baby supplies, and pet food! Thank you for helping to make it a brighter holiday for others.
A gift to the community from Gail Ann Photography & her friends at Fauntleroy Fall Festival, Fauntleroy Schoolhouse (FCSA) & Children’s Center (FCC).
Holiday Family Photo Pop-Up by Gail Ann Photography
Saturday, December 12, 9am – 3pm
Sunday, December 13, 9am – 3pm
Historic Fauntleroy Schoolhouse, Room #
Sessions by appointment only.
Click here to make your appointment.
No long lines with time to sanitize between families!
Two options:
#1: Receive hi-res digital files to use as you wish – this will allow you to create your own holiday cards or prints for holiday gift giving! Cost is $40 AND 25% goes back to the community via FCSA.
#2: Social media files (Not suitable for printing) Complimentary with your food/pet/baby formula or diaper donation.
the fine print:
By appointment only for your covid-pod.
(Please arrive wearing your masks)
Props are limited so feel free to bring your own toys, teddy bear, presents, wagon, trike, etc.!
Area will be sanitized between sessions.
Digital downloads.
I’m on the hunt for yard art and stopped in at Casa Bonita. I just had to capture the interesting “lines” of sculptures as I roamed the grounds. Next stop was the San Albino Cemetery just a few blocks off the square in Old Mesilla. Like most southwest cemeteries simple wooden and adobe crosses dot the landscape not to mention a few brightly painted headstones.
On Sunday a friend and I headed toward El Paso. From the Murchison Park overview off of Rim Drive you can get a view of sprawling El Paso and Juarez, Mexico. You can see a giant “X” that sits at Plaza a la Mexicanidad. Created by sculptor Sebastian, it represents Mexico’s indigenous people and the cultures of Spanish colonists. Some say it represents the letter X of Mexico as Benito Juarez changed the name from Mejico to Mexico.
We drove ‘Paseo de las Luces’ where the infamous Billy the Kid and Pancho Villa once walked. Now a major source of shopping for those crossing over from Mexico.
A hidden gem in El Paso is the Keystone Heritage Park and Botanical Gardens. Considered an archeologic site it was discovered in the 1970s by the Corps of Engineers while working flood control. They found an ancient pitch house dating back 4000+ years and may be one of the largest and oldest villages in the US even if most of it is unearthed. The gardens feature walking paths, sculptures, an amphitheater and of course desert flora.
gail ann photography 