A summer dinner on the farm

Okay, yes, I know this is backwards. I realize that I did a post back in October about autumn at Kurtwood Farms, and that it was timely since it was, in fact, autumn. But here it is, late winter, and I am finally getting around to posting some summer photos from my work with Kurtwood Farms.

I do this for two reasons:

First, if you have been following my work with this job, you know that the Sunday Cookhouse Dinners at Kurtwood are wonderful and renowned and yet, in all my excitement about the colors of fall, I forgot to share some images from one of these nights.

Second, aren't you just SO ready for spring right about now??? I know I am and have been since, oh, I don't know....October?! Anyway. These photos are a great pick-me-up because they remind me of what's to come. Like, for example, berries and squash blossoms and warm days with rose wine. And tomatoes. Lots and lots and LOTS of tomatoes.

So, dive in and remember that we don't have too much longer to wait for short sleeves and warm evenings.

(Note: the chef pictured below is the very talented, Morgan, who has since gone back to Portland. These days, the regular chef on the farm is the fantastic, Tyler, from fabulous Spring Hill in my 'hood, West Seattle.)

Have camera, will travel

Okay, I promise there will be more photo-heavy blog postings soon, (this IS a photo blog, after all!)

First, though, I need to say the following...

I am dying, DYING to travel and have had a big lack of it in my life for the past year or so.
So, I would like to "put it out there" that I am open to working ANYWHERE-- the east coast, the west coast, the southwest, the tropics...you name it. If there is someone looking for what I do, I'll come to them.
If there are people you know who are looking for a photographer and who you think would respond to my style, then pass along my site(s) and/or show them my blog. If someone has an interesting photo project, then I want to talk to them.

If there is a decent response from your part of the world, then I will make my own arrangements to get out there. (This, by the way, is all part of my master plan to live and work somewhere other than Seattle for part of the year. Don't get me wrong- Seattle is the best- but a girl needs a change of scenery once in a while!)

If you or someone you know is interested, then drop me a line and we'll go from there!
clare@claremariephotography.com

For portrait, fine art and commercial portfolios, go here.

For wedding portfolio, go here.

Just a question I sometimes ponder....

Why is it that men seem so intent on overdoing it when it comes to exercise? Is it a macho thing? Is it to prove that they are just as fit as they were in high school? Is it a fear of being out-shined by their possibly-more-fit friends? What IS it?
And, of course, when I say "men", I mean one man: my husband.

Joe used to be a ranked tennis player in Oakland WAY back in the day-- like, maybe 20 years ago.
To this day, he loves to play tennis and is always looking for a partner. Recently, he has been playing a friend of his who, due to the current job market, has some time on his hands.

Joe has played this guy three times. The first time, they played for four hours. That's right- FOUR hours. Without a break. That may be fine for people who play tennis regularly but, for those who decide to pick up a racket after not playing for over a year, it's a bit excessive.
Joe was hobbling around our house, whimpering, for the next 3 days. Oh, and he lost the game, which didn't help matters.

The next week, they played again. This time, Joe scuffed the big toe on his left foot. Somehow he dragged the toe along the pavement until the thing started bleeding under the toenail. His toenail is now black. He lost that game, too, and decided it was because of his new racket which is lighter than his old one.

Uh huh.

The third and most recent time, Joe returned to the courts with his old, heavier racket and gave it his all. When he returned home, the big toe on his right foot was black, his right wrist was sprained, and he had fallen on both knees. For the next several days, I had to hear about his wounds and how he was concerned that if he removed the band-aids on his knees too early, he may re-open the scabs. Every time he gave me a hug, he did it from a bent position, his butt sticking out, so that his knee scabs did not get caught on my clothing and cause a knee bleeding emergency.

Really????

Was it terribly insensitive that I laughed whenever I saw him?

(Oh, and he lost the third game, too. Poor guy.)

Jordan and Ian get hitched!

As the first wedding of my season, this sure was a fun one to shoot: bold and fun fashion statements from the bride and groom, (check out those shoes), dramatic decor in the Metropolitan Ballroom at the Sheraton Seattle, a dance floor full of guests having a blast, (thanks to the fantastic DJ Leslie), Wii stations in the ballroom, (the groom is a Guitar Hero fan) and a hot dog stand for those late night munchies. The wonderful Annemarie Juhlian officiated the ceremony.

Both Jordan and Ian looked fabulous, but that was no surprise to me since I witnessed their great style at their engagement session last summer.

Check out these cuties!