Blog
Dec 31, 2012
Jan 16, 2012
Flap your wings...
I've always had a thing for hummingbirds; especially after they inspired me to keep shooting when my gear was stolen in Ecuador (another story entirely.)
Since putting up a little feeder on the back porch, we've been graced by their presence every day. So, we set up the camera, used the handy dandy BluSLR remote trigger with the iPhone and were able to capture this beauty for all to see.
It was truly a family affair, as Izzy was the one to press the button to ultimately catch this little guy.
Even for a moment, it's great to see all the details on this little miraculous creature. Enjoy. I know I do.
-Jen
Dec 22, 2011
First Strike
During our holiday visit with family, Isola's grandparents joined us for her first bowling excursion. I observed two things:
1. First experiences through the eyes of a child make us young again.
2. I need to start using that ramp if I want to score above 100.
-Ric
(music: The Black Keys' Gold On The Ceiling)
Sep 4, 2011
Labor of love.
A couple of days ago, I noticed a new Facebook feature that reminds us of our status update from one year prior. Egocentric? Probably. Unnecessary? Most definitely. But nostalgic nonetheless.
The widget read, "On this day in 2010, my status update was: BEST MARTINI SHOT, EVER!
I couldn't help but smile.
On September 3rd, 2010, we had just finished four very productive, but exhausting days of shooting on the island of Oahu. After working with Daniel Dae Kim and Grace Park, we were on our way back to the hotel when we decided to pull over and get one last shot (aka, the martini shot). One our Production Assistants, Josh, disclosed to us that he played the ukulele and agreed to let us record him perform. As our small crew of 8 hovered, Josh proceeded to play the dwarfed instrument. The highs and lows of the week, the exhaustion from nearly sleepless nights, the bonds we'd formed had swelled to this single moment.
Sitting. Listening. Loving what we do for all it is.
While I'm proud of what we created from those four days in Hawaii, I take even greater pride in the memories (and new friends) we made.
Mahalaaaaaa!
-Ric
Jun 7, 2011
Muir Travelers Meet
Our first backcountry trip together as we prepare for John Muir Trail.
Original song by PB (Opus Orange.)
Apr 18, 2011
The [ahr-tuh-zen] Project: Dave Lefner from Ric Serena on Vimeo.
You Never Know When or How...
Yesterday, we attended Artwalk at the Brewery and stopped by to visit our friend, DAVE LEFNER. It's been a year since I shot a short documentary on Dave and three years since our friendship began when he made a piece for Jen (my thank you gift to her for our daughter).
Dave is one of the most inspiring people I've met. Hardworking. Talented. Compassionate. It brought me great joy to work on his documentary, to somehow be attached to his process if only by observing.
A few months after the documentary had been posted online, Dave received an amazing gift which he in turn shared with me. He'd relayed that he was having a particularly down day (something we're all susceptible to) when a package arrived in the mail. It was a large manilla enveloped stuffed full. In it, a letter from a middle school teacher in Tennessee about teaching her students the process of reduction linocuts; and in her research, stumbled on the documentary I'd directed. She watched and decided to share it with her class. Afterward, her students came up with the idea to create their own pieces and send them to Dave along with their own personal messages. The envelope was filled with the classroom's work.
Mar 28, 2011
Creating Traditions
I'm always inspired by our ability to "create." Art, technology, good food...
So I was thrilled when my favorite artist, Ric, decided to capture our family practice of making pasta.
Every year at the holidays, my grandmother would fill an entire countertop with her beautiful golden flour-dusted pasta waiting to dry. Later, the large silver pot was filled to the brim and the rich, comfort smells would reach us everywhere we went in the house.
Today, I use some whole wheat flour and a KitchenAid instead of a hand-crank machine, but sharing the tradition with my daughter is a greater joy than I can describe.
I hope it inspires you to make something special today.
(And it if happens to be a great recipe, we'd love to hear about it.)
Special thanks to PB (our new friend, source of inspiration and trailmate for the Muir trip) and his band Opus Orange for allowing us the use of their song, Quiet, It's Naptime. See/hear more here.
And of course to Ric, for trying out the Nikon D7000 (gear for the Muir trip) and capturing another family heirloom.
Cheers to all!
-Jen