Burney Falls- Must See waterfall in California
BURNEY FALLS- A MUST SEE WATERFALL IN CALIFORNIA
Around 30 miles away from Butte Lake entrance of Lassen National Park is one of the most beautiful falls in California.
McArthur–Burney Falls Memorial State Park is located approximately 6 miles north of Burney, California , is a visual treat for families looking to get away and immerse themselves in refreshing beauty of mother nature.
The state park is a place to hike, fish or just enjoy some down time. Kids friendly hike to this majestic falls is pure delight.
Don’t miss this gorgeous falls , a must visit while you are in California.
If you are looking to buy some beautiful art for your home or to gift, do, check out our print store.
My beautiful City – San Ramon, CA
San Ramon Diaries
2020 will always be remembered as the year that our economy and world was pushed down to it’s knees by a virus.
Crazy times, lots have lost jobs or loved ones, but there is one thing that was a silver lining in this grand scheme of things. The earth started to heal. The skies got clearer, the air fresher and the people who were left to stay indoors started to see the nature around them a little more.
All these landscape photos here are from small trails around my home. My beautiful City Of San Ramon. I have lived in this small town for almost 7+ years but it took a Virus for me to see how gorgeous it’s hills are. My time to find sanity and quiet led me to photographing these rolling hills and enjoy the blooming wildflowers. A promise to myself to explore and wander more.
What is in my Camera bag?
CAMERA BODY
I have been often asked what my gear is & what camera and lenses I use for my photography
I have been in business for more than 6 years now but my passion for photography is much older than that. As I have evolved into where my photography is now I have also evolved from my camera to the one I own today.
Please know that what works for me might not work for someone else. It’s all based on your personal choice and where in photography journey you are.
While I come from Film days where my very own first camera was a Minolta ( truly a beginner stage film camera) I am now a proud owner of Canon 5D Mark IV. It is a full format camera that I absolutely love.
*All camera gear photo credits: B&H Photo Video
LENSES
Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM Lens
One of the most versatile camera lenses. I have this on my camera most of the days. The new version of 24-70 offers no Image Stabilization option but if you are either tripod mounted or know what you are doing, it’s not a huge miss compared to its predecessor.
Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM Lens
A fabulous macro lens. I have used it immensely for portraits to create the creamy bokeh.
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM Lens.
The new version of this lens has great upgrades but I haven’t found any reason to upgrade this lens. Its an amazing telephoto lens and it is built like a tank but it does come with a lot of weight. Its definitely not the lightest lens to carry. But don’t let that stop you. I have been able to capture some amazing landscapes and portraits with it keeping my distance from my subject.
Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM Lens
I love this prime lens but in all honesty its lesser used than the other more versatily lenses. Primes are definitely faster lenses but I don’t use this one as much as I could.
Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art Lens for Canon EF
This Prime is magnificient for small spaces and low light conditions. Definitely a great addition to my bag.
No COVID can change Mother’s Day
BECAUSE…
They say years go by faster…
Ask a mom. She will tell you how some days she nearly loses it but keeps it together. How she puts her heart and soul into her family, her kids, her fur babies and how much she loves them despite everything that falls in her lap. Yes days are longer but years go by faster.
Being a mom is the one of the hardest and yet most satisfying job ever. To hold someone you love and care about , to see them through this journey of life is what makes the world going.
Mother’s Day is a tribute , a tribute to someone who holds a mother figure in your life. Your mom, your grandma, your step mom, your nanny., mom to your furbabies.. anyone whose maternal love influenced your life deserves a tribute everyday but more so on Mother’s Day.
To those moms in your life, we might not make it into any history book , but we are part of our family legacy. A legacy that will share your story with your family as time goes by. EXIST in your photographs. BUILD a legacy portrait to proudly display on your wall. A selfie never made it to legacy… and never will. Celebrate motherhood and cherish each precious moment that life shares with you. After all who has seen tomorrow? Live a little and exist in your legacy.
For those who would love to create exquisite portraits to celebrate Mother’s Day ( even if a little late due to the Covid situation), ask us about the Mother’s Day special. We promise it will give you the best gift of love you can offer to the person you love the most.
Happy Mother’s Day.
Giannis Italian Bistro
Giannis Italian Bistro
We are in this together…
“It is only in our darkest hours that we may discover the true strength of the brilliant light within ourselves that can never, ever, be dimmed.”
Covid-19 has created havoc in everyone’s world. People have been stuck inside, trying to keep their family safe and amongst all this turmoil our economy has been shaken deep. The worse affected in this turmoil are our small local business like restaurants, cafeterias, bistros …all those store fronts that still have a rent to pay and not enough coming in to even break even at this stage.
Meet Melanie, co-owner of Giannis Italian Bistro at San Ramon, CA. Giannis is a family owned Italian Bistro on the busy street of San ramon Valley Blvd….well when its not a lockdown period. But things have been very different lately for this beautiful cozy restaurant.
Melanie and Gianni are the owners of this mind blowing, finger-licking , too good to be true, yummy Italian food place. They are avid animal lovers, and donate towards various non-profits. They also give back to the community every week with their “Tips for Change” Monday nights at Giannis Bistro and have been doing so since last 9 years. It had been a beautiful journey until recently when the Covid-19 took over our lives.
This year… things have changed so much and is probably the hardest this restaurant have seen in this journey.
Giannis have lost 75% of its business, more than half of the staff and there are days when Gianni and Melanie can’t even breakeven their costs. They are still working so hard to keep their employees working and pay them so they can support their families. Their staff are their family and its hard for them to get their family lose their survival means.
Despite the hardships our local beloved restaurant is going through, Melanie is so utterly grateful to the loyal patrons that keep the restaurant doors open and the spirits of the employees high with hope and joy.
Giannis have done so much for the community that its only fair that now that when the they need our help, the community comes together to do their part.
The restaurant is open, pivoting their business to keep the safety standards, keeping their patrons informed and up to date as they work their way into the changed world. So next time your taste buds are craving gourmet Tomato Basil Sauce and mouthwatering meatballs, think of Giannis. Your tummy will thank you and so will your local businesses. I think that is a win-win for everyone.
Bringing smiles and hope back to the faces that make up our beautiful community.
For more details visit Giannis at https://www.giannissanramon.com/.
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Floors by Fall Design
Falling in Love with your floors with Fall Design
A Woman with different Avatars, a force, an entrepreneur, a warm friend, a loving mom, a humble human being and a powerhouse that can don various hats to passionately build her business of creating gorgeous floors for her clients.
Meet ROSE from Fall Design.
I am one of the lucky ones to have met Rose years back. I have seen her emerge like a force and a strong businesswoman that she is today. From very humble beginnings and finding her path as a successful business woman Rose has come out strong. Her first job in child care taught her love, compassion and care that I see in eyes when she is interacting with her amazing sons.
A flooring journey might not be where she had planned to start or even love, but her passion and enthusiasm has given her a gift she loves and wood floors are her canvas where she unleashes her creative side.
Her journey has taken her from a colorful world of Graphic design to the rich amazing tones a wood can bring into your home.
What makes Rose different is the that in an industry where men are predominant Rose stands tall, is highly respected by the fellow artists and the men that bring her project to completion.
Nothing in life ever goes waste. Rose’s background of graphic design is that creative side which comes forward when she designs the perfect wood pattern and color for your floors. The pinks, warm reds , yellows and greens are just few of the colors she plays with. Wood are her toys and design is her playground. Check out her beautiful portfolio HERE.
This is Rose’s In pursuit of happiness story, a journey that started with the courage to find her calling and continues with thirst for more from life.
So when you are thinking of doing your floors, create gorgeous art work on your floors with Rose from Fall Design.
Diablo Carpets And Floor Restoration
when jack met nancy
Meet Jack & Nancy. My friends, my advisors and owners to a very successful local business Diablo Carpet and Floor Restoration.
But there is more to them that just those three words I just used to describe them.
I met Jack few years back at a business meeting. He was part of my business group until I actually started knowing him as an individual. The more we chatted the more I realized the kind of giving generous soul he is. I think them adopting Luke( Bella’s pup) was the time I really realized their compassion and the love they have for everyone around them.
They hardly talk about themselves. If you know Jack… he is a listener and really good at that. He will give you his un-divided attention, support you, advise you and force you to think outside the box and get better. Giving is part of who he is. That is such a core part of him that of course he is a rotarian. He puts his heart and soul into the community. Works closely with the local business & supports The Down Syndrome Connection of the Bay Area just to name a few. His better half is his grounding and sounding board. Nancy is wise, compassionate , an avid animal lover and a rescuer. Together they have rescued and adopted so many pets that its hard to keep count.
They also run this amazing service business of keeping wellness and health into people’s homes and workspaces by restoring flooring and cleaning carpets. From pet stains in loving homes to wine stains in a welcoming home, he ensures his business runs on integrity and delivering on what he promises.
When I met his employees Martin, Marcos, Josimar & Bruce, I could see their bond with Jack. To share that trust with their “boss” is something thats worth a treasure.
Their story together is nothing short of an inspiration. To get to a stage in life from where you struggle to making ends meet to running a multi employee successful business is nothing less than a feat.
So why did I decide to share this aspect of Jack & Nancy today? Because when I create headshots or portraits for people, the faces that are in front of my camera are not just faces. They are living breathing people who are just like me in many aspects and to know them becomes my privilege. Today is my day to share who they are as service providers, as a business owner but most importantly.. as people. WARM, COMPASSIONATE, GIVING & HONORABLE.
Such amazing people need to be recognized and applauded.
Check out Jack & Nancy at Diablo Carpet and Floor Restoration.
A photographer’s job
A PHOTOGRAPHER’S JOB
Hey Mr/Ms Photographer…
Yes you. I am talking to you. If you call yourself a professional, please know you have a big responsibility.
You see, when you create someone’s portrait, you make their image permanent on their soul.
So when you create an unflattering photograph, you crush their soul little by little. That impression stays with them for a lifetime and their confidence takes a deep dive.
If you don’t know what I mean, please read ahead.
A woman who has been struggling to lose that weight she gained because of her illness or the baby starts shying away from the camera. She ceases to exist in those memories that her kids will cherish as time goes by. If you pose her wrong, bring unflattering angles in your art, you destroy her image.
If you emphasize someone’s receeding hairline , create angles showing off double chin or enhancing the wrinkles with poor choice of angles and lighting, you do not know your craft. Please learn it well because its not just a picture we build , its someone’s self confidence, someone’s image, someone’s memories we are creating.
Please see the beauty in people and shine their light. You have a big respobnsibility you see. You can boost someone’s self confidence by knowing and owning your craft and by seeing the best in people.
Anything less, isn’t acceptable from a professional.
LegacyPortraits
As they say… YOU WILL NEVER KNOW THE VALUE OF A MOMENT, UNTIL IT BECOMES A MEMORY.
We now with technology have the power to carry a camera with us everywhere we go. All those moments when our cellphones come out and we take a “Selfie” or a “pic”.
We celebrate “looking nice, “Date Night”, “Birthday”, “Milestone”,”Proud moments”, “Baby’s birth” everything under the sun by taking photos. Now imagine taking thousands of photos everyday and then not remembering any of them as years go by. Nothing on our walls printed, no albums to hand over when kids grow up.
What do we leave behind? A cellphone or a cloud drive with millions of photos and no one to look at them once we are gone?
We all have a legacy to preserve and moments we are proud of. Exist in them, hand them down. Enjoy it on your walls, in your albums. Hold , feel, touch, see what really matters. Your LOVE for your family. Before you know… the moments will be gone.
BECAUSE WE ALL HAVE A LEGACY TO PRESERVE.
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