Welcome!

Welcome to my blog’s new home! I hope you all have had a smooth journey here and that you enjoy looking around the new format and content.

To celebrate, I’ve brought you some peonies from Paris! Now, it may sound wildly romantic to say that I went to Paris just to photograph the peonies but there is a bit of truth in that statement. When I was hired for an assignment in Europe, I scheduled a stay in Paris as close to peony season as possible. And happened to have lovely weather.

The always-beautiful Paris flower markets and shops were beyond bursting with peonies, roses, Lisianthus and more. This particular “shop” in Saint Germain was really little more than an open door to a closet-sized room overflowing with buckets of blooms that spilled out to cover every inch of the sidewalk outside – all exquisitely presented and arranged. Purchasing a huge bouquet for the apartment, I was granted free rein to photograph it all.

So, for you, armloads of pivoines. Just imagine the fragrance!

Thank you for being here, dear friends.

xo – g

Amsterdam and Haarlem

On my trip to Europe in late May, I had the opportunity to once again visit my friend Eline Pellinkhof in Amsterdam. (Although this post is not in sequence per the trip itinerary, I wanted to share it now as Eline recently celebrated her birthday. Happy Birthday, Eline!)I flew to Amsterdam from my location shoot in England and Eline whisked me and my enormous luggage (tripods, camera, lenses, reflectors, strobes, etc.) to her lovely townhouse on a quiet canal in Haarlem. We started (fairly) early the following morning, enjoying the most wonderful day, thrilled with the happy atmosphere that seemed to envelop the city along with the warmth of the sun.

First stop: Amsterdam. We strolled the old city center, laced with canals and charming house boats, the streets studded with playful shops and tempting cafes and bakeries, where we purchased our lunch to go.
We dined alfresco at Eline’s beautiful, secret garden – a peaceful refuge where bees are kept in a private city area. Eline owns a landscaped, flower-filled plot, complete with a little house, and can escape to it anytime for a mini holiday.The plantings are designed for the bees, so Aguilegia (columbine) are plentiful, as are birds and even frogs and salamanders.
The afternoon was spent in Haarlem, smaller than Amsterdam but with a unique style and character. Below, a typical street in Haarlem, lined with shops, cafes and lots of bicycles. Above, the steeple of the huge church in the square. Below, citizens enjoying the summer weather; Eline’s reflection in a mirrored hanging in a trendy shop. Joined by her boyfriend, Joost, we ended with an amazing dinner in a classy restaurant overlooking another gentle canal – a serene and beautiful evening to wrap up several weeks of high-paced travel and shooting. Eline is hard at work on her THIRD book! I’m so proud and happy for her. You’ll enjoy visiting her blog and exploring her utterly charming and irresistible books. Thank you, Eline, for such a memorable day!

London Town

Cheerio, my friends!

In tribute to the Jubilee festivities, I’ll share a few images from our recent day in our favorite city.

When I was 14, we spent a magical summer outside of London, near Richmond, in a centuries-old house with narrow staircases and crooked beams and hidden rooms. We absorbed with wide-eyed wonder London’s architecture, museums, galleries, shops and parks, creating indelible memories as we explored each cobble-stoned street. Ever since, we’ve adored her unique blend of history, charm, quirkiness and style. Subsequently, I attended a summer course at a London drama school, lived and worked in the city, and visit whenever possible. I’ve been fortunate to marvel at many of the world’s great cities, from Tokyo to Rome to Paris, but dear London will always have my heart. So, when a frustrating flight delay in April necessitated an overnight stay, we were {secretly} delighted. (And was the only sunny day that week.) :)

Some of my favorite London activities:

Visit the National Portrait Gallery and the Tate Britain Gallery
Linger over tea and cakes at Fortnum and Mason
Walk along the Thames at dusk
Attend a performance at the Open Air Theatre in Regent’s Park (summer)
Warm up with hot chestnuts from a street vendor (winter)
Scout for treasures at an antiquarian book shop
Sigh over incredible fabrics at Liberty
Say hello to the Shakespeare statue in Leicester Square
Stroll through any of the parks – St. James, Hyde Park, Hamstead Heath
Soak up the lively atmosphere at Covent Garden and Neal’s Yard
Listen to Big Ben chime the hour, any time of day

Have you been lucky enough to visit or live in London? What do you love most there?

We are having the soggiest start to summer here in the Northwest. Hope your days are sunny and bright.

xo

– g