It is often the people who are closest to us that get thanked the least. Maybe because we always feel that they’re “there for us” or at least present in our spirits. Many of those people are on my mind tonight…a build-up of reflective thought over the last few months. I’d like to acknowledge some of those people here, in a public space and on my personal blog - because perhaps it will make you reflect upon those that are important to you.

This is just a small snapshot of individuals who are near and dear to my heart - people who I have shared many laughs, smiles and personal thoughts with. There are many more that are yet unnamed but I will eventually share.  All of the people below have inspired me, supported my passion and encouraged me in my daily life and work, which is the most priceless gift any one can ever offer a person. Thank you. 

Tom Eisner: For always inspiring me with his words and vision, encouraging me to dance to my own drummer and never letting me forget why I love nature. 

My grandfather: For teaching me that you should never lose your sense of humor no matter what you go through.

Barbara Bedford: For teaching me to be a strong woman with conviction and for allowing me to truly spread my wings.

Cole Gilbert: For allowing me to know it’s O.K. to get excited about little things: Like a bug with a bubble on it’s butt - and to dive right in when you find one! Oh yes, and that some people can make Hawaiian shirts look good.

Tom Gavin: For always teaching me that it’s important to have light, love and laughter in all that you do.

Jack (my right arm) and John (my left arm) both from Sundive all geared out outside their shop in Byron Bay. I went diving both days - despite rough weather. They kept on telling me to come back when visibility is high - but not to worry boys, I’ll definitely be back! Byron is quite a remarkable little place, and aside for the shops not having any soup and 3m of visibility in the water, I still got to see a ton of sea life - from Wobbegongs, king fish, clown fish, morays and a long list of other marine “flora and fauna.” Totally hooked. So where do you think I should dive next? Any good suggestions?

I’m heading out early this morning with Sean from Levis to check out some factories in Shenzen. We caught up first, however, in Hong Kong at Balalaika, a Russian Restaurant, that no doubt provided some amusement for the crew. Well I’ve never had Russian food before, which was pretty good, but the dancing, singing and ice box were priceless. We later head to the club next door where a Filipino cover band sang everything from Shakira to Tainted Love. Brilliant! Check it out. 

Dina, one of the designers from Levis and I share a guffaw at the club next door.

The whole crew: me, Heidi, Dina, Karen, and Dechen

Dechen Does Russia.

Of course it was Sean’s birthday. Time for a little Russian celebration!

Dechen and Dina hold up their phallic “musical instruments” they gave us to shake-shake-shake

Just call us the the Russian Troubadours

From the Ice Box: I guess this is where people come to drink Vodka. They gave us these obscenely grotesque faux fur jackets, reminiscent to Woolly Mammoths and cave men loin cloths. Can’t imagine how many folks wore these polyester monstrosities before us! All in good fun, of course!

Let’s play a little game of What the hell is it? I was walking the beach in the Dominican Republic when we came across this crazy creature. In fact, a bunch of them were washed up on shore.

What is it?

A. Cellophane Barney

B. Purple condom, ridged for her pleasure ;o)

C. Baby Stegasauraus

D. Siphonophore 

The NY Daily News just ran an article on New Yorkers whose names match their jobs. Julia saw a posting for this and we both thought, “HOW PERFECT!” Well, I blew away Mrs. Hamburger (spokeswoman for McDonalds) and Art the artist for the readers choice poll, but take a look at the article and see who else’s name was up for voting. 

SUMMER RAYNE OAKES the environmentalist

Born on a rainy day in June, her mom decided to call her Summer Rayne, and Oakes is thanks to her dad’s last name. The 24-year-old, who lives in Brooklyn, has immersed herself in nature from the start. “My first day of kindergarten, I brought in a boxful of pet caterpillars,” Oakes says. “I was growing mold in my refrigerator. This was clearly something that I was really interested in.”

The environmental scientist is a spokeswoman for Planet Green, Discovery Network’s eco-lifestyle network. She also just helped launch a line of green shoes called Zoe & Zac for Payless — and works on sustainable forestry initiatives in Mozambique, Africa.

“Proper names are poetry in the raw. Like all poetry they are untranslatable.” - W.H. Auden (1907-1973) English born poet

This upcoming week I’ll be shooting the new zoe&zac campaign for Payless with Todd Norwood, whom is most known for his campaigns with Michael Kors, Nina Shoes, Bloomingdales, Neiman Marcus, Macy’s, Lord & Taylor, and Bergdorf Goodman. His collection of personal work, however, is most captivating. His straightforward shots of commonplace, everyday objects in cold urban environments leave viewers with an unsettling feeling of isolation and abandonment. Perhaps to Norwood this is what it looks like when we have reached the end of our useful lives. All photos: Todd Norwood.

We allow our ignorance to prevail upon us and make us think we can survive alone, alone in patches, alone in groups, alone in races, even alone in genders. - Maya Angelou (African American poet, writer and performer)

hard at work

forgotten soul

eyes peeled

take a seat

tea time

clean sweep

splat

In nature we never see anything isolated, but everything in connection with something else which is before it, beside it, under it and over it. - Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe (1749-1832, German Poet, Dramatist, Novelist)