It’s hard to think of it as work when you enjoy it. Like, really, throughly through the roof enjoy it.

It’s my last night in Cali and I have loved it all. My hotel, although a titch on the sketchy-ghost-town-feel of a place, is only an 18 minute walk from the downtown area and, therefore, the beach. The walk affords me time to plot out my next move, take in a whole new culture (I’m so not in Minnesota anymore!) and just let my mind aimlessly wonder…and wonder it does…(and, yes, I meant wonder and not wander.) 😉

The workshop yesterday was awesome for me, to say the least. Listening to such a talented (and normal) couple talk about their stresses, triumphs, failures and lessons was so beneficial to me. Watching them shoot…was amazing. Watching them interact with each other…amazing. The entire day, the food, the other photographers, the networking…all amazing.

I worked into the wee morning hours last night, plugging away and experimenting with new work flow tips (holy majestic things, what time savers I have discovered!) and allowed myself to sleep in until 8 (gotta love this time change!). The whole day was spent aimless wondering, testing out different coffee shops and patisseries and shooting everything along the way. One of the biggest tips from all the big-time photographers is to just shoot. Get out there and try something new and shoot. Heck, you don’t even have to be new–JUST SHOOT!

So I did.

Here is my day in Manhattan Beach, see you tomorrow, Minnesota!

Thank you to my Auntie Dawnster for giving this book to my Aunt Deb who lent it to me…I read it on the flight out and just loved it. I will probably read it again on the way home! If you have not read it…oh…it’s such a great book. I highly suggest.

My delicious dinner: roasted beet, squash, arugula with goat cheese salad, squash soup, freshly baked bread. Where can I find a salad like this back home!? It was SO. GOOD! Yum yummy yum yum…

Alright, now begins my walk…No rhyme or reason, just shooting as I go!

The architecture  makes me smile. I actually walked by a rotating driveway so the driver would, essentially, never have to back out of his/her driveway…wonder if the roommate have that in their future house plans…? 😉

Yeah, I was that chick who takes pictures of the food she eats. Until they create the eye-camera, this will have to do. This latte was awesome, but I think I almost enjoyed the presentation of it more. In a pristine, large, handle-less white cup with spoon fulls of puffy froth…what’s not to love!?

While I was sitting forever in the coffeeshop nursing my fabulous latte, the fog set in. The waitress, who was as nice as could be, commented on it and I thought to myself (that’s so weird that she thinks smoke is fog). Yeah. I actually thought that…and then shared it with all of you. Cause…well…that’s what I dos.  (and, yes, it’s completely acceptable to say ‘dos’.)

Brace yourself…here comes the pier. I wondered here for over an hour. Just chillin’ and absorbing and loving everything.

Appropriate footwear, no?! 😉

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