No lies - it's truly sunny Mexico .
I love this photo a lot, it's simplicity and variations in form is something catchy. I try to find a reason what this cactus stands for. One of the first ideas is that this cactus represents me and my two sisters, one of them has a daughter (that's that baby cactus on top). Cute little niece :) The second idea is that you can take any path in your life and grow in different fields. That's why you have these different branches. The third one is from my childhood. mm~~ When I was growing up my mom had this one cactus on a table. At that time I thought what an ugly looking cactus it is and I couldn't understand why mom keeps it. Every time I would play around it, I would somehow hit it by accident (no lies!!). Eventually it started to get weaker and weaker from a wide base to a narrow top. My mom was unhappy about it, because she had to buy at least 5 new pots for it.... Couple years later when I stopped hitting it I saw the top part getting wider again. This is where I realized that no matter what reason is in your way you will probably get weak for some time, but if you have a strong believe and knowing where you are going you will get there. Sooner or later. I think I can apply this to my life as well. Somewhere deeply in my heart I saw myself (felt) as a photographer. I never truly believed it or I always had a self doubt about it while living in LT. Yes, changing environment helped me to accomplish my dream. And guess what? This post exists only because I had a chance to photograph a wedding in Mexico. A thing I could never imagine 5y ago happened to me. I feel very very grateful for everything I've got so far and it's my big pleasure to give it back. To create and see those special moments and share with you :)
Our last couple trips didn't happen in a way it was supposed to, this trip to Mexico was on the list 'it's not gonna be on time'. I don't even remember what was the reason, but we couldn't make to our original layer over spot, so instead we flew to L.A., had a wonderfully delicious Poki at the airport and then continued our trip to Mexico :)
I remember very well, when we landed I felt like I'm in this new world and everything looks great. It was hot, I was squinting so badly even a hat that I bought in Philippines couldn't help, couldn't see a cloud in the sky, just a lonely moon looking at us. Our hotel driver was playing some Mexican songs and it was a perfect beginning :)
Next to our hotel entrance you could buy some snacks:
I have never been in a resort where 'everything is included'. I was really amazed how big our hotel was, I loved this symmetrical look even though it gets boring after a bit, but at first you feel like you are in a huge palace wondering around:)
Refreshments while doing check in always feels good, right? :) The moment we got into our room I instantly wanted to switch into a dress and go to explore our palace. My 50mm lens came with me :)
Feeling hot? :) Good, let's continue :)
Seeing this pool next to the ocean I thought it is silly idea to have it there. You just go into the 'real' water..... And then I realized how naive I'm! They made this pool because it's impossible to get into the water. The waves are so high no one goes in there, but(!!) waves makes this beautiful sound while crashing into the shore. Never ending dance :)
Local sellers would stay on a beach for a whole day.
A little corner of Mexican flora.
We left beach in a hope to find food. The best we found was a random spot mobile kitchen where chief was making tacos. Good enough to kill hungriness.
This was our dinner view :)
Take a look at these photos and I hope you can see how big these waves were.
Meanwhile the entrance of the hotel was coloured in this golden sunset colour. Beautiful :)
A little bit of a city view before going to bed.
Honestly, this first day reminded me of the time we had in LA. So chill and warm, no work to do. Just a pleasure of wondering around :)
Murrin Loop Trail .
Just a bit warmer and I instantly want to go out to the forest and mountains :) I feel my heart being called by nature. I love Vancouver but I moved here because of nature. So diverse and rich every time I'm out I can't stop saying 'wooooow' my eyes gets big like owls ;}
I think the night before we were hanging out with Madeleine and Alex and they offered us to join for a small hike. Will I ever say no to this?? ;} This time we drove to Marrin Loop Trail which is on the way to Whistler. It's very easy hike with a beautiful view to mountains, hwy99, the bay and if you go to the second top you can see the other side to Squamish.
Right when you leave parking lot you walk a little bit and behind this huge rock on your right side you see this completely different world - people fishing, kids playing, other people bringing ropes and climbing stuff. It feels so isolated from the hwy.
People are climbing up and down. This trail is really popular for rock climbers!
I took 16-35mm lens for this hiking trip. I found it works perfect in forest especially when you want to show all these big and wide and tall and amazing trees. I love this view :)
You can get really close to the subject and in this case to add dramatic feeling by showcasing where this little flower is actually growing.
Or secretly took a photo of your friends ;}
Little snake came out to enjoy sunny day :)
Little Youn came out to enjoy this sunny day too :)
If you live in Vancouver or around it and you are tired of popular trails, you definitely have to try this one. It can get quite busy, but I believe majority people come to Murrin Loop to do rock climbing so trail itself is not that busy and it takes less effort to get on the top then Stawamus Chief. Try it out :)
Second chance for art .
We planned to visit an art show of a famous artist. We wanted to be cheap and decided to go on a day when visiting is by donation. Guess what? There are lots of other people who were smart like us, maybe smarter because they actually waited in this huge line up. We just walked away and decided to visit art gallery next day. Evening was too nice to wait it in a line up and then rush in a gallery.
Second chance - we walked to gallery before opening hours and got lucky :) We walked around, I took some photos, read about the art pieces, also visited some other exhibitions happening at the same time and that was it.
And this is me in my beautiful home. I sometimes do take selfies in a mirror. I'm behind the camera but in front of you. I see my subjects as an artists and I feel lucky that I have a camera to stop that moment. They might be not aware of it, but I feel the moment. Am I the artist or my subjects are? Does it matter?