Photosensitive Portraits

Tag, I'm it!

Received an email lately from a friend (and amazingly talented photographer!), Amy Steipech - seems I've been "tagged"?! Okay, I admit to being unhip and had to ask someone what this meant - it means I have to write 8 things people don't know about me on my blog...well, here goes:

1. I met my husband (that's him standing next to his best friend, Jim, in the portrait above) by answering an ad for crew members in Latitude 38, a San Francisco sailing magazine - "Sailing to Tahiti in June. One more female crew wanted. No experience necessary - enthusiasm a must!" So I called this guy Steve, interviewed for the position and 3 months later Steve, Larry, Grania and myself sailed out the Golden Gate, turned left and spent the next 9 months cruising the South Pacific! Steve and I were married a year and a half after we returned to the States. (Ladies, want to get to know a man? Spend weeks at sea with them in a small sailboat!) Steve and I just celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary and can honestly say we're happier than ever...

2. I've had thyroid cancer - 25 years, two surgeries to remove my thyroid and a golf ball-sized tumor later, I'm free and clear...

3. I was a street actor for 5 summers in a row at the Northern Californian Renaissance Faire - yep, I played a peasant gal (Gloriana Beatrice - but you can call me Glory B!) and had a rollicking good time doing it! I modeled myself after my favorites comediennes, both queens of slapstick, Carol Burnett and Imogen Coco (dating myself, fer sure)...

4. I knit - well, sorta...I've made ALOT of scarves and even a stocking cap or two (a skill learned at class at Knot Another Hat), but that sweater I started for my husband 3 years ago still needs sleeves (and doesn't have a chance in hell of fitting him, I knit it soooooo tightly!) - but I really do enjoy it! It's like meditation for me, I just zone out and concentrate on the task at hand...

5. I LOVE to watch cooking shows - the Food Network is my most-watched tv channel! I must say, I really really miss watching "The Iron Chef" in the original Japanese...

6. Years ago in San Francisco, I met Diana Ross (of The Supremes) while rushing to my aerobics class - I ran right into her and knocked her into the arms of her security escort! When I looked up into her face, I knew right away who she was (hey, I grew up in Detroit at the height of Motown's best years) and blurted out, "I'm so very sorry! Hey, you're Diana Ross! I'm from Detroit, too!" She smiled weakly in my direction and was whisked away by security...

7. I collect photography books (no big surprise there, huh?), but with a definite emphasis on women in photography - it's all about getting inspiration from the way these women integrated their love of photography into their lives, how they combined family, lovers and everyday living with their pursuit of excellence in their art...

8. I am a coffee snob. While I am no longer able to drink several cups a day as I did in years past (cutting back has helped my insomnia tremendously, who'da thought, huh?!), I make a point to thoroughly enjoy the one cup I allow myself in the morning - only the very best will do and for me, that means Peet's and please, make it French Roast, cone-dripped or french pressed, dark and delicious...anything else is just settling and I just won't settle for second-best when it comes to my coffee!

The other part of this "tagging" business is that I'm supposed to "tag" other photographers to participate in this list-making...so here are the talented, amazing and wonderful people I've chosen to introduce you all to!

Jodi, Debbie, Michelle, Andy, Andrea, Jackie, Maria and Rebecca...enjoy!