By the Glow of the Fire

By the Glow of the Fire, originally uploaded by Stephanie A. Richer.

November 26, 2010 in Santa Ana, California. Stan Schack, a gentleman and friend, as we sat around his fire pit after a second Thanksgiving feast.

Do It Again

Do It Again, originally uploaded by Stephanie A. Richer.

November 25, 2010 in Santa Ana, California. Sadie had Fr. John wrapped around her finger as she got him to do lifts for her amusement.

Baby Calisthenics

Baby Calisthenics, originally uploaded by Stephanie A. Richer.

Taken November 25, 2010 in Santa Ana, California.

My friends John and Sadie, working off Thanksgiving dinner. "Baby Lifting" may become a new sport.

Interaction

Interaction, originally uploaded by Stephanie A. Richer.

Taken November 25, 2010, in Santa Ana, California.

These are two of my friends, John and Sadie, at my house on Thanksgiving Day. If Sadie knows you, and trusts you, she'll willingly play a game of silly face with you.

Jabba the Hutt

Jabba the Hutt, originally uploaded by Stephanie A. Richer.

November 25, 2010, in Santa Ana, California.

My Pembroke Welsh Corgi shot at a very shallow depth of field. This was shortly before the tryptophan in the bowl of turkey I gave her took effect and she slipped into a blissful food coma.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Angry Turkey, originally uploaded by Stephanie A. Richer.

Bethel Woods, New York. May 2010.

Okay, so I made this gobbling sound with my throat and raised up my arms. Evidently, Tom saw that as a threat and started approaching me, stopping to turn sideways and issue an agry cry. This went back and forth, with my younger brother and his friend laughing their heads off in the car behind me. "He's got a hardon for ya, Steph!", yelled Vic.

Perhaps. But I got my picture and what was Tom's fate today?

It's Christmas!

It's Christmas!, originally uploaded by Stephanie A. Richer.

Taken December 25, 2006 in Santa Ana, California.

This is my daughter, aged 9, on Christmas morning. I think her face is a great reflection of the joy that exists for kids on Christmas morning. Note the tangled hair: just out of bed at the crack of dawn!

Meesh

Meesh, originally uploaded by Stephanie A. Richer.

November 16, 2010 in South Pasadena, California.

I had business in the area and my dear friend - still a friend after we attended high school together some 30 years ago - Michele Willms Silveri, aka "Meesh", made me a delightful home-cooked lunch of her outstanding eggplant.

Her dining room had some lovely natural, diffused light falling into it, so I simply had to take my 50mm and take a picture. Which is hard, because Meesh does not like having her picture taken. But she's beautiful!

Hallelujah

Hallelujah, originally uploaded by Stephanie A. Richer.

March 17, 2007 at St. Joseph Church in Santa Ana, California.

I am working towards putting together a book of my photos for my church and was looking at some from long ago. In March 2007, we had a parish concert to celebrate our 120th anniversary. Jay White, a remarkable guy, sang for us.

Westboro Baptist Church Protest

Westboro Baptist Church Protest, originally uploaded by Stephanie A. Richer.

The Westboro Baptist Church had announced that it was going to picket the performance of "The Laramie Project" in the Artist Village of downtown Santa Ana, California. Between 200 to 300 people turned out to counterprotest but alas, the WBC turned tail and never showed up.

However, if you would like to see my hastily processed set of photos from tonight, go check out my Flickr set for it.

You know what, I don't care how you feel about homosexual behavior. (A) They are still human beings, (b) Matthew Shepherd did not deserve his gruesome end, and (c) the Westboro Baptist Church is odious.

In the Garden

In the Garden, originally uploaded by Stephanie A. Richer.

Taken November 11, 2006 at the Cathedral of Our Lady Queen of Angels in Los Angeles, California.

Outside of the cathedral, there is a sculpture garden that features statutes of various animals found in Scripture. The sculpture is designed specifically for children to climb and play.

The boy is my son, then 6 years old.

Dinosaurs Eat Families

Dinosaurs Eat Families, originally uploaded by Stephanie A. Richer.

Shot December 30, 2005 in Cabazon, California.

I originally shot this picture using a black-and-white in my camera. You shouldn't do that. Shoot in color and convert later in Photoshop. In some cameras, you can cheat and it will let you shoot both a color image and a black-and-white, but why . . .

Interestingly enough, the Brontosaurus at the Cabazon truck stop along I-10 near Palm Springs houses a strange gift shop run by evangelical Christians who do not accept evolution.

What caused the dinosuars to disappear? Noah's flood. What causes evangelical Christian families to disappear? Hungry dinosaurs.

Solitarios

Solitarios, originally uploaded by Stephanie A. Richer.

April 9, 2006

During my parish's annual Blessing of the Street, passing through the east end of the French Park neighborhood in Santa Ana, California, I caught these men watching the procession.

A solitario is a man who has left behind his family to travel to the United States, el norte, in search of work and wages. These are three men on a Sunday afternoon - their one day off - hanging out on the balcony. There are no women, no children. Note the bicycle that is stored there - that is someone's transportation, not recreation. What they are watching is a Eucharistic procession, something that would likely be a common sight in their home villages.

Wedding Guests Outside the Bowers

Wedding Guests Outside the Bowers, originally uploaded by Stephanie A. Richer.

Shot August 6, 2005 at the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana, California.

Many wedding parties use the exterior of the Bowers for their pictures while the guests stand around and wait.

The End of the Day on the Trolley

The End of the Day on the Trolley, originally uploaded by Stephanie A. Richer.

November 27, 2005 in San Diego, California.

In putting together a compilation of photos for my church, I am wading through the thousands of shots taken throughout the past five years. It is interesting to see how my style of photography has evolved. This is a picture I took of a very tired 8-year-old - my daughter, Katherine, during the trolley ride back to the train station in San Diego.

Looking for Tomorrowland

Looking for Tomorrowland, originally uploaded by Stephanie A. Richer.

March 1, 2009 at Disneyland, in Anaheim, California.

I am going through some old shots and liked this one, seeing its black-and-white potential. The boy is my son, Patrick.

What is everyone looking for?

Procession

Procession, originally uploaded by Stephanie A. Richer.

Taken back in 2008, on Palm Sunday in Santa Ana, California.

I am going through old photos that pertain to my parish, in the hopes of having a picture book printed up as an item for the silent auction at our annual Christmas dinner dance.

I came upon this one. My parish has an annual Blessing of the Streets every Palm Sunday, where we have a Eucharistic Procession through the neighborhood where my church is found.

I always like the way the sunlight reflects off the monstrance and onto the priest's face.

Waiting on a Friend

Waiting on a Friend, originally uploaded by Stephanie A. Richer.

I don't know why, but the song, "Waiting on a Friend" by the Rolling Stones came to mind when I saw this picture.

She's lost that bloom of youth, but I don't think she realizes it yet. That's okay; she's got her own soundtrack in her head and if the rest of us can't hear it, who's concerned about that? Not me.

Muerto Beauty

Muerto Beauty, originally uploaded by Stephanie A. Richer.

At Noche de Altares in Santa Ana, California. November 6, 2010.

Isn't she lovely? The faces for Dia de los Muertos are sometimes painted half-and-half to show the two worlds, here and the afterlife.

Aztec Dancer

Aztec Dancer, originally uploaded by Stephanie A. Richer.

November 6, 2010 at Noche de Altares in Santa Ana, California.

Con Amor, Hermana Querida

Con Amor, Hermana Querida, originally uploaded by Stephanie A. Richer.

November 6, 2010 at Noche de Altares in downtown Santa Ana, California. A local store, Calacas, sponsors this Dia de los Muertos celebration.

Anyone or any group can reserve a spot to build their altar for a person or cause. So schools, churches, families, individuals, etc. did so, resulting in a huge celebration with some 70 altars, as well as vendors, food, and music.

Taken with my iPhone.

Holiday Skate

Holiday Skate, originally uploaded by Stephanie A. Richer.

My kids' school had a skate night tonight and all I had was my iPhone, so I tried panning with it, and then did some touch-up in photoshop.

Holiday Skate in Orange, California.

Ora Pro Nobis, o Maria

Ora Pro Nobis, o Maria, originally uploaded by Stephanie A. Richer.

This is an iPhone shot, then processed in Photoshop, of a statute at this tiny church, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, in Rancho Cucamonga, California.

Today is All Souls Day. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the our of our death. Amen. (+)

Shock and Awe

Shock and Awe, originally uploaded by Stephanie A. Richer.

It's ELECTION DAY, folks! GET OUT AND VOTE!

Or I'll give her your number . . .