the sky on friday night

(edited: new photos added below)

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turned a brilliant hot pink and orange and Anna told me, “Momma, pink is the best color in the WHOLE WIDE WORLD because even the SKY likes pink.”

(I did nothing to this photo except to resize and sharpen for web. It was shot at ISO 250 | 1/500 | 1.2 with my 50 1.2 lens.)

It was a breathtaking evening at the beach.

Everyone played in the water but us. We normally stay on the shore together. She wanders, finding treasures to use for fairy sand castles. Sometimes I bring a book, sometimes I bring my camera. But we never bring much of anything else. Whitney rule: you have to carry whatever you want to bring, so that makes all of them think twice, and makes her get inventive. Suddenly a cup found on the sand becomes a bucket, and a piece of driftwood makes a great shovel. Seaweed is mermaid hair, or a fairy fence. She is growing up so fast, I know this stage will be over before I blink my eyes. I want this magical time to last forever.

Watching her move throughout the day is one of my favorite past times.

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The sun was getting closer to the horizon and Mckenna was shivering in the water. Jeff sent her to shore, to mommy, to a shower and warm clothes.

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Once we got Kenna cleaned up the sun was halfway gone. I sent Anna to call the boys in. I love the way her hair looks after the beach. Those little salty tendrils.

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Right before we left I pulled her hood over her face and she thought it was HILARIOUS. So we did it again. And again. And again.

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And then we said good-bye to a pretty night at Califia and met friends for a sandy dinner.

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x0

Tara

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40 Comments

  1. Tara, I enjoyed that glorious sunset from the baseball fields in inland San Clemente. Beautiful pictures. I recognized that staircase & railroad crossing as our home beach – Califia! Missed ya again – one of these days I’ll see you in San Clemente!
    -megan from sc, ca

  2. god tara, those are beautiful photos.
    there is something about mckenna….i love each and every photo you take of her. E wanted to know where the boys are!! (yes, he was standing over my shoulder as i was looking). i love the happiness i see in anna’s face. your photos are a little slice of heaven. they are truly magical. they make me see the world that way. thank you for that. i need it.

  3. Can I just say… I’m so in love with everything you do. Wow. I wish we lived down there to get some family pictures. You’re amazing. Do you ever do workshops? I gotta get a SLR first but would love to come for any workshops you might do.

  4. Fun… I’m glad to see that you guys have been enjoying the great weather we’ve been having. I think I took note of this beautiful sky that evening too! I only had my iPhone handy… but I snapped a quick picture from my street! Beautiful!

  5. Just beautiful Tara…I miss our nights on the beach from over the summer…we are over an hour from the beach here in NY:( I can’t believe how Anna has grown….seems like yesterday I was enjoying her baby photos! Thanks for sharing, as always;)

  6. Thanks so much for posting the lens info for the first picture. That’s my first thought (well, after “What an amazing picture!”) with every shot: which lens did you use? If you wanted to share the lens info for every picture you post, I would be thrilled!

  7. I’ve said it bunches before, but these pics made me HAVE to say it again. Your work moves me–viscerally–brings me to tears, makes my chest hurt. It is just UNFATHOMABLY incredible! The image of Anna (?) with her arms outstretched from behind…sigh…

  8. hey tara, love your pictures and wanted to say that my daughter has that same jacket that anna is wearing…here’s a tip for you…don’t ever EVER dry it in the dryer…that fur along the hood will become matted and not near as cute as it is now!! Unfortunately i learned that lesson the hard way….lol

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