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travel
it was quite the year indeed...amazing all the things this past year held! looking back on a few of the images from this year leaves me grateful. grateful for the clients, friends, family and strangers who let me point a camera in their direction...and grateful, that 2014 has adventures unknown, just waiting to be experienced! here is to the year we had, and the year to come...nathan english photography is excited!!
-npe
nearly two months since the last blog entry...and although i sometimes feel the need to remain more consistent in my posting, i have to remind myself that for the most part...this is the off season, and sometimes my family really just needs me 'off.' and so a few weeks out west to unplug and spend time with my parents was rejuvenating for the whole english clan. growing up out west, i can distinctly remember the times i would see my grandparents here in michigan - and how exciting those visits always were. and now, my kids have the opportunity to experience something similar and it certainly brings me joy to see them run to their papa and grandma in the airport, ready for new adventures and vacation memories!
benjamin the photographer
a true roast beast...
we headed up north to wine country, with the hopes of finding our way through napa to the inviting town of sanoma.
yeah...this bakery...all sorts of goodness
wide-eyed ben...with treats galore!
when wine tasting with parents who are club members...you must pace yourself!
benja is a good sport...i try my best to follow along on his adventures with as little direction as possible...but sometimes, just sometimes he gets a 'hey bud, stand there...look up at the clouds'
grandpa and komali girl
just workin' on my lorax stance
'we're going buddy!!'
sanoma details
ravenswood...yeah, i think i've heard of them*
dad and i are working on a new brand / website / logo for his custom woodworking business. we snapped some shots to help tell his story..
ben wants to be just like grandpa!
in grandpa's classroom
dad did some work for concannon and we wanted to catch some of the details of his work there...so we decided to stop off for a bit of the afternoon. this place is awesome!
dapper jonathan, of english craftsman woodworking
the ladies of my life!
a table in the tasting room made by english craftsman woodworking
out past the skyscrapers of SF is land's end...we arrived in time for a spectacular sunset hike!
#bensadventures
somebody seemed to be pretty comfortable around people..
a few days later we headed down the coast to monterey, stopping along the way near santa cruz for a little beach exploration..
destination station
i couldn't take enough of these silhouette photos in the aquarium...spellbound..
the look of surprise!
truly mesmerizing*
ben and his love of sharks..
when nick and katie first met, they told me they both shared a common vision of their own respective futures. marriage was not in the forecast. and yet, for these two...it seemed as though there was little either could do to steer away from the gift that stood before them...each other. i was moved to tears as nick read his vows to his stunning bride. truly a man of strength, stricken to the heart with an overwhelming love for the woman that walked down the aisle to meet him. and katie, with her honest joy, beautiful smile, and uplifting spirit...it was a gift to witness her take in every moment of her wedding day...from the sleet and downpours of the morning, to the magnificent golden sky at sunset.
i don't think i could work through this preview fast enough. every image jumped out at me and helped cement in my mind two great truths. One, Petoskey is a remarkable place. And two, Nick and Katie are the type of clients that win my heart every time.
Blessings to you n&k...it was a privilege!
-npe
jana and i jetted west a few weeks ago to celebrate my 10 year high school reunion, as well as jump into all things pacific northwest. what we found was adventure! i look back and almost cannot believe that it has been 10 years since i graduated high school. i know, i know...not that long some of you might say. but in retrospect, those ten years have created a vast chasm between who i was and who i have now become.
i cherish that 18yr old kid, with his overflowing cup of life's blessings and a childhood honed and fashioned amid the mighty mountains of the cascade wilderness. lifelong friends who are still dear to me. memories and defining moments that have stayed with me, despite my trek east across the plains to the great mitten state. a lot of emotion, for an emotional guy.
and i am thankful, so very thankful. for who i was and what i was given. but also, for changes that have brought me to today, and the humbling gifts that surround me...in the eyes of my beautiful wife and children, and a community and fellowship of michiganders. its a strange place to be, on the street corner of reminiscing and reliving. i think there was a time in my life when it would have been much harder to see the beauty in this moment..stepping into the past to see friends who started new journeys of their own 10 years ago, and knowing we can't go back. but we know that we have been given the gift of incredible memories in an incredible place, and for that, i will be forever grateful. and forever cherish my roots in leavenworth.
washington...you, and your people are beautiful. thank you for the first 18 years of my life. i can't go back, but i can go forward with a greater appreciation for living right now, because right now...won't come again.
-npe
- it was great fun to start off our trip with the reunion, which actually turned out pretty great! thanks to many friends helping out who still live in the valley*
- i surprised jana with a little restful getaway at a local bed and breakfast in leavenworth. the super cool catch? the innkeepers vern and linny are dear friends back from my elementary school days with linny being my 1st grade teacher! their incredibly welcoming home with all of its charm and beautiful detail was just what we needed for a few days, not to mention some delectable breakfasts cooked up by the king of the kitchen vern* if you ever happen to be in leavenworth and want to be treated like royalty, scandinavian escape is a must stop!
i must say, i never tire of this bavarian village...nestled right up against the majestic beauty of the cascade mountain range. it can be said a thousand times, but it still rings true...you feel as though you have been transported right into the alps, without the change of currency* being one of the last babies to be born in the town clinic, i feel a true sense of pride surrounding this beautiful valley and the sanctuary that it offers..
on the drive over the mountains to seattle i had high hopes of taking jana on a little excursion to a lake i thought i remembered well. first off, two things must be said...1. my memory doesn't always serve me well, and 2. you will never find another person with a better attitude than my wife, amid dire miscalculations of effort required to finish a 'short' hike. needless to say, this was much harder than i remember...but we came, we conquered, and we couldn't feel our legs. at least we had a camera to prove we didn't die*
while in washington, i had the privilege to take some photos for a childhood friend of mine who just so happens to do amazing things with paper. mariya and her husband mike live near greenlake in seattle and among other things, mariya has a business of building beauty out of the ordinary... dream like trees is pretty perfect for the bride who wants something incredibly unique for wedding floral finishings...or any floral finishings for that matter. just take a look at her work, amazing right?
our last stop on the whirlwind adventure was the emerald city itself. home of the sounders and starbucks, seattle never fails to deliver...and once again we found ourselves amid renown fresh markets and windy sailing races...and it was great!
with my parents being out in san francisco, there is always a good excuse to hop on a plane for the golden state. and with wedding season just around the corner, two weeks in the california sun with grandparents was a perfect prelude to summer!
its the simple, and yet, vibrant pastimes that tend to make up our time out west, and this trip was no exception. wineries, fresh markets, poolside sunshine, city sights, and just plain relaxing! this land will always hold a special place in our hearts!
dreaming of warmer, western days.... last year my folks moved up the coast from san diego to the greater san francisco area - my father took a new job teaching in the town of brentwood, and jana and i figured it was a great reason to take the kids out west. any excuse to see the grandma and papa, and explore the city by the bay!
we were blessed with a week of great wine, amazing landscapes, beautiful city skylines, california sun, and the very best company of my dad and mom (who may i say, are stepping into their roles as grandparents brilliantly!)
oh west coast, you are always an adventure!
-npe
- norah enjoying the pool!
- perfecting the leap
- taking advantage of the skin his momma gave him
- it ain't portland, but we'll still put a bird on it
- why hello
- swingin singing ladies
- yes ben, you can be loud here
- into the city we go
- bay bridge
- embarcadero
- flats with a view
- from coit tower
- let's take the stairs!
- we found jana!
- yeah...i bet i could swim from there....said me, never
- skyline totally photobombing
- crookedest street
- where one chapter of my life meets another...
- you sell rice-a-roni in your gift shop?
- it was very hard to pull ben from this view
- there's fresh...and then there is fresh!
- to be a fisherman
- a san francisco staple
- 'so ehhh..you gonna draw me or what?'
- street eats
- a beckoning shadow cast upon the park
- 'oh papa!'
- 'your scratchy face reminds me of daddy's!'
- some fine sign design
- beauty in the details
- ben digging the trains and working on expressing his enjoyment - nice thumbs up bud!
- riding in style
- a fixture on the wharf....i guess
- into the mist
- a lone bird, paying his respect
- goodnight sf
- signing the guestbook
- my personal wine teacher
- yep..i am in love
- still in love!
- someday this very tradition will be enjoyed amid the rolling hills of bordeaux
- dapper indeed benjamin
- sweet komali girl
- working on form...and fun
- want to watch them for a week?
- total.hot.babe.
- thankful
- english ladies..now we just need eve!
- these two put up with a lot from me...and they are still smiling*
- harvest time
- big ol' tree
- grandma & grandson
- discovery and wonder
- oh the joys of youth
- redwoods
- photo dueling...
- in the house of giants
- golden gate bridge...as the fog rolls in
- burnin' some calories
- a new generation of goonie
- ♬ 'everywhere you look, everywhere you go...' ♬
- entrance to chinatown
amid the romance of beautiful fall colors and rain tapping on the window pane...chelsea and jay said 'i do' and vowed their lives to each other. although rain on her wedding day may not have been what chelsea had hoped for, nothing could keep this day from being splendid in every way. with a bridal party and wedding couple ready to brave any element of weather, we had the opportunity for some moments that turned out as beautiful and one of a kind as these two are.
blessings to you j&c - now go get lost in that caribbean sun!
-npe
i had the amazing opportunity to spend a few extra days in washington last month, after the wedding of some dear friends... this is where it all began for me...where i learned to walk, where i spent my childhood summers, where i grew up in the shadow of mountains, where i fell in love with my savior Jesus...where the first chapter of my life played out.
it was so good for my soul to return to a place that will always hold a special place in my heart and memory. i spent a few days backpacking with a good friend, witnessed the rolling in of smoke from wildfires in the valley, strolled the streets of my hometown bavarian village, reveled in the beauty of the seattle skyline, and took in all the color of pike place market.
probably the only thing that could have made a good trip great..would have been the company of my wife and kids! i cannot wait to explore new trails and make new memories in the beautiful wild country of the pacific northwest with my children and best friend - don't worry washington, we won't be gone long*
we set out with one goal in mind...to give our dear friend max, a bachelor party to remember.
seven friends heading off to the beauties of northern michigan, ready for the glories of God's creation, the bond of brotherhood, and the memories to be made.
i may say it often, but probably not often enough...i am blessed. to spend these three days with chad, kevin, jordan, will, james, and max was an incredible privilege. humble men of God, enjoying the fellowship of brotherhood and encouraging max as he prepares to marry his beautiful bride, chelsea.
and that one goal...yeah, i think we reached it*
here is our adventure...
-npe
'dark am i, yet lovely'
if there is a sunset upon the waters of perfection, her face shines brighter.
if there are flashes of beauty across the star lit sky, her eyes flash fiercer.
if there is a crowning beauty only God can create, it's home is in her gaze.
her life, a gift of beauty and love. my bride.
my wife is beautiful, truly in every way. and probably the only place that could even come close to heightening that beauty, is the sunny escape of a palm tree canopied beach. on our recent retreat i had the chance to do a little shoot with my wonderful kay, and these are a few of my favorites!
-npe
