Jennifer Quen | Photography – Blog

This week I had the chance to attend NightLife at the California Academy of Sciences.  I’ve heard really good things about it, and for $10, it was definitely worth a visit.  The doors opened at 6:00 p.m.; we arrived about 1/2 an hour later.  :P By the time we got there, seats for the planetarium were all gone.  I was a little bummed, but there was still so much to see!  My only advice would be to GET THERE EARLY.  Get there earlier than early – maybe 5:00-ish to guarantee passes to the planetarium and free street parking.  It was much more crowded than I expected, but again, for $10, I really could not complain!  All in all, it was a great experience and I would definitely go for another visit!

[below] ··  The exhibit on the giant tortoises of the Galapagos Islands.  These creatures are fascinating!

[below] ·· I think this was a rattlesnake.  Someone can correct me if I’m wrong.

[below] ·· Guess who!

[below] ·· Check out those gills.

[below] ·· The Giant Chinese Salamander – it’s crazy big.  At first glance, I couldn’t tell the front from the back.

[below] ·· Uni.  Yum?

[below] ·· I forget what this is.  Does anyone know?

[below] ·· I hope nothing bad happened to the previous tenant…

[below] ·· The Giant Bass.  These huge fish live to be up to 100 years.  They continue growing as they age.  This particular one is at least 165 pounds at 70 years old.  Woah.

[below] ·· The previous picture doesn’t do the bass’ name justice.  Here is the side-by-side with James.

[below] ·· One more of the Giant Bass.  I really could not get enough of it.  It was so intriguing to me.

[below] ·· Sand dollars.

[below] ·· A beautiful bouquet of sea anemone.

[below] ·· Upside down jellyfish.

[below] ·· Hadouken!!!

Today marks TWO - two years of wedded bliss to my very best friend, James.  We had an eventful day full of no alarm clocks, breakfast in bed, a sushi picnic, a leisurely bike ride along the water, La Farine treats, Noodle Theory and a celebratory root beer float (of course)!  It was perfection.

[below] ·· Some camera fun on our anniversary.

[below] ·· James insisted on jumping pictures.  I gladly obliged. 

This journey has been amazing and I look forward to the many years to come.

[below] ·· I stumbled across this dragonfly at a wedding I shot this past weekend.  My first impression yielded fear – the immediate ’sweat-coming-out-of-every-gland-possible’ kind of fear.  (For those who don’t know, I am extremely afraid of most creatures that aren’t mammal or fish by nature.)  The first time I came across it while shooting the wedding ceremony, I took an alternate route just to avoid it.  Essentially, I walked an additional 200 steps, in what could have taken 3 steps.  This was probably not the most efficient thing to do, but it was definitely the most calming for me.  I mean, look at those eyes!  I could feel them watching me from every angle.  And don’t let the proportions of its body in this photo fool you.  This thing was at least 5 inches in length.  No joke.  The second time I encountered it, I held my breath and summoned the courage to walk past it.  I even took a picture of it!  And now, looking at the detailed image, I am in awe.  This dragonfly is not so dragon-like after all.  It’s actually very beautiful.  After all, GOD did create it.  Now if only I could start thinking of spiders in the same way…….NAH.

At the end of it all, this dragonfly did not have a happy ending.  During the ceremony, I was trying to silently signal to the other photographer that there was a dragonfly in front of him.  He didn’t understand my awesome hand-signaling skills and stepped on the dragonfly.  :( The dragonfly did not survive the impact.  So sad.  At least I got to honor his life by sharing this story and image with you.  HAPPY TUESDAY!

 

I still can’t believe another year has gone by and the holidays are already here.  It shouldn’t take a turkey to remind me of all the things I am thankful for, but it does give me a reason to share.

So, I give thanks for:

James.

A most amazing relationship with GOD

A supportive family

Really awesome friends

‘The Office’

Weekends

Tuberose

A place to call home

A really comfy bed

Music of all kinds (well, most)

…and you, my loyal blog reader [I know there are a few ]

 

I’m missing much more, but these are the things that popped into my head at the moment.  Anyway, I want to wish each of you a blessed Thanksgiving.  Eat turkey and give thanks!

 

What are some things that you give thanks for?

Bella had her first birthday party a couple of weeks ago.  I can’t believe it’s been a year already!!!  Fun times.  :)  All photos courtesy of James!  Not too shabby, love.

 

[below] | Ben was volunteered to hold the piñata.  He was…thrilled.

 

[below] | Fun with bubbles!

 

[below] | Turns out the piñata was not the violent stick-hitting kind, but rather, a kid-friendly, string-pulling kind.  Whoever pulls the right string unlocks the treasure!

 

 

 

[below] | Collecting the goods!!

 

 

 

[below] | Sasa showing off her bag of goodies.

 

[below] | More sweets!  In addition to the piñata candy, there was a candy station filled with even more treats.  YUM!  Sweet photo of the birthday girl with Mom and Dad.

 

[below] | Hehe…Getting a head start on the cavities.

 

[below] | What’s a birthday without a birthday pig with cherries for eyes!?!?!  Mmm…

 

[below] | I don’t know why, but I really love this shot.

 

[below] | So cute!

 

[below] | Also sooo very cute (in his own special way)!

 

[below] | Baby Uggs!

 

[below] | Me and Garrett hanging out on the jumpy slide.

 

[below] | HAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!

 

[below] | This series of Olivia is so silly!  I LOVE IT!!!

 

 

 

 

 

[below] | Cotton candy goodness.  Even the adults got in on the party sweets.  YUMMM!

 

 

 

[below] | Happy 1st Birthday, Isabella!!