Renee Vanni Images

Family by the Lake

Well, early this spring, I had the opportunity to photograph a family - Katya, Egor and Max. Hopefully, I am now their family photographer! Simply gorgeous family and so much fun. They were willing to do just about anything and it was actually still quite cold. But then our summer has been quite cool, don’t you think? In spite of the cold, they were fantastic sports. We started off by my-now-favorite lake spot, that the Gregg Family turned me onto. The one where I also photographed that handsome little fisherman, with the super cool red rubber boots - upon a previous posting. Come on, go look for it now.  I hope that you enjoy these images! Be sure to leave us your comments at the the end of the posting!

Of course, I must add in a little romance and they did not say so, but I am certain that Egor and Katya must be a movie stars! 

 

Those of you that know me, you know, I just gotta throw at least some abstracts in there!

 

 

Kenai Landing

Has anyone been to The Kenai Landing? This was my first visit. Someone has renewed the old cannery and it is really fun. It is still being developed. While there, I saw an outdoor beer garden being created. What a fun place to have a wedding party or party of any kind! There is an awesome restaurant and bar called The Sockeye, and really nice artisans shops for gifts. We have to support this place. Tell everyone you know to make a drive to the Kenai Landing. There were 12 shops when it opened just 3 years ago and a few have gone under. It closes in October, so it is seasonal. Take Kalifornski Beach road until you see the cannery sign. There is an a super coffee shop that serves food.  I snapped some pics with my tourist camera so the pictures won’t do it justice but visit the website link above for the information you need on getting there. 

We stopped at this awesome coffee shop! Appropriately named, COFFEE AT THE LANDING. They do not have a website for me to link to for you. 

The next few photos are some fun pieces from inside this cool coffee shop. 

A view from inside - out of the coffee shop.

Now this store was my very favorite. Rose’s Emporium. Rose very creative! I bought the most exquisite mermaid glass treasure there. I had Rose hang her masterpiece in the light of the window for me to take a picture before she wrapped it for me. You must visit Rose’s Emporium. She does not have a website for me to provide a link for you. But she is listed. This is where I found many of my gifts for Christmas this year! . . . yes, I shop for the holiday all year and am usually done by October. Makes the holiday much more special for me. Finding treasures through out my travels for my dear friends. 

This would be a fantastic place for a studio or open your new business. The store front facades are so charming. 

Talkeetna Moose Dropping

I was able to spend a day up at the Talkeetna Moose Dropping Festival. An annual event I rarely miss. Always get there for the start of the Saturday parade on Main Street. For those who do not already know, Main Street is so short, the parade turns ’round and goes through once more, just to be sure you don’t miss anything. Missed those darn crazy chickens. Hear they retired. All of these pictures were taken with my Sony instamatic. Gawd, I LOVE that camera. It takes great pictures. 

We started with breakfast of raspberries and walnut pancakes at the Talkeetna Roadhouse. Sat down & ended up sharing our table with about 5 visiting tourists.  We also met another visiting group, as we sat outside and ate corn dogs with mustard, sharing a table with an awesome family from California. Man, they had so many snaffus on their trip, including their rented motorhome breaking down, getting all the way up to McKinley and not able to view the mountain - you name it. But they had such a great attitude! Sounded like they really enjoyed the trip, despite. I neglected to get their contact information, probably the corn dog fuzzing my mind, and want to deliver this nice image of their handsome boys. So if you read this, please contact me, you know who you are and I will get this pic to ya. Especially since mom said, “hey, they never pose for me!”

Plenty of fun shots to be had in this little town as Talkeetna is so full of charm and character. 

 

Pal, Sandy and I ran into plenty of friends, ate all day long, and of course, had a margarita at the Tee-Pee and who can pass up a beer later in the The Fairview Inn? Then watched softball at the fields, ate some more, great day. I really enjoy the artisans booths. Plenty of talent here.  I found a few treasures. My handknit hat for one!

 

The Tee Pee lounge has plenty of characters . . .

 

Oh, man, more super cool red rubber boots. I gotta get me some of those! Seems everyone has them but me. 

 

Hey you two, didn’t I just see you last week at the annual BBQ?  The girls waiting for their Alaskan Kettle Corn!

 

These were kinda fun! It rained just a bit and took advantage of someone’s garden displaying these awesome raindrops . . .

A couple of real photo nerds . . . wonder who they were?

 

Before leaving we stopped at Cafe Michele for dinner. I have never been in before and it was absolutely fantastic. It was this perfect little bistro in the town of Talkeetna, Alaska.  Both Michele and Janus made us feel very welcome and our food was so gorgeous and delish! The flavors were incredibly devine. I was very impressed in the perfection of the fresh produce. Poor produce is a pet peeve for me. Too many restaurants do not care enough about their salad choices. When I see iceburg lettuce as my salad staple, I don’t go back.  It is obvious Michele takes great pride in finding the freshest ingredients. Janus will help you choose the perfect wine. I am a wino, don’t know much about wine just know what I like and don’t like. When anywhere near Talkeetna, you must give this restaurant a visit. You might call ahead for reservations. The link is here. Type the phone number into your cell. You won’t be sorry you stopped by. And there is a perfect little outdoor dinner garden out back too! Fun people too.

 

The weather was fantastic. Saw Mount McKinley large as life, on the drive into Talkeetna. Sorry these two doofs did not stop to photograph the mountain. Had my good cameras with me. Not sure why. I don’t know what Sandy was thinking, but my mind was on “gotta get a gyro, gotta get a turkey leg, gotta get a corn dog . . . ”

 
 

July 4th 2008

I took some time to write today. I have much to catch up on, including updating the website and galleries! Watch for those changes. I wanted to share KC and Dor’s annual July 4th BBQ.  Every year, they have this fantastic gathering at their home in Wasilla. Everyone participates by bringing their share of goodies. KC usually has several grills going throughout the day. Cooking hamburgers, sausages, chicken, fish, you name it and let’s not forget - tube steaks for the kids! The day is full with all kinds of food, kids playing, fireworks, drinks, food, more drinks, and great family fun and did I say, drinks?  The fun thing is there are bunches of photographers there all day! As Martha Stewart says: “it’s a good thing!” Photographers are a great group of people to hang with.

 

 

Yes! Even the big kids like to play at the annual BBQ!

 

Both KC and Dor are big time gardeners. So they will always have the best garden treasures to photograph.

. . . Super Cool shirt, man! I want one.

 

 . . . wait! Hey man, are those  . . . L.P.’s?  Way cool.

 

Engaging eyes!

   

Awesome necklace!

My girls.

 

dooough! caught in the act. I love having a long lens, most people do not know when I am taking their picture . . . but sometimes I do get caught - even when I am 40 feet away.

 

You can tell by the look on Frannie’s face . . . she’s thinking . . . is she pointing that lens at me? . . . is she? . . . is she pointing that lens at me? . . .

 

My posse! Part of them anyway. 

Dueling poppers!

 

More of my posse!

 

Self portait, so to speak. 

 

Of course, the making of the fireside s’mores!

 

Sorry for you uptighties out there, but this shot was beautimus!

More Pieces of England

I have more images to share from my recent trip to England. These are more like parts and pieces.

 

I can still smell the lavender.

 

I just loved the aged grave stones. I suppose this may be orangey lichen?

 

 

 

This dock was in Windemere on Bowness. It was a fairly bright, washed out day.

 

I am not one to photograph much wild life, as much as I enjoy seeing all types of wild life. However, when they are posing for you, how can you not point and shoot . . . your camera. I suppose Alaskans do like their hunting rifles.

 

Yes, this was a drive by shooting. I was on the bus and could not resist. Hence, the bus window reflection. But isn’t she beautiful?

 

All of England is storybook land! Look at these perfect skies and wonderful lines in their buildings.

 

All right, I see the pattern here. But I really love grave stones.  I usually shoot church steeples when I travel, but did not seem shoot many this time round, but love those too! Especially throughout New England on our east coast.

 

 

 

I think that I would love to be in here in my final resting place. With a simple grave marker and daisies growing round.

 

 

Adorable little black bird. Reminds me of a nursery rhyme grandma used to say to me. This little guy was begging to be photographed! Any birders know what type of bird this is? Let me know.

 

 

I cannot even imagine how old this wooden bench is. Wish I knew. This was in the town of Hawkshead. My favorite village of all the villages I explored.

 

 

 

 

I don’t really know about my cropping here. Not sure if I captured a subject but I loved the old building, the blue of the window, the moss. The pigeon was just extra good luck! So . . . here you have it.

 

 

Blog Comments

A few days ago, my girlfriend, Sandy and I went to Eklutna flats to see the wild irises in bloom. We were there at the tail end of the blooming season so there could have been many, many more irises. But we enjoyed the day photographing. Sandy photographed the flowers, while I enjoyed photographing her - photographing the flowers . . . something like that. Anyhow, the outing was nice. Her husband was building on their log cabin on the Kenai River and my husband was up North, at Denali Park. So we had the day to ourselves to do what girlfriends do, putz in the flower fields, take in some shopping and have lunch in Eagle River at Shines sushi - only THE best sushi spot in all of Alaska.

 

 

One extra note that I have lost some of your valued comments on my blog. I apologize for that. I really appreciate any feedback you leave. However, I found 180 bogus comments from “junk email” on here and in the process of eliminating those, lost some of my valued visits. How do those suckers get through? Someone please tell me!  So please stop by again and feel free to leave your comments at the end of each posting, as often as you like. 

Thank you!

An England Sky

Many of you whom have photographed with me already know that I will photograph families out of doors - come rainstorm or not. Because I do all my sessions on location, using the environment and natural lighting, I am frequently asked this question from new clients: “what if it rains?”  To which I reply, so be it!  I have always felt that inclement weather can make for magical images. Luckily for me, my clients trust me and we get great images. On those rare occasions, when we are weathered out, we simply choose a day to re-shoot. Recently I was in England’s Lakeland District. I was fortunate enough to photograph this beautiful angel and her brother. I share some of them here. But take a look at the brooding sky and how dark and dramatic it is. It actually did not downpour until we were finished. So next time you see the rain, embrace it. I am certain that my neighbors think I am nuts but I garden, quite often, in the rain. I dare you to go out in the rain and jump in the puddles! Use your kids or nieces and nephews as an excuse, if you must, they love jumping in all the puddles . . . and let me tell you, they don’t miss one single one!

 

 

 

This one looks as if the universe is smiling down upon her  . . . don’t you think?

 

Now this little guy is all boy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At Last . . .

At last, the image seems to say. I had the honor of photographing  a small Russian Orthodox wedding story. It was fascinating for me, watching the traditional ceremony for this bride and groom.   I am giving you just a glimpse of what I captured.

I thought this one image summed up the entire bond between them. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Room with a view

The view from my room.

Well, it has been quite awhile since I could find the time to blog. I have been busy with changes, challenges and just returned from a trip to England. Gorgeous country and lovely people. Europe always makes me feel so humble - it is so rich in history, culture and architecture. 

I stayed in the gorgeous area of the North - Lakeland District. I was fortunate enough to find this perfect little inn, called the The Eagle and Child Inn. The owners, Richard and Denise, are fantastic hosts. Their staff are ever attentive and I loved coming back to my cozy room each evening after very long days, to a comfy bed, tea and sweet treats in my room. The colours of this inn are warm and inviting and it is just so much fun to sit each evening, and watch the goings on in the pub or drink a beer and have a chat with the locals all of whom were very friendly and I adore their wonderful sense of humor. Every one of them is a wickedly funny comedian! Well. . . there was one grumpy one in there. The food is absolutely superb! I made many new friends and though I was not on the winning team, I thoroughly enjoyed quiz night on Thursday night. I only contributed one correct answer for my team -  truth is, the heavy accent of the quiz master, made it difficult for me to understand the questions . . . well, that’s my story and I’m stickin’ to it! Did I already say that it was great fun drinking beer and hangin’ with my classmates? Each evening I tried a half pint of a different beer. They change kegs frequently so there are so many incredible choices of local brews, how can I not try them all? Well, I gave it a small try, anyhow.

Everyday, I hopped on the bus and took in two villages a day. So I really explored the area extensively. All the photographs below were taken with my Sony instamatic! I love that camera. It goes everywhere with me. Thin and lightweight - fits in a special pocket in my purse. I have not even downloaded my images from my Canon or Nikon yet so if keep checking back. If I get some good ones, I may share them at a later date.

I was attending a photography course and I came back newly inspired and cannot wait to incorporate all I learned into my life and work. 

Keep checking back! I may come up with more images.

Cheers! Thank you for stopping by.

 

 

 

Just a little view I chose, this is one of the gardens where you can sit, eat or have yet another beer at Eagle & Child Inn. The panoramic view is 3 times the size but I did not want to photograph all of the people around me, that were enjoying the same space. Plenty of gorgeous countryside.

 

A table for one? Wouldn’t you just love sitting at this inn, eating dinner each night?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I just love the colours in this one and that I can see the brilliant blue sky reflecting in the ratty windows of this abandoned building. Aren’t the windows so cool?

 

This day I was in Windemere and stopped for a cool fruit smoothie with strawberry and bananas. 

 

Gawd, I just love park benches . . . benches of any kind. This bench was in a church graveyard that I visited in Grasmere. I visited the gravestones of the poet Wordsworth and his family.

Actually I think I found THE bench to get home for my garden. I discovered this really awesome little garden shop called Myrtle & Mace located in Staveley.

www.myrtleandmace.com

 

 

 

Having tea in Kendal after an intensive day of exploring and shopping! I loved how the lighting came out on this one. It really was a very bright, sunny day and I am sitting right outside in it! 

 

I stopped here again in Kendal for a break, after walking to the ruins of Kendal castle. I had a rest under this tree. Another park bench was calling my name . . . and yes, if you were wondering, those are my knees.

 

. . . and this is the sky I saw just above my head, laying in this park. The air was a dreamy temperature with slight cool breeze under the trees. 

 

So many fun steps and nooks and crannies. I absolutely love the alley ways of the England’s streets. When you walk down them, you can actually envision another time of long ago. 

 

Those Precious Red Boots

Just a short note today. I was recently photographing a family of 3 at my one of my favorite lake spots. The Gregg family turned me onto this small lake when we photographed with them last year.

In a split of a second I saw this shot of this little boy. Quite the serious fisherman, in all his 2 years. The lighting was magical and you can see the water swishing off his line. I snuck the shot, spoke with his mother and now I share this image with you, with her permission. I only wish you could see more of his super cool, red rubber boots! 

 

Enjoy. Life is all full of these moments when you take the time to see.