Amy Shertzer Photography | Los Angeles Photographer » 52 in 2012

52 in 2012: Week 17 {trees}

admin — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 18:14:26 +0000

Last week I took my boys to downtown L.A. to visit the Los Angeles Central Library. Amid the towering skyscrapers of downtown Los Angeles, sits this gem. The building itself is modestly sized next to the modern office buildings but it is quite stunning — brimming with unique architecture and art, not to mention thousands of books.

And it’s not just the interior that holds treasures. In front of the library is a charming little park, filled with fountains and sculptures and {trees}, perfect for 2 little explorers!

As always, you can follow along with several other talented photographers in the Photo-a-week project for 2012. Here’s here’s the list!
Michelle, Heather, Jenn, Heather. Rhonda, Tracey, Stacey, Andrea, Jessica, Amanda, Sarah, Janet, Lesli, Carla, Lena, Rose, Naomi, Tracy, Heidi, Veronica, Amy, Kristin

52 in 2012: Week 16 {growth}

admin — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 03:56:29 +0000

I spent 36 hours of the last weekend on a team, with 10 other people, running a 200-mile relay race from Huntington Beach to Coronado Island. It was Ragnar SoCal and the slogan goes: Run, Drive, Sleep ?, Repeat. The distance is divided into 36 legs, with each person covering 3. Except we had a last minute drop-out on our team, so I covered 4 legs, 26.5 miles in total. I’ve run 7 marathons before, but the challenge of dividing that distance into 4 legs, run over the course of 36 hours, while hustling to exchanges and cheering on teammates was something entirely different. Entirely more challenging. Entirely more crazy and exhilarating. Entirely about personal {growth}.

I have 2 images to share that I feel sum up the experience. The first is our team, heading for the finish chute approximately33 hours after we set out on the journey.

The second image was taken with my iphone as I ran the final mile of my fourth and final leg (Leg #27). In my exhaustion, the beauty of the foggy coastline did not escape me. Nor did the camaraderie of other runners, not participating in the race but who just happened to be out for their Saturday morning workout, who cheered and offered encouragement. It’s quite different than the finish line of a major marathon (what greeted me the last times I covered over 26 miles in less than a 24-hour period), but no less a cause for joy and celebration and relief!

52 in 2012: Week 15 {work}

admin — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 16:26:15 +0000

After church on Sunday, my boys got to do some important {work} by helping to take down and fold the flags. They were very serious and proper in their job!

52 in 2012: Week 14 {excitement}

admin — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 21:26:06 +0000

What better image for {excitement} than my 5-year-old hanging out on the beach with the little buddy he hasn’t seen in nearly 4 years?! Just 2 months apart in age, these boys had plenty of play dates when we all lived in Colorado. We moved when my oldest was 18 months, so the play dates ended, but thankfully, he came with his awesome family for a visit to L.A. And these reunited boys picked up right where they left off!

52 in 2012: Week 13 {planning}

admin — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 17:13:07 +0000

Okay, this is a real stretch. . . I could try to come up with some way to say that this week’s image represents {planning} but it I don’t think I (or you!) would buy it. So I’m just going to accept the fact that we didn’t do much in the way of {planning} this week. We did, however, participate in the El Segundo PTA’s Run for Education 5K. As a business, I was a sponsor of the event, and as a family, we all ran in the race.

My husband willingly agreed to push the kids so that I could run fast. And even pushing 70+ lbs of kids and a 30 lb stroller, he still ran an impressive 27:13!

52 in 2012: week 12 {spring}

admin — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 03:38:03 +0000

My confession of the week: I actually took this image a couple weeks ago. But I didn’t take it off of my camera until this week. And it’s perfect for the week’s theme {spring}, so I’m using!

I was in our backyard admiring the rising full moon when I noticed the plum tree was starting to show the first blossoms of spring. I grabbed my camera and speedlight and went outside to play, creating something a little different than the typical image that comes to mind when you think {spring} but beautiful none-the-less!

52 in 2012: Week 11 {underneath}

admin — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 06:53:03 +0000

My family just spent the weekend in the mountains, surrounded by snow and enjoying life! In the 6 months that we’ve lived in Southern California, I must confess that I’ve started getting used to the weather. But as soon as we got out of L.A. and into the mountains, I was reminded that I truly am a mountain girl at heart. I guess 3 years living in Montana and 8 years in Colorado will do that to you!

We headed to Mammoth Lakes, CA, and arrived just a few hours before a massive snow storm rolled in. The next 48 hours brought nearly 3′ of snow and then on the third day, the sun finally emerged. We headed out on cross country skis through a veritable winter wonderland, under a canopy of evergreens with the sun shining overhead. The landscape was made even more magical as gusts of wind blew snow off the pine boughs, raining down in a powdery mist. I can’t think of a more perfect place to be {underneath}.

52 in 2012: Week 9 {spirit}

admin — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 05:39:09 +0000

Another tough week for me! I’ve decided that, in theory, I like the idea of a theme for each week. In practice, not so much. I was intending this project would become a good journal of 2012 for my family. But I’ve found that by having a theme, I’m sometimes pushed to produce an image that doesn’t really have anything to do with what we did that week. But I guess that’s good. I can’t realistically cram 7 full days of happenings into 1 image. I just need to widen my expectation of this project. It doesn’t have to be the perfect synopsis of our week. And discomfort can be good — it means that if I persevere, I’ll learn something and grow in the process.

This week is {spirit} and after coming up empty-handed all week, the lightbulb clicked late this afternoon when my 2-year-old ran into the family room with swim goggles on and said, “C’mon, Mommy, let’s go in the sprinklers!” Who could argue when the temperature was 80-degrees here in SoCal, so the kiddie pool and sprinklers came out! At that very moment I decided that my interpretation of {spirit} was going to be {spirited} otherwise known as {spunk}. This boy had plenty of whatever we’re calling it to go around!

Since I was going for {spunk} I grabbed my wide angle 16-35mm lens. It’s the newest addition to my arsenal of lenses and it’s been fun to play with. The distortion is a lot different than how I usually shoot, but at times, I’ve come to love it. Just like today.

And, since I’m going way out there with my loose interpretation of the theme, and my crazy lens, I figure I’ll get even wilder and post 3 pictures for this week. I might as well really go for it, eh? So, here it is, my 2-year-old, full of {spirit}!

52 in 2012: Week 8 {Romance}

admin — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 04:40:51 +0000

I *almost* missed this week. And at only 15% of the way into the year, that would have been bad. After struggling to come up with a concept all week, it finally came to me this afternoon. So as the sun was setting and shadows getting long, I grabbed my husband and my camera and ran to our front yard. After fiddling with settings and angles and passing clouds that made the shadows disappear, we finally got a shot!

It’s not technically perfect, but when I think about my husband entertaining my silly request to kiss me in the driveway while juggling (and hiding from the shadow) my camera as at least a dozen cars drove past I know that this is {romance}. He certainly knows the way to my heart!

52 in 2012: Week 7 {Body Parts}

admin — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 22:51:23 +0000

Back with my weekly photo project for 2012 with my take on {body parts}, a peek-a-boo little head spying over the bathtub!

52 in 2012: Week 6 {Quiet}

admin — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 04:35:15 +0000

Week 6 is {Quiet} and just like {Cold} stumped me a few weeks ago, there is not much quiet in my life in California. Besides having a 5-year-old and 2-year-old boy in the house, who seem to always be creating some noise, we live about 1 mile from Los Angeles International Airport. There is always the constant whine of a jet engine landing or taking off. And like all the residents assured us before we moved in, you do get used to it, but if you’re really seeking silence, it’s not to be found in this town. If I choose to escape to “nature,” my closest option is the beach at only 1 mile away (not bad!). Although the seashore can be peaceful and mesmerizing, the constant crash of waves is hardly “quiet.” And if I get in the car and drive — north, south, or east — there are 10 million people and miles and miles of congestion to get through before reaching some solitude.

So, I’ve been seeking {quiet} all week and been coming up empty-handed. And then yesterday, I opened my closet door and discovered Newman nestled into my cubby of running clothes. And I chuckled, because I realized that he, too, was seeking quiet. And whereas I stuck out, he had found a perfect little bit of quiet for himself. . .

52 in 2012: Week 5 {Tired}

admin — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 04:07:26 +0000

This is my oldest son, my sleepy head. He often sleeps until 8:30 or 9:00 a.m. every morning. And at least a couple of times a month he’ll sleep until nearly 10 a.m.! I’m a little concerned that when he reaches his teenage years, he’s going to be asleep all the time. I took this image of him in the morning, just after he woke up, which may not be “tired” to some, but to him, he’s almost always a little groggy. As if he could easily lay his head back down and go to sleep again!

I mentioned last week that several other photographers are playing along in the Photo-a-week project for 2012 and here’s the list! You can click through them all to see what they are up to this week!
Michelle, Heather, Jenn, Heather. Rhonda, Tracey, Stacey, Andrea, Jessica, Amanda, Sarah, Janet, Lesli, Carla, Lena, Rose, Naomi, Tracy, Heidi, Veronica, Amy, Kristin

52 in 2012: Week 4 {Winter/Summer}

admin — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:53:41 +0000

This week’s theme had me a little stumped. . . something that represents winter and summer? A picture of something now, in the winter, and then the same object again in the summer (the inverse of this theme pops up in July)? Add in the fact that I’m in Los Angeles, where it always looks like summer, and I was stumped.

Until we were down in Hermosa Beach at sunset earlier this week. And then I saw it. . . the sky says “winter” to me (and I love the little peek of a crescent moon in the upper right), but the volleyball says “summer,” a perfect mix of {winter/summer}

And now I’ll confess that I’m working on this project alongside another fabulous group of photographers. But we’re not 100% organized. I don’t have links to everyone and, apparently, we aren’t all working from the same list of themes! I’ll send you to Kristin for this week, and you’ll see that she has the big list. I’ll get my act together for next week!

52 in 2012: Week 3 {breakfast}

admin — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 13:12:36 +0000

I spent 5 days in New Orleans last week for the Professional Photographers of America’s annual convention. I’ve been to New Orleans once before and the thing I remembered as “must do” from my visit 8+ years ago was to stop at Cafe du Monde. They’ve been in business for well over 100 years and the simple menu has stood the test of time. A plate of 3 beignets and a cup of their specialty coffee is practically required eating while in the Crescent City.

And because I can’t resist, here’s an outtake. . .

You know it’s good when a shower of powdered sugar rains back down to the plate!

52 in 2012: Week 2 {cold}

admin — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 05:05:35 +0000

Week 2 {cold} takes on a different meaning now that I’m living in Southern California. Last year, in Montana, this image would have most definitely included snow. This year, I turned to the freezer. And some vanilla ice cream instead. Melting over some Hot Fudge Cake, it’s a pretty darn delicious interpretation of {cold}!

52 in 2012: Week 1 {newness}

admin — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 17:27:47 +0000

Last week, I mentioned my photo-a-day project from 2011. I love having that record of my family and our life. But after 2 years of doing a photo-a-day project, I’m a little burned out and needed to switch things up a bit. So for 2012, I’m doing a “52 week” project, selecting one image each week that represents a pre-selected theme.

I thought this would be easier than taking a meaningful photo every day. But as my first week is over, I’m already finding it challenging! Picking just 1 single photo to represent the week is a LOT of pressure! My initial goal for the project was to have an image each week that is artistic, compelling, personal and tells the story of my life. Um, yeah, why did I think that would be easy?!?!

I think I will learn in 2012 to cut myself some slack!

Without further adieu, here is my image for Week 1 of “52 in 2012,” representing “newness.”

I’m doing this project with a fabulous group of photographers, and we’re working on getting some links set up to share our images. My goal is to have it all set up in time for Week 2!