More Than Kids

Farley's East Coffee Shop Photography

My last name is not as common as my wife's last name. Her last name is Johnson. My last name is Farley. Many companies are named Johnson. Once company is even named Johnson and Johnson.

Overkill if you ask me. 

There is a small coffee shop chain in the Bay Area called Farley's. This week the coffee shop is allowing us to post some photos and information for a fundraiser. I am only supplying photos. One of the parents works at the Oakland Museum is mounting the show.

Farley-East-Display - Images by bryan farley

I tried to choose a variety of photos that showed the diversity of our students, curriculum and activities. I have taken thousands of photos. Selecting eight photos is not easy, but I have found a few that will work.

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Oakland Ballet Nutcracker Rehearsal

Last year I wrote about my daughter's visit to the Oakland Ballet's Nutcracker. Emily auditioned for last year's production. I heard that she was too small. Whether this was true or not, I am still not sure, but I am amazed that she tried again.

She is a drummer mouse. The smallest drummer mouse.

She might be the youngest of the three mice too. As I write this post, she is finishing her fourth performance at the Paramount Theater. The theater seats about 3,000 people. This performance is much larger than her recitals with Ms. Hunter.

This afternoon, I saw her ballet teacher Ms. Hunter. I praised her for about five minutes. Ms. Hunter prepared Emily for The Oakland Ballet when my daughter was only four. Ms. Hunter taught my kid more than ballet and Ms. Hunter can continue to teach my daughter as long as they both wish.

The Oakland Ballet has been wonderful too. Emily is ready to audition for next year.

Monterey Peninsula and Carmel Beach Wedding Portraits

Last weekend I made some new friends and took more than one thousand photos. I miss my new friends. I wish I could see them often.

I also wish that more of my photos would be seen. There are hundreds of photos that I like that for some reason did not go into one of the photo galleries. I still love the photos.

The black and white wedding photo at the Carmel Mission is one of the photos that did not make it into the final gallery. There were better photos, but this one was still good enough. Courtney and Nick enjoyed each other. Courtney knew she was being photograph, but she still shared something secret with Nick; I can see it in her eyes. He really knows.

This dry erase board wedding photo was good enough too. I did not crop it, even if I could have made a better photo. I like how the bowl, red shoe and picnic basket are partly in the photo. Nick and Courtney are the center of focus... as they should be.

Here are a few others that I wanted to include. 

 

Carmel Wedding Photo Outtakes - Images by bryan farley

Compassionate Friends Worldwide Candle Lighting

At 7 pm tonight, families around the world lit candles for children who have died. Last year I wrote about the Worldwide Candle Lighting.  The Compassionate Friends  organizes the event each year.

Last week I photographed a mother who works to help reduce the number of parents whose children die. To read about an important program that was created to affect the number one killer of teens, read my blog post at bryan farley photography.

Yesterday, I photographed a couple who is starting their life together. When I saw the canldles, I hoped that they would never experience a Worldwide Candle Lighting ceremony. However, if they ever need the support, at least there is an organization prepared to help.

Impact Teen Drivers Presentation

This morning I visited an East Bay high school to watch my friend Martha Tessmer present to students and faculty. Martha works with Teen Impact Drivers; she also started "Mother-of-an-Angel Friendship Network."

I met Martha through a common friend who joined the group after her son died. This week, two group members will remember the day they became lifetime members of this group. Lisa Wiley's daughter Alyssa died on December 7 and Kim Libecki's son Zachery died on December 2.