My New Year's Eve was spent photographing this beautiful wedding in Carrillo, Costa Rica. This shot was at the end of the night when everyone started getting their buzz on (well maybe the kids were sober, who knows?) I used a tripod and no flash because there was so much light coming for the fireworks and because the people were for the most part still.  Have a happy 2015!

Life in General

7 years later I am still kicking it down here in Costa Rica. My hair has started turning grey and my surfing hasn't really progressed. My quest for virtue also got sidetracked as I grew tired of complaining about the injustices in every day life. On the other hand, I got married, I had a daughter and life seems so much more settled as the big 40 approaches.

What have I learned about having a kid?  Well, I have learned that this is the reason most people still live with or near their immediate family. Sadly, it is not the case for me. My daughter, I love her to death, could easily drain the same amount of energy out of me as if I ran a marathon. So imagine running one every day. This is why every member in my family needs to pack up their shit and move to Costa Rica. I need a place to drop her off when I am beat. My wife works full time so I split parenting duties with her and a local nanny. The nanny gives us peace of mind and time to do things for ourselves like surfing and surfing (not really much else to do beside drinking and I have learned to do that while parenting). I would like to feel as though I have accomplished many thing during fatherhood of which I will list at the end of this blog.

I always envisioned my kid being really different and raised in a different way. I guess to some degree we do that but how full of shit was I to think that my parenting would be any different than anyone else. It is funny the stuff you say when you are single. It is also funny the stuff you say when you are married. I have learned not to say anything until you are married and with a kid. Not until then will you understand how full of crap you really are.

The only reason I am writing in this blog is because I googled my name, thinking the results might actually be cool and accidentally stumbled upon it.  It was after reading every post that I saw myself as a different person and I am. "Soy Padre!"(I am a father)

The things I taught my daughter and a few she learned on her own:

1. How to fart and say "Toot Toot Pazita"
2. How to play air drums and air guitar.
3. How to chew with her mouth open
4. How to slap the shit out of the Talking Tom Cat (relax, it's an application on the phone)
5. How to program and hack an iPhone or any other device (actually, kids learn this on their own)
6. How to scream like bloody murder when she doesn't get her way
7. How to piss on my bed instead of the toilet.

All in all life is good and even better with a kid. My daughter's name is Paz Del Mar. It means peace from the sea and she is the apple of my eye (or at least until she pokes it out)

Aug already?

June and July were full of raining making it feel like rainy season but ever since August rolled around the sun decided to show itself and the waves decided to bless us as well. Not sure my plans for the rainy season . I haven't been home in a long time and it would be nice to visit family.

Happy Birthday to Me

It's been a while but I'm still kicking and bitching as usual. Nothing really that excitingly different here in Costa Rica other than the weather being weird as shit. Rainy season started stopped kinda started then offshores started blowing to set us back into total confusion. If the world's going to end in 2012 then we better get some things done!

Got married, love my wife, love my dog, love my life. Hate greedy gringos living in Costa Rica that invade a culture and try to turn it into what they think is a perfect society. ... For god's sake my thoughts on this matter will never change, so please stop trying.

I spend every day making videos and sometimes I get to do photography. Did I mention how much I love taking photos? I never thought I would find a job that I enjoy until now.

Give me my surfboard, camera, and computer and I will figure out how to make a living or at least die trying!!!!

Enjoy the night, it's my birthday !
~g

Mac Vs PC

I have changed to Mac but I hold on to my Sony Viao Laptop out of habit. It was a well needed change for my photography as it seems to have simplified life a little. I'm always learning and growing in photography. I see so many different photographers with the most incredible styles and always wonder what exactly mine is. I have come to conclusion I just enjoy capturing any moment at any time whatever it be. Weddings, Houses, Surfing, Adventure I photograph it all and love every moment of it. Below is a new black and white process I have been practicing. Hopefully I continue to grow and maybe even make an honest living doing what I enjoy. ..

Nov Update late in Dec

It came and went like a summer breeze. Special thanks to everyone who helped make it a very special day for my new wife and I. November isn't know for rain, but this year has been really wet and around 4pm everyday it seems to pour as if it were July. The day of the wedding the sky grew dark as it rained nearby but not a drop was had in Playa Garza.

Marriage is a new journey for me and I am happy to have found someone to share my life with. Francela brings happiness to everything she does. I truly hope we can defy all the odds when it comes to successful marriages that are filled with happiness. No doubt its a tough journey but with simplicity, communication, and real love I think its going to come easy.

Somewhere in Costa Rica