Santa Cruz Photographer

congratulations carrie & albert!

2011-11-12T15:15:00.001-08:00

wedding in the rain 11.11.11

Green Salon Launch photos

2009-10-30T18:33:00.000-07:00

My friend invited me to her salon's anniversary party.

We both one prizes that night! I'm normally lucky in raffles but this time I won the jackpot with a dozen hair products from Enjoy.

The boutique at Oasis had fun jewelry and accessories.

Complimentary massage and facials. Thank you!

Praise the Board

2009-09-29T15:56:00.000-07:00

I've been so busy. September is the new June for weddings for sure.

On the First Friday Art Tour this month I went to the Praise the Board exhibit at the Museum of Art and History in Santa Cruz. Pretty cool, you should check it out. website

TV show filming at the Cosmo Factory

2009-08-24T15:50:00.000-07:00

I've been so lucky to have been working nearly every weekend since March. I've taken a few weeks off here and there but pretty much shooting non-stop since the season began. I have so many images to post on this blog so come back soon.

Last year I found this funky little salon/beauty school on Front St and I've been a regular ever since. It's a great place to get your hair done and you can't beat the price. The students are always working on new and exciting projects in the community. Fashion shows, movies, art openings. There is always something going on here.

James the director of the Cosmo Factory, Santa Cruz's newest cosmetology school.

They always invite me to bring my camera but I'm usually always booked. Recently, I was able to come to the taping of a local t.v. show at the Cosmo Factory. It was a story hour for the local public access channel. This episode starred Daphne Moon pictured below with her young cousin. I'm sure they'll be a link to post soon.

www.rebeccastarkphotography.com

moms with big cameras are so embarrassing!

2009-07-12T21:28:00.000-07:00

I got one shot of my son skating the bowl in Flagstaff before he gave me the evil eye. He wasn't really interested in me practicing with my off-camera flash but the two BMXers below were happy to have their pix taken.

Jerome, AZ

One of my favorite ghost towns.

www.rebeccastarkphotography.com

Santa Cruz Pride photos

2009-06-08T08:22:00.001-07:00

What a fun weekend I had! Renaissance theme wedding in Big Sur on Saturday and the annual Santa Cruz Pride Parade on Sunday. My camera was very busy!

If this rooster on a leash is symbolic, please explain it to me!

The disco tent was very popular at the festival.

The Santa Cruz Derby girls were there.

Cheer San Francisco

Cruzio had a booth at the festival which was hosted by one of my former grooms, Mike Brogan.

He is an Internet expert and teaches all kinds of classes about web hosting, SEO, blogs, etc. His smile is all over my website www.rebeccastarkphotography.com

senior portraits

2009-06-03T08:13:00.000-07:00

Senior Portraits in Santa Cruz

I always love photo sessions in downtown Santa Cruz. Tons of spots with

great light... all day long.

Book a portrait session with Rebecca in August and receive a complementary
11x14 print. www.rebeccastarkphotography.com 831-325-4183

Rebecca Stark Photography

Brookdale Lodge Photos

2009-06-01T12:33:00.001-07:00

Last Friday I went to the Brookdale Lodge to see Oaxaca & Sir Richard Bishop and his Freak of Araby Ensemble.

This was the first time I ventured up the mountain on a Friday night as I really wanted to go to hear these bands

and to check out this supposedly haunted venue. I knew the music was going to be pretty trippy so I brought

my psychic friend and hoped to finally get some orbs in an image. No such luck...

Bachelorette from New Zealand opened.

I got some lens flare and tons of dust specks and thats about it. Ariel confirmed

spirits in the house but no ghostly action.

http://www.rebeccastarkphotography.com/

Friday Night in Santa Cruz

2009-05-23T14:35:00.000-07:00

Several local airbrush artists were at Graphfix, the downrtown frame & print shop, where women lined up offering their skin as canvas.

Susan, the gracious hostess!

Broadway with a Santa Cruz spin.

People were watching from the street as the artist, Kemic One, painted this model in this window.

One of my favorite street performers in Santa Cruz is the Great Morgani. I've never seen him in the same outfit twice. He covers his body and his accordion in a variety of different lycra material. One time he had a porcupine theme going on.

Click here to check out his website.

http://www.rebeccastarkphotography.com/

Santa Cruz Kinetic Art Parade

2009-05-17T13:29:00.000-07:00

Kinetic Art Parade

http://www.rebeccastarkphotography.com/

Psychic Head Shots at Evergreen Cemetery

2009-04-06T09:46:00.000-07:00

A few months ago I had a bad case of insomnia. I just couldn't sleep! I could have done something worthwhile like read a book or organize my shoes but I chose to cure my insomnia by watching the local cable access channel. I've seen tons of local bands on this one show, Look Mom I'm on TV, but this was the first time I had seen a sit down interview. That's how I met this delightful girl, Ariel Holden. She was being interviewed about being a Psychic.

I've always wanted to catch an orb in one of my photos and have read many articles about spirit photography. Supposedly if you photograph a psychic in a cemetery you have a really good chance of photographing an orb. Being the skeptic that I am, I had to try it. I found Ariel on Face Book but her profile was written in Japanese?! We still can't figure that out and I clicked on it 2 different times and both times there wasn't a word of English except for her name.

I didn't capture any orbs and Ariel suggested I needed to use a less expensive camera.

I did, however, capture a ghost. At least that is what many people see in the below photograph.

Can you see a figure above Ariel's right shoulder?

Many people claim to see the image of a man. Some say he

is in uniform, others see a mustache.

http://www.rebeccastarkphotography.com/

Rest in Peace

2009-04-02T10:50:00.001-07:00

On March 16th, 2009 my father passed away after a long battle with cancer. He was a photographer in the Army, a poet, a pilot and always an adventurous spirit. He was also one of my biggest fans.

My favorite childhood memories are driving around the scorching hot desert in his VW bus and him posing us on dilapidated adobe ruins and at various desert landscapes. All of which we thought were useless ugly backgrounds at the time. I took the photo above 4 years ago after he was given 6 months to a year to live. He always tried to see the good in everything and loved to talk. He surrounded himself with a cast of characters, was always investigating new interests and really loved life. Rest in Peace, Dad. You will be missed.

Night session in downtown Santa Cruz

2009-02-28T15:44:00.000-08:00

Love the texture on this wall. I didn't use any additional lights for these 2 images. 1600 ISO, 50mm lens at 1.4 taken with a digital camera with a full frame sensor. The Canon 5D, my favorite. Sensor size does matter when shooting in low light situations.

Above photo is a little soft but a favorite.

Night shopping in downtown Santa Cruz.

The flash is set up behind couple in most of these photographs. I used the little stand that comes with the flash for this one.

GXS held the flash behind the couple for the image above.

Testing the light set up.

http://www.rebeccastarkphotography.com/

Miguel's opening

2009-02-07T09:39:00.000-08:00

My friend Miguel Zafra had an opening last night at Malintzi at the Santa Cruz Art Center. Miguel does really cool infrared black and white photography of indigenous people in Mexico. His work has appeared in galleries in New York and Europe. He sometimes photographs weddings with me. Being from Oaxaca himself, his art was a perfect match for this Latin inspired art gallery.

The focus may be soft but I love this image of Miguel looking happy and satisfied
with the huge turn out for his opening.

People were dying to get into the gallery and check out his work!

Still loving my 5D camera, 50mm lens and a high iso. Who needs a flash?? www.rebeccastarkphotography.com

Inauguration Day Santa Cruz Style

2009-01-20T22:06:00.000-08:00

The best part about living in Santa Cruz is that there is a place for everyone. Also, there is always an event to photograph. Today there was a party in the streets as many people celebrated this historical election. There were bands, people on stilts, people in costume and every age group was represented. I wonder if they had a drum circle in DC?

Someone brought a shoe toss game (photo on the left).

This fella was glad he didn't have to use the suitcase he packed for Canada, just in case.

Who needs an Inaugural Ball when you can dance in the streets?

The statue of Liberty was even here! I wasn't able to get a full length photo of this guy's costume because it was at least 16 feet tall. Thanks to you and your green haired friend! Your costume really added to the street scene.

I didn't realize that the Raging Grannies was an International organization.

www.rebeccastarkphotography.com

Joshua Tree road trip

2009-01-09T11:31:00.000-08:00

On New Years Eve we drove through the south entrance of the park as the sun was starting to set. The desert looked so lifeless until we reached the Cholla Garden about 10 miles from the entrance. The light was streaming in over the hills and we had to stop. The lanscape was breathtaking.

Portrait by GXS. Why so serious?

We were meeting my sister and some friends from Los Angeles at Pappy & Harriet's in Pioneertown, just North of Joshua Tree. The first time I went to this roadhouse I knew I had to come back with the whole family. Where else can you listen to live music, have amazing barbeque and hoot and holler with your kids on New Years Eve? We've been looking forward to this trip to the desert for months.

Self portrait in the John Wayne room.

Loved the light. 1600 iso, 50 mm, 1.4 shot wide open with a steady hand.

The dance floor was packed all night long. If you ever get the chance to see Sarah Gail live, you have to go. She was so fun to see perform. So energetic. She was backed by an amazing band.

Another photographer in the family.

Got champagne?

I thought they would last till midnight but I was wrong. They fell asleep before I could pass out the sparklers.

Cheers! 2009 is going to be the best year!

The next day we let the kids run around in the desert. I was so excited when they said that was the best part of our trip. My niece is a great model & aspiring photographer.

my new assistant, GXS

The Stone sisters in front of the largest rock in the USA. Or is it?

The kids were so excited running around and disappeared into this mountain of rocks. My husband is seen here going to find them. Luckily I was able to call them on my cell and tell them to come back. I still can't believe that I had cell coverage out there and no coverage in places on the Monterey Bay.
www.rebeccastarkphotography.com

Joshua Tree

2008-12-14T18:32:00.001-08:00

I've been going through my files trying to find my best images from 2008. This image was taken on the last day of 2007. It reminds me we are driving to Joshua Tree from Arizona after Christmas. Pappy & Harriet's in 2 weeks! I'm going to retake this shot, this time using a tripod and a slower shutter speed. Might have to photograph the Salton Sea this time...

www.rebeccastarkphotography.com

Napa Road Trip

2008-12-08T13:01:00.001-08:00

It's been awhile since my last road trip. The weather in Napa was perfect last weekend, warm and beautiful. There were still a few colored leaves on the vines.

I went with my friend Wendee to the Sunrise Horse Rescue near St. Helena. She was looking for a therapy horse for Cornerstone Equestrian Center, a non profit that offers horseback riding to developmentally diabled children in the Napa area.

Wendee & Mike's guest house on Mt. Veeder.

Kinda drafty but the food is to die for.

Forgotten grapes are sometimes the sweetest.

www.rebeccastarkphotography.com

Hipshake at Brittania Arms

2008-11-13T07:26:00.001-08:00

Last Saturday my friend's band played at the Brittania Arms in Aptos. So cool that they let me experiment with my pocket wizards. Off camera flash rules!

Carie Anne had a surprise guest join her on stage.

www.rebeccastarkphotography.com

Creature Features in Downtown Santa Cruz

2008-10-24T19:50:00.001-07:00

Another night out with my favorite camera, the Canon 5D & a 50mm lens. Bay Area Film Events sponsored a double feature at the Del Mar theatre in downtown Santa Cruz. Knowing that Santa Cruz never disappoints when it comes to "keeping it weird", I grabbed my camera and talked another friend into hanging out downtown with me. When we got to the show, the Bobs were super cool and let us ham it up upstairs after the fashion show. My friend Liz is shown here performing her best Vanna White impression. H is for Horror and no, you can not buy a vowel! (Teehee). All of these photographs were taken with available light.
I had my ISO set at 1600 and, of course, I was shooting RAW.

So adorable and oh, so scary. Obviously this young zombie has the hippest parents since they let him stay out late on a school night! Many people dressed up for the Zombie Fashion show and I really liked the make up on this kid. Zombies by definition are "the living dead", they feed on humans and are the ultimate cult classic according to Vincent Price.

Liz attempts to tame the wild beast, once again.

Liz stops on the red carpet to pose with the stars of Night of the Living Dead. It was kinda funny that they just stood there, with the same expression on their faces all night long.
Lucky that Liz knows how to work it.

www.rebeccastarkphotography.com

"It's all about dreams"

2008-10-04T11:07:00.000-07:00

I finally got my 5D back after receiving a well needed tune up. It only took a week to fix but you know what it's like when your favorite buddy has not been able to play for awhile. This is my first weekend off as I have been photographing weddings every Saturday for the last 8 weeks. I'm totally exhausted but wanting to test my camera. I talk a friend into going to the First Friday Art Tour with me. I grabbed a 50mm lens and we walked downtown to the Cosmo Factory where James and a student were applying make-up to a performance artist. After hearing the details of the explosive dance routine he was about to perform, we had to stay...

"It's all you, girl!"
James talks a sound bite a minute. I'm sure the cosmetology school
that he just opened is going to be a huge success!

Back stage at the Mill Gallery in downtown Santa Cruz.

No, they're not staring at the hand, they're transfixed by the dance performance.

Carie Anne, lead singer of Hipshake, soaking up the light in the parking lot.
My favorite thing about digital cameras is the ability to change the film speed/ISO to what ever you need. I didn't use a flash or a tripod for any of these images. I can't wait for the new 5D to be released next month because it's supposed to perform even better in low light situations.