I have been missing our SF adventures. I hear people talking about how it's fall but it sure doesn't seem like fall here. It's still super hot and muggy and I am dreaming of the chill and the fog. I am never able to blog everything that I shoot while away on our trip so today we are going back to San Francisco and visiting the California Academy of Sciences. I'm going to do my very best to pretend that I am actually there!

If you go to SF, make sure and put the CA. Academy of Sciences on your agenda, especially if you have children. It's an amazing place! They have a huge aquarium, a crocodile exhibit, a 4 story rainforest exhibit, penguins, a planetarium, a living roof and so much more. It's also the "greenest" museum in the world. Here are a few shots from our day at the museum, enjoy!

I had a little Photoshop fun with this last one!

There's no way any of us can remember it all and that is where our photographs take center stage.  They remind us of friends and relatives long past, houses we grew up in, haircuts we should never repeat, personal victories and world travels. When we look through them, we appreciate the emotional content the most. So the question becomes, how do I do that better? How do I tell the story in a way that will bring me back to this specific moment in time and allow me to relive it even just for a second?

The first step to better photographs is when you reach for your camera, quickly stop and ask yourself, what is the story that I am trying to tell? If the story is of your baby picking up her first Cheerio, that story is small. What I mean is that it only needs to include her hands, the Cheerios and maybe the determined expression on her face. We do not need the rest of the room, the laundry pile or whatever else is behind her. Conversely, if your kids are standing in front of Cinderella's Castle at Disney, that story is bigger and needs to include the castle and more background. The practice of asking yourself this question and being more mindful when you shoot will create images that tell your story much more clearly.

The other thing to keep in mind is that the story is different for everyone. Your most heartfelt images may not speak to me as they do to you and vice versa. You were there and I wasn't. So, don't worry too much about whether or not your images will speak to a stranger, think only about how to make them speak to you and the people in them. That is who matters the most. Whatever you do, don't get discouraged as you practice. Photograph as you would if you were taking piano lessons. Make yourself practice often and know that, with each shot, you get a little bit better. Your fingers become more nimble at the controls and your eye is being trained to see the story. Don't fret about missed opportunities or mishaps, not even the pros get the shot every time. Your families will be grateful for any part of the story that you tell.

When I look at this image, I see Sayer's funny Christmas skull socks. It makes me smile because, like me, he has an affinity for patterned socks with crazy stuff all over them. Finn does too. I love it that he's still wearing the Christmas ones in July. Steven always shakes his head at us and our silly socks. This picture was taken on the beach in San Francisco where we spent the month of July (go backwards on the blog to see what all we did). It makes me think of San Francisco and how cold the water was but they ran and played in it anyway. I also think about the day we bought those shoes. We had to have THOSE because they came in a cool box and had lights. In the not too distant future he won't want shoes with lights and might even only want to wear white socks. For now though, this picture is pure Sayer.

I'd love to see your pictures and hear your stories. Please share by leaving links to your images, blogs, Flickr, etc. in the comments section below. If you like, you can add your images to our Monday Lesson Flickr Pool. Don't be shy, your input makes this all so much more fun for everyone. Happy Monday friends!

Many thanks to the SF local who told us about "The Pirate Store" also known as 826 Valencia. I had no idea what to expect and this crazy little wonder of a place just blew me away. 826 Valencia, the store, exists to support 826 Valencia the writing project. I may not be getting it right but the way I was told was that, for some reason, the 826 Valencia writing project folks have to keep a storefront (or get some benefit from a storefront) so they came up with the pirate supply store. I love the fact that, although they could have some sort of regular store selling books, they came up with this, far more interesting concept. They sell a few things- some books, t-shirts, dice, flags, prints and so on but most of the store is like an art installation. There are all these drawers lining one wall with weird little trinkets in them. One drawer had clay marbles, another had nets and one even had cloth fake limbs. It's funny and interesting and the boys loved it!

To the right of the entrance, they have a little corner that looks like a movie theater but with an aquarium instead of a screen. In the center of the room they have a large vat of sand where you "dig for treasure". When you find treasure (glass beads in the boys' case) you have to barter in order to keep them. They had to either perform for the people in the store or draw in a special book. They drew in the book.

I loved the bulletin board, especially the part about taking the notes out of the bottle before posting it. By the cash register they have a big vat of lard. Sayer was totally intrigued. He asked the lady how much is was and she said for each scoop of lard he had to give them a chunk of his hair. It was hilarious to see the look on his face. He thought about it though, I have to say. I told him we couldn't take lard on the plane. That and the part about the hair convinced him to pass it up.

The shop is all about the little details. I personally loved the employee of the month illustrations- amazing!

So, if you find yourself and your little pirates in the SF area, make a stop at 826 Valencia. While you're there, buy something and support a great cause. Sayer and Finn are the proud owners of some 826 Valencia pirate t-shirts!

I am really going to miss the fog. Tomorrow morning we hop on a plane back to Texas and away from the incredible San Francisco fog. I know, for some, the fog can be gloomy. For me, it is dramatic. It comes and goes. When it goes away you appreciate the sun all that much more. When it slowly rolls in and engulfs the entire Golden Gate Bridge, I stop and appreciate the amazing power of Mother Nature.

When the fog is particularly dense and low you can feel it hit your face like a cool mist. It changes every day and changes throughout the day. It reminds me every day that I am absolutely not in charge. It gives you another reason to stop, look up at the sky a few times a day and appreciate the magnificence of our planet.

How about you my friends? Any favorite shots this Friday? Feel free to submit links to your images, blogs, Flickr, etc. in the comments section below OR submit your images directly to my favorite shot friday Flickr pool.

Happy weekend!