ALEXANDRA WANG

Big Sur

alexvwang — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 15:22:04 +0000

A beautiful end to a crazy year.

Candles Lit

alexvwang — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 01:08:31 +0000

Last night, Paul and I lit two candles. One was for the birth of a beautiful baby girl, sending strength and love to our friends who had gone into labor earlier in the day. And the other one was for the wise and loving grandmother of our dear friend who had been on her way over for dinner with her wonderful parents when they received news of her passing.

After busying ourselves preparing for an evening reconnecting with old friends, we suddenly found ourselves sitting in the quiet, watching the candles flicker, almost paralyzed by the pull of such opposing emotions – joy and anticipation, grief and sadness.

Eventually, we found takers for our crab feast and the quiet was taken over by neighbors laughing. After dinner, lying on the couch and the floor with our bellies full, the guitar was played, friends dozed, and the two candles burned down. It was a sweet reminder that in between the highs and lows of birth and death, there are lives made up of moments. For some, those moments are just waiting to be filled with laughter, good food, music, and community. For others, those moments will be remembered, cherished and provide inspiration for the rest of us.

Giving Thanks for Surf

alexvwang — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 02:51:51 +0000

It seems every holiday in recent years the community gathers in the water for a surf. Old friends from down south, siblings in from the East Coast, and of course the neighborhood regulars. Even if I’m sitting on the porch with a bum foot watching from the sidelines, it makes me happy to see them all out there just having fun. No matter how far apart we live and what craziness is going on, I can look out and be reminded to appreciate this community of family and friends, enjoying life and the ocean together.

(and really, I wouldn’t be out there anyways in that crazy, wild, pounding surf).

Wave Light

alexvwang — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 02:20:51 +0000

There was still much work to be done before the days end, but I took a break to step out onto the deck and get a few snaps of my neighbors before the sun slipped behind the point.

Emily, Ben, Asa, and Norah

alexvwang — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 22:42:03 +0000

It was the lowest tide of the year, the sun was shining bright, and I was playing on the beach — flying up into handstands, wobbling for a moment and landing softly on the sand. And then I lost my balance and crashed hard. I knew something was wrong, my foot throbbing. But Emily, Ben, Asa, and Norah were on their way down for a photo shoot. I contemplated canceling, but I had been so looking forward to their visit and photographing this beautiful family. So I threw on some ice and laced up my sneakers. I spent most of the time sitting in the sand with my camera pointed up, trying to keep up with rambunctious Asa and curious Norah as they ran to the ocean’s edge, hit the ball, and covered themselves in sand.

And it was more than worth it.

After I sent Emily the photos, she wrote, “My mom brought her computer into the hospital so that my grandpa could see the photos yesterday. Your beautiful pictures were a final gift to him, because there was nothing that made him happier in his final weeks than looking at pictures of the kids. Thank you…. from all of us.”

Thank YOU Emily. For reminding me how gratifying it is to be able to capture the life and love in a moment and in a family, and to be able to share that moment across time zones and generations. You and your family have helped to confirm how much potential there is to give with this passion of mine.

Baby Inari, Lizelle and Sean

alexvwang — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 22:29:06 +0000

Beautiful, playful, calm Inari. Just a couple weeks before her parents wedding ceremony we took a walk in the backyard – the wild open spaces of Mori Point. Lizelle and Sean are adoring parents and awesome neighbors (we miss you!) with a lot to give. It was a quick stroll, but enough time to understand the strength of love in this little family.

Tania and Ron

alexvwang — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 18:52:32 +0000

Ron is one of my closest friends from high school. He never took anything too seriously and always made me laugh. Best of all, when no one wanted to give me a ride after school to the far northern suburb where I lived, Ron was always up for it. And when it came time to finding that special someone, Ron did well. More than well, actually. Tania is exactly the girl I could have imagined for Ron – funny, caring, laid-back, smart, and up for anything.

So before the two of them left for a few years on the East Coast, we took advantage of a beautiful afternoon and goofed around on the cliffs and fields near our house. And then, after the sun went down, we feasted on freshly picked mussels. A perfect day.

We miss you guys…please come back soon!

Summer

alexvwang — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 16:00:09 +0000

I have been utterly and completely drowning in work recently, with little motivation after 12hours at the desk to stay inside and look through photos even thought that’s exactly what I want to do.

So here’s a little taste of summer, summed up as babies, brides, beaches and boys (as in my nephews). Even though there’s been a lot of work these past few months, there have been some amazing days of play. Long Island, the California Coast, Sweden, Lake Tahoe…. and next week I’m off to Mexico for yoga. I. can’t. wait.

Ping Pong

alexvwang — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 04:40:09 +0000

All you need is a wooden paddle, ball, and cement block and you’re ready to play. Fierce competition in the Miao Villages of Guizhou.

Confucius Says…

alexvwang — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 05:08:56 +0000

{Confucian Temple, Beijing}