Introducing Riley Joseph Tucker

I'd like you to meet my nephew, Riley Joseph Tucker. He was born on October 31, 2006 :) If you are wondering why it took his Aunt Laura soooo looooonnnnnggggg to post this picture, I did not want his father (Steve, pictured here...well, partially...) to see the picture before he and his wife, Ilean, received it as a gift for Christmas. I met Riley last month in Toronto; he is a beauty. If you have seen pictures of his parents on my main website, nothing about his good looks and charm will surprise you. On Christmas Day, I learned that I will be an Aunt for a second time next July, courtesy of Paul and Kathleen. I am very excited about all the fun we will have together as they grow up. It was a Merry Christmas and will be an exciting New Year for the (Expanding) Tucker Family in 2007!

Lucky Flight Home

Once in a while, you get really lucky. I was on the way back from a trip back "East" and the plane happened to be crossing the Pacific mountains at just the right time to take these soft-lit images. I happened to have my f2.8 lens in my carry-on luggage which allowed me to take advantage of the low light conditions. Luckily, all the images were sharp, given the movement of the plane.

Once I saw the right conditions, I had to haul my equipment out of the overhead bin and asked the woman in the row behind me if I could use her unobstructed view from her window; I had an aisle seat over the wing. Thankfully, she let me use her seat which allowed me to get these shots. When I was done, she asked me where I was from and seemed surprised to hear that I am a "local".

I hope I never take the mountains for granted. I choose to be inspired by them than not to see them at all.