Elizabeth Carababas

Sometimes I pinch myself thinking about where this job title of photographer has taken me. Gaining access to some of the country’s most beautiful homes and locations is one of the most rewarding parts. I was working with a loyal client and had the privilege to shoot on location at this vineyard in Sebastopol up in northern California. We arrived on a cloudy (which I love) and moody morning and throughout the day the sky opened up to quite possibly the most peaceful, golden sunset. The positivity was all around us and because of that I think we made some of the best group of images together.

I heard recently that “A dog is your best friend for a portion of your life, but you are their best friend their whole life.” Frankie is my rock. It is understated how she helps me. There’s something so precious to a dog’s love for you. So when she sleeps next to me while I work and her little jelly bean toes touch me ever so slightly, it makes my heart overflow. I cherish these little moments of peace and quiet between us.

Seeing live music is my first and last love. It’s the way I unwind or reconnect with myself between the productions, flights to catch and whatnot. It’s an interlude just as necessary for my mental health as sleep is. Seeing Underworld with friends was much more than an audible experience. I live for that feeling of the soundwaves hitting my chest. I also appreciate how they put on a pretty good visual show, as well. They’re so epic!

Maybe it feels slightly voyeuristic, but I saw this man sitting in his car reading his book where I usually hike with Frank and had to capture that moment before I drove away. I really struggle with my attachment to my phone sometimes. But this moment felt so precious because it was simple. He parked his car at the base of this hiking trail, rolled the windows down and appreciated the setting sun and eucalyptus-scented breeze. That’s it. It's a simple reminder that I can unplug for something analog if I choose to. I can choose the peace of a book beside the chaos of my phone.

Hopelessly obsessed, I know. But I can’t get enough of John Portman’s structures. I particularly love the Hyatt Embarcadero in San Francisco. The atrium is alien-like. The exterior feels like a landed spaceship. I can’t get enough of it. I just find the design to be colossal in a way that would make anyone feel something unforgettable. I try to stay there whenever I pass through town, not because of how stunning the decor is (it’s not), but because of how architecturally impressive it is. We all know that spending time in nature is a way to humble ourselves but I have such a visceral response to architecture, especially of epic proportions, its another way to do that for me, just as a mountain could. Same, but different.