Leigh Cavalier Photography

Change of Season

noreply@blogger.com (Aileen L. C. Krzos) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:12:00 +0000

The horses out at the barn seem to love the fall. They are a bit more energetic breathing in the cool fall air. It seems their senses are a bit more heighten than usual [and to say the least they are very intunned with their senses] maybe it's the muffled sound of distant gun shots of hunting season. They blend so beautifully with the colors of their surroundings.

Playing with the Horses

noreply@blogger.com (Aileen L. C. Krzos) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:41:00 +0000

I have been around horses all my life. Started with a plastic horse on my birthday cake when I was 4 years old. Got my first horse at age 10, was a 4-Her, went on to studying Dressage and Reining at riding school and spent 22 years teaching others horsemanship and dressage.

So it's no wonder that I've gone back to a subject matter that I love and have a very long history with. A friend of mine has two animals near by and I am spending time hanging out at the barn.

This personal project is the start of a new shift in my work. Where it will lead I do not know, it just feels right for where I am right now. As I continue to get more images I will post some from time to time. Enjoy.

50 years of Love and Counting

noreply@blogger.com (Aileen L. C. Krzos) — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 19:10:00 +0000

Thank you Glover Family for allowing me to be apart of your very special family celebration.

I am in admiration of the love between Ginny and Guy, and the beautiful life and family you've created in your years together.

Thank you!

Aileen "Leigh"

You Never Know

noreply@blogger.com (Aileen L. C. Krzos) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 19:26:00 +0000

Coming out of the movie theater the other night the light was unreal, as it is at times in Minnesota. It had stormed while I was watching the movie. But when I came out the rain had stopped, the sun was starting to set in the west with a wall of dark charcoal grey clouds lay to the east.

The light had this luminous quality that is hard to explain and is better viewed in the flesh. In those moments time seems to standstill and I'm witness to a completely surreal scene. Time to take out the iphone. I love my Nikon for most of my work but I must admit I love my iphone. It's simple, I have no other choices to make other than where to stand and when to snap the shutter.

Here are two shots I managed to take trying not to get myself or anyone else killed in the process.

Congratulations Class of 2009!

noreply@blogger.com (Aileen L. C. Krzos) — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 20:39:00 +0000

It's the end of the school year and another group of high school and college students are on to the next step on the path of their lives.

I really love doing Senior Portrait shoots. This is truly one of the most poiniant turning point in everyone's life. I remember my eighteenth year well!

Here are just two of the seniors I photographed this year. Enjoy your summer and good luck on the next leg of your journey.

Images From My Past

noreply@blogger.com (Aileen L. C. Krzos) — Thu, 14 May 2009 17:41:00 +0000

The thing is once your finger hits the shutter button all images become a part of your past. Every single one.....the moments there and then "poof".........gone.

This is one of the many reason for my obsession and passion for photography. Catching through patient observation those small moments in time that will never be again.

These frozen slices of of unguarded time are great reminders that time IS one of our biggest gifts in life. Enjoy it, savor it, share it, and live it to your fullest. I feel lucky to have it.

Prom 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Aileen L. C. Krzos) — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 23:53:00 +0000

Prom is one of those "life passage" events in all our lives quite frankly whether you went to prom or not. If you made the decision to go it's a memory. If you were one of the many who decided prom was worth blowing off....for better or worse you remember that night as well.

I didn't happen to have my own prom to go to but I did attend the prom of my boyfriend in my sophomore year of high school.

He went to Robert Louis Stevenson school which is a private boys prep school located on the beautiful 17 mile drive in Carmel California. It was definitely a great prom memory, nice guy, incredible location, good food,fun party.

This was my son's last year for prom. He's a senior and is about to kiss high school goodbye. He went last year as well and had a great time with his Thai friend, his girlfriend, Stefan and his date Monica. They had dinner at 2021 at the Walker and before they ate I did a photo shoot with the museum as the back drop.

This year he had dinner with friends some of whom didn't continue on to the prom, but 2 other couples, Stefan and his date Danielle did. They all had the time of their lives, memories I am sure will live on for all of them. Ah memories.

My First Time On The Rock

noreply@blogger.com (Aileen L. C. Krzos) — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 15:31:00 +0000

When I was home on the week of March 13th, I took a boat for my first time ever to Alcatraz.

Having grown up in the Bay Area and seen "The Rock" from afar more times than I can count, I had never set foot on the island before.

I took 2 dramamine and boarded the boat. It was interesting to finally set foot on such a historic site as well as seeing the bridge and Marin from a view I had never seen in my life before. A lesson I experienced that day: "One can experience something they have seen all their life anew just by changing one's perspective."

The closest I had been to Alcatraz was on the ferry going from Larkspur Landing to SF when the Native American's were claiming the island as the own at the end of the Civil Rights movement.

Ocean

noreply@blogger.com (Aileen L. C. Krzos) — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 20:32:00 +0000

The ocean is by far my favorite place on earth. It's beautiful, full of life, and connects the entire world together.

My Heart is Broken

noreply@blogger.com (Aileen L. C. Krzos) — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 23:06:00 +0000

My beloved sister Cecilia died Sunday morning of cancer. I am heartbroken. It is hard for me to imagine her no longer on this earth.

She was a loving and generous spirited presence in my life and that of my other 3 siblings, her friends [some of which extend back to grade school], her students, and the many, many others whose lives were made happier and richer because of her.

I will remember: her taking me and my little sister with her and her high school friends camping at Yosemite, letting us attend the parties she threw [in High School], spending the weekends with her at her dorm room at Berkley, traveling back east to Mexico and to Europe, spent a Thanksgiving at Cornell with her and her graduate school friends [are you sensing a theme here?].

Besides growing up in the same house she and I lived together in Philadephia and in San Anselmo, California as well. My sister cared for and loved me all her life, she is the reason I survived my childhood with an intact heart.

I will miss her deeply for the rest of my life. In her memory I will continue to "Pay It Forward" through my photography work. Love you Cis................always.

Fog thru the Trees

noreply@blogger.com (Aileen L. C. Krzos) — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 17:13:00 +0000

This image was taken on a day where the the fog clung to everything.

When ever this weather phenomenom happens the landscape takes

on an other worldly quality.

A Past

noreply@blogger.com (Aileen L. C. Krzos) — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 16:14:00 +0000

We all have one. I must admit when I say these 2 words out loud they sound a bit sordid, but that isn't at all they way I interrupt them.

Even if one only managed to live for one day they would still have a past, albeit a small one but nevertheless it's still there.

I would assume for most of us the past is filled with memories of the great times we've had, people we've loved, things we've done. As well as trauma and drama we've experienced and maybe tried to forget. We all have had these experiences from one degree or another.

I have always chosen to remember it all...the good, the bad and the ugly. And from time to time I have been criticized for this, not completely understanding why.

My life like everyone else's is comprised of it all. To not embrace it all seems to me like denying that certain parts of my life just didn't happen. I have to remember, it makes me more grateful about the wonderful parts of this life. Maybe more importantly it's a constant reminder of my humanity and the need for me to be compassionate towards others as they all have a past too.

The Washington Co Portrait Project

noreply@blogger.com (Aileen L. C. Krzos) — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 21:45:00 +0000

Washington County, Mn has a rich history of farming and of keeping an incredible archive of it's citizen's and their life in the St. Croix Valley over the last 150 years. Most of what has been collected and preserved are photos, artifacts, and personal histories donated by the valley residents themselves.

I approached Brent Peterson of the Washington Co Historic Society and asked if there was currently any effort being made to photograph and record the stories of long time residents. The answer was no, so my project was born.

My focus will be residents who farmed over the last century and those new immigrants who farm the land now. This county used to be primarily agricultural land, but that has steadily decline since development has taken over.

My objective is to document the people who made this place what it is today and to include the new comers trying to create a life through farming the land that is left.

The images of this post are of John Breschens and his family. He is a fourth generation farmer in Lake Elmo. He no longer works his land but leases it out to a group of Hmong farmers.

Life in Minnesota

noreply@blogger.com (Aileen L. C. Krzos) — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 16:16:00 +0000

When you live in a place like Minnesota you better find a way to embrace it or you will go insane. I am a 5th generation born and breed Californian a condition which is impossible to erradicate from your DNA. My whole way of walking through this world is influenced by this simple fact.

But I live in Minnesota for now, so I must engage in the life I have here. Last night I went to the Loppet in Minneapolis. Luckily for me it was a mild night weather wise. I wandered around the event just shooting, hoping to get some pictures that will help me to remember this time in my life, once I find my way back home.

Akiliez

noreply@blogger.com (Aileen L. C. Krzos) — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 17:41:00 +0000

The part I love the most about doing pregnancy shoots for my clients is that I get to follow the family over the course of 9 months or so.

First I get to see how the family experiences the anticipation of the arrival of the new baby. Then when the baby's born life changes for everyone. On the third shoot the baby is usually 6 months old and by then their personality is fully present.

I've only completed the first 2 shoots here but I'm looking forward to #3 sometime in April. Baby Akiliez is a beautiful blend of his Mom & Dad.

Another Chimayo Image

noreply@blogger.com (Aileen L. C. Krzos) — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 16:49:00 +0000

This is the cross laden gauntlet that one passes through to get to the Chimayo Chapel outside Santa Fe, New Mexico. People create crucifixes out of whatever is laying around, write a prayer or stuff a photo into the fence.

These items are offered as prayers in hopes of healing a loved one.

For Guy

noreply@blogger.com (Aileen L. C. Krzos) — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 15:27:00 +0000

I'm posting this image for my friend Guy Glover. One of the many people who is helping me with my Hospice project. He is a loving presence for those he serves through his Hospice work.

This image was shot in Chimayo out side of Santa Fe New Mexico.

BB - [Before Baby]

noreply@blogger.com (Aileen L. C. Krzos) — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 16:46:00 +0000

These 3 images are from a shoot I did with a client who was expecting her first baby. I love doing these shoots for many reasons. Women are so beautiful and powerful in this moment and giving birth for the first time is a huge turning point in a women's life.

I had an extra connection with my client as she has horses and I was a Dressage Instructor before I became a photographer. This was a special shoot all around.

Wish I were there

noreply@blogger.com (Aileen L. C. Krzos) — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 19:58:00 +0000

Today just happens to be one of those days where I really wish I were there instead of here.

Just One More Cat Portrait

noreply@blogger.com (Aileen L. C. Krzos) — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 23:06:00 +0000

I love my cat what can I say.

A Little Bit Of Mark

noreply@blogger.com (Aileen L. C. Krzos) — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 02:33:00 +0000

This movie is for all of those who know Mark at MMWD and beyond. That means the O'Brien brothers as well.

Self Indulgent Cat Pic

noreply@blogger.com (Aileen L. C. Krzos) — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:16:00 +0000

This is my cat "Tea" pronounced Teh - a. This is the postion I find her in most of the day everyday, curled up on the end of my bed .

What a life.

Past Shot

noreply@blogger.com (Aileen L. C. Krzos) — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 16:14:00 +0000

Today I'm starting the task of laying out an album for a client.

This is a shot that was taken right before Katie & Brian's ceremoney

and one I feel pretty much summed up the day.

Do Unto Me

noreply@blogger.com (Aileen L. C. Krzos) — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 00:38:00 +0000

I guess it's only fair I put up an image he shot of me.

Do Unto Others

noreply@blogger.com (Aileen L. C. Krzos) — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 00:11:00 +0000

Last night I went to my friend's house. He just finished taking a lighting class and has since been playing around with studio lights and invited me to do a shoot.

I got to be his subject first, I don't like being the one in front of the camera but he made it fun and I think his images of me became better as the night wore on. His first images were fine but I was well a little camera shy.

Anyway I then turned the camera on him and these are a few of the many images that turned out great. A few of his pix of me were uploaded to flicker within hours. So I thought he deserved nothing less.