Siblings

I am the brother of her
And she is my sister. Dorothy Aldis


nik

Whew!

2 words... "Family Reunion"

1 Grandmother.
4 daughters.
23 grandchildren.
69 great grandchildren...and a few halves.

No kiddin' I need a holiday from my holiday. (:
Ok, back to work...or should I say rest?

nik

Where shall I go?

My niece just had her 10th birthday. Wow! Brooke Raven is 10. I can't wait to shoot her annual birthday session! In the mean time, I am working on a special project for her. It involves a little box filled with some life treasures from her Mom, Mimi, Aunt Nana and Aunt Nikki. Appropriate, considering my theme verse for 2010, Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. On a side note, to the hubby, I really did try to do one in full color. Sorry Brucey Baby, it was meant to be B&W. Can't do it...wouldn't be prudent... Barbara wouldn't like it.

nik

Harley-Davidson

"Are you ready?"
nik

WILLIAMS Street Rods

C'mon...it's a Mustang! Sam & Mick are artist...moving metal artist.

"I'm on a roll, it's time to go solo...Rollin' in my 5.0..."
I know it's Ice Ice Baby...don't knock it...

nik

Suhana.

to shine...or be beautiful. I don't know which meaning is Suhana's...but really, she fits both don't you think?

nik

Gracious.

Fortunately, or unfortunately, whichever way you look at it, I'm random. Those that know me best, know how random I really am. Sometimes, after a photo session...I am left with thoughts, feelings, words,...something that sticks with me...and won't let go...

After this session...I was left with the word...Gracious.

gra·cious
Characterized by kindness and warm courtesy.
Characterized by tact and propriety
Meet Innayat.

Of a merciful or compassionate nature.
Characterized by charm or beauty; graceful.
Meet Aekom.

Characterized by elegance and good taste: gracious living.
Archaic Enjoying favor or grace; acceptable or pleasing.

Graciousness is inspiring. I have feeling it is passed on from generation to generation. A gift, if you will, from one generation to the next.

nik

the Show...

34' Chevy Cabriolet

45' Ford Truck

69' Chevy Truck by Williams Street Rods

59'Kramer Tractor

46' Mercury
Photos 2010 Copyright Nikolai Designs.Please email nikki@nikolaidesigns.com for information on Cd or Prints. Cd proceeds to benefit Sundale School-Dad's Club.


"Run a-run a doo run run...Wo run a-run a doo run run...Wo run a-run a doo run run..."

nik

6th Annual Sundale School Dad's Club Car Show

I love cars. This is the official t-shirt for the Sundale School Dad's Club Car Show, featuring last years Best of Show. Mr. Jimmy Gimme' was 2009's winner, ok not really his name, but it was the name he gave me when he asked me to pay him $5 to take a photo of his car! I almost gave him the $, because, honestly, I mean who doesn't want the opportunity to shoot a Red & White 55 Bel Air?? (more of that little beauty later...)

Ok, so I am already breaking my, don't blog after 9pm rule, and really nothing is worse than doing a blog re-read the 'day after'...and wondering...What was I THINKING?!? With that said, I just had to post this years...

2010 Best of Show. 37' Roadster.

Mmmmm Mmmmm Mmmmmm Mmmm Mmm
As Mimi kept repeating, "Ah, that's a beautiful car."

Had a great time at the show...more photos to come... it was so nice to meet you Mr. Tom, you were a pleasure to work with and did a great job modeling the t-shirt. (now see...that wasn't so bad, was it? nothing but nice things!!) (;

"Everybody holler...burn those wheels...."
nik

Feeding the Ducks

I know it's labeled feeding the ducks....back when I used to feed the ducks at Mooney...there were actually ducks....now there are just big, mean, ugly geese. It all started out fine, Tad was throwing popcorn like a wild man. The geese were happy, Tad was happy......then things started to turn ugly, a big ole'goose started hissing at Tad. Tad being Tad, turned and ran...this is the moment when the goose decided to initiate flight and dive bomb him. That's when I stepped in, Avatar-style, flapping my arms like a goose and hissing back (I know, I didn't think fast enough to pick up a stick. Story of my life...)I hope Jessica still wants to be friends with me.

Anyway, the goose did back down, and that's when I told Tad that Daddy will have to come back and shoot the goose! I think it somewhat eased his trauma because he has now told Mimi, A. Nana, A. JJ's and Daddy that, "Mom said a funny joke." The lesson learned, don't judge anyone who flinches when they pass a goose....you just never know where they've been.

So obviously, I have to much time on my hands...
nik

Kim

I know right... Meet Kim. A photographer. An aspiring graphic artist. A megawatt smile. Think what would happen if I had an hour with her. Wow.

Meet Bridget...

Can I use the word sublime here? Me thinks so...
nik

Harajuku Fashion

Who knew I would get the pleasure of shooting a Lolita girl in our very own Hanford, CA? Meet JoAnn. Nikapedia definition: Lolita is a fashion style that began in Japan and is still very popular within the Japanese youth culture. "Sweet Lolita," is one of many Lolita styles, it includes a mix of influences, from baby dolls, to Hello Kitty and to Alice in Wonderland, just to name a few.

Hi girls, thanks for putting up with my zaniness...I had so much fun with you, JoAnn, I think you are amazingly beautiful! Hmmm....how should I word it??...you guys "blew my mind"...wink wink...

more to come ladies!

nik

Bundle Up!

Who would buy this hat? Aunt JJ's of course...and it is Tye's "faborite".....look, he is smiling! I should win an award for capturing that...(:

nik

the Tablet

I LOVE my Wacom Tablet...love love love...

Is this really a job?

nah...

nik

Dani

Let's begin this blog by clarifying, I am not a dancer.

No really, this is not just me being modest...I can NOT dance...no ballet, no ballroom, no lyrical, no jazz, no tap, should have definitely never taken clogging...truly, I can't even pull off a good booty funk...

All that said, I so admire a person who can dance...meet Dani! She is absolutely beautiful, a classic beauty...When I look at the images of Dani, I think of the word Fortitude...
"a strength of mind that allows one to endure pain or adversity with courage..."
I really enjoyed our session Dani...it was freezing cold (me with my 3 layers on) forgot that because you made working-hard-at-being-a-beautiful-dancer look so easy! (: This dorky photog will cheer my head off when you go on So You Think You Can Dance! Actually, I may even dance around my living room...

All the Best~
nik
btw Dani will be dancing in the Secret Garden, June 20th @ the LJ Williams Theater!

Our Valley

I love California...the Central Valley is home... for the last 10yrs, I was living in the beautiful Flathead Valley (Montana)...
but nothing is like home.
There is something about the place you were raised...
a sitting place for your memories...
good and bad...
living next to the people you love...
family...
nik

Photoshop

No Image today...just a thought.
Never used the "Fade Brush Tool" in Photoshop. 1+ solid year in Photoshop. Never used the tool. Didn't even know I could decide each single brush strokes opacity. Every pass of the brush now has amazing potential. How did I live without it?

"BIG mistake, BIG. HUGE. I have to go shopping now!"
nik

Camellia's & Bees

The Camellia is the Alabama State flower. Random. My backyard is blessed with Camellias...they bloom in February...I love that. Camellias attract bees...lots of bees.....hmmmm.....photo op!
Did you know, most bees are fuzzy and have an "electrostatic charge" that helps with pollination? Nikkipedia definition; "between the charge and the fuzz...pollen stays on their legs."
Not to mention, they're FAST...fast little flyer's. And in my opinion some bees are more aggressive than others, it's just a personality thing. Some little lovelies would let me snap all day...while others would dive bomb me at every opportunity. Now that is just being waspish if you ask me.

Jay you like? They are bringing back the fuzzy yellow leg warmer...or maybe that was just me and they were never in? On second thought, don't answer that.

nik

"Hilarious Outtakes"

Well, I am not a proponent of it...but I do understand the sign...photo session, over. You can tell I am Great at following directions...this week we get 5 entries...oh my...I am going to have to post a few more...

I was shooting some stuff for istock, you know kids in a pool having fun...well, I wasn't planning on shooting Tye...mainly, because he can't swim....however, I don't know that he knows that!!
Nope, didn't make the Christmas card this year. (:


"Flash" took on a life of his own...

ok, back to work.
nik

Swiss Miss Design Haus

card & photo Swiss Miss Design Haus

I WON...I WON! I WON! I WON! (wiggle hips and turn around here).... Ok, so my nephew taught my son that...he has perfected the "I WON!" gloat-dance...which I just find to be the most hilarious thing, much to the chagrin of my sister.

Although I did not do the "I WON!" gloat-dance, I did run outside to tell the hubby when I found out! I mostly stuck with excitedly sharing the joyous news, because my winning didn't have anything to do with any skill on my part, but to the generosity of iheart faces and Amy Wenzel of Swiss Miss Design Haus!

For the record, IF I do ever win a photo challenge at iheartfaces, I will do the "I WON!" gloat-dance...in honor of Bohdi...and to annoy the baby sis a little!!! (:

Thank you again iheartfaces and Amy...such a Fabulous prize...sooo generous!!

thank you. thank you.
nik

Boys -n- Mud!

Wow, I have mad skills with blog titles...it's a gift really.....


The total concentration is evident...this is like the Okie Tibbett Olympics! I can say that because my husband is an Okie, and I love him and all of his Okie-ness. Not to mention, we are proudly passing on our Okie traditions to our boys...

Note to self, no late night OR early morning blogging....you just never know what's gonna happen!

nik