I love Sundays.
It truly is the most relaxing day for me.
Today was extra special and beautiful
I hope yours was too!

As most of you know, we are heading to Kaua’i for a much needed vacation. This will be the third time I’ll be visiting the island and althought I’ve photographed a lot of the scenic areas, I know there’s much more to see and explore. I’ve been doing some research on places I want to check out, but I need more suggestions – so, let’s play a game!

What do you want me to capture in Hawaii? It could be one of the many incredible beaches, a vista or spot from the numerous delicious hikes this island has to offer, the culture, a scene, tradition or its people. Name it, send it and I’ll try to go out, look for it and capture it. Rules? Yes, there are a couple:

a. It has to be something or someone I haven’t featured here in my blog or in my website. So no Poipu, no Kilauea Lighthouse, no Queen’s Bath, no Waimea Canyon, no Kalalau trail, no Hanalei Valley … What’s left? Oh, a TON more! Be sure to check out my website for a gallery of images I was able to photograph in my previous visits.

b. Only one entry per person. Along with your entry, send in your full name and contact info (email address or phone number so I could contact you in case you win!) to: info@portia-soderberg.com

Is there a prize to this game? Of course! How do you win? Here’s how:

I will compile all your suggestions and try (my best) to go out and capture all the people and places you suggested. A week after I come back (trip dates to follow) I will post all the pictures I was able to capture based on your suggestions. A voting period of one week will be opened so people can choose their favorite shot. The person/people who suggested the shot that garnered the highest number of votes win!

So what is the prize? The person/people who suggested the shot will get a 16*20 print of the image. Fun and simple huh?! Deadline for submission is on February 15, so hurry get those entries in! Happy February!!

Tunnels Beach

local Flora

Kalalau Valley

Year after year, despite our incredibly hectic schedules we find ourselves coming back to Hawaii. Undeterred by the chaos at work, we always break apart from such madness and take a tropical breather. This year we are coming back to our favorite island and it will be extra special since it is our babymoon! In addition to revisiting our beloved spots, we hope to do more exploration and check out the places we didn’t get the chance to see when we were last there. It’s crazy how I could see myself spending many months in this island and never get tired of its remote beauty. We are excited. Let the tradition continue.

When I feel too phsically and mentally exhausted from the usual demands of parenting and family life, I transport myself to that sweet sunny afternoon at Utah’s Zion NP. Suddenly all my concerns seem so trivial and distant.

Perched on top of a rock I chose to rest my throbbing feet, it was serene all around me. So quiet I swear I could hear my own heart beat.

Angel’s Landing, 2 1/2 miles to the summit, elevation gain of almost 1500 feet most of which you pick up at the last 1/2 mile to the peak. Fairly easy, right? The bigger challenge for me was to do it when I was 7 months pregnant. My son Thor did cartwheels in my belly when we reached the top. I think he approved of the view.

With this second pregnancy, I plan to do something similar. Crossing my fingers E’s hectic work schedule permits us to take a trip in spring  

I am not a big fan of flying. This is quite unfortunate since it puts a damper on my passion for travel and outdoors. If I could just drive to destinations, I definitely would be more than willing to enjoy many hours of road trip and avoid those unnerving air turbulence. Alas, I can’t drive to Hawai – oh well

On our last trip back for 2009, we, well … I, was tormented by terrible bumps. In my effort to remain calm and look for ways to relax, I know I could always count on a seat by a (clean) window

East Bay – I live in one of those houses on top of the hill

Just outside the Bay Area

Mount Diablo

Just got back this morning from our 4-day trip at the lovely Mt. Shasta where we met up with 15 other friends and rang in 2010. The look and feel was definitely a lot different this year compared to when we were last there in 2009 – We got more snow! – but nonetheless, it was equally delicious! I hope you all had a great new year welcoming!

Happy Holidays from our family to yours!

My landscape blog needs some loving! I’ve been super swamped! Aside from the mad rush of prepping and doing last minute shopping before we head out for a 2-week holiday hiatus, it’s also been crazy cold here – putting a damper on my attempts to capture some local highlights. Maybe not as cold as other frigid states, but definitely freezing per Cali standards (c’mon! It’s the Bay Area!) – enough for us to get at least an inch of snow one night this week. Here are a few pictures from a quick trek along Skyline Road one one incredibly cold morn!

For a minute there I thought I was driving through Truckee!

Along the West Ridge trail of Redwood RP

In just a few days, I will be celebrating 6 incredible years with an equally incredible man. As I count down to the special date, I look back at the numerous sojourns he and I shared through the years. We share the same passion for the outdoors and it became apparent right from the start that we will draw such a strong bond because of this. I have been so fortunate to see, feel and fully experience the true meaning of ‘living life’ through my husband as we journeyed all over this beautiful country I now call my home: from spending Thanksgiving camped out in snow just 2 weeks after we met, blazing through the southwest beauties of Utah, Arizona and New Mexico, soaking in the pristine waters of Oahu, Big Island and Kaua’i, trekking the rugged coastlines of Northern California, Oregon and Washington, feeling the revitalizing humid weather of Florida, Carolinas and Virginia, discovering the abundant lakes of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan and exploring the tundras, plains, valleys and peaks under the vast skies of Idaho, Montana, Colorado and Wyoming.

Looking back, I couldn’t believe how far we’ve gone, how high we’ve reached and how meaningful of a life we’ve experienced in such a short time. We look forward to many more adventures as our family ***grows*** . Six lovely years, one of the several milestones we’re celebrating in this blessed month of November.

I’m leaving you all with this shot from Tetons, Wyoming – the trip that opened our eyes to the fact that one plus one is definitely much more than two Happy Monday!

A welcome break gave me the chance to finally catch up and retool. With that, I revisited these shots I took at Utah for a CS4 mini-workshop. I hope you all are having a great week!