Sunset in Tamarindo, Costa Rica - February 20

Sunset in Tamarindo, Costa Rica –

I am a nerd with a capital N-E-R-D. I love getting lost in a good book, reading for hours as the afternoon passes by. During one Winter break in college, I read over ten books in a couple week time span. Yes, total NERD. So when I woke up this morning and heard the morning news on NPR radio that Harper Lee passed away, my heart sunk a bit. For me, Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, was a right of passage in high school; a classic coming of age story when I didn’t even realize that I was in the “coming of age” category at the time. What the heck, I still think I am in the “coming of age” category and perhaps maybe you are too. Life is constantly changing and with it I am growing and evolving; four years ago I was working in a cubicle in corporate America and here I am now in Tamarindo, Costa Rica chasing sunsets, photographing amazing people, and surfing such beautiful waves. Coming of my own age for sure.

Costa-Rica-Photographer-Samba-to-the-Sea-G-219

Watch carefully, the magic that occurs, when you give a person just enough comfort to be themselves. – To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee

Now on to the the weekly recap of sunsets in Tamarindo, which was all about finding new shooting locations and perspectives, from behind a grove of palm trees to venturing to Play Langosta. Unbeknownst to me, apparently I was channeling some great authors all week with my sunset photo captions – Coelho, Shakespeare, Muir, Wright, Milne (yes Milne as in Winnie the Pooh), and then the final curtain to Harper Lee this morning.

Costa-Rica-Sunset-Photographer-Samba-to-the-Sea-219

Be present. Make love. Make tea. Avoid small talk. Embrace conversation. Buy a plant, water it. Make your bed. Make someone else’s bed. Have a smart mouth, and quick wit. Surf. Make art. Create. Swim in the ocean. Swim in the rain. Take chances. Ask questions. Make mistakes. Learn. Know your worth. Love fiercely. Forgive quickly. Let go of what doesn’t make you happy. Grow. – Paulo Coelho

Besides all the sunset chasing, I had two very fun photo shoots this week, from twirling on the beach to climbing trees. To top it all off, there was an AMAZING and very special solo surf session in my backyard home break that is now filed away in my surf memories. Life is good.