malibu

In Which the Sauerkraut Prince Marries the Pickle Princess

Somewhere around 2009, back when kale wasn’t that hot yet and everyone was still eating quinoa; back when hope and change was all the rage. Back when we had 3 kids and couldn’t figure out how anyone survived with more.

Sometime around then I got a camera, and our good buddy Uri (who grew up with my wife in Orange County) got Estee to buy a book called Nourishing Traditions (get it. Now).

The former led to the never ending quest of finding the perfect camera system, not to mention photography becoming a main source of income for us, while the latter led to our never ending quest for healthy eating and living. We (we being Estee, I just nod and agree) now make sourdough bread (the real kind, with freshly ground whole wheat (yes we grind it ourselves), and airborne yeast), sauerkraut, kombucha, and a slew of oddly named, awesome tasting (and ridiculously healthy) foods.

Beyond the healthy food, it has opened up our eyes to an entirely different way of living (though we were on the way to being completely weird even before this), and some really wonderful and special people. It’s hard to compartmentalize one’s life, saying that without A then B may not have happened, but being open to challenging the status quo has helped me immensely in photography as well. Not taking things as they are as proof that that’s how they should be.

Uri has been on a fermenting frenzy for some time and now and currently makes and sells the best sauerkraut you have ever tasted. Seriously. No really, it is. Check it out at www.brassicaandbrine.com

I don't know Naomi very well, but she didn't have her bouquet for her portraits due some timing mishap, but without missing a beat she grabbed some leaves and just went with it. Definitely a catch.

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Well, a few months back Uri found his soul-mate, and I had the privilege of photographing their wedding in beautiful Malibu.

Being a friend and all, he totally allowed me free reign to shoot as I wish, to try out new things and new gear. So I brought a few rangefinders and shot the whole things on 35mm film. I shot lot more freely than usual, and really enjoyed the change of pace. I had a chance to hang out with great people (my wife included), eat some great food, and get my legs some much needed dancing. Now all we need is Moshiach and we’re good!

Peace love and something fermented.

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Aden & Levi get married! Woohoo!!

Documentary Wedding Photography-240.jpg As I passed the Health Water aisle, shaking my head as usual at the ridiculousness of it all, I thought to myself that I really need to write a blog post about it.

And that's the best I could do.

In life in general and in Judaism in particular we are constantly being pulled in opposite directions. You know how everyone going faster than you on the highway is crazy and anyone going slower is <insert ethnicity/age/gender to which one proscribes bad driving habits>?

Or how anyone more religious is a fanatic, and anyone who is less is an idol-worshiping pagan.

We are tasked with somehow toeing many lines.

We are asked to be involved in the world, yet remain above it.

We are asked to do everything we could in accordance with the Torah, yet to go at our own pace.

We are asked to accept the absolute divinity of the laws, but then go study them according to all the rules of logic.

We are asked to be absolutely subservient to G-d, yet we are supposed to strike out on our own, finding who we are, and making it personal.

It's hard as heck.

We each find our own line, how far in each direction we lean, which side we express. Sometimes by choice, mostly by default. It's hard to think.

Chassidus tells us that in navigating this crazy world the two most important character traits are humility and honesty.

Humility in accepting that we are not the final arbitrator of truth, of morals, and to be open to the possibility that the divine will may not need to fit into our current gestalt.

Honesty in being able to look at ourselves objectively (as much as possible). Seeing where we are, who we are, what are strengths and weaknesses are. Being able to accept that where we have to be and what we have to be doing may not be what we think we want.

Health water is neither humble nor honest.

But Levi is.

I wrote some time back about the horrid state of Jewish music. Levi Robin is the opposite of all that's wrong with Jewish music.

As a friend Levi is the most honest and humble person I know. I'm sure he isn't perfect (Aden may disagree), but he is aware of who he is and what he has to do, and as simple as that sounds, it’s not common. At all. And seriously, his music is amazing. Check it out.

Aden I don’t know as well, but if Levi loved her than she must be very special indeed. And I wish them the best in their marriage and in fixing this darn world already!

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I am blessed to have some wonderful friends in the photography community. One of them, the beautiful and talented Lexia Frank, flew all the way down from Portland to photograph this wedding with me. And she rocked it.

And make sure to mosey over to Levi Robin's music page. You'll be happy you did.

Thanks for looking! Peace, love, and goji berries.

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