I am Mandy Made!
Hi everyone! I really good buddy of mine, Mandy, has been selling these amazingly fun, handcrafted cards for a while now. She makes each set one card at a time, putting all her attention and energy into each and every card, wow! I recently took a few photos for her website and wanted to share them with you. The detail and overall vibe from her cards are so much more engaging than the store-bought cards. I encourage you to check out her site and hit her up if you have any needs. She does scrapbooks, weddings, special occasions, business events, or just if you need one or two cards. Mandy even did all the invites, announcements, and table cards for my wedding! I can’t recommend her highly enough.
Big Bird!
I recently took a trip to Cambria, CA for the weekend, just to get away. While there, amidst relaxing and just taking in the relaxing surroundings, there were these large birds playing in the coastal winds (sorry, I don’t know what kind they were – maybe you can tell me!). They are incredible animals and it was awesome to watch them play in their natural habitat!
Mostly a black and white set, but I liked this color version below and wanted to share that one too.
Want to save some money and look at something pretty?
Sounds like a pretty good proposition, right?! To kick off 2013 with a bang, I am offering 10% off any item or print from my portfolio, www.andybucknerphotography.com! Just use coupon code: ABP2013. It is good for all of January.
Prints, showcase prints, apparel, specialty items (key chains, coasters, cards, etc.) are some of the available options. All prints are from a high quality, professional printer so you will not be disappointed! Just navigate to the picture you like and you will see options on the right-hand side of the page. Expand it to see all of your options. Worldwide shipping is available, too.
Thank you to everyone who has supported me on this blog, it means a lot! Whatever you decide to do, always feel free to drop me a line here, on Facebook or Google+!
A few samples of some of my popular images:
Accepting a Self-Portrait
Happy Birthday to me, happy birthday to me, happy…..you get the idea.
So I have never done a self-portrait before, so I figured why not on my birthday to kick off my last year in my 20s! Not doing a self-portrait previously had a lot to do with my adolescent concerns of not liking the way I looked. This is ironic because I regularly think about those I photograph and how each is truly beautiful in his or her own unique way (but especially my wife who is just plain hot! 
). This is a small step, but nonetheless a fitting one for me as I grow to accept myself more and more just the way I am.
Have a wonderful and safe New Year’s!
Desert Winter Wonderland
I recently took a trip out to the desert and had a few brief moments to capture a few photos (click for full/bigger photos). The desert is deceptively beautiful especially during the winter and the pictures below speaks that to me.
I want to go explore every inch of the landscape here, it just looks so different and interesting! However, among the beauty is water-less surroundings for miles, dangerous wildlife, landscape dangers (127 Hours anyone?), etc.
I was just passing through, though, and the 4×4 truck I was in wasn’t forcing me to rough it too bad…unless you count losing cell phone reception for 10 minutes a particularly dangerous thing. The area we were in (Glamis, CA) is very popular for off-road vehicles of all types – especially during Thanksgiving weekend.
You can see a couple of ‘dune buggies’ at the top of that peak taking in the scenery. You can also see all the tracks of the thousands of different vehicles that have passed through the same area recently.
I saw a couple of off-road vehicles chillin’ out and caught a few of them.
The desert can be just as beautiful during the winter as a snows-cape mountain – it is just…different. You get the chance to really take in the beauty, sights, smells & sounds, that you might miss during the blazing summer.
Now Offering Portrait Sessions!
I am happy to offer the following portrait services in time for this holiday season!
- 90 minute session at a location of your choice*.
- You, family, friends, or pets are welcome!
- Package includes 3 edited photos. All other photos from session will be provided and these are yours to keep, too!
- You may request additional photos to be touched up for an additional charge.
- All photos will be provided digitally and in full resolution (on a disc). This keeps the fees lower and allows for more edited photos to be provided! You can print at the vendor of your choice and have as quickly as you like!
Package cost: $150
Visit the “Contact” page for contact details.
*Orange County, CA areas. Further distances will be considered, but may add to cost.
Superman’s View
I imagine that when Superman does his thing and ‘up, up and away-s’ that he cruises around to views like this. I was able to grab this image tonight that really made me feel like I was up in the clouds too and wanted to share 
Have a great week ahead!
The Garden Isle
My wife and I recently visited Kauai, HI. We went there for our honeymoon 2 years ago and loved it so much that we went back. It is so beautiful there, I highly recommend it to anyone who has not been! They call it the “Garden Isle” for a reason – 360 degrees of beautiful, raw nature.
While there I took my camera, of course, and attempted to capture they way I saw the island, the beauty. Below is a collection of those images. I singled out a few below and then put the rest in a gallery below these. I hope it gives you a sense of “Ahhh”
Top of the World
There is a local spot referred to as “Top of the World” in Laguna Beach, CA. This spot has fantastic views of the Laguna Beach coastline and skyline, as well as the valley behind Laguna Beach. After a rain here recently, I knew there would be some great cloud action going on so I jumped in “Em” and jetted down to, er, up to TOTW.
Beautiful LB sky and sunset. Very cool trail that gives great views of the surrounding area.
Another view of the amazing colors in the sky.
A little earlier, just as beautiful. You can see someone off in the distance enjoying the view.
A couple enjoying the outdoors and fantastic surroundings with tons of wild flowers paving the way.
“Don’t” bring your camera on your wife’s birthday!
Took a trip down to La Jolla, CA last Saturday for my wife’s B-Day and I couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful day! Since I wanted to give all my attention to her, I didn’t dare bring my camera…. because once I whip that thing out, it’s “bye-bye Andy” and we can’t have that on her B-Day, right? Right. Well, what I wasn’t counting on, nor was she, was that my new phone has a pretty awesome camera on it… This was my first time really digging into it and I was really surprised at how good some of the shots were!
Well, after this discovery and wading knee-deep into the oncoming rising tide taking photos, I caught myself and waded back out of the water before I got cold from the water and the cold shoulder from the wife . I only kid about that part though, she has no problem with these little mini excursions – she was taking pictures of me out in the water trying to get the shot below.
Happy 4th of July!
Taken with HTC One X phone
Me as my sanctuary rock is quickly getting swallowed up…
A Star is born!
This picture and the one below are from a casual session I did with my niece and nephew over Mother’s Day weekend. I will be posting a set later, but in the meantime I wanted to share this beautiful little girl and her SUPER younger brother in the post below.
My niece in this picture loves to pose for the camera, dress up pretty and ham up activities. She would be perfect as a little actress. For now, I will be her paparazzi.
A Portrait with a Hat
This is the follow-up color photo relating to my post below.
I love this photo for a few reasons. First, the setting this took place and how it came about. This picture was shot on my apartment patio in a quick fit of creativity as me and my wife were heading out to run errands. The green backdrop is a table-cloth that I had forgotten on the patio from the previous week. I saw it and realized it was an opportunity to ‘spice up’ the photo and threw it over the laundry compartment door. I think this came out looking so interesting for how quick and ‘by-chance’ it all came together.
The second reason, is the hat. I bought this hat for my wife about 2 or 3 years ago, thinking it was cute…she thought it was cute too! But, alas, living in Southern CA does not give too many opportunities to wear Eskimo hats…She finally got to wear it for a purpose and now I have a great lasting memory of it in case she never wears it again ! The third, but not last, reason I love this photo is obvious, it captures my beautiful wife in such a lovely light. It is a memory I will have for the rest of my life.
10 Year Anniversary Gift
I am kicking off 2012 with a few shots from a recent session I did with my brother and sister-in-law. I offered to take photos of them as a gift for their anniversary and the happily accepted. This was my first attempt at a “session” like this with a couple. I definitely learned a few things by making mistakes, but overall it was a great experience and I look forward to next time. I love these guys below!
Have a great 2012!
They are not afraid to let loose and just be silly – I felt this picture captured that silliness
Having Fun!
It was worth it…
This last Friday it rained most of the day. As the rain stopped and the clouds began to clear, my wife and I decided to take the dogs out for a brief walk. Now I live on the 3rd floor of my building so when I went outside I was able to see that the ensuing sunset would probably be awesome (I could only see enough sky to be teased at what might be)! So, at that moment I decided that I had to see what the full sunset turned out looking like – I went back for my camera and car keys and decided to bolt up to a high ground I know to see if there was a view. I invited my wife and dogs, but they wanted to stay and pee on things (primarily the dogs, that is).
After I was at the spot for about 15 minutes, shooting pics, it hit me that on my dash out of the apartment I locked the door because I fully expected my wife to join me! Mind you it was pretty chilly this time of day and my wife, who needs a blanket when it is 75 outside, was in a T-Shirt and pajama pants with the dogs… and now locked outside. So after it finally hit me that my wife was locked out, probably freezing and without a phone, I [took a few more photos] bolted back home. When I arrived it had been about 30 minutes since I left and she was out on the sidewalk giving me a look that seemed to say “well, what do you have to say for yourself?” I just rolled the window down and said “SORRY”… Turns out she was very understanding and didn’t care. Whew!
I reached my spot and had a pretty nice view for such short notice. The sunset/sky/clouds were amazing. The natural grandeur of a “simple” sunset after a rain is breathtaking. I wish I could have spent a bit longer out there, but I was happy with what I was able to see and the few photos I shot.
Sign out where I was shooting
Portraits
This was my first attempt a portraits. I definitely enjoyed the process, but have a ways to go. I can tell that this is a genre of photography that I can see myself really getting into! To start off with, I have easy access to a beautiful lady…my wife .
We had the idea for me to practice photos, so we jumped in the car one evening and just drove. We were looking for anywhere appealing outdoors just as an excuse to get out and shoot. Luckily we came across an undeveloped lot of land that looked out over the city, letting the sunset in perfectly. I think I got there a little too late because I did not have as much time as I would have liked to photograph. However, with that being the case, I am pretty happy with the way these turned out.
From a root’s point of view
A puddle of water had gathered in a small notch in one of this tree’s roots. This is the reflection (view) that was created. It almost even looks like the shape of an eye.
