Portraits in the Fall

I realize I haven't posted in a year on this blog and it's time to start it up again and keep the world and myself updated. These are photographs I took in the woods near Cold Spring, NY with my wonderful boyfriend Matt. On the way down the mountain from our hike we captured the final moments of daylight in golden hour and photographed each other.

There is a sense of calm during the last hours of daylight. The light is rapidly disappearing and the shadows are constantly changing but the sun is tucking all the trees and the flowers and the animals in for the night until she rises again in the morning.

Yoga With Suzette

I had the pleasure of reuniting with Suzette after 4 years for a shoot in Riverside Park to photograph her practicing yoga. It was an incredible honor to photograph Suzette. Seeing the immense amount of physical strength as well as mental strength she used to achieve these incredible poses. 

Suzette, I wish you luck on your journey of private practices and cannot wait to see what dazzling poses you achieve next!

"Healthy plants and trees yield abundant flowers and fruits. Similarly from a healthy person, smiles and happiness shine forth like rays of the sun." - B.K. Iyengar

"Remember the emphasis on the heart. The mind lives in doubt and the heart lives in trust. When you trust, suddenly you become centered." -Osho

The Electric Tongues at Pianos: COME SEE THEM THIS FRIDAY! 4/18

The Electric Tongues are a wild non-stop rock band that has recently joined together to create a high energy, super rad sound. Their jams are similar to The Clash, Talking Heads, and Rocket from the Crypt. Every show of theirs I have been to, the Electric Tongues kill it. Their energy not only with the audience, but with each other is incredible. And I like going to their shows because that cute drummer is my main squeeze.

 Get your ass to their next show at The Bitter End on April 18th at 1100! THIS FRIDAY!!

 

Check them out on Facebook and Bandcamp !!

Magic Trees

Magical trees we discovered on The Big Island near Rainbow Falls in Hawaii

Newlyweds: Davide and Alessandro

There is nothing more noble than seeing two lovers, eye to eye, become one in marriage. This wedding was like nothing I have participated in before. Two amazing, powerful, and smart men, Davide and Alessandro were married on January 5th, 2014. It was an absolute honor to photograph these two men as my first gay wedding. Not only was it a beautiful and intimate ceremony, Davide and Alessandro were two of the warmest and kindest people I have met with a love that seems almost effortless.

Congratulations to you two and I wish you all the best in this beautiful world.

Keep light, love and peace.

"A flower cannot blossom without sunshine and a man cannot live without love."

- Max Muller

"Love is our true destiny. We do not find the meaning of life by ourselves alone, we find it with another. "

- Thomas Merton

"Keep love in your heart. A life without it is like a sunless garden when the flowers are dead."

- Oscar Wilde

"I want to know if you can be with joy, mine or your own, if you can dance with wildness and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers and toes without cautioning us to be careful, to be realistic, to remember the limitations of being human. "

- Oriah Mountain Dreamer

All Photos Copyright © Jaci Berkopec

Chrissy: Mother and Child

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of photographing Chrissy's maternity photos. It was incredibly inspiring to photograph such a strong, beautiful woman while she was carrying a child. Little Mason was just born on December 30th. 

Congratulations to Chrissy and Mike with their adorable angel!

 "Motherhood is one of the most challenging and creative jobs anyone can do."

- Naomi Wolf

"Pregnancy and motherhood are the most beautiful and significantly life-altering events a woman can experience."

- Elizabeth Hasselbeck

"The natural state of motherhood is unselfishness. When you become a mother, you are no longer the center of your own universe. You relinquish that position to your children."

- Jessica Lange

All Photos Copyright © Jaci Berkopec

Delaware Water Gap (pt. 1)

In August, my man and I adventured to the Delaware Water Gap in Pennsylvania. AirBNB got us a killer yurt on a plot of farmland near a small creek. Falling asleep looking at the stars through the skylight and waking up to the sun on our faces and the sounds of the creek. Paradise. We cooked over a fire for 4 days and our meals included chicken breast, steak, and trout. 

Outside the Yurt (Our front doorstep)

Making breakfast

The yurt

Hammocks by the firepit

Outhouse at the Yurt

Matt and Tucker

Firepit

On the Delaware River

Trout fishing

Trout Filets

The Adventure Duo

"Forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair."

-Khalil Gibran

All Photos Copyright © Jaci Berkopec

Camping in the Catskills

At the end of August, I went camping in the Catskills with my friend Joe Sinnott. 3 days in the mountains, photographing, exploring, fishing and looking at stars.

Flowers stretched out in attempt to reach the sun during a photo expedition.

The roots jutting out of the ground made for excellent gazelle like hiking and leaping alongside the banks of the river.

The crew making their way down the waterfall

Joe photographing near the river

Endless Road

This trip gave me insight on my path in life. The conversations that were had sitting around the fire with Joe, looking at the stars and sipping on bourbon were some of the most interesting conversations I have had in a while. My eyes have been open to the opportunities that await me in my immediate future. I was able to rediscover my photographic spirit and just "photograph everything." I put no restraints on myself and I believe I came up with work that was focused solely on just satisfying me.

Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.

- Albert Einstein

All Photos Copyright © Jaci Berkopec