playful, intimate, candid wedding photography by Bea

04-06-2013

Best of January – March, newspaper edition!

It’s been a busy first quarter at the paper, with me being the only staff photographer after my co-worker passed away unexpectedly just before Christmas.I have done my best to fill her shoes, and have been covering a wild mix of sports, spot news, theater dress rehearsals, and a few feature stories, which I am still pursuing and will write more about at a later date. Merced County is a diverse and interesting community, and I am looking forward to covering all the upcoming events this year!

Here are a couple of my favorites from the year so far! All images Copyright the Merced Sun-Star

BEA AHBECK CASSON/bahbeck@mercedsunstar.com The ground in Applegate Park in Merced is covered by frost Wednesday morning after a chilly night. (1-2-13)

BEA AHBECK CASSON/bahbeck@mercedsunstar.com The MID road race at Lake McClure in Snelling Thursday. (2-28-13)

BEA AHBECK CASSON/bahbeck@mercedsunstar.com Grandma Jorene Asher, with grandson Charles Asher, 4, wave to a freight train as it passes the Amtrak station in Merced Monday afternoon. (3-4-13). The two came down to the station not to travel, but to watch the trains because Charles loves trains.

BEA AHBECK CASSON/bahbeck@mercedsunstar.com UC Merced student Ariel Hickman, 21, of Merced, is offered a tissue by Sarah Plancarte, philantrophy chairman, as she gets ready to donate her hair at the Merced university Monday. (3-18-13). The hair donated at the event, hosted by sorority Kappa Kappa Gamma, wil go to Pantene's Beautiful Lenghts, an organization that helps women fighting cancer receive free, real-hair wigs.

BEA AHBECK CASSON/bahbeck@mercedsunstar.com Melissa Beckwith, 32, of Merced, auditions for Franc D'Ambrosio at a Master Class at the Merced Theatre in Merced Friday. (3-15-13) The Merced Theatre Foundation is looking for a Christine and Raoul to perform "All I Ask of You" onstage at D'Ambrosio's Broadway concert Saturday at 8 p.m.

BEA AHBECK CASSON/bahbeck@mercedsunstar.com Jesus, played by Pablo Contreras, 16, of Merced, carries the cross during the Sacred Heart Church's Stations of the Cross in Merced Friday. (3-29-13)

BEA AHBECK CASSON/bahbeck@mercedsunstar.com Mom Reina Leonides, with sons Jorge, 4, Jose, 7, and Juan, 5 (all Leonides), all of Merced, watch the Sacred Heart Church's Stations of the Cross in Merced Friday. (3-29-13)

BEA AHBECK CASSON/bahbeck@mercedsunstar.com Buddy, an almost 3-year-old Yorkie, gets petted by family friend Cristal Gonzalez, 9, (far right), as he hangs out on the livingroom floor in his family's Planada home Thursday. (3-14-13)

BEA AHBECK CASSON/bahbeck@mercedsunstar.com William Vang, 10, of Merced, plays basketball with his sister Rose Vang, 14, (not pictured), in Merced Wednesday afternoon. (1-2-13)

BEA AHBECK CASSON/bahbeck@mercedsunstar.com Daisy Samuelson, 9, with mom Jenni Samuelson, both of Merced, react as vinegar and baking soda are mixed, creating a acid-base reaction, called neutralization, during the Girls Science Camp in Merced Wednesday. (2-6-13) The resulting products of the baking soda and vinegar mix are water, sodium acetate and carbon dioxide gas. The gas make the balloon expand.

BEA AHBECK CASSON/bahbeck@mercedsunstar.com Local Mixed Martial Arts fighter Edward Mackey, 26, trains in Merced Friday. (1-11-13)

BEA AHBECK CASSON/bahbeck@mercedsunstar.com Merced College's #14 Ryan Emerald looks back as teammate #5 Josh Miguel goes flying after colliding with Consumnes River #4 Joe Bettencourt during their game against Cosumnes River in Merced Friday. (2-1-13)

BEA AHBECK CASSON/bahbeck@mercedsunstar.com Golden Valley's center Joshua Sykes is the Sun-Star's Basketball Boys Athlete of the Year. Pictured in Merced Monday. (3-18-13)

BEA AHBECK CASSON/bahbeck@mercedsunstar.com Wes Ibrahimi and his son Ryan Odishoo (left) ride out to feed bulls at their Le Grand ranch Monday. (1-7-13) Ibrahimi's comany Humpz & Hornz Rodeo Co. specializes in bullriding events, and provide championship bulls for rodeos across California.

BEA AHBECK CASSON/bahbeck@mercedsunstar.com Brian Oliver Strong listens to his baby's heartbeat through a fetal scope as his wife Stefanie Vega - Strong watches, during their midwife Detrah Hele's visit at their Merced home Tuesday. (2-5-13).

BEA AHBECK CASSON/bahbeck@mercedsunstar.com Buhach's goalkeeper Taylor Briggs lets in a goal scored by Golden Valley's #9 Sara Callister during their game in Merced Monday. (3-25-13)

BEA AHBECK CASSON/bahbeck@mercedsunstar.com Merced fire department Captain Casey Wilson puts out hot spots on a portable building by the old 84 Lumber yard at Highway 59 in Merced Tuesday. (2-26-13) A homeless man was arrested early Tuesday morning on suspicion of setting fire to the portable office building.

BEA AHBECK CASSON/bahbeck@mercedsunstar.com Two dogs left behind at the scene of a house fire on Center St in Winton Monday. (2-4-13). The house, fire reported early Saturday morning in Winton, injured one person and killed four dogs, according to Merced County Fire Department/Cal Fire.

BEA AHBECK CASSON/bahbeck@mercedsunstar.com Blossoming orchard outside of Merced Tuesday. (3-5-13)

BEA AHBECK CASSON/bahbeck@mercedsunstar.com Sea creatures wait on stage during the Weaver School District Performing Arts dress rehearsal of The Little Mermaid at Merced Theatre in Merced Monday. (2-25-13) Shows are scheduled for Friday, March 1 at 7 p.m. and Saturday March 2 at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the Merced Theatre.

BEA AHBECK CASSON/bahbeck@mercedsunstar.com Danny Domingo, a bull rider from Los Angeles, takes a moment before the competition starts during the Humpz and Hornz bull riding event at the Modesto Junior College Pavillion in Modesto Saturday. (1-12-13) 32 riders competed in the event, and the winner was awarded a cash prize of $5000. Wes Ibrahimi, owner of Humpz and Hornz and the event's organizer, has bulls that participate in events all over California and on the Pro Bull Riders Tour.

BEA AHBECK CASSON/bahbeck@mercedsunstar.com Merced Police animal control officer II Kim Herzog carries two puppies that were called in as strays to her van after someone left them at the end of a road in Merced Monday. (2-10-13)

BEA AHBECK CASSON/bahbeck@mercedsunstar.com Men's Pro race during the downtown Grand Prix in Merced Saturday. (3-2-13)

BEA AHBECK CASSON/bahbeck@mercedsunstar.com Men's Pro race during the downtown Grand Prix in Merced Saturday. (3-2-13)

BEA AHBECK CASSON/bahbeck@mercedsunstar.com A firefighter walks past the fully-engulfed building as crews fight a large three-alarm fire Tuesday night at the vacant Lactalis USA cheese plant on West Main Street.

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01-31-2013

Free Sweetheart Session contest, 2.0!

‘Tis the season for love! Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and that means it’s time for our annual Free Sweetheart Session Give-Away! Engaged? It can double as your engagement session!

Tell us what makes your love story special! Did you meet in a particularly interesting fashion? What makes the glue in your relationship? What does he do that makes your heart just melt? How did he propose? What makes you two YOU? Tell us why you should win!

You can also make your entry about another couple in your life — parents, grandparents, your sister and her husband — anyone you think deserve to have a session together showcasing their love!

So get your entries in! Send us your entries through my website — www.beaahbeckphotography.com
Find the ‘contact Bea’ in the ‘contact’ pull down menu, or send us an email at bea@beaahbeckphotography.com

Deadline is Feb. 12, and the winning couple will be announced on Valentine’s Day! Prize includes a FREE session plus 3 gorgeous 11×14 prints of your choice.Contest is open to anyone within the Bay Area or Central Valley.

Good Luck!

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Sophia Zamora - Do you want an email from us with our story or on this comment box?

bea - Hi Sophia!
I updated the post to clarify! You can go to http://www.beaahbeckphotography.com and find ‘contact Bea under the ‘contact’ tab, or just email me directly at bea@beaahbeckphotography.com

Good luck!

01-05-2013

2012 favorites, newspaper edition!

I am lucky enough to get to combine my two great loves in photography — photojournalism and wedding photography. During the week I crisscross Merced County, covering news, events and high school and college sports for our local paper, the Merced Sun-Star. It’s a responsibility I take very seriously — we are the eyes (and ears!) of the local community, documenting the everyday life — some of the most joyful, funny, serious, and also tragic events that is life for all of us.

Nothing reminded me more of the brevity of life when long-time staff photographer Marci Stenberg suddenly passed away right before Christmas. She was a Merced icon and had been documenting life in our town for the past 24 years. You can see the paper’s tribute to her here. Marci loved photography and greeted every day with an enthusiasm for capturing the life of Merced through her lens. She is greatly missed in the newsroom.

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Below are some of my favorite images of the year — the first few what we in newspaper lingo call ‘wild art’, ‘enterprise’, ‘b-lines’ or ‘feature hunt’ — when we go out and try to find something interesting, making images telling of everyday life. Some are the result of good planning and relationship building, some are the result of driving around, checking spots where people tend to congregate and waiting for the moment to happen. Each are a small slice of life, capturing emotions, light and action to hopefully create a visually interesting image for our newspaper readers. All images copyright the Merced Sun-Star.

BEA AHBECK CASSON/bahbeck@mercedsunstar.com Audrie Sterling, 7, of Atwater, gets covered in leaves while playing with her sister Maddy and friends at Castle Park Tuesday. (11-20-12)

BEA AHBECK/bahbeck@mercedsunstar.com Travis Mask, with Last Hope Cat Kingdom, gives Rigby the potbellied piglet a bath in her Atwater, Calif. home Monday, Jan. 30, 2012. She and her fiance Danny Fuentz are raising three surviving triplets in their home after the mama failed to take care of them after birth at the Last Hope Cat Kingdom all species animal sanctuary. Two sets of piglets have been born to two of the remaining rescued potbellied pigs.

BEA AHBECK/bahbeck@mercedsunstar.com Kitkat the cat looks on as Kara Ford, 5, jumps on the family trampoline in their Merced, Calif. backyard Mon. Feb. 6, 2012. Ford was out enjoying a nice afternoon with her siblings.

BEA AHBECK CASSON/bahbeck@mercedsunstar.com Aaliyah Hensley - Amey, 7, hugs the Christmas tree just given to them by David (last name withheld), a volunteer at the Cavalry Temple, in Merced Wednesday. (12-19-12)

BEA AHBECK bahbeck@mercedsunstar.com Merced High student Julie Andrews, 16, practices her catwalk before the fashion show at Merced High Thurs. May 17, 2012. It's the third year the event is held at Merced High, and the show is the event planning final for a class in Virtual Enterprise, an ROP class which teaches students in a simulated business environment.

Every year we put together a football preview for the upcoming season, as well as Players of the Year. Here are a few favs!

BEA AHBECK/bahbeck@mercedsunstar.com Le Grand's Daniel Guizar is the Sun-Star's Football Offensive Player of the Year. Photographed in Le Grand, Calif. Thurs. Jan. 5, 2012

BEA AHBECK - CASSON/bahbeck@mercedsunstar.com Merced's 'The Fast and the Furious' Eli Gutierrez, David Keys and Bradley Adamson.

BEA AHBECK - CASSON/bahbeck@mercedsunstar.com Chowchilla quarterback DeVaughn Gaines (He Got Game).

Then there is spot news, where we drop everything to go cover breaking news. This man ran from police after a pursuit where shots were fired, and was found injured by a homeowner in his hallway a few blocks away. He was taken into custody and transported to a local hospital.

BEA AHBECK bahbeck@mercedsunstar.com A police officer adjusts the suspect's handcuffs before he is wheeled into a waiting ambulance after being apprehended outside a residence on San Rafael Court in Merced, Calif. May 1, 2012.

After the Occupy protests, police took it very seriously when this mannequin head showed up with a note on it at a local elementary school. After sending in the bomb squad, it was found to be harmless. An Atwater police officer surveys the results.

BEA AHBECK bahbeck@mercedsunstar.com Atwater Police Cpl. John Smothers looks at the mannequin head after it had been deemed not dangerous by the Merced County bomb squad at the Bellevue Elementary School campus in Atwater , Calif. May 3, 2012.

I spend a lot of time on the sidelines of high school games — football, soccer, volleyball, basketball and waterpolo. It’s all about capturing that peak-action, and the emotion of the game.

BEA AHBECK CASSON/bahbeck@mercedsunstar.com Atwater goalkeeper # Efrain Ulloa goes airborne as he tries to make a save during their game against Turlock in Atwater Wednesday. (09-12-12). The goal was negated because of an offside call.

Nothing keeps you more on your toes than football, where I have side-stepped 200-pound football players coming at me with intense speed at more than one occasion! It’s challenging and fun to shoot, often under less-than-optimal lighting conditions. Anticipation is everything, as you only have a second or two to predict where the pass will be thrown.

BEA AHBECK CASSON/bahbeck@mercedsunstar.com Incomplete pass to Buhach's #9 Felix Borruel as Merced's #20 Errol Dennis defends during their game in Merced Friday. (10-12-12)

Then there’s general news — planned events we cover that are of importance to the community. Some are fun celebrations of holidays, some serious — like the memorial for the Sandy Hook massacre organized by the Sikh community in Livingston.

BEA AHBECK CASSON/bahbeck@mercedsunstar.com Faythe Perez, 8, (CQ), of Merced, dressed as a zombie bride during the Harvest Party at Yosemite Church in Merced Wednesday. (10-31-12). The party included booths with games for the children, a Trunk or Treat walk, a petting zoo, inflatable slides, food and more.

BEA AHBECK CASSON/bahbeck@mercedsunstar.com Yosemite Church worship pastor Matt Shumaker dressed up at as photo booth picture during the Harvest Party at Yosemite Church in Merced Wednesday. (10-31-12). The party included booths with games for the children, a Trunk or Treat walk, a petting zoo, inflatable slides, food and more.

BEA AHBECK CASSON/bahbeck@mercedsunstar.com Gurpreet Pannu, 19, of Livingston, attends the Livingston candlelight vigil for the Newtown, Conn. victims in Livingston Friday. (12-28-12). The event was organized by the two Sikh temples in Livingston.

My very first show as a photographer was a series of black-and-white images captured backstage at the Boston Ballet while I was a student at New England School of Photography. Every year I try to photograph the local dress rehearsal of my most favorite ballet, the Nutcracker.

BEA AHBECK CASSON/bahbeck@mercedsunstar.com Gianna Guillen, 15, puts on her ballet shoes during the Merced Academy of Dance's Nutcracker dress rehearsal, presented by the Merced Civic Ballet, in Atwater Thursday. (11-29-12)

BEA AHBECK CASSON/bahbeck@mercedsunstar.com An angel enters backstage during the Merced Academy of Dance's Nutcracker dress rehearsal, presented by the Merced Civic Ballet, in Atwater Thursday. (11-29-12)

BEA AHBECK CASSON/bahbeck@mercedsunstar.com Natalie van Pelt, 10, of Merced, and Josie Downs, 9, of Merced, engage in some feather-fighting during the Merced Academy of Dance's Nutcracker dress rehearsal, presented by the Merced Civic Ballet, in Atwater Thursday. (11-29-12)

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