Ellen November

2010-09-07T19:08:00.000-07:00

Senior Portrait @Terranea
The first portrait session of the Class of 2011 Senior Portraits was spent with the remarkable Madi. She had three wardrobe changes and we did all the shots on the public beach at Terranea Resort. I took over 500 photos in 90 minutes and am trying to narrow it down to 50. This is a challenge. So many stunning shots to pick from.
You can see more portraits at www.ellennovember.com

2010-07-25T20:44:00.000-07:00

KENNY ANDERSON

Pro skate boarder, Kenny Anderson, skated with our local kids. PCH SK8 and Cox Communication are putting on Skate the Hill every Friday and Saturday night through the fall at Ernie Howlett Park.

Kenny skated with the kids and coached them. He lives in Rancho Palos Verdes with his wife and three children.

Kenny believes in giving back to the kids.

Read more about him here: Kenny Anderson

2010-06-28T15:10:00.000-07:00

JUNE 2010

Two weeks in Europe and trying to hold onto the magic longer, longer. It has to last.

Goat cheese, bread, checkered tablecloths of Montmartre, the new friends forever now in our lives, and the fleeting friends. Cobblestones, wine, olives and grapevines. The rivers, the Roman Empire, friendly exchanges in French and Spanish.

Limestone, granite. Colors of Provence. Avignon. Feeling worlds apart. Feeling far away. Looking for the shadows. Which way is north or west. It's all a part of me now.

2010-05-13T06:56:00.000-07:00

JUMP FOR JOY!

Has there ever been a more joyous Jump Shot than this one?

My daughter Kara and four of her med school girlfriends are jumping for joy in anticipation of their graduation from USC Keck School of Medicine on Sunday, May 16, 2010.

What a momentous time. In a nutshell, bursting with pride!

2010-03-11T21:47:00.000-08:00

MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM AND EDWINA

I had a great session at the Negri Learning Center to take head shots of the amazing kids in the Norris Center for the Performing Arts productions of Midsummer's Night Dream and Dear Edwina.
Thank you Ashley and Renee.
Cannot wait to see the shows!
Check here for ticket info:
http://www.norristheatre.org/shows/education.html#midsummer

• If you are a parent and would like to purchase
the digital files of your child's head shot, please use the PayPal link below

2010-01-30T12:04:00.000-08:00

PETER PAN AT THE NORRIS

I had a wonderful opportunity to take head shots of the amazing 44 kids in the Norris Center for the Performing Arts production of Peter Pan.
Thank you Renee and Ashley.
Cannot wait to see the show!
Check here for ticket info:
http://www.norristheatre.org/shows/education.html#peter-pan

• If you are a parent and would like to purchase
the digital files of your child's head shot, please use the PayPal link below

or contact me at
Ellen November
310.384.6912

See my work at: Ellen November Photography

2010-01-28T13:29:00.000-08:00

LUCKY IN LOVE

How lucky can I be? Married an incredible man 35 years ago. We are having so much fun! He recently signed up for a Facebook account so he could see his buddies' rock climbing photos and is now a Facebook fanatic! Every night he logs in and gives me an update. It keeps friends closer, it's all good. Love you honey!!

2010-01-26T14:26:00.000-08:00

PETS FOR HAITI
Helping out in my own small way:

The pet portrait package is just $65 through March 1, 2010.

You will receive:

~30-minute pet portrait shoot in your home or a local park ($225 value)

~5×7″ matted metallic gift print ($65 value, shown)

You will be providing relief to Haiti in three ways:

~100% of the proceeds from your $65 Pets for Haiti portrait shoot will be donated to Doctors Without Borders.

~10% of additional print sales from the pet portrait shoots will also be donated to Doctors Without Borders

To commit, purchase your package today. We will set up your pet portrait as soon as possible. Appointments will be made on a first come, first serve basis.
Email: ellen.november@gmail.com or call 310-384-6912.
Visit out website at www.ellennovember.com

I own full credit to Kristen Kalp of www.essentialimagery.com for this brilliant philanthropic idea.

2010-01-21T13:43:00.001-08:00

The Beautiful Rachel
This graduate/senior portrait of Rachel shows off her outer beauty. What you don't see is her inner beauty and her expertise as a make-up artist.
She would like to study film in college.

2010-01-03T10:31:00.003-08:00

My first corporate portrait session. Jesse Rodriguez and Cathy Anderson of Merrill Lynch, Manhattan Beach, CA. This photo was used on the 2009 Holiday Card. Thank you Jesse and Cathy, it was so fun!

2009-12-28T13:19:00.000-08:00

Barney, Gabe, Christina and Chumley posed at the Manhattan Beach Pier for their 2009 Holiday Photo. This was taken Thanksgiving weekend.

2009-11-15T12:22:00.000-08:00

ERIKA AND RESTIE:

Celebrating their 14th wedding anniversary, Erika and Restie are an awesome, creative couple. The marriage of two art directors.

I did a photo session with them at Pt. Dume in Malibu, early on a Saturday morning.

Happy Anniversary!

I am honored that Restie and Erika used this same shot on their holiday card!

2009-11-06T07:52:00.000-08:00

Sayla is a beautiful child in spirit and in vision. She loved posing for me and is quite the little actress. I brought along the fairy wings which she instantly put on and my camera adored her.
She adores her baby brother Charles and we shot hundreds of photos of her with her brother, her alone, Charles alone, with mom Clarissa and with Grandma. It was a very upbeat shoot with lots of wardrobe changes by Sayla. Her other Grandma had Fed-Ex'd a box of dresses for her to wear for the shoot and she wore every single one! I chose this portrait of Sayla for the Splash Page of my website, because I just love looking at the beautiful light shining in her eyes.

2009-10-23T21:03:00.000-07:00

Photographing 18-month old twins is exhausting! I cannot imagine how their Mom, Mona does it all day! Declin and Carys are very busy kiddos. I truly admire how Mona manages their routines. I watched and shot photos as she fed, bathed one at a time, prepped for bed and then one last play session. I had to go home and get some rest. How does she do it??
I was so honored that Mona invited me into her home to capture some precious moments with her son and daughter.

2009-09-23T13:51:00.000-07:00

First Christmas 2008.
Liv and Baby Lochner by their tree.

2009-09-19T09:12:00.000-07:00

Jason. Curious and intrigued by the squirrels at the South Coast Botanic Garden. Age. 5, starting Kindergarten.

2009-09-17T15:28:00.000-07:00

Hey Dad, would ya get me two ounces?

Charlie, three months old, Seal Beach, CA

2009-07-18T07:57:00.000-07:00

THE TILES SPEAK.
This shot was taken in San Pedro, CA at the Channel Street Skatepark. It was built under a freeway overpass, where a homeless encampment used to be. Built by the community and maintained as well. It's a rough and tumble part of town. What surprised me the most, were the mosaics.

2009-07-08T13:21:00.000-07:00

Post Wedding Period of Pensiveness:
It was over a year in the making and took up a lot of energy and it was all wonderful.
Now, putting my energy to the 'next thing.'
Photography. Booking portrait sessions. Spearheading a skateboard park to be built in my neighborhood, because I want to and I can.
Planning for our trip in September to South America. Yes, this is a lot of stuff to do and plenty of grit to shift gears over. Put 'er in drive, I'm ready to go.

2009-05-29T19:11:00.000-07:00

ISN'T IT ROMANTIC?
Our extraordinary daughter is now married, she has a husband. Nick and Kara Bryden are now in Jamaica. It was truly a magical weekend. I keep singing Ben Folds song "The Luckiest" over in my mind, because that is how I feel. Such peak experiences are just that, peak and sustain us and thrill us for a lifetime. I am the luckiest.

2009-04-28T19:33:00.000-07:00

Germ-O-Phobia Overnight.
With the media talking about nothing but the Swine Flu, within 24 hours, the whole country is talking about nothing but germs and flu.
I left my house for some quick errands. One was a stop at the local library. And lo and behold, a Healthy Hands Purell sanitary wipe dispenser had been installed. Wow, how proactive. Following the instructions, I reached down for a handy wipe and oops, none available. I guess every patron had been pulling for wipes all day. Then I see the librarian with her cart. She is wearing white gloves to put the books back on the shelves. I have never seen this before. Does she have a skin condition or does this have something to do with the new germophobia? I never thought of the library as being a warehouse for germs, but with everyone touching and sneezing and coughing on the books, perhaps this will hasten a full digital book world. Things are just moving a little too quickly for me.

2009-04-18T09:48:00.000-07:00

WHAT IS THIS?
Looks real doesn't it? This is a huge, life-sized stuffed animal sheep dog.
It is on the floor of a parking garage in Rolling Hills Estates, CA.
When I first pulled into the garage there were 30 or so junior high boys and their skateboards. They were using the stuffed animal as an object to jump over. They have to play somewhere. I walked across the street to the mall. There were well over 100 junior high boys and their skateboards hanging out in the open air mall. It was Friday night, this is the place they have where they can meet. I went to Borders and bought a book. When I came out, there was a sheriff's car parked at the curb and no kids. Not a one. I went back over to the parking garage and the kids were gone as well. But the shaggy dog remained. I had to grab a photo of it.
I parked my car so that the headlights would shine on the dog. And here is the shot I got from my iPhone. Here we are in a very wealthy community with a top school district and yet there is no skate board park for the kids. Therefore, they skate on the street with no helmets. It's kind of sad that a town with highly rated schools and a ton of money is really not kid-friendly.

2009-04-12T09:22:00.000-07:00

SPRING SATURDAY
These signs of spring were tucked in a private patio behind Malaga Cove Plaza. They seemed to sum up a wonderful Saturday for me. Quiet, uninterrupted and basking in the sun.

2009-04-09T08:29:00.000-07:00

YOU BE THE JUDGE?
What child, given their right mind, would choose Matzah Man over Mr. Cuddles the Easter Bunny?
My people do not have adorable icons/chochkees. It's a commitment, being a Jew.
I will say that Passover is my favorite holiday and it's a time when my entire family has some terrific food and laugh until we can laugh no more.

2009-03-19T22:08:00.000-07:00

Calgon, take me away, back to the wonderful Sunday at the beach.

2009-02-28T07:15:00.001-08:00

It took a visit from my brother to finally visit the Walt Disney Concert Hall in downtown Los Angeles. It is a brilliant building, inside and out. Very little fabric on the inside, mostly wood, but the acoustics are perfect.
Beforehand, we stopped in at the Grammy Museum, which I highly recommend you devote three hours to, bare minimum.
And dinner with my son at the ESPN Sports Zone across from Staples Center. A very fun place with a great menu.
There's a lot to do once I get out of my own neighborhood.

2009-02-07T22:30:00.000-08:00

Gratitude.
Five weeks have passed since the New Year. So much has happened.
New and old.

A new President and First Family.

Reconnecting with old friends via Facebook.
Miles and miles down memory lane.
News of a high school friend's death at age 57.
Feeling gratitude everyday for my health and the health of those dear to me.
I am grateful for the good, peaceful life I have.
The Girl Scout handshake reminds me of earlier days, simpler days, we were invincible and there were right and wrong ways to do things.

2009-01-11T00:00:00.001-08:00

Yeah hurray it's 2009 and so much to celebrate. Inauguration, Valentine's Day, Spring, Passover, Kara's Bridal Shower, and then, drumroll, Kara and Nick's Wedding,South America. I really love 2009 already.

2008-12-23T01:19:00.000-08:00

I have been captivated by manger scenes since I first saw one under my neighbor's tree. It was laid out on a bed of cotton batting to resemble snow. I would lie on my stomach and just stare at the scene. I didn't know the Christmas story, as they did not teach it at Hebrew school, but perhaps it was the miniature scene that fascinated me.
For years I've been promising myself to take photos of the Baby Jesus in Mangers. Today I photographed three different scenes, but this baby is my favorite. The lighting, one pant leg short, one long, his hands open and reaching out. Now that I'm looking at it, I see this is an older baby and not a newborn. It's okay, I like him. And the hay emanating out from his body. This was made by an artist.
This baby won out over a flat plywood baby and a plastic baby who has a light inside his cradle and gets plugged in.
This baby gives me hope.

2008-12-17T10:41:00.000-08:00

Sunday, December 14, 2008, Manhattan Beach.
So many things converged on this date.
My daughter's fiance's birthday, the birth of a new nephew and the celebration of a wonderful woman's life.
The sky was very magical. Giving off its own fireworks before the fireworks display later that evening at the Manhattan Beach pier.
My posting of this image on Flickr brought another convergence. Another photographer was in the area at the same time and saw the same sunset. Convergence was happening in his life as well and we were able to share our stories.
This sky reminds me of my focus for December: focusing on light, bringing light into the much shorter days.
Next Sunday we light the first Hanukkah candles, a ceremonial holiday which increases the light by one candle each night. Our friends and family will gather, so much to be grateful for.

2008-12-11T21:32:00.000-08:00

December tends to be a challenge. Less light, the pressure of gifts and parties and expectations. I've got some ways to work around it. Different ways to look at it.
The Winter Solstice has us bring more light to the world, with fire, and man-made light. Gifts can be whatever we like. This year my gifts are of clothing to soldiers serving overseas. The parties, all low-stress. Plenty of time for R&R. Not giving in to the expectations of others.
My friend's kitty, Mai Tai, knows how to do December. In her favorite window spot, dancing to her own drummer.

2008-08-15T20:30:00.001-07:00

Sewing for others brings me pleasure. Having a skill that others do not have, but one that comes easily to me is joyful. The latest, a t-shirt quilt for a friend's son who's off to college. An entire quilt of t-shirts from his high school days and achievements, memorable times.
And next, a chuppah for my daughter and her fiance's wedding, an embroidered purse for a bridal purse, and gifts to sew for the bridesmaids. I've been sewing for most of my life and it is as natural to me as walking or talking.

2007-03-18T17:41:00.000-07:00

My Life in a Box

Eight Years Old, Toni Home Perm

My Life as a School Teacher in Brooklyn, 1940's, 1950's

My Life as a 1940's Art Director in Chicago

2007-01-24T15:00:00.000-08:00

The Fish Series.
Freestyle quilting.
Fish are made up of patterns and quilting is all about patterns.
The two are a perfect pairing for design.

Warner Grand Theater, San Pedro, CA
Grand Chair Affair
Chair created for Silent Auction, entitle "Ode to Korean Bell"

Click here to see chair

2006-10-18T09:10:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Ellen's world of creativity. This is where my left and right brains come together.
I am a mixed media and collage artist. My art revolves around putting pieces together. Whether it be collage, mosaics, fabric art or mixed media, I take images from disparate places and put them together to form a new images.
My inspiration comes from my family, my heritage, life experiences, the world that I am a part of and, not a part of.

A long time ago, back in art school, I went out on a limb and interpreted an assignment in an out of the box way. Batik, embroidery, photography and calligraphy woven together to embellish Robinson Jeffers poetry of Big Sur.

Malaga Cove Plaza, in Palos Verdes, CA, is a beautiful place straight out of Bologna, Italy. Built in the 1920's, the brick and bougainvilleas make it timeless. So much beauty all around me. Snap some photos, morph it into line art. Examine the beauty and share it.

Wall hanging depicting Moro Rock from Los Osos, CA.