Ai Se Eu Te Pego

Our recent trip to Playa del Carmen went as planned: debauchery, tomfoolery, a crazy good time. This is the second detsination wedding I've attended in as many years, and I'm lovin' em! I partied with some old friends and met some new (international) ones. Jania and I did not return without an abundance of pictures. I'm talking a whole sloppy mess of digital memories that we had to sort through. I complied a video preview slideshow montage of some of the best. And however crude the video may be, I believe it wholly captures the essence of our trip and it really gives those who weren't there a pretty good idea of what they missed!

Shreddin' da Gnar at Coon Goon

This past weekend almost felt like a social experiment. The ingredients: friends, acquaintances, strangers, immeasurable amounts of alcohol, and junk food. The setting: a charming lake cabin surrounded by snow. The result: equal parts epic and legendary. The strangers became acquaintances. Acquaintances became friends. Friends became balls-out butt-buddies. Sneaky (and not-so-sneaky) ninjas picked locks using plastic forks. A drunk girl was stacked on a coffee table that was stacked on a passed-out drunk dude. Naked ninja rolls and baseballs slides were performed in the snow.

A cave of wonders (the wonders being two nipples and chest hair). Christmas ornament earrings for men. Tattoos. Creeps. Pickles. 'Qream with a Q with Q.' Solo Cup Shoes. Blue Moon Boots. Tickle wars. Chicken nugget meatball pizzas. Dat shit cray.

This all happened because four lovely girls decided to be born around the same time. Cheers and happy birthday to Sooryun, Soojin, Val, and Tara. What a splendid way to jumpstart 2012.

Welcoming 2012 In Atlantic City

Gamble. Eat. Gamble. Sleep (at 5am). Rinse and repeat. Sprinkle some shopping, drinking, and partying and that pretty much sums up our NYE weekend in AC. We stayed at Wyndham Skyline Towers for 3 nights, and pinballed between Trump Plaza, Borgata, Caesars, etc. We spent the last moments of 2011 at the Chelsea, where we witnessed the early stages of a riot, several scrappy catfights, and plenty of inappropriately-dressed partiers. I happened to get out of 2011 a winner on the craps table, but I hastily gave it all back (plus some) on January 1, 2012. That being said, 2012 can only get better!

Christmas Eve

It was just another Christmas Eve Party at the Fadul household. I put my new flash umbrella to work, along with my Minolta 3600HS and Sigma EF-500DG Super flashes. Still trying new strobe tactics, but I'm generally pleased with how the photos came out (and equally displeased with how many times my exposure settings were off due to user error)! Merry Christmas everyone!

 

Chicago: Trip #1

I called this album 'Trip #1' because I liked the city so much that I plan to visit again. Marco was a great host for giving me a place to stay and showing me around the city. I squeezed in quality time with friendly faces (Doug, Charlie, Bonnie, Min) during my brief weekend there. Here's the gallery.

 

Friends Visit Harrisonburg

Johann, Christine, and John visited Harrisonburg for a very chill weekend. Thanks guys (and Tammy) for being great models and photography subjects!

Christmas Snowfun

Christmas week with the family.The kids are always good photo subjects and the snow in the background provides some artistic negative space.

Pics continued here.

Criose: Baja Mexico

These pics are highlights from our cruise on the Roycal Caribbean Mariner of the Seas cruise ship, with ports of call in Cabo, Mazatlan, and Puerto Vallarta (leaving from LA). Check out other pics from this vacation here.