Dani Brubaker Photographer + Director: 2009

High Flying Bird

You wore a little cross of gold around your neck
I saw it as you flew between my reason
Like a raven in the night time when you left
I wear a chain upon my wrist that bears no name
You touched it and you wore it
And you kept it in your pillow all the sameMy high-flying bird has flown from out my arms
I thought myself her keeper
She thought I meant her harm
She thought I was the archer
A weather man of words
But I could never shoot down
My high-flying birdThe white walls of your dressing room are stained in scarlet red
You bled upon the cold stone like a young man
In the foreign field of death
Wouldn't it be wonderful is all I heard you say
You never closed your eyes at night and learned to love daylight
Instead you moved away

It's been raining for what seems like forever in LA. The first couple of days were lovely, but now...well.. I'm over it.

I'm really missing my friends and family in France and need to get back soon. Scotty.. Beam me up.

1. Rise with the sun to pray. Pray alone. Pray often. The Great Spirit will listen, if you only speak.

2. Be tolerant of those who are lost on their path. Ignorance, conceit, anger, jealousy and greed stem from a lost soul. Pray that they will find guidance.

3. Search for yourself, by yourself. Do not allow others to make your path for you. It is your road, and yours alone. Others may walk it with you, but no one can walk it for you.

4. Treat the guests in your home with much consideration. Serve them the best food, give them the best bed and treat them with respect and honor.

5. Do not take what is not yours whether from a person, a community, the wilderness or from a culture. It was not earned nor given. It is not yours.

6. Respect all things that are placed upon this earth - whether it be people or plant.

7. Honor other people's thoughts, wishes and words. Never interrupt another or mock or rudely mimic them. Allow each person the right to personal expression.

8. Never speak of others in a bad way. The negative energy that you put out into the universe will multiply when it returns to you.

9. All persons make mistakes. And all mistakes can be forgiven.

10. Bad thoughts cause illness of the mind, body and spirit. Practice optimism.

11. Nature is not FOR us, it is a PART of us. They are part of your worldly family.

12. Children are the seeds of our future. Plant love in their hearts and water them with wisdom and life's lessons. When they are grown, give them space to grow.

13. Avoid hurting the hearts of others. The poison of your pain will return to you.

14. Be truthful at all times. Honesty is the test of ones will within this universe.

15. Keep yourself balanced. Your Mental self, Spiritual self, Emotional self, and Physical self - all need to be strong, pure and healthy. Work out the body to strengthen the mind. Grow rich in spirit to cure emotional ails.

16. Make conscious decisions as to who you will be and how you will react. Be responsible for your own actions.

17. Respect the privacy and personal space of others. Do not touch the personal property of others - especially sacred and religious objects. This is forbidden.

18. Be true to yourself first. You cannot nurture and help others if you cannot nurture and help yourself first.

19. Respect others religious beliefs. Do not force your belief on others.

20. Share your good fortune with others. Participate in charity.

Check out little Kendra. I met her while shooting H&M and she's one of a kind.

High Flying Bird

I had originally planned this shoot to be about siblings. How funny things change when you make plans. After viewing all the footage I realized that it was more about Puppy Love.

Here's a few of the stills from my recent shoot.

Just now coming up for air before diving in again next week. I just have to put out to the universe how grateful I am for my rich full life. I am so blessed to be able to do what I love for work.

I just recently wrapped the shoot for H&M. Be sure to check it out as I shot a spot for them as well. I've definitely been bitten by the film bug.

Can't wait until it hits.

Remember when I shot Kimora and the girl back in January of this year? Well... I knew then and there that Ming had an interest in photography. So.. check it out. I recently shot the Spring Summer campaign for Baby Phat Girlz and this is a little behind the scenes action in OK! Should give you an idea of the campaign. Can't wait until it hits.

I can't tell you how much I adore this family. Kimora is a rockin mom!

Shooting the H&M Spring/Summer 2010 campaign. Tons of great kids and the stuff is coming out AMAZING!

I did a shoot for Lunchbox Magazine yesterday featuring Boo Boo Stewart. I also had the opportunity to shoot Fivel as well. What cool kids.

Be sure to check out Lunchbox for the November issue. Got some great stuff of them both!

Here's some stuff I shot today with Sarah Clary styling.

So I'm sitting in what has quickly become my favorite place for breakfast and I see these kids. The little girl was hilarious. She was making her brother pose for her. How smart is she to already know what she wants to do with her life. She directed him very well and even got a little pissed when he didn't perform as directed.

Rule of thumb... always carry your camera wherever you go. I use the Canon G10 when I don't want to carry around my huge beast.

I've been in Paris for the last few days and have been amazed at how the French are so different with children and elders than we are in the states. It's so hard to put into words, but it's different. I know for a fact that I don't want to be old living in Los Angeles. It's so sad, but you don't really see old people in LA. It's as if they have them under lock and key somewhere and if they are seen it would tarnish the reputation of LA. So very sad. Children.. well what I've witnessed in Paris are kids running, playing and laughing OUTSIDE! Unheard of in the states or at least where I've been. Kids are so jaded these days and sit in front of the TV. Another thing.. so very sad.

I find that I haven't been "naughty" in quite some time. I'm in the process of building my commercial reel. I put the kids in a small room and didn't direct them one bit. We basically put them in the room and shut the door and left them in there for almost 3 minutes each. It was so intriguing to watch how they handled themselves. I find myself watching it over and over again.

Enjoy.

I wish there was a category "exhausted" because that's exactly what I feel right now. Jesus! I did a 5 mile hike up to Duck Lake in Mammoth with an elevation of 11000 feet. Yep, I'm nuts.. I also decided to carry my 8 pound camera up the entire time. Pure insanity. All and all I am way impressed that I actually pulled this one off.

I'm up in Mammoth this weekend for a little R&R. Check out this ghost town I visited today called Bodie. Pretty incredible.

Wow.. the last two days has made my head spin a bit. I've been shooting like a mad woman these days. I have a new little thing that I've been working on and will share as soon as I feel like its there. You can definitely say that I've been bitten by a bug on this one. Can't stop thinking about it.. Part of the master plan is shooting over 40 kids this Sunday in a studio. Stop and think about this one.. 40 kids + 1 parent each. That's 80 people in a space. Yikes!

I love this kind of stuff! Let the fun begin!

I'm heading to Europe soon to shoot my little Thylane. This time I'm going alone. My plan is to head to Milan, Paris, St. Tropez and have my base in Villefranche. My home away from home. There's something about that place that I can't put into words.. so I will go and bring you back photos.