FIELD NOTE // FN-008 | LOCATION: OAKLAND | DATE: 2025-11-23
Seasonal Scratchpad 🍂
This is the first time the hero image on this site has changed since launch.
Every autumn, I scout "The Town" for the best fall color I can find. It’s a ritual. I carry a mental scratchpad of previous years—mostly a catalog of regrets. Bad composition, lighting that fell flat, or just... D) All of the above.
I wasn't sure about this year. To be honest, the first few sessions were a wash. I wasn't vibing with the season. The frames felt like empty shells; nothing was hitting right.
And then, the Lake delivered.
This moment presented itself with a peaceful confidence. A long wait under a colorful canopy, the sun perfectly backlighting her hair, and that specific, vibrant palette that only happens here for a few weeks. The three trees in the background texture the shot, burning like torches set alight.
The best moments in Oakland are when everyone gets to be themselves. The style, the mood—it’s unique, but it’s authentically Oakland.
This is the seasonal shift. This is the bar.
