obsessive sailor and photo-taker

in march 2009 my photography was profiled on KQED's science & nature program Quest -- please click here to view the 2-minute clip.
i'm happy to sell prints of my work -- please send me a flickrmail or check out my new website
Photos of lawatt (12)
lawatt's favorite photos from other Flickr members (7,837)
Contacts (385)
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moominsean
No real name given
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jrlarimer
Jim Larimer
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Kat White
Katherine White
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recurrentdream
Christopher Bedolla
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sara + h
No real name given
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dreamscapesxx
Kristin
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mrkvm
Mark von Minden
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boxofcobras
Missy Prince
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caballosblancos
No real name given
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lost in pixels
Balazs Sprenc
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aphra.
No real name given
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rob_fuel
rob
Groups (50)
- Snapfish 7 photos, 113 members
- Polaroid Goop 695 photos, 369 members
- Polanoiders (NO FAKE POLAROIDS) 20854 photos, 1292 members
- The Road Block 16 photos, 11 members
- Drakes Bay Oyster 16 photos, 6 members
- 'Roid Week 2010 0 photos, 133 members
- Diana+ & Diana F+ 33523 photos, 4932 members
- Wine-geek musings 13008 photos, 2778 members
- ¡Mi Propio Buda Personal! 2844 photos, 331 members
- Polaroid -COLOR- (Instant Peel Apart film only) 8456 photos, 1205 members
- Holgagraphy 115861 photos, 10587 members
- haunted by waters 264 photos, 81 members
- Medium Format (Moderated) 210 photos, 38 members
- alternative photography process 4377 photos, 655 members
- Gum Bichromate 469 photos, 90 members
- Deserted Landscapes 815 photos, 206 members
- Ford Country Day School 10 photos, 15 members
- Fujifilm INSTANT - (Peel Apart Film Only) 3864 photos, 641 members
- Tintypes, ambrotypes, Wet-plate Collodion photographs 2494 photos, 614 members
- Don't forget to take the lens cap off - A group for Holga users 45061 photos, 3330 members
- c'est n'importe quoi 327 photos, 181 members
- ◄◄ Rewind: Retro and Vintage Love 9028 photos, 1158 members
- Redscale Film 8298 photos, 1302 members
- marinij 581 photos, 60 members
- alternative processes printing 3846 photos, 1563 members
- Marin Magazine 161 photos, 27 members
- The cat who turned on and off (invite only) 2362 photos, 239 members
- SX-70 10097 photos, 698 members
- The American West-on film 927 photos, 40 members
- I ♥ SX-70 12072 photos, 777 members
- Polaroid Artistic TZ 2593 photos, 465 members
- Polaroid SX 70 52978 photos, 5057 members
- Sonoma State University 259 photos, 31 members
- Aut - Aut 36012 photos, 1024 members
- Art of Landscape 4990 photos, 7458 members
- ~ the world of trees ~ 1829 photos, 296 members
- Film Forward! 8542 photos, 273 members
- focusschmocus 4058 photos, 913 members
- Boats on Film 306 photos, 65 members
- PolaPremium 9049 photos, 964 members
- Pale and Interesting 1515 photos, 183 members
- ~ t h e p o t t i n g s h e d ~ 1581 photos, 182 members
- Holga Palm Trees 210 photos, 72 members
- Six Million Years of Tinkering 18877 photos, 2057 members
- - la photographie modeste - 3752 photos, 223 members
- Polaroid Land Camera 22111 photos, 2307 members
- Classic Pack Film Polaroids 4151 photos, 411 members
- Maximal 294 photos, 128 members
- 'Roid Week 2009 6154 photos, 1596 members
- Kodak Portra Lovers 6683 photos, 589 members
Testimonials (24)
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Tampen says:
"The long list of testimonials here provide evidence enough of Laura's special photographic skills, and her ability to take pictures that really make an emotional connection with viewers. She's one of those rare Flickr photographers who over the past few years has successfully developed a distinctive style - something that I suspect many of us aspire to, and which many of us soon realise how hard that can be. That she's also a clever and effective group administrator - and a completely delightful shooting companion - makes her one of Flickr's treasures."
1st February, 2009
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puja says:
"doesn't matter what is going on
lawatt is capturing it better than most"7th August, 2008
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crack jackson jr says:
"as fresh and inspiring as a cool breeze.. laura is one of nature's wonders.."
6th June, 2008
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zenog says:
"she brings the music of swirly waves to each one of her shots with softness simplicity and extremely beauty... it makes me really feel enchanted !
thanks Laura dear : *"25th January, 2008
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JordiGual says:
"The incredible work of an artist in search of its world.
It fascinates to me, transmits those images to me that transport to you.
I am happy of haberte well-known shooting images of our interior.
Thanks...lawatt..!!"23rd January, 2008
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This is the sea says:
"I hadn't been on Flickr long before finding lawatt's photostream. Running though her work there is a warmth and sensitivity in handling even the meanest of materials. Photographers are like their cameras, the best stuff is on the inside. Lawatt is among the best."
16th December, 2007
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vrai the dotty prof. says:
"Laura finds these little nooks and crannies of nature that are so elegant in their simplicity yet so rich and oft overlooked. Her eye for detail is nearly as striking as her embrace of life. Laura is the very essence of photography: life captured."
2nd October, 2007
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* cate * says:
"she's the princess of the swirly-curlies, and i'm lucky enough to call her my friend and fellow film junkie."
24th May, 2007
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SteveFE says:
"Why haven't I done this before? I don't know. I've been aware of Laura's work ever since I first found flickr, and she's one of the reasons I stay around. While there are many people who do one thing well, and many who do lots of things well, there are not so many whose pics you can recognise immediately almost every time. Laura's one of those. Her Bay Area sailing shots often contain boats, and beautifully dynamic racing shots they usually are, but the real star is always the sea. Her macros have an instantly recognisable quality as well, with the trademark twirls and tendrils of small green things reaching for the light.
She is also the most generous collector and appreciator of other people's work I've yet encountered. Her sets of favourites are a constant delight, and have led me into appreciating many people I'd otherwise know little or nothing about."10th December, 2006
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grebo guru says:
"This is long overdue. Laura is one of people who made Flickr feel like a real family to me. Even though I can't relate to her sea-faring lifestyle, I have to acknowledge her passion for it as well as her prowess in capturing it for the rest of us to enjoy vicariously.
But more than that, Laura insists on reaching out and including us all with her praise of our efforts as well. Flickr is a better world thanks to Laura!"16th October, 2006
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kodama (home) says:
"One of my major regrets in taking off on my trip is not having gone shooting with Lawatt. In person from SFlickr and through HurleyGurley and her friendship, she is warm, quirky, generous, and basically a nice person, into photography for the best reasons.
Her portfolio artistically speaks for itself, and I don't feel qualified to judge, but her water, billowing sails and simple natural shapes are simply superb and among the best."13th August, 2006
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oooh caro says:
"Some languages translate Laura into Water, and some others into Swirls. many languages give the meaning : sensitivity...
oh damn. my poor english just to say how much i love your work Laura."23rd June, 2006
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Kevin Day says:
"I have been a member of the Flickr community for almost a year now and in that time I have made friends and contacts from all around the world. If I was made to remove my contacts one by one without a doubt Laura would be one of the last to go. Her photographs, like her personality, are simply beautiful.
If you are ever stressed-out or up-tight, dip your toes into the stream of relaxing grace and calm captured by her eye and let the waves of natural wonder wash your cares and woes away - then go and do 20 press-ups;)
(Well it was getting a bit soppy wasn't it)"29th April, 2006
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vimanaboy says:
"who'd have thought tom waits and an old suburu would lead to all this?? ;) laura is a sweet heart, warm, a patient teacher of sailoring, and godDAMN has she turned into an awesome photographer!"
6th April, 2006
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Today is a good day says:
"Laura is a wonderfully warm and beautiful person – and I’m very glad to have met her through flickr.
Her personality shines through her photography, effortlessly capturing the essence or heart of an image, whether the subtle beauties of nature, the elusive might of the seas and oceans, the fun and adrenalin of yacht racing.
Laura has a remarkable ability to “see”, so often making unique and insightful comments….and her collections of favortites are worthy of a gallery exhibition in their own right.
Thanks Laura – you’re one in a million."14th February, 2006
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mcshots says:
"this lady has an intuition about photography...claims to be a "hobbiest" but i don't buy it!...
an avid sailor...definitely a beach person...very sweet and much fun to hang out with....
i feel very fortunate to have met her
and had the pleasure of going on photo safari with her!
check out the photostream as there is truly an overabundance of real gems!!"10th February, 2006
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studiozoe says:
"If you didn’t already know it, a quick visit to Laura’s stream will give you a crash course reminder of the beauty, power and graceful fury of water. From the breaking waves and elegant swirls to the still calms among the storms, Laura’s ability to express her passion for the aquatic and to bring you into her world is at once breathtaking and inspiring.
Laura also shows us fine details that border on the abstract and landscapes which push the limits of minimalism. Through her photography one gets the feeling that beauty is indeed everywhere, if we would only just look for it."5th January, 2006
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First Contact says:
"Laura has a super-gene.
This special gene has enabled her to do some amazing things in her life. For example, she has literally climbed mountains while sitting in a giant backpack!
It's definitely responsible for her adventurer's spirit...which brings us to her sailing photos. Visit her photostream and she'll take you into her world of challenges, captured adrenaline, majestic sails, sea cucumber smiles and the ELEMENTS. The latter would automatically give the couch potato viewer a craving for the wind swept look and a sudden liking of the weather report.
Most astonishing is that she manages all this with a few, but very significant, curves and twirls."1st November, 2005
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dooda says:
"Lawatt has successfully eliminated any desire to take pictures from a boat of the sea, beacuse I simply can't hope of taking a better one. Her colour palette seems to never want. I love strolling through."
9th September, 2005
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foxglove says:
"Laura is particularly special to me on Flickr: she has a personal warmth and a vibrance that is so strong that it shines through her photos and also through her comments to my own and the photos of others.
Laura's pictures have an energy and often they capture an atmosphere that exceeds the present. There is a flow and balance, yacht racing will flow into images (often with mystical and magical qualities) of light and water; extend out to the sky and fly back to something humourous and close to her heart: There is a natural effortless grace to them all.
An ambition will always be to meet-up: (this is the one year or so in the last 5 years where I have been unable to get to Ca./Az./ damn!) and stand on the deck of Mouette and discover if I have the grit to be a pirate ...."28th August, 2005
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bruce grant says:
"When I think of Laura, I think of the Sufi symbol -- a heart with wings. Laura's heart is so evident in everything she photographs, and it ascends so high...taking us with her. Many artists labor for years without ever achieving such emotional authenticity and grace. Her work delights me, and her friendship is a treasure."
12th August, 2005
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soleá says:
"When i miss the sea too much i just visit Laura's photostream because i am sure i will find fotos of the sea there. Beautifully captured waves when she is acting on her biggest passion sailing. We suspect that she has been a mermaid in a past life.. or a pirate! Nowadays she is a very talented photographer for sure!"
13th July, 2005
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lightpainter says:
"Laura is a visual poet. She has the rare gift of finding beauty in everything - and I mean everything - from water droplets on a dock to the subtle ripples in a boat's wake, from sunsets to salt factories. Her images are always a delight. I had the good fortune to meet her this past winter and she is as special a person as she is an artist. I'm proud to call her a friend."
10th May, 2005
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Fodd says:
"When I think of lawatt [Laura] I think of the sea ...
beautiful seascapes,
breathtaking skies,
powerful photos.
Then she throws in some stunning landscapes for good measure ...
Laura's page is a place I come to unwind and relax at the end of the day, to learn something I didn't know before, and to see a beautiful world.
Who could ask for more than that?"28th April, 2005























