What’s Inspiring me….
Music
Last night a few of us headed down to Southgate House to see The Civil Wars play. After some Starbuck’s and a walk down by the river,
we headed in and were able to catch Madi Diaz before The Civil Wars came on. I actually brought my “real” camera this time, with only my 50mm 1.4 lens, but I realized during The Civil Wars that my lovely friend Emma shoots Canon too, and… she happened to be there, so she let me play with a couple of her lenses (Thanks Emma!) But there’s a fine line between having my face stuck to a camera all night, and allowing myself to enjoy the music- and I’m there to listen to the music… so I only shot, maybe 100 or so photos… (don’t judge, that’s not very many for me)
Madi Diaz:
Eat.Drink&Be Merry: Part II, The Party
Wedding: Michelle and Justin Part I
“Time together isn’t ever quite enough
When you and I are alone, I’ve never felt so at home
What will it take to make or break this hint of love?
We need time, only time”
-Owl City, ‘The Saltwater Room’
Congratulations again to Michelle and Justin- Their wedding was a beautiful country wedding, full of a lovely bridal party, sunshine, and pretty smiles.
Question?
I get random questions on the blog occasionally, so I set up one of those formspring accounts- if you have a question for me, let me know and I’ll do my best to answer it! Photography stuff, fun stuff, whatever. Ask here. Ask away.
Blast from the Past Pt II
Here’s the second blast of old photos. These are from 2003 when I traveled to Guatemala for the 2nd time. This year as a leader instead of a student, which was scary and fun at the same time. I had a group of girls that I was responsible for, but that was pretty easy as they were all amazing girls and we had a great time together sharing hotel rooms/devotions/crazy antics. These trips out of the country to serve had an amazing impact on my life and have left a definite mark on my heart… I’m praying about the opportunity to do more missions work in the semi-close future.(p.s., all these photos are shot with film… this was before I had gone digital… and I think this is where my love for photography started to develop)
one of my favorite photos ever. We had training for a weekend before we left for the trip, and it was long and exhausting… everyone snuck naps wherever/whenever possible.
God’s beauty… seriously… there aren’t words.
We took boats on a river to see the Pacific Ocean… the sand at the beach was black from the volcanoes, but it was soft as white sand, and even more beautiful in my opinion.
This was my second time at Tikal… that bottom photo is a shot of the scene that’s in one of the Star Wars movies… so, that’s pretty cool if you like Star Wars (I do) I had to climb about a million-bajillion rickety stairs to get there and it was seriously one of the scariest things I have ever done. But I did it, and it was worth it. (I am deathly afraid of heights.)
proof I actually made it to the top
They were imitating the part on “The Emporer’s New Groove” where Kronk makes his own sound-effects/soundtrack. I know you know what I’m talking about. (if you don’t, you should! TENG is a hilarious movie!)
Me, some giant palm leaves, and Capitan the ginormous dalmation on the ranch.
Drinking some refreshing Nectar on the bus
Me resting in a hammock, and then me and some of the girls at a school we visited.
Blast from the Past
So, I’m sick today, and I’ve been meaning to look through some of my old photos from back in the day… when digital photography wasn’t as prevalent and I didn’t upload everything immediately to my flickr. Its hilarious/scary/entertaining to go back and see how I’ve changed in the photos (as well as some of the friends who are in them!) without further ado… here’s some OLDIES:
Yeah. That’s me and my brother with members from Skillet. I feel like this was on their ‘Ardent Worship’ tour… but I saw them more than several times (eep!) so I can’t say for sure. Weird to think they’re still around and fairly popular. I haven’t listened to them really since ‘Alien Youth’ (of which, I was not a fan)
These photos are not related… the ones on the left are from a year at summer camp with my youth group, I’m guessing I’m about 16 or 17. Me and Megan (the girl in the top photo & bottom photo with me) are still friends and I had the honor of shooting her wedding last year!
And yes. I have no hair. It was actually a TON of fun having short hair… but, I sort of looked like a boy if I didn’t put make-up on. Not really a fan of that… and I’m too lazy to always apply make-up, so it probably won’t ever happen again…The photo on the right is taken the first time I left the country, and on the first missions trip I ever was part of… those were our armed guards. Yep.
These are just randoms from different years… the top photo is a group of us and our wonderful friends Josh&Sabrina who were moving away that year….and the second photo are three of my best friends from highschool/early college years: Megan, Becca & Nathan
Then was the year at summer camp everyone dyed their hair black. (seriously though, I was the first… just sayin.)….
Here is my sister the year SHE chopped all her hair off… and me at the height of my ‘emo’ years. I even had on a home-made t-shirt that had melancholy Death Cab for Cutie lyrics ironed on.
This was also my first year as a ‘leader’ at summer camp instead of a student…. seriously, way more fun as I didn’t have to participate in the mandatory sports competitions! (I was a “score-keeper” which meant I jotted down numbers at the end of games and had time to snap lots of photos)
There I am, hard at work. And yes. I am wearing a jacket in July on the sports field. It mystified many. But I didn’t get sunburnt, so, whatever… next up, photos from my second missions trip to Guatemala in 2003
“Tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet”
I’m re-reading L.M. Montgomery’s Anne books… they’re marvelous. Beautiful, charming, wholesome, funny, romantic… I wish 12 year old girls would be obsessed with Anne Shirley rather than Bella Swan and the Twilight books.
I think if I could be any fictional character, I would be Anne Shirley.
“it is sometimes a little lonely to be surrounded everywhere by a happiness that is not your own.“- from ‘Anne of the Island’ (my favorite Anne book.) And I wholeheartedly agree with Anne….
Surprise…
So, Saturday night was supposed to be a ‘girls night’ with a couple of my girlfriends… we were going to have dinner at my sister-in-law’s house then go see a movie. Imagine my shock when I went to let the dog out of his cage in the basement and a loud chorus of SURPRISE! rings out as the lights are flipped on. Seriously, I had no clue… I have an awesome sister (it was her idea) and some pretty awesome friends….(almost all these photos are stolen from my little sister’s facebook.)
Cupcakes! (Fun-fetti ones… yum!)
I blew out all but ONE candle… such is life. I didn’t make any wishes anyhow.
good friends and fun balloons….
And since I was the birthday girl, I got to try out the zebra Snuggie…. and then my roomie got her turn. I think we may have to get one to use at the apartment now…. We look good in zebra.
Seriously folks, my friends and family are amazing.
I’m thankful on a daily basis for each and everyone of you.
p.s., I’m part of a feature over on Kara’s blog….!! Check it out, so much fun: Fashion faux-pas! (Kara’s super inspiring and talented, I follow her blog on a regular basis.)
Sunday Pt. II
Sisters, junk food, cameras, Arrested Development, runs to the grocery store for water in case of more snow, a (semi) clean bedroom… its the small things in life that I appreciate.
(even if my youngest sister can’t seem to put her dishes in the dishwasher.)
p.s.- here’s a link about St. Valentine, since, you know, it’s Valentine’s Day and all.
Sunday
the day started off with some reading of “Through Painted Deserts” by Donald Miller in the Apex Cafe, then I attempted an interview for a ministry I’m involved in at Apex… came back to the quiet apartment and sat down, determined to write my article while everything was fresh in my mind (I don’t have a lot of confidence in the haphazard notes I jotted down!) I was distracted by twitter, new photo blogs, and a heart I found floating in my hot chocolate… but I think I got my rough draft finished.
Tonight, the sisters and I will probably watched ‘Once’, as that is our Valentine’s Day tradition…
I’m dying (aching?) for winter to be over. I feel the need to shoot photos without my fingers freezing, or my nose running…
“Not in Lone Splendour Hung…”
“Bright star, would I were stedfast as thou art…
Not in lone splendour hung aloft the night
And watching, with eternal lids apart…”- John Keats “Bright Star”
Featured: Emily O Photography…
I did a photoshoot/product shoot last year for this talented lady and her fantastic goods that she hand makes and sells on her Etsy… and she has some of the photos up on her Etsy (which is exciting for me!)
(just look for the little product squares that contain photos of my sisters…. those are mine!)
Plus, another photo was featured on The Vintage, where the blurb is about SoftSpoken (and rightly so!) but the styling/feel of the photograph is mentioned…! So, again, definitely awesome for me.
Seriously, I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again, Rachael’s products are amazing, gorgeous and all handmade…
…and I have a few that I might have to mention to my family for my upcoming birthday…
Sunday Randoms.
I’ve been really bad at upkeeping the blog lately… sorry.
I’ve had a few people ask me to do another post with blogs that I read (! Its so exciting that people actually read this and request things! Seriously- made my day) so I thought I’d put a few links on here of blogs that I frequent, and try to make them ones I haven’t posted yet….
This girl’s photography is stunning- Kassia Meinholdt (she has a gorgeous a shot inspired by the movie ‘Eternal Sunshine’ so, that makes her pretty much awesome in my book)
A fun blog I read, full of inspiration, vintage things and pretty photos: Bluebird Vintage
Dreamy photos and inspiration can be found on DayDreamLily
…for interior decor inspiration (plus all sorts of lovely photos/Etsy finds and pretty things) check out the Decor8 Blog (I’ve probably posted that one before, but I can’t help it!)
…finally…who can pass People of Walmart up? Not me. Oh. My. Goodness. It hurts- oh, it hurts!
So, there’s a few of those for now. I have so many more that I read/frequent. I’m sort of a blog addict. Facebook? Boring. Twitter, eh, whatevs, (I’m not a very good social net-worker) but blogs? Blogs, I adore. And gobble up. I find new ones every week that I fall in love with, there’s so much talent and inspiration available online…. its a bit overwhelming at times.
and…. just in case you were wondering, I HAVE been listening to some music lately… revisiting Sixpence None the Richer ‘Divine Discontent’… such a good album…and so very nostalgic for me… good nostalgic. Plus I decided to check out Leigh Nash’s “Blue on Blue” and I love it as well.
I decided to download Landon Pigg’s newest album after watching the movie ‘Whip It’, and I think I like it…. jury’s still out… but I’m leaning towards a positive view. Nothing earth shatteringly amazing about it, but its nice, and sometimes, its nice to sit back and listen to something that’s just… mellow and pleasant.
I’m also trying out The Hold Steady. The first time I put their album in to listen, I was like, ‘blech!’ But my tastes have changed a lot since then, so I’m giving them another try… and my first thought wasn’t ‘blech’ this time, more like…. hmmm…maybe?
….I’m sure most people have watched this already… but I found it so fun, and the song is super catchy (I wish I had gone to school just so I could have been in band. I would have been a total band geek, and proud of it.) Ok Go, This Too Shall Pass
And because posts are boring without photos… here’s one of me looking incredibly pale (I could probably star as a vampire in Twilight) and with very bright red hair. If I kept the hair red till next October… I’d dress up as Ariel for Halloween- I totally could do the Disney Princess thing with this hair.
Just a couple more…
Here’s just a few more shots from the wedding I shot last weekend… I will do a proper post soon, I promise, with details and more words. Pinkie-swear.
A lot of these photos are going to be a lot more dramatic than how I usually process… but I thought it fit with the mood. Now I’m off to rent ‘Bright Star’ if I can find it at a RedBox….
Wedding Preview: Cali&Peter
One of the amazing shots I was able to get this past Saturday at Cali & Peter’s wedding in Cleveland. Gorgeous venue, a wonderful couple and a bridal party full of personality (not to mention tons of energy for dancing at the reception). More to come soon!
Oh hey, its me. Again. All over the place and stuff.
Winter is so blah. That’s why I have nothing to post but goofy photos of me taken with Photobooth. So, I’m already working on my list from the previous post… #15 was ‘wear red lipstick’… this means wear it out of the house. In real life. Which, I did today. All day. At work.
I’m working on other things too, but I can’t really take a picture of those… I don’t think…
So, I have a wedding this weekend in Cleveland that I’m super excited for, it’s going to be held at The Old Courthouse… I’m excited for such a neat venue with artchitectual details and character. (and… super excited to shoot Peter and Cali saying “I do”!)
Me and the Über fabulous Kate are heading up to Cleveland Friday, we’ll celebrate her upcoming birthday,because she’s amazing and Über. (did I mentioned that already?) shoot the amazing nuptials Saturday, then maybe hang out in Cleveland for a while Sunday morning (what does Cleveland have to offer? Anyone?)
Also super excited because I rented a tilt-shift lens for the wedding… stoked to mess around with it and try shooting some fun stuff, I’ve never used one before… I’m always up for trying new things.
I just purchased the new Vampire Weekend album the other day… and I have to say, I avoided them for a while because of all the hype (Kind of like with M.I.A., I didn’t listen to her till this past year) but I listened to ‘Horachata’ and kind of liked the weirdness… so I’m giving them a listen.
I’m also listening to ‘Dark Was the Night: A Red Hot Compilation’ for the first time. I’ve had it a long time, but just remembered. (oops?) Bon Iver, Blonde Redhead, Feist&Ben Gibbard, Iron&Wine, Sufjan….um, how did I forget about this?
Also loving, Passion Pit “Cuddle Fuddle” (what!?) Kate Walsh “Your Song”, Weezer “If You’re Wondering” and Eisley “Ambulance”. What are you people out there on the internets listening to?
(p.s., I hear Copeland is coming to Akron for a stop on their farewell tour… I am so there)
25 for 25
***edited to add that this list is for this COMING year… not for what I’m going to try and cram in before my birthday in February… gosh. Don’t hold me to all this. I am not Wonder Woman. (though I do have a crown of stars)****
So, I made a list for things I was going to try and do from like, October till February when I turned 25… I kind of scrapped most of them, because 1. it was too little time to accomplish them/especially in the winter months, and 2. my heart has been turned toward some different things…. (which the new list will reflect!) So… working on the new list. I have it pretty much figured out… so here’s what I have so far:
1. Read some quality books, and some just-for-fun ones. Here’s a tentative list.
2. To make my internet interactions of as much substance and quality as possible. (not to say I can’t be silly occasionally, but to be careful and intentional with what I can. Its so easy to be negative or flippant on Twitter, Facebook ect… and I don’t want to fall into that.)
3. To try and serve with a pure heart in the ministries which God has allowed me to be involved in. I want to be constantly aware of the real reasons why I serve and not to lose sight of God in those ministries, and my involvement there.
4. To find someone to mentor me
5. To find someone to mentor/disciple/pour into in any way God would have me
6. Print and frame some of my photos for myself/my apartment
7. Develop a style board for each changing season
8. Travel to Seattle and maybe Portland
9. 12. Take at least one day (if not a weekend) each season to spend with just me and God. Time to write, to journal, read the word and get away from everyday life. A one person road-trip…
10. Purchase a piano. As long as it has 88 weighted keys and can play without being plugged into an amp. (anyone want to help me carry it upstairs? Yeah, I have a feeling its going to be electric.)
11. Shoot with film. Excited about this & I’m getting a Holga this week if my sister remembers to pick it up
12. Give up sugar for a month (I don’t know if I can do this… but I’ll try. I did manage 3 months without soda)
13. Start sketching and drawing again
14. Try Yoga
15. Wear red lipstick
16. Work on my home/interior folder-file
17. Photograph people just for fun. I have a few things I want to accomplish this year, if anyone is interested in helping me out/knows someone who would fit the description, let me know and we’ll work something out!! (free photos for a collaboration, maybe?) These are some of my goals:
a. I would like to find a super creative/stylish couple who would like to do a creative/conceptual photo shoot… creative outfits, creative locations, props, whatever. I’m up for pretty much anything, but I want the couple to be creative and into collaborating with me.
b. Guys. I need some males who are comfortable in front of the camera who want to be photographed…. musicians, artists, just regular guys. Whatever
c. some creative, stylish ladies who’d like to collaborate on some creative shoots. I have a few ideas, but I’d love to have some girls who have some of their own creative vision for a shoot
18. To travel outside of the country on a trip that focuses on missions and serving- and photograph the trip. (extremely excited about this one and some possibilities that could be in the works!)
…. and the rest of my list is personal, so I’m not going to share it here in a public forum. But the rest of these, if anyone has any suggestions or ideas, let me know!
Inspiration Friday Vol IV
Just a few blogs that I frequent that are sources of constant inspiration (and if I’m being perfectly honest, a little jealousy/talent envy)
Wedding related (I feel like almost all I do is look at wedding photography/wedding idea blogs… they’re addictive, and contain super inspiration for my photography… WARNING: every now and then you have to take a break though… they can make a single girl feel lonely even if she’s nowhere near being ready to be married!)
(photo via snippet&ink)
Inspiration boards done by color and theme, with links to various photographers and vendors… pretty! I’ve found a lot of photographers who’s work I admire through this site! I love the “Real Wedding” features. Tons of DIY details.
(photo via google images)
Again, lots of “Real Wedding” features, and I’ve come across a ton of photographers on this site too….
(photo via One Love Photo)
A mix of film (vintage cameras ect) and digital… their stuff is amazing. It feel intimate and real… the first time I found their blog I looked through every single back post I had missed….
(photos via Beth Armsheimer’s flickr)
I’m pretty sure when I first saw her work, I wanted to be her…. she has this way with colors (and textures)… and anyone who knows me KNOWS I am a color person… her kid portraits are adorable too… I’m not sure I’ll ever be that good with kids
Definitely quirky, but I adore quirky…. she mixes in a little graphic art here and there. Her photos are fun, colorful and a touch whimsical.
…. and… lastly, though it’s definitely NOT the last wedding related photog/site/blog I look at is
I can’t find any of his wedding photos to post here so you’ll have to go to his website… a friend of mine recommended his site to me when I first started having an interest in photography several years ago, since she knew him and thought I would like his work… there’s just something about his photos that I’ve always loved. They’re simple… more simple than a lot of the other work I look at, but they grab my emotions… I’ve always said, and I’ll stick with it, if I can afford him, he’s my top choice for my (some-day-in-the-far-away-future-land) wedding photographer. He keeps up a pretty inspiring blog as well… (yes, it is hosted on xanga. But no, I don’t hold it against him) he’s into music, so I’ve found a lot of solid recommendations there… plus, his brother is the drummer for Anberlin, so I get a little Anberlin news every now and then as well.
…and that’s all for now… I could post this stuff all day… but I have stuff to do. Busy weekend ahead.
How did it get to be 11:23 pm?
Last time I looked at a clock I believe it wasn’t even 8. Gosh. Time flies.
I hooked up my beast of a printerscannerfaxmachinepieceofannoyance tonight…. and scanned in most of the polaroids I took while out in California…
mmm… summer. I will miss you. (a little bit) but HELLO autumn.
Desert Song
This is my prayer in the desert
And all that’s within me feels dry
This is my prayer in the hunger in me
My God is a God who provides
-Desert Song by Hillsong
Such an appropriately beautiful song for me right now.
Wedding: Carl&Lindsay Pt II
Part II of Carl & Lindsay’s wedding:
(it rained the whole first part of the day, but by the time the ceremony was over, we were able to head outside for photos. There’s nothing like natural light!)
