Seeing the Light (Again)!

It's been 2 months since I moved to Mesa, and I've not taken any photos except on my two recent roadtrips. So tonight I went exploring in Phoenix to scout out some cool windows for an assignment on dps that I decided would be my jumping-off point for getting back into the practice of photographing regularly again! I REALLY wanted to find a circular glass building like the Hilton in Memphis, so I could recreate this...

From Fall 06 B&W Photos

...but no luck so far.


I did find this fun building...





...as well as several places downtown that i found after the sun had gone down that I want to go back & photograph when I've got more light!

Grand Canyon! Sept 30 & Oct 1, 2009

A friend wanted to see the Grand Canyon last month while he was off work for a long week, so we took the trek up there, caught the last parts of a sunset, camped in sub-freezing weather, and got up before the coyotes stopped howling to see the sunrise. I got some fun pics, and it was a nice drive! I felt like I was just shooting randomly most of the time once the sun was up, it's so hard to compose a good frame of such a vast scene, with so many features, so I didn't really do much Ansel Adams-ing for this photo op. But it was a beautiful sight, for sure! We lucked out to get to the south rim just in time for a few sunset pics, and then dragged ourselves from our beds at 4:45 a.m. to get there for the sunrise also! Beautiful sights!

Linked up!

"We are eternally linked not just to each other but to our environment."
~Herbie Hancock

And now, my blog has links, too! I started working on html code that would give me a link bar with drop-down menus several weeks ago, and then got distracted with packing for my move to Mesa, AZ! But despite the delay, I proudly bring you my newest and improved-est blog layout! Check out the photographers I admire under "inspiration", and my older work under "35mm". And subscribe to my blog by clicking "stalk me" :) I'm still working on the archives widget/menu, but should have it figured out soon!

Last week I made a trip to the Grand Canyon, and this weekend I'm going with some friends to the Albuquerque Balloon Festival...should have some new work up as soon as my replacement laptop cord comes in the mail!

Dancer Headshots - August 11, 2009

I've been slow to put these up. Esther is an amazing girl who has wonderful talent in the form of dance. I saw her perform in May in some modern dance pieces, and her work was phenomenal! We're collaborating on a project together, but she asked me to also do some portraits for her right before I left Memphis. I need a LOT more practice/experience doing portraits, and this was my second attempt at working with someone who wasn't a family member or classmate. I really liked several of the shots, but can't wait to invest in Photoshop to clean stuff up & have a more versatile editing program, as well as learn to use available light more to my advantage!

On top of Old Smokey June 9-13

In June I went on a week-long trip to hike the Smokey Mountains with a family who has been friends with my family for several years. We had a great time, and I forfeited bringing tennis shoes so that I could fit my camera in my backpack. Instead, I wore my Chacos for the whole trip. In my opinion, they're pretty much most comfortable sandals ever, but I had not worn them much beforehand in order to build up good callouses, and so blisters ensued.



But it was worth it!...There is some beautiful country out there!

Memphis in May Sunset Symphony - May 23, 2009

Memphis in May is a series of festivals that happens every year downtown at Tom Lee Park right next to the river. The first week is the Music Festival. It rains faithfully every year on this weekend, and people slosh through the mud for three days between four stages to hear a wide array of musical artists. The next weekend honors some other country in the world with food, dancing, and other cultural entertainment. Week three is the world-famous BBQ Fest, where teams come from all over to compete in different categories of the art of BBQ. And the grand finale is the Sunset Symphony.

Of all the activities over the past five years, I've never been to anything during the first three weekends of May, but attended the Sunset Symphony every year (although I did have an opportunity to attend BBQ fest this year, but last minute plans changed & I didn't go)! The Memphis Symphony Orchestra plays, an artist from days past performs - this year it was Three Dog Night...last year was the Four Tops - and the grand finale is a beautiful, extensive fireworks display. It's (loosely) set to music and always better than the city's 4th of July display. This is one of the highlights of my year, and I attended this past May with a heavy heart, knowing that it would be my last time to attend before leaving Memphis! But if there has to be a last, it was a good one! I was with good company, the weather was great, bugs not too buggy, and the fireworks were amazing! I spent a lot of time watchng them from outside of my viewfinder, but here's my favorite shot:

And I had to share this one, also - It reminds me of the muppet, Gonzo!

"my" baby boys - June 6 2009

Every Wednesday evening, I watch two precious boys, ages 27-months and 9-months. The baby was two weeks old when I began as a "Mother's Helper" for their family, last September, and it has been one of the greatest joys of this past year to watch these two little people develop and grow! A few weeks ago, we spent a beautiful evening playing in the yard, and I pulled out my camera for a bit. I think you'll agree, they're really, really ridiculously cute kids!
I'll move to Phoenix two weeks before the baby's 1st birthday - horrible timing on my part! I'll miss this family more than they know when I'm gone!