... and some good news!! (Ewan got his picture taken too!! ...)
Showing posts with label photography. Show all posts
Showing posts with label photography. Show all posts
17 August 2010
28 July 2010
kansas :: six
Another fun thing about Kansas, besides seeing the places where things in our story happened? Having fun in places he knows well, making new memories that involve laughter and road signs.
Yes, I said road signs.
Neither of us can remember whether this photo was my idea or his, and I guess at this point it doesn't really matter. We laughed hard while we were making it, marvelling at the odd symmetry of it all: the pregnant lady and the road sign. Apparently Flickr peeps liked it too, because it made it into Explore.
If you're my friend on Facebook, you've probably already seen it. But if not, I give you the photo with a thousand possible captions ...
So here I am, inundating you with more pics from our trip. It's nearly the end of July and I haven't even asked about you. What are some of your favorite summer memories so far?
Yes, I said road signs.
Neither of us can remember whether this photo was my idea or his, and I guess at this point it doesn't really matter. We laughed hard while we were making it, marvelling at the odd symmetry of it all: the pregnant lady and the road sign. Apparently Flickr peeps liked it too, because it made it into Explore.
If you're my friend on Facebook, you've probably already seen it. But if not, I give you the photo with a thousand possible captions ...
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| life imitates art (& road signs), or warning! dangerous curves ahead, or by kirsten.michelle (2010) Got one of your own (a snappy and clever title for this photo)? I'd love to hear it! |
Some other newly-posted summer lovin' photos from Kansas that I love ...
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| tireswing (Yes, I got in. And yes, the process of getting out was hilarious) |
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| a tall drink of water Many, many of these were consumed in KS |
So here I am, inundating you with more pics from our trip. It's nearly the end of July and I haven't even asked about you. What are some of your favorite summer memories so far?
27 July 2010
kansas :: five
This isn't any ordinary dirt road in Kansas.
This road leads to a place that changed both of our lives forever -- even though I wasn't present when it happened. I know there are some new readers here who don't know the love story of Kirsten and James. A fuller version lives here, but here's the condensed version:
James and I knew each other in college (Biola University in La Mirada, CA). We never dated, and we weren't close friends and we didn't know each other well. In college, we had one class together. We had a mutual friend and had just a handful of conversations during my four years there. My general impression of him was that I thought he might make a good monk. He graduated in 1999 and I graduated in 2000. He stayed in CA for awhile, and I immediately moved back to WA. We didn't keep in touch in any form.
Fast forward mroe than eight years to October 2008. James has been back in Kansas for a couple of years working with his brother on the family farm (raising beef cattle) and drilling oil wells. After parking his truck on this road, he drove up on a four-wheeler (because the six-wheeler was broken) to repair some fence. Going up a hill, the four-wheeler couldn't handle it. He fell off, the four-wheeler rolled over the top of him, and he broke his neck.
Because of the broken neck, he got on Facebook (which he never would have had the time for with the impossibly long days he was working) since enough friends wanted to be kept up to date as to his recovery. Because of Facebook, we reconnected. We became Facebook friends on November 12, 2008 (a little over a month after breaking his neck). We became engaged on February 4, 2009. We were married May 23, 2009.
This isn't any ordinary road. This is the road that leads to the place where he broke his neck, to the place where a love story that started over a decade ago got a great big push.
I love that road.
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| the road by kirsten michelle (2010) |
James and I knew each other in college (Biola University in La Mirada, CA). We never dated, and we weren't close friends and we didn't know each other well. In college, we had one class together. We had a mutual friend and had just a handful of conversations during my four years there. My general impression of him was that I thought he might make a good monk. He graduated in 1999 and I graduated in 2000. He stayed in CA for awhile, and I immediately moved back to WA. We didn't keep in touch in any form.
Fast forward mroe than eight years to October 2008. James has been back in Kansas for a couple of years working with his brother on the family farm (raising beef cattle) and drilling oil wells. After parking his truck on this road, he drove up on a four-wheeler (because the six-wheeler was broken) to repair some fence. Going up a hill, the four-wheeler couldn't handle it. He fell off, the four-wheeler rolled over the top of him, and he broke his neck.
Because of the broken neck, he got on Facebook (which he never would have had the time for with the impossibly long days he was working) since enough friends wanted to be kept up to date as to his recovery. Because of Facebook, we reconnected. We became Facebook friends on November 12, 2008 (a little over a month after breaking his neck). We became engaged on February 4, 2009. We were married May 23, 2009.
This isn't any ordinary road. This is the road that leads to the place where he broke his neck, to the place where a love story that started over a decade ago got a great big push.
I love that road.
26 July 2010
kansas :: four
I almost missed this one.
We were going back through the shots of the birthday party after I had already pronounced myself finished processing them (it's just a reality that when you take nearly 500 pictures of an event, you have to be choosy as to which ones are given the special treatment). And I saw this one. I was drawn to the energy and the much-younger version of myself I saw in it.
We were going back through the shots of the birthday party after I had already pronounced myself finished processing them (it's just a reality that when you take nearly 500 pictures of an event, you have to be choosy as to which ones are given the special treatment). And I saw this one. I was drawn to the energy and the much-younger version of myself I saw in it.
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| jump like you mean it photo by kirsten michelle (2010) |
This is Dacia, our niece. She's the one on the diving board, arms thrown back, knees bent, poised to jump, daring the water. She's not scared of jumping in, she's not hesitating, and she's not being quiet about it.
Once upon a time, this could have been me. This picture spoke to me and made me wonder so many things: about what happens as we get older that makes us scared and hesitant and too practical for our own good, about how we start to be afraid of the water instead of daring the water to be afraid of us. Somewhere along the way, I stopped throwing my arms back and jumping in. Somewhere along the way, I became the type of person to dip my toes in first, to slide into the water gradually and let myself acclimate to the temperature instead of making a splash.
I became the type of person who cared if her hair got wet. What the heck?!
I'm not talking about becoming irresponsible, but living with passion and abandon and enthusiasm, of taking some calculated risks, of giving something your all -- of daring the water to be afraid of you. Because you're fierce. Because you are a force to be reckoned with. I know how the ability to live this way is lost; what I'm more concerned with is how I get it back.
I really want to know your thoughts on this:
Do you feel like this has happened to you at any point in your life (losing your ability to "jump right in")? What does this look like? Have you made changes in any area of your life that allow you to live this way? Any stories, anecdotes, experiences, or insights you have in this regard are welcome here.
23 July 2010
kansas :: three
One of the places we visited was the Brit Spaugh Zoo in Great Bend, about half an hour away from where we were staying in Holyrood. Most of us have been to the zoo at some point in our lives, I presume, but one of the many things that makes this one special (aside from being a place that we enjoyed while we were in Kansas) is that it is totally FREE. Can you believe that?
The zoo admission price is FREE. I can't get over that. I live in one of those places where you can scarcely sneeze without getting charged for it. I love Kansas!
I took hundreds of shots here, but I'll restrict myself to showing you just a few of my favorites.
James' grandmother's passed away a little less than two years ago, but her house is still vacant. This is where we stayed while we were there. Having a chance to spend a week where she lived was fascinating; I was captured by the immense amount of details that told a story of who she was and what captured her heart. There are many, many more where these come from and I imagine I'll be sharing some of these details for some time.
There are many more I'm anxious to share from our trip. And don't worry -- I won't go through all 1800!
The zoo admission price is FREE. I can't get over that. I live in one of those places where you can scarcely sneeze without getting charged for it. I love Kansas!
I took hundreds of shots here, but I'll restrict myself to showing you just a few of my favorites.
James' grandmother's passed away a little less than two years ago, but her house is still vacant. This is where we stayed while we were there. Having a chance to spend a week where she lived was fascinating; I was captured by the immense amount of details that told a story of who she was and what captured her heart. There are many, many more where these come from and I imagine I'll be sharing some of these details for some time.
An apricot tree in the yard
Hats and coats hanging in the laundry room
Spools and spools and spools ...
A wall in the kitchen
From the garden, looking past the clothesline and into the chicken shed
And next door to her home, there was an abandoned home. These always fascinating. I wonder who lived here and how they left. I wonder what stories those walls could tell.
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22 July 2010
kansas :: two
One of the things we did on our last night in Kansas (besides watching a completely awesome lightning display) was go out to the family farm. Now, c'mon people ... you know me. And you know James a bit. We totally did a photoshoot at the farm.
Here are a few of our favorites ...
For someone who doesn't mind having her picture taken, it's so fun to have someone who has skill with the camera nearby. And lest you think I don't take a bad picture, well ... let's just say I wish I hadn't deleted some of the ones where I look drunk, severely pained, or like I swallowed a double-wide (which describes approximately 80 - 90% of the photos taken). You should really see those babies!
I've got so many more (and more interesting) pictures of the scenery here that I can't wait to show you. Look for those tomorrow!!
Here are a few of our favorites ...
Psst! This last one made it into Flickr Explore ... wahoo!
(If that doesn't mean anything to you, I explain it here.)
For someone who doesn't mind having her picture taken, it's so fun to have someone who has skill with the camera nearby. And lest you think I don't take a bad picture, well ... let's just say I wish I hadn't deleted some of the ones where I look drunk, severely pained, or like I swallowed a double-wide (which describes approximately 80 - 90% of the photos taken). You should really see those babies!
I've got so many more (and more interesting) pictures of the scenery here that I can't wait to show you. Look for those tomorrow!!
20 July 2010
kansas :: one
There are so many things I have to say about Kansas. I could bellyache for a little bit about being pregnant in all that heat and humidity (which I knew to expect, and which is why the good people who live there have air conditioning), but that's really not what I'm going to remember.
I will remember love and family hugs and seeing where he said he would do anything for me. I remember seeing his mom's paintings and the movie theater his grandparents ran and standing in the spot with him where he said, "So when do you want to get married?" I will remember meeting up with friends and laughing with them and seeing where he was walking the night we spent hours on the phone and his hand turned into a popsicle.
I will remember falling in love with him even more.
I have so many photos to show you. I've processed many of them, but have many more to go. Please let me share just a few of the 1800 or so that we took, since (as the saying goes) a picture is worth a thousand words.
More to come soon ...
I will remember love and family hugs and seeing where he said he would do anything for me. I remember seeing his mom's paintings and the movie theater his grandparents ran and standing in the spot with him where he said, "So when do you want to get married?" I will remember meeting up with friends and laughing with them and seeing where he was walking the night we spent hours on the phone and his hand turned into a popsicle.
I will remember falling in love with him even more.
I have so many photos to show you. I've processed many of them, but have many more to go. Please let me share just a few of the 1800 or so that we took, since (as the saying goes) a picture is worth a thousand words.
Thomas enjoys his watermelon
Cole displays some seriously cool moves off the diving board
Sweet Emily
An old baby doll buggy in the shed at James' grandma's house
On the highway :: Bushton, KS
An apricot tree in James' grandma's yard
Abandoned service station in Holyrood, KS
Close-up of Mary statue in James' grandma's backyard grotto
A burst of yellow! No trip to Kansas would be complete without it
More to come soon ...
26 June 2010
five assorted & sundry confessions
Some of you have been visiting me here for awhile, and many of you are a bit newer. Even if the former description suits you better, there are a few things you probably don't know about me: random, weird, totally idiosyncratic things that will now be available for the world to see.
That's right. This is Kirsten: Unplugged.
Here we go!
1. I'm a compulsive fingernail-picker (but definitely not a biter). This is my go-to bad habit when I'm anxious or stressed or ... whatever.
2. I waited until I was 26 to get my wisdom teeth pulled. What, you thought I was only 26 now? God bless you! When the bottom left wisdom tooth was pulled (sorry, I don't know the correct dental terminology for this location) it damaged a nerve so that the left side of my tongue is pretty numb. It's been healing slowly, but 6 years later, I still have some residual numbness on the left side of my tongue.
3. I have done almost nothing to get Ewan's bedroom ready. Assuming I give birth at around 40 weeks, this means I have about 14.5 weeks left to execute on my nesting instinct. Oh, okay. I have done something. I painted these letters. And I hung up some of his clothes. Want to see what his room looks like now? And does moving four weeks ago count as "just moved"?
4. After I finished college and up until the time James and I connected again, I was convinced I didn't want children. I was rather passionate and adamant about it (you know, "I want a career," "I'm more than a uterus," "No way I'll be barefoot and pregnant" all that. Ironically, as I sit here and write this, I am barefoot, and most definitely pregnant -- just in case you missed the huge belly). Nine years later, I became reacquainted with James and couldn't wait to start having babies with him. Just needed to find my Mr. Right, I guess.
5. Generally speaking, I really don't like shopping of any sort: for clothes, for shoes, for groceries, for cleaning products ... you name it. I just don't. I can actually think of just two times in my life I enjoyed shopping: 1) In the spring of 2008 when I discovered I'd lost yet another pant size, and 2) Shopping for maternity clothes (when I needed pants with lots of elastic in the waist). That's pretty much it.
So ... anyone else in the mood for a little fessing up? What sorts of fun and interesting things does the bloggy world not know about you?
That's right. This is Kirsten: Unplugged.
This picture has nothing to do with this post. Just a pic from our wedding that I really like.
Photo by Jen Fox Photography
Here we go!
1. I'm a compulsive fingernail-picker (but definitely not a biter). This is my go-to bad habit when I'm anxious or stressed or ... whatever.
2. I waited until I was 26 to get my wisdom teeth pulled. What, you thought I was only 26 now? God bless you! When the bottom left wisdom tooth was pulled (sorry, I don't know the correct dental terminology for this location) it damaged a nerve so that the left side of my tongue is pretty numb. It's been healing slowly, but 6 years later, I still have some residual numbness on the left side of my tongue.
3. I have done almost nothing to get Ewan's bedroom ready. Assuming I give birth at around 40 weeks, this means I have about 14.5 weeks left to execute on my nesting instinct. Oh, okay. I have done something. I painted these letters. And I hung up some of his clothes. Want to see what his room looks like now? And does moving four weeks ago count as "just moved"?
4. After I finished college and up until the time James and I connected again, I was convinced I didn't want children. I was rather passionate and adamant about it (you know, "I want a career," "I'm more than a uterus," "No way I'll be barefoot and pregnant" all that. Ironically, as I sit here and write this, I am barefoot, and most definitely pregnant -- just in case you missed the huge belly). Nine years later, I became reacquainted with James and couldn't wait to start having babies with him. Just needed to find my Mr. Right, I guess.
5. Generally speaking, I really don't like shopping of any sort: for clothes, for shoes, for groceries, for cleaning products ... you name it. I just don't. I can actually think of just two times in my life I enjoyed shopping: 1) In the spring of 2008 when I discovered I'd lost yet another pant size, and 2) Shopping for maternity clothes (when I needed pants with lots of elastic in the waist). That's pretty much it.
So ... anyone else in the mood for a little fessing up? What sorts of fun and interesting things does the bloggy world not know about you?
03 May 2010
we now interrupt the series in progress for an adorable belly shot
Good morning, my friends! I've been working on the next post in my Becoming Catholic series, but this Little Bean (who is decidedly bigger than a bean right now, but until we know if it's a girl baby or boy baby baking in there, the name is Little Bean) is still running the show. I'm mostly feeling better (more energy, less nausea -- yeah!!), but still have the occasional bouts of sickness which tend to exhaust me and make my stomach feel as though it's been turned inside-out.
I'm 18 weeks tomorrow (May 4) and cannot believe I'm nearly halfway through this pregnancy!! This was taken about a week and a half ago, and I just got around to processing it. This one, I think, is what they call a keeper.
Love and hugs to you all, and thanks for your continued prayers and well wishes for the three of us (not the four of us, as one of us in this photo may occasionally contend -- I won't say who he is, except that he has facial hair).
xoxo
kirsten
P.S. A few more belly shots here.
P.P.S. Ultrasound is two weeks from Wednesday. Any guesses as to what we're having? Feel free to cast your vote in the poll at the upper right-hand corner of the blog!!
16 January 2010
and who knew getting older could be so darn fun?
I'm 32 today!! Who knew getting older could be such a party?
Mom and Dad drove down for the day to help James and I celebrate my birthday. I was doing a special 365 for the occasion (complete with party dress, pink fizzy drink in a martini glass, party hats, faux gems, and party blowers) and we thought: Hey ... why couldn't we all get in on the photographic action?
So we did. What a blast!! This one was easy to choose for my 365.
115/365: birthday girl!!
16 january 2010
Canon 40D
Thanks for joining me in this virtual birthday party!!
I wish you all could be here.
Mom and Dad drove down for the day to help James and I celebrate my birthday. I was doing a special 365 for the occasion (complete with party dress, pink fizzy drink in a martini glass, party hats, faux gems, and party blowers) and we thought: Hey ... why couldn't we all get in on the photographic action?
So we did. What a blast!! This one was easy to choose for my 365.
115/365: birthday girl!!
16 january 2010
Canon 40D
Thanks for joining me in this virtual birthday party!!
I wish you all could be here.
photo by kirsten.michelle
copyright 2010
copyright 2010
15 January 2010
firsts
One of the purposes of our recent trip to Southern California was to do some maternity shots for Sarah and Dave. It was my first maternity photoshoot, and it was to celebrate the impending arrival of their first baby, who has since arrived on the scene!! Many firsts were celebrated in the few days we were there.
So even though wee little Mirren Clarys (BTW, don't you just love that name?) is now outside the womb, I thought I would share a few special shots from the day. There are more where these come from (I think I took close to 400), but these stood out to me as immediate favorites and I am just bursting to share!!
Congratulations to Sarah and Dave, and a warm welcome to the world to Mirren Clarys!! You are all much loved.
So even though wee little Mirren Clarys (BTW, don't you just love that name?) is now outside the womb, I thought I would share a few special shots from the day. There are more where these come from (I think I took close to 400), but these stood out to me as immediate favorites and I am just bursting to share!!
Congratulations to Sarah and Dave, and a warm welcome to the world to Mirren Clarys!! You are all much loved.
photos and processing by kirsten.michelle
copyright 2010
copyright 2010
14 January 2010
and the winner is ...
Thank you all so much for your wonderful ideas in response to my previous post!! I want to use each and every one -- the ideas you've given have inspired ideas beyond themselves and I want to incorporate the fresh perspectives you gave me. Truth be told, I'm sure that I will.
So without further ado, but with a little drumroll action if you please ...
Congrats to Esther at Inside My Shell. You are the winner of the framed Hummingbird print!! Please send me your mailing information at kirsten116 [at] gmail [dot] com and I will send you your prize. Esther's idea was to imitate a scene from a famous painting. Hmm ... already my mind is wondering which famous painting it should be. If any of you have an idea, I'm certainly game to hear them!!
To EVERYONE who submitted ideas ... look for them in upcoming submissions for my self-portrait project. I'm excited to get started!!
For those who are interested, some of my prints (including the Hummingbird) are currently on sale at RedBubble. For a variety of reasons, I am contemplating canceling this account and using a different vendor to distribute my work. I will be sure to update you if and when that occurs.
Again, thank you so much for all of your wonderful ideas!! I can't wait to take a crack at them. Be on the lookout for more giveaways in the future ...
P.S. to Heather: I won't be shoplifting in the buff, but this seed of an idea is inspiring something else. Something I've stamped TOP SECRET for now.
So without further ado, but with a little drumroll action if you please ...
Everyone's names were written on a notecard and folded up ...
... and then I put them in a bowl ...
... and then I shook them up and flipped them around before I reached in ...
... and grabbed the winning name:
Congrats to Esther at Inside My Shell. You are the winner of the framed Hummingbird print!! Please send me your mailing information at kirsten116 [at] gmail [dot] com and I will send you your prize. Esther's idea was to imitate a scene from a famous painting. Hmm ... already my mind is wondering which famous painting it should be. If any of you have an idea, I'm certainly game to hear them!!
To EVERYONE who submitted ideas ... look for them in upcoming submissions for my self-portrait project. I'm excited to get started!!
For those who are interested, some of my prints (including the Hummingbird) are currently on sale at RedBubble. For a variety of reasons, I am contemplating canceling this account and using a different vendor to distribute my work. I will be sure to update you if and when that occurs.
Again, thank you so much for all of your wonderful ideas!! I can't wait to take a crack at them. Be on the lookout for more giveaways in the future ...
P.S. to Heather: I won't be shoplifting in the buff, but this seed of an idea is inspiring something else. Something I've stamped TOP SECRET for now.
07 January 2010
wanted: your self-portrait ideas!!
I recently mentioned that sometimes I'm fortunate enough to have a good idea of what I want to accomplish in my daily self-portrait project. But on other days, I come up completely short and start wondering how I might make that day's reflected-in-the-mirror shot of any interest. There are some incredibly creative self-portrait shots out there, and I'm only on Day 105. Translation: I have 260 days left.
That's a lot of self-portraits!!
It's a lot easier to be creative when the daylight hours are longer, when it's the weekend, or when it's not bitterly cold and raining out. Or, when I pass by a long row of red shopping carts that are just begging for me to pose upon them. I kid you not: they were begging.
Here's the deal: I want your ideas. More to the point, I need them.
I've tried some pretty crazy things (as well as some pretty prosaic things) and am willing to try some more -- within reason, of course. You aren't going to get me to set my hair on fire and run through the grocery store without any pants on. If you want to see what kinds of things I've already done and just how stretchable the idea of "self-portrait" is, you can take a look at my set here.
So here's the deal: I will give away an original framed Hummingbird print to someone who has a fantabulous idea for a self-portrait. The print is 6x6 and comes printed with a matte finish on Fuji Crystal Archive paper and is custom-framed in a museum-quality 12x12 black frame and white matte.
From the eligible ideas, a winner will be drawn at random and I will execute your self-portrait idea. Once completed, I will post it here on the blog. If there are a lot of good ideas, I might just choose a few runners-up and send you a little sumpthin-sumpthin as well.
Most of these should be pretty obvious, but here are the guidelines your suggestions must meet to be eligible for consideration:
1. To be a self-portrait, it just needs to include some portion of my body in the frame. It is not necessary for my face to be included.
2. The self-portrait can be indoor or outdoor, but has to be something I can execute locally (within the greater Seattle area). Feel free to suggest fitting props, clothing, accessories, locales, a song/poem/quote as inspiration, etc.
3. Absolutely no nudity or sexually suggestive poses/positions. Any idea that I otherwise find inappropriate will be rendered ineligible at my discretion. The author/artist reserves the right to delete any suggestion deemed offensive or inappropriate in any way.
This is my blog, and that's how we roll around here.
By the by, I know regular readers wouldn't dare suggest anything like I mentioned above, but just in case a creepy person stops by with a wild harebrained idea, I have to put this in there.
4. The execution of the self-portrait must not break any laws or compromise the safety of any person.
5. Submit your suggestions in the comments section of this post. Submit as many as you'd like!!
And that's about it. Feel free to let the ideas roll!! I will be accepting suggestions until Tuesday, January 12 @ 3 pm PST. A winner will be chosen at random the following day and announced here on the blog. If there are a number of good ideas, I'll choose some runners up as well.
So feel free to let your creative juices brew and keep the suggestions flowing. Thank you in advance for all your great ideas!!
* * * * *
That's a lot of self-portraits!!
It's a lot easier to be creative when the daylight hours are longer, when it's the weekend, or when it's not bitterly cold and raining out. Or, when I pass by a long row of red shopping carts that are just begging for me to pose upon them. I kid you not: they were begging.
Day #103: Rebel with a camera
Canon 40D
Canon 40D
Here's the deal: I want your ideas. More to the point, I need them.
I've tried some pretty crazy things (as well as some pretty prosaic things) and am willing to try some more -- within reason, of course. You aren't going to get me to set my hair on fire and run through the grocery store without any pants on. If you want to see what kinds of things I've already done and just how stretchable the idea of "self-portrait" is, you can take a look at my set here.
So here's the deal: I will give away an original framed Hummingbird print to someone who has a fantabulous idea for a self-portrait. The print is 6x6 and comes printed with a matte finish on Fuji Crystal Archive paper and is custom-framed in a museum-quality 12x12 black frame and white matte.
From the eligible ideas, a winner will be drawn at random and I will execute your self-portrait idea. Once completed, I will post it here on the blog. If there are a lot of good ideas, I might just choose a few runners-up and send you a little sumpthin-sumpthin as well.
Most of these should be pretty obvious, but here are the guidelines your suggestions must meet to be eligible for consideration:
1. To be a self-portrait, it just needs to include some portion of my body in the frame. It is not necessary for my face to be included.
2. The self-portrait can be indoor or outdoor, but has to be something I can execute locally (within the greater Seattle area). Feel free to suggest fitting props, clothing, accessories, locales, a song/poem/quote as inspiration, etc.
3. Absolutely no nudity or sexually suggestive poses/positions. Any idea that I otherwise find inappropriate will be rendered ineligible at my discretion. The author/artist reserves the right to delete any suggestion deemed offensive or inappropriate in any way.
This is my blog, and that's how we roll around here.
By the by, I know regular readers wouldn't dare suggest anything like I mentioned above, but just in case a creepy person stops by with a wild harebrained idea, I have to put this in there.
4. The execution of the self-portrait must not break any laws or compromise the safety of any person.
5. Submit your suggestions in the comments section of this post. Submit as many as you'd like!!
And that's about it. Feel free to let the ideas roll!! I will be accepting suggestions until Tuesday, January 12 @ 3 pm PST. A winner will be chosen at random the following day and announced here on the blog. If there are a number of good ideas, I'll choose some runners up as well.
So feel free to let your creative juices brew and keep the suggestions flowing. Thank you in advance for all your great ideas!!
* * * * *
NOTE: James and I are leaving for Southern California this morning for a few days (coming back Tuesday afternoon), so I probably won't be around much. I'm excited to get to see Sarah and take some pics of her belly!! :o)
06 January 2010
unmet expectation
One of the many benefits of participating in the 365-day Self Portrait Project on Flickr is that in addition to having a picture of myself every day for a year, it is an invitation to self-discovery. I'm not just talking about self-discovery from an artistic aspect, though that certainly is a part of it. It's a challenge to take pictures of yourself repeatedly in a way that will keep people interested and that will make them want to come back to visit your photostream so they can see what you will do next. What I'm getting at here is self-discovery in a deep knowing-yourself, spiritual sense.
Most days, I will admit: I have little idea what I want to do for my self-portrait. There are only so many ways you can make a mirror shot or a turn-the-camera-on-yourself-and-make-your-arms-really-long shot interesting. I think I've worn those out. Yesterday was not one of those days: I had a very clear idea in my mind. I had the idea of exile in mind -- of portraying someone who was being cast out, asked to never come back. I wanted the viewers to wonder: What has she done? Who is offended? I knew what I was going to wear, where I was going to take it, and how it would look post-processing. What I saw in my mind was brilliant.
But things didn't go as planned. I dressed the way I had envisioned. I grabbed James's old tan hard-sided Samsonite suitcase. Yes, this was perfect! I went to the spot on the hill near our apartment where I knew I would have a backdrop of trees and mist, creating the somber mood and misty look I had envisioned (oh-so very Snow Falling on Cedars). So we set up the tripod, attached the lens to the camera, and affixed the remote trigger. I found my spot and was ready to go.
Every single shot was a disappointment. They looked prosaic and dull, not holding even the potential to be visually interesting. I was getting wet, and my fingers burned and ached with numbness. I wanted to go home. I would think of something else.
But then James suggested changing the zoom, the camera angle, the positioning of the suitcase. Why don't you lay down on it? he suggested.
Lay down? That wasn't what I had planned at all. This was all going so horribly, but I figured I had nothing to lose.
Frustrated and nearing the end of my rapidly-fraying self-portrait rope, I tried it. I took a few shots, tossing the remote to the side each time, fairly certain every frame would simply compound my disappointment.
But I was surprised at the result. My image wasn't at all telling the story I had originally borne in mind: this was completely different than my original plan. This was so much better.
Reflecting upon this experience, I can think of many other times in life where things didn't go as I had planned: I didn't get the job I wanted, I was forced to consider uprooting myself from my hometown, or I didn't get to enjoy the afternoon at the park as I intended. These unmet expectations were met with disappointment, and that is only natural. No one would say that there shouldn't be sadness or even anger in seeing reality deviate from our highest hopes and best imaginings for ourselves.
Where we can go wrong is if in passing through a place if disappointment, we decide we will set up camp there. We will kick off our shoes, set up our tent, and build a fire there. We will sit there with arms crossed and be good and disappointed for as long as it satisfies us because hey, we are justified. Things did not turn out at all as we had planned. This bitterness is a surprising temptation.
What yesterday's session taught me was this: my disappointment was an invitation to a new possibility. What would have happened if I had followed my initial inclination to pack my bags and go home after the first several rounds of disappointing photographs? What if I had not been at least a little bit open (and it really was only a little bit open) to trying something that was not in my plan? I wouldn't have ended up with the portrait that I can honestly say I think is one of my best to date, one that I find communicates something far more hopeful than the idea of exile.
What about you? Has there been a time when things did not turn out as you had planned or hoped for, but the result was better than you expected?
Blessings and peace to you this day.
Most days, I will admit: I have little idea what I want to do for my self-portrait. There are only so many ways you can make a mirror shot or a turn-the-camera-on-yourself-and-make-your-arms-really-long shot interesting. I think I've worn those out. Yesterday was not one of those days: I had a very clear idea in my mind. I had the idea of exile in mind -- of portraying someone who was being cast out, asked to never come back. I wanted the viewers to wonder: What has she done? Who is offended? I knew what I was going to wear, where I was going to take it, and how it would look post-processing. What I saw in my mind was brilliant.
But things didn't go as planned. I dressed the way I had envisioned. I grabbed James's old tan hard-sided Samsonite suitcase. Yes, this was perfect! I went to the spot on the hill near our apartment where I knew I would have a backdrop of trees and mist, creating the somber mood and misty look I had envisioned (oh-so very Snow Falling on Cedars). So we set up the tripod, attached the lens to the camera, and affixed the remote trigger. I found my spot and was ready to go.
Every single shot was a disappointment. They looked prosaic and dull, not holding even the potential to be visually interesting. I was getting wet, and my fingers burned and ached with numbness. I wanted to go home. I would think of something else.
But then James suggested changing the zoom, the camera angle, the positioning of the suitcase. Why don't you lay down on it? he suggested.
Lay down? That wasn't what I had planned at all. This was all going so horribly, but I figured I had nothing to lose.
Frustrated and nearing the end of my rapidly-fraying self-portrait rope, I tried it. I took a few shots, tossing the remote to the side each time, fairly certain every frame would simply compound my disappointment.
But I was surprised at the result. My image wasn't at all telling the story I had originally borne in mind: this was completely different than my original plan. This was so much better.
Reflecting upon this experience, I can think of many other times in life where things didn't go as I had planned: I didn't get the job I wanted, I was forced to consider uprooting myself from my hometown, or I didn't get to enjoy the afternoon at the park as I intended. These unmet expectations were met with disappointment, and that is only natural. No one would say that there shouldn't be sadness or even anger in seeing reality deviate from our highest hopes and best imaginings for ourselves.
Where we can go wrong is if in passing through a place if disappointment, we decide we will set up camp there. We will kick off our shoes, set up our tent, and build a fire there. We will sit there with arms crossed and be good and disappointed for as long as it satisfies us because hey, we are justified. Things did not turn out at all as we had planned. This bitterness is a surprising temptation.
What yesterday's session taught me was this: my disappointment was an invitation to a new possibility. What would have happened if I had followed my initial inclination to pack my bags and go home after the first several rounds of disappointing photographs? What if I had not been at least a little bit open (and it really was only a little bit open) to trying something that was not in my plan? I wouldn't have ended up with the portrait that I can honestly say I think is one of my best to date, one that I find communicates something far more hopeful than the idea of exile.
My heart found its way home
5 January 2010
Canon 40D
5 January 2010
Canon 40D
What about you? Has there been a time when things did not turn out as you had planned or hoped for, but the result was better than you expected?
Blessings and peace to you this day.
03 January 2010
christmas vignettes: a photo journal
You and I all know very well that any tale of our Christmas-time would be incomplete without pictures. Here are a few snapshots of our first Christmas together, and those we spent it with.
We had some beautiful trees to look at during our stay.
Kaari and I didn't really intend to go all matchy-matchy, I promise!!
Mmm ... nothing like breakfast with the ones you love!!
James and I attended Mass on Christmas morning.
We put together a puzzle together later Christmas morning. Miss Lulu and the stuffed moose also got in on the action.
We opened gifts.
Some of us put bows on our heads. It's what we do.
I was really excited for Kaari to open her gift, so she saved it for last.
Scraping ice off the car was a daily routine. And taking pictures? Oh yeah. I was chomping at the bit to take some pictures.
Speaking of which ... I've got a lot more to process!!
I'll see you soon!!
What are some of your favorite moments or
memories from Christmas 2009?
Before we left for Bellingham, we received a special gift from a special friend. The lovely Christianne sent us this beautiful book with the words she penned just for our wedding day (incidentally, the only time I cried that day was when she was reading these words).
We had some beautiful trees to look at during our stay.
Kaari and I didn't really intend to go all matchy-matchy, I promise!!
Mmm ... nothing like breakfast with the ones you love!!
James and I attended Mass on Christmas morning.
We put together a puzzle together later Christmas morning. Miss Lulu and the stuffed moose also got in on the action.
We opened gifts.
Some of us put bows on our heads. It's what we do.
I was really excited for Kaari to open her gift, so she saved it for last.
It was a book I made on Shutterfly with pictures I took fo our trip to Ireland!!
We drank coffee (mmm!!) and enjoyed our gifts some more.
We drank coffee (mmm!!) and enjoyed our gifts some more.
Scraping ice off the car was a daily routine. And taking pictures? Oh yeah. I was chomping at the bit to take some pictures.
Speaking of which ... I've got a lot more to process!!
I'll see you soon!!
What are some of your favorite moments or
memories from Christmas 2009?
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