There's no time like the present?

Well, I finally started an Etsy Shop, and believe me, this was a big step! I always talk about how I want to just create art, accessories, restore furniture, etc and then sell it, but I've never actually started. This weekend I decided it was a good time to just try it out, so I did! Let's hope I can figure out how to do everything soon! If you want to stop by my shop it's at LulilyeKM.etsy.com (I think :-))

Practice Makes Perfect

This semester I am learning how to take better architectural photos to get ready for the big trip. I am finding that I really love imagery like Michael Eastman or Cole Thompson, and think that that may be the direction I want to go in with my photography. It's hard being surrounded by so many great photorgaphers, because I look at their work and what they take pictures of, and feel that I need to be doing the same thing. I am learning to accept that I am much more comfortable and pleased with the work that I do when it is just me wandering with my camera. Setting up 'shoots' and working with models and stressing over some vision I have to match a concept is not the piece of photography that makes me love it so much. It's being able to capture the essence of a place. To bring what I see to the viewer and hopefully share the experience I had while shooting it with the person looking at the final product. This is so much easier said then done, but I think acceptance is the first step. Now it's just pursuing that vision and incorporating it into me everyday work that will be the challenge. For now, however, I feel very satisfied with what I was able to capture at the capitol, and that is the most important thing, even though there are many improvements that need to be made! That's what practice is all about, right?

It's Official!!!

Well we actually did it... we bought our plane tickets to Europe! Todd and I have been planning and saving like crazy to go to Europe, and we finally took the first step and bought our tickets! It took me all afternoon to finally work up the courage to buy them, but now that there's no turning back, I'm just so excited! Now the hard part starts- planning the trip for real! So far we know the places we're going to and about how long we'll be in each city. I'm a visual person, so here's a little map I made to show our trip, I know it looks like we're zig-zagging a lot, but it's because we're flying to Vienna & Milan to save on time and train fare. So here's the game plan...

We start in Edinburgh and will make our way down to London, spending about a week in total there. Then we're going to fly from London to Vienna, Vienna to Prague (which I heard is AMAZING!!), then from Prague we'll fly to Milan and make our way through all of the towns Todd served in. Then since Todd has never been to Florence we're going to stop there for a few days (with a possible side-trip to the Cinque Terre), then end in Rome. Wow, 4 and a half weeks just doesn't seem like enough time, but I can't wait. And if anyone has any travel tips or suggestions, please let me know, I love advice!! Yay for Europe and this amazing opportunity.

So many pretty things out there!

As I spend the last 15 minutes of my workday winding down and looking at various sites and blogs, I just came across Anna Marie Horner. I love her style and the beautiful colors she surrounds herself with. (I thought this blog needed a little color as well, don't you think?) Here are a few images from her site that I absolutely love! The top speaks straight to my heart because I am completely obsessed with taking close up pictures of leaves and trees, and the dead crab apples outside my window (As soon as I get them off my card I will post). The other two are just great because of the eclectic feel they have, and the beautiful natural lighting used. If only I had a red bed, it's so adorable!

Lighting Practice

Well, this weekend was my first experience with using studio lights. I definitely know I'm not a portrait person, but as one of my new goals is to practice portraiture and technique (which includes using artificial lighting) here is my first attempt. My family was gracious enough to let me practice on them, so here is what I was able to get. Todd you're next...

It must be my lucky day

I just found another photographer who has some amazing work, and I just had to talk about it! I think I am much more prone to studying other works when I am trying to avoid doing my own. I know I talked about trying the 'no peeking at photos' while working on a project, but I just can't stop, there is so much to look at. And yes, they do very much influence the way my own projects are shaped and formed, but I hope that in time I can use that in a really positive way instead of a "I have no confidence in my own work and ideas, so I need to see what everyone else is doing to make myself feel better" type of way. Anyway..

I was just looking at the work of Jack Spencer, and although it must be done in digital and highly edited with textures, there are a lot of amazing things he has done. Take a look to see what I mean. The image I have posted is titled, "Pontalba, New Orleans" and I think it is so incredible!

New found Photos

As I am still trying to solidify my idea for the big self portrait project, I came across a couple of wonderful artists, Robert & Shana ParkeHarrison. The way they manipulate their negatives and share a message is incredible! I feel like I want the treatment of my images for this project to be somewhat similar to what they do in theirs. It's beautiful.