from class

I recently took a five week photography course dedicated to developing a personal style. I don't know that I have exactly figured my own out, but I did like the direction that our assignments took me. I thought I would share with you the images that I chose to print for our final class. As you will see, I've chosen to examine my subjects as beautiful parts rather than seeing them in entirety or in the classic portrait style. These images are taken spontaneously, capturing the subjects as they are rather than forcing poses on them. The anonymous quality of the children allow you to put yourself in the image, remembering your own care-free childhood. Some of these images you may have seen, other were taken specifically for the class. I'm excited about having a focus for future photo shoots, some classmates suggested ways to add to the series. So, here goes.

beautiful sky

I'm taking another photography class. I like the class itself, but mostly I like that it requires me to get out and make more images. I went for a walk the other night and felt completely uninspired. I was trying to catch the light during that golden hour before sunset. For 45 minutes I walked around the city not taking a single image. I kept thinking, I can take a picture of that, but why? Why would it be interesting? Just as I gave up and turned to walk home, the sky changed and all of the sudden I started shooting.

The temperature has dropped significantly in the last few days. Rumors spread widely about snow in SF which has happened about 5 times in the last 100 years. What we ended up having is intensely blue skies with puffs of clouds. They have a really wonderful texture that kept making me stop and gaze up yesterday. I spent several hours in the car driving to and from Napa, so most of these were taken from the passenger seat as we drove along.

the mission

I took part in a very cool project recently. Every participant took photographs within the same 200 yard radius. Find more about the project here. I didn't win, but anything that gets me out taking pictures is a good thing.

footsies

I'm not one of those people with a fear of feet. If you are, you might not find these as interesting as I do. Chasing after the girls feet today was fun, and inspired by the pile of socks and shoes that Em left on the bench.

so big

The twins have gone through a real spurt lately. Not so much getting taller, but their language and play skill just shot up. I'm glad, they seem happy about it.

 

  

  

 

Somehow my exercise walk turned into a cappuccino at a nearby coffee shop. I got off work a little early on Monday and the sun was shining and it was over 6o degrees. I think you can see how this might happen.

Also, it's time for another press photo attempt for The Heated. Out of 107 shots, we got 8 that seem usable. This is my favorite of the bunch because it is the least posed, but it's not very "press photo" like either.

cleanest house ever

The ATSF photographer came this morning. It was exciting having her here. Bonus: the house is as clean and put together as it's ever been. I absolutely love that feeling. Here are a few shots that I took, please remember I'm still figuring out how the camera works.

the new to do list

Most big projects have been checked off the list, but there's plenty still to do this weekend. Thankfully it's a long one, so we're taking Sunday off to visit grandma in Santa Cruz.

1) hem bedroom curtains
2) attack cobwebs
3) super dusting
4) clutter control
5) vacuum and mop wood floors
6) use the power of baking soda on the bathroom floor
7) finish potting last 2 succulents
8) hem linen tablecloth
9) hang 2nd thread organizer

On a completely separate note. We had dinner with some friends earlier this week who we hadn't seen in a few months. Much of the "catching up" was chatting about our long process of me trying to get pregnant. We're on month 8 and it's been treacherous. People seem to take a particular interest because we're using a donor through a sperm bank and for the most part this is unknown territory. My friend was encouraging me to write about the process, but I don't want to force that on people. Any input? Do you want to know what went in to our decision of which donor(s) to use. Do you care what an IUI is and how a person finds out she has low progesterone?

2010

Happy new year to you all. I didn't intend to take a break from blogging over the holidays, but I was so very sick. I spent almost 5 days in bed, and even had to miss our family trip to the mountains for
New Year's eve due to a high fever. Thankfully all the but the cough is now behind me!
Well, a new year. For me this always means a serious de-cluttering and organizing frenzy. And this go-around it's bigger than ever because a photographer is coming to shoot the apartment in a few weeks. Eeks! I'm totally excited and probably shouldn't mention it for fear of jinxing the whole thing -but it's out now. So for the next 3 weeks I'll be in nesting mode and the list is long.
1) Sew new curtains for the bedroom
2) New art for over the bed (I ordered some decals which I think will look great)
3) Re-hang art in the dining room. We have 2 new pieces to get framed.
4) Finish hemming the tablecloth.
5) Sew new curtains for the kitchen
6) Change out work table in the side room, which means empty it and find a place for the baking dishes to live.
7) Deal with cords behind the new desk (Cristina built a gorgeous one in her class and we will be using the old one as a work table.)
8) Find a lamp for the lampshade in the living room
9) Sew new throw pillows for the rocker and couch using Umbrella Prints scraps and linen.
10) Plant something in the empty pot on the deck, bulbs maybe?
11) Plants for the top shelf in the bathroom, what won't die up there?
12) Touch up paint in the bathroom where the vintage hairdryer used to hang
13) Get a tall person to reach up and unscrew the hook in the ceiling of the living room
14) Restack the firewood on the front steps so it doesn't look so janky
15) Clean the entire house top to bottom

You all with me still? I see some late nights over the sewing machine in the near future. Luckily all the fabric has been purchased and washed already so it's just a matter of actually making the items. I've been searching around on Etsy for ideas for what to do with the shelf over the toilet in the bathroom. It's really high, but you can see it when you sit on the pot, and while the photographer probably won't take a piture from there, it's something that annoys me on a daily basis. Ideas? I've not had great luck with plants in the past, but maybe succulents could handle it. Maybe just a collection of planters/vases?



Little Concrete Planter with Airplant by TortoiseLovesDonkey $14.50

Little Moss Bowl by benjrs $16

Bird Planter by prettyrandomobjects $48

Flower Pot by mrhstudios $75

Small bud vase by DAHceramics $25
Bigarra Pot with Saucer at Ikea $9.99