Creating in the Hodgepodge

Rain Rain Part II

2009-09-01T09:27:00.007-05:00

As I rounded the bend, I was instantly transported back to the moors of Scotland (I visited the country in 2005). The dense sheets of mist were there, the rolling fields, and the endless gray sky. All that was missing was the purple-gray flow of heather in the breeze, but my black&white-trained-brain didn't seem to notice anyways.

But what had happened? I was supposed to be driving through the sprawling, awesome boreal forest of the Canadian Shield, not reminiscing about sipping Scotch with some sheep. Turns out I'd entered a clear-cut forest, just the kind that the Western Canada Wilderness Committee has been lobbying against.

Well, this foreign landscape was more than enough to make me brave the elements, and Mark II seemed to agree. He was quite a good sport despite the rain, helping me turn out some images that are strangely beautiful despite the ravaged terrain. It all makes me wonder if "sustainability" and "resource management" could peacefully coexist? OR does human greed always get in the way?

I smell a new project on the way....(but in the meantime, enjoy these images).

Rain, rain....

2009-08-19T14:44:00.004-05:00

and more rain seems to be all we're getting these days. But, I recently discovered that it's not always a bad thing for taking pictures.

It all started when I set out recently to drop my back-country-adventuring hubby off at a trailhead in Whiteshell Provincial Park. Excited at the opportunity to get the hell outta dodge, I figured I would spent the lonesome drive back exploring the wilderness with my trusty companion, Mark II (ie: my camera). But surprise, surprise...mother nature ordered nothing but downpours for that day. Although I still took my camera along, I didn't plan to get out of the car in the miserable weather - I didn't even bring rain gear along. (the weather was more proof, as if it was needed, that the backpacking hubby is slightly nuts) The gray skies were about as scenic as my mood at having to get out of bed early to drive 3.5 hours in the rain.

But that all changed when I rounded the bend on near Big Whiteshell...here's a teaser image to tweak your curiousity. Stay tuned for next week's post to see more and discover what I found to shoot in the midst of our oh-so-bunk summer.

Image of the Week

2009-08-10T10:37:00.002-05:00

"Dew Droplets"

Photography has ruined a good walk in the woods for me. Where before I was a confident hiker, gracefully skipping over rocks and roots thanks to my years of dance training, I am stumble and trip my way through the trails, too busy looking at sparkling scatters of light and scouting out the compositional elements like texture and line within Mother Nature's canvas.

This image came about during one of those moments. My "quick" jaunt to the washrooms at the Falcon Lake Campground was delayed by half a hour when I stumbled into a dew-covered, dappled clearing in the trees. This was my favourite exposure because of the way the pattern of lines and texture in the leaves works in harmony to draw the eye to the tiny drops of dew.

Image of the Week

2009-07-30T16:10:00.001-05:00

"Neon Lily"
(much more beautiful than neon lights!)

I'm baaaaaaaack!

2009-07-07T23:17:00.006-05:00

Wow. Those last few months of school almost killed me. Not surprisingly, I managed to put off any illnesses until the last week of school...and then immediately upon graduation found myself bedridden with the mother of all colds.

BUT...it is the all-too-short summer here in 'da Peg. So, I couldn't let a little sinusitis/laryngitis keep me down! So here's what I've been upto in photog land.

Celebrations around town...
Grad season meant some fun portraits with the latest additions to the workforce! thanks to J for being a great model. :)

Street Parties...here's a double-secret-probation HK photo tip: try panning to capture a unique view of the motion! Just set your shutter speed to around 1/30s (to start) and start following the motion of the subject before you snap the shot. Keep on following the motion as you press the trigger...with practice, you should end up with something like this!
See the whole series here.

Even more celebrations...
Canada Day meant opportunities to try out fireworks photography for the first time. Although I tried a wide variety of shutter speed/apeture combos, I found that long shutter speeds, combined with at least a few stops lower than the ambient scene produced some decent results. This image makes the most of the loogans who parked their lawn chairs right in front of my shot!
See the whole series here.

Summer time...
and the shooting is easy. Camping trips always make for great photo material. Sit back with a cerveca in hand and experiment with your apeture/shutter speed combos.

Stay tuned for more summer adventures & tips!

image of the week

2009-05-18T20:56:00.003-05:00

Taken at Bag Bay, Ontario.
30s exposure at f/4.0, 28mm focal length.

Image of the Week...

2009-05-08T11:23:00.004-05:00

From a recent self-assignment at Dalnavert Museum in Winnipeg. Check out the entire album.

Image of the Week

2009-04-30T18:06:00.002-05:00

From Self-Assignment: Quarry Park

Stonewall Quarry Park
3 exposure HDR
follow the link to see more...

'Tis the season

2009-03-29T22:54:00.003-05:00

Ah, the season of warmer temps and beautiful sunsets. And...floods. My thoughts go out to all the folks sandbagging this week. Although the riverwalk was clearly submerged (as evident by the "floating" lampstand...which is still illuminated. Can anyone spot the danger?!) I managed to find an interesting angle for sunset downtown this weekend.

Despite the many, many pre-existing shots of our infamous bridge, I thought I try some HDR for a different look.

I can't wait for even warmer temps to try out all my new photog skills on a canoe trip or two.

It's in the genes...

2009-03-07T16:45:00.004-06:00

dang! I come from some pretty goodlooking people. Guess that explains alot!

Yes, I may be really, really, ridiculously good looking (same with my folks) or perhaps...who knows...maybe all these hours spent perfecting headshots are starting to pay off. Could it be that there is a method to the madness that is Craig's Art Director from Hell?

Movie Reviews

2009-03-04T14:36:00.006-06:00

1. Bladerunner:
I chose to watch/review this movie mostly for it's cinematography & use of formal elements to create mood, but upon watching the special features, I was blown away by the influence photographic techniques had on it's creation. Essentially, Bladerunner was to movies what Jerry Uelsmann was to still photography!
Many of the shots featured parts of the scene burned out and replaced with hand-painted renderings to help create that futuristic appearance. The aerials of the city were actually two-dimensional cut-outs of building silhouettes, created through a process quite similar to old photographic processes (they etched the silhouettes onto metal, then used a chemical to dissolve any un-etched areas. Once the etching template was created, it was easy to mass reproduce the building shapes). For the actual filming, they would blow smoke between these two-dimensional cutouts to create depth (atmospheric haze: a structural element from CI class!)
Furthermore, many scenes featured multiple exposures to create a desired effect.
Although this movie isn't necessarily my favourite genre or storyline, I quite appreciated all the time and effort it would take to make this film in the pre-computer, analogue days. I was facinated by the processes the used. Finally, I also appreciated the use of lighting, back lighting, and colour/tone to create the distinct mood prevalent throughout the film.

2. City of God
I enjoyed how photography "saved the day", in a way, for the narrator/protagonist in this film - in the end, it elevents him from 'slum hood' to a succesful photographer living in the big city. Although we get a hint of the importance of photography early on in the film, it's not until the very end that we see it's impact, a fact that I think parallels the idea that a photo is only a snapshot of an instant, only a moment in time, and that there is so much more to the story than that single frame can show. I also enjoyed that many questions/issues surrounding photography are also subtly explored - copyright (when his images are taken from the developing room & printed without his knowledge); interpretation (he thinks he's 'dead' when the images are printed, but in actuallity, the subjects are happy about it); representation; photographer bias (choosing to leave out the images of the crooked cops), etc.

3. The Last Emperor
I chose this movie film because some initial research indicated that it has some of the best cinematography in modern film, which earned it the 1987 Academy Award in this category (as well as 8 other wins). This film used colour to create mood, particularly through the use of complimentary colours. Texture, pattern, line and form were also prevalent in the cinematography, mirroring these qualities, which are prevalent in the historic architecture and art of China's Forbidden City (the setting for much of the film). This film is beautiful to look at, but very long and a bit slow paced! However, with a photographic eye, I can begin to understand how much thought went into each and every shot in the film.

Africa Pics

2009-03-01T08:05:00.003-06:00

So I didn't get a chance to update y'all during my trip to Swaziland as often as I had hoped. Blame it on the 14 hour+ days that we spent working in over 38 degree C heat!
To make it up to you, I spent the last day in a marathon editing session to get my best shots ready and posted for your enjoyment!

Some background for context:
Riverwood Church adopted a small "carepoint" (kind of like a community centre) called Enaleni in Swaziland, Africa last year. Enaleni cares for the local community - providing two meals a day to children in this area hard hit by the AIDS epidemic. Our group of 20 was the first from our church to visit this important place, and I wanted to document our love for the people there and the many projects we were able to complete during our short visit. Enaleni: we miss you already!

Moment of the day...

2009-02-20T00:07:00.002-06:00

Today, it was 38 degrees here in Swaziland - plus humidity, and with very little wind. (I know you windchill sufferers will groan, but trust me...this is way too hot, when you're not used to it, for manual labour!)

So, I took many breaks to play with the kids of Enaleni, just to escape the heat. One particularly quiet girl was just happy to be by my side and hold my hand while we watched the chaos of a rousing soccer game. I started drawing shapes in the sand with my toe, just to pass the time - pretty much absentmindedly, while watching the action.

When I looked back down at my new friend, I realized that (like many children), she'd been mimicking my every move, and traced a heart with her toe. Yes, it makes a great picture that I couldn't help but capture. But more importantly, it makes an unforgettable print on my own heart that I'm happy my quick photog reflexes could share.

Of Marshes and Farmers

2009-02-19T23:57:00.002-06:00

Well, we arrived in Africa today and two thoughts immediately hit me: 1) dang, that sun is hot! 2) It's so green here I'm almost blinded! (compared to white, white, and gray Winnipeg winter)

But as we drove the five hours across the South African countryside to our final destination, Swaziland, I was struck by a much deeper thought. I noticed that wheat and corn fields dotted the landscape, that I knew the name of flowers along the roadside (cosmos, my fav, line the ditches!) Here there was red dirt and green fields, just like in PEI. There are some prairie meadows dancing in the breeze. Here a field of muted greens, browns, and purple - just like the moors we visited in Scotland. There, pothole wetlands just like the coulees of Saskatchewan.

With all these memories, it's no wonder I got a bit lost in space and time (although it could also have been the fact that I was riding in a bus that had the heat stuck on, in plus 35 degree weather!) But it made me wonder what, other than the simple colour of our skin, makes us so different from the people we are coming to serve?

Shooting moving targets...

2009-02-02T15:22:00.003-06:00

...is fun, yet challenging, as I discovered this past weekend. N was racing our dog, Rufio (a shepherd cross) as part of the ski joring competition at the annual City of Lakes Loppet in Minneapolis.

Our team of 4 Canadians headed south of the border to represent, and we did great! (results) We were so proud of our Ruf and N in their first big race, coming in 14th in his class and 5 minutes ahead of the average!

It was a great opportunity to practice some very fast-paced event photography. With a loaner 70-200mm lens (thanks Tim!) in tow, I set out to capture some of the excitement (and mayhem) of the pre-race corral and the mass start. It was chaotic to try and find my chosen subjects in a sea of cross-country-ski-gear clad guys, never mind obtaining an accurate focus!

Before I knew it, I had to book it over to the finish line (I literally had to run...these dogs are fast!) in time to capture our guys coming across the finish line. I'm sure glad I took the time to stake out my location before the race began.

Cudos to all the organizers and racers... I'm looking forward to next year!

If you like what you see, please find out more about ski joring in Manitoba.

I'm on fire!

2009-01-25T15:11:00.002-06:00

Well, not quite...although I do have a few new holes in my jacket thanks to some sparks.

Yes, last night was our annual tree burning party - that annual festival where we watch our long-beloved holiday traditions and memories (oh! the turkey that has now made it's way to my thighs. Oh! the dysfunctional gatherings. Oh! the childhood tantrums of toys and dreams not found amidst the wrapping clad carnage under the tree.) burning up in a fireball of dazzling proportions. A time to reflect on the year that was and drink enough beer to not care about the year ahead.

At least this year it was cold enough to chill our beverages of choice upon immediate contact with the arctic air. Global warming my ass!

But, this year's annual "terrify the neighbours" extravaganza came with a new twist - a perfect opportunity for me to try capturing low light situations, as well as the mesmerizing glow of half a tree ablaze.

Yes, it was freezing (I think around -40 with the windchill). Yes, flying embers were a clear and present danger - especially with N's obvious predisposition for pyromania! But I persevered and got off a few good shots. (Shot at ISO 6400, 24-104 lens, F4 with da Mark 2. Some post in lightroom.) Thanks to all who came out and braved the cold to make this another memorable night!

Fun with Mark

2009-01-23T14:34:00.004-06:00

A break from performing with my dance group, Virage Dance Co., allowed me a new opportunity to try my hand at some dance photography last week. The low light of the venue also gave me an opportunity to really push the limits of ISO on my new 5D MarkII.

These were shot over two quick-moving dances (one foxtrot, one salsa) and a few 'party shots' at 5000 ISO. Most have only minor processing - some cropping, noise reduction, and a some fill light in Lightroom (with a few additions of fun preset styles for my own enjoyment!)

Although I would have liked to try different angles and a faster lens, I'm pretty happy with my first attempt at live dance photography. It certainly helped to know the routines inside and out. I'll have to cop out of gigs more often, so I can practice with my camera instead!

Inspired Darkness

2009-01-11T18:59:00.006-06:00

One of my favourite bands is Crooked Still from Boston. They have the most beautiful, haunting "new-grass" songs with surprisingly dark lyrics. So when I got the chance to portray the emotions of a song through photography for an assignment, I knew exactly what I had to do. Here's a series based on the song "Low Down and Dirty" by Crooked Still (lyrics available here, song preview available through ITunes.)

A HUGE thank you to Sheena for risking major frostbite to lie in the snow and look awesome for my shoot!

Nordic Ski Tour

2009-01-11T18:54:00.002-06:00

The air is cool and crisp, the powder is fresh, and there's no where I'd rather be than out on the trail! So, why not turn my lens on one of my winter hobbies?
With the idea of capturing a photo essay on a cross-country ski tour, Nick and I set out to Falcon Lake to see what we could find...surprisingly, there are reasons to love winter!

Baby Sister's First Christmas

2009-01-11T18:49:00.003-06:00

The holidays meant another major assignment, this time for Creative Imaging. I wanted to capture my sister's first Christmas in her new house and all the mixed emotions (happy, excited, proud; lonely, stressed, sad) that can bring. I like how the toned prints highlight that juxtaposition (they were displayed in two rows, blue above and sepia below, with the title in between). Finally, I wanted to find a way to let the viewer know that this story is told through a big sister's somewhat biased point of view - hence, the title shot. Thanks to J for her patience!

Happy New Year!

2009-01-09T21:10:00.002-06:00

It's been awhile!
I hope the holidays were good to you...they meant lots of rest, family time, and playing with new camera gear for me!
I welcomed the latest edition to my family-the Canon 5D Mark II that is! Plus, a new lens and flash, courtesy of N.
Here's a quick sampling of my fav shots over the holidays, enjoy. :)

Check it out!

2008-12-05T17:01:00.005-06:00

It may be quick and dirty, but it's all mine! (My website that is www.hodgepodgecreative.com).

Yes, it only took a few very long nights (not 9 months, thank goodness!) but I'm proud to announce the arrival of a website to call my very own. From conception to the painfully long uploading process, this site has been a project all my own.

I hope it will serve as an online portfolio to showcase my work while I try to drum up business as fundraising efforts for me & N's upcoming humanitarian trip to Swaziland, Africa. (Stay tuned...more to follow!)

But for now...I just can't believe I managed to conquer the techie frontiers and get this thing up and running (thank heavens for online tutorials!)

Me...

2008-12-01T22:33:00.002-06:00

Sometimes, folks just need to lighten up. Don't get me wrong - I have just as much baggage, issues, challenges, and wacko ideas as the next person. But life is too short to take myself too seriously. So, when for this self-portrait assignment, it was time for some fun, dammit!
Now, I know what you're thinking, but yes! even self-professed "creative-nerds" like me know how to have a good time - especially if it's a good ol' fashioned bluegrass hoe-down (just throwin' that out to all my fellow Folk Fest hippies).

Digging deep into the be-costumed depths of my tickle trunk (or in one case, forgoing the clothing option all together) I decided to portray some of my fav musical genres. Besides...I need some 'art' for the walls of my music room, and this was a cheap option!

Fun with light

2008-12-01T22:24:00.002-06:00

Creativity can be taxing...especially on the umpteenth outing to capture "light". Sure, it may be a necessary component of "writing with light" (ie - photo-graphy), but some days, there's just only so many ways to shoot an object! So, I found some new victims - er, models, and set out to play hometown tourist for new inspiration in capturing directions of natural light. Who knew I'd end up taking dozens of shots of Canada's most notorious rebel - Mr. Riel! At least this perspective allows him to tower over the Leg - appropriate, don't you think?

Dance Series

2008-12-01T22:17:00.003-06:00

For a recent creative assignment, I decided to explore one of my other favourite hobbies: dance. It was a blast exploring the freedom of movement with my best friend, and the resulting images really captured that joyful, almost out-of-body feeling that the best kind of dance produces for a dancer. I only wish every dance rehearsal could feel like the emotions these images stir in me!

thought of the day...

2008-11-17T00:24:00.004-06:00

Wish I was here:

on the highway, dogs & N next to me, tent in the back and canoe on the car.

In a season of white...

2008-11-12T20:15:00.006-06:00

I thought I'd share some colour to cheer us all up! Here's a selection of some of my favourite 'colours of nature' shots that I've taken over the past few years. (l-r: Grand Canyon, AZ; North Cross Lake, MB; Cape Breton, NS)

Winter has arrived...

2008-11-09T23:18:00.011-06:00

Friends, like wind-weary sailors kissed by frost
arrive at my doorstep
Tippy-toed penguins skating to the stoop
to enjoy steamy elixirs and trivial pursuit in darkened basements.
Waiting.
For eyelashes to unstick.

I'm gonna fry this sucka...

2008-11-09T23:15:00.003-06:00

Do you feel sad for this potato?
Well you shouldn't...potatoes have no feelings, whereas ordinary humans like me go a little crazy after staring at a potato for a week straight. That's right: you should feel sad for me, because I had to come up with ways to make you feel emotions when look at pictures of a potato! Here's the final selection of 10 images (from over 200 actual potato shots!) I may have learned alot about portraying emotion and viewer reaction to my images, but I don't know if I can ever look at a french fry the same again.

Best of the Zoo

2008-11-09T22:51:00.002-06:00

Were they eager to eat me, posing for the camera, or just waiting for feeding time? I guess we'll never know, but good conditions and good timing at the zoo made for some fun animals shots!

Thanks to K for the company while shooting this assignment. :)

Seeing something extraordinary

2008-10-15T18:13:00.002-05:00

As we're finding out, a big part of good photography is good seeing. I think this Creative Studies assignment was supposed to help us do just that. We had an afternoon to shoot 100 different shots of a simple object of our choosing. I picked a glass jug I had at home, filled it with water and set it in a nice scene, surrounded by a bowl of fruit on a glass tabletop. Here's a few of my favourite shots for your viewing pleasure!

Epic Retreat

2008-10-11T19:43:00.003-05:00

It's been awhile, but I wanted to share some photos and thoughts from our youth group, Epic's recent retreat at Cedarwood.

This is my first year as a youth group leader, and I have to say...it's awesome! Even tho this retreat fell right in the middle of starting school and moving to the new place, I came home so refreshed. These folks have some serious energy and it's contagious (just look at all the motion pics)!

The retreat was good for the soul and a great inspiration photographically. I can't wait for all the crazy costumes at our Halloween event!

Reflections

2008-10-07T19:24:00.002-05:00

After a month of classes, I think it's safe to say that it's official. I'm a photography student.

Sure, I'm still trying to pick myself up off the floor after a whirlwind few weeks of getting back into the habitat of studying, writing tests, all-day classes and (ugh!) homework (not to mention that pesky moving into a new house thing)...but I definitely feel like I'm in the right place.

Sure, my pictures may have taken a turn for the worse - like the teach said, it's going to take awhile to get used to focusing on things like histograms, proper composition, and shutter speed instead of just pretty subjects - but I really do enjoy everything about it! I love tuning into untapped parts of my brain for creative assignments, walking around the exchange with camera in tow, talking to photo shop staff and understanding the lingo, and yes, I even love the smell of the darkroom. (just don't inhale too deeply!)

...although I may have pulled out a few hairs trying to come up with 100 different pictures of a water jug. Watch for "Glass Jug...the Slideshow" in a future post and be amazed.

I guess I'm pretty blessed to be where I am today, and excited for what the next month will bring. Thanks to all the family who made it possible and the many inspiring people who nudged me along the way. :)

Get outdoors!

2008-09-30T13:53:00.002-05:00

I like to be outside. Yes, even during our frigid Winnipeg winters. So it's no surprise that a lot of the photos I take are outdoors, and that my most inspiring photographs are typically nature shots. That's why I like Outdoor Photographer's website. Much of their magazine content can be found online, including gear reviews from a landscape photographer's perspective. I also like to look here for inspiration - whether great photos or "assignment" suggestions.

Dance like no one (but the camera) is watching...

2008-09-30T12:40:00.010-05:00

I've danced all my life. From tap, jazz and ballet as a kid to latin ballroom competitions as a teenager, and now onto professional salsa and fusion performances, it's always been a part of my life. But at the same time, I always wished I could arrange for better photos of these dance events than the standard blurry movement shots or posed post-performance cheesy smiles.

So, when this assignment came up, it was a great opportunity to learn more about the challenging art of dance photography. Similar to event photography, dance photo requires you to capture quick movement and often intense emotion, all in very low light situations. Another important aspect to dance photography is capturing the beauty and grace of the art in different situations (see examples below) as well as the behind-the-scenes drama and mystery of the dance world.

Not surprisingly, some of the best dance photographers were once dancers themselves.An insider's knowledge not only gives the photographer an understanding of dance conventions, it also helps them to "read" the dancers and the rhythm better than the untrained photographer, making it easier to capture those special moments. One example I found was Bruce Monk, who danced with our own Royal Winnipeg Ballet. His dance photography tutorial is very helpful.

Monk’s website as well as an essay at Luminious Landscape helped me learn that I need a fast lens, small aperture number, and high ISO in order to capture dancers. There were many other great techniques suggested too. I also enjoyed reading a photography blog featuring lindy hop dancers, if partially for my own interest as I do some swing dancing. I look forward to trying some of these techniques.

Photos:
(top) Carmen De Lavalade, by Lois Greenfield. I love the curving lines in this photo, and how the curve of the dress echoes the curve of her hand. Great timing that highlights a dancer's perfection.
(centre) Megan-Dumbo, by Dane Shitagi. I love how this photographer places ballerinas in classic poses but unusual places/situations. I also like his framing and the wonderful tones in his black & white photos.

Another photo that I found inspiring can be viewed here. I like the shallow depth in this shot, the the wonderful timing, and the crisp focus on the subject. An inspiring example of capturing the beauty of a live ballet performance.

The world according to XP2

2008-09-25T17:04:00.002-05:00

They say that the world isn't just black and white. Well, they clearly aren't photography students!

Although this assignment tragically confirmed that Alphie, my canon AE-1 has seen better days (he's now in the shop for an apeture mechanism problem), I did manage to make some images I'm happy with!

As a bonus, the resulting overexposure created some interesting effects.

Thanks to N and J for being such great models.

Lines, lines, everywhere

2008-09-24T12:50:00.002-05:00

At first blush this assignment scared me. Lines? But I like shooting nature, in all it's flowing and organic glory!

But after a few days of viewing the world through a "lines" filter, I began to see them everywhere, as evident in a lot of my shots. I guess lines are one of the most simple forms out there...if we know what we're looking for! It helped me see things in a new light - even in my usual type of shots...something I hope to keep in mind for future compositions.

A Hodgepodge of Dogs

2008-09-19T17:11:00.002-05:00

I love dogs. Not only do they make good listeners, they also make great subjects. Here's a few of my favourite shots:

DT1 Slideshow

2008-09-18T10:36:00.000-05:00

...and here's the second!

2008-09-11T11:52:00.005-05:00

I must be addicted...so much to say, so little time.

As many of you know, my Dad gave me my first camera when I was young - something I totally forgot about until the interview for PrairieView! I think his encouragement and pride in my shots was what initially got my interested in photography. Then, it was just capturing the interesting world around me. I'm also a writer, so I love to share stories through words and visuals!

This year I'm looking forward to developing my skills, particularly in digital photo editing and in the darkroom. I also hope the challenge will take me creativity to new heights.

It will be a busy year indeed.

One thing you might not know about me...you may think my passion for getting muddy and sweaty while exploring the outdoors makes me a tomboy. But I'm secretly a dancing diva in disguise, and I even have a photo to prove it (just for all us photo geeks, see right). I dance professionally with Virage Dance Company (http://www.viragedanceco.com/about/performers) here in Winnipeg, a group that performs and teaches salsa dance, as well as latin, ballroom, jazz and other styles.

Looking forward to getting to know you all better!

Photo: Virage Dance Co. in Vegas in this summer, shot by Natasha P Kartika

My First...

2008-09-11T11:08:00.002-05:00

...blog is underway! In the blink of an eye, I've jumped head first into life as a high-tech student. Now I just need a cell phone.

Although it's exciting to be spending my days exploring the Exchange with camera in tow, the back to school rush makes me even more thankful for the blissful summer days of the partially employed. The back-country canoe adventures I shared with hubby and friends this summer only confirmed my dream of capturing the wonders of nature through a camera lens.

I'm looking forward to a busy year of learning how to be a better photographer and exploring the different styles and genres of photography. Diversity can only expand my horizons as a landscape and nature photographer and writer...hopefully it will give me some ideas of how to make a bit of cash too. ;)

Photo Credit: Duncan McNairnay