454 Photocation - Kid Torturing Edition

My photo buddy, Tricia Spaulding (she is the photographer behind Made You Look Photography, check her out on Facebook!)  and I hijacked the kids for some photo fun ... well, it was fun for us. And isn't that the important thing?! There is a little ramshackle house off of Highway 51. The paint is peeling and there is junk EVERYWHERE ... but man is it an awesome place for pictures.

Honestly, I was raised to stay off of any property that you don't own or weren't invited to visit, so I spent the whole time looking over my shoulder, waiting for the police to come and tell us to leave. I know ... I worry too much, and the cops never came. (On a sidenote: kids these days need to learn that lesson about staying off other people's property, too many bikes and scooters are going missing on our street).

And then I got down to the business of pulling teeth ... at least that is how the kids acted. You would think I was chasing them with a pair of pliers instead of pointing a camera at them. Its not like I asked them to comb their hair ... I wasn't trying to work miracles after all.

Connor definitely wins the How Not To Say CHEESE! Award ...

He was more interested in playing with Alex. I just can't compete with another boy ... and sticks.

I had fun with some actions in Lightroom .. though none are straight actions. I only use them as a jumping off point. Really, if I couldn't scroll through some actions to get an idea of how a picture would look black and white, sepia, saturated, unsaturated, or completely tweaked I would spend so much more time processing pictures. Actions are a great source of inspiration, but use them wisely .. you don't want your pictures to look like everyone else's. And there is my most important advice on photography ... and the reason you probably should not ask me for advice.

I don't know why ... everytime I try to get a picture of Katie with a younger child she tries to choke them into submission. There is a picture of her doing the same thing to her cousin about seven years ago. Oh .. you know I had to look it up ... 12/20/2004

5/26/2011

And here we are going to pretend I asked Connor to blow a kiss ...

And as with all things ... it ended with Katie dissolving into tears. This time it was about having a sleepover. I let her have the sleepover ... and I have this picture to show her later in life when she acts up ... or to show her boyfriend/husband/children.

Tricia in action. At least Alex was a wee bit cooperative for her.

I didn't even ask them to do the Chorus Line kick ... gotta love girls!

They might not have been as cooperative as I had hoped, but then I really didn't have high expectations going in .. I love the pics I got, even though they may not be technically great. I know I am not a posed portrait type photographer. I like to catch the action, the INTERACTION. I want to capture the memory, not just the look. Hoping to find the balance of both .. 

423 My Mobile 365 - Week One

I decided that I just would never stick to taking a picture a day with my big camera, but I seem to take at least a picture a day on my cell phone so my 365 project is really just an excuse to share more pictures that I would have taken anyway. It does make me look at the pictures to decide which ONE best expresses my day. Anything to make me think creatively just can't be wrong.

I use a HTC Desire, and I created a group on Flickr called 365 Days of Desire if anyone would like to join in ... I originally thought it should just be HTC Desire users, but anyone is welcome to join in as long as it is using a mobile phone.

01-01-2011

Carousel

 01-02-2011

Tree

 01-03-2011

Family Movie Time

 01-04-2011

Recreating a Classic

In college there was a chicken delivery place in Oxford, MS called Coop DeVille. Fabulous chicken sandwiches .... and THEY DELIVERED. They closed (quite a few times). Chip and I tried to recreate the Marinara Chicken sandwich. It wasn't the same, but it was still yummy!

 01-05-2011

Waiting for a Friend

01-06-2011

Sunrise

 01-07-2011

Sunset

One week down and 51 to go!

All pics taken using the Vignette app. I love it so!

385 Elmwood Revisited

My friends Tricia and John wanted to get away for a little photocation. I had shot Elmwood before with Candy in October, 2008 but I was more than willing to hit it again. Even scorching hot it was totally worth the effort. A great morning with friends and some good pics.

384 Capture Memphis

Help me get published in this year's Capture Memphis book!! Please take a few moments to check it out and throw a few votes and love my way.


My dear friend Tricia Spaulding is also trying to get published, and if you want to give her some love as well I would greatly appreciate it.

329 Comfort Food

Sometimes the simplest things can show our love!

328 Meeting in The Ladies Room

I have been waiting for this book for what seems like forever!! And it finally arrived today!!
Around March of last year, Linda Woods contacted me and asked if I would be interested in submitting a picture and some words for a book that she and her sister, Karen Dinino, were trying to put together. No way would I have even considered saying no ... and then she explained the concept to me.
Women in the Bathroom
At first I was a little confused ... women in a bathroom. What does this have to do with the other two books that the Seesters have put out? Visual Chronicles and Journal Revolution. Both about art journaling ...
Want to know the unifying characteristic?
All three books are about learning to express YOURSELF!
Not pretending to be someone you are not. In the bathroom we can be ourselves. We are alone (hopefully) and there is no reason to wear the masks we use in public. Just like in art journaling. Art journaling is meant as only an expression of YOU, it doesn't have to speak to anyone but you. If you think a purple slinky is representative of your college career (just came up with that one, don't psycho analyze me) then journal that. You don't have to have words, just the image, the feel ... even just a color. Whatever it takes to express yourself at that particular moment is what you should do.
Linda and Karen (joined by Pamela Detlor) ended up truly pouring their heart and souls into this project. In the face of publisher issues, they chose to self publish through Blurb (you can buy your copy HERE) And they created their own company I AM ART BOOKS!
Quoted from the book description: What do you see when you look in the mirror?What do you think about when you are alone?What's the best ladies room you've ever been in?Whether you are an idolized celebrity or a struggling single mother, the ladies room is where you create your make believe, and where you face your reality.

I knew right away that my entry for the book would have to include my children in some way. I very rarely am allowed out of their sight anyway. I thought I would take the pictures in our bathroom at home, but I wanted to paint the walls ... or at least clear off the counter. And it just never made it that far. The deadline was drawing closer and closer ... and the kids and I had gone for one of our many trips to the Memphis Zoo. And OF COURSE, that involves at least one, if not multiple, trips to the bathroom.

AH-HA! Hello!!

I am in the bathroom ...

with my kids ...

and a camera!

TADA!!!

The book is even more amazing in person!! It reminds me that I am not alone as a woman. That there are women out there who think about their lives, their bodies, and their families the way I do ... or even that they think differently. And it is all alright that we are different because the similarities are so overwhelming. We all long to be complete. Life, love, accomplishments, creativity. We all long for the coccoon our bathrooms provide. They are our sanctuary from the noise and the world around us. In ouor bathrooms, everything slows down. We can let go. We don't have to suck in our tummies. We don't have to be perfect. In the bathroom, we are ourselves. No one else to impress, so you might as well be exactly who you are meant to be.

And because I am sure to leave out something important if I just tell you about it by myself, here is the description from the Blurb site:

What do you see when you look in the mirror?

What do you think about when you are alone?

What's the best ladies room you've ever been in?
Whether you are an idolized celebrity or a struggling single mother, the ladies room is where you create your make believe, and where you face your reality. Join 68 brave women from around the world for an empowering look in the mirror and a meeting in the ladies room.
Featuring Jann Arden, Amanda Palmer, Rosie O'Donnell, Jen Foster, Sarah Bettens, and SHeDAISY
Visit http://www.ladiesroombook.com for more information.
Reviews: "Meeting in the Ladies Room is one of the most thought-provoking books I've read all year. Throughout its pages, authors Linda Woods and Karen Dinino and dozens of other women embrace and confront the vast array of ideas, hopes and dreams that catch one's inner voice unaware in this private space. The photos and short essays are fascinating." ~Shannon Okey, Author/Editor, knitgrrl.com
"A book that is bold and brave and reminds us just how complex, challenged, strong and amazing we are as women. " ~Alisa Burke, Artist and Author of Canvas Remix
"It's filled with luscious photographs with yummy colors and textures and visuals...It makes you think. It makes you laugh. It makes you cry." ~Kelly Kilmer, Mixed-Media Artist

I can't recommend this book enough ... and not only because I am in it. The stories and pictures of the other women will inspire you. They will make you laugh and think and appreciate.

I am so thankful to Linda Woods, Karen Dinino and Pamela Detlor for allowing me to be part of this wonderful book.

286 Published and Painting

Well, I had a picture published in a book, and Katie was the one that was painting, but that seemed like a really long title.
Okay, so it isn't a book you can run out to the nearest B&N and grab with your latte, but you can head on over to Blurb and order a copy. I am going to copy and paste the description of the book from the Blurb site, it is so much clearer than any of my explanations!

"Picture Hope: An Invitation to the Journey" is a collaboration among Shutter Sisters and celebrates the start of Picture Hope – the grand prize winning photography assignment submitted by Jen Lemen and Stephanie Roberts in the "Name Your Dream Assignment" global photography competition sponsored by Lenovo and Microsoft. The book introduces the Shutter Sisters' vision and approach for "Picture Hope" and features an inspiring collection of visions of hope captured and shared by our extended community of Shutter Sisters.
All proceeds from the sale of this book will be used to compensate the individuals Jen Lemen and Stephanie Roberts feature in photographs, videos, and stories throughout the 12-month Picture Hope assignment. We sincerely thank you for your support and look forward to taking you on this journey with us. To follow the journey visit: http://www.shuttersisters.com/picturehope
Images in this book were graciously provided by the following Shutter Sisters: Tracey Clark, Karen Walrond, Kate Inglis, Sarah-Ji, Maile Wilson, Andrea Scher, Irene Nam, Paige Balcer, Julie Evans, Taheerah Davis-Zabate, Erin Casey Carmack, Liz Farina Markel, Sue Thompson, Rocio Alberich de Castro, Sandra Lundy, Heather W. Turner, Hilde Wegner, Kristin Zecchinelli, Chelsea Fisher, Carrie Jackson, Heather Plett, Daniele Giombi, Jen Farnam, Dawn Angileri, Summer Stetter, Brittany Sivyer, Tonya Doughty, Patience Salgado, Tracy Collins, Meredith Winn, Alison Fechtel, Kimberlee Kenner, Shelli Bond Pabis, Christine Sneddon, Ester Bartolomei, Kelly Sauer, Emma Biskupski, and Kate Albright.


If you love looking at beautiful pictures, most of the photographers listed above have blogs. Or you can check out the Shutter Sister Group on Flickr. I am so honored to have an image in this book!

Speaking of great photographers ... One of my very favorite artist/photographers is Linda Woods (check her blog out). I am lucky enough to also be friends with her, thanks to the power of the internet and Twitter. I could ramble on forever, but the gist of the story is that I sent Linda some thrift store patterns (they were stellar) and she sent me back a sweet Thank You note with one of her gorgeous images. Well, I couldn't just throw it in some plane Jane frame! And of course Katie couldn't allow me to break out the paints without her, so we collaborated on the frame. Katie picked out the colors, with just a little nudge from me. She did try to add in brown, but that just wouldn't do! And then Connor had to get in on the act. He painted a chalkboard with water, but hey! he was happy ... for a few minutes anyway.I did add in the circles, it is kind of a Linda Woods thing. I love how it all turned out!And then Katie had to steal my paints, canvas panels, and my easel. I mean ... she asked if she could paint, and I gave in. The first one she did totally on her own. You can tell by the way the background is bare canvas.The second one, I insisted on giving her a base color (that bare canvas gets me, it is the one thing I can't stand! anything else in art is totally fine, but leaving bare spots *shudder*). So, this is what she started with ... That is not a giant candy corn inthe middle - it is a pyramid. The white blob is a mummy, and the red sky is a sandstorm. Me thinks we watch too much Scooby Doo and the Brendan Frasier Mummy movies.And here is the finished product ... she took care of covering the background this time :)
Now I just need to find some time to escape to my craftroom! And I better hurry before Katie uses up all of my supplies!!