Long Lost Love.

The love between us never went away. We broke each other’s hearts, simply because we didn’t know how to make it work. A year has passed, and despite the pain and loss we felt once before, we cannot deny the feelings we still hold inside. It’s a rare thing to find this kind of love…I can only hope that this time, we manage to hold on to it.

Capture the Moment.

This is the perfect example of why I always like to have a camera in hand…you never know what you might come across. I was walking to the grocery store one morning last weekend when I captured this photo. The sky was a deep, threatening gray, but quickly parted to reveal white fluffy clouds and a brilliant blue beneath it all. It was beautiful.

Open door.

Have you ever closed the door to one possibility, only to revisit that option later in life? It’s hard to know whether or not to go down a path you’ve already been… hard revisit something with fresh eyes, when you’ve already seen what you’ve seen. However, it’s easier to resort to familiarity and a life you were accustomed to, especially when it seems there aren’t any new doors worth opening. Is it wrong to believe a walk along a familiar path will seem any different on another day?

Don’t Miss the Details.

I’ve been working on photographing textures and very detailed pictures lately. I shot this one of my eye last weekend… it was an interesting project. I have to admit, despite the countless years I’ve spent adorning my eyes with mascara, I’ve really never looked THIS closely at my eyes. It’s so interesting the things I notice, only after seeing them first through the lens of my camera. My developing love of photography has inspired me to pay more attention to details… as a result I’m finding beauty in surprising places.

Winter.

I was really, really hoping to wake up to blue skies and sunshine this morning… that didn’t happen. More rain, wind, and dirty clouds. UGH. What’s more, is the weather guy solidified the fact that winter is coming, with his 5 day forecast of COLD. I have been ignoring the inevitable…winter is on its way.

Sunshine.

I spent this rainy night indoors… trying to find some color within. Exploring the confines of my own home, I discovered sunshine on my own.

Where were you when Obama was elected President?

I watched the election on a big screen TV at a local bar up the street from my house.

As the results for each state were announced the crowd would boo (McCain) or cheer (Obama). As one guy, standing next to me, said it best: “This is like watching the world series of freedom!”

I have to agree. I’ve never felt this proud of my country before. Barack Obama has done what no one imagined possible. He has restored my faith in humanity and given me hope for a new America.

Congratulations Barack Obama for winning a well-fought race with dignity, poise, conviction, and courage.

For all I know, last night may have been the most monumental political event I will ever witness in my lifetime. I brought my camera along with me to document this piece of history. Although it was dark, I captured what I could of the moment and have started a public, online photo group so that I can share those photos with you. It is my hope that you too will post your photographs and stories of the night here as well.

A Picture is Worth A Thousand Words?

I’ve fallen madly in love with my camera. Seriously, it’s occupies all my spare time these days. I’ve upgraded to a Cannon G9, so I can start to learn the true mechanisms of a camera… you know aperture, shutter speed, etc. It’s challenging to understand right now, but I’m learning to work with it.

Recently, my passion for photography has been refueled with the help of a new friend of mine… we’ll call him Chicago. Chicago is one hell of a photographer who wanted some inspiration. I’m, well… an amateur photographer that needs practice! So together we decided to create weekly photo assignments based on different themes. At the end of the week we upload them to an online group, where we can both post our photographs and share our work.

So far, this experience has been amazing. Not only do I carry my camera everywhere these days, but I’m using it… a lot! It is interesting to see each other’s photographs and compare each other’s perspectives on the topic. I am learning through practice, and inspired by our mutual love of cameras.

The only drawback to this endeavor is that I’ve become so immersed in my new world of photography, that I’ve seriously been neglecting my blog. Writing and having this artistic outlet is so important to me. So, I’ve been trying to figure out how to maintain both… realizing that, as of lately, I’ve become all-consumed with photography.

Today I think I found my answer. As I was looking at other people’s photographs I found one woman, in particular, that I liked. She has some great photographs, but what really caught my eye was that she describes each one, as she took them:

OldhaMedia says:

Photo taken by: OldhaMedia

Lunchtime.

36th and 8th.

Chan (a total stranger who struck up a conversation with me) saw my camera and asked me to take a picture of him in front of the very big dog in the truck.

Chan would not stop chewing, however.

Margot (my co-worker – not pictured) could not wrap her Seattle brain around the fact that I talk to strangers on the street.

The pigeons were a gift from the photo gods.

—

Photo taken by: OldhaMedia

This is Donde. Maybe he said Dante.

Whatever.

I saw him across the intersection of Spring and Broadway, dancing with the pink bubble guns he was selling.

I shot as much as I could before the batteries died.

He danced and fired off thousands of bubbles with such complete joy, filling the streets with shining gems of soap and air, it made me feel filled with the same joy just watching him.

I went over and told him so.

His hair was amazing… Woven with shells and silver trinkets and things he loves… He told me that six years ago, he shook off his corporate shackles and decided to do only that which brings him happiness. His long dreadlocks are a symbol of that rebellion.

I’m mad about Donde… Or Dante… Whatever.

Yes, I now own a pink bubble gun, too.

Anyways, I thought I’d share my newest love in life with you… My words may be short and sweet over these next few months, as I’m glued to my lens. I’d like to share my photos with you, and as OldhaMedia has so candidly done. I hope you will enjoy following along with me as I explore a new world of art.

My Photos