// shopping carts//

well.

i have no idea where this series came from.

i wish i could say

i had some deep revelation about the negative consequences of consumerism.

alas.

i didn’t.

i eat way too much fast food.

and spend far much too time in target longing for things i don’t really need.

but.

i like shopping carts.

i like their shape.

i like their form.

and most of them have a pretty good color.

i also was interested to see how the shopping carts related to the store.

what did i find?

not much.

mostly just that shopping carts seem to be the last thing on everyone’s mind.

they aren’t very unique.

their main purpose is function.

and they are often left cast off in the middle of a parking lot.

it’s interesting.

the thing that helps us gather all those important items is completely forgotten.

maybe there is no meaning to that.

but maybe there is.

maybe it means we undervalue and under appreciate the small things.

and perhaps.

that we all need to slow down.

and notice those small unimportant things.

like shopping carts.

// magic snow//

i live in idaho.

idaho is very cold.

and it snowed today.

infact.

it’s still snowing.

i usually hate the snow.

but there’s something about today.

today the snow has a bit of magic to it.

there’s something about

stopping and standing

while the snow is coming down.

that makes you feel a little bit alive.

and all those lil’ flakes coming down.

you feel like maybe there is something bigger out there.

that maybe we are each like those little flakes.

all different.

but all apart of something. 

anyways.

least to say.

i’m feeling quite inspired today.

it’s wonderful.

and i thank God.

that i got to see a little magic in the world today. 

// light.//

so i’ve had this recent discovery of light.

well. 

maybe not discovery.

i’ve probably been aware of light’s existence since day one.

but.

let me tell you where i’m coming from.

i have this favorite photographer.

well actually i have many favorites but she is the most recent.

ruth bernhard.

this lady was legit.

she knew light.

and she taught that to be a good photographer one must see as a photographer would see.

all the time.

regardless of whether there was a camera in hand or not.

so. 

i’ve been trying to practice.

when i got a chance to explore this lovely lil’ old house.

i saw the light.

it was incredible.

it was so warm. 

and comfortable.

and i realized something.

light and i go way back.

i used to love going into the front living room of my house as a kid.

we had this big ol’ giant glass window.

in the afternoon it would let light in like it was nobody’s business.

i loved to just lay on the floor and soak it in.

that’s what good light does to you.

it just makes things feel better.

and that’s why i love photography.

because.

no matter what the subject.

with the right light.

it can turn something that’s just ordinary.

into something that’s incredible. 

// hopes and dreams. also. holga. //

eeeeeek!

(that was my excited squeal)

so first off.

let’s talk pictures.

holga images.

ektar film. 

indiana university. 

i sure do like these images a lot.

holga just has a magic crappy look to it.

also.

these are in color.

color film.

that i developed.

and scanned myself.

which has been something i’ve wanted to do for ages.

i’ve shot color film before.

and 

scanned it before.

but i’ve always had it processed.

however.

this time i did it.

it was exciting!

ah.

also.

indiana university.

iu.

if you will.

it lies in the dainty little town of bloomington, indiana.

my birth place actually.

i got to visit iu over the summer.

my pops went there and gave me a little tour of his alma mater.

it’s a dang beautiful university.

while i was wandering the luscious grounds 

i realized something.

there are so many universities out there. 

so much education.

so many options.

here i am.

going to school in tiny little idaho.

and i love it.

(most of the time)

but.

i realized i’ve been so excited about getting my bfa in photography.

i never really thought much of what i wanted to do after.

well kids.

now i know.

i had a moment of clarity.

and i figured out maybe just a little bit of what i want to do with my life.

i want a mfa in photography.

and i want to teach.

oh heavens.

my two passions combined. 

i can’t think of anything better.

(i also decided i wanted to be a world famous photographer by age 25, have a show at MoMa, have a couple kids, maybe travel the world a bit, and become a spokeswoman for toms)

but.

one dream at a time.

:)

anyways.

i’m excited!

life has so much to offer.

and

i love that.

// hard moments.//

i don’t feel like i have a lot to say about this shoot.

which is surprising. 

i really thought i would.

this shoot.

is about those quiet moments.

those moments where you are dealing with something hard.

the moments where you find yourself

wanting to close yourself off.

wanting to go to that safe place.

even feeling like you are losing control a bit.

the images are flat.

i meant for them to be that way.

i shot it with a lensbaby.

to give it a sense of how i feel in these moments of loneliness. 

those moments aren’t fun.

but i think it’s important to recognize that they happen.

i don’t even really know where the idea came from to shoot this.

i don’t even know why i shot these images.

but i know i was supposed to.

maybe

i shot them because i wanted to show that

even hard things can become good things if we let them.

maybe 

i shot it for myself. 

a little photography therapy if you will. 

or maybe i shot it

because those moments of heartache, of pain, of stress.

those are hard to talk about.

and maybe.

i couldn’t express what i wanted to say.

so instead i am speaking to you through these images.

// french fries and a cheeseburger.//

i love fast food.

really.

i love fast food.

mm.

it just tastes so darn good.

and 

they get it to you so fast.

not to mention.

that dainty little bag it comes in.

oh fast food.

i might love it a little too much.

it’s so unhealthy.

but boy.

there is nothing like a wendy’s hamburger to make my day 

:)

so i decided to try and turn my love for fast food into art.

i thought lumen prints might help me do this.

what is a lumen print you ask?

well thanks for asking.

i’ll tell you about them!

lumen prints are when you take an expired piece of darkroom paper.

put an item on top of that paper.

smash that item and piece of darkroom paper between two pieces of glass.

and then let it sit in sun until you so desire.

so.

i did this with a mcdonald’s quarter pounder meal.

and shoot.

it looks weird.

and i love it.

so take a gander.

and go have a french fry.

because mm mmm.

french fries make the world a better place 

:)

// beached.//

well.

i went to the oregon coast a couple weeks ago.

it was cold.

even though it was august.

oh the oregon coast.

you can always count on it to be cold.

gotta love it.

anyways.

i took my holga.

mostly cause i didn’t want my 35mm camera to get sand in it.

i figured sand couldn’t hurt it too bad.

i mean holgas are supposed to be flawed right?

what’s a little sand?

right?

right.

anyways.

i shot lot’s of film.

and it came out suppppper light.

but i kinda like it.

it’s got a creepy feel.

anyways.

holga love.

enjoy.

// bonnie and tim//

meet bonnie and tim.

i took their pictures at a lovely film workshop i attended.

(see FINDers post)

they were a wonderful wonderful couple to work with.

for many reasons.

but i’ll just name a few.

they were super nice.

and i like nice people.

they dress well.

which i’m a little envious of.

i was not gifted with the dressing gene.

and.

they were in love.

that’s my favorite.

when you take pictures of people who are super in love.

it’s pretty easy to tell where a is relationship is when you are photographing it.

and 

it amazes me every time i meet people like

bonnie and tim.

they make me believe that true love is out there.

that we’ve all got that person.

ok ok.

maybe i’m a hopeless romantic.

without the less.

i’m more of a hopeful romantic.

anyways.

look

and 

see the love.

// indy//

i’m a hoosier.

what is a hoosier you ask?

that means i’m from indiana.

yup. 

i speak the truth.

i was born in the quaint little college town that is 

bloomington, indiana.

home of indiana university.

i tend to talk up portland as often as i can.

because it is my home.

but.

indiana is where i come from.

it’s my roots.

i got to go back this summer.

just for a couple of days.

but boy was it wonderful.

it’s hot. 

but not too humid.

there’s corn everywhere the eye can see.

and shoot.

how i love the corn.

there’s wide open spaces.

and i know it’s ridicioulus to say this.

but i swear there is better lighting in the midwest.

i have a wonderful extended family there.

and it was so nice to see them.

my last day we did a little touring of indianapolis.

aka

indy.

i haven’t quite but my finger on what the “feel” is of indy yet.

but it was nice.

so have a look for yourself.

and please do go visit the midwest.

and

try some of the cornbread.

it’s delicious. 

// nashville.//

this summer has been busy.

to say the least.

lot’s and lot’s of traveling.

which has been incredible.

i think i’ve got the travel bug.

i keep kayaking to see if i can find cheap flights to anywhere.

ah!

anyways.

a couple weeks ago

i got to make a little pit stop in nashville.

we were only there for about a day 

but shoot was it a fun day.

nashville has such a great feel to the city.

the people are SO friendly.

the music is great.

the food is spectacular. 

it’s a city teeming with life.

this is a city with a personality.

and i loved it.

can’t wait to find an excuse to go back!