One light, One image

Elegance. Beauty. Passion. Strength.

Sometimes taking a great photograph just means being ready to capture a moment as it happens.

A friendly word

After a week of having everything- menus, signs, directions, television, web pages- in Spanish, this sign was a welcome respite. I found it earlier this week when I did a walking tour of our barrio (read: neighborhood, not ghetto). I set out late in the afternoon to explore some of the lesser traveled, narrow back streets around the residence with my camera. I have lately become enthralled by the search for cool textures, contrasting colors, natural patterns and lines, so this walk was quite an adventure for me. Here are some examples of the textures that I found.









I'll be posting some more from my little excursion tomorrow. Right now I have to get ready because Ashley and I are going to the Ballet Nacional de España tonight. Check it out- fourth row seats!



Alongside my ballet ticket are my passport, metro ticket and RENFE ticket (for the train). Tomorrow I'll be spending the day in Salamanca.

I'm out for now!

12 Oaks Stables (part 2)

Some of you may recall the images that I posted a few weeks ago that I took at 12 Oaks Stables. I had such an incredible time observing and photographing the horses that I decided to return to photograph another barn wanderer.



I have always been a huge animal lover (and by huge, I mean spending all of my free time at the barn and/or watching Animal Planet huge) and learning to photograph them has been challenging and extremely rewarding.





So far my greatest lesson has been that if you truly want to capture the beauty and personality of any animal, you can't be in a hurry. Animals take a lot of patience and it often takes them longer to adjust to the presence of a camera than it does a person, and they can be shy. This little guy was very weary of the clicking noise that the camera makes when the shutter closes, but his curiosity soon overcame his weariness.

12 Oaks Stables

Wow, what an afternoon! I spent a large part of it hovering over the charger waiting for the battery to charge so that I could take my camera out to play. I decided to take a break from people and just get away to one of my all time favorite places. Though it is not my home, 12 Oaks Stables feels more like home some days than the house that I live in. I boarded my horse there for two years, and for three years after I sold him I volunteered there, feeding and grooming the horses and mucking out stalls. I got to know each of them, learning their personalities and peculiar habits. They are all so beautiful and different, and I used the time I had this afternoon as an opportunity to celebrate them.

The lighting in the stable was very harsh and I couldn't take them out into the open, so I used the dramatic lighting in the stalls to accent some of the details of the horse's face and body. This is Motown, a Tennessee Walking Horse stallion who spent most of his life training and performing in shows. He was nationally ranked when he was showing, but the stable's owner decided that the summer of 2006 would be her last season showing, so all of her horses are now enjoying a leisurely retirement.



I headed outside to take advantage of the bright, beautiful afternoon sunlight. All of the horses crowded around the gate when I got to it, and this guy refused to let me photograph anyone else but him. He kept stepping into the frame and trying to chew on my lens. He was such a goof.





While he was curious about the camera, most of the others were very weary of it and would jerk away when they heard the lens focusing. This one, however, stood as still as could be. I love the way the light defines his eye and brings out the rich color of the stable walls.



While I love 12 Oaks, I am aware that in time everything changes. The fact is that it is difficult to make money taking care of horses because they require so much money, and the area the barn is in is developing very quickly. In five or ten years it won't be there any more, so I am glad to have these images to keep the memory of the place alive. I hope you've enjoyed exploring another of my great loves with me!

Exciting New Adventures Coming to LWP

Hey guys! Sorry for the lack of updates lately. I've been really busy preparing for the end of the semester, planning for my trip to Madrid, and of course managing the growth and development of my business.

The most exciting part (for me, at least) is that I sold my camera this week and am planning on purchasing a new one in the next week or so. I would have bought it already except I am still undecided about whether I want to grab a D200 or upgrade to the new and amazingly drool-worthy Fuji S5. I will let you know when I make up my mind.

Starting this summer, I will be teaming up with Mary Beth Strawn to offer makeup services for portrait sessions and Glamor Portrait Parties. If you would be interested in receiving a free portrait session, then inquire about hosting a Glamor Portrait Party! Mary Beth and I will travel to a location that you select, and you and all of your guests can have a blast getting your makeup done and having a mini portrait session! Session fees are based on the total number of guests at the party. Email me for more information about hosting a Glamor Portrait Party!

And last but not least, I'm currently working to updating my branding and marketing materials, which includes updating my business cards, introducing new products, and introducing a new website! Check back for updates, as I will be posting new information as soon as the summer starts to pick up speed!

Crankin tunes on the PCH

Almost anyone who has met me can attest to one thing: I may as well have my own soundtrack, because I'm always listening to, singing, humming, or dancing around to some song or another. I absolutely love music, and it has a place in every part of my life.

When I visited California a few weeks back, Kyleen and I decided to take a trek down the 1 from Malibu to Laguna Beach. Anyone who has driven any substantial distance down the PCH knows that satellite radio is your best friend, because you can't get any FM stations to stick for more than 5 or 10 minutes. Well, she doesn't have satellite radio, so when we stopped at Starbucks to pick up breakfast (by the way, they have AMAZING breakfast sandwiches!) she came across a CD sitting on the counter by James Morrison and we decided we might as well get it because we knew we'd need something to listen to. We listened to it all the way to and from Laguna and loved every minute of it! And to brighten up your day a little, I thought I'd post my favorite song here for you to listen to.

Happily Ever After in Disney Designer Style

Although Disney is not the original author of many fairy tales, they are the flagship when it comes to marketing the idea and making it a reality for those who want it. Disney, with their movies, stage productions, and theme parks all over the world, is like an American cultural tradition. You would be hard pressed to find a woman who did not at some point in her life dream of being a Disney princess or any child who would have passed up the opportunity to go to Orlando to meet their favorite characters in person.

Disney has been offering brides the opportunity to live out their fairly tale wedding dreams at their theme parks, complete with horse drawn carriages and opulent 'castles', for a long time, but starting in the Summer of 2007 brides will have yet another way to live out their Disney dreams.

An article in the WallStreet Journal says that beginning in June 2007, brides will have the opportunity to get married in true Disney style by purchasing one of their Disney Princess wedding gowns. According to the article, Disney will be releasing 34 princess designs their first season, each one completely unique and inspired by the styles worn by Disney favorites such as Ariel, Cinderella, and Jasmine. The dresses will be priced from $1100 to around $3000.

When I was a little girl, I would have given anything to dress up as Cinderella and waltz away with my prince charming, and even though I think it would be insanely fun to be able to wear one, I'm not sure I'd choose it as my wedding gown. I want to know what yall think! Make sure to vote or leave a comment and let me know :-)





You can find the original article here (you have to pay to read it) and related articles here and here.