a lark! a spree!

Eight Months Behind

2009-10-09T08:16:00.005-04:00

Yep.. I just realized I haven't updated the blog in eight months. So in February, Josh and I got engaged! We spent the following six months frantically trying to pull together a cute southernish vintagey (legit adjectives btw) wedding with killer-awesome food (priorities). And now that we are actually married, and back from our amazing honeymoon adventure in Seattle, I guess now you could say that I have time to dabble more in the internets. So I'm going to take a second and brag on OUR photographer, Skip Hopkins. We were SO happy with the photos!! To see more, check out his blog.

And now a few from Seattle...

We stayed first at this cute hotel called the Moore Hotel, on 2nd Ave. It used to be super swank in the 30's or 40's- so lovely! If you ever go to Seattle, look them up. It's definitely cheaper than chain hotels in downtown Seattle. Plus, great view.

After a day or two in Seattle, we took a ferry to Bremerton where friends of Josh met us, and let us stay at a cabin on their property in the woods! They have a whole farm that is almost completely self-sustaining. So inspiring. They gave us a sprouting kit for a wedding present also which we have taken full advantage of!!

Ah we had so much fun the whole trip. The weather was perfect and there are NO mosquitoes in all of Washington. Also, blackberries grow wild everywhere there, and they were in season. OOh! And Cherries are only 2 bucks a pound! (As opposed to $8 here in Nashy).
It's good to be back home though. And marriage is so fun so far. Just a relief to live every day with the best friend of your life. :)

Home.

2009-01-19T13:25:00.002-05:00

This morning I woke up at 6:30 as I have been for the past few days, despite crawling into bed around 12 or 1 each night. Each night I've been desperately tired, begging my body to just sleep like it's supposed to and that I'll wake up around 8 or 8:30, well rested. So this morning, I just laid there for like three hours, getting more and more bitter at the world, because obviously how could this be my own fault? I finally decided to get up and shuffle into the kitchen to find something to eat, and as I walked through the curtains, when I saw... SNOW! Snow! Snow... in my backyard! (It rarely snows in Nashville..) So I took advantage of this lovely peaceful morning (trying not to think about having to work tonight) and made cinnamon rolls and a pot of coffee, and cleaned the kitchen. Good morning.

So... new blog banner for a new year. I took this photo this morning because lately I've been thinking alot about life, I suppose about just life in general. This tends to happen after I watch Elizabethtown (or most any Cameron Crowe film.. the man is genius). I have a bad habit of questioning everything. Why can't I just have faith, or take things for what they are? Why is this so hard for me, normal people can go through life without doubting or questioning, why can't I be one of those people? I'm even questioning why I can't be one of those people who doesn't question. But when I start doubting I feel like everything, every relationship and purpose to job, to future, to life, everything is ripped from its ground and shaken violently, and then eventually put back where it belongs. And by the time the dust settles, it's time to do it all over again. I suppose you could call it a kind of restlessness, or a horrible trend of discontent. I wonder sometimes if I'll ever settle down in one place, or keep just one job for years, or if I'll ever be given a "calling" as so many other Christians get but maybe I just don't. I feel alone a lot lately. I don't even want to do photography right now. I don't know what I want to do. Maybe I won't know until it's there. Maybe something will click in my life some day.

I've moved around several times since graduating high school, and attended four different colleges in four different states before finally attaining an associates degree in photography. And now I live in Nashville and work at a coffee shop doing nothing I ever studied in all of my four colleges and six years of education. A year or two ago as I was leaving Little Rock, one of my good friends, Lakey, gave me a treasure- a mermaid drawing by her 8 year old daughter Mia, which she put on wood. She gave this to me and said that every new place I moved to, I could hang it on my wall and it would be my home. And I have hung it or put it somewhere visible, in every place I've lived since. I love it. It marks where my home is. And for now, Nashville is my home, our Forrest Avenue House is my home, the Frothy Monkey is my home, the Anchor is my home. I have questions but I think if I didn't have questions, how else would the Lord teach me faith? or Patience? or Trust?

Keep me in your prayers if you think of me. It's just a difficult season but spring is close.

Happppppppy New Year!

2009-01-03T08:53:00.002-05:00

Orangitango!

Hope everyone had a fantastic New Years Eve!! These photos are from a house show at the community house... starring Mankind and Fly Golden Eagle..... listen to them!! and have a lovely first month in 2009!

Doll Faces

2008-11-11T09:01:00.004-05:00

It's been awhile since I've gotten to play with lights- I don't have any but my good friend Zachary Paul loaned me some for a day of pretty picture takin'.

First of all we have Sara B, these were some promo shoots for her growing styling business. She's a doll face.

Next we have another doll face, Denitia Odigie, a completely gifted singer and songwriter with a voice to die for. Plus she's got a legendary laugh. I'm still working on these so I'll have more up later, but for now...

If you're in the Nashville area, make sure to come by our house every Friday until Christmas at 8pm for dinner and a Christmas movie!! This Friday we're eating spaghetti (meat and non meat varieties) and watching ELF! Be there or be scrooge!
1617 Forrest Ave. in East Nash.

Hope everyone's enjoying the fall! Christmas is closer than you think...

Welcome Autumn

2008-10-10T15:40:00.003-04:00

Autumn is my favorite time of year! I love that the air is cool at night and even if I'm wearing a thermal shirt, a bonfire still feels nice. I love that the coffee shops come alive with new drink options.. the pumpkin spice lattes, the apple ciders, sprinkling nutmeg over lattes.. I love the colors that appear on the mundane drive to work and that leaves dance in the road when cars drive by. Suddenly the rain seems more magical. I like starting to wear warm hats.. I like that the acorns even wear caps in the fall! Has anybody carved pumpkins yet? Just curious.

Community.

2008-09-24T22:10:00.002-04:00

This is our community life... meet the fam...

(2nd photo by Jesse Kevon)

And Then, Brandi made the best face of all time.

(this one's by Casey McBride)

Community Breakfast

Family...

My Man Smokes A Pipe

2008-08-21T11:15:00.002-04:00

And I like it.

Ladies, Ladies..

2008-08-18T09:22:00.002-04:00

Our tiny, yet to be named collective set out on Saturday afternoon for our second fashion shoot- Nichole Lim doing hair and Sara Burgers doing makeup and styling. Our models were Sarah and Julie.. I've only had about an hour to go through all 500 pictures so here's just a few for now, more to come!!

Mark+Brandy Nicks // 08.08.08

2008-08-11T12:49:00.002-04:00

Disclaimer: I do not shoot weddings but there are a few circumstances in which I MIGHT. This happened to be one of those- My friend Mark called me up and twisted my arm a little, and somehow he got me to agree to shooting their wedding- I don't even know how. He probably does magic on the side. But I'm so glad I did get to be a part of Mark and Brandy's wedding-- they are such a unique and sincere couple, I didn't even feel like it was work at all (which is HUGE). So who knows, maybe I'll be getting back into doing weddings, but for now, here are some of my favorites from the day!

The Ladies

The Menfolk

The Faces

Just Married... No Big Deal

People In Love, Part 29334985

2008-07-30T16:31:00.004-04:00

Almost a week ago I went out around the East Nashville neighborhood to take pictures with Julia and Jesse in celebration of their engagement. Awww. We all live in East Nashville and we all think the East Nashville bumper stickers are funny. My favorite is the one that says "37206: Over The River and Through The Hood." But I am easily amused. Anyway, we took a few keepers. People in Love are usually easy to photograph... here are some examples.

When it Rains... I Soar

2008-07-13T22:33:00.002-04:00

Figuratively and literally...

For some reason Rainy Days just whip my creativity into a busy frenzy and I start getting ideas. First of all, I've been wanting to do a self-portrait for awhile now; secondly, I've been wanting to try out this lighting situation I've had in my mind for at least two days- just using my reflector and super-sweet reflector holder with a flash in an indoor setting. This morning I was the only one home or awake so this is what I did as the rain came down...

Also, this is the first camera I ever owned. I remember the first pictures I took on this so vividly... being in fifth grade at summer camp, thinking a certain few boys were super cute... and now having an old shoe box full of 110 film pictures of boys at summer camp who I don't even remember, and maybe one or two of my camp counsellor. Ah those were the days. And now it sits on my window sill. Roots, man...

That's about it. I was thinking today that it might be fun if some of us photographers (especially RCC girls??) started a joint blog and took turns giving out a weekly assignment? And then we could all post our creative genius.. Anyone interested in that?
That's all for now. I love my church. The Anchor! If you are in Nashville come visit.

Buh-LING

2008-06-23T10:46:00.002-04:00

Now that Amy dropped the Sanders and became a Mrs., I can show these bridal portraits to the world- taken in Little Rock, Arkansas last week.
Have a gander at that bling...

Ever since I've known Amy, which has been around 25 years, I've known her to be a lover of twizzlers and other candies, always keeping them stashed away somewhere but ready and willing to share them. Even right as we were walking out the door at 7am to shoot, she was munching on a twizzler, so I grabbed a bag and we incorporated them into these shots.

These were taken under the Broadway Bridge in North Little Rock.

This from the "ethereal goddess" series..

If you have a photoblog leave me a comment with a link! I can't get enough of these things!

Oh Yeah...

2008-06-15T03:19:00.002-04:00

So there's this guy...

His name is Joshua.
He won my heart with an ice cold root beer...

And with this incredible painting of my dog!!

He's in Peru right now and I miss him somethin fierce and terrible.. One more week to go though!
Just a quick little update into my personal life as these things only happen every few years.

Also, my cousin Amy is getting hitched 6 days so I'll be in Little Rock most of the week.. expect photos soon from that tiny adventure...

Tiny Adventure No. 294

2008-06-14T16:33:00.004-04:00

For any of you not familiar with Sigur Ros, get a life and click on that link before you continue.

That being said, to further preface this entry, it was only a few days ago when my friend Daniel offered to me a ticket to see Sigur Ros play at the Uptown Theater in Kansas City on Thursday, June 12. I, being in love with their music, and never having seen them play live, and also having nothing to do on Thursday, of course decided that I should go.

I didn't realize how far away Kansas City actually is, because I never was good at geography, and I also didn't think about the time constraints upon us. Not that I regret going, and not that their performance didn't make it worthwhile, but driving over night two nights in a row with minimal sleep with five people crammed into a compact car does tend to make things miserable. I am still out of it mentally even though I slept for fifteen hours last night. However... the show was the best performance I've seen in my entire life.. I wasn't allowed to bring my camera in. The point and shoot cameras were allowed in, so you can click here to see other people's pictures. These are some photos from sitting in line for 4.5 hours, and it is good that we got there that early!

This is the last shot I got before security shut me down.

The kind Red Bull people were giving away their drinks for free- they even had sugar free ones! Here Philip and Ryan enjoy the Red Bull generosity.

Playing Cards with new friends..

This is Julie! We became friends while waiting in line. After the show, Julie invited our group back to her apartment to take showers and freshen up before our journey back home! She also made for us some delicious coffee which probably saved our lives...

So that is all, very sorry about having no pictures of the actual performance, but I think it was a good thing for me at least.. when you love taking pictures it takes away from being able to absorb in the actual moment, and I am so glad I was able to do that. Hope everyone's having a good weekend and don't forget to hug your pops tomorrow!

Every Diner

2008-05-25T23:41:00.002-04:00

Has this poster framed on the wall, I've noticed.
You know, the one that has James Dean, Marilyn Monroe and other classic dead megastars hanging out at a bar around a pool table. And it says
Boulevard of Broken Dreams
Sadly there is a Green Day song by the same name- try very hard to not sing it to yourself in your head.
Pretty much impossible.
Just make yourself move on though and think to yourself
How odd it is for this picture to be hanging in every sketch diner across America.
And now that you think about this
Next time you go into a Greasy Spoon
And you see this picture
You'll know that I am right. And you will probably blog about it.

Ben Trimble / The Hermitage Diner / Nashville

What's the Deal with Texans and the One Star?

2008-05-14T23:42:00.002-04:00

Asked my brother.
The answer being: Texas is the Lone Star State.
My cousin Amy thought it was awesome that Mitch asked.
I thought it was a pretty good question but also it was a good answer.

So some of the things we did in Texas were pretty normal I guess for the Lone-Star State.
We went cotton picking, we played with tumbleweeds, we saw coyotes, no big deal. Just your average Lone-Star Day.

Trying to find not-harvested cotton.

My beauty of a sister, and what is left of a tumbleweed.

This is what our clothes are made out of.
From a brown plant that grows out of the ground and grows white fuzzy stuff in tiny pods. And someone decided to clean it off and make clothing with the pod fluff.
Wow. I didn't clean off the dirt though. I like the earth on it.

So that's a brief summary of our Texan adventures, the rest really aren't as entertaining or picturesque although it was so good to be with family! Love your families everyone.

Your Hand in Mine

2008-04-15T23:16:00.003-04:00

My friends John and Wendy just returned from a weekend in Atlanta to see Explosions in the Sky... oh so lucky! So generous of them to bring me back a cd and t-shirt... I WIN! Anyway, I happen to love these two little love doves so much. Today since the weather was glorious we took some photos in my backyard. It works out better if you happen to be listening to Explosions in the Sky while you're looking at these, but if you're not able to, well, your loss.

On A Day Like This, Who Thinks of Sunscreen?

2008-04-07T10:08:00.003-04:00

Not me, unfortunately. But good things came out of yesterday's trip to Centennial Park for the Couchsurfers Potluck. (Potlucks are funny by the way. Everyone brought chips.) And then exclusive members of Ixteen retired to the grass where I took a lot of pictures of Hannah.

Absurdity

2008-04-05T20:23:00.002-04:00

Last night my friends were on the way to an absurdity-themed dance party and I couldn't resist taking a few photos. It was much too rich to not document.

Casey

Hannah

Casey, Hannah, Bailey.

Soooooo Good.

Welcome to the Ixteen

2008-03-13T16:21:00.006-04:00

I am now a resident of Nashville, TN, and this is our house on a clear day: the ixteen Seventeen. Weather here is bogus and so we take advantage of the clear days. More photos to come, these are just preliminary photos of my first week. And these are only 3 of my 6 housemates ... yes, there are seven of us all together.

Mel

2008-02-18T22:53:00.002-05:00

Also a photographer... or should I say a saucy photographeress...

Four days until I move.

Happy February Thirteenth

2008-02-13T22:33:00.005-05:00

The day after my sister's birthday, the day before Valentines day: Feb 13 is often left by the wayside, a calenderical outcast if you will.
Because I was off work today (yes, I have a day job.. those of you reading this blog may now let out a "phew") I took some time to edit some old photos. These photos have not until today been seen by other human eyes except for mine. And maybe a few others. We may never know.

Lunch in Lubbock, Texas with Grandpa and Grandma Holmes and Uncle Dan. Taken last March.

The next two come from Little Rock, Arkansas.

I'm always mesmerized by animals, which probably isn't unique to being a female. But sometimes I feel like animals like to pose for me. I should do an entire animal portrait post some day when my demographic finally levels around females ages 6 to 12.
While shooting at the Little Rock Zoo for an ad campaign, a curious giraffe wandered over while we shot in the rhinocerous area. because the walls that separated the spaces were pretty short, the giraffe came and essentially stood right over me. I got this shot.

This next one is of Vince... the same day I fell in love with ring flashes, albeit macro ones (thank you Wesley)...
I'm considering this one as website material... any input on that?

As always thank you for being YOU. And take a tip from ole Auntie Sarah, don't quit your day jobs, it makes the hobbies more fun.

Outtakes - A Plea For Purging

2008-02-08T10:55:00.000-05:00

As I'm re-designing my website, I'm thinking about including a section of outtakes, just for fun. They're always my favorite to look at. And so as I was browsing through my old files (now that my computer is finalllly fixed) I found these little pearls taken almost a year ago (hard to believe!). These were all shot with Dero's sweet Mark II. I give you, A Plea For Purging's outtakes.

Lyle found the clamps.

You'll have to click on this one to get the full effect of Andy's pain. Thank you Michael, for sweet reflector-wielding / extension cord skills on that day.

Sunday AM

2008-02-06T23:49:00.000-05:00

I woke up early before work and decided to take a succession of photos while eating breakfast. It's not impressive or set up with lighting or anything. It was just for fun and for lack of having things to shoot lately.

Click here to see the slideshow...

Meet Jezebel

2008-02-06T23:37:00.000-05:00

I just got a call from the Genius Bar. Apparently my sweet computer is fixed.

They said it was fixed last time but it wasn't.
Let's hope it is though, because I am so far behind schedule, it is not even funny.
And I want everything done before I move.
Come back to me sweet Jez. Or rather, tomorrow I will go pick her up from the Apple Store.

25 Years of The Reef

2008-01-31T15:16:00.000-05:00

My best friend Kristy, who was also my roommate and co-photography school nerd, turns 25 on Saturday! So we took a day to celebrate today with noisemakers and princess crowns and some pretty sweet shades. So following a mid-day breakfast run to Cracker Barrell we took some photos of our sweet ensembles. So Happy Birthday K-Reefer!!

And kind people of worldwideweb-land, don't forget to watch the season premiere of LOST TONIGHT!!!!! You will be out of luck if you try to call between 8 and 10pm.

I Was Awesome For A Day

2008-01-27T09:29:00.001-05:00

Yesterday I had one of my photos featured on Flickr's Explore page, which had never happened to me before. I went to check my email and suddenly my inbox was flooded with notifications from Flickr- New contacts. New comments! New people favoriting my photograph left and right. And today it's over. Whirlwind indeed.
Apparently this isn't the first time it's happened, it's just the first time I knew about it, as this image was in the top ten of the five hundred that Flickr chooses to showcase daily.

Today as I stared at my empty inbox it occurred to me that none of this probably matters.
But for a hiccup of time it's nice to feel like you're awesome.
So then I made myself a bagel with cream cheese, and a coffee misto with sugar free cinnamon dolce, chatted with my mom for awhile about moving and my fears and concerns with money and packing and such. I told her I'm really stressed over alot of things that I don't think I outwardly show, and she listened. I love my mom.
And I think it's moments like those that really matter.
Not so much internet celebrity status
Or comments on photographs
Or my lonely inbox.

I will miss my family when I move to Nashville.

Mr+Mrs Seawell! 12.16.07

2007-12-17T11:05:00.000-05:00

Congratulations to Joey + Jessica for getting hitched!! This wedding was widely agreed to have been the best wedding most of us had been to- probably because they're both photographers as well. The ceremony was short and sweet, so the rest of the night we got to shake it to Whitney Houston and Journey. (Best DJ ever!)

Joey + Jessica Seawell

Christine and (part of) Tyler. My collective dates for the evening

The evening ended with a little Avett Brothers and bubbles and we all waved goodbye.

NC to Nashville..

2007-10-27T23:55:00.000-04:00

I returned from Nashville a few weeks ago but haven't put anything up from the trip yet. Here is probably my favorite picture, a quick shot of Mark buying us parched ladies some lemonade at the Celebration of Cultures in Centennial Park.

More to come soon: much to my ecstasy, my computer was miraculously healed yesterday - !!! - after months of being out of commission. Hope everyone is enjoying the fall.. Autumn in North Carolina wins. I like stepping on the crunchy leaves.

Stevarelli and Holmie on Elm St!

2007-09-21T13:47:00.000-04:00

Yesterday Steve and I had hangout time on Elm Street in Greensboro. Just some random photos from the day......
(all photos of me by Steve, and photos of Steve by me)
PS- click on images for larger versions!!! They're bettah.

Once Nothing: Outtakes !! and Finals

2007-09-14T12:42:00.000-04:00

On Wednesday I had the distinct honor of photographing Once Nothing around the streets of Winston-Salem, NC as they are in the middle of recording in W-S. Here's some excellent outtakes.... a few of the final edits are at the bottom... ps look into Once Nothing on myspace.com/oncenothing

And if you're in the area... come with me to see them and A Plea for Purging on the 22nd!!!

commercial

putting the laughter in slaughter

ministry of the silly walks

who can take a nothing day, and suddenly make it all seem worthwhile? well it's you girl, and you should know it.

Real Beauty

2007-09-05T10:27:00.000-04:00

If anyone happens to have contacts at Dove... let me know. I have a campaign idea for them. (click to view larger size)

To see these guys on the interweb please visit: myspace.com/apleaforpurging !!

It's time for some YouTube

2007-09-05T08:06:00.000-04:00

In case you haven't seen the show Flight of the Conchords yet. I hear it's a pretty trendy thing to watch.

A Lark! A Spree! Day One

2007-09-03T16:35:00.000-04:00

Day one of photoblog. I never thought I'd keep one of these, but since I've been super into scoping out other people's photoblogs, I thought it might be worth an attempt at least.

Today Caroline and I went out for some Krispy Kreme.... oh man.... it never disappoints.

Carol is a chipmunk. I'm getting good at them Batch faces.

We also began some sewing projects.... you can consider these the "before" ... no afters just yet. We got distracted I guess you could say. My new pincushion's first time on the job!!!!! Nikki made it for me!!

A few mornings ago, my dog and I went wandering around the yard. It's been actually weeks since I've taken photos at all and decided just to take the camera with me, just to get it out of the house. Anyway, found autumn peeking out a little bit.

Hopefully the rest of fall will come fast.... droughts and 90 degree afternoons do not go with pumpkin spice lattes.