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One {May 2017}

Hello, there. While I wish I could attribute my absence to a broken camera, an around-the-world voyage without internet or simply a lack of photos, the reality is it's been a tough spring and my time and energy have been needed elsewhere. However, this past weekend we enjoyed a change of scene as the guests of some dear friends. Their home is near a beach, where we were able to do some relaxing, or "laxin'" as a certain sandy someone likes to call it. Hoping the summer is off to a laxin' start for all. 

Please head out to Chi-town to see what Jessica found this May...

 

 

 

One {November 2016}

During a busy weekend away, these two passed out cold in our hotel room and no amount of standing over them on the bed and clicking a loud camera in their faces would have stirred them. They may be loud and crazy, during their waking hours, but they really do love each other in the sweetest way.

To see the rest of our November One images, please head down to the Lone Star State and see what Adele found this month, then make your way around the circle. 

WWB - November 2016 - Perspective

I am chock full of imperfect analogies and incomplete thoughts these days, but bear with me. It is very easy to live in a shrunken universe, where the only relevant things in our lives are our kids and our spouses, our jobs and our communities, our paychecks and our neighbors. Good intentions, passion projects, causes close to our hearts, the art of empathy - when it feels like there aren't enough hours in the day, we turn inwards, even at the expense of others. Recently, I stayed close to home, and in doing so, I failed to speak out and lend my voice where it is needed.

As a parent, all instincts point towards protecting my children. Yet, I know deep down that the best protection is to send them into the world as competent, compassionate, thinking people, even if that means teaching them hard things and letting them fly on their own.

Of course, the best way to mold competent, compassionate, thinking people is to be one myself. And so, I will try to do better and be the kind of role model I want for them. In the meantime, I encourage the adventurous souls in my home to find the joy in the unknown and tackle their fears. In this particular instance, in the second-to-last car of an upside-down rollercoaster. 

Please continue to Who We Become to see our collection of images this month or travel to each photographer individually, starting with the incredible Lisa Rigazio in Maryland. 

Hershey Park, November 13, 2016

One {October}

Earlier this month, we took a trip out to California to celebrate my mother's birthday. It was a nice round milestone, and we had a whale of a week with all of us together. It was made extra special by the fact that it was the first time my kids got to meet their two baby cousins. I have a really amazing family, and my particularly amazing mother is at the heart of it all. She has spent a lifetime showing us what love should look like and inspiring each of us when it comes to being a parent, a friend and a person. We are so very lucky. Happy birthday, Mom. I love you!

Please continue around to see what fall has brought to Jessica in Chicago!  

WWB - October 2016 - Iceland

The casual observer of this site may have noticed a distinct lack of activity in recent weeks. While I may eventually try to catch up with my remaining summer images, for the time being, let's assume that is unlikely. In terms of recent events, did I mention that two of us went to Iceland? We DID. The primary purpose of the trip was to celebrate the birthday of an awesome friend, but a few nice pictures came from the travels as well. Here, an Icelandic horse, a rainbow, some casually captured Northern lights (with no tripod, sorry about that) and a waterfall for good measure. 

Please continue around the blog circle to see what my friend Linda found on her recent travels - it's a somewhat exotic month over at Who We Become!

75 Days of Summer - Days 9-12

Vacation comes to an end in the Lakes District in Northern Italy. We spent a day near the gorgeous Lake Maggiore, and another in Lugano, Switzerland, because why not pick up a country for the kids while we're in the area? Next up, a return to the playgrounds of New York with a quick trip to Los Angeles tossed in for good measure...

75 Days of Summer - Days 6-8

75 Days of Summer. The project continues, and the posts continue to lag. Vacation photos are coming to an end which will greatly reduce the volume of these updates! Here, a look at our last few days in Puglia. 

75 Days of Summer - Days 2-5

We are so very lucky to have wonderful friends in our lives - and then in an unnecessary effort to become even MORE wonderful, one of them decided to rent a gorgeous villa in Puglia to celebrate a milestone birthday. This trip has been in the works for almost a year, and we wouldn't have missed it for the world. 

Our first few days were spent relaxing by the pool, swimming in the sea, investigating a nearby grotto and watching Italy in the Euro 2016 Cup.  

8 Days a Week - July

For this month's edition of Eight Days a Week, a few different views of the Ionian Sea. The camera escaped with only mild splashing. Please head over to the Pacific Northwest to see what the ever talented Meghann Prouse found this month.  

8 Days a Week - June

Drum roll, please: I am an aunt! I got to meet my sweet, brand new, beautiful nephew this month and this guy is cemented into my heart. My brother and sister in law are already rocking the parenting thing and anyone who knows them simply marvels at how lucky their baby is to have such incredible parents. 

Please check out the full June edition of 8 Days a Week, starting with the amazing Meghann Prouse. 

 

 

One {April}

We took a quick trip upstate to visit Grandma and Pa over Spring Break, where I learned that one way to get a picture of the two of them together is to stick them in a tree where they can't get down. 

Please head out to the PNW, where my friend Krista creates images that are almost as beautiful as her heart.

75 Days of Summer - Day 12 - Arches National Park

I have high hopes of catching up on my posting soon, because the number of photos taken on Day 12 may equal the total number of photos I have taken in the subsequent two weeks. My desire to go to bed has won out over my desire to further whittle these down, so without further ado: far too many pictures of our day in Arches National Park - I think I liked the crazy clouds almost as much as the amazing geology. Gorgeous, fun and at times a little sweaty. Once again, our troopers trooped most successfully and I can't recommend this area of the world enough. 

75 Days of Summer - Glenwood Springs, CO (days 9-10)

Turns out, keeping up with a daily summer photo project is no challenge...when you're on a road trip. Last week, after a few days in Denver for my beautiful cousin's wedding, we headed off on a family adventure. First stop, Glenwood Springs, and a night at the gorgeous Hotel Colorado. We met with an infatuated turkey, had fun times in the hot springs (minus the camera) and found thrills in the air and underground.  

Photo 52.2: Framed {Week 41} - Cody 4th of July

In our second week of creativity exercises, we are focused on filling the frame with our subject or subjects. This can mean isolating a subject by eliminating distractions, creating a tight composition so that the subject quite literally fills the frame, focusing on details, or creating an image filled with multiple subjects that tell the story. 

Here are a few images from my Fourth of July, spent in Cody, Wyoming. This was a whole different kind of "street" photography for me, but this collection demonstrates a variety of ways to fill the frame. Please head over to Who We Become to see some of the beautiful portraits and other gorgeous images my friends found this week!

 


Photo 52.2: Framed {Week 40}

July, already! As we start to approach the end of P52.2: Framed, we will spend the month using a variety of photographic techniques and tools to imbue our images with a creative complexity. This week, our focus is on Depth of Field as a compositional element. For a great overview of depth of field - the technical details, how it is often used and why a photographer might make certain selections - please head over to Who We Become. 

As for my selections here, I like how these images form a story-telling series, in large part due to the changes in depth of field. I was shooting with a zoom lens, so while my aperture remained the same, these are examples of how depth of field changes substantially in a wide angle shot versus a tighter frame.  

Photo 52.2: Framed {week 7}

This week on Photo 52.2 we went in search of negative space as a balancing element in our images. This could mean using negative space as the subject, or using the space in an image to otherwise balance the subject. Really, I think we all just had fun taking a step back and getting some extra room into the frame. 

My shots this week were taken on a trip up to East Aurora, NY - the soon-to-be permanent residence of certain grandparents we happen to be quite fond of. Small boy + big dog + nature = what's not to love? Here are a few of my favorites shot with negative space in mind. Please click over to Who We Become and see what the rest of my wonderful friends have found this week!

Photo 52.2: Framed {week 4}

In our final week of geometric study, we at P.52.2 attempted to bring together as many of the techniques we have been practicing this month as possible: geometric framing, repeating elements and balance.   So it was with these goals in mind that I grabbed a few shots during our whirlwind weekend in D.C. Or "Washington, DeeDeeSee" as it was called by our small backseat driver. With a handful of others thrown in, just because. To see everyone's work this week, please click over to our collective blog, Who We Become. 

One {August}

August, a month of summer, a month of travel and a month of uninterrupted time with my small person. On one of my favorite moments on our recent trip west, he and I were up a little early and while we waited to join everyone for breakfast, we went and got hot chocolate (gasp!) and sat on a dock in the early morning sun. This image will always make me smile.     

My dear friend Kim has been off on some travels of her own. I can't wait to see what her One shot is this month.