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75 Days of Summer - Days 13-16

On Day 13 of our summer vacation we said farewell to Utah and headed back to Colorado for the last few days of our travels, taking a lunch break to dust off some dinosaur bones in Fruita before heading to the cool mountain air.

Much of Day 14 was spent on a hike in Snowmass. We rode a gondola to the top of the mountain, then made our way back down. Cue the Sound of Music soundtrack - the views were spectacular. 

We took the more circuitous route back to Denver on Day 15, venturing across Independence Pass to check out a ghost town and play in the snow at the Continental Divide. En route was Leadville, Colorado, the town where my grandmother grew up. We even located her old family home.

As we made our way towards the airport hotel, we stopped in to see my dear friend Sarah. She fed us amazing food and let us help feed her koi. The next morning, with a last wave at the giant stallion sculpture at the airport, on Day 16 our trip came to an end. 

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 - Day 11 - Canyonlands National Park

The trouble with trying to photograph the incredible views from the Island in the Sky is that nothing can do justice to the beauty and sheer scope of this place. It's also hard to convey how high we were in some of these - the trails were not always easy but our little hiker barely paused for breath (and I tried not to panic while he carefully peered over the cliff edges). While we had a great time in Arches (day 12!), it was Canyonlands that stole my heart.

Here, an over-abundance of photos from our day in the clouds:

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.  

P52.3 - Perspectives {Week 4: Translucent}

I went to Chicago last weekend and brought my 35mm film camera with no auto focus because I want to force myself to shoot more film/like to torment myself, as you wish. More images to come, but I liked the light shimmering through the spring trees for our translucent theme this week. Go check out Who We Become, it's such a fun collection this week!

Fujicolor Superia 800

Interlude in Frankfurt

I'm fairly certain that if you had 36 hours in Frankfurt with one of your dearest friends and lovely temperate weather, you would also spend your time drinking beer, eating at great restaurants and wandering around aimlessly with your cameras while chatting endlessly. I can guarantee that you would also find the old but functional people-lift in your hotel irresistible. A mini-album of our fun. 

Oresman Gallery Exhibit 2015!

Hello! I am so excited to be presenting a new body of work with my friend and co-exhibitor Justine Knight at the Oresman Gallery this month. This year, our exhibit showcases some of our travel photography as well as a few local favorites. Thank you so much to the Oresman Gallery for inviting us back!

For anyone in the area, we will be hosting a casual and kid-friendly reception at the Library this Saturday, January 10th. We hope to see you there!

Photo 52.2: Framed {Week 50}

It is a little sad and daunting to come to the end of a long-term project. As I nearly cross the finish line for our second 52 week collaboration, I find myself with much to think about, both in life and photography (and where the two meet). And so, our theme for week 50 struck me as particularly relevant because I am feeling very out of focus at the moment.

Intentionally out of focus imagery can be beautiful and I do have a few scattered throughout my portfolio. I love the soft ambiance and anonymity they evoke. However, shooting out of focus images is not truly my style, so in an effort to shake off all that has been clouding over my brain these past few months, I used a beautiful sunset at the Great Salt Lake this weekend to create a sense of softness but with some identifiable focal plane. All of my mumblings aside, at the very least, who doesn't enjoy a beautiful sunset? 

Please head over to Who We Become and see everyone else's perspectives. And since some of my friends were with me in Utah, you may get another look at this lovely scene. 

Photo 52.2: Framed {Week 42} - Subject Isolation

Warning, more vacation photos ahead. They may just keep on coming because I have cut myself off from the camera until I wade my way through them.

This week on P.52 we continue our exploration of creative compositions with a focus on subject isolation. This can mean using any number of techniques - lighting, depth of field, framing, etc. - in order to make a subject stand out. However, an alternative interpretation is isolation as a subject itself and this is how I chose to approach the week's theme. 

The vastness of the western United States is astonishing and for me, a feeling of isolation, particularly as it pertains to scope and solitude, abounds. Below are a few favorite shots that embody my take on subject: isolation. 

Please click on over to Who We Become to see everyone else's beautiful work this week!

Tree Skeletons - Yellowstone National Park, WY

Orange Kayak - Grand Teton National Park, WY

Yellowstone Lake - Yellowstone National Park, WY

Legend Rock Petroglyphs - Hamilton Dome, WY

Generations - Cody, WY

Moonrise - Yellowstone National Park, WY

Abandoned School Yard - Hamilton Dome, WY

Oil Derricks - Hamilton Dome, WY

Antler Motel - Jackson, WY


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.  

Photo 52: A Play on Light {37}

It's week 3 of diffuse light in the Photo 52 blog circle. And yes, it's more vacation photos from me. This time, Prague. Our weather there was a little less desirable than in Berlin, but rainy skies meant I had no shortage of diffuse light. 

​For anyone new to the blog circle, my introductory post can be found here. Please continue along to see what my fellow participants have found this week, beginning north of the border, with my friend Kennedy Tinsley.