My Momma came up to visit this weekend. We had a blast! She left yesterday and now I miss her terribly! 
Author Archives: Tri
me n momma
weekly photo challenge #25: cards
Weekly photo challenge #25 wasn’t a challenge for me. I have to admit – again – that I didn’t put too much heart into this photo since I was rushed to get on with my weekend in Seattle. It seems that these “weekly photos” pop up on me before I’m really prepared for them. But, I’m determined to keep up with the challenge. These 2 greeting cards are symbolic to me. The one on the left “gratitude” was recently sent from new friends – Jami and Nate. Kari and I met them about 1 month ago and we already feel as though we have a bond with them. The card on the right was recently given to me from a long time Golden friend who I’ve known for about 26years. She will always be golden, because we have a genuine respect for one another – as well as being able to make one another laugh with our “child-like humor”. Almost like sisters.
Friendship has taken on a heightened meaning to me. I feel as though – in my old age – HAHAHAH- that I desire true friendship. I desire to be surrounded by people who I really care about and love – and people who respect and love me. Since I moved to Portland – it’s taken me some time to really launch into some good, wholesome and true friendships. I’ve become more picky about who I surround myself with. I no longer have tolerance for faux people. I no longer have tolerance for FLAKEY people. I only have tolerance for friends who really want to spend good, quality time with me and Kari. And, the friendships I’ve made recently are pretty right on with that!
Cheers to friendship!
The Autumn
| The Autumn | |
| Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1833) | |
Go, sit upon the lofty hill, And turn your eyes around, Where waving woods and waters wild Do hymn an autumn sound. The summer sun is faint on them — The summer flowers depart — Sit still — as all transform’d to stone, Except your musing heart. How there you sat in summer-time, Oh! like that wind, is all the mirth The dearest hands that clasp our hands, — Hear not the wind — view not the woods; |
“Raw n Dirty” photo shoot with Shi
I am just coming off of an amazing weekend adventure with Shi and the “raw n dirty” photo shoot I did with her!
It’s really hard to put into words what type of experience it was for me as a photographer to be part of this photo shoot. So many people who don’t know Shi very very are wondering why she even did this … uh… type of shoot. And, that is also very hard to explain.
If I can explain it at all – let me give it a try.
Shi is a brilliant biochemist post-doctoral research scientist. Shi has been through a lot personal over the last so many years. If it helps at all to understand the essence of Shi; she is a sweet, thoughtful, unassuming, and a very “everyday normal person”. So, this shoot these photos you see of her – are not normal for her to exhibit herself in.
She has needed to find some type of outlet – to confront, release and purge certain aspects of herself. And, submerging herself within the dirt and earth is one of the ways that has fostered her metamorphosis.
The entire photo shoot – which lasted about 45 mins to an hour was VERY intense, very emotional, and a major release.
I feel as though it was an honor for me to be able to witness Shi is her “process”. I also feel as if witnessing her experience – helped me to work through a little bit of my own emotions about life changes.
It’s now been more than 24 hrs since the photo shoot and still I’m feeling very raw in my own emotions around this process. It was an amazing experience to have been part of it; to cast Shi in the light and process that she has needed to see of herself in order to move through her “stuff”.
We are already discussing a couple more future photo shoots. Maybe not as intense than this one, but still a photo shoot that will “break the average mold”.
Thank you, Shi!!!! \m/ \m/ You *ROCK*!!!!
weekly photo challenge #24 – color = yellow
yellow
weekly photo challenge #24 somehow was a cinch. I knew this week would creep up on me since I’ve been uber busy as usual. yay. However, the moment I found some time to capture yellow via my iPhone 3G while sitting at my desk – the yellow sticky notes jumped out at me. Yep, I’m a sticky note whore. I’ve got ‘em all over my monitor, desktop, the walls, and even on my office window. Sometimes I think I need to find a better system of reminding myself to do things, but then I realize that I have about 2 other reminder systems running simultaneously. Sheeeesh!
In other news, I’m really excited to do another photo shoot tomorrow. It is with a good friend – Shilah. Shilah is a brilliant post-doctoral biochemist genius who runs a lab at PSU. She has decided that she wants to do an edgy photo shoot of herself; something totally out of character or perhaps her alter ego. She has told me that her shoot will entail mud and being tied to a tree. This should be fun and interesting! Of course, I’ll should have some sneak peak photos from the shoot to post next week.
Happy Friday!!!!!!
Kari crossed the Finish Line on 10/10/10 at Portland’s Marathon
I am so proud of Kari! She ran a half marathon on Sunday in loving memory of her brother, Kevin Strong. Her older brother died when he was 13 from leukemia. Kari and Kevin were two peas in a pod. Ever since his death, she has never forgotten him and many times talks about how much she would love to hang out with him in their adult lives. So, running 13.1 miles in memory of Kevin was the least she could do to bring his spirit back to life.
A bit about her journey with Team in Training….back in May, Kari was determined to get back into shape and start feeling better about herself. She decided to join Team in Training in order to walk in Portland half marathon. She was quickly convinced at the Team in Training info meeting to run the half marathon. A few arms twists and she was signed up!
Through the months of training, Kari fretted, and was tired and sore. She was concerned that maybe she signed up for something too hard. But, with determination and a ton of support – she did it!
On Sunday 10-10-10, Kari ran 13.1 miles. I am so proud of her!!!! She did it all on her own. Kari had said that the first 10 or so miles she ran with a couple of team mates which really helped her. The final stretch was a push for her, but she was determined to finish! WOhooooooo! Yay, Kari!!!!!!
2nd year blog
If you follow my blog much, you’ve probably noticed that I haven’t been posting a daily photo in a few weeks. I past the 1 year anniversary mark on September 30th with this daily blog. My original challenge for myself was to go out, take daily photos, and conquer the camera. I think the personal challenge was great practice for myself as well as an opportunity to display my work as it evolved. I think if I hadn’t made the challenge for myself, that I wouldn’t had made the creative habit of doing photography. Who knows, maybe I wouldn’t be so intrigued by the world of photography. I do know that I love the camera – especially my newest toy the Canon XS (EOS 1000D). I have also most recently become much more interested in lifestyle portraiture – since my photo shoot with Bibi McGill. Wohoooooo! What fun that was! Thanks again, Bibi!
So, now that I’ve moved into my second year of hosting this blog – I’m currently pondering what my new challenge will be or rather my new themes for the blog will be. If you have any good ideas, please do share. I have truly appreciated your interest and comments you’ve posted along the way too. Thanks, subscribers!
testing testing 1, 2, 3.
Yipeee! i got my new camera! It’s a Canon Rebel XS 1000D. I also picked up a HOYA filter. I am a happy camper! Wohooooo!
weekly photo challenge #22: eyes
I took a trip to Northern California to fertilize my crops – aka – nurture some of my lifetime friendships. My main reason for going was to see a dear, sweet friend who is battling the ole evil “cancer”. And, a full report is that she’s doing great and has an amazing outlook on her life. She’s going to be cured and move on from this stuff she’s been going through and begin to live her life again – she says. Yay! Yippeeee! What a great outlook on her life she has! We had a wonderful visit which was of course not long enough.
While I was in Sacramento for a quick passing through trip, I got to see my new niece “Rhoda Mae”. Isn’t she adorable?!?!!! And, I think she did a perfect job posing with my iPhone 3Gs for this week’s weekly photo challenge #22 – eyes. Thanks, sweet baby girl! I miss you already!
…a queer divine dissatisfaction
“There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all of time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and it will be lost. The world will not have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is nor how valuable nor how it compares with other expressions. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open. You do not even have to believe in yourself or your work. You have to keep yourself open and aware to the urges that motivate you. Keep the channel open. … No artist is pleased. [There is] no satisfaction whatever at any time. There is only a queer divine dissatisfaction, a blessed unrest that keeps us marching and makes us more alive than the others.”
- -from The Life and Work of Martha Graham
