Making Use...

Catching Up

366 days ago I made a post very similar to this one.  It's just that time of year, I guess.

I've been busy and the blog has slowed down.  You've probably noticed.  I'm shooting weddings every weekend and portraits in between, plus the odd event or other assignment here and there.  I like chaos, I think, so it's all good.  But there is little time for prepping blog posts.  I do have a lot to share, though, so don't give up on me!  

This week I ran up to New York during Photo Plus Expo.  I decided to go on Sunday and caught a train on Wednesday.  I had about 13 hours of train rides for 45 hours in the city.  I accomplished a lot on both the trains and the city sidewalks.  Ideal.

I carried my camera all the way up there and made one picture.  It was just too much for everyday.

 

Entrance, Greenpoint, October 23, 2009.

Here are some highlights from my quick trip:

--  Catching up with my friends from Maine Media Workshops.  Lots of laughter.

--  Galleries.  I crissc-rossed through the Chelsea galleries right after arriving and the next morning made my way to the Upper East Side.  Sally Mann at the Gagosian was my favorite, which I expected.  The prints are just really sumptuous, and I love the way she writes about the project.  

--  Lunch with Priya.  Nothing to do with photography.  Perfect pause in the middle of a busy day.

--  Four hours on the showroom floor at the Photo Plus trade show.  Picked up some swag, ran my fingers over my favorite products, decided on the Nikon D300s, chatted with friends and colleagues whom I kept happening upon.

--  Meeting up with Martin, my BFF from Apple, and sitting outside in the fresh afternoon air, drinking cold beverages and catching up on life.  We talked personal then business.   I tried so hard to get some details out of him about the future of Aperture, which is the program I use for photo management in my own office and at Nick's.  The conversation was something like this:

Meredith: "Soooo, is the new Aperture going to come out next month?  And will it be called 3.0 or 2.7?  And do you think it'll have color ratings and video capabilities...?"

Martin, looking over my shoulder: "Mmm... do you see that bird over there?  Is it dead?"

The man let no secrets slip.

--  Sangria and tapas with Dena, Gia, and Tiffany from Cypress.  So fun.  Such sweet ladies.  Great to finally put faces with the voices I hear when calling out to California.

--  Running into Steve Shames on the street.  We were in Uganda together in 2005.  We chatted about the kids I knew in Uganda and what they're up to today as we walked down 11th Avenue towards Aperture Foundation (not to be confused with Apple's Aperture software).  He told me all about the upcoming benefit auction for L.E.A.D. Uganda, one of several NGOs I support through my wedding business.

--  Sharing yummy pizza with Yvonne in Williamsburg.  It was my second full dinner that evening and earned me the nickname "fatty lover" in a text message from my husband.  I deserved it.

--  Janel and Anthony at Pete's Candy Store, also in Williamsburg.  Such a cool, cool venue with a little stage tucked into the back of what looks like an old train car.  Cozy, dark, with the sounds of the experimental guitar and cello duo.  Out back is a garden area with little lights and tables.  Then snagged a table to hang out with the musicians and my friends.

-- Talking LOOK3 business with Andrew over beers and discovering that we both, separately, dreamed up the same new role for me.  High fives all around.  More on that sweet new title later...

Great trip.  Fun and productive.  And I look forward to returning in December.

Now, for the blog, I have weddings, and portraits, and music, and other stories all COMING UP.  Stay tuned, please.

Polaroids From My Pockets

On Mother's Day 2006 I bought a Polaroid camera at Target in Topsham, Maine.  For the next year or two, I kept a visual diary in polaroids.  The photographs once lived in over-flowing piles on the edge of my desk.  They are now individually sleeved, filed by date and location, and stored in clamshell boxes with my other fine art portfolios.  I take them seriously.

Since it was a diary, I photographed a lot of nothing important.  Still, there are stories in there, stories of adventures in the woods and late nights with friends.  There are landscapes and portraits.  But mostly there are self-portraits.  

There are pictures of me on hilltops in Maine:

 

And pictures of me on rooftops in Manhattan:

 

And pictures of me on my brother in Virginia:

They are all keepers, no?

........

Polaroids are great for so many reasons.  Here are a few:

1.  They are fun.  Cool sound.  Cool process.  Everyone gets excited by the nearly instant gratification.  

2.  They are small.  The camera slips into any oversized purse.  The pictures fit in your armpit while developing.  Then they fit easily into the back pocket of your jeans.  Super convenient when journaling your life.

3.  Though they are, in fact, pricy, plastic treasures (used to be a dollar a pop, maybe moreso now!), Polaroids make you feel cheap.  In a good way.  Like, oh, I'm just gonna whip off some pictures of this or that and keep going.  No big deal.  Plus, you can buy the camera at Target, not just at some photo super store.

Despite these charms, I've more or less quit the polaroid journal.  When Polaroid started phasing out production of instant films in 2007, I decided it was time to move on.  Better to quit the habit before it quit me, you know?  But I've had a few packs of film floating around since then and have shot the odd frame here and there.

Sometime in the spring, maybe it was around the wedding, or when we were packing up to move to the pink house, I picked up one of Todd's little notebooks (the kind he keeps in his pocket for making lists and drawing diagrams of garden plots and other such things) and out fluttered this gem:

 

It was from an 8-week period in 2008 when I was brunette.  I blew the kiss not for my one-day-husband-to-be but for my younger brother on his birthday.  I never sent it.  (But there it is, Dave!  For you!)

Todd had stolen the polaroid off one of those messy piles on the edge of my desk.  And he kept it in his notebook, a picture of his love tucked inside his pocket, like a soldier keeping his girl close during a tour of duty.  I was so surprised.  It was sneaky and romantic.

........

A few weeks ago I discovered one remaining frame in my polaroid camera.  I was having a bad day.  Just feeling, well, pissy.  I took the camera to the front yard and made one last self-portrait of my sour expression.  Developed the picture in my armpit (heat helps the chemistry), scoffed at that wasted frame (I looked ugly), and tucked the picture into my jeans' pocket.

That night, after sulking around the house and getting after my husband for this or that (it was a bad day, remember), I went up to get ready for bed.  We ended up in the bathroom together and as I was going through the nightly routine, the picture fell out of my pocket and slid onto the bathroom floor.  Todd snatched it up and laughed loud, in that way that he does.  

"I was feeling pissy," I said, embarrassed, while he mockingly admired my expression.  

I reached for the picture.  

"I'm keeping it," he said.

........

The next night, he went to bed before I did.  I went into the bathroom, turned on the light, and saw it:

He had taped the polaroid to the window by the toilet and beside it had added a speech bubble.  It was Pissy Mere, saying something pissy to her husband.  It was so funny I screamed.  

........

The saga must continue.  I would like this or this for Christmas, please.

Tonight

Photographing Nature's Giants: Nick Nichols 

Hosts a Fundraiser for the Ivy Creek Foundation

 

Michael Nichols/National Geographic

Tonight, 8 pm, at the Paramount Theater in Charlottesville.  Be there or be square.

Curls

 

Henry, Schuyler, Virginia, October 6, 2009.

Country babies play with potatoes.

Coming up: Amy and Berkeley's Vermont wedding, a story about polaroids, more pictures from my own wedding, and a bit of twang.  You can hardly wait, can you?

Dream Big Dreams

Because if men can fly, anything is possible, no?

Memorial, Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, August 2008.

Coming up this week: Avery's portraits, a wedding preview, a little picture story, and who knows what else...  I like to surprise myself.

On the prowl (for that little something special).

I was doing some research (i.e. trolling the internet for images and inspiration) over lunch (a BLT with tomatoes from the garden!) today and discovered this woman on Garance Doré (a Parisian photographer/blogger with quite a bit of je ne sais quoi et tout ça):

Now I'm thinking that a bright green winter coat might be just what I need (okay, want).  So as we head into colder months ( e v e n t u a l l l l l l y , if you're in Virginia), I will have my eyes peeled.  

And if you would be so kind...  let me know where and when you see one in my size (not too big, not too small). 

Thanks so much.

P.S. I already have yellow shoes; no need to look for those.

And I'm Off

Going away for a week to my Hotel California (you know, that place you can never leave...).  There is no agenda for my week away but tentative plans have been made.  There will be treasure-hunting, and pie, and reunions, and fresh air, and photographs.  Of course.  And I will keep a keen eye out for my future homestead. 

I have pre-posted a few quickies here, in hopes that I don't lose my readership in my absence.   

*Don't go!*

And there is much to anticipate here upon my return:  a gorgeous wedding, portraits, Five Months In (!), and a recap of all the treasures, pie, reunions, and fresh air.  

Things For Everyday.

Do you know Polyvore.com?  You can make these sets of... things.  Kind of cool.  As a test, I collected some items that I rely on for everyday and created this collage.  

I give you, in no particular order:

1.  Laura Mercier Undercover Pot - Picked up this concealer before my wedding.  I don't actually wear make up every day and usually have a great aversion to anything that seems to cover my skin.  But if I'm dressing up and want to look like I sleep more than I actually do, this little pot seems to do the trick.

2.  Minnetonka Moccasin Thunderbird Boat Sole -  I bought a pair at a Western wear store while visiting my brother in Colorado a couple years ago.  They are comfortable, long-lasting, surprisingly versatile, and charmingly reminiscent of childhood.   I even had a seven-year old compliment me when I wore them to a summer party.   "I like your shoes," she said.  "They're like Sacagawea's."   

3.  Ball Mason Jars - I bought a dozen, large, widemouth jars to stock my shelves of my first kitchen in Maine.  They're inexpensive, easy to replace, and multipurpose.  We still use them in our kitchen today for drinks or flowers.  They're really all over the house, holding small stones, pencils, and water when painting...  What's not to love?

4.  Aviators - When I was about 11 I bought a pair of Ray Ban's because that's what my dad wore.  The aviator style continues to appeal to me (and Dad).  I now buy any cheap brand, as they seem to only last a year or so in my purse.  Urban Outfitters usually has a good supply.  

5.  Burt's Bees Lip Balm - My go-to lip choice.  I can't stand the feeling of lipstick and find most glosses too sticky.  I like Burt's Bees; it's simple, clean, and just feels good.  

6.  Natural Sugar Cubes - I buy La Perruche brand, which I can only find at Whole Foods.  The golden brown nuggets are perfect in my tea.   Also, they have a pretty sexy website.   Check it out. 

7.  Le  Creuset Enamel Cast Iron French Ovens - I got a gigantic one for Christmas this year (thanks, Santa) and we use it all the time for making soups, spaghetti sauces, and pulled pork.  These have a wonderful weight to them and cook and clean up beautifully.  I'd like to get another so that I can have a proper, McClure-style, chowder party this winter.  

8.  Strawberries - Have been a staple on our shopping lists for over a year now.   We put them on pancakes, oatmeal, green salads... They're delish.  We've recently committed to buying only organic strawberries, given the prevalence of fertilizers and chemicals used in the strawberry industry.   

9.  McCann's Irish Oatmeal - We eat Irish oatmeal probably 3-4 mornings a week.   Topped with fresh fruit and nuts, and maybe a little brown sugar, it is the breakfast of champions.  Unless you're having pancakes.

10.  Bobby Pins - I love 'em!  Little ones only, in my hair.  I've mastered the twisted updo with TWO pins, but I'll usually throw in more.  Just because.

11.  Hollister Orange County Denim Shorts - I bought similar Hollister shorts last summer.   Wear them a lot.  I wear my jeans to death so usually making my own cut-offs isn't even an option.  I'm not above spending money on distressed denim.  Though David scoffs at me for doing so.  

12.  Hasselblad cameras - I have been shooting a 1960's-era Hasselblad for a few years now.  I love it.  The camera belongs to my uncle and I take good care of it.  When he takes it back, I'll go buy my own.  The shape feels good in my hands, the viewfinder forces me to see differently, and the shutter sounds like a dream.

13.  Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil - These little pencils are pretty great.  They go on smooth, smudge easily, but they are long-lasting.  Also, they come in fun colors.  I like Underground, which is a metallic taupe.  It can work for everyday or be more dramatic depending on how heavy-handed you are.

13.  Bangles - I usually wear one or more.  My favorites are horn bracelets from Uganda but I also have some skinny gold ones from the islands and a couple of wooden ones that belonged to my mom.   I push them up until they are tight on my arm.  I don't know; that's just how I like to wear them.

14.  Sharpies - You can never have too many!  My favorites are extra fine point in black, which is perfect for labeling negatives or writing letters on heavy stock.  But really, you can never have too many of any Sharpie.    

What are the little items that float your boat everyday?

"Local Shutterbug Ties The Knot"

Oh, that title makes me giggle.  

My own wedding is featured in an article in HITCHED, the bi-annual wedding insert of the HOOK, which is on newsstands now.  

It is a strange experience in vulnerability to speak with a reporter and let them transcribe your words to create their own version of the story.  

"Do I sound idiotic?" I asked anxiously, when Todd brought the paper home to me last Wednesday night (hot off the presses, it was).  I greeted him in the driveway and started reading before I reached the front door.  

"Of course not," he assured me, though he did laugh aloud when I commented on a point here or there that he just knew would rub me funny.  

Stephanie Garcia, the writer, did a great job, and we are excited to see ourselves in smudgy newsprint.  

You can read the article here, if you don't have access to a hardcopy of the HOOK.  

Bean, this is for you.

P.S. Can anyone recommend a GPS for me? It's time to invest, I think.