Transformation
"Change and growth take place when a person has risked herself and dares to become involved with experimenting with her own life."
- Herbert Otto
Beauty...
"Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul." - John Muir
Where do you dream?
I'm a fan of café culture. Sipping coffee at a leisurely pace, in a beautiful space... it's a form of meditation for me. I'm often accompanied by a book, a friend, journal, or all of the above. Slowing down, connecting, reflecting. It gives my monkey brain a container for dreaming, for seeing past my external circumstances. Where do you dream?
Happy Fall!
"How beautifully leaves grow old. How full of light and color are their last days." -John Burroughs
How will you light and color your days?
Journey...
"Life is pure adventure, and the sooner we realize that, the sooner we will be able to treat life as art." - Maya Angelou
Dreaming...
"Sometimes on the way to your dream, you get lost and find a better one." - Lisa Hammond
Rebecca + Evan (part 2)
This was a special afternoon. The light was dreamy, a slight breeze kept those pesky mosquitoes (mostly) at bay, and Rebecca and Evan brought the love. It was my first engagement session at Chatfield Resevoir, and I will be back. The car was a sweet bonus (more about that later). How fun to play with a Model A!
Friends as Superheroes...
Friends are the superheroes of life. Their powers are more subtle than Superman, but no less dynamic. They possess the ability to make us laugh in times of sadness, listen in ways that make us feel important, help us see (and appreciate!) the brilliant absurdities of life, and feel connected to something bigger than ourselves.
This month I lost one of my heroines. She departed as mythically as she lived. She was a light in the world; enchanting all she met with her grace, warmth and humor. We were college roomates and friends for twenty-two years. As I try to comprehend the loss, I ask myself "what would Carrie do?" She always knew the perfect thing to say... a balance between pragmatic wisdom, and wit. How do we get through this in a meaningful way? I feel awkward and raw.
In the weeks that have passed, I have been comforted by the show of support for her family, the reunion of old friends, and our capacity for love and humor in the face of grief. There have been some breathtakingly beautiful moments. Our journey is just beginning; we will ache for a long time. In the meantime, I will strive to meet each day with an open heart, practice kindness with myself (and others), and keep looking for the delighfully wacky in life.
Goodbye, my friend.
Happy Summer.
Friends recently gathered to celebrate a birthday, and learn a little more about the art of wine tasting. It was the perfect combination of weather, food and company that made for a memorable summer night. I hope there are many more to come. Happy summer! Cheers.
Carolyn...
Carolyn is lovely and easy to photograph... but what made our brief session extra special was our location. We used the empty rooms of her home as our studio. Carolyn and her husband are expecting their second son shortly, and they are moving to accommodate their growing family. It was four days before closing, and a chance to say goodbye to the home where it all began.
Faces...
I love when I can have an infant's mom standing just behind me to help generate some expressions... works like a charm.
Spring! (part II)
I found out that the pink tree is, indeed, a type of magnolia... a Jane Magnolia. I love it! Its pink blooms have given me (and many passersby) a smile this warm March.
Desert Dreaming...
Last week I attended WPPI for the first time. WPPI, you ask? More than 15,000 photographers gathered in Las Vegas for one of the industry's largest trade shows. Hopped-up on caffeine, sleep-deprivation, and creative inspiration, I made my way to the desert for the "We Bring the Sun" event (With Etiquette). On the bus ride, I met Lynn (Lynn in Love Photo). We had an impromptu portrait session in the early light. Then we listened to Jesh de Rox, Kelli Schaefer, and The Ravishers. Excellent and incongruent. A rare experience of visual and auditory beauty with an intimate crowd. So good.
February Frost...
(From my cell phone) Saw this guy on a walk in the Congress Park neighborhood yesterday. I smiled.
Cynthia's Juju...
It's February and frigid! (-14 last night) Brrr! I'm sitting with a warm cup of tea in my hands, and thinking about my to-do list. Normally, a heavy sigh would follow. So many goals... how to keep it all sorted out, and moving forward? Then I remembered an ingenious technique that my friend Cynthia showed me... "mind mapping." Cynthia Morris is a writer, coach, and bonne vivante extraordinaire. As I sat in brief overwhelm this morning, I was reminded of the technique. A few minutes with a pen and notebook... and voila! The clutter was out of my head, and a clear path of action was on paper. You can learn about mind mapping and other helpful tips for living a creative life on her website www.original impulse.com I love the Juju Infusion videos... that's where you'll learn about mind mapping and so much more.
Here are a few photos of Cynthia from the fall.
Nicole + Jackson...
Last month I had the pleasure of photographing Nicole and Jackson's intimate fall wedding. Denver's Confluence Park was the setting for their nuptials. They are a captivating couple, and they have lovely family and friends to boot. Hugs and smiles all around... a simple, sweet and elegant affair. It was the kind of day that makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside, and reminds you of the basic goodness of life. Cheers to you!
Leaving on a jet plane....
Tomorrow I'm off to New York City! Yippee.
