we roam | a video by ryan marshall

You know, I love a good story, and if you can't already tell, I'm a sucker for visual storytelling. Vimeo is my favorite channel.  With digital cameras also playing the role of the video recorder, it's no wonder that many photographers are also stepping over, and quite brilliantly may I add, into the realm of videography.  Ryan Marshall of Pacing the Panic Room is one such photographer.  And let me just say, he's a darn good storyteller, but as you'll see in this video, he is also one heck of a poet!  

ruche bridal . . . lavender & lace

 Once again, fashion company Ruche and the talented Stephanie Williams team up and pull together yet another a breathtaking new bridal lookbook.  Shot on location amongst the lavender fields of the Highland Springs Resort, every image is scented with nothing but beauty and glows with the most delicate of light.  

 

 

the inspiration that is tim walker

Fashion is the dream department of photography.

~Tim Walker

Extravagant sets.  Interesting characters.  Poetic imagery.

British fashion photographer, Tim Walker, has been wowing the readers of Vogue magazine, and the world around, with his dreamlike photographs for more than a decade.  A few years ago, I published a post here about Mr. Walker, and today I wanted to reintroduce him to you.  I find a lot of inspiration in hearing the processes in which artists create.  Recently, I came upon two interviews of Tim and thought that you may be interested in them as well.  Here is the first:

The second interview was done by Penny Martin for SHOWstudio's In Fashion series.  

Last year, the famed photographer has also taken on a new role:  director.  The Lost Explorer, his first film, is a 20 minute short based on the story of the same name by author Patrick McGrath.  The story tells of a girl who discovers a dying man, an anthropologist from Africa who has camped out behind her family's home in London, and the sequence of events that take place upon her discovery of him. Unfortunately, the film has only been seen here in the US in private screenings, mostly in New York.  However, should the film's trailer compel  you to see more, Tim has put together a book of stills from his movie.

With a newly revamped website, admirers of Tim's work will not be disappointed.  It features more galleries of his work, such as new projects and portraiture, as well as video.  A definite feast for the eyes!

Have a great weekend my friends! 

.the artist's voice :: an interview with erica steiner.

It is art that makes life, makes interest, makes importance and I know of no substitute whatever for  force and beauty of its process.  ~Max Eastman

 

When I think of the word reverie, often times the first thing that comes to mind are the imagery of paintings by California based artist, Erica Steiner.   I've been following Erica's work for several years now and over time, her art has simply continued to inspire.  There is such a spiritual quality to each of her paintings. The eloquent connection between the artist's hand and soul is evident with each brushstroke, and every detail, as if the painting itself is a beautiful conversation.  And perhaps this is why I adore her artwork so much.  Not too long ago, I finally decided to ask this talented sweetheart to share a bit about herself and her creativity with us.  Here is what she had to say.  [click on the images for a larger view]

KE:  There are many that say they knew very early on in life that some day they would become an artist.  Is this true for you?  At what point in your life did you realize you wanted to become an artist and what motivated you to pursue it as a full-time career?

ES:  Deep down I think I always knew I had it in me, but I definitely haven’t always been as in touch with that knowing as I am now.  Although there were times  in my youth when I was passionately devoted to making art—I’ve loved art, I think, since birth—it was not until I was in my late twenties, hiking on a mountain trail in Kauai, that I had an epiphany, a moment of clarity, and realized that it was time to make art my career.    Since then, things have been simpler—not always easy, of course, but simpler, and happier—because art gives me such a strong sense of purpose and continuity, a refuge, and a kind of psychic root system that keeps me grounded.

KE:  Your paintings are a wonderful explosion of color and texture!  One can easily get lost in your detail work.  Tell us a little bit about your style.

ES:  I try to achieve a sort of romantic or lyrical coming-together of artistic genres: abstraction, ornamentation, landscape, representation, with subtle elements of street and folk art, informed by an expansive, anthropological sensibility, and an essentially Californian, vibrant, Technicolor spirit.  There is definitely a strong decorative aspect to my work, which I consider essentially feminist at its core; my work is also very concerned with integration, with synthesis, with bringing together disparate stylistic elements whose origins span time and space (combining, for example, aspects of Aboriginal painting with elements of Victorian fashion, or images inspired by medieval Catholic illuminated manuscripts).  The influences can come from anywhere and are continually evolving; they come through experiences I have in my everyday life, or simply, from the ether.

KE:  Every artist has a Muse.  What would you say are your greatest sources of inspiration? 

ES:  I grew up on a farm in northern California which was fairly isolated, and I think that in a way, I felt more connected to nature, to land, than to people.  The land—our land, our farm—was so familiar, so intimately ours… not because we owned it (I don’t think people ever really own land), but because we belonged to it.  Perhaps for that reason, the natural world has always been, and probably will always be, my most vociferous muse.  These days, since I’m living on the coast, it’s more and more the ocean, the movement of it, the dangerous beauty of it that inspires me; the more time I spend here, the more its energy seems to inhabit my work.  

KE:  Your recent collection of work Heaven is Not The Wide Blue Sky has just recently been exhibited in Los Angeles at Edgar Varela Fine Arts.  How would you say this new series differs from your previous work?

ES:  I think because just before I started this series, I moved to a place that is both rural and relatively close to the city, the new work incorporates the ever-present influence of nature, as well as, for the first time, more industrial/ human-made landscape imagery.  This was a big change for me, and one that I had resisted for a long time, but the images were persistent in their wanting to be painted, and I finally relented. The result is a juxtaposition of geometric and human-made elements with the more feminine imagery of rebirth and renewal that has long been the mainstay of my work (lush floral imagery, psychedelic and textile-inspired patterns, gold leaf).  In addition, the work addresses the rapid environmental degradation currently taking place on the planet, incorporating occasionally catastrophic or apocalyptic imagery, including erupting volcanoes, nuclear reactors, and flooded land and city scapes.

KE:  In any of your travels, is there one particular memory you have that stands out in your mind? 

ES:  There is one, sort of hauntingly beautiful memory that comes to mind. I was nineteen, and staying in a losmen in a remote agricultural region of the Indonesian island of Flores.  It was a clear, chill, early November night, and, having arrived in the village after sundown, I decided to go out for a walk and explore.  By flashlight, I found a path through some nearby rice paddies, which lead to a footbridge and beyond it, a patch of forest that obscured the sky.  Finally, I found myself in a clearing, and spread out in front of me, a cemetery flush with candlelight, altars of flowers and photographs and clusters of saint’s candles flickering in glass jars.  The graves were not marked by stones but by wooden crosses, but still it seem­ed to me that they were very old, and as my eyes gradually adjusted to the light, human figures began to take form, standing, kneeling, embracing one another, and processing quietly like apparitions among the graves.  Later I would realize that I had encountered the ritualized celebration of the night when the veils between the worlds are said to be at their thinnest, All Saint’s Day, the Day of the Dead.  But in the moment, the beauty of the scene was so potent that it was all I could do to take it in.  It was a truly a dream-like, waking moment, a moment when I felt reality give in, just a little, and let me in on a secret.   

KE:  For fun, what is your all-time favorite movie?

ES:  I don’t think I could ever choose a favorite movie, but the movie that comes to mind, the first movie that really captured my imagination, was the infamous 1970’s musical, Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.  It was a spectacularly awful movie (renowned to be one of the worst ever made) based on the songs of Sergeant Pepper as interpreted by the Bee Gees.  My Dad, who was, and still is, a huge Beatles fan, took me to the Plaza movie theater in Petaluma to see it when I was five years old, and I fell madly in love with the music of Sergeant Pepper, my first passionate love affair with a work of art. 

KE:  Any words of wisdom?

ES:  Speaking of The Beatles, they taught me this when I was little, and I still think it’s true: All You Need Is Love. (Think about it.)

Find more of Erica's work, as well as dates for upcoming exhibitions, by visiting her website.  Also, be sure to check out Erica's  Facebook page.  Thanks so much for hanging out with us today friends!

 

.the story about a man and a lost roll of film.

There aren't that many YouTube videos out there that give me goosebumps, you know, the good kind that come from being emotionally moved.  I love a good adventure story!  I'm not talking about the kind of adventure story that involves the "good guys" fighting off the "bad guys" on the edge of a massive cliff in South America.  Nope.  My favorite adventure story is more personal.  An Ameliesque adventure where one person's random act of kindness not only takes them on an amazing journey, but also all those involved in the ultimate goal, whatever that may be.  And so, here is a true life "Amelie Boy" adventure that all started when a man, on a pair of "crappy, used cross-country skiis" glides along on a very snow covered Prospect Park and finds a roll of film. Here is his story. . .

 

 

Thanks to Elle for sharing!

.a year of mornings.

I love books.  I love books with pictures.  I love books about pictures.  I love books about people taking pictures, and sharing pictures, and . . . well you get the idea.  I first came across a copy of A Year of Mornings, a photo book based on the collaborative photo blog of Maria Alexandra Vettese and Stephanie Congdon Barnes, back during the holidays last year.  I didn't purchase it right away.  Honestly, I felt guilty for wanting to buy it (why?!  I have no idea.) so I waited.  That is until yesterday.  The year long documentation of mornings between two friends living 3191 miles apart is such an inspiration.  Their images reflect those quiet mornings we savor while at the breakfast table when the light is soft and very simply, perfect.  I needed this book.  It reminds me that it's okay to photograph stuff that we would normally blow off as mundane.  Not every photograph that we take has to be worthy of an art exhibit.  So, with that renewed frame of mind, I too shot a photograph before noon to document what my day consisted of.  Rags (aka the hubby's former white t-shirts) and furniture polish.  Not quite the glamorous side to the domestic life, but hey, at least my furniture's shiny! 

. be the storyteller.

I have learned a valuable lesson over the course of the last week or so.  Several lessons, actually.  But the one that stands out in my mind the most is this: when we no longer have stories to tell, we are not really living.  It is the stories of our lives that truly make up who we are.  I don't know about you, but I'm hoping my life makes for a good read.  I think back to the stories my GrandDad shared with me. . . over and over.   Ha! He knew they were pretty interesting and had even started to write his own memoir.  The title he was going to give it was Stories from the Sea Chest.  While he was in the hospital, I happened to find that sea chest in the spare room of his home.  When I opened it, I had expected to find typewriter paper bundled up with tales from his time in Egypt or Kure Island.  Instead I found an old pair of binoculars, and a lot of other odds and ends.  It was the binoculars that I thought were so interesting.  A glass piece was missing, but otherwise, it was still very much intact.  What did he see through these?  Where did he get it?  I'm sure if he were still here, sitting there in his worn, yet comfy green chair, he'd start his conversation with, "Oh, I haven't seen those in years.  It reminds me of the time when . . . "

Let's open up that heavy old door to that room filled with all our memories.  Pull out an old volume, the one coated with a thick layer of dust.  Open it up.  Do you remember any of these stories?  Do you have pictures?  I LOVE the ones with pictures!  What were your favorites?  I'd love for you to tell me about them.  Have I ever told you about the time I took a Greyhound bus from Nashville to Los Angeles and back?  If you ask, I will.  What new adventures would you like to embark on?  Tell me about those too.  Sit with me awhile friend, I have time.

Here is a video that I want to share with you.  This was filmed by Grant Howard and Kip Kubin, the two wonderful souls who gave my Grandpa the chance to be a music video "star."  You two are angels. 

.the doorways project::uganda.

Travel. Beauty. Connection. When I think of these three words, one name comes to mind. Lisa Field-Elliot, the Doorways Traveler. Today's post, however, is not really about the beautiful soul that is Lisa. Rather, this is a call for your attention and your support. Uganda. A country where men, women, and children - some older, some perhaps even much younger than you or I - have endured atrocities that I cannot even fathom. Each one a survivor. Each one with the fragile hope and prayer to live a life of freedom. Freedom from fear. Freedom from pain. Freedom to simply be. Many of us have hoped at some point in our lives, maybe even today, that we were in a position to be able to help, to take that flight across a vast ocean, to go beyond our own comfort zones and social networks, in order that we may have a part in seeing beautiful things happen for those who deserve it and much more. They have stories to tell, and I want to hear them. But I cannot make that trip. Not today. That is why I believe that we must help support someone who can. Lisa is the vessel that will be making this journey. On April 3rd, she will be in Uganda assisting Community Action Fund for Women of Africa (CAWFA) for two weeks, documenting the stories of those who have been supported by their work. It is there that she will be our hands, our ears, our heart. I cannot think of a more humble and generous individual that I would encourage than her.

"My heart breaks and leaps when I think about what is ahead. I am not pretending to have done this before. To have been somewhere and sat with women who have experienced the kind of atrocities that the women of Uganda have. These are the kinds of unthinkable things that fold into long and complicated stories of pain, struggle, and loss. But they are not the only stories that have to define these women and their families. While I am realistic and reverent toward the stories of death and devastation that I know I will hear and see in the faces of those I will listen to and photograph, what I hope to capture is the future of possibility that CAFWA is striving for. That and the basic human desire to be our fullest as women and as mothers that is the same no matter where we are." -Lisa, March 12, 2010

To learn more about how YOU can help make this journey possible, please take the time to visit Lisa's blog at www.doorwaystraveler.com. Also, to find out more about CAFWA and how you can help, visit them at www.cafwaafrica.org.

.bricks and light::avijit halder.

One of my favorite quotes of all-time oddly enough, comes from a Pixar movie.

Not everyone can become a great artist, but a great artist can come from anywhere.
~ Anton Ego, Ratatouille

It was nearly a year ago when I first discovered the documentary film, Born into Brothels, and wrote about it on my Reveries blog. It still remains as one of the most influential films in my life. Why? Because it documents three important things that I hold dear. Children. Photography. Hope. One of the eight children featured in this film was a boy by the name of Avijit. Throughout the film, one could not help but become attached to the young artist. His paintings and photographs spoke eloquently of the talents and possibilities that his life, his destiny, went beyond the streets of the red-light district of Kalcutta. Currently attending NYU studying film, nearly 10 years has passed since the filming of Born into Brothels, and this young man, whose future once hung in the balance, is a testament to the world that yes, a great artist can come from anywhere. And he has.

.flotsam.

Hello everyone! Hope many of you are enjoying the warmer, almost Spring-like weather! As for here in sunny Nashville, we are enjoying temps in the 60s! Woo hoo! I was going to share with you some pictures that I took while at the lake today, but every single image disappeared off my memory card!! I have NO idea what the heck happened. I browsed through each one in my camera. But the moment I put the card in the reader, they some how ::poof!:: vanished into thin air. Anyone have recommendations for image retrieval?! So, seeing that I don't have any new pictures to show you just yet, I did want to share with you all a book that has shot it's way into the softest spot of my heart.

flotsam: pronounced \flät-səm\; derived from the French word: floter, to float; meaning: floating wreckage of a ship or its cargo; floating debris


Now, many of you may have already figured out that I LOVE kids books. Some of them happen to be my favorites of all time. My new favorite is Flotsam, a Caldecott Award winning book by David Wiesner. This book truly is a picture book. There are no words, just windows of illustrations taking you down to the beach where a boy explores his surroundings and by chance, comes across a vintage, underwater camera. It's the adventure that this camera captured while on a voyage through the sea that blew me out of the water! A magical journey that children of all ages will surely enjoy.

.the third & the seventh::a video.

The Third & The Seventh from Alex Roman on Vimeo.

Watch this amazing video in full screen mode. You will be completely enthralled. I promise.

::shared via Facebook by David duChemin

.03::30::the anthropologist.

Such a simple question. Inspiration. The creative influence. Each person has their own definition, beyond that of what is defined in the good ol' dictionary, of what inspiration means to them. Whatever those may be, I truly believe that there is simply one thing that ties them all together. Love. For me, love is the greatest source of inspiration. It was love that inspired a father and daughter to take on a memorable journey across the American Southwest. It was a love for people and their stories that inspired this photographer to capture them on film. And it was love for a love story that inspired her to bring it to life on the big screen.

The Anthropologist:

"The Anthropologist is an online venue that exposes the passions and pursuits of emerging and established artists in the pursuit of inspiration.

More than a gallery, the Anthropologist is a virtual storybook where inspiring content is exposed, emotional connections are made and the creative process is illuminated."

~Anthropologie

On November 2nd, Anthropologie launched this brilliant site which currently features three wonderful and very talented artists: David Eustace, Andrew Zuckerman, and Jane Campion. Each one sharing with us a closer, and more intimate glimpse into their lives. I look forward to seeing more of what, or rather whom, the Anthropologist may inspire us with next, but until that time, I will sit here and enjoy this facsinating "virtual storybook." If you are looking for an answer to the question above, I suggest you do the same.

.deeply moving.

When I saw this video on a recent post by Rowena, I was absolutely captivated. A brilliant Ukrainian artist, Kseniya Simonova, beautifully creates these emotional scenes with sand animation. In this particular clip, she brings us to remembrance those who lived and died during World War II. . . please, stay and watch.

.JPG mag::Inspire Me.

I have been meaning to put up a post about this magazine for awhile now and FINALLY, here we go. Many of you may have heard of the photography publication JPG. In January of this year, the popular magazine announced that due to economical reasons, the publication would shut down. Of course, fans of this magazine would not except that and decided to do something about it. Another example of the "power in numbers" JPG was happy to let folks know that they are back in business. Although the actual publication of the long overdue Issue No. 20 is still in question, JPGs online site is cracking with folks sharing and voting for images to be included in upcoming issues. With a long list of themes and a handful of monthly challenges, JPG Mag online makes for a wonderful source of inspiration. To join the thousands of photographers who make up the JPG community, sign up for a free membership here.

October Challenge::Orange

.take time to.

Take the time to be courteous.
It is the mark of a gentleman.

Take time to play with children.
It is the joy of joys.

Take time to think.
It is the source of power.

Take time to play.
It is the secret of youth.

Take time to look around.
IT is too short a day to be selfish.

Take time to laugh.
It is the music of the soul.

Take time to read.
It is the fountain of wisdom.

Take time to be friendly.
It is the road to happiness.

Take time to love and be loved.
It is the privilege of the gods.

Take time to dream.
It is hitching your wagon to a star.

Take time to work.
It is the price of success.

Take time to live.
That is what time is for.

~The Los Angeles Herald

I found this worn, discolored, newspaper cutout within the pages of my Great-Grandmother Sylvia's copy of Streams in the Desert. I must say, I most definitely needed this today. Thank you, Grandma.

.caught up in a fine frenzy.

The latest addition to my ever expanding iTunes collection is the newest album by A Fine Frenzy, Bomb in a Birdcage. I have absolutely fallen in LOVE with it! Alison Sudol's gift for poetic lyrics and kick ass tunes can only mean that when this fiery red head merges these two together, you are left with nothing less than fabulous music! Below is a clip of her song, Blow Away. Yes, the video leans a little more towards "cheesy", but the song is just too much fun not to listen to!

.the road to peace.

As Autumn gently approaches, I find myself desiring more time spent in the midst of trees and the open air. It seems as if it is truly nature that is aiding me in my quest to free my mind of clutter, to once again regain a sense of peace. And thank goodness for it!

Where do we find peace?

Peace is in the rosy softness

of a new dawn breaking.

It's the sound of the wind

across a mountain peak.

It's the waves breaking as

they splash upon the beach,

The quiet and mystical beauty

of a snowflake drifting

silently downward

to a land blanketed in white.

Peace is the elusive kingdom

of the soul which God alone

in his love does hold.

~Unknown

.within the frame.

Hello everyone! For those of your who are wondering about when I will put my own photos up here, be patient! I will be leaving for Michigan tomorrow morning for 4 days. Honestly, I'm not sure what to expect when I get up there, but be rest assured, I will do my best to get some images to share with you! This may not be the cross country road trip that I had hoped for, but it's still a road trip right?!

Before I go, I wanted to share yet another book with you that has grasped my attention. As those of you who have known me for any bit of time, you will know that here lately, I have been struggling with my creative self. The photographer within has been bogged down with doubt, destructive self-criticism, and paralyzing fear. With the world of photography changing faster than it seems we can keep up, I feel like I've been overwhelmed, swept up by a torrent of pixels, textures, layers, and levels. Maybe it's just me, but sometimes I feel as if the importance of making the photograph at the moment it is captured has diminished some, replaced instead with how well we do in the post-production process. Don't get me wrong. I am not a purist. But sometimes, I wish I was, maybe then, I wouldn't feel so torn. Perhaps, I'm just thinking too much.

When I saw the title, Within the Frame: The Journey of Photographic Vision, my hope was that this was not going to be another technical "how-to" book. So, I was delighted to find that David duChemin set out to make sure his book would not fall into that category. Instead, his aim has been to help photographers best portray their "vision" to the world by focusing on the "why" we photograph as opposed to the "what". As an assigned photographer for the humanitarian organization, World Vision, duChemin's role has taken him across the globe, capturing inspiring images of the people and places he encounters. His very humble yet witty personality give his book a very down-to-earth feel, making the connection between writer and reader a pleasant one. Within the Frame is an encouraging and resourceful book for any photographer, amateur or professional, seeking ways to better tell their stories through photographs.

To see more images of his work, be sure to visit his website and blog. Also, he is offering his new eBook, 10, at a discounted price of $5 on Lulu.com.

.the pace of nature.

Adopt the pace of nature:

her secret is patience.

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Some say that immersing yourself in nature has a way of healing your soul. With the world in economic and political turmoil, sometimes it seems impossible to find peace. Closer to home, this is especially true when you're trying to balance making sure the bills are paid on time (or at least before they get cut off), work, home, spending quality time with family, and attempting to nurture your creativity. There are other things that can be added to the list, as I'm sure you have one. While reading Amanda Soule's The Creative Family (she has a new book out by the way) I came upon the chapter that touched on the topic of introducing and encouraging our children to play with natural objects such as leaves, rocks, sticks, etc. That's when I realized little Miss A. and I needed to make a trip out to Radnor Lake, a beautiful nature area right here in south Nashville.

It's probably been a good 7 years or so since my last visit to Radnor Lake. We made it out there around 10am. There was a good amount of people doing their morning walks, shaded by the trees along the trail that ran around the lake. With the little one holding my hand, we started our own little venture. Just a few yards in, we were greeted by some ladies who told us that there was a lot of wildlife around the trail, specifically some deer. Sure enough, just a few more yards away, we saw two deers nibbling away at some foliage. A. was thrilled! Of course, like many other inquisitive, animal loving two-year olds, she wanted to get closer to hug one. Fortunately, I caught her just in time to miss a patch of poison ivy. Fun! We continued on our trail. Flying bugs whizzing by our ears, terrifying the little one, so she ended up on my shoulders during a good portion of the walk. At some point, I realized that instead of slowing down to look at all the things around us, I was rushing through like many of the people who were passing by. That's when I stopped, and as I did, I just happened to look over to my right and saw a deer standing only a few feet away from us. It didn't flee. It just continued to snack away while we stood there and watched. After a little while, the woodland creature began to move on quietly, going deeper into the woods. The entire time we stood there, I saw that most of the passerbys never even noticed the deer. Their focus fixed on finishing the trail. Or maybe they have just become so used to the fact that these creatures are around. On our way back, I made a point to stop and allow A. to soak in her surroundings. She gathered some acorns, played with a furry little caterpillar, picked up a few rocks and sticks. Once we slowed our pace, it seemed as if the trail really started to come alive with even more wildlife. An owl flew above our heads in front of us, landing on a branch close by. Other birds, like red cardinals, made their presence known. Slowing our pace down made all the difference. It's amazing what you see when you do.

To lie sometimes on the grass under trees

on a summer's day,

listening to the murmur of the water,

or watching the clouds

float across the sky,

is by no means a waste of time.

~Sir John Lubbock

.a toast to great photography.

There are times when I wish, WISH!, I lived in Great Britain. Aside from the fact that my love is from Scotland and he says more times than I can count how he hopes to move back (me too! *wink*), I am truly in love with Toast. Specifically, the photographs that are captured and gracefully placed onto the pages that make up their catalogue. 'If you're already getting the catalogue, why move?' Shh! Have you heard of the Lake District?

Today, I was greeted with a new, much larger than usual, copy of their early fall catalogue. Once again, I was swept away into dreamy scenery and soft light. Don't get me wrong, I love their clothing line. . . but these photos!! So, who can we thank for the brilliant images like those that grace the pages displayed above? Jenny Zarins. Jenny, seriously, I thank you!!