Happy Birthday Mallory
Mallory is no ordinary kid. Our life is no ordinary life. These portraits are far from ordinary. They are so perfectly Mal.
Maumee Bay State Park was the location of choice this year. Wind? No problem. In fact, we loved it. I did take some more traditional portraits, but these are what it's all about. Being 6, on a beach, in the sun, running the show.
"Limitless undying love which shines around me like a million suns it calls me on and on across the universe.”
― John Lennon
Lex Meets the TMA
Today I had the great pleasure of photographing Alexa at my favorite spot, the Toledo Museum of Art. Lex's mom grew up with me. We had the same bus stop for a few years and my most vivid memory of her took place at the bus stop before school. Dirty Dancing had just come out and every girl on the planet wanted to see it. Though we were at an age where some of us were allowed and some of us were not. I was not. But I wanted to. I really wanted to. So one morning Meg whips out roughly 7 movie ticket stubs and waves them open like a poker hand. Each one says Dirty Dancing. And she may have mentioned that she would one day marry Patrick Swayze. Jealously brewed inside me for months until my mom caved and let me see the movie. Then I was all, "no, I'm marrying him. I already know how to spot my turns and mambo".
Anyway, it's always so fun to see childhood friends with their kids. Lex is so much like Meg. So full of personality with a sense of humor that could make anybody laugh. A great way to spend a Sunday afternoon. Lex took direction so well (from me). Meg was great at telling her to keep her mouth open and not to look weird. Lex was great at rolling her eyes at Meg. They both had crazy great hair. Somebody stole my gray card. (I don't blame them. That piece of cardboard is so rectangular.)
**I should probably mention that Meg brought me two bottles of booze in brown paper bags. I felt like a rock star carrying those across museum grounds to my car. One in each hand.
Meg and Alexa, I hope you like this little preview of our work today. The rest will be available for download soon!
And just for fun....The Giant Tire Swing!!!
This Obsession
All day, all night. I can't really focus on anything but images. I've always loved this, but lately it's so much more than that. I have to do something with it, but what? It has to be more than posing people in parks. It will come to me, I know. But if it could come to me sooner than later, I'd be super grateful.
So yesterday's mission was all about freelensing. It's hard. Super duper hard. So I had to do it, right? I still don't have it figured out, but I'll keep at it until my 50mm 1.8 shatters into a million pieces and I have to get a new one. At that point, I'll back off. Maybe.
Little background...freelensing is a way to get around dropping $1000 + on a tilt lens. You detach your lens from your camera, manually focus and tilt the lens to create the blur that you want. It also does cool stuff with the light. Here are a few shots from my first attempt at freelensing.
For more information on freelensing, check this out:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/content/how-freelensing
Artsy Fartsy
Since I'm on a gushing about Toledo roll, I'll keep it going and gush on our museum. It's only the best. THE BEST. Today Lydia and I drove over there with one mission. To photograph the Arts Commission's new mural. Next thing we know we are inside photographing the ceiling. If the museum is a drug, then I am a helpless addict.
Here are the favorites from today. And, please, if you are ever in Toledo, come to the museum. You won't regret it.
My Toledo
Today I grabbed the 6D and the nifty fifty and took a walk around Downtown Toledo. I love this little city. Always something to do, so artful, clean, safe and DELICIOUS. There is no shortage of good eats (and drinks) in Toledo. I just snapped shots of subtle things that caught my eye. But, I'm going to space them out with some of my favorite Toledo memories from the 10 years (wow) that I have lived here.
-Hand painted park bench in front of the Art Supply Depot on St. Clair.
Once husband had a gallery opening uptown. It was great. Lots of people came out and there were some good munchies. Best part? $5 ALL YOU CAN DRINK WINE. I'm not kidding. But, they were serving it in these tiny cups. So we had to keep going back to get more. Like every three minutes.
Husband and I drove separately because he had to set up. I had my dad's car because he was watching the girls. Well, mommy got soooo lit up that she couldn't find the car (I wasn't going to drive it, but husband wanted to know where it was so he could take my dad to it). Nope. No idea. And I didn't care. Not. At. All. I came home and walked right up to bed without even speaking to him. Husband took him downtown to find the car. Street after street pressing the lock button looking for flashing headlights. Oopsies.
- Building across from Clear Channel, very close to the Spaghetti Warehouse.
We recently sat through a dialogue with artist Varujan Boghosian at the museum. I hung on his every word. What an incredible talent and good human.
-Fire escape at the Durty Bird.
My fave friend and I took the kids to a Walleye game once and as we were descending the steps, I spilled my beer on my toddler's head. Yup.
-Warehouse building near Erie Street Market.
The Toledo Zoo Preschool. I met some pretty amazing people there. A few us still hang out all the time. I force myself on them. And two of them give us free dental for our kids. Right?!?!?
-Clear Channel building.
Downtown Latte. Um, best little coffee place EVER. I was there recently with my fave and we were bickering over who would pay. Ultimately, I won because I said "I still owe you for watching my lizard". I then looked at the server and said, "bet you didn't think you'd hear that today".
-Warehouse building near Erie Street Market.
We had Lydia's 6th birthday at a Mudhen's game. She threw out the first pitch. It went about 4 feet. And I thought my grandparents were going to melt. And fave spilled her entire beer on my niece. It was amazing.
-Building across from Clear Channel.
The Valentine Theater plays classic movies on fridays during the winter. Fave and I go see Gone With the Wind and It's a Wonderful Life. Two highlights of my year.
-Stained glass window at Spaghetti Warehouse.
Once I came home from a long work trip and fave made me go out for an overnight but wouldn't tell me what it was. I was annoyed. I wanted my bed. Husband made me go. I had to meet her in a loud bar. I sit at the bar and bartender gives me a Christmas Ale, a purple rubber duck, and a cupcake with a poptart stuck in it. I'm all "is this some kind of weird shot?". Bartender is all "it's from the ladies back there". I turn around and find a table full of internet friends (don't ask...it's legit I swear) from all over the country. I grabbed my beer and left fave at the bar by herself. Best night.
-Parking meter at Tony Packos.
Everything I've ever put in my mouth from Registry Bistro.
-Sidewalk grate in front of Clear Channel. Looks like an old loading tunnel.
I'll stop there. I love this city.