One thing I know for sure after going through all of my images from last month's spring break trip is that I take WAY too many photos. Here is a glimpse of some of my favorites from our trip to Moab, Utah.
Now be sure to follow the circle and check out the amazing photographers that participate in this project. Up next isRoxanne Bryant who's work is a dream…
I was recently lucky enough to get to go to Maui, Hawaii with just my husband. Kid free time proved to be good for my soul as I knew it would be. I am an explorer and adventurer at heart. I love to roam, explore and try new things. I felt like my old self (young and kid free)…getting to do all the things I love without a care in the world. Sigh… I had a few photo mishaps on this trip….first my camera plus app with the first half of my trips iPhone pictures got deleted by my leg in a bumpy jeep ride on the road to Hana…(tear). Then on our boat trip to Molokini my underwater housing for my "real" camera failed out in the ocean while we were snorkeling (multiple tears) leaving me camera less for the second half of my trip. Thank goodness for my iPhone. I give you what exploring Maui looks like….
And now for the iPhone version of the trip…
Now be sure to go see what Kelsey Gerhard's (who is beyond talented) month looks like…
Kaleidoscope is derived from the Ancient Greek (kalos), “beautiful, beauty” (eidos), “that which is seen: form, shape” and (skopeo), “to look to, to examine.” Hence “observation of beautiful forms.”
We are a group of friends, moms, visual artists and photographers from around the world who are passionate about capturing images of the real, the messy and the magical-the wonder of the everyday. Like a kaleidoscope, our photographs are playful and experimental, ever-changing and infused with light and colour. Once a month, we assemble a single mosaic comprised of our collective pictorial tiles, one submitted by each of us, that reflect the shared meaning and beauty in our lives.
I'm beyond honored to be a part of this project with an amazingly talented and creative group of mothers and photographers. Be sure to check out the Kaleidoscope website this month so see all my talented friends view of their part of the world…you won't be disappointed…PROMISE!
She told me I had "two minutes" and I think we made them count. It's amazing how much 2 short minutes can feed my creative soul…
A few weeks back we went on a little road trip down to southern Utah where it's usually significantly warmer. It was a nice reprieve from the cold. We got some much needed outdoor exploring time. This month I give you "What President's Day Weekend Looks Like". I'll warn you in advance, it's a REALLY long one…
See, I told you it was long. Now head over to Wendy VonSosen Photography who just got back from Field Trip to see what that looks like…pretty cool I am sure!
Last year I participated in a "10 on 10" project with some of my favorite ladies. This year we are doing something a little different. We are starting a new project called "Kaleidoscope". (brainchild of Bee Chalmers who is a fav of mine) Kaleidoscope is derived from the Ancient Greek (kalos), “beautiful, beauty” (eidos), “that which is seen: form, shape” and (skopeo), “to look to, to examine.” Hence “observation of beautiful forms.”
We are a group of friends, moms, visual artists and photographers from around the world who are passionate about capturing images of the real, the messy and the magical-the wonder of the everyday. Like a kaleidoscope, our photographs are playful and experimental, ever-changing and infused with light and colour. Once a month, we assemble a single mosaic comprised of our collective pictorial tiles, one submitted by each of us, that reflect the shared meaning and beauty in our lives.
I absolutely love seeing all of our different voices and perspectives all together in one place. I am excited to see how it all unfolds this year…be sure go here to check it out. And if you want to find Kaleidoscope on FB go here.
And here are a few images from an outing to the Great Salt Lake I did with my youngest one snowy morning while everyone else was at school. I feel most alive and happy when I am outside exploring. I don't get to do much of that in the wintertime. This day I decided to get out there anyways despite the cold and I'm glad I did…the earth is a pretty amazing place.
Now really…go check out Kaleidoscope
It's been a few months since "what ____ looks like" has posted. I am glad we are back and with a couple new girls this time around. If I am honest, I am pretty sick of winter but that is all we have around here these days. I almost posted some unblogged summer time images because I need a little sunshine in my life but in the end went with what is right outside my door. This month I give you "what a snowy walk looks like". It was just the two of us on this particular morning. I've really been enjoying my one on one time with her while everyone else is at school…
Now be sure to go see what El Hogan has in store this month…she is new to our awesome little group this year and I couldn't adore her work more than I do. You must go look I tell you!
If this is your first time visiting my blog or if you missed previous editions of "what ____ looks like" go here, here, here, here, here, here, and here!
This post may ruffle a few feathers but it is something that has really been eating at me lately so I am going to just say it. I'm not one to air all my grievances and complaints online. I just don't. Does it mean life is perfect? NO WAY! Do I ever complain? YES. I just complain to my friends and my family (I am in NO WAY knocking anyone who does air their stuff..to each their own). Am I fake because of this? Well ask anyone who knows me and they will tell you that I am NOT fake at all…not a phony bone in my body. What is real? Is there such a thing as a "real" image? You hear this term used as a description of lots of photographers and their images. I think that is a matter of opinion. Yes, some images feel more "real" to me than others but what is real to me may not ring true to you. I have a pretty good life. I don't have a lot to complain about. Hard things have happened in my life. I have had to work hard at many things in my life. I have struggles and frustrations on a daily basis. but I also have SO much good in my life. I am happy. I always choose to focus on the good vs the negative. I don't like to concentrate on my struggles. Is this fake? Am I living a life that is glazed over? Not in the least. That's just me. That is how I have always been. I like being happy. I truly believe that your life is what you make of it. You can't control other people and the circumstances that you were born into but you can choose what you do with what you were given. Does this mean I walk around all giddy and laughing all the time? NO! I can be quite impatient. I feel grumpy on a daily basis but I don't like drama and contention. I would rather feel peace and joy so I do things in my life that help me to feel that way.
Sometimes I show happy images. Kids are generally pretty happy beings when they are loved and cared for. Of course I am not denying the moody tantrums, drama, and meltdowns that come with kids…or teenagers and adults for that matter but happiness and joy aren't phony or glazed over emotions. I feel like there is a trend lately that in order to be "real", "raw", and "artistic" you can't show happiness or fun. I think there is space for all kinds of images…the happy ones, the sad ones, the raw ones, the beautiful ones, the gritty ones, and any other kind you can think of. There are a lot of photographers out there and a lot of different viewpoints. I hate when I see people put others into certain classifications. Can't we all be friends or at least respectful? Aren't we all adults? Do we really need to relive the junior high or high school years where you deicide what kind of person someone is by the clothes they wear or the music they listen to? Can't we appreciate images that are different from what we produce without thinking they are less than someone else's? You can actually learn a lot from things and people who are different from you. Who am I to judge if someone's images are "real" when we all have different realities? And let's just be REALLY honest from one photographer to another. We all manipulate something to make an image. Some of us may manipulate light, some may manipulate our subjects, but pictures will never be real life. They are creations of the photographer. I would venture to say that the very most hardcore documentary style photographer manipulates something to create a photograph. Now that is the most real thing I have said yet.
I'm just sort of sick of the "cool kid club" mentality…and the mocking. It repulsed me in high school and it still does. I know it's part of life…it's just a part of life I hate. Even though I don't want to hang out with everyone I meet, I have learned that even someone who totally annoys me has good qualities. I could probably learn something from almost every person walking this earth. I'm not saying this from a bitter place. I have always had friends from all different walks of life. I don't feel like it has been a struggle for people to accept me…but I have usually been pretty accepting, I'm sure someone out there could tell a story about me where I was less than kind. I am human and I know I have hurt people in the past so I'm not saying I'm perfect. I am not saying I have never mocked. I just wish people would be kinder and more understanding of different voices. There is no time for ego.We all have something to say.
I have decided to take the Facebook app off my phone, at least for now. I think as an industry and culture we are all a bit too obsessed with it all. I love Facebook and social media don't get me wrong. I am so so grateful for it and for the connections I have made and the opportunities that have come from it. I will still be checking it daily and posting like I always do…just no longer from the carpool lane or in the parking lot while I am waiting for my son to come out of basketball practice, or my daughter out of dance.I think we all need to stop worrying about who is collaborating with who and who's images are phony and glazed over. Yeah, I don't fall in love every image I see but I don't look at images I don't get and think "well that sucks" or "I am way better than that". We should all get off social media more often, stop comparing ourselves to anyone else, and go out and shoot something cool. Something that is personally meaningful and that ignites that creative flutter inside yourself. That's where the magic happens….enough said.
Now this is a photography blog right? So of course I have to show some more glazed over, happy images..
I kid. I kid….please don't take this post too seriously. It feels good to get this off my chest and I just felt like being "real", open, and honest about my thoughts. My intention is not to cause contention or bad feelings…just to slow down and think about how we treat the people around us…and believe me this post is preaching to myself as much as the next guy!
xoxo,
Summer
My fabulously talented and cool "10 on 10" group from last year is sticking together for another year…BUT we have something different in the works starting next month. Stay tuned because it is going to be awesome. For this months post we decided to post some of our favorites from 2013. Not an easy task I tell you. I am a horrible decision maker when it comes to picking the best of my own work…I get too attached to them all for different reasons so I decided to post only favorites from my personal work and not include any client work. I'm sure I left out lots of images that should have been included and included images that should have not been but OH WELL! Now be sure to head over to Melissa Weicker's blog (whose work I love and adore) to see what eye candy she has for us this month...
I hope that these images will stand the test of time and that in 10 years when this Momma looks back on these they will transport her back to this fleeting time in her life. It passes so quickly.
It's been cold here…really really cold. So cold that we can hardly stand to be outside for more than 10 minutes. I have been missing shooting outside. So on Saturday when we pulled into our garage and the snow was coming down in huge flakes, I had to take advantage of the available light….which was a streetlight. Turns out snow looks really cool all lit up by a streetlight. Also turns out you have to shoot quick when the snow is coming down this hard or your gear gets wet and your fingers fall off from frostbite. She gave me only about 3 minutes and I got one of my favorite images I have shot in a while. Glad we took a couple minutes to do this. Sometimes it's hard to stop what you are doing and seize opportunities like this. This almost makes me rethink doing a 365….I really am considering a 182.5, The question is…what does a .5 image look like?
Here we go with the final 1o on 1o this year…and once again I can't stick to 10 images. These images were actually shot in October and I have yet to find time to share them. Why not now? Nothing like parking your car at a park in the dark, turning on some music and letting the kids go wild. Headlights of a car make for a pretty cool light source. Dancing in the dark makes for some carefree kids and lots and lots of laughing which is my idea of a good time!
Have I mentioned that this group of photographers that are in this 10 0n 10 blog circle are pretty amazing? They really are and you should defineltly check out Ashely Meiners who is up next in the circle if you want to see some awesomeness.
I can't believe I made it through the whole month. I had been contemplating a 365 project but after this whole month of posting daily, I'm not sure I'm ready to commit. I shoot pretty regularly anyways. Not sure I want to put that pressure on myself but gives me a new respect for some of my fellow photogs who complete 365 projects. That's a HUGE accomplishment! To see the first 15 days go here.
Day 16/30…all four of them together..healthy and full of life…thankful.
Day 17/30…SNOW…thankful it came for the first time this year on a Saturday so you could go enjoy it. You were so excited you ran out in your pjs...
Day 18/30…thankful for her and all the energy & life she brings to our house..and since it's her birthday, this one deserves it's own blog post. More of these on my blog if you care to look here.
Day 19/30…a bonus of daylight savings and getting dark earlier is that my kids go to bed earlier and that's pretty nice somedays. Let the streetlights be the bad guy signaling bedtime instead of me…thankful.
Day 20/30…laziness and lounging…yes I am thankful for it some days.
Day 21/30..shot a few pieces for My Little Jules (an awesome children's clothing website) recently…I am pretty much obsessed with this outfit….the shoes, the pants with the zipper at the ankle and this shirt…thankful for clothes? (yeah it may be superficial but I really do like them), thankful that I am able to do what I do. and thankful for my little ham who is always putting on a show…everywhere we go. More of these coming to the blog soon..
Day 22/30..mid-day naps…even when I'm not the one napping!
Day 23/30…Thankful for 8 year old birthday parties, impromptu dance flash mobs in front of the car on the way to take the party guests home, and lots and lots of laughter
Day 24/30….She's still and quiet for a second.
Day 25/30…snowmen
Day 26/30…thankful for chats on my bed and for shooting from the hip so that I can capture expressions that I wouldn't otherwise as she tells me all about her day at school.
Day 27/30…Thankful for Tuesdays because that is the day she goes to dance…love how excited she is to be there every time.
Day 28/30…snowflake makers who sit at my feet while I prepare Thanksgiving dinner!
Day 29/30…working it out on their own…thankful when that happens (too bad it's not a more frequent occurrence)
Day 30/30…Thankful for Christmas traditions and the memories they create for our family…first up every year is letting each kid pick out their own brand new ornament for the tree. I love how much they enjoy this and the excitement of getting out the ornaments every year is SO much more because of it. It's awesome to look back over the years and see how they have changed simply by seeing what ornament they pick. May sound silly but my kids love our Christmas tree is a different way because of this tradition. We look forward to it every year! —
I have a lot of things to be grateful for! I'm not going to lie…I am grateful I don't HAVE to post and shoot everyday if I don't want to! HA! Thanks for looking!
I recently shot a few pieces for a great online little girls clothing website called My Little Jules. (find them on FB here). You should check them out. They have a great variety of adorable clothes and super awesome customer service (can you tell I am a fan?) I pretty much adore this particular outfit and so does she! Seriously, this girl is such a ham and so full of it. She is constantly making me and the rest of our family laugh...
It's about time I blog this awesome family's session. You know I love sunshine so normally I try to reschedule sessions when it's shining but this family was from out of town so that just wasn't possible. I do have to say that the second best thing to the sun is dark and stormy clouds. They look pretty cool right? I bet you wouldn't be surprised to hear that this session ended in a torrential downpour that left us all SPRINTING for our cars….
I have to say that I LOVE this family sooooooooo much!
Today is the day that the Lighting Issue of Mozi Magazine is being released. I was beyond honored when they asked me to write a piece for them. It's a super cool publication. When I found out my image was chosen for the cover? Well, let's just say I was excited (giddy, happy, on cloud nine, thrilled, ecstatic, elated, overjoyed, thrilled, etc). I'll stop because I 'm sure you get the point. You should defineltly head over there and pick up a copy. There are SO many amazing artists in this issue. I am so honored and humbled to be featured alongside them. Mozi has been kind enough to give me a copy to give away to one of you. I'll announce the winner Friday morning.
That's it…all you have to do to enter is like me and Mozi on Facebook and follow me on Instagram. GOOD LUCK!
VERY THANKFUL DAY 18/30
I decided in honor of this one's big day, I'd blog a whole post just for her….because I'm pretty thankful for her and all her energy in my life! Happy birthday!!!
So I committed to posting an image a day on Facebook for the whole month of November of something I am thankful for. This post is a wrap-up of the first 15 days…well fourteen I guess because I didn't start until the 2nd day of November. I shoot regularly (4 days a week on average) but not daily so this has been a challenge for me. So here is my first half of giving thanks though pictures...
2/30...Today I am thankful for the unseasonable warmth outside…and for the sun. Two of my favorite things!
3/30….thankful i have a full fridge and that I don't know what it means to be truly hungry (even though my picky kids would disagree). Trying to teach them to be thankful as well!
4/30…a rare glimpse of this man. I don't share many images of him here and he probably won't be thrilled that I am doing so now BUT he is such a big part of our lives and one of the people that I am most thankful for on this earth. He is a constant source of laughter at our house (yeah he's pretty funny), an amazing Dad (our kids adore him), husband, and provider. He works SO hard for us! He would do anything for me and our kids. He is fiercely loyal and oh so TRUSTWORTHY. I can always count on him…that is HUGE! I am very blessed and thankful!
5/30…I'm very thankful that we have such an awesome school within walking distance from my house. The teachers there are amazing and the community is so supportive.
6/30…thankful for her hugs. She gives the best hugs,,,the kind of hugs that melt you. Today I was trying to take some head shots of myself (pure torture) then she jumped in the frame and I'm thankful she did. I need more pictures with me and my kiddos.
y 7/30…sometimes I'm just thankful that the day is almost over and I can lay down…life isn't always rosy and cheery. Parenting can be hard, exhausting, and rewarding all at the same time. Saying I'm grateful for things doesn't mean my life is perfect…it just means I am choosing to focus on the positive. I do have A LOT of positives in my life. And YES somedays i am grateful for the TV which quiets my kids for a bit.
8/30…thankful for my EXTREMELY camera shy oldest. Thankful I got to kidnap him from school today and take him to his favorite spot for lunch on his 11th birthday. Thankful it was just him and I. He is a pretty cool kid…and is growing WAY too fast.
9/30…thankful for lazy lunch at the park days.
10/30…thankful for fall (or trying to be). Read more about it here
11/30….Chaos….utter chaos at our house sometimes and most of the time I am thankful for it. Thankful for the many times each day it makes me laugh. Just don't ask me how I feel about the chaos at the end of the day when I'm tired.
12/30…thankful for the tooth fairy.
13/30…reading and books are a good thing for the imagination.
14/30…thankful for the creative spirit (even when it's messy).
15/30…when you have four kids, there can be a lot of fighting, bickering, and/or complaining so when I see moments like this I am very, very thankful.
Phew, I can't believe I did it and that once I committed I didn't miss a day. Let's see if I can do it until the 30th...
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I have to admit that I usually spend the fall season mourning the passing of summer. Summer is by FAR my favorite season. Every year when good ol' fall arrives my heart feels a bit heavy BUT looking at these images sure makes me appreciate it a little more. It is quite pretty…even if it is the precursor to the dreaded winter hibernation. Every season has it's benefits and I am going to try to appreciate and be thankful for each one and stop being so single minded when it comes to summertime. So with that I give you my "10 on 10 falling for fall" edition….really it's 14 on 10 but who's counting? Now head on over to my very, very talented friend Ginger Unzueta and see what she has in store…promise you won't be disappointed by her beautiful images…she really never disappoints!
Life has been crazy lately. I have been struggling to balance everything and these “kids were here” messes haven’t been anything but a bit annoying to my busy self lately. I’m ready to slow down and see these messes for what they are again…an integral part of childhood. A part of life that is very fleeting. Soon I won’t have to clean up melted ice cream sandwiches or step on legos everywhere I walk. I’m a much happier person when I frame the messes this way…and so are my kids. Motherhood….it'a roller coaster in many ways right? My post is short and sweet this time (slackerish might be a better description)…when you are annoyed by the messes you don't grab the camera before you clean them up..:)
Be sure to check out Kids Were Here blog to see all my talented friend images together all in one place!
