One last trip down memory lane

This week is my last as a western North Carolina citizen! With each box that is filled with the memories of our lives here, taped up, loaded onto a truck, I take another step toward whatever fantasic adventures await me in Nashville, TN. I will miss these mountains that I have held so dear for so long, but I plan on embracing Music City just as hard as I can! I am so excited to see the new places and faces that make up such a wonderful city, and getting down to business in our new home.

Tree of Life

I spent about an hour photographing this necklace; it was a purchase I made while down in Florida in October. It had reminded me of the great big tree at the end of our road that all of the neighborhood kids used to go hang out and climb. Great big live oak with massive branches hanging low to the ground. I wonder about that tree a lot still; if it's still there, what kind of shape it's in, if I'd still have the courage now to climb as high as I did back then. How many neighborhood kids have called that tree their own personal "The Tree" since I was a kid? Maybe one day I'll see it again! Until then, I have this necklace to remind me of it.

Hangin' Out

I got to hang out with one of my best buddies and fellow commercial photographer in Atlanta, Keith Taylor. We went out to my favorite hiking trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and spent a large part of the day. Afterwards, we grabbed some lunch at the best BBQ joint on the planet, and then went out to Cataloochee Ski area to see what we could see. Happened upon a gorgeous sunset and some horses roaming around before we headed home. It was great being able to spend the day with someone so dear to me that I respect and admire. Check out Keith's website here: www.keithtaylorphotography.com

Overlooking Waynesville, NC in autumn

I was commissioned to photograph the overlook on a piece of property purchased by my client; he planned to make a gift of it to his wife to remind them of their property as they live in Chicago. I have lived in this town since I was about 13, and had never seen this particular view of my town, and loved the chance to see it in the fall. Thank you so much for the opportunity, Robert, and I hope you enjoy your print!

Mellow Yellow

I think I've been a little in love with the color yellow this past week! The weather has been miserable here, starting with gorgeous 70 degree sunshiny warmth, a day of tornado warnings, and now snow. Yellow has kept me happy, though; it's sunshine and daffodils and egg yolks and lemons and the ubiquitous color of "Don't Worry, Be Happy" smiley faces across all languages. I love that we naturally make these kinds of associations with colors or smells or objects and can be instantly transported to another point in time.

What's on the menu?

I've been having a tremendous amount of fun playing with my food this month! I really enjoy the colors, shapes, textures, and finding the perfect composition to compliment my subjects. I find myself mentally making photos of things while walking through the grocery store, and bringing my vision to life is like scratching an itch I didn't know I had. I love it!

a photo a day

I'm really enjoying this Photo A Day project so far. I can turn it into a learning day or a "free day," like I did today. Today I just got my Flip out of my purse as my husband and I were driving down the road, and started shooting whatever random bit of scenery as it passed by. The sun was setting, and it was a rare day that both our younger two kids had playdates, so we'd spent a day getting some much deserved peace and grown up time!

To see the rest of the photos I've made so far this month, follow this link:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/externalfocus/sets/72157628674119919/with/6786041623/

I especially love this portrait that I made a couple of days ago:

David

On the 26th, I did a photoshoot out in the woods behind my house with David. I woke up around 6 that morning, sitting on my porch with some excellent coffee from a local coffee house, and watching the fog play through the trees. Fog has always been my favorite; it softens everything and bounces the light around in a way that you just can't find fault with. I'd brought my external flash along to put a little more light on David's face, but the batteries in my wireless receiver were too low. Eventually a light breeze caught the shoot through umbrella I still had open on my stand, and the whole thing toppled over and broke my flash mount. Ooops! Lesson learned, but we still walked away with some great photos.

Ain't no sunshine when she's gone

www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QLKkD-jq2E