Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Photography can be a truly magical medium. This silhouette photograph was taken in a Los Angeles city park. The background was actually cluttered with fences and buildings, basketball courts and tennis courts, people walking by… However, by carefully choosing my vantage point and exposure, and thoughtfully positioning my subjects, there is no sign of a city. There is also no Photoshop work done beyond a simple conversion to black and white.
As an artist, when you envision a photograph like this and bring it to life, it feels like magic!
With a cross-country move just over a month away, “overwhelmed” hardly describes me right now. I am sitting among a sea of papers: moving contracts, print orders, post its, to-do lists (so many to-do lists). Trying to keep organized at a time like this is a huge job in itself, but I am determined that it can be done. I have had so many amazing photo sessions lately with so many of my lovely loyal clients. Taking a quick break to post and gaze at this image is a much needed breath of fresh air. I have many more special images to share, just as soon as life settles down a bit. Stay tuned and enjoy your last bits of summer!
There is no need to look for the bench in this next set of photographs. (Because I’m either sitting on it or walking away from it.) Each time I reach the peak of my hikes lately, I no longer feel the need to take a picture of the bench. Instead, I feel a strong pull to take a seat, breathe in the vast experience of these last few years living in Los Angeles… and exhale.
[photographs taken at runyon canyon in hollywood, california with my diana film camera, july 2010]
Catch up on the Runyon Canyon bench series:
Post 1 | Post 2 | Post 3 | Post 4 | Post 5 | Post 6
Thursday, August 12, 2010
There is another reason this project exists. I am hopelessly sentimental, so when I know I will miss something, I photograph it. It’s how I deal with change.. and change is not my favorite. It’s why I chose to start photographing this bench several months ago. I knew that change was upon us and here it is, peaking at me now from just around the corner. My husband and I have decided to move away from Los Angeles to West Michigan at the end of next month. We know it’s the right move to make, but it is just never a good time to say goodbye to the people and places you have grown to love.
So, here is the next installment of my bench series and one of my last. I decided to see the bench in color again. I love the soft focus, dreamy quality of photographs made with my plastic Diana film camera. They feel like memories from another time.
June 22, 2010 / June 24, 2010
June 29, 2010 / On Left: My vantage point while sitting on the bench.
More to come…
[photographs taken at runyon canyon in hollywood, california with my diana film camera, june 2010]
Catch up on the Runyon Canyon bench series:
Post 1 | Post 2 | Post 3 | Post 4 | Post 5
“Our truth lies in what we love, and as we remind ourselves that we have loved and do love, we find our way unerringly back to the place from which accomplish is possible… it’s almost impossible to make a list of heart loves without concluding we live in a rich, savory, and enjoyable world where – if we will just “take heart” – things are bound to work out well.” – Julia Cameron, from “Walking in this World”
I am nearing the end of the 2nd book of The Artist’s Way series, an incredibly inspiring process that I highly recommend to anyone. The most recent task at hand was to simply list 50 specific things your heart loves. I just thought I’d share a random 20, because, well.. it makes my heart happy. This exercise is medicine for the soul..
Some things my heart loves:
1. my mom’s homeade bread pudding (warm, with ice cream)
2. Govindas’ yoga classes
3. walks at dusk with Ben
4. sending a handwritten note
5. a rainy day in LA
6. butterflies (the tiny, whimsical, fluttering white ones)
7. handmade things
8. afternoon naps
9. going for rides with my dad in his restored MG Midget
10. waking up to a cool breeze
11. going out for ice cream (to the ma and pa shops in Michigan)
12. laughter
13. being a good friend
14. 6 month old babies
15. Big Sur
16. the way the evening light spills through the curtains
17. traveling to new places
18. long talks with a good friend
19. simplicity
20. star gazing
What makes your heart happy?
(as a side note – my portrait and fine art portfolio is completely fresh… i’d love for you to take a look)
Thursday, June 10, 2010 9:36 am… (on left)
he spoke passionately about the positive energy he feels at runyon canyon to a stranger new friend… i listened with a smile.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010 9:46 am… (on right)
big dogs chasing little dogs… too cute.
Friday, June 18, 2010 9:35 am… friends: swinging their legs, laughing loudly… nothing better.
[photographs taken at runyon canyon in hollywood, california with my diana camera, june 2010]
Catch up on the Runyon Canyon bench series:
Post 1 | Post 2 | Post 3 | Post 4
One of the downfalls of shooting film over digital is the wait. And at the same time, that is one thing that I love about it. The time between taking this first photograph, shooting the rest of the roll, and finally seeing the results was about a month. Had there been no wait, I wouldn’t have looked at this first image 3 times (like a fool) trying to remember what it was I had photographed. But, more importantly, I wouldn’t have experienced the moment of surprise when I finally saw him. Do you see him hiding there? These things make me happy.
Monday, May 24, 2010 10:12 am | 10:14 am
I’m pretty sure June is my favorite month in LA. Almost every morning is cool with a heavy blanket of clouds. They call it June Gloom, but to me, it’s hardly gloomy. I love letting the breeze gently wake me in the morning and the quiet hikes at Runyon. I am in love with these photographs… so tranquil and dreamy. I can almost feel the cool air kissing my skin. These will forever remind me of what it feels like to stand atop Runyon Canyon in June.
Monday, June 7, 2010 9:50 am | 9:53 am
I have many more to share and will continue posting next week. It is also worth noting that my film scans have improved immensley since I switched labs. Thanks to Richard Photo Lab – my bench series just got better!
[photographs taken at runyon canyon in hollywood, california with my diana camera, may/june 2010]
Catch up on the Runyon Canyon bench series:
Post 1 | Post 2 | Post 3
by Teri
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