Thursday, March 31, 2011

Great Harvest Bakery : Business

One of the reasons I love my neighborhood is what's a stone's throw away.  Great pizza joint, a chocolate factory and this place! We visit Great Harvest at least twice a week, taking in the tastes and smells of Sara and Ethan's labor of love.   My boys head to the toys as I get a slice for Sam and a biscotti for Joe.  It's so homey, and no wonder.  It's a true family affair at Great Harvest, with two boys and a baby girl rounding out a stellar staff.  So many faces have become familiar, always smiling and always hard at work. My neighborhood benefits not only from their bakery, but  their family as part of our community as residents in the Five Sisters.  I feel lucky to count Sara and Ethan as friends and neighbors  as well as bakers of my bread.  It's comforting to know you'll always find a warm welcome (and a cream cheese and toffee scone). 


Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Continuing education

For a second here in Vermont, it actually seemed like Spring. But as it so happens, it's not. Well, technically yesterday was first day of Spring. And technically? it snowed. Winter it seems,  does not own a calendar.

Those few warm days had me thinking ahead to wedding season. Yep, it's right around the corner. Between Two House Photo weddings with my partner Carin and a smattering of solo weddings, looks like the summer is going to be jam packed with love. The sunshine, the pretty dresses, the flowers... all those people, all so happy, and a maybe just a little bit drunk - a perfect recipe for amazing images.

In the "down time" of Vermont winter (come on people?! what's wrong with a January wedding? Sparkly snow crystals, warm fireplaces, horse drawn sleds...be adventurous!) there's a bit of time to try new things, get creative and learn something.  I've had a few side projects that I'm really excited about, but not ready to share just yet. It's leading to some interesting ideas that I hope to explore more in the coming year. Stay tuned.

One thing I can share is my new camera. Jay got me a Holga for Christmas. For those of you who don't know, a holga is a toy camera that shoots medium format film (think big square negatives). I've been trying to tame the little plastic beast since the first click. It's my first venture into film since I was 17. I'm proud to say that in the past few months I've increased my "yield" per roll. My first roll of 12 photos revealed 2 keepers. The one I just got back? 7. And most importantly, I'm learning what kind of photos the Holga is best utilized for. Certain subjects, distances and overall compositions increase the likelyhood of nice results. Of course, there are no steadfast rules, but experience has taught me quite a bit. Like making sure to take off the lens cap! duh.  Unlike SLRs, the Holga lets you see whether the lens is covered or not. I've had a lot of rolls with only 8 or so exposures. Kinda a waste of money, no?

I'm looking forward to incorporating the holga into some weddings.  A few magical photos to match the magical day. Here are a few of my favorites from the winter. I seem to do better in black and white.  I haven't quite mastered the color.  I've got a roll of color film in my Holga as we speak.  So fingers crossed that I'll have something to share next week.




This last one is actually from my very first roll.  Pure luck, but still one of my favorites.  Of course the subject matter doesn't hurt (my guy Sam...age 4).

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Terri Sue & Jeffery : Wedding

It's nice to be back.  Though it was wonderful seeing my sister, there's nothing like the familiar comfort of home. Oh, believe me I enjoyed the mornings of sleeping in and alone time with my brain. And it's always good to have the opportunity to miss the boys a bit.  Makes their adorable smiling faces so much more precious. 

I was down to Tallahassee to help shoot Terri Sue and Jeffery's wedding.  My sister works with the groom's mom, and after hearing they weren't hiring a photographer,  volunteered her services so they could have a little more than just sweet memories of their wedding day.  Having never shot a wedding before she was understandably a bit nervous, so I jumped at the chance to volunteer my services as assistant. Hey, just fly my down! To FLORIDA. All out the kindness of my heart.  Oh no, had nothing to do with leaving the snow, the cold, and the constant bundling of little boys.  Exit 20 degrees, enter 70...never crossed my mind.   

To  help make it possible, the boys got their Grandma all to themselves for a long weekend.  We did a kind of trading places, as she left Florida and headed to Vermont.  Exit Florida sunshine, enter Vermont snow.  Over a foot of it the very next day!   Somehow, I don't think "thank you" quite cuts it.

But as you can see, it was a beautiful affair.  My sister did an awesome job running the show and I was more than happy to snap away as second shooter.  Love was in the air...the warm, sunny, Florida air.