Sticks & Sky

This gallery contains 9 photos.

Winter Trees By: William Carlos Williams All the complicated details of the attiring and the disattiring are completed! A liquid moon moves gently among the long branches. Thus having prepared their buds against a sure winter the wise trees stand sleeping in the cold.

Unseasonably Warm

This gallery contains 5 photos.

This January has been exceptionally mild.  All I wanted to do today was skip class and enjoy the sunshine.  (Responsibility won out over spontaneity and I went to class.)  I can definitely get used to this “winter” that does not include the subzero temperatures I grew up with in Michigan, but I still wish there was more snow.

The Anatomy of Frank at The Southern

This gallery contains 21 photos.

I saw The Antatomy of Frank play at The Southern on Thursday night.  I had forgotten how much I love live music, and knowing the band made it even more fun. It was a great show and a great night with friends.

Moment 02

Moment 02

“Start by doing what is necessary, then do what’s possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible…”

One of my goals for this year is to adopt a healthier lifestyle. One small step that will help me reach that goal is drinking more water each day.  And the only way that is going to happen is if I actually bring a water bottle with me.   Someone told me recently that it takes about 60 repetitions to turn an action into a habit.

So here’s to hydration and smalls steps toward a better life!

(I had grand notions of taking a very artsy picture of my water bottle with my film camera, but life had other plans for me. And I am still waiting to get the film developed from last week. C’est la vie. )

Sunset & Perspective

This gallery contains 8 photos.

Just when I started to feel overwhelmed by school and life, I stepped outside and spotted the remnants of a gorgeous sunset.  Suddenly, I remembered how lucky I am to be at one of the most beautiful universities in the country, studying what I love, in the company of some of the best people I … Continue reading →

Spotted on the Lawn

This gallery contains 4 photos.

  I love spotting evidence of activity on the Lawn- a Christmas wreath, new fliers, a freshly painted banner.

Wintry Mix

Yesterday I awoke to a world that had been glazed with ice and snow.   I am still hoping that we will get one “real” snow storm before spring arrives, one that covers everything with a blanket of white and threatens to shut down the entire city.  To my disappointment, the rain destroyed all of nature’s artwork, leaving mud and puddles in its place.

I did however, manage to shoot a few rolls of film over the past few days.  While I love my new point and shoot (Canon SX230), it still seems limited when compared to my film SLR (OM-1N). I love the control over my image that I get with the SLR- especially over the depth of field.  I also feel more “connected” to my subject when looking through its huge viewfinder.  But it is definitely not without drawbacks. The OM is completely manual, and while I am getting much better and reading the lighting conditions, it still takes me a little bit of time to adjust the settings before I can shoot.  It is also bulky enough that I do not carry it with me always, unlike my convenient little Canon.  And waiting to get film developed can be inconvenient.  One day I will be able to afford a decent DSLR, but for now this combination works. (And shooting film forces me to be more thoughtful in the shots I actually take.)

Here are some “teaser” digital photos- I should have the film ones back in a few days or so.  Moment 02 is in the works, but I’m waiting for the weather to cooperate…. ha.

Moment 01

Moment 01

Finally have my first “official” photo!!  Today I decided that I was no longer going to tolerate the mess that was a poor excuse for my room.   I finally finished unpacking my bags and did a whole lot of laundry.  I then put up a string of lights and arranged some prints of my pictures.  This year I want to take more control of my life, to “drive the bus” as my mom says.  That includes keeping up with my room.  And making my home more like “home.” I could not have accomplished this feat without the help and encouragement of some friends. 

I also want to do more with my photographs.  I love that I can capture moments in my pictures, but this year I want to move beyond capturing them to actually sharing them.  I hope this blog will be a part of that and I am waiting for the next Snapfish sale to order a bunch of prints.  I reused some of the photos that were on my wall last year, but this time I hung them on twine with mini clothespins instead of attaching them directly to the wall.  I like the flexibility of this arrangement and am excited to update and add to it.

So here’s to a new year- one down, fifty-one to go!

Good to be Back

Olympus OM-1N, Zuiko 50mm f1.4 with Kodak BW400 CN

As I walked to class this morning, I was struck by the transformation that comes to Charlottesville with the start of a new semester.  The smells of donuts, coffee, bacon, and bagels permeated the crisp air and the Corner was bustling with students.  While last week I was skeptical about the return of the masses, I loved seeing so many familiar faces.  I am starting to get excited about this year.  Plans are falling into place, and I am comforted by the feeling that I am on the right track. Also, I’m going to take my picture for moment 01 this afternoon!

January Evening

This gallery contains 5 photos.

    Things I am grateful for: time spent in the company of friends.