pinhole press.

pinhole press

I've been on spring break this week and working like a mad dog on various projects in addition to working additional hours.  In the midst of all the craziness, I discovered Pinhole Press, and specifically this Big Book of Names and Faces.  This is by far the most brilliant business ever, especially for a photographer myself.  I love giving people unique gifts (especially to friends who's children I often photograph) and this is an amazing way to combine it all.

I haven't ordered anything yet, but I've read so many good things about them and I'm looking forward to placing several orders soon!  If anyone else has used Pinhole, I'd love to know your thoughts!

w+p challenge: right.

Yesterday was the Michigan primary, and being the language lover that I am, I couldn't resist posting the following photo from Hamtramck, Michigan:

via the New York Times.

Although I was not the photographer, I thought the photo represented my word of the day yesterday, and that was right.  I can be a political curmudgeon at times and I had considered abstaining yesterday for several reasons.  However, I realized that in America I actually have a right (or an entitlement) to vote, and so I did.

A Word+Photo Challenge.

I seem to have hit a sudden blogging binge.  It has been months since I have blogged regularly and boom, in the middle of February, I'm blogging with gusto again.  And here's why.

About two months ago, I was not taking pictures at all.  Technically I was doing the occasional shoot, and while that's fun, I was not casually shooting everyday objects.  And I realized I missed looking for something pretty or inspiring in the mundane.  I began to brainstorm.  For a month I attempted all sorts of methods that might motivate me, but it really was no use.  Until I had an 'aha' moment after some web surfing.

You see, I love the thesaurus.  Some people are addicted to Pinterest, but I am obsessed with typing in ridiculously long words and clicking through to other words (at least it's educational).  And so, I decided to take my two loves and combine them.

Thesaurus + Photography = epic photo challenge.

I decided to make a list of words and each day, I select one in the morning.  I think about it, mull over the definition and think about photos I could take, mentally arranging things or ideas.  But I don't shoot right away.  And I think this is crucial to my personal photo challenge.  If I shoot right away, I find that I miss out on other opportunities or I misinterpret the word I've selected.  I'm simply taking a photo just to take a photo.  So, I keep thinking.  And thinking. And thinking.  Then when I feel ready, I snap.  Do I always get the right shot?  No.  Sometimes I have redos, but I try not to think about those or do them frequently.  I think this is also equally important in my photo challenge as I tend to be extremely picky about my photography (it's not artistic enough, the lighting seems weird, etc).  Telling myself I have three shots encourages me to focus.

This process has allowed this extremely impatient person to stop and think about a potential photo.  But it has also given me a great appreciation for photography and I have been able to develop new strategies in how I run my photoshoots.  Plus, simply taking photographs reminds me how much I need photography.  Without a creative outlet, I go crazy.  And a crazy Kristin is not always a good thing and I'm excited to share more photos!

Happy Saturday!

it's still winter?!

"Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating; there is really no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather."

{trees.}

"Every crag and gnarled tree and lonely valley has its own strange and graceful legend attached to it."

painting.

winter portraits.

 

it seems winter has decided to finally visit Michigan (at least temporarily)!

zelim dupla kafa!

It has been one of those days.

You know the kind where you only got three hours of sleep and have a million things to do?

Yeah.

It's on days like these I wish I had some super strong coffee.  The kind of coffee you can find in Bosnia, puddled in miniature espresso cups.  And so, I stare at this picture and dream about drinking bosanski kafe at Tito's in Sarajevo.

the big picture?

sarajevo, bosnia-herzegovina

i recently found an application that allows you to convert photos into tilt-shift images. i think it's a pretty neat application, but it reminded me of my current state in life.  only a small, little slit of my life is in focus right now.  i know i'm in school, that i have assignments to finish and a graduation in thirteen weeks. and that's about it.  my future is one big blur. i can see outlines of what's in store, but i have no concrete ideas.  (but i suppose that's what i get for electing a gap year between my undergraduate and a possible master's program.) ayn rand once said, "People create their own questions because they are afraid to look straight. All you have to do is look straight and see the road, and when you see it, don't sit looking at it - walk."

i may not be able to see exactly what surrounds me, but at least i can see the road.  and so, i'm (attempting) to embrace this new journey.

It's January!

And I'm in my last semester of undergraduate!
And I will be turning twenty-three in exactly one month.
And today, I completed my very first watercolor painting ever!  I love photography and admiring art (especially paintings), but I never envisioned myself as the painter; I have taken kreative to a whole new level!