NASHVILLE: here we come!

On Thursday, Branden and I will be flying to Music City U-S-A...otherwise known as NASHVILLE! I couldn't be more excited to visit the capital of Tennessee. No no no, I couldn't be MORE excited to visit my friend Jamie!! Nashville has been home to her for more than a year, and I can't believe it's taken us this long to visit my old college roomie in her new digs. Everything fell into place though--Halloween weekend, Colts vs. Titans game, accrued time-off, it's simply a done deal. I have heard time and time again, that Nashville is AMAZing and I'm looking forward to experiencing it all first hand. The food, the music, the arts, the old plantation homes, LP Field, the sunny (but still crisp) weather. However, we are especially looking forward to our Host. Branden and I are very grateful for Jamie opening up her home to us--we appreciate the gesture and her kindness AND her willingness to prance around with us all weekend, playing tour guide. A big thank you to you, Miss Jamie Jane, a.k.a. my Where's Wenda twin for Halloween! XOXO see you soo very soon!

Picture of our trip to Nashville will follow in a later post, along with a recap of the food itinerary we plan to follow.

No joke, it truly is a food itinerary.....Can't wait!

Work Photography Club: Session 2

This month's theme for my photography club is FALL. The lovely Pacific Northwest is transitioning from Summer to Winter. The nights are ending earlier, the wind is picking up, the leaves are changing colors and MY fireplace has been on a number of times already (sorry Branden--I know it can be overly toasty!) As much as it saddens me to see the golden orb in the sky disappear, I'm finding myself enjoying the crisp air, the winter festivies that are commencing, and the endless oranges/reds/burgundys that fill the trees. Well, that is until they go bare. Then we welcome Springtime with open arms.

When starting this project, I knew I would take pictures of the pumpkins sprawling out over the QFC parking lot. I also knew I wanted to take pictures of leaves, lots of leaves. If anyone knows me at all, they know I love bacon, yes bacon. BUT more importantly, they know I LOVE the color orange and any variant that comes with it. Apparently orange is a power color. And, orange "encourages socialization, stimulates activity, and stimulates appetite." Well isn't that a coincidence?! 

Now to proceed with a little game. I need your help! I can only pick 3 of my images to bring to the discussion board in my photography club next week. I want your opinion--it matters! Please vote for your top 3 images presented below. Let's make this simple:

Top Row: L-R are pictures 1, 2, and 3

Middle Row: L-R are pictures 4,5, and 6

Bottom Row: L-R are pictures 7 & 8

Simply, leave a comment with your input!! It's greatly appreciated.

We ALL know I can't make a decision to save my life!

Please Vote: What are your favorite three "FALL" photographs?
Help me decide :)



I have to add that while wikepedia-ing Seattle for fun, I came across this image. With the image, reads this caption: Between October and May, Seattle is mostly or partly cloudy six out of every seven days. It made me chuckle. We get 8 whole months of mostly cloudy days. Remind me why we live here again?! :)





A Premier Photography Photo Shoot...

This past Sunday, I was able to do my first photo shoot!! My friend Maggie has a new Seattle Wedding Blog and asked me to take pictures of her wearing a bridesmaid dress. The catch: to sport five different looks with one simple black dress. I'd say she nailed it! See how Maggie altered her look with layering, jewelry pieces and attire-appropriate hair styles to re-use this trendy little number.


Thank you Maggie for asking me to do this project...You're a studette!
Disclaimer: This dress really is a bridesmaid dress. See Maggie's blog for pictures from this event posted on 10.7.11.



Work Photography Club: Session 1

The Theme was BACK TO SCHOOL!

Very fitting for September's agenda. Here is the background of THE coolest club on the block. after the Art Contest at work was deemed a success, some people in my company decided to start a Photography Club. The selling point: Interested in photography. Join us to discuss photography techniques, share pictures, perhaps have some assignments and outings. Well sure, I like photography, I like discussions, I certainly enjoy giving my opinon, I like being tested to shoot out of my comfort zone ect....Count me in! The Photography Club does not stand alone, employees can also join the Wine Club, an Investment Club and/or a Running Club, among many others. As for the later two, I will be opting out.

With that said...here are my photos from September's assignment:

And he didn't even know I was taking this. Lucky guy ;)
But, for those wondering, he IS going back to school for Physical Therapy.

Hamilton International Middle School in my neighborhood.
Opened in 1926. Beautiful building!

Someone won't be attending the THIS fieldtrip. Woops!
My Personal FAVORITE fieldtrip in my elementary days: Seattle Children's Theater.

Why I decided to blog...

I decided to start blogging partially because of a challenge, sponsored by my work. My employer hosted a company-wide art contest and I won!! Wellll....not really, but three of the 10 photos I submitted made it to the finals.  I was shocked! There are currently 52 images on display in our office buildings that span overseas. My company offered to pay for the printed enlargements and had all the winning photography framed. I'm not trying to toot my own horn (too much!), but this competition fueled it....fueled my passion for photography (and winning). So - I decided to go public and I'm using this blog as my medium. I want to share with you the pieces that started it all.

The middle three images are featured on the walls of my company.

Disclaimer: By walls, I'm referring to the white walls located across from the mens & women's restrooms :)

My first (ever!) blog posting....

THIS is my show and tell....

...my very own place to share my stories through photography. With these posts, I hope to capture and illustrate those moments that are worth rendering to my Readers. My images are no longer just some bits of bytes sitting on my hard-drive...they are elements that make my compositions come alive.

 I invite you to take a peek into the elements of photography that I find most beautiful and blog-worthy.
"If you see something that moves you, and then snap it...you keep a moment."
 - Linda McCartney -