Caught the light

She held out her little hand to me. I love her so much. I have to go to work now, I will post more pictures about our afternoon later. I think this is day 5 of a year of pictures.
Update: It is day 7. It doesn't feel like a week. 51 more to go.

Stripey

Here is my Picture for today:
I was really at a loss of inspiration today. I have had a shoot everyday for a week (for a business that hasn't officially launched yet, I feel a bit busy) and I was looking forward to not touching the camera bag today. I remembered I was trying to do this 365 thing when I got home after the show tonight at 10:30. I grumbled about it for a moment, then it came to me: On the days where I am having trouble I should just shoot something auto-biographical. This way at the end of this thing if I don't have an amazing (or even good, I would settle for good) artistic shot for the day, at least I have a record of the day. So here are my tights. They make me happy. I love striped socks so much I could burst when I see them in stores.I love that I only paid $2 for this pair. I love to wear these because I feel like I am channeling a bit of the Wicked Witch's power and confidence. They make me remember that I was young and care-free once, and just because I am someone's mother, it doesn't mean I have to always act like it. I also love the fact that I have ankles again! The first place I noticed my weight loss was in my legs. Thirty-five pounds, more of it could have come from my stomach - but I guess I should take what I can get. They make my husband smile as well, so double bonus. Now that I have thought about tights for 10 minutes I feel a bit silly. There are real problems in the world and I am babbling about taking pictures of my tights. I guess today was one of those days where you just do what you have to do to get through. No shame in that. And I got to wear my cool tights.

The Next Stage : ETC's Acting Intern Schowcase

Any of these will do as my picture of the day. I just couldn't pick.
These three gorgeous ladies are going to be on stage at ETC for the next three days. Come down and see them! The show is wonderful. Full of a lot of wisdom that really should be beyond their years. These young actors did a great job picking out works that showcased not just their strengths but their range as performers. It is a variety show, but a powerful one. It flows well, taking you on a journey which goes between serious, sad, quirky,and really funny with no effort at all. These kids are good.

SoulVerses

Chicks with swords. That is all you have to say and I am there. What more do you need?!

I have to admit that I wasn't thrilled when the Fringe Festival asked me to shoot the spoken word show, SoulVerses. I am glad I shot it. I would have missed out on something amazing. Hey look, a critic agreed with me! It was an amazing night of food for thought. The first act, Eagle to Squirrel, is an eclectic mix of hip hop, rap, jazz and performance art (this is where the awesome sword dance comes in.) The second group, Hip Hop Congress, was as mind blowing as the first act was cool. Race issues were discussed in an educated and enlightening way. These people are out to educate, not alienate. Hip Hop Congress is nothing short of amazing.
The show runs several more times during the Fringe Festival at Mr. Pitiful's. Please go see it. It would be a shame to miss it.

See the whole photo set here.

Picture for the day!

I almost missed this picture. I was on the phone with the husband as I walked back to my car from my gig when I saw this:



I immediately halted the conversation and got the camera back out. Oh to be young again, so that I can make almost obscene graffiti on the front of my apartment building with sidewalk chalk. Wait a moment- I own a house,I have tons of sidewalk chalk, and I have already warped my children. Tomorrow is gonna be a good day!

I made this the picture for today because I have so many that I love from tonight's show that they are going to get a separate post tomorrow once I have slept. Right now I will just babble and gush about the wonderful spoken word piece I saw tonight.

On the photo goals front...

I signed up for a class yesterday. I choked a bit because it is expensive (to me!) but it had to be done. I am taking it through the PPA's Studio Management series. It is basic business course. They might as well call it " You have a BFA, now what?" It is exactly what I need. It will point me in the right direction as far as pricing, marketing, ans sales are concerned. I feel like up until now I have been throwing darts at a board I can't even see. I can't wait for some help.

It also looks like I am going to get that new camera a bit sooner than expected. My 10d, my first digital baby, once again needs to go home to Canon NJ for a bit of TLC. She has decided she doesn't want to talk to any of my lenses anymore. I need two working cameras, it is not an option if I want to be a pro. I thought my 10d would make it until 2009. Looks like it won't. I am ordering this most likely today. I just can't stand depleting my savings this way! But I guess it will reinforce my commitment to becoming a working professional. Now I just need to get some more clients...

Update: I did order a 5d this afternoon. While it cost a good chunk of my savings account(boo), my hand are itching for her already(yippy).

Missed a day already!

Well, I shot, I just forgot to post!
Another Fringe show, this time the show is called Mortem Capiendum. The show was great, very "Tales from the Crypt." It is about three snake oil salesmen in the 30's who start to believe their own pitch. What are they hocking? An elixir that cures death. Good stuff. The show, not the elixir.
These guys have traveled from Minneapolis to bring this show to us, and they have a few more stops before they go home again, so go out and support them!

Update: See the whole photo set here.

Picture a day

I am going to try this again. I need the stimulation and I need an excuse to blog. I have seen really cool results from the 365 type projects. I don't think I have the self confidence to do the 365 self portrait thing, but a picture a day I can do. Warning: a lot of it will be my kids! I want to try to push myself though; I don't normally do nature or landscapes, so maybe I'll give those a try. We'll see where it goes. For the next few days it shall be familiar territory though - theatre. The Fringe Festival is gearing up and I have the privilege of shooting a few of the shows. Tonight I had a special treat. It was a show called "Fricative." It is a piece that is described as a sound poem. Very cool. Once you let yourself experience it, you started to really see what the human voice is about. It isn't our words, it is our inflection and emotion that come through no matter what syllable is being uttered. Really fun stuff.

The high point of the night for me was not this very cool show, but a reconnection that came at just the right time. Do you know anyone that no matter how long it has been since you have seen this person- be it 10 days or 10 years- you pick right up where you left off? One of the performers was a long lost friend who I miss greatly. Within 5 minutes we are bearing our souls to each other and discovering that we are in the same place in life. We are both trying to decide if the uncertainty of freelance work is for us, if the dreams we have held for so long still hold true, if there are certain aspects of our lives we need to walk away from to preserve the sanity of the rest of our worlds. Strange how in sync we are and how reassuring it was to know that even if we didn't have the answers we weren't alone. I needed that. A lot.

Update: See the whole photo set here.