Home

I have had the song titled "Home" by Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros stuck in my  head now for weeks.  There is just something about this song that absolutely moves me.  The connection between singer Alex Ebert and Jade Castrinos is very June and Johnny Cash-esque.  I am also in love with Jade's voice.  If you haven't listened to it, you should check it out.

If you check out Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros you'll also see the amount of very cool art that accompanies a lot of the songs.  All the videos have an older feel along with the photographs as well.  This really inspires me to not be limited to a time with photographs... but to create a story.

Alabama, Arkansas, I do love my Ma & Pa Not the way that I do love you Holy moly, me, oh my, you’re the apple of my eye Girl, I’ve never loved one like you

Man, oh man, you’re my best friend, I scream it to the nothingness There ain’t nothin’ that I need

Well, hot & heavy, pumpkin pie, chocolate candy, Jesus Christ There ain’t nothin’ please me more than you

Chorus: Ahh, Home Let me come Home Home is wherever I’m with you (2x) La la la la, take me Home Baby, I’m coming Home

I’ll follow you into the park, through the jungle, through the dark Girl, I’ve never loved one like you

Moats & boats & waterfalls, alley ways & pay phone calls I’ve been everywhere with you

That’s true

We laugh until we think we’ll die, barefoot on a summer night Nothin’ new is sweeter than with you

And in the sticks we’re running free like it’s only you and me Jeez, you’re something to see.

Chorus

“Jade?” “Alexander?” “Do you remember that day you fell out of my window?” “I sure do, you came jumping out after me.” “Well, you fell on the concrete and nearly broke your ass and you were bleeding all over the place and I rushed you off to the hospital. Do you remember that?” “Yes, I do.” “Well, there’s something I never told you about that night.” “What didn’t you tell me?” “While you were sitting in the backseat smoking a cigarette you thought was going to be your last, I was falling deep, deeply in love with you and I never told you ‘til just now.” “Now I know.”

Ahh, Home Let me come Home Home is whenever I’m with you Ahh, Home Let me come Home Home is when I’m alone with you

Home Let me come Home Home is wherever I’m with you

Ahh, Home Yes, I am Home Home is when I’m alone with you.

Alabama, Arkansas, I do love my Ma & Pa Moats & boats & waterfalls & pay phone calls

Ahh, Home Let me come Home Home is wherever I’m with you Ahh, Home Let me come Home Home is when I’m alone with you

Video

Holiday Cheer

Holiday Greetings boys and girls!  It's that time of year.  Everyone is recovering from Black Friday, and Cyber Monday.  But maybe you didn't find what you wanted? Maybe you didn't feel like braving the crowds or logging onto your computer?  Not to fear citizen.  I've got the perfect gift in mind for you, for any friend, family member, or coworker. Nothing says Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, Happy Hanukkah, or just I'm thinking of you while I eat a lot of Christmas cookies today...like a beautiful photograph.  So if you've had your eye on a photograph for awhile, now is your moment to snatch it up.  Maybe even keep it for yourself, I won't tell.

Here's the low down.

5x7s-$10

8x10s-$15

11x14-$20

Send your requests with the image# and the post name in a comment at the bottom of this post.  Once I receive the comment I will contact you through email for your shipping address and payment options.  This deal is only good through December 10th!  That way we have time to get everything shipped.  *Ahem, side note.  Unfortunately I cannot guarantee getting it there by Christmas since it depends on how busy the company I print through is.  But I will do my best, cross my heart.

Having trouble remembering what posts had those super duper pictures you are thinking of?  Here's a little jog:

For the Cow Lover in your Life

The Retro Lover

Kitty Lover, Again, and Again

And for all you nature and landscape enthusiasts, lots and lots and lots to choose from.

But I suggest just taking a little bit and look back through each post, that way you can decide what you really want.  Remember this is only good through December 10th so hop to it!

Goodbye October

October is done and gone.  I feel like I say this every month but I'm so surprised that it's November already.  October was a hard month, but a lot of fun as well.  And since it's been awhile since I've been in the saddle, I thought I would do a little recap. October started off busy right from the start.  The first weekend I took some senior portraits for Shelbi in the UT Gardens and had a blast.  Speed Racer was off in California doing his thing, and I was also adjusting to my new part time job.  Like I said, it started off with a bang.

The second week in photography I had my tonsils removed.  I completely underestimated how long it would take me to recover or how much pain I would be in.  It was bad my friends, very bad. Speed Racer was a fabulous nurse, and so patient with every moment of the healing process from cuddle time to late night Popsicle runs.  I could not have done it without him, and I am so lucky to have a husband that cares about me so very much.  So over the past three weeks I have been in recovery.  Last week was my first week back at work, and although I went everyday, I was completely worn out.

I also got to spend a lovely weekend recovering with my mother.  She sped down from Virginia to spend a weekend with us, and we put her to work.  She and I spent that saturday planting bulbs for spring (and by she and I, I mean I pointed and she planted).  It was so good to have a chance to catch up.

Finally, I am feeling almost normal (as normal as I get!).  I can eat most regular foods, and I am not in pain.  Although I am still having difficulty swallowing with ease and it takes me awhile to eat my meals.  But all in all, a lot better.  Better enough that this past weekend Speed Racer and I were able to throw a Halloween party!  It was so much fun and I got so distracted getting ready that I actually did not take any pictures! Gasp!  I know, I'm a terrible blogger and photographer.  Actually, I'm just not so good at multitasking!  But it was really a great time and we got pretty crazy with the food.  Tomorrow I will post a few after party pics, as well as some of the spooky recipes I used to put in your arsenal for next year.

October was an unexpected month, but a good month.  I'm looking forward to what November will have in store...hopefully some Christmas shopping.

Shelbi's Senior Portrait Session

A couple weekends ago I had the privileged to take some senior portraits for one of Speed Racer's cousins, Shelbi.  She's an ambitious high school senior with a great laugh and a gorgeous smile.  I really had a wonderful time working with her.  We spent most of the shoot at the gorgeous UT gardens, and then headed off to the Worlds Fair Park with a couple props that Shelbi had brought.  It was a blast, and the pictures turned out great.  Usually I like to add a little more artistic flair to my photographs, but the colors in the pictures were so vibrant already that I barely touched them.  Thanks Shelbi for letting me document this time in your life, I hope you have a fantastic senior year.

Cows, Cow tails, and Cow pies

We all know it's not nice to make faces behind people's back, especially cow's backs, I prefer to make faces...TO THEIR FACE.  Okay, random I know, but I thought the above picture warranted a comment.  Moving on. As I have mentioned before, I live in a weird no mans land of city and country.  We've got cows, as you can see, but Target is literally 3 minutes from my house.  It's a little strange.  But these cows in particular always keep me entertained.  They're located on my way home and I constantly get to see new baby cows which I usually identify by screaming "BABY COW!!" out the window while I almost drive us into the ditch and Speed Racer tries to pretend that I have kidnapped him and he doesn't really know me.

This little family is so cute.  Big Bull, pretty Momma Cow, and cute black and white patched baby cow.

This lady was a curious one...

And a grumpy one...

And a pretty one.

Poor little guy was trying to avoid me and got caught all alone.

Most people who work with cows will probably think I'm crazy, but I think they're interesting.  Their faces have such great expressions that make fantastic pictures.  It made for a fun afternoon taking photos of some cows, cow tails, and unfortunately cow pies.

Friday Fields

It's Friday.  It's beautiful here in Knoxville.  So I decided to take a little walk around the neighborhood and enjoy the sites, and of course share them with you!  This is a great exercise when you can't decide what to shoot.  Just walk around!  To make it more interesting I try to plan a story board in my head and then just start snapping.  I was in search of some cows but it just didn't work out.  Happy weekend everyone!

Adam and Christi

As most of you know from Hello, Georgia I was in Georgia last weekend to shoot a wedding with Rebecca Claire Photography.  Adam, the Groom, is actually Claire's brother, so she had bridesmaid requirements to meet, which left me as the primary shooter.  The wedding was tons of fun!  Adam and Christi are really great people, and were super fun to work with. The wedding was at Wolf Mountain Winery, near Dahlonega GA.  Wolf Mountain is a gorgeous setting, and with the wedding at 5:30 we got to enjoy one of the first perfect September days and into the evening.  Claire was nice enough to let me post some of the pictures I took although we haven't finished editing all the photos yet.  Unfortunately some of my favorite pics were on a memory card I gave her to download, but we'll have to make due with the selection I've picked out.  Here's the sneak peak, but keep checking www.rebeccaclaire.com for the full photos, they're going to be breath taking!

Christi was just a positively stunning bride...and I'm kinda partial to red heads.  I wish I was one.

Christi's Dad enjoyed the lipstick smooch.

A lovely picture with the new sister-in-law.

Proud Mother of the Groom.

The ladies were doing some serious rocking out to Madonna before hand, it's a good way to calm the nerves.

The happy couple.

There are more of these gorgeous vineyard shots on the other memory card.  Boo...we'll see them eventually.

I love September

It's hard to believe that today is the first day of September.  Fall is upon us and I don't feel quite ready.  I love September.  It's my favorite month...also because it's my birthday month, and well, quite frankly I LOVE birthdays.  Especially mine.  But this year it has snuck up on me, and I'm not quite sure what to do with September. I woke up Saturday morning at my parents house, to a foggy field view.  (Thus all the pictures.)  To me, it's a magical time when the seasons begin to transition.  Everything changes, and seems full of mystery...and there is fog.  I love fog, it reminds me of fairy tale books for some reason.

But I woke up, eyes still blood shot and exhausted from the day before to this beautiful view.  I stumbled out of bed...found my shoes...mumbled something about photos as I passed my Mom and went out the back door.  While I shot, I began to wake up.  The cool crisp air made me realize that summer is gone...and somehow I feel like I missed it.

I am determined not to do the same with September.  Don't get me wrong, it's going to be a busy month.  I have two, possibly three, weddings to do with Rebecca Claire Photography.  I have to get my tonsils removed.  And I have several senior portraits lined up.  Not to mention just the day to day working.  Speed Racer also has a ton of travel ahead of him this month, so that just makes us busy.  So I already feel like I'm letting it slip by.

Usually by now I already have my birthday list sent out (at times I have sent it out in July...yeah, I'm that kid).  But I haven't done it yet, and each time I try to I just seem to get discouraged.  Speed Racer wistfully asked what I wanted for my birthday this year, and for once I said, "I just don't know."

Unlike most people who say that who are modest and not greedy people, I did not say it because I don't want presents, I think I said it out of exhaustion.  There are MANY things that I want, but none of them seem to come in gift form...or affordable gifts at that.  I want time away.  Just for me and Speed Racer.  I want to buy practical things that make dumb presents.  I want to figure out things.  I want to be surprised.  Stuff like that.

But the great thing about fall is that it always seems full of new prospects to me.  Unlike Spring, fall to me is a time to hunker down with a good book outside, and spend some quality time.  Even if this fall is busy, I know it's going to be a good one.  I'm taking fall back.

Friday. Friday!

Happy Friday everyone!  I'm headed back to the land that I love, the land of my youth, the land where everyone knows my name!  Well, maybe not that last one, at least I hope not, that would mean I'm in trouble. I'm headed back North to Virginia for the weekend.  It's going to be a fun time of get together, and actually lots of photography as well!  My friend The Twin and Preacher are in need of some photography skills, and I am happy to oblige them.  Lots more to post when I get back of the photo sessions.  Have a great, safe, weekend everyone!

ABCs

E is for Elephant.  I don't know how many times I said that this morning.  Learning the alphabet is an important part of children growing up, but it can also be a helpful exercise for photographers.  Not just because, "Me photographer, me need to know how to speak and write," but for many reason.

The other day I went out and about Knoxville and tried to find letters.  I had a specific word in mind because that helped me focus a little bit more.

But you would be surprised how hard it is to find letters, "in nature."

I love this exercise because it makes you look at the world differently.  It's a lot harder than I thought it would be.

I encourage you to try this, even without a camera!  It really helps you "see" objects not just how they are but as how you would like them to be. (Deep, right?)  So in the end I ended up with the word I wanted.

I'm still going to play around with the letters more, and also try to find some more letters.  Feel free to share what you find!