Slight Clutter's Photography Journal

The Ones I Like List of 2011 - A Countdown [#10]

2011-12-30T14:09:00.001-06:00


"in the rose garden"

in the rose garden. I do like a good rose. I do. But I’m not inspired by one. I prefer the gentle spirit of a daisy, the simple optimism of the forget-me-not, the independent streak of a wildflower and the humble posture of the lily-of-the-valley. Like most things I gravitate toward, I prefer my flowers to hold their gravitas in check – less Tom Cruise, more Jimmy Fallon. Less brandy on the rocks, more grasshopper.

So why on earth would I pick in the rose garden as a year-end favorite? I’ve been asking myself that for days. I’ve tried to move it off the list. I really have. Lord knows, it would have saved me days of writer’s block. But I couldn’t do it. These are supposed to be the "ones I like." They’re not the easiest. They’re not the most popular. They are the ones that burrowed into my heart for whatever reason. The ones I would never “leave behind.” But I still don’t get it. I'm of simple things, of surprises and curiosities. Why a rose?

Just brainstorming, but maybe it has to do with certainty. Maybe it has to do with the certainty of the rose. Maybe my internal flower child is seeking that which it hasn’t embraced in ages – stability. There are few things as stalwart as a rose – maybe not in its physical durability, but in that which is more important – in idea, in symbolism, in art. Maybe I’m in search of that. Maybe Tom Cruise intensity equals passion and passion equals dependability. Maybe Tom Cruise seriousness equals “all in” and “all in” equals endurance. Maybe there is something to this whole gravitas thing, whether Tom Cruise, brandy on the rocks or a singular rose.

Or...

Maybe I’m just a grasshopper-loving, Jimmy Fallon-watching, wildflower-seeking photographer who happened to take nice shot of a rose.

I have no idea. Both seem plausible.

The Ones I Like List of 2011 - A Countdown [#11]

2011-12-21T22:30:00.004-06:00

"Family Photo [In Laws]

All Photos - ©2011 Katya Horner

Slight Clutter: This year-end list goes to eleven.
Blog Reader: Oh, I see. And most year-end lists go up to ten?
Slight Clutter: Exactly.
Blog Reader: Does that mean it's better? Is it any better?
Slight Clutter: Well, it's one better, isn't it? It's not ten.

From the movie "Spinal Tap" -- Slighty Bastardized

Family Photo: A Series. A portfolio is like a family. A family is like a tree. A tree is like every answer to every question, pondered or posed. And here I am, a living portfolio. Defined by what I create. Defined inside what I create.

I can't tell you nearly as much about my year as my photos can, but as I make my way through this year's "The Ones I Like List," I'll do my best to fill in the blanks -- the "where I've been," the "what I've been doing," the "how I've been doing," and the "where I plan to go." I'll also color it with dabs of that which enlightened and sprinkles of those who inspired. And I'm going to be bold, like Nigel Tufnel...and I'm going to break the rules, starting with taking this Top Ten list to eleven -- a Top Eleven.

Why eleven you might ask? Well, I'll be the first to admit that I was an 11:11 on 11/11/11-o-phile, but it's more than that. I am profoundly connected to my portfolio this year. Where in 2010, I suffered through a painful detachment from my work, this year I'm deeply rooted in each and every photo. This year I found myself having to make a Sophie's Choice-like decision at the "Ten Spot," and I wasn't diggin' the prospect of leaving a photo behind. So why do it? I mean, why go through that, you know? After all, as Nigel so wisely points out, eleven is one better than ten.


"Family Photo [Parent and Child]"


"Family Photo [Parent and Child, The Teenage Years]"

I chose Family Photo: A Series, taken in Lake Guntersville, Alabama, because it represents the first time I've shot a series of photos at the same time, processed the photos at the same time and came away with an entire series in a mere couple of days. I'm very giddy about this because it's something that I've wanted deeply, but that has eluded me, for six years. Oh sure, I have my Passionate Earth series, but it's not the same. Those photos were taken on different days, processed on different days, and the very loose series is something that I've been adding to for a few years now. Family Photo: A Series is a stand alone. It's a mini-portfolio from start to finish, it's my latest work, and it's my "sneak in just under the buzzer" selection of the year. It also, just as an aside, represents the first time that I've included photos not previously published on Flickr in my year-end list. It wasn't by design. It's just happened that way.

"Family Photo [Nuclear Unit]"

A portfolio is like a family. A family is like a tree. A tree is like every answer to every question, pondered or posed.

Welcome to my portfolio!

"Family Photo" [Only Child]

First Quarter Favorites

2011-04-06T01:53:00.005-05:00

If you are one of the two people who have been following my blog since its inception, you know that I like to do a year-end the ones i like list. With each photo I post, I give thoughts -- either about the photo itself or about my state of mind during the year or both. This year, in addition to the year-end list, I'll give quarterly favorites along the way, but without the narrative. So as we finish the first quarter, here are the contenders.

Muddy Waters and I both love the Blues.

Trees, trees, trees -- no surprises.

Same tree, different story.

Same story, different setting.

...all those childhood trips to Yellowstone.

And...of course...Champster!

Totally unrelated. Addicted to the new Foo Fighters album, Wasting Light. You can listen to it here: http://wastinglight.foofighters.com/. My favorites -- These Days, Walk and Bridge Burning. But all amazing. I think their best to date.

just catching up [buffalo bayou regatta and batch rename]

2011-03-29T17:53:00.004-05:00

Not all of the scenes that I photograph get "repurposed" into visual hyperbole. Sometimes, actually most of the time, they remain fairly true to their original presentation. That's the case with the photos in this blog post -- scenes from The Bayou.

So let me get you all caught up -- a couple of weeks ago I photographed Houston's super canoeing and kayaking event, the Buffalo Bayou Regatta. This was my fourth year capturing the event for Buffalo Bayou Partnership, and it was the best yet, with 425 boats and over 700 paddlers! Woohoo! There must be some truth to the happy endorphins that physical activity unleashes on us because Regatta participants are some of the nicest, happiest people I come across all year.

This year the promotion of the event went far and wide, including the both the Texas Monthly and New York Times websites. And guess what? They used one of my photos (cropped) from last year's Regatta! How awesome is that?! I was positively giddy. You can see the NYTimes article here and the Texas Monthly article here.

So I typically process an average of 25 photos from any given photoshoot. The Regatta? Almost 500. Proof that insanity prevails. So I was sitting there, after hours of light processing, when I realized that I had switched the prefix in the photo titles about midway through. Ugh. One by one, I started changing names. The monotony was agonizing.. It wasn't until I was almost done that I decided to look up "batch rename" on google. Low and behold, a really simple way to do it in Adobe Bridge. Hallelujah!

Since it was a revelation to me, I thought I'd share it with all of you who might not yet know how to do it. Low production value, but if it can help one person I'm thrilled.

tips and such: batch renaming in Adobe Bridge from Katya Horner on Vimeo.

As I mentioned in the video, there are also options for batch renaming using programs other than Adobe Bridge. One program that you can download for free is IrfanView. I used it years ago to resize a large number of files and apparently it also allows you to batch rename...quickly. Thanks to the wonderful Matt Penning for the recommendation.

TisBest to Give Back

2011-03-08T11:11:00.002-06:00

©2011 Katya Horner. All rights reserved. (Applies to the photo on the card.)

I make a living creating fairytales. It's nothing I ever expected to do, but it's become my reality, and that's pretty amazing. I'm thankful. Immensely.

Today I was turned on to the wonderful organization, TisBest. TisBest is in the business of charity gift cards. I mean, how many times has someone asked you what you want for a birthday or holiday, and you were completely stumped. Maybe you have everything you want. Maybe you find the whole gift giving thing slightly awkward and embarrassing. Or, maybe you love presents. I'm not going to lie, I do...when they are from family. Anyone else? I just feel plain silly. Very, very appreciative, but silly. Well, here's a new option I can totally buy into. Gift cards that allow me to donate a specified amount to a charity of my choice. Awesome blossom!

Well, now I plan to turn that ship around! For anyone who spends $100 in my Etsy shop, shipping not included, I will purchase a TisBest gift card worth $10 and I'll include it in the package with the purchase. You'll not only be able to decorate your home, you'll be able to give to the charity of your choice. Want to buy a canvas gallery wrap or a photo on aluminum? For every $200 spent, a $20 TisBest gift card! $500? A $50 gift card! How cool is that?!

Oh, and another neat thing with these gift cards. Each gift card photo will be in a limited edition of 20 cards. So you can keep them, trade them...or...hey, why not...recycle them! Did I forget to tell you, the card is printed on recycled plastic. Yes, I did? Well, it is. So, even better!

Anyway...just my way of saying thanks to the universe for allowing me to do what I do. A fairytale, indeed!

-------------------------------------------------------------------

The photo, three trees, on the inaugural card is one of the few non-"red" photos from my Passionate Earth series. You can see the full photo below.

fun with photography [science edition]

2011-02-09T21:20:00.002-06:00

Photo on Left: Hubblesite.org
Photo on Right and Below: ©2011 Katya Horner

Okay, folks, this is a short blog post, but I simply had to share. I was happily processing my ice photos last night when I was hit with a funny feeling, a feeling of déjà vu...all over again. (Sorry, I truly can't help myself.) I knew I had seen an image similar to my photo on the right, but, for the life of me, I couldn't remember the "what" and "where" behind the photographic doppleganger. Thankfully, I'm a woman of the 2000's, so I just dialed up my internet and, after just a few minutes of searching , I found it! It's a "black hole-powered jet of electrons and sub-atomic particles streams from center of galaxy." Of course it is. Just what I was thinking.

I might have added some effects to my photo -- the light, the orange and the sprinkling of stars - but otherwise, the ice formation was left "as is." An ice formation, by the way, that clearly knows what it wants to be when it grows up -- an astronomical phenomenon. You can see the unadulterated ice photo below.

By the way, the photos at Hubblesite.org are simply mind-blowing. We are so small, you and I.

meditation

2011-02-08T18:40:00.000-06:00

©2011 Katya Horner. All rights reserved. (All photos in post.)

It seems like it was only yesterday that I was lamenting about the creative disappointment that was 2010. Now to think of it, it was yesterday. Iced Soy Chai Monday, otherwise known as Lamentation Day. The great thing, though, about Lamentation Monday is that it is followed by Revelation Tuesday. That's today for those not keeping track. Today, as I was still sifting through my digital stash from last week's ice-tastic winter storm, I realized I had something, something to be mildly (and mindfully!) enthusiast about. I had, without even knowing it at the time, found myself the proud mama of a new creative series -- "meditations."

It seems that I have about twenty or so images of constellations, subatomic particles and DNA strands all in the form of natural ice sculptures. I look at these images in their RAW form (won't finish processing them this week), and the perfected confusion of nature instantly calms me. It couldn't have come at a better time, this new discovery. It give off just the right kind of energy. Kind of like 2011 in general. Here's to new discoveries, good energy and Revelation Tuesdays!

snow can wait, i forgot my mittens*

2011-02-06T00:07:00.002-06:00

Oh, winter, forever we will be ships in the night.

Houston doesn't do winter. We don't. Oh sure, we do holidays. We buy sweaters. We eat chili. But we don't do winter...in the classic sense. Bing Crosby and White Christmas and lakes iced-over -- well, that's all mythology in these parts. You know, like Zeus, like Poseidon...like the Yeti.

This week, we were to be enlightened. We were to discover "the earth revolves around the sun" and "the cell divides" and "E=mc^2"...and, if that weren't enough, lo and behold, the mythology of winter? Not really a myth at all.

Four days we had freezing temperatures. Four days. Sure, to our friends up north, this is nothing. We're not used to it, however, and four days of freezing + one day of wintery-mix = over 1000 car wrecks in our usually fair city. I had been pining for snow something awful. It was the water cooler talk all week. Snow on Friday! One to four inches! Huge system! Moisture from the Gulf! I had Wunderground on speed dial and even became a fan of one of our local weathermen on Facebook. All day Thursday, I waited, I planned, I daydreamed. I was beguiled by the proposition of fluffy white goodness. Beguiled I tell you!

There's a feeling one gets when one is let down, when the balloon deflates, the energy wanes, the music turns all sappy and Celine Dion. Cheetahs get turned into snails. Sprints lumber. Wind gets coughed up and "doubling over"...well, you get my point. It didn't snow.

That could've been the end of this story. "It didn't snow." But then where would we be, winter and I? I was determined to find winter on Friday, even if it would mean my heading to the local XYZ mart and buying a Slushie. Instead, I tried to find it in earnest. I headed to Hermann Park. It was empty.

Oh, sure there was a little frozen water. But how exciting is that? I could have just photographed my freezer.

Oh well, the myth of it all, of winter, continues...no different than the myth of Medusa.

*Title comes from the lyrics of Tori Amos's amazing song "Winter." (Link goes to Amazon.)

The Ones I Like List of 2010 [#1]

2011-01-11T15:35:00.001-06:00

©2010 Katya Horner. All rights reserved.

two deer on green. It's their complete disregard for me - or acceptance of me - that beguiles.

I chose two deer on green because of the deer, the fog and the unnerving silence. I chose it because it represents a kind of stillness that is synonymous with creative confidence, a stillness that often eludes me, but seems to show up without fail when it's just me and nature. And, most of all, I chose it because if I had seen the photo in someone else's portfolio, I'd have wished -- really, really wished -- that it were mine.

------------------------------

I can't do one of these year end lists without giving a shout out to some of those who have really inspired me, instructed me, and/or given me encouragement along the way. I'm a decidedly more optimistic soul than a few of these countdown posts may have suggested, and one of biggest reasons for that positive state of mind is you -- my family, my friends, my mentors and my contemporaries. Aside for a huge "thank you" to all my clients, who keep me afloat, I'd like to thank...

Jeff, for being "all the above" -- inspiration, instruction and encouragement. You're not only a great friend, but you are a wise soul, one, thankfully, with an unimpeachable knowledge of Houston's roadways. Folks, this guy has kept me from getting lost on the way to photoshoots for years! But, seriously, thank you. And thank you to the lovely Cathy as well. You run with rockstars, Jeff!

The Flickr posse -- Phillip, Linda, Adrian, Ralph, Laura, Irina, Paul, Derrick, Myla, Betty, Marya, Ben, Bobby, Patrick, and Patrick -- it was great keeping up with you on Flickr and (most of you) on Facebook this year. You are all inspiring, not only for your work, but for the way you proceed in life. A together bunch you are!

Matt, for continuing this friendship through the miles. You are always there with a supportive and kind comment, and those comments are never taken forgranted. Oh, and your blogging discipline, inspiring. As are your photos.

Lori and Laurie, two Houston photographers who really inspired me this year. I'm glad that I got to know each of you better in 2010. And, speaking of Houston, thank you to the entire Houston photography community -- your talent is deep and your sense of community, deeper. I'm proud to be part of it.

Leland, for stepping up to teach me lighting. You are such a great soul. Can't wait to have dinner with you and Amanda in the coming weeks!

Ted, for sharing your knowledge about the history, the business and the craft of Photography with not only me, but with everyone. Your podcast series, both of them, are not to be missed.

Jeremy, for starting it all with a link to Flickr back in early 2005. You'll always be on this this list because I'm ridiculously grateful. And because you are a bit of a rockstar.

Flickr, for doing it up right. If I had to pick only one site to keep, you'd be it. Endless inspiration is served up by the second.

And...

I can't end the list without thanking my great friends, both new and old, and my super supportive family. You are truly the light in my life. I love you all.

The Ones I Like List of 2010 [A Detour]

2011-01-11T11:00:00.007-06:00

Some of my favorite photos have been the product of my taking a detour from an expected path. Detours are a way of life, literally and metaphorically. So I've decided to add one to the "List." Before unveiling my #1 photo on The Ones I Like List of 2010, I want to revisit a few other favorites that didn't make the official countdown for one reason or another.

The Historic Crocket Hotel. This photo was taken while I was on assignment in San Antonio for Where Guestbook. The photo itself wasn't part of the assignment, but rather just something I saw while walking back to the hotel, and I thought would make for an interesting photo. I'm not always up for long exposure -- don't like carrying around a tripod -- but since I had my tripod with me, it all worked out. The streaks were created by the lit horse-drawn carriages making a turn from one street to the next.

Laurie. This was my favorite portrait of the year, both for the photo itself and for the way Laurie, a fellow photographer, described the portrait experience in her wonderful blog. I love the image for the generous eye contact and for the branch shadow at the neckline. Just as a tree extends those delicate branches, Laurie extended herself in approaching the shoot, something that is very much outside her comfort zone, with total vulnerability and open-mindedness. I admired it completely.

Apartment Therapy. Back in April, my friends Vernon Caldera and Adam Gibson asked if I could photograph their apartment for Apartment Therapy's Small, Cool 2010 contest. It's something that I had experience doing when it came to editorial work, but not so much when it came to interior beauty shots. That said, I think we did just fine. And the apartment, cool as can be, made it to the national quarterfinals, doing really well, but missing by just a smidge. Vernon is the founder of Left Brain Right Brain Design and Keep Houston Rich. Adam is the Business Development Director at Rottet Studio. The pair's talent can only be outdone by their stunningly good looks. (Wait, is that wrong to say??!)

heron. I like heron because it's quiet, unadulterated. From a technical standpoint, it's quite different from my typical fog photos in that the depth of field is wide open and the scene, broad. That's another thing I like about the image -- the unexpected of it all.

Mister Charming. Claudius entered my life in late 2009. He walked in on a conversation I was having near the parking garage and then screamed "adopt me!" I did. One of the best decisions I've ever made.

The Ones I Like List of 2010 [#2]

2011-01-09T19:12:00.001-06:00

©2010 Katya Horner. All rights reserved.

almost fairytale season. When I went to Stowe, Vermont in September of 2009, I was instantly a convert. Until then, Asheville, North Carolina had my go-to happy place -- the Blue Ridge Mountains, the formidable arts community, the Biltmore's lush and spacious grounds. I didn't think that any U.S. location could unseat it from its throne. But then there was Vermont, a state with an independent, active spirit, a landscape that had all the bucolic goodness that I had only up until that time dreamt about, and it had history, real history, formative history, something that I found myself more and more drawn to while touring the far corners of the state. I went there thinking fog, foliage, moose and Ben & Jerry's, and I left there thinking retirement, passion and the depth of and capacity for inspiration. It was a "greater than" kind of trip.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, 2010 didn't afford me the same kind of inspiration as 2009. (Or, rather, I didn't afford myself the openness to become inspired?) I had my heart on another trip back to New England all year, and for a number of reasons, it just didn't pan out for me. It's funny how something like that, a failed attempt at a vacation, can be a "deal breaker" when it comes to one's relationship with their positive perspective. What it told me was that I still didn't have a firm foundation under this thing called "creative confidence." It teetered too easily.

Folks who have been following me since 2005 (thank you!) know the struggle I've had with not really owning my talent, with trying to please others, with feeling technically sub par. It's been no secret that it's a mental game with me. When I first started shooting in 2005, it was so easy. There were no expectations about my photography from others and, more importantly, myself. That lack of expectation yielded liberated work. A liberation that I sought out this year, but didn't find. Maybe I tried to hard. Maybe I thought too much about it. There you go stinkin' thinkin' again, Katya!

I chose almost fairytale season as my #2 photo on the 2010 The Ones I Like List because it, interestingly enough, represents all my missteps this year. I haven't counted, but I'd be fairly certain that I processed significantly more photos from 2008 and 2009 in 2010 than photos from the year itself (work not included). All that faux confidence was residing in the past, photos that I already knew would be successful, not photos that would be up for discussion, evaluation, photos that would stretch my creativity, my passion. It was photography from a place of fear, and that's this photo in a nutshell -- old raw image, predictable processing, resting on the ever-so-safe laurels, whatever a laurel is.

Now, I wouldn't post a photo as my #2 photo of the year if I disliked it. I don't dislike this photo at all. On the contrary, I love it. I think the colors are exciting and the scene, beautiful. It's the same wood and clearing that was offered up in #7 on this year's list. And there lies the problem (and the blessing of having that kind of a "moment," I guess), two crowd-pleasing photos taken in 2009 on the same day, probably within the same ten minutes, processed and presented in 2010...taking up two spots on this year's list. It's kind of like cheating...myself. But it typifies my year, so, I guess, it was the only way to go.

Other favorites (seen below), narrowly missing the list, that were taken in 2008 or 2009, but processed in 2010 include: turn, two trees in the distance and wonderland.

Movies I really enjoyed in 2010: True Grit (my favorite), The Social Network, The Town, Inception, Unstoppable, and The Kids Are All Right . A movie released in 2010 that I suspect would have made the list had I already seen it -- The King's Speech.

The Ones I Like List of 2010 [#3]

2011-01-09T14:11:00.003-06:00

©2010 Katya Horner. All rights reserved.

to better see you with. Well, no need to reinvent the wheel on this one. I wrote a bit about this photo back in July, explaining why it meant something to me. So, if you didn't get to see the post then, you can click here and see it now. (Or, if you'd like to read it again, awesome!) If time is money and money is time, spare yourself the click and read an excerpt below:

There...I breathed in all that was right with art and design and people who who carry quarters...and fold...in public...for the world to see. I saw my reflection in that which was tumbling just moments earlier. That which was now housing "clean" and stillness. I saw people all around me creating things...piles of cotton origami, friendships with those they'll only see on Wednesday nights, lists of to do and have done. I could do that. Create something. I took "that which makes me whole" in my hands, steadied myself and took a picture. And another. And another.

Since this post will be a "been there, done that" for those who have seen my earlier, ever-so-rare mid-year blogpost, I offer two things I learned this year that have saved me time as a photographer. The first, how to make a copyright symbol without cutting and pasting. Just hold down the alt key and press "0, 1, 6, 9" one after the other and release. There you go -- copyright symbol! The second, Lightscribe! I use it for all my DVD's now. Instead of dealing with stick-on CD labels or handwritten jobs, Lightscribe etches your label right onto the DVD. My computer comes with it, but it also comes as a stand alone. I recommended it to one friend already, and she loves it. Just thought I'd share.

------------------------------

What I was reading in 2010: After Dark by Haruki Murakami, Juliet Naked by Nick Hornby, The Best American Essays 2010 edited by Christopher Hitchens and Robert Atwan, Created in Darkness by Troubled Americans: The Best of McSweeney's Humor Category edited by Dave Eggers and company, The Book of Faces by Joseph Campana, Stupid Hope by Jason Shinder, and Take the Long Way Home by Gail Caldwell.

The Ones I Like List of 2010 [#4]

2011-01-08T12:39:00.001-06:00

©2010 Katya Horner. All rights reserved.

School Bus. You know what would make for a great photo? A bunch of children taking recess in an urban setting, a playground, specifically – cement, not grass. Oh, and fog. In Houston, fog typically takes its last breath around 10 a.m., so the likelihood of that kind of photo happening in my town, slim.

What you can find in my town on a foggy morning, empty school buses. You see them everywhere if you keep your eyes open. There are the school bus “graveyards” along Interstate 10, the school bus art cars inside the loop, the random school bus found taking residence on a rural front lawn just south of the city. The empty school bus is a hot property.

School Bus was taken at a lakeside park about thirty miles south of Houston. Presumably, the driver had just dropped off the kids and was waiting for the next “assignment.” It’s not unusual to see school buses at this park, but usually the sound of children’s laughter, swinging bats, well, usually that’s also present. This day it was just me, the foggy silence and an empty, orange bus. Sure, it wasn’t a bustling urban playground, but it would do just fine.

-----------------------------

What I was watching on Television in 2010: Modern Family, Fringe, The Good Wife, NCIS (both installments), The Biggest Loser, Justified, Castle, So You Think You Can Dance, Glee, True Blood and Law & Order (RIP).

The Ones I Like List of 2010 [#5]

2011-01-07T17:24:00.001-06:00

©2010 Katya Horner. All rights reserved. (Shot for Where Guestbook Houston.)

The Game. I love baseball. Everything about it. The pacing, the grand slams, the pitchers duels. Crash and Annie, Shoeless Joe, Wrigley Field. Extra innings, rain delays and double headers. It’s about history, both the league’s and my own.

For as long as I can remember, baseball has been part of my life. My afternoons with dad, my first dates with men who understood me, my laughter-filled moments with friends, my common ground with others. It’s been my March through October for over thirty years, and there’s something nice about that kind of reliability.

Baseball is a numbers game taking place in a sensation-driven world. It’s the .300 hitters in the ballparks with trains and mascots and “Let’s go, 'Stros!” It’s the full count that doesn’t count at all to the sleeping four-year old, all decked out in team gear, who couldn’t quite make it past the sixth inning. It’s three strikes and four balls adding up to a seventh inning stretch with a kiss cam, a patriotic song and a quick run to the vendor for another beer. It’s hecklers and knuckle balls, hometown heroes and statistics. It’s all that and it’s co-branded with mom and apple pie – genius!

I chose The Game, taken while shooting a photo essay for Where Guestbook Houston, as #5 on The Ones I Like List of 2010 because I’m a baseball fan, an Astros fan, a Berkman fan and a fan of assignments that allow me to combine my passions – in this case, photography and baseball. It was a no-brainer and a "W" on my professional scorecard.

Now if I can just be hired to photograph the Foo Fighters in concert...

The Ones I Like List of 2010 [#6]

2011-01-06T19:57:00.000-06:00

©2010 Katya Horner. All rights reserved.

Blooms and Bokeh. I’ll admit it. I’m less than enthusiastic about this year’s list. It isn’t that I think poorly of the individual photos in the countdown. I really do like them. I might even love a few of them. It’s just that on the whole they don’t resonate with me in the way that the selections have in years past. There seems to be a real disconnect, and it has left me at a loss when it comes to writing these posts. So I guess that’s something. It’s not something profound. Just the facts. Some years are better than others.

As an aside, I delved a bit into poetry this year, taking a class at the Houston Public Library and joining a poetry book club. Blooms and Bokeh feels a bit like a visual haiku to me. So it seemed only fitting to include this slightly unusual nature image in the countdown.

The Ones I Like List of 2010 [#7]

2011-01-04T12:15:00.000-06:00

©2010 Katya Horner. All rights reserved.

a forest for the trees. This is an image that I created for a friend and his family. It was taken in Stowe, Vermont in 2009, but processed in 2010. I'll leave it at that.

The Ones I Like List of 2010 [#8]

2011-01-04T11:43:00.002-06:00

©2010 Katya Horner. All rights reserved

deer xing. Lady Luck plays a huge role in my life as a photographer. I always say that photography found me, gave me a huge wave, and has allowed me to ride that wave for almost six years now, carrying me to wonderful “places” along the way. In 2010 one of those wonderful places was a smallish corporate complex near my parents’ house. The complex, although in a bustling suburban area about 30 minutes from downtown Houston, lies in the middle of nature country – pines, oaks, bayous, etc. It was a foggy morning (my favorite kind!), and I was driving to U of H, Clear Lake when I spotted some deer on the complex lawn. It was a weekend, so I just drove into the parking lot and fired away. I ended up with numerous deer photos that day, but this one was certainly my luckiest. The deer didn’t have to walk into the “deer xing” zone (although all the cool deer do it!), and it certainly didn’t have to pause there. But it did. And I was ready for it.

This photo also represents my experiment with muted tones in 2010. I’m so used to bold colors, that once I figured out how to create these pale and dreamy scenes, I found it refreshing, and I ran with it. Clearing, a photo (below) that just missed the ten spot in this countdown, also employed the muted aesthetic. As did the photo (also below) not content to settle, he made his way and was the better for it.

--------------------------

Favorite Viral Videos of 2010 - Suprised Kitty in first place by a mile and then Christmas Food Court Flash Mob.

The Ones I Like List of 2010 [#9]

2011-01-03T20:40:00.003-06:00

© 2010 Katya Horner. All rights reserved.

one tree, many muses. After taking some years off while red reigned supreme, blue reinserted itself into my portfolio in 2010, and it did so all by its lonesome, without encouragement or pre-planning. It just barged in, like those blues tend to do, and set a new trend in motion. A trend, I imagine, that will still hold strong as we start the new year.

I was always a “favorite” this or “favorite” that girl. No different today. My favorite movie is Magnolia. Favorite month, October. My favorite food is the avocado. Favorite musician, Paul Simon. Foo Fighters are my favorite...when entertaining subsets. And then...there is blue. When I was growing up, blue was always in the pole position. I imagine it still is (although that darned yellow keeps trying to sway my better sensibility with all its happy, happy and sunshine, sunshine). What I like about blue is its range. Blue has the power to calm, to sadden, to uplift. It has the power to confirm your darkest suspicions and lift your most downtrodden spirits. In my childhood Crayola box, I was partial to Sky Blue. Maybe it was being raised with NASA in my “backyard,” in a community that owned the night sky. Maybe it was because I was destined to be more dreamer than realist, and dreams aren’t heavy, they float upward. Maybe I was always a lover of birds and tree tops and all of those things that flirt with the heavens, just beyond that gorgeous blue. It’s hard to say, really, why one gravitates towards colors and rhythms and all things sensory. But as I mentioned in my earlier post, sometimes the question mark isn’t necessary…or even helpful. Sometimes you process your photos with a blue paintbrush just because.

And sometimes, sometimes you blog about the most random things.

I chose one tree, many muses, the only photo of mine that I have up in my place, as #9 on the countdown because I really worked for it...and because it was loosely inspired by the work of my favorite photographer. From the color to the texture to the crop, it was a creation. The tree, however, well, that beauty was there, at Armand Bayou Nature Center, commanding attention on an otherwise spare winter’s morning. It’s what I always seem to gravitate towards when I have my camera in hand…a good tree. One might say it’s a favorite.

---------------------------

Two more "blue" favorites that didn't quite make the list -- cardinal and monocle, the latter of which has my favorite title of the year.

---------------------------

Dining at in 2010: Canopy, Pepper Tree, Maria Selma, Jenni's Noodle House, Baba Yega, Mogul, Panda Garden and 59 Diner.

The Ones I Like List of 2010 [#10]

2011-01-02T09:27:00.001-06:00

©2010 Katya Horner. All Rights Reserved.

Houston. Work photos. I don’t often include them in these year-end lists. I don’t know why. I guess it has something to do with impetus and “get up and go” and inertia. Something to do with paying bills, administration, licensing terms. Something to do with “it’s all mine” – from inception to reception. I'm funny that way.

2010 wasn’t an easy year for me when it came to photography. While things kept skipping along on the professional side of things, the personal side of my craft – well, “frustrating” would be generous. It didn’t boil down to the particulars, this frustration – fogless fog seasons, painful heel spurs, the death of my wide angle lens…and my computer…and my backup camera’s backup camera. It was more basic than that. My frustration was borne out of thinking too much. Like many creative types, I need a clear, almost blank mind to shoot my personal work. I need to be freed of the questions marks that surround creation – why are you shooting this cow…in this manner…with this lens…and that camera setting? And how will you process it once taken? And where will you post it once it’s processed? Why? What? How? To what end? The percussive questioning, while it certainly provides a rhythm, does little to encourage unrestrained creativity. I want my photography to be a snowboarder, not a cross-country skier. I want it to be experimental jazz. Goulash.

I chose Houston, an "outtake" from a shoot for Downtown Magazine, as #10 on my The Ones I Like List because the experience of shooting it was one of my most memorable photography experiences of the year. It was an absolutely gorgeous, blissfully still spring evening. I was standing, alone, on the roof of the downtown Aquarium. Just me, my camera and the pulse of the city. The skyscrapers. The ferris wheel. The cars whooshing by on I-45. It was everything my personal photography was not in 2010. It was free.

---------------------------

Listening to in 2010: Adam Lambert's For Your Entertainment , Eminem’s Recovery, Norah Jones' ...Featuring Norah Jones and Florence + the Machine's Lungs.

another another day, another fairytale?

2010-08-22T20:29:00.004-05:00

© 2010 Katya Horner

another day, another fairytale. Or, more specifically, another day, another "another day, another fairytale." Oh, words are so much fun! But, silly is not why you are here, so let's move on.

I sit on photos. I take them -- trees, cars, squirrely squirrels -- and then I just sit on them, opting instead to process photos from my archives, photos I didn't have a chance to process when I took them because of work and/or my very close friends procrastination and creative block. It's a silly way of doing things, I know, but it seems to work for me. Every so often, instead of processing something new (and by new, I mean old new) I revisit a photo that I don't think I got quite right the first time around or that I just think might be equally served by an alternate treatment. What I rarely, rarely do is go into my archives, pull out a photo that is one of my favorites, and give it a new spin. Well, "rarely, rarely" is now.

One of my friends, Lori Sanders -- also a creative type -- will be opening Sanderwood Fine Arts in the coming weeks...and she has been nice enough to invite me to be one of the lucky artists/photographers on display from the get go. Completely giddy, I wanted to do something special for her gallery, so I decided I'd branch out into the world of art printed on aluminum. Of course, when I initially thought about printing on aluminum, the first image that popped up in my head was that of a Dr. Pepper can. Yeah...*sigh*...I'm addicted. In reality, however, aluminum is a contemporary "canvas" that should work well with the contemporary photography I'll be displaying. I've seen it at exhibitions and at a local print shop, and it has a three-dimensional quality that has always wowed me.

So, here's where "rarely, rarely is now" comes in. One of the photos I'll be printing on aluminum is another day, another fairytale. I've printed this numerous times, and I would have thought it "just shy of blasphemous" to ever lay a Photoshop "finger" on it again...until now. You see, the light in aluminum is "dynamic," it just begs for strong highlights and shadow. The original version of another day, another fairytale certainly had highlight and shadow, but upon deciding to go the aluminum route, I wanted to give it even more...I wanted it to "play nice" with it's new metal friend, I wanted them to compliment each other and ride off into the sunset all Jane Austen-y and sublime. So, I went into the photo, section by section, tweaking light and shadow until I thought it was optimized for its new medium. It'll probably be a case of "nobody will notice the changes, but me"...but I'm fine with that. In the end, the whole "tinkering with a personal favorite" thing was a strange, slightly anxiety-producing experience, but it was energizing as well...and as an oft-confounded creative type, "energizing" is always a good thing.

Who knows, maybe it's time to give glamour girl another go...

enthusiasm

2010-08-08T18:47:00.000-05:00

An edgy frame for a photo of ducklings -- it seems so obvious, no?

When last we visited here on Slight Clutter's Photography Journal, I mentioned that I had opened a shop on Etsy. Well, friends, the postscript is short and sweet. I'm selling -- seventeen photos in the past ten days! Who would've thunk it?! "Not I," said the cat. I'm grateful.

What else? Well, I've been shooting the fall issue of Downtown, enjoying Wicked from a fabulous vantage point, and filling orders and such for individual clients. Oh, and then there was that whole "#9 on the list of Top Flickr Photographers" thing. Does it matter that I promised them my first born? Yes?? Okay, then disregard.

"Lighter than Air" by bomobob

Carnivals and Cotton Candy

Since there is nothing more to say about me, let me introduce you to one of my favorite new finds on Etsy -- bomobob. One only needs to read my earlier blog post about photographers and youth and running through fountains to know how I feel about color and joy and all things fancy free. Well, bomobob's work embodies a youthfulness that really serves up the happy. Oh, and not the kind of youthfulness that nourishes on rebellion and edginess. Instead, his is the kind that conjures up memories of whirls and twirls and of children laughing, of ticket booths and lofty dreams. The kind that is all "yes" and "can we stay 10 more minutes, pleeeeeese?" The kind that takes you 50 feet in the air, over the bokeh and and the saturation, the families and the soda pop, and brings you full circle...just in time for the next creative ride. His images are both literally and figuratively -- ferris wheels.

I've included two of my favorites here. Feel free to click on this link to see more!

Oh, he also does fog and trees and all things visually dreamy, so - yeah - I'm a fan.


"Tibidabo" by bomobob

Now, I can't do a blog post about carnivals without mentioning she who defines carnival photography in my eyes, the ever-creative Linda Plaisted. I have four of her Luna Park series in my home office. Wouldn't have made it this far in photography with her constant inspiration and wisdom. I have an entire blog post devoted to her in the works!

So, this is hopefully my first of many blog posts - albeit spaced over time in a way only a undisciplined blogger can space them - that will highlight other artists I've found online. I've started with someone on Etsy because that's where my head (and my enthusiasm!) is right now. While Flickr is and will always be my Numero Uno, I have to say...I'm finding just the right amount of sugary goodness on Etsy to keep me altogether smitten. It's exciting and yummy, vibrant and filling. One might even say that it's like cotton candy. Or...like a good-old-fashioned carnival.

Etsy Love

2010-07-16T10:02:00.002-05:00

First things first -- my blog has a new look. Like it? Dislike it? I would love your feedback.

Okay...back to regular programming.

So I got back on Etsy earlier this week. I've had a shaky love affair with Etsy -- always setting up shop and then quickly dismantling shop due to work demands. I'd say my efforts toward Etsy have been minimal at best.

But that's about to change!

I've enlisted the help of others this time around. I'll no longer be doing the packing and shipping portion of the Etsy operations. I'll just be posting, signing and...most importantly...taking photos, both for work and for myself. To me, the whole packing and shipping thing was always the killjoy. With that out of the way, I think the shop will be up and running in earnest this time around.

So, I've added the Etsy Mini (linking to my shop) on the side of this blog in case any of you wanted to take a look-see -- of course, I hope you do. Finger, toes, eyes and ears (wait...ears?!!) crossed.

On a side note, I've really taken to creating Treasuries on Etsy. A treasury is basically a collection of finds that have something in common, like all landscapes, all with a wedding theme, all funky ceramics -- you get the idea. I tried to take it one step further with my "Love in, love of...Paris!" treasury...and it took me over two hours to find just the right photos (insomnia). I tried to tell a story. The story is about a girl, a city and a beautiful romantic adventure. The photos (none mine) are amazing. To live vicariously through our heroine, just as I did when I was creating it, you can click here.

Bon voyage!

an ode to laundromats and inspiration and getting clean

2010-07-08T13:29:00.004-05:00

As a photographer, I run on inspiration.

© 2010 Katya Horner

Every once in a while, it goes missing. To find it, I seek out advice from good friends, creative types, folks who have dealt with "missing" before, folks who have found...it.

For the better part of this year, I went without. It was agonizing. Inspirationless living tends to be dirty. It wears on you like filth. Like a work blouse with a ketchup stain on a day when meeting after meeting says tough luck, that's life.

But then...fruit! In the form of a recollection. A Galveston laundromat I visited years before. It was a birthplace of inspiration then. I revisited old photos.

Enlightened. Decisive. I bee-lined. To that spot. Where creativity is detergent. Where meetings are postponed and tomato stains wash off. Where I knew I'd find "it."

There...I breathed in all that was right with art and design and people who who carry quarters...and fold...in public...for the world to see. I saw my reflection in that which was tumbling just moments earlier. That which was now housing "clean" and stillness. I saw people all around me creating things...piles of cotton origami, friendships with those they'll only see on Wednesday nights, lists of to do and have done. I could do that. Create something. I took "that which makes me whole" in my hands, steadied myself and took a picture. And another. And another.

That was all I needed. And I left feeling good. No, grand. Extra grand.

(When I posted a 140 character version of this post on Twitter earlier this morning. Imelda pointed me and fellow laundry enthusiast CosmoPolitician in the direction of YouTube and Hand Wash Cold by Karen Maezen Miller. Looks like I have a book to read! Thank you, Imelda!)

a photographer walks into a bar...

2010-07-06T10:38:00.005-05:00

© 2010 Katya Horner

I found a wonderful quote over at Billy Wilson Photography's flickr profile page and I thought my fellow photographers would get a kick out of it.

an amateur photographer friend was invited to dinner and took along a few pictures. the hostess looked at his work and exclaimed, "these are very good. you must have an excellent camera." later, as my friend was departing, he turned to the hostess and said, "that was a delicious meal. you must have some excellent pots.

-Simon Evans

The photo, little tree, was taken in Vermont last fall.

Fourth of July [Photo Tips]

2010-07-04T12:06:00.005-05:00

© 2010 Katya Horner

Okay, so it's the Fourth of July, and you are planning a day of bar-b-que, socializing and fireworks. A golden opportunity for photography, no? I'm thinking some neat editorial shots with the grill in the foreground and guests in the background. I'm thinking a macro of the beer label or potato salad. I'm thinking red, white and blue anything would be nice. And last, but certainly not least, I'm thinking fireworks!

So you ask, Katya, you certainly have fireworks in your archives, why not post one now...here? The timing seems right. The discussion is on point. Well, let me tell you, friends. While I do have a handful of fireworks photos in my archives (just shot a groovy one for a client two weeks ago), I've never really been completely satisfied with the shots (client photo, an exception). I did take the following photo a few years back, but I got a lot of help from my good friend Jeff Balke on the actual set up. So in my eyes, the photo has a big ol' stinkin' asterisk tied to it. *sheds a single tear*

© 2006 Katya Horner

So, tonight I'll set out to take some more fireworks photos. If I'm successful (fireworks will follow dinner and drinks), I will post a photo to my flickr account tomorrow. If not, well, I'll have to find the fireworks elsewhere. To increase the chances of my success, however, I've searched the internet, and I've come up with a running consensus among experts. I write this from the standpoint of a DSLR owner, but many of the tips are universal.

1.) Use a tripod. Typically, we want a little longer exposure, 1-4 seconds seems to work nicely, so tripods are there to make sure we don't "shake, rattle and roll" the camera just like the fireworks that are going off in the distance. If you don't have a tripod, remember there are always alternatives that work nicely. If you have steady hands and are using a wide-angle lens, bring your elbows to your waste, take a deep breath and shoot while holding your breath (don't recommend this for 30 second shots, but, you know, like one second, maybe a half...). Another option is to find a table or surface that will work to stabilize your camera in a way your hands can not. If you need to prop the camera at an angle, a book covered with cloth that you can adjust might do the trick. When all else fails, if you have a newer camera that has ridiculously high ISO options, crank that baby up! You might not get the "trails" of a long exposure, but you'll still get some ~~lovely~~...er...awesome photos to post for your friends on flickr and facebook!

2.) Use a shutter release if you have one. Even the steadiest hands shake every so often when taking a photo. Avoid the shake...don't touch the camera! (Late addition: I forgot to mention...when I don't have my shutter release cord with me, I just set the camera up for a ten second delay. While you can't gauge what will be going on in five/ten seconds where fireworks are concerned, this is still a solid option if you want to avoid the shake, shake, shake. You might be pleasantly surprised with what you capture!)

3.) If you have a tripod, shoot with an ISO in the low range (100-400) to avoid getting grain. Of course, if you're shooting or are converting to moody black and white, not so important.

4.) Set your camera to Manual or Shutter Priority (Tv or S on most cameras). Manual is ideal, but I know some of you really like to stay in "friendlier" territory. If you are shooting manual, first pick the length of exposure (start with 2 seconds and see what that gets you) and from there play around with aperture until you get what you need. Don't be afraid of smaller apertures like f/11 and so on. Different landscapes and personal styles will dictate your setting, not any set rule. If you are shooting in Shutter Priority mode, experiment with the various time values and your camera will do the rest with regards to aperture.

5.) Flash is not an option. Nope, nada, not now, no how.

6.) Adjust your focus manually and stay right there! The good thing about photographing firework displays is that they are always in the same general area, so no need to spend unnecessary time with the whole focusing thing for each shot. Of course, if you have a grander shot in mind -- families in the foreground, fireworks in the distance -- you'll likely need to readjust.

7.) The white fireworks tend to overexpose more than the color fireworks. Know that going in, and if you are worried about overexposure, either compensate in camera by stopping down or just focus on all the beautifully colored bursts.

8.) You are likely shooting digital. Take a bunch of photos. Analyze what is working and not working along the way. Make adjustments. Remember, you'll always be able to do some basic corrective work in your post-processing software of choice (mine is Photoshop).

I'm a Canon shooter (5D Mark II), so I got a lot of good advanced information from the Canon Digital Learning Center. If you'd like further technical help when it comes to shooting fireworks, a Canon photographer or not, you can read Canon's suggestions for taking good fireworks photos here.

Oh, almost forgot...

9.) Have fun! Be safe! Happy shooting!

Slight Clutter's Houston [The Orange Show]

2010-01-11T10:21:00.009-06:00

Just a few more photos from the Orange Show in Houston, Texas. I had intended to post these last week, but time had alternate intentions.

Slight Clutter's Houston [The Orange Show]

2010-01-04T18:48:00.005-06:00

© 2009 Katya Horner

It started as one postal carrier’s monument to his favorite, life-extending fruit – the orange. Today, nearly thirty years after his death, Jefferson Davis McKissack’s architectural whimsy is a folk-art masterpiece, bearing witness for any closet funkster, any quirky everyman who’s ever dreamed of stepping beyond the Velvet Elvis and into a world of creative bliss. The Orange Show Monument is Houston’s strangely wonderful giving tree.

Think clowns and lions, wishing wells and wagon wheels. Think rainbows and iron, balconies and admonishments. Think everything childhood and rainbows and goodness, and then splash in a huge wave of orange, and there you have it – the Orange Show Monument. McKissack spent twenty-three years (1956-1979) building the 3,000 square foot maze of imagination. He built it so they would come, and after a bumpy start, come they did, modestly. It wasn’t, however, until after McKissack’s death in 1980 that the Orange Show really flourished with the formation of the Orange Show Foundation (now the Orange Show Center for Visionary Art), a non-profit organization devoted to not only preserving the Orange Show Monument, but also to making art accessible and interesting to ordinary folks. Nowadays, when Houstonians think of the Orange Show, they think not only of the monument, but also of the Beer Can House, the Art Car Festival and the many educational outreach programs that the Orange Show Center for Visionary Art funds.

The Orange Show Monument is located at 2401 Munger Street, just off of Interstate 45. It’s open every Saturday and Sunday from noon to 5 PM. Admission is $1 per person.

The Ones I Like List of 2009 - A Countdown [#1]

2010-01-03T18:43:00.015-06:00

a house on a hill - I want to write something really profound about this image, but some days the writing just isn't there. What can I say? It was an unexpected gift, the sunburst. It was really this glorious. Kissed by the heavens. It was bordering on arrogant, but it wasn't. It was bordering on gaudy, but it wasn't. It was bordering on blasphemous, but it wasn't. What it was was benevolent, breathtaking and barely able to contain itself. What it was was a stress blaster, a soul lifter, an elixir. What it was was magic, pure and beyond skepticism. It was inspired.

My photos are often filled with visual hyperbole. I like creating a story, an alternate landscape, and I like to do so through weepy textures and personality-filled color. While most of my photos can probably stand alone without the embellishment, Photoshop is like Candyland to me. I'm rendered silly by all its bells and whistles.

When fortune casts favor upon me, however, I stumble upon a scene so magnificent in its own right that the processing becomes a non-event. On September 29, the last day of my wonderful New England adventure, I did just that -- stumble upon magnificence. Southwestern New Hampshire was the location. Morning was the time of day. A burst of sublime light was the party favor. There was almost nothing that I had to do to this photo, only a little color balance and curves tweaking. Anything more would have been an insult to Mother Nature herself.

I chose a house on a hill because it's in bad form to look a gift horse in the mouth. Especially when the gift is this radiant.

{This #1 is sort of a two-parter. Moments before or after I took this photo, I took another one just a few feet down the road, almost identical to the a house on a hill. I cropped that photo and I named it breaking through. breaking through was my most popular photo on flickr this year, and I like it a lot as well. I like it so much that it really should have come in #2 on this list, but I just couldn't put two photos of the same lineage into the countdown. Just couldn't. For that reason, I'm including the image here...because it needed to be recognized somehow as a favorite among almost all favorites.}

As we close out the decade, I want to thank all those who have been supportive of my photography over the last five years as well as those who have inspired me to be better by their own creative output. This isn't a complete list by any stretch, so please forgive me if I left you (yes, you!) off the list.

Linda Plaisted, Adrian Gibbs, Phillip Portugal, Paul Watson, Patrick Lentz, Mario Maura, Laurie Ballesteros, Matt Penning, Marya Figueroa, Ben McKeown, Bobby Alcott, Patrick Power, Derrick Tyson, Myla Kent, Deji Osinulu, Debora Smail, Ted Forbes, Irina Souki, Ralph Nardell, Laura Kicey, Betty Schlueter, Gerard Harrison, Leland Isley, Mark C. Austin, John Mueller, and Jody Miller.

Special thanks goes to my dear, dear friend and partner in photo crime, Jeff Balke. Jeff has listened to every last bit of self-doubt I have dished out regarding photography, and he has always managed to make me feel like I can do this. I wouldn't be where I am today with my photography without him. A true and valued friend.

Special thanks also goes out to my wonderfully supportive family and friends. My mom, in particular, started helping me organize my vast, black hole of an archives this past year, and I couldn't be more appreciative.

Lastly, I'd like to thank two superstars in my book. First, Jeremy Hawkins, who inadvertently introduced me to Flickr almost five years ago, something that changed the course of my life. A good guy and a very talented writer. He'll make the "thank you" list as long as I'm writing them. Second, Flickr itself. I love you, Flickr. You make my world go round.

The Ones I Like List of 2009 - A Countdown [#2]

2010-01-02T17:10:00.004-06:00

© 2009 Katya Horner

in the quiet - Sometimes not a lot needs to be said about a photo. This is one of those times. Sure I can give you the location – The University of Houston at Clear Lake. I can tell you that the photo was part of a juried exhibition – Xnihilo Gallery from October 9th to November 23rd. Oh, and I can probably tell you that the photo has my favorite title of the year. Yeah...sure...I can tell you that, too. But I prefer to tell you this.

I chose in the quiet as my second favorite photo of 2009 because it invites us to enter, to feel the surroundings, and to breathe in the silence just as if we were there. With the deer. In the fog. In a world rendered still by one click.

The Ones I Like List of 2009 - A Countdown [#3]

2010-01-02T09:33:00.007-06:00

at the woods' edge - There’s a light at the woods' edge that often keeps us from going inside. It’s familiar and it’s safe and sometimes it’s pretty darn wonderful. It’s only those with the kind of fictional bravery of a Little Red Riding Hood who manage to enter the dark, unfamiliar environs of an mysterious wooded wonderland. "Wonderland?" you may ask. And I’ll answer, "yes." I’ve worn the red cape -- a rare surge of bravery – and I can tell you first hand –there’s magic in the woods. Let me take you inside.

Okay, I embellish a bit. I, without red cape and basket of goodies, was actually standing very still outside the mysterious, frighteningly beguiling unknown when I took this photo, but it did give me a rare glimpse inside, and what I found was dreamy and reassuring. There is, indeed, light within the woods and there’s movement and life. And every minute we stand paralyzed at the edge, we are saying “no” to the childlike explorer within.

I chose at the woods' edge because somewhere between 2005 and today, I’ve apparently lost the part of me that is that intrepid explorer. I’m far more cautious with my photography. Gone are the pre-dawn shoots at a park, a cemetery, downtown. Gone… the “street” photography . I should be shooting everything. My name is slight clutter after all, and that’s how I roll. Or, at least that’s how I used to roll. Instead, today, when it comes to adrenaline-pumping photography, I sit very, very still...at the woods’ edge. I hope to change that in 2010.

[The second photo, when i ventured inside, just narrowly missed the top 10. On any given day, it could have made the cut.]

The Ones I Like List of 2009 - A Countdown [#4]

2010-01-01T14:18:00.008-06:00

© 2009 Katya Horner

another day, another fairytale - Every day is a fairytale when one is “road tripping” through New England during the fall foliage season. I was lucky this past year to have spent eight wonderful days gallivanting about Massachusetts, Vermont and New Hampshire, each day with one sole focus – photographing the reds, fuchsias, oranges and yellows of autumn.

another day, another fairytale was taken in Stowe, Vermont on a voluptuously foggy morning. The weather during my trip had been pretty challenging photographically-speaking -- very few sunny days. But this unexpected foggy morning was a gift, a timely mea culpa from the weather gods. They may have only given me two partially sunny days during my time in New England, but they gave me fog, so all has since been forgiven.

So there it was. Fog in the valley when looking down from the mountain top. Fog enveloping bridges and blanketing roadways. Fog waltzing with horses and snuggling with calves. I even found fog in a bog with a log doing its best to flirt with a dreamy red maple (shout out to Dr. Seuss!) . Fog was in all the right places interacting with all the right colors, and that was all the “yes” I needed to start booking 2010’s New England trip –in my mind, at least.

Although I’ve taken some creative license with another day, another fairytale, it comes in at #4 because it captures with precision the fairytale that I stepped into that beautiful morning in Stowe, Vermont. After all, it’s not always the reality of the situation that dictates one’s interface with the everyday. It’s one’s take on that reality. In Stowe, I chose to take in the magic. another day, another fairytale is the result.

I have so numerous fog photos from Stowe that I have yet to process. I just haven't had the time. That said, two additional photos from that misty morning, the mist's fodder and autumn in stowe, vermont can be seen below.

The Ones I Like List of 2009 - A Countdown [#5]

2009-12-30T20:29:00.007-06:00

indigo - This past spring I was a birder for second. I loved it. I bought books. I joined websites. I adopted the nickname Western Tanager. I was only an outing in camouflage and a bird-calling class away from growing feathers myself. If it weren’t for a busy work schedule, I would have probably joined the whooping crane migration northward in early April. I was that serious.

Indigo was taken at the High Island Rookery last March. I had rented a Canon 300mm, f/2.8 lens and coupled it with a Canon 2X Extender that day, and I was all set to photograph some nesting Roseate Spoonbills. If you’ve never seen a “Rosy,” you are missing something. All pink and spoonbill-ish, it is similar to, but far more interesting than a flamingo. If I were a hipster and into plastic garden decorations, I’d certainly go with the plastic pink rosy over the plastic pink flamingo. The choice would be endearing and irreverent, and, by association, I too would be endearing and irreverent. (Note to self: Explore the ins and outs of converting to hipster as well as cost of manufacturing lawn ornaments.) But this post isn’t about Rosies; it’s about Indigo Buntings. So let’s move on, shall we?

Indigo Buntings are beautiful, delicate birds. The way that they and their more colorful siblings, Painted Buntings, pose gracefully on branches makes them seem as though they’ve just leapt out of an Audubon lithograph. I had never even heard of an Indigo Bunting prior to that visit to High Island, and I was very lucky to have come across one that day. A series of decisions and unplanned events put me in the right space at the right time, and like a gift from St. Francis of Assisi himself, one flew across my path and landed on a branch, easily viewed through my lens. It was breathtaking. It was the acme of my birding career. I stood there agog. Sadly, like all things fleeting, like my tenure as a birder itself, the moment passed at warp speed. Thankfully, I’m a Level 46 Canon 5D, Mark II gunslinger. That bird didn’t stand a chance when it came to evading my camera’s shutter. Not a chance.

I chose indigo for the #5 slot on my The Ones I Like List of 2009 because it’s just so different from any other bird photo that I’ve taken, and if you know my photography, you know I’ve taken many, many bird photos. There’s something classically beautiful, yet simple about the image. I’d love to take full credit, but I can’t. This was nothing more than quick draw photography. Right place, right time, right equipment. And then there was that prayer to St. Francis of Assisi, the Patron Saint of Wild Birds…

The Ones I Like List of 2009 - A Countdown [#6]

2009-12-30T12:34:00.006-06:00

I chose i’d like a tree & fog combo with a medium horse on the side because I love horses and fog and trees and quirky, and I love them even more when they are served up together.

It really is that simple.

Below are a couple of additional horse photos from this past year – vermont as i remember it and horse [of course].

The Ones I Like List of 2009 - A Countdown [#7]

2009-12-30T10:19:00.003-06:00

on the battlefield [the story of gettysburg] - One bird on the battlefield of Gettysburg was all it took. Not an ordinary bird, granted, but rather a feathered, farmland Siren, beguiling me into a trance, leading me, with my camera, into a precarious slot. And when all was said (“ouch!”) and done (splat), one camera was dead and one lens injured, and I was “over” Gettysburg.

Let me back up if I may.

The day had begun like any other vacation day. I had awoken happy, with a song in my heart, a dance in my step. This day, however, would be different from the previous nine days of my vacation, days which I spent driving around the New England countryside, populating my archives with all things autumnal and foliage-laden. This day I would finally meet my Flickr friend of over four years, Linda Plaisted -- a modern-day pen pal, who, by the way, also happens to be my favorite artist – bonus! I drove the short distance from Gettysburg to Maryland and spent an absolutely, positively wonderful few hours chatting and lunching with Linda and her beautiful daughter E. It was definitely a highlight of my already fabulous trip.

So…so far, so good, right?

I had chosen to stay in Gettysburg because I love all things touristy, particularly things with historical significance. Upon returning to the town, I made my way to the Civil War Battlefield area. I knew it would give me chills, and I was very excited about being there and soaking in the solemnity, the history, the quiet.

I arrived and almost instantly had goose bumps. I was standing on the same grounds in the same small town where tens of thousands of soldiers became casualties of war. I thought of the enormous undertaking of this town to recover from such devastation and I thought of the individual stories of families torn apart. Misty eyes were mine as I made my way from monument to monument.

And then I spotted her, a bird, sitting on statue of a soldier -- more specifically, sitting on the tip of the soldier’s musket. I found the sight to be particularly moving. Birds are often symbols of peace and sometimes, historically, symbols of protection. The scene was a beautiful disconnect and a beautiful symmetry all at once. I was mesmerized. I snapped a few photos before the bird flew to its next destination – the tip of a canon. There was no option for me, but to follow, to capture this bird as it made its way from weapon to weapon.

Problem was…the bird had 100% of my attention. The road, particularly, the slight ditch in the road…well…that had 0% of my attention. Temporarily, at least. When I fell on the hard pavement (what’s the opposite of “gracefully”?), with cameras in hand, my center of attention quickly transitioned from the former to the latter. I knew immediately I had lost something. I just didn’t know what yet. Turns out, my camera took the brunt. My handy-dandy backup was gone for good.

I chose on the battlefield [the story of gettysburg] because, even though it brought my camera to its knees, the bird still beguiles me. Some cultures believe that a camera is a soul stealer. If they are right, this bird is the great protector. And on that very battlefield, where 51,000 souls were lost, a soul stealer was rendered “out of business.” Thanks to a little bird.

The Ones I Like List of 2009 - A Countdown [#8]

2009-12-29T21:20:00.007-06:00

cows and branches - I sense fog. Typically.

When my senses aren’t particularly keen, I rely on a friendly local weatherman or a handful of trusty “spotters” to alert me to the mist. It’s a rare occasion when I miss a fog day altogether.

This past year, however, was all about missing the fog. Either I was out of town when the fog rolled in or I was eyeball deep in work and was unable to find time to enjoy it. I can’t even express how it pains me to know that fog is there, waiting, wanting, willing to be a subject of my creative whimsy, but for some reason – whatever reason – I can’t be in the right *space* to collaborate with my favorite muse. It’s a longing pain. Poets have written about it for ages. It sits with you.

Okay, close drama.

Here’s the happy ending. I believe that one only needs a few good fog days a year to populate an entire portfolio of rich, moody images. This year I had four terrific, misty mornings. Four! (Yes, I count.) From that quartet of goodness, there are five images that will make it into the top 10. The first, cows and branches.

I had no idea that I was even dealing with a fog day the morning that I photographed cows and branches. When I woke up to drive to Galveston, visibility was ten miles – nothing, but clear Texas sky as far as the eye can see. It was only after I had driven about thirty minutes that I happened upon a sublime, mischievous pocket of mist. The fog spanned no more than half a mile; it was dainty in its breadth. Quite magical, really.

I only had about thirty minutes with the fog that morning, but a number of my favorite photos of the year were born in that half hour. This one, cows and branches, was my favorite from the batch.

Below are some additional images from that same foggy morning -- reach and in the clouds.

The Ones I Like List of 2009 - A Countdown [#9]

2009-12-27T15:53:00.016-06:00

Lights will guide you home
and ignite your bones

- Coldplay

Downtown Houston - Because I love light -- the harshness of light, the softness of light, the color of light, the warmth of light, the mood of light, the utility of light. In its presence and in its absence, it steals the show. It ignites the bones.

Every year I become somewhat obsessed with some new (to me) concept, software, equipment and/or technique having to do with photography. Three years ago, it was Photoshop. Two years ago, it was tripod photography and long-exposure. Last year, it was texture layers. This year, I went back to basics and proclaimed, “Let there be light!”

More accurately, let there be out-of-focus light.

Let there be bokeh!

Without getting too technical, bokeh is a spherical element in a photograph that is created by out-of-focus light. In my photo Downtown Houston, one can clearly see the bokeh in the mid-range of the image, in the same area as the bus that is whooshing by. This photo comes in at #9 because it brings a little light, a little bokeh, a little magic to an otherwise ordinary downtown street, and, in the process, it guides me to my creative happy place, my aesthetic "home."

Below you'll find two additional bokeh-filled photos, for the dreamers and urban leaf, both of which would have made it into my top 20, if I had made such a list.

The Ones I Like List of 2009 - A Countdown [#10]

2009-12-27T01:06:00.007-06:00

the dog days of autumn – Dogs run through fountains. They do. And they love it. Kids run through fountains, too. Sometimes. When allowed. It’s just we, the self-conscious, the adults…it’s just we who tend to deprive ourselves of life’s little pleasures when we deem them “age inappropriate.”

On that note, I’m so thankful to be a photographer. Photography is youthful. And, by influence, photographers tend to follow suit. Oh, sure, faint smile lines creep up in one’s thirties, but that’s not the youthfulness I'm talking about. I’m talking about a purity of ideas, judgment in its infancy, colors, shapes, dizzying excitement. I’m talking about enthusiasm that comes from stopping time. From creating stories and preserving memories.

I’m talking about joy.

I chose the dog days of autumn because it’s where my heart lies. It’s that dog that runs through the fountain because it’s fun… and because “why not?” It’s that no-censor mentality that rocks the same tune that photography does. If all goes well in 2010, I’ll be “running through fountains” everyday. With camera and without.

Picking only ten photos for this year's The Ones I Like List proved to be quite difficult. I've really grown attached to the 2009 portfolio, more so than some other years. Four photos that narrowly missed the top ten were south street on a misty morning, snowy houston, some place far from home and natural.

fitness ridge [let the drummer kick]

2009-08-10T00:44:00.005-05:00

Each morning here at Fitness Ridge, we go on glorious hike. Five miles, seven miles, miles and miles and miles. While the majority of people take this time to visit with other guests (all while getting their fitness on), I opt to go inward -- nothing but me and my iPod.

Every week I have been refining my iPod playlist in order to compliment the terrain I'll be encountering, the speed I'll be going at any given point and the heart rate that I am seeking -- slower songs when I'm trying to bring the heart rate down (from anaerobic to aerobic) and faster songs when I'm trying to push myself.

Tomorrow morning, we are doing our weekly timed hike - 4.3 miles, uphill. I've now memorized, generally, at any given time, where I'll be along the route. This goes a long way in helping me choose the songs I'll be listening to as well as the order of those songs. The order of the songs might seem disjointed to many, but it serves it's purpose as far as my training goes.

So, what will I be listening to tomorrow?

Let the Drummer Kick/Citizen Cope
All the Things She Said/T.A.T.U.
Hey Jupiter/Tori Amos
If You're Out There/John Legend
The Lucky One/Alison Krauss
Let Me Touch You for Awhile/Alison Krauss
Crazy Faith/Alison Krauss
Top of the World/Dixie Chicks
Travelin' Soldier/Dixie Chicks
Little Suzi/Tesla
Folk Singer/Brendan Benson
Times Like These/Foo Fighters
Spaceman/The Killers
Crank That (Soulja Boy)/Soulja Boy Tell 'Em
Don't Stop the Music/Rihanna
Sexy Back/Justin Timberlake I should finish just before or during this song.
The Show Must Go On/Queen
This Time/John Legend
Hallelujah/Jeff Buckley
Somewhere Over the Rainbow/Eva Cassidy

Now there are many of my favorites missing from this playlist. I tried Bon Iver, Dr. Dog, additional Foo Fighters songs as well as many others, but most just didn't get me into the zone I needed to be in mentally to perform at my best.

I still haven't taken the camera out on the weekend. I will definitely do so next Sunday. The photo above, fitness by ipod, was taken by the pool here at Fitness Ridge.

just another day of fun at fitness ridge

2009-08-06T23:09:00.004-05:00

Well, it's been a few fast and furious days here at Fitness Ridge. Each day starts at 6:15 a.m., when we meet for our scheduled hikes and then ends at 7 p.m., when we have completed no less than seven hours of exercise. In between, there are meals and lectures (for first week guests)...and, if we're lucky, a ten minute window to grab a catnap. Evenings are spent getting treatments -- massages, facials, salon services and the like -- visiting with friends, and, for those so inclined, working out one last time.

Since I'm too sleepy to write anything profound today, I'll just give you an example of a typical day at Fitness Ridge -- I'll use yesterday's schedule as an example. Like the weather in St. George, Utah, this blog post is very dry. You have been warned!

Thursday, August 6th

5:30 a.m. -- I typically wake up this early to have enough time to treat and tape my foot for the morning hike. I drink about a cup of water with added electrolytes, do the usual morning stuff, and mosey on my way.

6:15 a.m. -- I meet others in the dining room to grab a piece of fruit and to get into our hiking groups. I always go for a small banana and the Stop Sign hike. This is also the time when we fill our Camelbak's with water -- mine with 2 liters.

6:45-9 a.m. -- I hike seven miles of undulating paved trails. It's a great cardio and toning workout, and I burned 900 calories before breakfast!

9:35 -- Breakfast -- French toast with apple and a side of fruit. Nice opportunity to visit with other guests. There are only about 40 people here, so we all get to know each other fairly well.

10:15 -- Open Gym -- I opt for pool because my feet are killing me. I kind of half-ass the "open gym" hour because I am absolutely spent physically. That said, I continually move up and down the length of the pool.

11:15 -- Pool Class -- I have the option to choose between yoga and pool class and choose to stay in the pool for another hour -- this time with a great trainer, who really put us through the paces. I think about doing yoga, but we have a stretch class yet to come, so I decide against it.

12:45 -- Lunch -- They serve a greek pita with spinach, feta, mushroom and other vegetables. They also serve a greek salad. I choose cereal (always an option) because I'm not a mushroom kind of girl and because I am craving it. Boy, them Frosted Flakes are grrrrreat! Kidding...of course. One bowl of healthy grains with almond milk is more like it.

1:30-2:30 p.m. -- Open Gym ("Optional") -- I choose to nap during this hour. I've slept more here in a week and a half than I did in the four weeks prior to arriving. Healthy living all around here at Fitness Ridge.

2:30 p.m. -- I opt out of "Ball Works,” a pretty hard-core toning class and joined another group’s class – “Treading,” a ridiculously challenging cardio class as well as my favorite class from last week. In Treading, you warm up for five minutes on the machine of your choice (mine, the treadmill) and then you all out sprint for five minutes, with the goal of getting and keeping your heart into an anaerobic state. When you finish the five minutes of sprinting, you walk slowly for five minutes to allow your heart to recover. Then…four minutes of sprinting, followed by four minutes of recovery. Then three and three, two and two, one and one…and then one last sprint for a minute and a half. The goal is two-fold -- to improve your hearts recovery time and to challenge you to run faster, harder and stronger than you ever have. Today, I run at 7 mph for the first time. It was on the last minute, but it was a great personal achievement. I am psyched!

3:30 p.m. -- I choose to do back to back Treading. It feels great until the last minute, when my calf suddenly tightens up. It is extremely painful, but improves throughout the night.

4:30 p.m. -- Stretch class. Now here’s one that I’m pretty good at, seeing that I’ve always been fairly flexible. My goal is to be doing the splits again before I leave!

5:45 p.m. – Dinner – We are served stuffed chicken breast with wild rice and baby carrots. For dessert we have banana cream pie, altered for caloric and fat intake. It is all very delicious – and under 600 calories!

6:30-7 p.m. -- Visit with other guests by the pool.

7:20-8 p.m. – Walk on the treadmill at a fairly slow pace while watching “Confessions of a Shopaholic with my roommate.

8:00-11 – Finish watching the movie, do some work and update my Facebook page.

So, that's it for now. Off to the gym for more cardio!

Cactus Dreams and Fitness Ridge

2009-08-02T23:29:00.008-05:00

© 2009 Katya Horner

So, I've been away from my camera most of the past week. What on earth, you might ask, would keep me from my favorite partner in crime, my Canon 5D Mark II? Well, fitness, if you could believe it. Fitness Ridge, more precisely.

After a few years of weight gain and altogether unhealthy living, I decided to turn it around in one fell swoop. Four weeks of butt-kicking, boot camp style! (I have to do the obligatory disclaimer here that fitness isn't a four-week thing, but rather a life-long process. As a formerly very fit person, this is something I understand first hand.)

As I start my second week here at Fitness Ridge, I can tell you this, this place is all about challenging and exceeding the limitations that we set for ourselves. When I first arrived here, I thought that I'd never be able to do the 6-8 hours of hard-core exercise scheduled each day. I thought that I'd be lucky to get through the first hike, the first day. What I learned is that I could do so much more than I ever imagined. At one point, the revelation even had me in tears -- happy tears -- tears of accomplishment. It's not about what you weigh when you arrive (all shapes and sizes here), it's about pushing yourself through the boundaries that you have naively set for yourself.

I have a 4.5 mile, timed, uphill hike tomorrow at 6:30, and it's almost 11 PM, so I'll leave more detail about Fitness Ridge for tomorrow or the next day, but before I sign off, just a few statistics from week one:

I burned over 4000 calories each day.
I lost 4.5% of my body fat in one week.
I lost 3.5 pounds in one week.
I drastically improved my average heart rate on our baseline hike -- the "stop sign" -- dropping it by 32 beats per minute.
I ate 1200 calories a day, very filling calories that left me feeling full.

I'll be blogging a bit more regularly for the next few weeks because I really want to let all of you know that no matter your age, your weight, your workload, or your current fitness level, you can change course, you can right that unfit "ship," and you can break through the barriers that have been vexing you for far too long.

Oh...and yes, I'll be taking my camera out this week to make sure I give you a taste of the gorgeous southwestern scenery that serves as a backdrop to this wonderful experience. The photo posted above, cactus dreams, was taken from the Fitness Ridge property.

for the dreamers

2009-07-08T01:24:00.009-05:00

© 2009 Katya Horner

It's been too long, my blogger friends. Far too long.

When last we spoke, I had started revamping my website. All was moving along nicely to that end, but work proved to be a formidable distraction. The result? The original site is back up until I find time to once again devote my energy to "remodeling."

The past few months have been wonderfully busy. Oh, sure, I find time to whine about being exhausted here and there, but at the end of the day, the end of every day, I'm thankful.

A very rough, abbreviated recap of my time away from blogging...

April. Month off. Time for remodeling and such. Time to catch breath. Time to work on marketing strategy and creative design work. Time for projects galore...in April. But wait, magazine shoots, portraits, licensing. Work trickles in, floods in, tsunamis in. And, yes, the onslaught makes me so dizzy, I turn tsunami into a verb. What?! Learning to say "it is what it is" in April. Yeah, it is what it is. Adios, April. Exhausted.

May. Mother's Day. Week in Aspen. Snow, family and lots of wine. Relaxing? Absolutely. I'm greedy, though...you know, where resuscitation time is concerned. Plots future travel. First, though, more work. Tickled that National Park Service is using my very straight-forward photo of two ghost crabs for an outdoor installation at Gulf Islands National Seashore. Also, my cute calf is going "prime time" in future Where Guestbooks. I always knew he'd be somebody. Corporate portraits, family portraits, and more licensing. Oh, and another cover coming up for Houston Baptist University's "The City." A longhorn. Shaping up to be a good month for cows. This Taurus leaves month motivated and a nano or so short of exhausted. Oh, and a year older. Progress!

June. Summer issue of Downtown magazine hits the stands. Love the cover. Great job PH Design Shop. Reminds me I need to order business stationary. Dad's birthday. Forty-ish minute presentation to Kingwood Photo Club. Highlight of the month, the year even. Brother has surgery. What's the opposite of highlight? Brother's birthday. Back on track. More portrait sessions, Kid's Day on Buffalo Bayou, a fun project for the Downtown District, and more...you guessed it...image licensing. Father's Day. Step-dad's birthday. It's men's month in my family. Temps are hitting triple digits. Dreaming of autumn. Orders stationary.

July. It's magazine month again -- the fall issue. Really fun editorial portraits on tap. Also on tap, a large wedding, a portrait session and...wait for it...another trip! To utah! For four weeks! I'll be hiking every morning in and around St. George, eating 1200 calories a day, and, hopefully, catching up on sleep after four years of sleep deprivation. I'm not a wealthy woman. A new car would be more sensible. But my body needs this month of healthy living. Can't wait! And, yes, camera will be in tow. As if that was ever in question.

So until next time, happy days...

[Photo, for the dreamers, was shot at the John Denver Sanctuary in Aspen, Colorado. The bokeh is courtesy of the sun reflecting off of a brook running alongside the flower bed.]

kindness, anyone?

2009-04-03T12:51:00.004-05:00

© 2009 Katya Horner

If you've arrived here from my website, I can tell you that the site will still be "down" for another few weeks. I'm currently in the process of renovating, restructuring and redecorating.

Just wanted to introduce everybody to the Altrooist folks. Altrooist is a website still in development that will focus on the good deeds that people do. I was lucky enough to be featured on the blog earlier this week, answering questions about kindness and such. You can check out the blog post here. Additionally, you can go to www.altrooist.com and sign up for updates. Be one of the first to be part of this special site devoted to kindness and altruism. It should be wonderful!

In other news, I rented a Canon 100mm/2.8 Macro lens this week. I just had it only one day, a day I spent photographing flowers and butterflies. I'm sold on the lens. Just one more "toy" to add to my want list.

renovations

2009-03-27T09:23:00.005-05:00

© 2009 Katya Horner

I've gone ahead and pulled down most of my website for revamping. It will likely be a few weeks before things are back to normal at my online home. Please excuse the dust while I renovate.

The Ones I Like List of 2008 - A Countdown [#1]

2009-01-02T10:38:00.005-06:00

© All rights reserved.

obama in dallas [reunion arena] - For the excitement that the election provided in 2008. For the kindness of a stranger, a kindness that positioned me close enough to the then Senator to enable me to get the photo. For the love that I have for photojournalism. For Barack Obama.

But most of all, for the promise of it all.

The complete Barack Obama set can be seen here.

The Ones I Like List of 2008 - A Countdown [#2]

2009-01-01T20:23:00.007-06:00

© All rights reserved.

passionate earth - I set out fairly early in 2008 to do something I hadn't done yet in my photography -- create a series of intentionally unified images. The result, my red series, or as I refer to it, passionate earth. To date, I have eighteen completed photos in the series, and probably another ten or so in the queue, waiting to be completed. I've enjoyed the exercise of "creating" greatly, so I plan to continue with passionate earth in 2009.

In addition to being the year I went "red," 2008 was also the year that square won. Many of my passionate earth photos...many of my photos period...were presented with a square frame. Square is so nice and neat; it's everything that my photography isn't. It's the box that I refuse to be placed it. But something about the way "square" feels I like. It's quirky (not the standard 8x10 offering) and it's contained (let's hear it for our favorite parallelogram!) all in the same breath. Who doesn't like that...viva la ying and viva la yang!

I chose passionate earth because it was one of the first photos that I created from the series and it best captures the feeling that I want to convey with the set. It turned out just as I planned it. It is also the series's namesake...for precisely that reason. To see more of the passionate earth series, you can check out the flickr set here.

The Ones I Like List of 2008 - A Countdown [#3]

2009-01-01T12:26:00.005-06:00

© All rights reserved.

Backstage with Tyann Clement - In March of 2008, I spent four days taking a workshop at the Palm Springs Photo Festival, a portrait/lighting workshop taught by the very creative Frank Ockenfels. The workshop was a valuable one because Frank really freed us up to experiment with lights (most of the makeshift variety), settings (not an ounce of "studio" to this class) and direction. I learned a lot. But none of what I learned technically or creatively about photography was as significant as what I learned about myself.

At the end of the first day of the workshop, Frank went around and told each student what they should be working on for the duration of the course. We had only been together for a few hours, but Frank seemed to have done a solid job assessing the strengths and weaknesses of each participant. When he got to me, did he tell me that I needed to learn about the way light interacts with the subject, the camera? Did he tell me that I needed to communicate better with my model? Did he tell me that I needed to think about "framing" more creatively? No. No on all counts. He told me that I needed to be more confident. That's it. "Be more confident."

I was infuriated. I remember blasting him to my friends the first chance I could. "Thank god we live in a cellular world," I thought to myself. I needed the reassurance of my friends. "He doesn't know anything about me. He doesn't know that I just spent four weeks fighting a dog bite infection. He doesn't know that I was just in the hospital the day before for a burst ovarian cyst. He doesn't know that I've had absolutely no sleep for weeks. He doesn't know anything about me. Period." I was fuming.

What I didn't know about Frank that first day, but came to understand as the week progressed, was that he was spot on with his critique. A marksman, really. It wasn't about dog bites or illness. It wasn't about insomnia or workload. It wasn't about anything external. The biggest thing holding me back was self-confidence. The bastard, and I say that lovingly, was right. Crap.

Nine months have past since the "come to Jesus" moment, and I'd love to say that I've given birth to a new bundle of "peace" with my creative ability, but I'm not quite there yet. I still apologize far too much for me and my work, even when I have nothing to apologize for. I still judge my photography against the greats in the industry, setting a bar that's much too high to allow for creative fulfillment. I still want everybody, all 6.6 billion of you, to like what I do. We've got a long way to go -- confidence and I. I'm appreciative to Frank, however, for bringing it...so clearly...to my attention. It was the one thing I learned about myself in 2008 that I know will make a difference in my life in 2009.

I'm not quite sure exactly what it is that I like so much about Backstage with Tyann Clement, but it's my favorite portrait of the year...by a mile. It's right up there with Texas Bullfighter as an all-time favorite. But contrary to what this year's Top 10 would suggest, I had a lot of portrait sessions this year, many of which yielded photos I really like. Some of my other favorites (the first two from Frank's workshop) are tamara, wednesday night in palm springs, orange is in and soloist.

The Ones I Like List of 2008 - A Countdown [#4]

2008-12-31T03:10:00.010-06:00

fog season - I'm not feeling so hot and don't currently have the chops to write something interesting, so I'll let my recent "video," kindred spirits and big fish, (below) speak to my feelings about going out on the road, exploring new places and seeking out the things that keep me going back for more.

Generally, I had a fun traveling year with highlights that included Asheville, North Carolina; Palm Springs, California; New York City, NY; and Kerrville, Texas (twice). I spent a wonderful 24 hours in Washington D.C. and the loveliest of mornings in Boston, Massachusetts. fog season, chosen as #4 simply because it represents all the elements I love in photography (mornings, fog, autumn, trees, beauty), was a product of my very brief stay in New England as were most of the photos in kindred spirits and big fish.

I plan to travel quite a bit in 2009, hopefully making it to Europe by year's end. Right now, I have Aspen, Colorado (May) and Boston (October) marked in pen on my calendar. I also have Palm Springs (February/March), somewhere along the mid-atlantic seaboard (April) and New York City (December) marked in pencil on that same calendar. If life treats me really well, I'd like to visit Seattle, Washington (have never been) at some point this year as well as Detroit, Michigan. It's one of the things I love about being a photographer -- always having a work-related excuse to take a vacation.

I want 2009 to be not only about seeing the places, but also about meeting the people -- so many photographers whom I have befriended over the past four years, but have never met. So if you've been my photographer "pen pal" for the past few years, and if your city is "on the list," I can't wait to meet you! Linda, Adrian, Patrick, Myla, Bobby, Patrick -- Charge your camera batteries. You are all on notice!

The Ones I Like List of 2008 - A Countdown [#5]

2008-12-30T15:06:00.010-06:00

© All rights reserved.

hurricane ike [we dream. houston] - As we close out 2008, I find myself a bit too banged up to write, sidelined with a bad upper-respiratory infection and the "shrapnel" left over from an ovarian cyst explosion. Nothing that modern medicine can't handle, though!

Medicine, however, doesn't cure all kinds of pain. Hurricane Ike left a lot of damage along the Gulf Coast this year -- homes destroyed, employers put out of business, photos and family keepsakes lost. One only has to drive south of Houston on Interstate 45 to know things "just ain't right." McDonald's restaurants with still hollowed out "golden arches," street signs and billboards slanting towards 2 o' clock, wooden fences that look a bit like they suffer from the "hanging chad" syndrome -- hurricanes leave stubborn bruises on an otherwise healthy landscape.

But landscapes are nothing more than visual stimulus. We'd like it to be all pink tulips and pretty, manicured lawns, but if it isn't, we'll be fine. People are what matter. An injured heart carries far more weight than 1000 tree-removal trucks. And injured hearts were everywhere following Hurricane Ike - an entire coastal community littered with broken hearts and the debris of happiness and security. To this day, there are still 50 people missing from the Bolivar Peninsula area. No medication can ameliorate the loss of a loved one.

And then there are all those folks who suffered great structural/material loss -- decades of memories gone with one giant surge of water. Charles and Wanda, married to one another for 58 years, come to mind. Charles and Wanda lost much of what makes up "home" in the storm surge -- a lifetime of electronics, clothing, collectibles. Seeing the condition of their house was truly saddening. But with all of that destruction, what did Wanda tell me upset her most? It wasn't what one might think - photos, china, furniture. Instead, it was the loss of $250 of clothes that she had bought with the intention to donating to disadvantaged children in a neighboring community. With the storm's approach, she was never able to make the drop-off and the clothes, like everthing else, were ruined. Ike might have come through and devastated her and Charles's property, possessions, but in the end, she worried more about those who were suffering prior to the storm than she did about her own difficulties after the hurricane.

And then there were Houstonians...as a collective. The entire city mobilized to help out -- neighbor helping neighbor. So many people use "neighbor helping neighbor" as rhetoric, but when the federal and regional governments were slow to act, we just took care of business ourselves. Mayor Bill White deserves a lot of credit for his leadership...as does Harris County Judge Ed Emmett. But, ultimately, the ones who deserve the most credit are the folks to the right and to the left of you -- the ordinary citizens who took positive action when challenged by the most difficult of circumstances.

I chose hurricane ike [we dream. houston] because it captures so well the prevailing spirit of our city. We live on the coast here in Houston. Hurricanes will always be a fact of life for us, racing through with menacing intent. But come as they may, we will always respond with the best of who we are -- dreamers and doers. Thank you, Houston, for making it so easy to write about you...even when I'm *cough* under the weather.

The Ones I Like List of 2008 - A Countdown [#6]

2008-12-29T13:48:00.005-06:00

I got holes in both of my shoes
Well I'm a walking case of the blues
Saw a dollar yesterday
But the wind blew it away
Goin' back to Houston, Houston, Houston

-Dean Martin

downtown - "It's the economy, Stupid!" James Carville was onto something when he turned that phrase back in 1992. Today, the words still ring true. Everywhere, people are suffering financially...including people who have never before struggled with money and real estate and such. The "suffering class" is seeing its capital blown away by this most pernicious, greedy wind.

Dean Martin was onto something when he proclaimed that he was goin' back to Houston, Houston, Houston. Bucking national trends, Houston is still seeing employers hiring at a steady clip. The ManPower Employment Outlook Survey shows that the Houston-Sugarland-Baytown area's employment outlook is the "third best in the nation." And then there is Kiplingers, Kiplinger's magazine ranked Houston as #1 in its 2008 list of Best Cities to live, work and play. In a renaissance of sorts, Houston, downtown in particular, is making a statement -- "we're back...so come join us!"

Another photo, a diptych, that I like from Downtown Houston is voice at the hotel icon. While it didn't make the top ten, I think it's sleek presentation matches the city's current climate...and...well...the "Dean Martin" of it all.

The Ones I Like List of 2008 - A Countdown [#7]

2008-12-28T00:51:00.013-06:00

© All rights reserved.

on the eve of a swan song - I have to admit, when working with a human subject in my photography, nerves tend to get the best of me. This is none more true than when I am working with an artist whom I admire. That was clearly the case when I photographed Tyann Clement, a soloist with the Houston Ballet, for Downtown magazine this past fall. The assignment was to get some backstage photos of Tyann, photos that would be used in a Q&A type story about Tyann's then upcoming retirement.

Before I go any further, I have to tell you that I love Edgar Degas. Love him. That should give you an inkling about the amount of pressure I put on myself for this shoot. I love Degas. And with Degas' paintings, he set the bar pretty high for the rest of us who are trying to tell a two-dimensional story of a ballerina's life. If we climb 20% of the way to the bar he has set, we'll be doing pretty good. It's not easy to bring something extra to a ballet photograph. Sometimes, when all the elements are there -- the costumes, the pageantry, the lines -- sometimes...getting an exceptionally interesting image is made all the more difficult. Easy is sometimes hard.

Out of challenge comes enlightenment. It was the night before this shoot, the nerve-racked night before this shoot that I learned how to use the exposure bracket on my camera. I also figured out the sweet spot, the perfect f/stop for the lens that I was using (f/8 on the Canon 17-40L for those keeping score). Finally, I committed to using a tripod -- something that I had previously reserved for long-exposure water shots. I was going to do everything that I could to get the "technical" right, so I can focus on the composition without distraction. And the little bit of studying beforehand really did make a difference. (That and the fact that Tyann was incredibly gracious and easy to work with.) The photo shoot resulted in my favorite set of portraits to date, photos that I do think tell a story, that I do think rise to that 20%.

This leads me to my plans for the new year -- it's off to school I go. No turning back; I've already enrolled. While my degree-seeking days are over, I'll always be up for a class or two. The particular class that I'm taking will run for a few months and will focus on lighting -- all kinds of lighting. I'm not so much interested in studio lighting, but it sure would be nice to learn how to expose a daytime shot correctly. Uh...no...seriously. I've spent a great too many hours trying to correct improperly exposed photos. I'm enthusiastically looking forward to the class.

And before I finish up, I do want to give a mention that, coincidentally, today Tyann will be dancing in her last performance with the Houston Ballet -- she'll be dancing as the Snow Queen in the Nutcracker production. After the curtain falls, Tyann will be "hanging up" her ballet slippers for other pursuits -- which will include finishing up her business degree, among other things. My best wishes for her going forward.

The Ones I Like List of 2008 - A Countdown [#8]

2008-12-27T22:14:00.007-06:00

Blackbird fly
Blackbird fly
Into the light of the dark black night.

-John Lennon/Paul McCartney

Four - Borrowing the words from last year's number four...

Morning. Fog. Bird. Nothing more to say really.

Another bird photo that likely would have made the list at #11 is blackbird, taken in 2007, but processed in 2008.

The Ones I Like List of 2008 - A Countdown [#9]

2008-12-27T19:14:00.018-06:00

All autobiography is self-indulgent.

-Daphne du Maurier

pastures - It's an odd thing, compiling a "The Ones I Like" list -- highlighting one's own work. On the internet, we are taught -- encouraged -- to introduce worthwhile creations by others to the masses -- sharing a link here, giving a shout-out there. It makes sense. A nurturing, altruistic community coupled with a fairly easy mechanism for allowing the proverbial cream to rise to the top -- not a bad system. Today, word of mouth is everything.

But word of mouth -- the good kind -- relies on people, lots of people, being interested enough to spare the breath, to burden the digital "vocal chords." It relies on people liking you, or what you do, or...preferably...both. So, how does one compile a "The Ones I Like" list without giving at least some thought to audience. While some artists create solely for themselves, I am not, nor have I ever been deaf to the ear of my partners in this grand, collective experiment. You (yes, you!) are always in the back of my mind. Sometimes I try to block you out. But, you are there. You are always there.

Nothing gave me greater grief this year in choosing my "Top 10" than deciding whether or not to include the image pastures. Without a doubt, it belongs on my list, but with almost the same certainty, I can say that it doesn't belong on yours. It's an entirely self-indulgent photo, created while not "under the influence," while throwing caution to the wind and rebelling against the "work" that has begun to constrain me. It sits tenuously in the #9 spot, a compromise of sorts. If this "autobiography" was truly self-indulgent, Ms. du Maurier, pastures would have made one of the "if I could take only five photos to a desert island" positions. But by the very fact that I subscribe to the "what is mine is yours and what is yours is mine" of it all, pastures sits right where it belongs...at #9...tenuously, but truthfully.

Other examples I like that were tinted by self-indulgence this year include Family Book and in dreams [yesteryear].

The Ones I Like List of 2008 - A Countdown [#10]

2008-12-26T16:14:00.011-06:00

rose petals - Slight Clutter. It really, really does capture who I am on so many levels. I've always found it difficult to settle in somewhere, to plant my flag and say "this is my spot, this is who I am and this is how I will allow you to define me." I've been everything and everybody in my life -- the social butterfly, the solitary enigma, the bubbly every-girl, the more introspective non-conformist, the savvy sensualist, the insecure nobody/everybody. I've had so many incarnations that I sometimes think it is my very state of transition that defines me best. And that state of transition is illustrated perfectly by my choices when it comes to photography...likely because my "choices" are nothing more than a reflection of my mood, of "where I am" in the grand scheme of things.

There are some constants in my life, though. My love for my family, of course, comes to mind. My compassion for an underdog and my affection for furry creatures. Then...there's my love of all things arboreal. When I'm happy, I want to photograph trees. When I'm sad, I want to photograph trees. When I'm experimenting with texture layers, I want to photograph trees. When I'm feeling like a photography purist, I want to photograph trees. Whether a dense forest or a solitary tree, whether a riverbed of cypress or simply the limb of an oak, I'm drawn to it...always...fully.

Rose Petals is just one of probably hundreds of tree photos that I took this year. It came in at #10 for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that it shows how much one can bastardize an image of a tree - through cropping, through texture, through color manipulation - and still, still find comfort in the single, reassuring truth...no matter the color of the leaves, the arch of the branches, the height of the apex, or the proximity to others, a tree is still a tree...in all of its incarnations.

Two other tree photos that I really liked this year, but that missed the top 10 are one tree and tree song.

for optimism and things

2008-12-23T01:22:00.003-06:00

© All rights reserved.

for optimism and things is the first entry in what will be my next color project, a sequel to my "Red" series. With a new zeitgeist of hope ringing in the new year, I'm adopting a similarly hopeful aesthetic. Morning's Gold/Yellow will be the color of 2009. (The "Red" series will continue simultaneously.)

On a another note, my friend and fellow photographer, Linda Plaisted has had her artwork nominated for Daily Candy's Sweetest Things of 2008 in Washington DC's "Best Nest" (home decor) category.

I'd really appreciate it if you could help Linda out by giving her your vote. She's an amazing artist, fully deserving of the recognition. But don't take my word for it, go on over to Daily Candy and see for yourself.

Voting is open until January 16th. Thanks, everyone!!

Song for Obama "Our Legs are Burning"

2008-10-29T10:10:00.005-05:00

As an enthusiastic supporter of Barack Obama, I considered my participation in the Song for Obama "Our Legs are Burning" video slideshow a no-brainer. I think the song, written by Kate Schutt and Koko Bonaparte , is absolutely beautiful...as is its brave, hopeful message. My thanks to Koko for inviting me to participate in this very small way.

Where My Head Is

2008-09-05T02:08:00.004-05:00

© All rights reserved.

My thoughts are firmly planted in autumn, as demonstrated by two posts in a row declaring just that fact. With our first "cool front" having arrived earlier today, I decided to post a celebration of fall by way of an old Hermann Park photo retooled with a bit of color work in Photoshop. You know...as a a kind of offering to the autumnal gods.

autumn in santa fe

2008-09-03T01:44:00.004-05:00

While I won't have the opportunity to take another three-week trip out West this fall, I will be traveling to Boston to assist my friend, Jeff, with a wedding shoot at the end of September. We're doing the whole road-trip thing because 1) we both love the hit the road griswold style and 2) it gives us a chance to expand our individual photo archives. Some of the fun photography stops along the way will include Asheville, North Carolina (my very, very, very favorite place in the whole wide beautiful world), Washington DC and New York City. Following the wedding, Jeff and I will part ways, and I'll head up to Maine to visit my dad and his lovely wife, Penelope, for a few days. I should be in Maine at the peak of color season, so I think I'll be some sort of landscape heaven. I'm warning you now -- it will be nothing but photos of colorful tree-lined roads and New England's brand of autumn for months upon my return. Dress accordingly.

Downtown Magazine

2008-08-23T17:39:00.005-05:00

For those of you who don't know, I've recently completed the photography for the inaugural issue of Downtown magazine, launching in mid-September. It was a great experience -- each shoot slightly different from the one before it. The only thing tempering my enthusiasm was my very busy schedule outside of the publication work, which included a move back into the city, an assignment in San Antonio and all the regular client work that happens any given month.

The two images posted are photos that weren't chosen for publication, but that I liked and wanted to share. The first, downtown, was taken without a tripod just after sunset. I consider it a freakish example of luck in photography -- my hands aren't normally that steady on a long(ish) exposure. The second, thirsty, was taken at Voice at the Hotel Icon. It uses only natural light, capitalizing off of a bar that was lit from underneath. I'm not inclined to pull out the flash unless absolutely necessary, so the unique lighting really worked in my favor.

Take Me out to the Ballgame!

2008-07-03T09:04:00.004-05:00

© All rights reserved.

Just two photos from last night's Astros vs. Dodgers matchup. The first, a more photojournalistic take on the game. The second, "fun with photoshop." You can see the details surrounding the first photo here.

my new toy -- animated gif

2008-05-04T15:48:00.004-05:00

I stayed up pretty late last night trying to figure out how to make an animated GIF file. Why? Who knows. Wild hair, I guess. This is an early attempt. We'll see how it progresses over the next year or so.

My friend Jeff's band, orange is in, is featured in this experiment. You can check them out here.

April Flowers and a Quick Update

2008-04-30T01:24:00.004-05:00

© All rights reserved.

Is it almost May already? How time flies when you are...having fun?

It's been some time since I last posted, and I actually have lots to say once I get around to posting again in earnest. Just wanted to give a quick update -- since late February I've enjoyed four hospital visits, all sorts of car issues, an ill-timed trip to California, and a sixteen pound weight gain. I'm doing better now, but the year has been exhausting thus far. (/close "woe is me" section)

Inspiration alert: I recently discovered Colin Finlay, an amazing photojournalist. I'll let his work speak for itself. You can see some of his photographs here.

Remembrance

2008-03-21T01:56:00.008-05:00

A photo in remembrance.

My grandma was born on the first day of spring. Nothing could have been more appropriate.

I miss you. We all do.

You can see my other interpretation of the same photo here.

Portrait

2008-02-17T02:00:00.006-06:00

I'm off to Dallas in the morning. Just a simple portrait before I go...

Okay, maybe not so simple. There was fence wire cutting across the photo in one location, wire that I painstakingly removed. Other than that...no post-processing!

Okay, okay...maybe a little post-processing? What's a girl to do? Photoshop is half the fun, right? ;)

Is there fog in Dallas?

2008-02-11T02:29:00.001-06:00

© All rights reserved.

I'll be heading up to Dallas next weekend for four or five days to shoot some photos for Where Guestbook Dallas. You can see sample pages from my work in the Houston and Fort Worth books here.

In other news, I've purchased a second website. More on that later...

for the love of it

2008-02-04T17:36:00.001-06:00

Passionate Earth

2008-01-30T14:41:00.001-06:00

Red

2008-01-29T02:38:00.000-06:00

The birth of a new series of photographs -- Red.

Missed it by a hair...

2008-01-21T07:36:00.000-06:00

Just a quick note to mention that my photo, that for which i'm thankful, missed out on being Texas Photo Forum's Landscape Photo of 2007 by one vote. One vote! Sigh.

The consolation is that the winner's photo, one of the best sunrise at the Grand Canyon images I've seen, is amazing. It also doesn't hurt that I had no expectations of even treading water in this category, the category that I think presented the strongest work overall.

sunrise in santa fe

2008-01-20T05:58:00.000-06:00

© All rights reserved.

Just a quick blog post to say that my photo, sunrise in santa fe, will be seen in advertisements for The Residence Club at El Corazon de Santa Fe over the next year. The ads will appear in mostly regional publications throughout the Southwest, but there might be a few smaller national placements as well. They will be using another one of my Santa Fe photos in similar ads.

What makes this particular sale extra special is the fact that they chose a photo that is one of my personal favorites. I like it when things like that happen.

Flickr Stats

2008-01-17T01:33:00.000-06:00

Flickr recently launched a new feature - Stats! Photographers are able to see not only their stats en total (all time view counts for photos, photostream, sets and collections), but also for specific photographs. These stats have provided a lot of information about the party that's been going on at my flickr home for the past few years. For example, I always knew I had a fairly loyal following, I just didn't know quite how large that following was. Let's just say, I'm going to have to bake another pie and buy more refreshments for my oh-so-appreciated guests.

Here's a look-see at two of the key numbers...

1,763,624 - All time view count for my photos.

475,713 - All time view count for my photo stream.

Other notables...

With 112,506 views, my most viewed photo of all time, an unprocessed image taken with my point-and-shoot, is Hurricane Katrina [Awaiting Our Guests]. The image shows the Astrodome as it was being prepared for the thousands of evacuees who would be arriving from New Orleans. 39% of the views came from Yahoo and Google, both of whom featured the photo. Personally, I've never really cared for the image because it lacks the human element that tends to move me, but I do understand its historical significance, and I'm thankful to have it in my portfolio.

With 22,263 views, Glamour Girl (seen above), which I have posted twice in my photostream, is my most viewed photo unrelated to Hurricane Katrina. Ironically -- or, not so ironically -- it is also the subject of my most frustrating copyright infringement episode to date. A bastardized version of the photo was used without permission or notification in a joint advertisement by the Houston Zoo and Fiesta Mart. The ad ran in the front section of the Houston Chronicle, and...needless to say...numerous people told me about it. They have been completely unresponsive to my request for compensation, but I'm not through pursuing that -- rightful compensation. On a happier note, this photo is currently on display at the Houston City Hall Annex.

And...from the category "who would've thunk it," a photo that consistently ends up in the top five viewed photos of the day -- Carnival [Colin Farrell]. I had completely forgotten about this photo of a young Colin Farrel look-a-like until I saw it show up as #2 for the day in my Flickr Stats. The photo currently has 11,393 views.

Just thought I'd share.

The Ones I Like List of 2007 - A Countdown [#1]

2007-12-31T12:00:00.000-06:00

Mademoiselle and the Mockingbird - I've heard it many times. My photos are "pretty." I've heard it from a director of a local museum. I've heard it from a best friend. I've heard it from dozens of kind individuals who have emailed me to tell me just that. Pretty. When I was first trying to wrap my head around the compliment, I didn't much see it as such -- a compliment. I saw it as status quo. I saw it as uninteresting. I saw it as an anchor keeping me firmly placed in mediocrity, far from where I wanted to be professionally.

But there is something that I have learned about "pretty." Pretty sells. Pretty makes people smile. Pretty takes me to beautiful places and puts me in the presence of "dreamy," something for which I have great affinity. Best of all, "pretty" spans a wide scope.

Today, I find myself on the experimental side of pretty. The side of pretty that would be two standard deviations to the left on a bell curve if illustrating mass appeal. The side of pretty that makes my heart sing, but will leave more than a few perplexed. As someone who does care about what others think of my work, it's a leap of faith on my part. I'm counting on a "zone of acceptance" from my viewers. From those who like the saturated fields and the sunlit flowers, I'm asking them to entertain a different perspective on those same fields and flowers. From those who are enjoying the moodier side of Slight Clutter, I'm asking them to see certain complexities in the "ordinary." I want 2008 to be about branching out of my comfort zone, and I want to bring all those who have enjoyed my work in the past with me. I'm still going to invite pretty into my photography, but I'm going to do so only after it examines its psyche and unleashes itself in a fuller form.

I chose Mademoiselle and the Mockingbird as my #1 because it is just the kind of pretty that has been drawing me in of late -- a timeless rendering with subtle optimism and quiet beauty. It also didn't hurt that my mom played the lead role in this production...and that fog was present. This is my favorite photo that I've taken to date.

On a different note...

Sometimes we just have to say it -- thank you. This post is dedicated to all the people who have encouraged and/or inspired me in my photography pursuits over the past three years. Many of the notables don't have a web presence, but there are some who do, and I'd like to mention them here. I don't keep in regular contact with some of the superstars listed below, but at one point or another they all positively impacted my progress.

and...

Jeremy Hawkins, who always gets a special mention, because if he hadn't linked to Flickr three years ago on his now defunct blog, I'm 100% certain I would not be a photographer today.

Now this list isn't exhaustive. It leaves off many who have inspired me creatively and/or have given me a well-timed pat on the back. One only has to look this group or this one to find so many others whom I hold dear.

Late Edit: Yikes...I left off someone very important, someone who was a great help to me this past year and who is also a truly fantastic photographer - Gerard (Cybastean). I knew it was bound to happen as I've been pretty exhausted the past few days (weeks?) and I was rushing to finish the post. My sincere apologies, Gerard!

The Ones I Like List of 2007 - A Countdown [#2]

2007-12-30T19:13:00.000-06:00

© All rights reserved.

Texas Bullfighter - I love this photo. Something about the selflessness, the courage, the athleticism, and the quiet strength of a rodeo bullfighter...I find it very comforting. There are few job descriptions that require applicants to vow life and limb for the safety of another -- the job of bullfighter falls into that rare club.

I made contact with the bullfighter in this image in early December. His name is Jesse Vick, and he really lived up to the mystique of someone in "that rare club." I felt lucky to have had the opportunity to share the photo I love so much with the person who made it possible. I hope to photograph him again in the new year.

I find myself very tired as 2007 nears its end. The words aren't flowing as they should be. And I regret that sincerely since this is such an important photo to me. Just know that in the race for #1 on my The Ones I Like List of 2007, Texas Bullfighter came in #2 in what could only be called a "photo finish." Right up until I sat down to write this post, it could have gone either way. It was that close.

Greg Fallis, a wonderfully talented writer and photographer, wrote a beautiful piece in compliment to Texas Bullfighter. You can see his short essay here in Utata, the best photography-related blog on the internet.

Two other photos that I like from the Fort Worth Stockyards are two [and two] and in full swing.

The Ones I Like List of 2007 - A Countdown [#3]

2007-12-30T00:00:00.000-06:00

© All rights reserved.

As I went down in the river to pray
Studying about that good ol' way
And who shall wear the starry crown?
Good Lord show me the way

O sinners, let's go down
Let's go down, come on down
O sinners, let's go down
Down in the river to pray

-Allison Krauss

that for which i'm thankful - I'm a believer. I have eyes that see things, glorious things. Graceful exits, jubilant beginnings, epiphanies -- I see God. Quiet crowds. Yes. Rousing choirs. Absolutely. Friendly strangers. Without a doubt. There's a magnificence to this grand experiment that is beyond. I'm a believer.

I chose that for which i'm thankful because it captures so perfectly all the evidence I need for the existence of God. I don't observe God in a $20 million church nearly as much as I do in a cypress-laden riverbed. I don't feel an omnipotent presence in a book the way I do in a quiet moment at the base of a red rock canyon. I'm typically tight-lipped about my relationship with God; it's personal and private with me. But then...then...I find myself at the river on a misty morning, and it makes me want to give thanks...to God...to nature...to their common "DNA"...and to my eyes for being able to "see" it all right in front of me...those glorious, glorious things.

An entire set of images from the misty morning by the river can be seen here.

The Ones I Like List of 2007 - A Countdown [#4]

2007-12-28T19:02:00.000-06:00

The Ones I Like List of 2007 - A Countdown [#5]

2007-12-28T17:00:00.000-06:00

hummingbird - Never overlook the bounty that is offered by traveling an uncharted path. This world that surrounds us isn't defined by street signs or hilltop beacons. It doesn't find its purpose in signposts or guidebooks. It isn't best illustrated on a Garmin or in a Rand McNally. It is most fruitful and it bears out its fingerprint in the backroads, the open fields, and the unmarked alleyways. It is best experienced with an adventureous spirit and magnetic eyes. Pull it all in, rejoice in its generosity, and proclaim..."I have been!"

I chose hummingbird because I liked the delicate feel to the image, the beauty of a hummingbird in flight, and...because I found it on an uncharted path.

Two photos that narrowly missed the list, both which have delicate creatures as subjects, are passionately pink for the cure and magic carpet ride.

The Ones I Like List of 2007 - A Countdown [#6]

2007-12-28T13:36:00.000-06:00

© All rights reserved.

Nutshell - My photography is very personal to me. I believe those in the creative world would call it "organic." It starts with little more than my psyche for the day, and it goes from there. Choices made along the way in terms of composition and processing are nothing but passing reflections of my mood. My photos are my diary...in a nutshell.

I chose the photo Nutshell, taken on a foggy morning at the Grand Canyon, because it speaks so well of where I am as I close out 2007. I see the beauty all around me, but in so many ways, it is far removed from my everyday. The fog in this photo represents creeping doubt about the future of things, the cracks represent truth. And, yet, still so dominant is the beauty and amazement that serves as a savory carrot...just off in the distance.

This was a year that I discovered the "layers" function in Photoshop. Another photo, my first major experiment with layers, that just missed the top ten is The Alpha Burden.

The Ones I Like List of 2007 - A Countdown [#7]

2007-12-27T15:53:00.000-06:00

Embracing the morning - Love. Is. Everything.

I chose embracing the morning for three reasons...

1) I wanted to post a photo that represented my move into client-based photography.

2) I wanted to post a photo that represented my penchant for shooting before 8 AM.

3) I wanted to post a photo that captures love as how I see it...uninhibited, unapologetic, optimistic and truthful.

Two other portraits that narrowly missed making my top ten are Love (the same wonderful couple) and Channeling Normal Rockwell.

The Ones I Like List of 2007 - A Countdown [#8]

2007-12-27T09:50:00.000-06:00

Other nature photos that just missed the top ten include deer winter, i long for your arrival and one in pink.

The Ones I Like List of 2007 - A Countdown [#9]

2007-12-26T19:11:00.000-06:00

Space and duration are one.
-Edgar Allen Poe

Pier Review, Part III - 30 seconds changes things. Waves rhythmically crashing against reinforced wood only hum when averaged out over 30 seconds. At 30 seconds, a usually stoic pier cowers at the glass floor surrounding it. People move from point A to point B to point C and never once think that the world has stopped, that they have become nothing more than a transition...at 30 seconds. There is a truth at thirty seconds that isn't there at one moment in time -- a truth that is borne out by one click. Our camera is our truth serum.

This year I discovered the beauty of a tripod and, more importantly, the wonder of long-exposure photography. As a photographer, if I'm taking one thing into 2008, I'm taking that - 30 seconds. Pier Review, Part III is not my favorite long-exposure photograph of the year (another yet to come!), but it does represent the catagory for me. I have at least ten photos of the Hermosa Beach Pier, all long-exposure, that I created as a set. Each image has its own personality, but they are all linked by both space and time. You can see two other photos in the Pier Review collection here and here.

The Ones I Like List of 2007 - A Countdown [#10]

2007-12-25T21:29:00.000-06:00

© All rights reserved.

fog along the bayou - I'm a fog girl. There's no getting around that fact. I love to breathe it in, to let it envelope me. There's something about the moody overcoat that fog wears that entices me; it's altogether sexy and, suprisingly, never over-the-top. Kind of like a lover's deliberate breath on your neck at 6 AM, fog is seductive, it gets your heart pumping, and it leaves you wanting more.

I chose fog along the bayou because I particularly liked the way the silhouetted tree in the foreground had a graphic design quality to it. In addition, I was drawn to the "other side of the tracks" feel to the image. The haves. The have nots. Finally, as is the case with all fog photos, I love the sense of solitude.

Three fog photos that just missed the top ten this year are dreaming of fog season, which was actually shot in 2006, but wasn't processed until 2007, before 8 am [two] , and before 8 am [go there] .

sleigh rides moving in sixth gear

2007-12-24T18:15:00.001-06:00