Choose 3

Hello All, I am horrible at making choices when it comes to narrowing down my favorite photographs and now I'm stuck. I am submitting photographs to possibly be printed by Avant Card, the only problem is you can only send in 3, and I'm stuck on which 3. I could really use some help so tell me which 3 it should be:

Paul

Urambi Hill

Snow White in Real Life

Maria of the roof

The Long Road

Bull

Circus



 Flag

Subway Symphony



Happiness is...being you

I have been pouring through Gretchen Rubin's The Happiness Project this past week (absolutely amazing and inspiring) and have come to realize what may be a stumbling block in my quest for a true self-portrait. That is the acceptance of my own true self. Rubens talks about how she used to not tell people about liking certain things, like reading Harry Potter, she was nervous about letting parts of herself show because of what people might think, and pretending to like things because it seemed like she should.

I can completely sympathise with Rubin in this because as an artist I have always felt out of place. I have never felt cool enough or arty enough to be a fine art photographer, because if you're a fine art photographer my age you must be one of the two.

I've always felt too...normal I guess, uninteresting. I dress too preppy, I don't enjoy arty films, I don't hang out at dive bars, buy all my clothes second hand or read Tolstoy. But as I come to terms with what I do enjoy I am going to try and let that show in my images, because even though I don't fit what I see as the criteria to be a fine art photographer I am one and I am going to start finding joy in what I like, like hamburgers, romcom trash and spy novels. Heck, I'm a feminist who loves to bake while listening to Jimmy Buffett, such a hodgepodge makes me special (I just love the word hodgepodge). The photographs over the next few months are going to be quite a mix and hopefully quite me.

How do you differ from the image you have of your profession?

The Quest Continues

My quest to find a good self-portrait goes on. I think these are pretty good, they don't show my face but they do give a bit of sense about me.

Corrine Day

“Photography is getting as close as you can to real life, showing us things we don’t normally see. These are people’s most intimate moments, and sometimes intimacy is sad.” – Corinne Day

I find Corrine Day to be one of the most inspirational photographers I have looked at. She had such drive, such force and creativity. It seemed as though she could go anywhere, do anything, she was a breakthrough artist, always striving. Her images are striking in so many ways, they are bold and direct, they are creative and mysterious, they all have her flair.

She is known as the person who discovered Kate Moss, the one who started drug/waif look. She was free, quick on her feet and it appeared always creating. When I think of how I want to be considered at the end of my career I know that I want to be like her, even if I don't make the impact she did I want to know that I tried.

From the shoot that started everything, one of the images from the Kate Moss shoot

ATE - Lantern Making

I spent some time across the field from the Aboriginal Tent Embassy on Saturday. I went to see Graeme and his friends who do some support work and protesting with the Tent Embassy. They were starting the process of making new, and refurbishing old lanterns to be used for a vigil the night before ANZAC Day. I ended up spending more time helping and talking than taking photographs but it was a nice experience to begin to get to know some of the people who are connect to the Embassy for one reason or another. From now on though, I think I will need to carry a tape recorder with me and have it on at all times, there is just too much to remember and I want to make sure I get everything right.

Elliott Erwitt

I was introduced to Elliott Erwitt's work during my masters program, which is a shame because I should have known of him long before then. His images have a subtle, sometimes not so subtle, humour to them that makes them a pleasure to look at. He has been a member of Magnum since 1953 and has traveled the world over documenting what catches his eye, and what a great eye he has.

Here are a few of my favorites (All Photographs property of Elliott Erwitt):

Happy St Patrick's Day!

In honor of St Patrick's Day I have made Guinness cupcakes, a delicious recipe I got from Confessions of a Tart. Now she was a bit more fancy then me with a ganache filling and such but I'll give it a try next time.

Cupcakes:
1 c Guinness
1 1/4 c butter
3/4 c cocoa powder
2 c flour
2 c sugar
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp salt
2 eggs
2/3 sour cream


Bailey's frosting:
3 1/2 c powdered sugar
1/2 c butter
2 tbs Bailey's
2 tbs heavy cream

Pre-heat oven for 350°

Melt butter with beer over medium heat. Once melted add the cocoa powder and mix until smooth then set aside to cool a bit.

In a bowl mix flour, sugar, baking soda and salt. In another bowl use a mixer to beat together eggs and sour cream until smooth. Beat in the beer mixture then beat in flour mixture until all smooth. Pour the batter into cupcake foils, about 3/4 of the way up. Bake for 15 minutes or until a knife inserted comes out clean.


Once the cupcakes are cool mix up the frosting. Beat the butter until it is fluffy. Add the sugar a bit at a time and mix well until the frosting is a bit stiff. Add the Bailey's and heavy cream, mix and then decorate the cupcakes and enjoy.

I brought them in for afternoon tea today and they went very quickly so give these a try.