wandering

Yes, the poop stories are true. As well as most of the things that you read in newspapers or on expat blogs. And I could leave my life here in a second if given the opportunity to relocate in New York or anywhere near the beach. But every time I take a walk across the pont des Arts, or come home with a couple of warm pains au chocolat before my family wakes up, I know in my heart and in my soul, Paris will always be my home.

I am most excited today to announce the launch of my collaboration with Bel Kai designs for the Shutter Sisters Capture Collection, the Wandering necklace, now available for purchase.

Whitney and I both envisioned this necklace, which includes three of my personal Polaroid photos, as a way to wander through the streets of Paris, and to be inspired by the unique beauty of the city. Each necklace is sold with a Polaroid postcard (professionally printed on 4.3 x 5.5 inches heavy paper) to whisk you away and take you even further in your journey to the city of light.

As always, the generous Bel Kai designs is giving away one necklace. Please, share with us an image of the place that inspires you, that you call home, and leave a comment here before tomorrow Monday 23rd midnight PST to be entered in a random drawing for a necklace of your very own.

Update on Tuesday, August 24, 2010 by Irene Nam

Thank you all so much for your kind words and for sharing images of the places you call home. And congratulations to Nicci, the winner of the Wandering necklace!

the six questions featuring Deb Schwedhelm

image copyright Deb Schwedhelm

Deb Schwedhelm is my source of inspiration. A beacon in terms of discovering my authentic self, cultivating passion in my photography journey and leading a life that benefits and enriches others. I can't tell you how much her images and words, both overflowing with generosity and unique beauty, encourage me every day to learn, grow and embrace myself as a photographer, and an artist.

Despite a recent move and a busy schedule, Deb kindly accepted to answer our SS interview, and I couldn't be happier to share it with you here today.

1. What's the story behind this photo?

To be honest, it was after the formal part of a commissioned portrait session.  When I shoot at the beach, I always encourage the parents to bring swimsuits for the kids.  If time allows, and I've gotten everything I need | want, I then ask the parents if they'd let the kids get in swimsuits, to play for a bit.  Many times, it's then, when I get my favorite photographs from the session.  Both parents and children are relaxed, having fun and simply being themselves.  So the above photograph was a shot taken of the brother and sister playing in the waves.

2. What was it that lit your photography spark? Do you remember a particular camera, course, person, roll of film?

To be honest, it was an opportunity.  In 2005, we had gotten into an unfortunate military housing situation, where we ended up getting $5000 back in returned rent.  I shared with my husband that I thought this money was a gift (although we endured five of the most terrible months ever for it) and what did he think about me using the money to purchase camera equipment and hard core pursue photography – my long time dream.  He said, "Go for it!"  So in Jan 2006, I purchased a Canon 20D, began studying, learning and practicing -- and never looked back.

For me, my aha moment came when I attended a Cheryl Jacobs Nicolai's workshop.  I had participated in a couple forums when first starting out and felt that I never fit in.  I thought my work was different (and not in a good way) and wondered if I'd ever be successful.  In August 2006, Cheryl reviewed my portfolio and told me that I was doing great and sent me home with a few things to work on.  She assured me that it's okay to be different and to keep doing exactly what I was doing, that's what being a photographer and artist is all about.  I left there encouraged and inspired to continue to learn, grow and just be me – and that's exactly what I did.

If you haven't read CJ's "What Every Aspiring Photographer Should Know" please take a moment to do so.  I promise you won't be sorry!  I have her advice printed and read often.

3. What's your photo philosophy? Does it reflect your life philosophy?

My basic philosophy is to just be honest with yourself throughout every aspect of your photography journey.  You are you!  Don't try to be (or shoot or edit like) anyone else. 

And yes, I definitely think it reflects my philosophy in life -- my philosophy stems around being an honest, heartfelt, good person.  I think one of the most magical things about photography is that once you allow yourself to just be, you realize how your photographs share so much of who you are and the things that have influenced your life's journey.

4. What would you say is one of your 'signature' editing tricks, themes or style? What do you think makes an image recognizable and uniquely yours?

I think one of my "signature" editing tricks is to feel out every image.  Yes, it takes more time, but it's truly what I do.  My editing fluctuates from day to day.  If I start a session one day and go back to it a few days later, my editing may be totally different between those two days.  But if that happens, I always make sure the entire session flows (I won’t change editing between a series of images within a session).  So much of my editing depends on my mood.

I also try and preach that actions are NOT just the click of a button.  To use an action right, you should consider turning layers off and tweaking other layers – adjusting the action to suit you!  I think this is where a lot of photographers go wrong with actions. 

Wow – what do I think makes my images recognizable and uniquely mine?  I’m not sure I can really answer that question.  I'm flattered that you think that but it’s hard for me to realize.  I once had a photographer share that she could pick out a Deb Schwedhelm photo anywhere and I was pretty blown away.  I love that and am so, so grateful!!

I guess I could say that I think the fact that I'm honest with my photography, from beginning to end, is what allows my images to be uniquely mine.

5. What aspect of your photography are you constantly working on, trying to improve?

I'm constantly working on growth.  I don't ever want to stop growing with my photography.  I'm always looking to try new things and challenge myself.  This is one career where the learning and growing never ends.

6. If you could go anywhere in the world for an epic, weeklong photo excursion all by your luxuriously unhurried self - regardless of money, time or childcare issues - where would you go and why?

I dream of visiting Maggie Doyne in Nepal, to volunteer in any way I can and photograph her school and the surrounding communities.  I actually would love to volunteer as a family (with my husband and three kids) and maybe in the next couple years, we can do that.  Why would I want to visit Maggie – read her story here.  She is beyond inspirational!! One day I WILL visit Maggie – hopefully sooner versus later.

We are also planning to live on a sailboat and sail the Americas, once my husband is retired from the Navy (7 1/2 years to go).  It is not only going to be an incredible life adventure for my family, but also a magical photographic adventure.  I so can’t wait for that ultimate freedom to just live and be. 

7. Are there women out there that you consider your shutter sisters? Who, and why?

Oh yes, two women in particular – Leah Zawadzski and Steph Beaty.  They both are two of the most amazing women I have ever met. 

Leah Zawadzki is not only my friend, but also my partner-in-crime.  We are so similar, yet so different.  We talk 5-10 times every day and share pretty much anything and everything.  She is such a beautiful woman through and through.  Together, we founded the Wallflower Friends Workshop Retreat and have such a phenomenal time sharing with others.

I dream to be as fabulous as Steph Beaty. She is one of the most honest, beautiful, intelligent women I have ever met.  She has the soul of an angel and I am so blessed to call her one of my best friends.  And... Steph just happens to be one of my very first photography clients, back in 2006. 

Without both Leah and Steph's friendship, encouragement and support, I would not be where I am today.  I'm not sure how I got so lucky to have such incredible shutter sisters.

thank you so much Deb! 

You can see more of Deb's wonderful images on her website and blog.

the six questions featuring Irene Suchocki

I am in constant awe of Irene Suchoki's images. The "when I’m big I want to be her" kind of admiration that encourages me to experiment, see things differently and propels me forward in my own personal journey as a photographer.

Irene has that wonderful ability that I yearn for to transcend the moments she captures, breathe life into them and create what I can only refer to as pure magic.

Irene kindly accepted to answer our Six Questions interview, and I am most happy today to share her answers with you.

1. What's the story behind this photo?

This photograph was taken in Paris, in a little alley way in the St. Germain des Prés neighborhood. Prior to my trip, I had conceived of a series of photographs that I wanted to take that would express my love of Paris as well as convey the idea of Paris as the world's capital of love. I mostly planned on taking photographs of relatively famous landmarks, but this little string of lights in this perfect little street ended up being my favorite in the series. It was taken with a Lensbaby using a heart-shaped aperture disc, which you drop into the lens itself. Such a fun little lens to play with.

2. What was it that lit your photography spark? Do you remember a particular camera, course, person, roll of film?

It was a particular photograph I took after I bought my first film camera. I was photographing a flower in the garden. I was really just fiddling around with the camera in order to learn what the various knobs, buttons and settings did. When I got the film back from the lab, I was overjoyed with the result. I was shooting with black and white film and the areas that had been in shade were almost completely black and the flower was lit perfectly to stand out against this simple background. That was the first time I experienced for myself the creative possibilities of photography and it gave me such a rush that I was hooked.

3. What's your photo philosophy? Does it reflect your life philosophy? 

My favorite quotation sums up my photography and life philosophy. And it is this: "Follow your bliss. Find where it is, and don't be afraid to follow it. If you follow your bliss, you put yourself on a kind of track that has been there all the while, waiting for you, and the life that you ought to be living is the one you are living." (Joseph Campbell)

4. Where do you look for inspiration?

I am inspired by nature and light. That beautiful glowy light of the golden hour can make me positively weak in the knees. I am also inspired a great deal by other art forms: film, music, literature. A lyric in a song or a line in a novel can conjure up an image in my head that I then want to recreate.  I have pages and pages filled with such ideas. If only I had enough time to follow up on all of them.

5. What aspect of your photography are you constantly working on, trying to improve?

It's quite simply to slow down. When I get excited by what I'm shooting, I feel like a kid in a candy store and I want to gobble everything up with a million clicks of the shutter. Digital technology, alas, makes this all too easy. I struggle to remind myself to take a deep breath, slow down, and be patient. Perhaps I should get a large format view camera. LOL.

6. If you could go anywhere in the world for an epic, weeklong photo excursion all by your luxuriously unhurried self - regardless of money, time or childcare issues - where would you go and why?

For the longest time, I've dreamed of going to Africa. I am completely in love with the photography of Nick Brandt right now, who shoots the most incredibly beautiful images of African wildlife, and it is adding fuel to this desire of mine. I am not a wildlife photographer at all, but his photographs have such a haunting and spiritual quality about them that amplifies the emotional tug I have felt for years. Perhaps it is a very basic desire of going back to the source. There is something mythical about this place.

Thank you so much Irene!

You can see more of Irene's amazing work on her website, blog and Flickr pool.

summer today

For some of us, summer today is bringing a long evening walk, vanilla ice cream with homemade strawberry jam, grass under our feet, perfect Polaroid weather, new books and a lingering sense of quietness.

For others, summer today is about exploring a new culture, challenging your beliefs, being playful and starting over.

And I know that for most of us, summer today is bringing parades, barbecues, picnics and fireworks and celebrating what I believe is the very essence of the American spirit.

Wherever you are at this moment, tell us. What is summer bringing into your life today?

And Happy 4th of July!

my best friend from kindergarden

"She's the one I call to whine about the extra fat around my waist, update my portfolio, or when I am faced with the decision of whether or not to let my boys meet my long estranged father. The one I've been through puberty, hair disasters, and the breastmilk vs. formula debate with. After nearly 30 years she's still the one I like to embarrass in public places, disagree with on many things yet very few important matters, and whose couch I love to fall asleep in.

She's my running partner, the wind beneath my wings, my best friend from kindergarten."

Today, show us the ones who wholeheartedly laugh at your silly jokes, always give a hand, and listen quietly. The ones who "get" you, shake their heads in disagreement, let you borrow shoes and faith, love you for who you are and somehow make you a better person. Today, share with us images of your friends.

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And remember, submit your best Daddy shots before midnight PST over in our OWP Flickr pool and on this post for a chance to win a canvas from Hello Canvas. And Happy Father's Day!