color blocks

One of my favorite artists is Mark Rothko, who is famous for his colorful, abstract paintings. His work is often made up of blocks of color, softly blended together. They range from dark and moody to bright and airy, but all have the same calming effect on me. I'm often reminded of landscapes when I see his work and vice versa. So it's no surprise that I find myself drawn to photography that mimicks that same idea. If you squint your eyes, the landscape photo above could easily be translated into an color-blocked painting with greens, blues and golds, all coming together somewhat graphically.

Today please share your Rothko-like photographs with us. Who knows, it may inspire us all to get out the paintbrushes and create some color block paintings.

this means i love you

Dear Chicago,

You have a convincing way of coaxing me into grabbing my camera to rendezvous with you when the sun has long disappeared, and you've created your own constellations out of twinkle lights and neon signs.  We wander arm in arm as you tell stories and whisper sweet nuthin's to my camera, and I wonder how I ever got so lucky to be here in this very moment, to bear witness to the beauty that is you enveloped in the unexpected light of night. I have snubbed sleep and forgotten my need for food to be here with you, and not just tonight but on many other nights. Surely this must mean that I love you. And I can't help but think that you love me, too.

xoxo,

Sarah-Ji

P.S. I know I often prattle on and on about Pacific NW beauties like Seattle and Portland and the Olympic peninsula, but rest assured that you are my first and true love.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Today, express your love via your images, be they for specific people, a place, a thought, or the whole universe. And if you want to write a little love letter, don't hold back.

communing with nature

 "...deepening our emotional ties to nature is as vital to our well-being as the close personal bonds we pursue with family and friends." - Sarah Ban Breathnach, Simple Abundance

Today, let's deepen our emotional ties to nature.  Share with us a captured landscape, a scenic view or even a tiny vignette graciously and lovingly provided by Mother Nature. 

the six questions featuring Nicolle Null

I am truly happy to introduce you to one of my most recent blog crushes, talented photographer Nicolle Null who keeps an inspiring site called Sacred Lotus where she shares daily links to beautiful design, illustration and photography, and whose film and Polaroid images are the perfect, delightful combination of great composition, style, emotion and a deep reverence for nature.

Nicolle kindly accepted to answer our Shutter Sisters interview. Here are her answers:

1. What's the story behind this photo?

This photo is a self portrait polaroid that I took last year while doing a little shoot to celebrate polaroid week on flickr. It incorporates my love for flowers, the outdoors, and film photography. It also symbolizes the act of gathering and giving.

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

I have always loved photography ever since I was little. My grandmother introduced me to the work of Ansel Adams when I was around 5 years old. His black and white film work was so dreamy to me when I was a child and still is to this day. I think though the big thing that really lit my spark was the birth of my son and our move from California to Oregon. I had a little Nikon point and shoot that I took everywhere with me and was constantly shooting him and all the beautiful nature that Oregon has to offer. Over the years I did a lot of reading about photography and taught myself the basics and then made the jump to a Nikon D40 DSLR. That camera was awesome and taught me a lot. Then after I got used to that one I upgraded again to a Nikon D300, it's the main camera I use now and I have to say I love it!

3. Where do you look for inspiration?

Everywhere! That might sound silly but it's just so true. Life inspires me, people inspire me, music, nature, the little details... there is just so much I find fascinating about this world we live in. I'm a very visual person so I often find myself spending way to much time looking at flickr and soaking up all the amazing images you can find there. 


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

Shooting people is something I really want to focus on this year. Learning to give models direction is another thing that I want to improve. I'm not good at telling people what I what from them when I'm behind the camera. That's why I use myself as a model a lot in my photography. I'm easy to work with. ;)

5. 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?

Oh that's an easy one. Japan! It's an amazing place filled with so much beauty and history. It's a dream of mine to go and photograph the blooming cherry trees, geisha girls, and the magnificent temples.

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

Wow this is going to be a hard one because there are so many, this interview could go on for a very long time!

Ok let me start with just a few people that have given me encouragement and have inspired me in many ways over the years. First would be the lovely Lori Andrews. I have been friends with Lori for years now and she always has such lovely things to say about my photography and has inspired me to try new things and to think outside the box.

Next would be my good friend Bree Walk. Whenever I wanna geek out about photography or just hit the road to find some old abandon run down building to shoot in. I can always count on Bree to be there with her trusty camera in hand. She is defiantly one of my shutter sisters for life.

Another amazing lady that I admire is Whitney Johnson. I like to call her the queen of polaroid portraits. That girl knows how to take amazing polaroids, plus she is super fun to be around!

All the girls from PDX Photo Adventures have a special place in my heart too. Last but not least is another one of my favorite creative people, miss Jenny Vorwaller. Jenny is a wife, mother, photo taker, jewelry maker, artist, and world traveler who always has something beautiful to share. Her film photography work is just beautiful and inspires me so much. I feel very lucky to know so many amazing talented women!

Thank you so much Nicolle!

You can find out more about Nicolle's work on her Flickr Pool and blog.

the six questions featuring Amanda Gilligan

There's something endearing and authentic about photographer Amanda Gilligan's dreamy images that makes me want to drop whatever I'm doing and dwell in every corner of her little world. But what I love most about Amanda is her beautiful spirit of giving. She shares tips, insights, tutorials and inspiration on her blog Mocking Bird with kindness and sheer enthusiasm, reminding me every day that one of the most wonderful things about photography is the ongoing conversation between passionate people, and the joy we experience by sharing what we love.

Amanda was kind enough to answer 7 of our 8 questions. Here are her answers:

What's the story behind this photo?

This Polaroid is my little sister and my muse. I've been photographing her since she was a baby and have been so lucky to watch her grow into a beautiful young woman. The Polaroid was taken on a special trip away with our mother, just the three of us spending a special time together. She picked up the dandelion and I noticed the beautiful flickerings of the light in the trees behind her. As soon as I grabbed my camera, she knew what to do. She's my perfect model and my muse.

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

From a young age I always loved creating stories and was always encouraged to be creative. I was given my first camera at the age of 8 but remember really wanting to find the art in photography after being given a book of black and white portraits by an Australian photographer. I loved the photojournalistic style of the portraits and it felt like something I could do. The portraits seemed to be taken from quiet places. I tend to be the one sitting in a corner at parties and observing life- those photographs seemed like something I would shoot and it inspired me to buy my first SLR camera. I haven't looked back since.

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

My photo philosophy definitely reflects my life. I believe in shooting from the heart and shooting things that are important to you. I never try to be something I'm not, it doesn't work. My life is quiet, inquisitive, peaceful, full of light and emotion. I would hope to think my photographs convey that too. I believe that shooting photographs is about seeing the truth and being authentic.

4. Where do you look for inspiration?

I look for it everywhere! I'm inspired by my family, friends, music, art, books, my home, food, nature, the landscapes of my homeland Australia and my new home in Vancouver, Canada. I think we need to notice and be aware of the beauty around us. I love the films of Sofia Coppola, Michel Gondry, Jean-Pierre Jeunet and Pedro Almodóvar and the music of Sigur Rós, Radiohead and Bjork. I love attention to detail and it's the little details in the big picture that I look for. The colours of the pebbles in the sand at the beach, the textures of the fruit at the local market, the softness of the brush strokes in your favourite painting...details are my constant inspiration.

5. What would you say is one of your 'signature' editing tricks, themes or style?

Soft light, low saturated colour and attention to detail. I shoot mostly film so I hope I capture that in my Polaroids and 35mm work.

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?

Paris without a doubt. I have been aching to get there for so many years. I dream about wandering the hilly streets of Montmartre with my Polaroid camera, stopping in for a coffee and a baguette, hanging out in the quiet alleys and searching for the Parisian light that I've heard so much about. I will wear a scarf tied around my neck and pretend I am Amélie.

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

Oh so many! First and foremost my actual sister, Kelly. She is not only my muse and model but loves shooting with me. I love that she has followed in my footsteps with a love of photography. Myla Kent has always been a power of strength and inspiration to me. She is so supportive and a wonderful photographer. I adore my Polaroid girls Jenifer Altman and Susannah Conway. We are sharing a special secret journey together at the moment and they inspire me to be better on a daily basis. I know I can always turn to them for support and when the three of us get together there is going to be some serious Polaroid damage!

Thank you Amanda!

You can see more of Amanda's work on her blog and Flickr Pool.