Motivation..

Lately, I've been feeling like I don't have a lot of motivation. This isn't really uncommon as I am a high school senior but I decided to try and rectify it anyway.  Here are some things that inspire me to do something:

Dan Mountford's double exposure photography:

Isn't this stunning! I want to create photos like this someday..

This Blog:

I love love love this blog!  She blogs about photography, crafts, life, and pretty much everything else too!


Etsy:
I'm pretty much inspired by everything on Etsy. Seriously, everything.


Now I want to go do something!! Hmmm maybe a new photo project? I need ideas though.  I'm thinking something like the photo at the top of this post.  One of my amazing family members should volunteer to model for me.

I promis to update more of my photography soon. I have so many new pictures it's hard for me to choose!

A year without rain.

Everytime I start to blog I think of something else I could be doing. Basically, I have ADHD. Anyways, quick update. I've been working really hard to make sure that this photography thing will work out. I went for a portfolio review at Maryville College about a month ago. I was super nervous but everything went really well and I got the scholarship! I am so thankful! I mean it's not everyday someone hands you 60 thousand dollars!! It sounds really impressive when you say it that way doesn't it. So far, I have about $20,000 a year paid for. Now I just have to worry about the other ten thousand. However, I'm pretty optimistic about it.

One of the reasons I haven't been blogging my photos lately is because most of them are now film photos.  My photography class is a combination of film and digital photography and we each get to choose how much of each we do.  At the beginning of the class, I was sure I would do the required 3 weeks of film and then move into digital (my pinhole camera photos were horrible).  However,  I very quickly fell in love with film.  I had heard horror stories about photographers "first" rolls of film.  It's pretty much a learn as you go process.  There is no perfect way to develp film.  Despite my fears, my first roll of film turned out almost perfectly. As did the second and the third.  I am seriously amazed by my luck.  As soon as I can get them scanned I will put them on here.  Until then, here are a few fun photos I've taken lately:

I love these kids! Especially when they let me take pictures of them!

Criticism.

I don't deal with criticism well. I never really like to admit that but it's the truth. Anytime someone criticizes my art it is extremely hard for me to swallow. (I know they don't mean to be rude, but like I said, I don't take criticism well). The first thing I want to do is yell at them for being mean and then go off into a corner somewhere and cry. I'm really big on pity parties. But I'm trying to change.

My New Year's resolution was to be myself. And I know what you're thinking, "how can you not be yourself, you're always you" but really I'm not. A lot of times, when I'm with other people, I tend to just agree with everything they say. It's like I don't have opinions. But I do, and that's what my resolution is all about. I want people to know what I like, who I am. And I really despise people who just go along with anything and it was brought to my attention lately (thanks mom) that I am one of those people. The problem is I'm not very good at expressing my opinions without being rude. I'm working on that.

I realized today that these two things aren't unrelated. There have been so many times where if I do something, and someone says something bad about it, I just quit. But my photography, all of my art, is for me. I don't do it for anyone else. Sure, maybe someday people will pay for my photographs but right now I'm just doing it because I enjoy it. I love that I can preserve a small piece of time forever in a photograph.

I know that there will always be critics and I know that not all of them are just being mean. It's all about how you take the criticism. So, I'm going to be positive about it and use it to improve.

So, feel free to comment (and criticize). I can take it. :)

Natural Disaster

"I don't know what this girl is after
She's a natural, natural disaster"
-Plain White T's

Don't you just love snow? My mom and I braved the cold to get some good pictures and this is what I came up with! The one below is probably my favorite even though I messed up the focusing a little. I'm trying to learn how to use back button focusing and it definitely takes some practice!

My mom didn't want me to take pictures of her but I couldn't resist! I love the way snowflakes look in your hair.

Chugga-Chugga-Choo-Choo! Isaac's turning two!

Introducing Isaac (and my new blog)! Isaac is my adorable little cousin who agreed to be my first model in my very first photo shoot.


Actually, this wasn't really my photo shoot. The amazing and fabulous Courtney Steele was the photographer and she very graciously let me shoot with her. So, we did this shoot together.

This is Courtney on the left!

As long as I'm being honest, I should probably say that Isaac has already turned two. His birthday was in October so I'm a little late with this post. Oops.

Also, in case anyone was wondering, all of these photos were taken with my Canon Elan 7ne film camera.