I'm 23!

It's interesting how much I've grown over the year, but somethings just don't change. I still stay up way too late, sleep too little, and take a ton of Polaroids.

Love.

So many old faces & a few new ones! All great to photgraph, of course.


The set is above is from our cabin extravaganza weekend from a few weeks back.



It's been a whirlwind of events that have unfolded before our very own eyes.

The good ones always stick through, fortunately. I've been so blessed to have friends that have been with me consistently over the past 7 years & I'm blessed to have new friends that have made my life blossom into so much more. Times are strange right now, but I've got to keep my chin up and keep on moving forwards.

Fire.

Kyle, Emily, Stefanie, Nick & I took a trip to the cabin last Tuesday.

Some of us are going back this Thursday + Portland friends! I feel super burnt out. I am not sure if it was the 2 weddings in a row, or just not being home 2 weekends in a row, but man. I do not want to shoot another digital photo for a while. I've burned through about 60 Polaroid shots over the span of 2 weeks.

I was thinking about this a few days ago. I would easily spend about $250 on film (multiple times a year) but I can't seem to bring myself to buy an iPod. Seriously? It's a mystery what goes on in my brain. I've been using my brother's shuffle and it's been working out so far, but there are definitely days where I want to listen to that one album I don't have on the shuffle.

Also, I got 2 libraries asking if I want an interview. Half tempted to just go interview. I wish I could just work at the library full time. It's really rough working at a paint store when you're tired. Working at the library tired was never a big problem. I don't know what the point of this post was. It's 3am, and I should get my 3 hours of sleep.

New friends.

It's already half way through the year and it's been a really great year so far. I've met so many new faces. I think I am making up for living in Cleveland and not meeting anyone for a year. Ever since I bought film for the wedding, I have been shooting non-stop. One of my goals for the year was to start shooting black & white packfilm again. And I am so glad that I did. The Fuji FP-3000 rules. I can't wait to get a lens for my Hasselblad so I can shoot with it. Ahhhhh! Okay, I think it's time to rest. Get ready for a lot of Polaroids, soon.

Here's a Polaroid from the wedding I shot! I hope that someday when I get married, I will have a good friend take my wedding photos in all Polaroids...

Fuck it! Part II

On Friday, The New York Times blogged one of my Polaroids of KJ. That gives me some sort of street cred, right?

That was a sign of a good day to come. I went up to Custer, which is about 20 minutes north of Bellingham for my friends Ashley & Sam's wedding rehearsal. The wedding site blew my mind & I met so many great people. Friends helping friends out, bringing the wedding together is what it's all about. Shooting the wedding on Saturday went smoothly and well, the wedding ruled, of course! I will post photos soon!

Things rolling around in my head recently are topics in; moving, upgrading my technology, "getting in on it", sharing a brain, cabin time, Portland, Vancouver BC, NYC, snail mail, wishing I had a cat, ways to manifest more fun out of Seattle, and snacks.

Fuck it!

I just want to hang out with my friends and have cook-outs all summer.


Updates updates. I should perhaps post more often...

Got a full-time job at a paint store, parted ways with Jesse, bought a Hasselblad, bought a shit ton of film, hangin/snackin with my friends in Wallingford pretty much every day, taking it slow, bought a ticket to NYC for October, art show in September & November, interning still for JesusBranded, designing coffee bags for Dan at Neptune, making up new jams in my head, and taking lots of photossss.

I've been meaning to gear up my brain for doing more illustrations again. Somewhere in between getting my job and taking photos, I lost my concentration. I gotta focus! So many projects are floating around in my head right now. I have this great installation piece I want to someday pursue, but for now I want to focus on combining my photography and illustration.

I'm such a mess lately, I feel like if I don't do everything RIGHT NOW, I'm going to forget about it or lose interest. I need to sort everything out & make lists.

4th month being home.

I've been back in Washington for close to four months now. I am still unemployed, after several attempts at applying at really crappy jobs, mediocre jobs, and dream jobs. I've had little luck with only 3 interviews over the past few months. However, I have been having a TON of fun. Adventures, mini road trips, attending Mars Hill, going to shows, snacking, starting a band, drawing, nerding out and spending quality time with boy pictured above. He's the best, and I have the dumbest smile on my face right now. So, despite being jobless, broke, and living with my parents, I am pretty happy.

Here is the latest version of my resume. Someone out there has got to want to hire me.

Running In Circles.

I've spent well over thousands and thousands of dollars on Polaroid film over the past 6 years that I have been shooting. Never in my 6 years have I been so excited for one type of film. This is Artistic TZ film, made for SX-70's. The results are beautiful. Are you seeing these colors?! Seriously. Sometimes, I feel completely ridiculous that I invest so much of my time and money into Polaroids. But usually, I feel complete. This is what I absolutely love to do. It brings me joy that I cannot explain. Whether it be instant 600 film, 779, Image, or any of the pack film, I love it, I want to shoot it all the time, every day, of my family, friends, and travels.

I love photography, in general. But I am not a technical shooter. I have no formal knowledge of studio lighting or fancy equipment. It makes me feel incompetent sometimes when a photographer speaks to me about all the gear they have. My digital set up consists of a Nikon D70 that I bought off of Craigslist that has gone through hell, but I mean, I bought the body for $170. I probably wouldn't have been able to afford a DSLR, otherwise. I have 2 lenses. A kit lens from the Nikon N75 and a 1.8 50mm. Both are low end lenses.

I don't give a shit though, really. I've always enjoyed making the most out of what I have. Story of my life. The first couple of photos I got published in Alternative Press Magazine were shot with Nikon Coolpix 3700. Isn't that hilarious? I showed photos for my BFA show. Which is funny because I majored in Graphic Design and Multimedia. But anyways, the Polaroids I had up in my BFA Thesis show were all shot in Japan with a Colorpack II. Which is this goofy looking plastic toy camera. But I love those shots.

If I could afford it, I would buy nice equipment and learn how to use strobes, etc. There is so much room for me to grow in photography. I just wish I had the opportunity to become familiar with it. Because I know I can do it. I know I have the eye for it.

And as much as I love graphic design, I don't think anyone wants to hire me or take the time to invest in me for my design and illustration work. I guess I am not as confident in my skills as a designer, due to lack of experience. I also have little web skills, which doesn't help my case at all. Print design is dying, and employers are looking for an all-in-one designer. I don't know. Maybe I don't know enough people in the industry to find what I'm looking for. But that's also the case with photography work. Then again, most photography work requires that you have studio photography experience... Which basically means that I'm a fine artist. That really doesn't comfort me at all.

There has got to be something out there for me. God. Where is my perfect job?

I should just go to cosmetology school, do hair & makeup on shoots, and work my way into doing fashion photography that way. That is so backwards but I'm into hair & makeup. It would be ideal to do hair, makeup, and the photography all by myself. That would rule.

So many things running through my head at 4am. I pray to God that the best path be revealed to me.

Now that I'm home;

Bellevue, WA

Portland, OR

Forks, WA

Portland, OR

While looking for a job, I have just been hanging out, taking photos, and traveling the Pacific Northwest. 2009 has been treating me well so far. I just hope that 2009 comes bearing a solid job so I can pay off my student loans.