Abby Davis Photography

Behind the Scenes - Max's Photoshoot

2012-02-07T17:42:00.000-08:00

Meet Max. Max is my grandma's cousin's daughter's son... but really we just say that we're cousins because he's three years old, and even I get confused trying to remember that. His parents live in Lawrence only ten minutes away from my apartment, and he and his baby brother Bo get to hang out with me every now and then when I babysit. Max will also get to be a ringbearer in my wedding come September.

Tonight, however, Max got to be a part of something much more exciting than me reading him a bedtime story, although The Giving Tree is one of my favorites. I've begun a new project series called "Alter Egos," and it involves many different people of all ages in their "natural environments" dressed up in something completely unexpected. For example, Max's scene was set in his very own bedroom where he was surrounded by all of his toys and stuffed animals. His costume, however, was very out of place. Can you guess from the second picture above? We purchased his plastic glasses at Urban Outfitters, borrowed a fedora from a friend, used my t-shirt scarf, Max's mom's own childhood Colorado sweatshirt, and Max's own gray jeans and Vans sneakers.

Give up?

Max is so underground, you've probably never heard of him.

Extra, Extra!

2012-01-10T11:29:00.000-08:00

Read all about it: My second front page photo spread made it in The Wichita Eagle today! While I was in Lawrence today making it through my last first day ever, my mom snapped this shot of a news stand with my photos in the window for me.

You can read the article and see my photos here: Open Door Article

In the Newsroom

2012-01-03T11:13:00.000-08:00

It's been a while since I've updated about my internship! Quite a lot has happened. I love being out on assignment, but I love the newsroom almost as much. It's like a museum in here. The photo above was taken in the photo area of the newsroom where I spend my time editing and writing cutlines.

Last week, I was given a tour of the entire building. For the most part, The Eagle is a large office building with human resources, circulation, advertising, and the newsroom. But they also have their own print room, which is really impressive. It's filled with newsprint rolls the size of haystacks, and it's very, very loud. There are machines lining two floors that print the paper, and there's another machine that lines the ceiling that places ads in the paper. The Eagle also has a mini-museum that they take tours through, and it sets on the mezzanine in the print room.

It's funny to think that in 20 years print rooms and newspapers may not exist. I feel like I'm standing on the brink of a changing world, and it's kind of exciting and sad all at the same time. News and photos will always be in demand, but newspaper may not be. For now, though, I'm enjoying every moment of the newsroom.

On the Front Page!

2011-12-27T09:50:00.000-08:00

That's right! I was front page of The Wichita Eagle yesterday. Check out the photos at their website.

http://www.kansas.com/2011/12/26/2153111/christmas-postponed-as-family.html

At The Eagle

2011-12-19T12:56:00.000-08:00

Today at 9:15 AM I walked into the newsroom of my hometown's newspaper, The Wichita Eagle. At 11:00 AM, I walked out with two photo assignments. First, I stalked out the local outdoor mall, Bradley Fair, for some rainy Christmas shopping photos for my "weather" assignment. I had enough time leftover from that to call in lunch at Watermark Cafe, one of my favorites, before I went to shoot photos for a piece on homemade Christmas decor.

It was a fantastic first day of my internship!

New Domain, New Website

2011-12-07T10:32:00.000-08:00

http://adavisphotography.com/

Self-explanatory! Enjoy.

Photomedia Student Show

2011-11-30T10:37:00.000-08:00

Check it oouuuutttt. A video I made for the KU Photomedia Show!

Happy Veteran's Day

2011-11-11T14:32:00.000-08:00

This is Doug. He is a KU student who attended an event on Veteran's Day today that I shot for the Kansan, and he is also a veteran as well. This was taken inside one of KU's most well-known memorials, the World War Two Campanile Memorial. That memorial represents the 277 students and faculty killed in WWII.

Happy Veteran's Day.

Senior Show

2011-10-27T16:25:00.000-07:00

I started at KU in the Art & Design school from the beginning. From my first day as a freshman 'til my last day as a senior, I'll be a part of KU's Design department. I switched into the Photomedia major in the spring of my sophomore year after realizing how well a camera fit into my hands. The major is practically still a newborn as it began in 2008. There have been a lot of growing pains as a result of that, but I have learned so much from my teachers and fellow students. Unfortunately, the major still does not offer a senior show, unlike the other majors in the Design department like Graphic Design and Illustration. I have developed a really great body of work, however, as a result of the time and creativity that I have poured into school. So I asked myself, "Why can't I have a show too?" The answer is that... I can!

I started a funding website for my show, and the deadline is in February. Be sure to check it out, as there's an awesome stop motion video on the site!

indiegogo.com/Abby-Senior-Show

Chez Paul

2011-10-02T14:57:00.000-07:00

This is Paul. He is the hot dog stand man on the KU campus. He is a retired CPA, and this is how he spends his Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

As you know, I work for the UDK (University Daily Kansan), and we, the photo staff, take dozens of photos each week for different articles. We cover everything from sports and club teams to student life and general news. But we're also encouraged to seek out our own "stories," or photo essays, to fill up the paper with something extra special. In a meeting a few weeks ago, one of the designers for the paper was expressing the need for more photo essays. And the conversation goes like this:

Ben: A photo essay can be anything. Heck, you could do it on the guy who runs the hot dog cart on Wescoe.

Me: Oh! Chez Paul?

Ben: You know the hot dog stand guy??

Me: I get omelets from him every week!*

Ben: Well okay!

One week later I'm out on Wescoe Beach shooting footage and stills for a multimedia piece on "Chez Paul" or Paul Baker, if you want to be formal about it. A few days after I'm finished, I'm uploading my work to the UDK server when a designer beckons me over to the white board.

Designer: We're giving you all of page six and a reefer.

Me: ...

Designer: And can you write an article really fast?

Me: ...

Designer: ...

Me: Kay.

Forty-five minutes later, my article is finished. Luckily I had all the quotes I needed right there on the audio I recorded for the video. Also luckily, I enjoy writing because otherwise there would have been a massive panic attack on Abby Street.

And less than twenty-four hours later, I'm a published journalist. Really, really cool. If you want to read the article and or watch the video, find the links below and just click away!

http://www.kansan.com/news/2011/oct/06/hot-dog-cart/

*Paul also makes omelets at the Art and Design building every Monday morning, and they are really really good.

Breaking News!

2011-09-24T15:09:00.000-07:00

I made the front page of the UDK! The article was about groups of students who meet to practice their various foreign language speaking skills.

Quidditch

2011-09-22T21:41:00.000-07:00

Quidditch has come to KU, and I had the honor of covering the first game and preview in the paper. The preview consisted of an article explaining the game, players, and quotes. It also included these photos that I took! To shoot this, I brought a strobe (sans tripod... that was a fun "oops") and portable battery pack to the practice field. The writer that was covering the Quidditch preview had to help me hold the strobe light, and the players did some sweet poses in front of their hoop setup (made of hula hoops and pvc pipes!) These photos are of the starting line up and the team's starting "keeper" (as in goalkeeper of the hoops). This is one of my favorite portraits of the singles, as this guy's broom is seriously customized. It looks like a prop from HP!

Both of my Quidditch shoots got full pages in the paper (one for the game and one for the preview). Here is a link to the shots from the Quidditch game - "Kansan Quidditch Game Photos." In case you've never experienced Quidditch before, it's much more intense and totally full contact. I had a blast shooting it. Check it out!

Peter Parker, Here!

2011-08-27T16:44:00.000-07:00

Sorry it's been like 45 million years since my last post, but I've been really busy - and here's why!

You may remember a few posts ago when I talked about how faithful God was when it came to me finding a school-related photog. job. The job has officially begun, and I've been in the newsroom quite a lot recently. We've hand-delivered the Back to School edition of the paper (a UDK, University Daily Kansan, tradition), gotten free t-shirts (SO exciting), and even been published. That's right, I'm a published photographer. In this paper I'm holding, both of my photos were published on the same page the first time I was in the UDK!

Just call me "Peter Parker."

Look out for my work at Kansan.com. You can find my profile under the staff page, and you can see my web galleries as they are added if you search for "Abby Davis."

Hello Again, New York

2011-08-04T17:44:00.000-07:00

God is Faithful

2011-07-24T10:33:00.000-07:00

It's been a long semester of waiting on God, and because it is so deeply connected to my photography, I felt the need to blog/share it.

At the beginning of last semester, in January, I decided that it was time for me to get a job in addition to school. I was really interested in getting a University job, and the more I looked around there, the more I realized there was a need for student photographers. So I began to apply. Again and again I sent in numerous applications to student jobs that I felt would be "perfect" for me.

And I began to get interviews too. The first call I got was near the end of February, and I practically squealed on the phone. The job was for "University Relations," and I had no idea what that was. It didn't matter! It was a photography job, and I had an interview!

So I immediately bought some slacks to wear to the interview, and I let everyone know about it. The interview went really well, too. I made eye contact, connected with the interviewer, and I answered all of the questions "right." I floated out of that interview feeling really confident. Probably too confident. I was just positive that this was the job for me.

Then a week went by, and a few more weeks. I still hadn't heard, and I was starting to doubt. By this time, I had heard of other photo friends who had interviewed. I prayed and begged for this job, and I was sure that another wouldn't come along like this during my student career. But then I stopped and reminded myself of the life motto I try to live by, "If it's God's will, it will be done. If not, I move along happily."

Only a few days later, I found out through Facebook that I hadn't gotten the job. A very talented friend of mine was sharing the news of his job offer at University Relations. I was crushed, but reminded myself of God's plan, even in the small ways, and decided to continue looking. God would open the door when it was time. I just had to be patient.

About a month later, another interview came my way. It was not nearly as exciting of a job as the last, but it was a convenient one. The hours fit my schedule perfectly, which is what the interviewer told me he wanted. I also was well suited for the job, as a print lab monitor in the Art and Design building, because I had practically lived in that lab for the past three years as a student. I walked out of that interview knowing I had it.

And then weeks went by, and I grew frustrated. This job wasn't a challenging one, and I had rocked the interview. Was this door seriously going to be closed to me?? Again I forced myself to be at peace with the closed door when I got an email saying "We went in another direction."

I had pretty much given up my search when I got an email from KU's Housing Dept. saying they had received my application for a student job, but it had been deleted by accident. They urged me to reapply, so I did. Not unexpectedly, a week or so later I got a call about an interview.

I arrived at the interview feeling completely calm about it, surprisingly. I had been rejected twice already this year for jobs that I had felt were "perfect" for me, but I knew there was a reason for it beyond my understanding. Once again, I was interviewed for a job that I fell in love with. Each interview I had done that semester had consisted of the interviewer explaining to me the details and perks of each job. The jobs all sounded so idyllic, and each time I walked away feeling that job would be "the job" for me.

This time was no exception. I walked away wanting the job so badly, but I knew that I had no control of the matter, and that God would lead me where I would need to go.

I should have been more frustrated, and I was at times. But ultimately I had decided to test out the motto I claim to live by. If God wills it in my life, He knows what's best.

Only two weeks later I found out, yet again, through a Facebook status that another talented friend had gotten the job. My ego was officially in the gutter. I was done looking, and I was completely exhausted by these ridiculous interviews. Why was I even getting interviews if the jobs were never mine in the first place?! I was so tired of the search that when a friend of mine told me about a job opening at the University Daily Kansan (our school newspaper), I was skeptical.

He assured me that it would be a great job, and he sold it to me like all the other interviewers had before. I refused to get excited about it. This could easily be another letdown like the others. But as time went on, the prospective job became less talk and more action. I suddenly had an interview, and I was feeling confident again.

So I went to my final interview of the semester with the remaining bits of faith. It was, by far, my least impressive interview, and out of self-preservation I convinced myself the job could easily go to someone else. But less than two weeks later I got a call, not an email or Facebook status, with an offer of the position. I squeaked out some kind of "Yes!" and here we are.

God is faithful. As time has passed, He has revealed some reasons why those other doors were closed. The first job was too technical for my personality, and much better suited to my friend's talents and skills. The second would have done nothing for my resume, and as my semester progressed I realized that the hours of that job would have been too much of a load on me. The third job was much more graphic design based (although it had been advertised as a photography job), and I had barely enough design experience to do that job well.

As my new job approaches, I am confident that God has put me right where He wants me. Our first meeting is Aug 15, and I plan to work at full force in the place where I am supposed to be.

"Do not be afraid. Stand firm and see the deliverance that the LORD will bring you today... The LORD will fight for you. You need only be still." Exodus 14:13-14

I Love Hippie Mountain Towns

2011-07-09T15:31:00.000-07:00

Don't you? We stopped in Minturn, Colorado today to tool around, and we wound up eating at a little cafe called "Sticky Fingers Cafe." I ordered a Holy Cristo sandwich, which is ham, gruyere, mustard, and mayo all on French Toast with powdered sugar on top and jam to dip with. Needless to say, it was a holy experience.

The Lake: Part 2

2011-07-08T21:17:00.000-07:00

Year three of lake trips is now another notch in my belt. I've posted a few of my favorite shots and the rest of the introduction to the photo book. The majority of these photos were taken while I was swimming in the lake, camera held high! Enjoy.

Each summer brings new memories, yet somehow a familiar feeling still remains. Is it the perfect blue of a swimming pool that brings comfort, or is it something more abstract? And how will we hold onto that feeling once that magic of summer from childhood finally fades?

It's simple.

We go to the lake. We pack up the camper with lightweight clothes, faded swimsuits, and scratchy beach towels, and we pray that the lake is still just the same, though we aren't.

We go to the lake. We haul out old chairs that we refuse to throw out. Their color is comforting, like the bottom of the chlorine pool. We later ride in boats for hours, and refuse to let rain win a good day for boating.

We go to the lake, and we are reminded that though each year brings new challenges, the water is bigger. We are only a small part of its overwhelming, green landscape. And in our smallness, we are reminded of an all-powerful God.

You can count on one thing: Life is always changing.

Summer after summer, the lake lives on. We go home, skin toughened by sun and bodies tired from play. The lake remains, and we will return another summer with soft feet and eager hearts.

And so it goes, the cycle of the lake. Rest assured that the cycle is a kind one.

As White says of his own lake experience,

"This seemed an utterly enchanted sea, this lake you could leave to its own devices for a few hours and come back to, and find that it had not stirred, this constant and trustworthy body of water.

...There had been no years."

Going to the Chapel

2011-06-28T19:23:00.000-07:00

That's right. Iiiiiii shot a wedding. Me! Little old me. It was terrifying at first, I'll admit. I was a total wreck before I got there. But the minute I arrived I was overwhelmed with wedding fever, and all my worries melted away!

I went to high school with Bethany, and I was so flattered when she contacted me asking me to shoot her wedding. But ask Bethany and she'll tell you, I fretted and fussed over whether I could handle a wedding at all. I interrogated her about the wedding size, and I lowered her expectations to the absolute least amount that I could. I take wedding photography very, very seriously. Wedding photos are the ones that last through the generations. I can still find wedding photos from my grandparents and great-grandparents in old family albums. They're some of the most important photos you'll ever take.

But it just so happened that Bethany and Collin's wedding was going to be a very small, backyard event for family only, and they only needed me for a few hours. So I agreed, and I'm so glad I did.

The wedding was small, but so filled with love. There was not one, but two "you may kiss the bride" kisses. I mean how sweet can you get?

I was so blessed to have the opportunity to shoot this wedding, and I learned a lot from just the one experience! Thank you Bethany and Collin (and little Lucas) for letting me be a part of your day.

Once More to the Lake

2011-06-28T16:58:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time, Tyler begged me to go on his family's annual lake trips. At the time, I was seventeen and a little shy about traveling with so many people I didn't know well, so I opted out. The years went by, however, and suddenly I was hopping in Grandma's RV, ramblin' down the road.

We wakeboarded til' our legs hurt, played millions of board games, and shooed the mosquitoes. It was a blast. The second trip I went on, I decided to bring along my little 35mm vintage Argus camera. (Or not so little? Its nickname is "The Brick!") Click here to see the blog post with photos from the lake. It started as a way to avoid bringing my digital camera, but truth be told, film just lends itself to this kind of photography.

Now, it's lake time again! But this year I'm bringing along more than two rolls because I've started a large photo book project titled "Once More to the Lake." Below is an excerpt from the introduction:

"Lake water is my escape. I know without a doubt that I am a freshwater fish. The rocks and hills of the expanding lake remind me of the Flint Hills I have come to love as I pass by them often on my way to family. But the water is the most comforting to me. I hold my breath, dive down deep, and feel my hair turn to liquid above me. The temperature is cool and makes my skin come alive again. I roll on my back and ride the waves as they carry me further out. My feet lift off the muddy, rocky bottom. I am transformed once again into a fish, and the quiet of being underwater brings me back home again. Thinking clearly now, I remember the need for oxygen and spring up to the light. The sun warms my wet hair, and I quickly dive back down again. I need the water almost as much as I need air."

I promise to share more once I get them alllll developed. The photo in this post is from last year's trip, but I never noticed it until months later. Silly Walgreens never scanned it for me, but what an awesome surprise it was to find! The photo was taken at "Chicken Rock" right off the campsite we rented last year. Ty and I were hanging out on Chicken Rock when a boat drove up to the spot and dropped off a few kids. The kids then lined up, after climbing nearly 30 feet to the top, and jumped off the rock to the water one by one. It still gives me butterflies thinking about it! Luckily I caught one of the boys before he jumped. What a view. What a moment.

What a lake.

A Dip in the Fountain

2011-06-16T22:59:00.000-07:00

Well, here's another thing to cross off my list! I took a "swim" in the Chi-O fountain the other day, and it was quite exciting.

An old friend of mine and I were talking a few weeks ago about life, and he remembered I was a senior. "Senior year is... weird," he said. Weird? I hadn't thought about that at all. The word "weird" seems so right though, now that I think about it. My senior year of high school was filled with "senior-centered" activities, and it was a little exhausting. Thankfully, college senior year will be totally different, but I still have no idea what to expect, besides busyness.

I can't believe it's almost here.

Weird.

The Art Building

2011-06-16T22:56:00.000-07:00

I'm going to miss this place next year.

"L" is for Letterpress

2011-06-16T22:24:00.000-07:00

Letterpress is a lost art, in my opinion. We so take for granted how easy it is now to just type in what we want to say and print with a click.

You don't know how addicting/frustrating printing the old-fashioned way can be until you're digging around wooden drawers filled with dust balls and dead spiders (yep). It's not the digging around that I love though. It's the way the ink looks fresh off the press.

Call me Gutenberg, but I like cranking the wheel and seeing a perfect, and even imperfect, print. It's gratifying to see your physical labor pay off in something so delicate.

My class ends June 30, but I promise to post a little more about the work I'm doing before it's over!

This One Time in Florence...

2011-06-16T21:36:00.000-07:00

Florence, KANSAS that is. Okay okay, so... this one time in Florence, Kansas I had the opportunity to shoot an engagement session for my beautiful cousin Kensi and her sweet piece of man candy, Daniel. But that's not the whole story, you see. There's much much more.

Kensi and I planned this whole session the night before it happened. Daniel is currently at the Police Academy in Florence, which is about an hour out from Wichita where Kensi lives. I was in Lawrence and planning to head back the next day. Long story short, Kensi and I decided to meet Daniel in Florence to avoid losing precious daylight.

For those of you who have never been to Florence, just imagine a very small town. I almost missed it as I came in on the highway. While it may be small, Florence has a lot of character left over from its glory days including limestone buildings and a boarded-up train depot. It's basically a hidden gem of photo ops.

I pulled into Main St. about ten minutes before Kensi or Daniel arrived, and I really really had to pee. I had just driven two hours through the Flint Hills with a large Dr. Pepper. You can imagine. Unfortunately for me it was Memorial Day weekend. In a small town. After 5pm. I was seriously considering finding a deserted backroad when I saw the local bar. OPEN!

I scurried on in and was immediately greeted with a loud and large amount of cheering. My eyes were still adjusting from the bright daylight to the dark bar, and it scared the sauce out of me.

WOOOOO! YEAAAAH! YEEEEEEAHHHH! WAAHOO!

Um hello? Am I on Cheers? Did I just win something?

"Um. Can I use your bathroom?"

"Door's right around back, sweetie."

What the heck just happened? I dried my hands and meandered out.

"Ya new in town? Ya want a beer?"

The only people in the bar were three weathered women who were parked around a small table with their beers and a bowl of Lays chips the size of a fish tank. We small-talked for awhile before I left. They knew Daniel, of course, and they seemed quite tickled that we were shooting engagement pictures in their town.

Later, towards the end of Daniel and Kensi's shoot, I retold this story. Daniel started laughing and said:

"Yeah, when Kensi told me you'd stopped into the bar for a bathroom break I knew I needed to find you fast. People in this town start drinking at like 4."

That explains so much. Gosh I love small towns.

Hello!

2011-06-15T17:36:00.001-07:00

Just as promised, I brought my camera to the letterpress room today. Those are going to be saved for another day. For now, though... hello out there!

Summertime in Lawrence

2011-06-14T15:19:00.001-07:00

Back to color film, oh my oh my! This summer I'm taking a month-long class called "Book Making" at KU. So far we've done lithographs and letterpress, and the final project will be a book bound and printed by our own hands. Tomorrow I plan on bringing a roll (or two) of C-41 and my trusty dusty Nikon EM to class so I can fully document the wonder of a print lab.

In the Past

2011-05-15T22:37:00.000-07:00

This was actually one of the first photographs in the series that I made. I have endless amounts of photobooth pictures that Tyler and I have taken over the years, and most were taken in high school.

When I think back on those years, the memories are blurred like I’m underwater. All of the experiences and emotions from those days are starting to fade. It’s like there’s a faucet that won’t turn off, and it’s drowning my memories with time.

Yes, Tyler is my first love, but he is also my second, third, and fourth. Everything about us has matured in the last four years, and while some things have stayed the same, a lot has changed.

We are not the same people, and somehow I love him more than I ever believed possible. It’s a deeper kind of love than the kind I felt in high school. I wouldn’t ever trade it. It’s the product of years of growth, heartache, and promises.

While it saddens me that those years of carefree dating and silly photobooth pictures are fading, I’m reminded of what we’ve built with them. The best is yet to come.

Between the Knees

2011-05-15T22:02:00.000-07:00

Those are my knees that frame Tyler’s profile. Many times have I laid on a couch with him and wished the world could see how I see him.

There was a time where I hardly knew Tyler. We were fourteen when he fell for me, and I broke his heart with rejection. I never dreamed that he would show up on my porch three years later with so much confidence.

The boy I once knew has grown into a man that now reminds me of my own father. Every year we have spent together, I have watched Tyler grow into this man, and yet he is still very much Tyler.

Sometimes there are growing pains, both individually and as a couple. There are days that make me wish that we had never met until later in life, when we both had things figured out and settled. Life would be easier in certain situations, but it would also have been lonelier.

I can’t imagine a day without him. And when I see this photograph of him, it’s exactly how I picture Tyler: always right by my side.

By Myself

2011-05-15T01:03:00.000-07:00

It took me a long time to grow into my own skin. I have to credit a lot of who I am to the relationship I've been in for four years. Tyler was the first person who I could let in completely, and it has always felt so natural to just be myself with him. He knows my most secret quirks and my deepest thoughts.

One night, after an argument Tyler and I had had, my mom and I were talking. I was frustrated about something petty, I'm sure. My mom had listened patiently, given her advice for the situation, and then said this:

"No one will ever love you as much as Tyler does. He loved you from when he was fifteen to now, and no one will ever be able to match that."

The truth is Tyler was the button-pusher for this photograph, due to a lack of a timer on my camera. And while I set up the whole scene and camera, he saw it as it was right before the shutter clicked.

I like to think that this is how he sees me, when I'm at my most vulnerable. I am at my most vulnerable when I'm with him, and I'm okay with it.

Hard Work

2011-05-08T23:29:00.000-07:00

“Hard Work”

This diamond necklace was a gift from Tyler on our three-year anniversary. He worked countless hours at his grandma’s horse stables to buy it for me.

It symbolizes so much. It was the first “grown-up” gift he ever bought me, and it marked a new stage for us. But then, less than a year later, I lost the necklace. It had never left my neck from the moment he gave it to me, and somehow the one time I took it off, I had managed to misplace it permanently.

I called him in tears, and he rushed over. We poured over the street and parking lot where it could have been with flashlights and winter coats pulled tight. After enough time had passed without success, we called it good. His patience and instant forgiveness in that situation reminded me of how much of a man Tyler is.

Back at home later that night, I laid into his arms as he stroked my hair and promised we would fix it.

Now, the replacement necklace sits back again where it should be. It is a constant reminder of all the good I see in Tyler.

Your Clothes

2011-05-08T20:27:00.000-07:00

“Your Clothes”

My collection of Tyler’s sweats, pajama pants, and undershirts grows weekly. As my old favorites start to lose his smell, I bring in more.

Smells seem to bring back a person in a way that visual memory cannot. I was ten when my great-grandmother died, and I took a beanie baby from her house the week of her funeral. I slept with that beanie baby until I left it accidentally in a hotel room one weekend. The smell of her perfume was hidden deep inside that beanie baby, and sometimes when I couldn’t sleep at night I’d bury my nose in its cloth belly. When I lost that beanie baby, I finally had to physically let go of her.

Tyler’s clothes bring me a sense of comfort in his absence. I can sense his presence when I pull on his baggy plaid pj’s, as long as his scent still remains. And after the smells fade, I still keep his clothes around, mostly because they're extremely comfortable.

Finishing Touches

2011-05-02T01:01:00.000-07:00

This is what my dining room table looks like currently. It's a whole lot cleaner than when I was a painting major, but that's another story. Bottom line: My roommate is insanely patient!

"The Story of Us"

2011-05-01T00:40:00.000-07:00

From top to bottom: "By Myself," "Hard Work," "Your Clothes," "Our Song," "In the Past," "That Summer."

Gosh, I could write pages and pages about each one of these photos and why they made the final cut. I feel like the titles are enough information, though, to leave just a little mystery to the photographs.

I have rolls and rolls of similar photos that were never printed. Each photo that made the final cut has at least 35 cousins that live on contact sheets buried in my photo storage box. Of course, every photograph was staged, and that allowed me a little more control over what I shot. Throughout the whole process, I had so many visions of staged scenes and compositions. At times I was worried about keeping a sense of the theme throughout the photos as a series, but the fact that they were in black/white helped. I also tried to keep a similar type of lighting within the series with controlled settings and light sets. "That Summer" and "Alone" incorporated natural light, although I had good control over the amount of light seeping into the shot due to "indoor" settings.

While no project ever ends with the original goals you had in mind for it, I'm actually really happy with how this project progressed. I plan to write out a small summary of each photo in the series for my portfolio, so those will be featured in the next couple of posts!

Checklist for Graduation

2011-04-30T12:34:00.000-07:00

So, last night I completed two things on my checklist. Of course this got me thinking... I really need to write down this checklist to keep myself accountable. Senior year is only months away, and whatever is left on my checklist needs to be shrinking.

1. ~~Sled down one of KU's hills.~~
2. ~~Attend a KU basketball game.~~
3. Swim in the Chi-O fountain.
4. ~~Go to The Wheel/The Hawk~~ (Did both last night and got a t-shirt! Booya.)
5. Kiss under the Campanile.
6. ~~Take a nap in the A&D Building~~
7. Explore KU's underground tunnel system.
8. Work out at the Rec (... Kind of embarrassed to admit this hasn't happened yet haha!)
9. Eat at A.B.'s Crepes.
10. Take the elevator to the top of Fraiser Hall.
11. Visit the Nelson-Atkins.
12. ~~Live in the dorms.~~
13. Picnic at Potter's Lake.
14. See a concert at the Granada/Liberty Hall.
15. ~~Eat free popcorn with Tabasco at The Lyon.~~
16. ~~Experience cream cheese pizza at Pizza Shuttle~~
17. ~~Take a picture in front of the "LOVE" garage.~~
18. ~~See an indie film at Liberty Hall.~~
19. ~~Honk for hemp!~~
20. Visit James Naismith's grave
21. Partake in a protest.
22. Try every flavor of fries and dips from the Burger Stand.
23. Own a KU-marked piece of apparel for every item of clothing on my body.

Mermaid Drawings

2011-04-27T22:30:00.000-07:00

When I was growing up, I always knew the answer to the age old "What do you want to be when you grow up?" question. I wanted to be an artist. There was never another answer that I gave, ever.

My love of all things art defined me growing up. After only my first week at a new school I had gained a reputation as a "good drawer." I was heavily into mermaid drawings that year (third grade), and many of my classmates were requesting their own drawings. And while my commissions were overflowing, my first art critic was watching.

Josh Funk was definitely bothered by how little my mermaids were wearing, and had obviously never seen The Little Mermaid. I remember it clearly. I was sitting on the floor huddled with my new-found friends, working on mermaid requests, when my third-grade teacher summoned me to her desk. Apparently, Josh had informed her that I was drawing "girls with bras." (Shells! They were SHELLS, Josh.) I was firmly told that there would be no more mermaid drawing during school. I came home slightly traumatized by it all, and rehashed the story with my mother. She helped me find the humor in what felt like a dramatic situation at the time. I remember her on the phone with a friend later that night. "We certainly are great parents! My third grader is drawing nude women at school, oh excuse me... girls with bras!" My mom encouraged me to let out my mermaids at home, and within a week I was drawing mermen... without any tops on at all.

It was my first experience with censorship, but certainly not the last (My favorite experience included an art teacher claiming that Audrey Hepburn was a sex icon, and therefore not an appropriate subject. This makes me laugh to this day.) Now I'm in college, and the boundaries are always being pushed. I'm challenged to look deeper, work harder, and try new things, all without rules for me to break (or... at least fantasize about breaking.) But I've realized that I am my own worst censor.

This series for my mini-portfolio in Conventional Photo has been such an interesting process for me. It's a really personal series, and I feel like I've gotten past my own self-censoring while making the photos. It's like the more honest and open I am with this series, the more liberating it is, and the better the photos are. I'm normally never this open, and my work hardly gets personal. But recently, I've decided to challenge myself to see how far I can creatively take something as special and intimate as a four-year relationship and turn it into photographs.

The photos in this post were taken today and developed soon after. I parked my car near Clinton Lake on the side of the road, threw my summer clothes in the backseat, and shot two rolls. This is the first set of rolls in my series that haven't been taken close to 2am in my tiny apartment bedroom, and it was nice to shoot outside for once!

These are the last of the previews before I unveil the final series. Don't they make you miss summer?? Only a few more weeks!

(For the record, for all of you Josh's out there, that is a bikini... NOT a bra!)

Little Girls

2011-04-26T19:01:00.000-07:00

There's something timeless about these photos, but I can't put my finger on it. Maybe it's the little girl with pigtails standing on the pew to see the bride walk in, or maybe it's just the expressions on their faces.

This weekend I attended the wedding of a family friend, and spent the majority of the ceremony watching these two little girls (mostly because I couldn't see much from where I was sitting.) They were so sweet in their church dresses, and I couldn't get enough of the littler one's ribbons.

I have spent so much time recently seeing how complicated weddings look from an adult's point of view that I had forgotten how simple it seems to a little girl.

Preview of My Latest Series

2011-04-26T00:31:00.000-07:00

I wish you could understand just how crazy my room looks right now. It's a fire code nightmare. There are two lamps plugged in laying on the floor as my makeshift studio lights. Laundry is scattered all around my feet, and empty film boxes seem to stack higher and higher. This is a nightly routine for me now. Before you panic, mom, I promise it's only temporary.

I've been hard at work on a "mini-portfolio" for my Conventional Photo Class final. The series is a narrative of my long relationship with Tyler. I say, the more personal the better. And as I get closer to finishing the project, I want to share more and more of it.

This particular photo was taken in my bathroom with my table lamp hanging by its cord halfway into the sink. I told you... fire code nightmare.

I plan to share the rest of the series once it's finished, but for now just pray that my apartment doesn't burn down from my lack of logic when a camera is in my hand.

120 Black and White

2011-04-24T22:08:00.000-07:00

Here is why I love toy cameras (in no particular order of importance):
1. They're colorful.
2. They're extremely lightweight.
3. They make pictures like these.

I had an "AHA!" moment the other day while ordering another batch of 35mm black/white film for my photography class. If I can develop 35mm film in the darkroom... I could probably do the same with 120mm! On my way to a group project meeting at the library, I finished off two rolls of 120mm. I then miraculously developed the rolls without any issues.

Aren't the results beautiful? This is why I love toy cameras. Sometimes they surprise you, and they also allow you to surprise yourself.

35mm is a Girl's Best Friend

2011-04-20T23:48:00.000-07:00

I apologize for the lack of posting recently! My laptop has a cold, err... virus, and I have magically maneuvered my way around that problem by starting my computer in a safe mode. The show must go on! In the meantime, I've been shooting roll after roll of 35mm b/w film. I also have a few rolls of 120mm b/w to develop tomorrow, and I hope to post those soon too.

The 35mm I've been shooting has been for a mini-portfolio I'm putting together for my Conventional Photo class. So those negatives are going to stay a secret until after the portfolio is done. Occasionally, though, I slip in a few "this is my life" pictures to finish a roll.

I have been spending a lot of time in the studio lately. Part of this is due to end of semester projects, and the other part is a lack of darkroom chemicals in my apartment. I'm seriously obsessed with all things darkroom/film related. I love the anticipation of developing film. It's sort of like cooking pasta when you're hungry, or waiting for a package in the mail.

The first picture I posted is in the studio. We were shooting small still life's in a light box. The second picture I took while riding the KU bus to my car. I spend a large part of my day riding and or waiting on the bus. I'm looking forward to next year when I live on campus and don't have to spend so much of my time sitting on the bus. This last photo is of Tyler, my boyfriend. Whenever he has free time, he's usually spending it with his guitar. Recently we've started writing a song together, most of which is credited to him. My job has been to learn/sing it, which has been a fun experience. Tyler is so talented and has been sooo patient with me. I'm just anxious to record it now.

More film scans to come, if my computer cooperates!

Stickers!

2011-04-04T21:01:00.000-07:00

Moo.com has been one of my favorites for a while now, and I had been wanting to order their stickers since they made them available to the US. These will look wonderful on envelopes and CD cases that I wrap up for clients! They're also nice facial tattoos...

College Life in 35 mm Black/White

2011-03-27T00:45:00.001-07:00

College life. It's a mix of gas station doughnuts, porch-time lovin' with your boyfriend, and endless streams of buses and studio classes.

And when you mix days like that with black and white 35 mm, the results are priceless.

Barbie Camera Part 3: The Magic Kingdom

2011-03-21T12:54:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time, my family took a trip to Disney World. And of course, I brought my camera. It was their 25th anniversary, and Disney had outfitted Cinderella's Castle in "frosting" and other decorations. I felt like I had stepped right into Candyland. Back at the hotel, my brother's new stuffed "Tigger" and a few ducks were the source of my photographic inspiration.

This was one of my favorite family trips, hands down. Aside from the magic of Disney World, we made some really sweet memories on that vacation. I'm so glad that my Barbie camera was there to help document some of it!

Barbie Camera Part 2: Blurry Backyard Photos

2011-03-20T00:53:00.001-07:00

First, let's get this last photo over with. I remember getting my prints back from this roll specifically, and I had not one, not two, but three photos exactly like this last one. At first, I thought the photo kind of resembled an apple stem, and then I realized... it was the dog's behind. Such true artistic vision I had!

The majority of my Barbie album is of my dog Sadie. She was about a year old in these pictures, and I'm amazed that I was able to even get any still shots of her. Between my shaky photo-taking skills and Sadie's puppy energy, we were kind of doomed. I do love the photo of her from behind the fence. She was such a funny animal and would always sit perched on top of furniture, especially the patio table.

And the rest of these photos are just family: my dad winding cord, my mom back from the grocery store, and my cousin and uncle riding the tractor at the family farm.

It's funny how photos can bring up so many nostalgic feelings, and at the same time they bring a lot of comfort. Strangely enough, the blurriest of my photos from that album summon the strongest, happiest memories in my mind. Sometimes I really miss those days. It was nice when my future plans consisted of tree-climbing and bath time, not career choices and taxes. Life has good things ahead, though. Growing up hopefully won't always be as scary as it seems.

Barbie Camera Part 1: My First KU Visit

2011-03-19T01:20:00.001-07:00

When I was about six years-old, my dad and I took a road trip to Lawrence to watch a K-State/KU football game. I remember it was really loud, completely packed, and that I loved watching the mascots (Honestly, the mascots are still one of my favorite parts of college games. Don't even get me started on my love of Baby Jay!) I had forgotten about this trip until I was going through my old album and noticed the Campanile.

Even then I loved the KU campus. It's comforting to look back through the eyes of my six year-old self and see that some things are still the same, besides my love of photography.

The Infamous Barbie Camera

2011-03-19T00:10:00.000-07:00

I am Abby. I am six. I love my plastic Barbie camera.

For my sixth birthday I was given a toy camera. It was pink, glittered, sparkled, and took 110 film. A crimp-haired Barbie, dressed head-to-toe in Flashdance-esque clothes graced the front in sticker form. It was my very first camera, and it came along with me on some very important adventures.

I was in the first grade then, and I could barely hold the camera still enough to take a coherent picture. What's so wonderful about these photos is far from technical. It's all about the content. I photographed my dad doing yardwork and my cousin and uncle out at the farm. I photographed my first KU game and first trip to Lawrence. I photographed my family's trip to Disney World. From my perspective then, everything was fascinating and worth capturing. Even my dog's tail made the album, three times.

Photos are so wonderful because they bring back important memories, and occasionally we get lucky with photos in the archive. I'm fascinated with how my six year-old self viewed the world through a lens as opposed to now. Stay tuned for a three part blog post with scans from my Barbie camera.

On a side note, the photo that I posted was taken by my cousin one day when she came over to play. She offered to take a picture of me with my camera, and I posed myself by hanging upside-down from a tree and sticking my tongue out. I mean really. Aren't we the most ourselves when we're kids?

Expired Color Film

2011-03-12T14:42:00.000-08:00

I figured a free roll of expired color film was worth trying out, mostly because it was, well, free. What came out was extremely grainy results, and nothing else too exciting. I was expecting the photos to be tinted green, or even not turn out at all. That's the problem/interesting part about shooting expired film. You never know what's going to come out.

All of the exposures from this roll were taken throughout one of my regular school days. I usually walk by the Campanile, have lunch at the Union before Art History class (where the "Rock Chalk" rock is displayed), and make my way back around campus to the Art and Design building for Color Theory class.

A Couple of Jayhawks

2011-03-07T20:03:00.000-08:00

Here's what I like about engagement photos - sentiment. Engagement photos are less of an announcement these days because of social networking sites like Facebook. Instead, I see them as a way to remember that specific time in a couple's life before they said "I do." The last time I shot engagement photos, the setting was where the happy couple had their first date (an ice cream shop) and we made sure to incorporate a few cones. I've been lucky enough to photograph couples I've known for a long time, and Katie and Dave were no exception. Katie and I are roommates, and she and Dave have been dating since high school. They're both KU students, soon to be alumni, and I couldn't imagine a more sentimental way to have gone with these pictures.

We made a list of Katie and Dave's favorite spots in Lawrence from downtown spots to campus. Luckily, we made it just in time for sunset photos under the Campanile (one of KU's famous landmarks on campus). According to legend, if you kiss the one you love under the Campanile, you'll be together forever. Also according to legend, if you walk through the memorial before graduation day, you won't graduate. I'm embarrassed to admit that I walked through it quite a few times accidentally while trying to compose some shots. Cross your fingers and your toes that the legend isn't true! Maybe if you walk through it once, and then walk through it again the curse is reversed... One can only hope.

All in all, the day was a total success. And I couldn't have done it without my lovely assistant, Morgan!

Portrait Lighting in Studio Class

2011-03-06T12:01:00.000-08:00

Have I mentioned lately that I love being a photo student? Please note my professor photo-bombing half of the pictures. In case you didn't notice, we're using a fill card for these portraits, as well! Remember the fill card and my lovely assistant Morgan? It's such a useful tool in the studio, especially with portraits. We also used a piece of lighting equipment called a "soft box," which creates a very soft ambient light effect that works beautifully in portraits. It's also quite heavier than it looks!

A Fun Idea

2011-02-28T21:49:00.000-08:00

It started out as a way to market to next year's seniors. I loved passing out my senior photos in wallet size, so I figured most seniors wouldn't mind having extra goodies to give out to underclassmen. Moo.com's business cards were the perfect solution. Because Moo allows me an option called "Print-finity" I could upload as many photos to be the "front's" as I ordered (50 max for my order). This was fantastic because I soon remembered that I had other clients that were talking me up to friends and neighbors. It didn't take long for me to fill up 50 slots with photos of clients. It seems like a fun way for my clients to brag on their photogenic qualities while spreading the word about me!

So, if you have been a client of mine for any Family or Senior session in the past year, you're getting goodies in the mail soon!

My Lovely Assistant and the Fill Card

2011-02-18T18:24:00.000-08:00

Meet Morgan. She's a pal of mine, and she so graciously volunteered her services to me today as an assistant on a shoot. What we were shooting, you ask? Engagement portraits, of course! I'll post those later. In the meantime I'll explain what Morgan's holding. Recently I went out and invested in a very important piece of lighting equipment, and it was only... wait for it... $2.71 at Hobby Lobby. It's used as a fill card. One side is black, and one side is white to subtract/add light on location. Morgan used it to block sun from my subjects' eyes and alter shadows/highlights on their faces. It came in handy during difficult lighting situations, and it's probably the cheapest piece of camera equipment I'll ever buy. Also, aren't Morgan's shoes cute?

Testing, Testing

2011-02-07T18:46:00.000-08:00

Today we did color corrections in Studio Lighting class. Basically we explored the different color filters that come on the camera mixed with both tungsten and strobe lights, separately.

On a random note, the gray backdrop reminds me a tiny bit of portrait sessions at JCPenney back in the day...

Love in a Fort

2011-02-03T00:36:00.000-08:00

I usually don't post photos that aren't my own. I mostly do so to avoid confusion for readers, and because I use my blog as an encouragement device to keep shooting constantly. However, this is an exception for three reasons:

1. I'm one of the subjects!
2. A good friend/classmate of mine took them.
3. They're fantastic.

Havana, who I've known since my freshman year of college, is another photomedia student at KU. She's always looking for models, so I volunteered. Tyler, my boyfriend, was also reigned into the project as a result. We were given instructions to meet at Havana's apartment on a Saturday afternoon wearing "something whimsical." After scavenging through Tyler's closet for about an hour, I discovered the most whimsical piece of clothing Tyler owns is a flannel shirt.

Thankfully, I was whimsical enough for the both of us. We arrived at Havana's apartment in a typical Abby and Tyler fashion - five minutes late because we knocked on the wrong apartment door. ("Uhh... Hiii. Is Havanaaaa hereeeee...?") Her entire living room had been transformed into a tent/fort made of bed sheets, paper lanterns, and a giant floor cushion. The photos of this do not do the fort justice. It was, in the cheesiest wording, a cozy wonderland!

The three of us spent the next hour or so shooting. It consisted of a lot of giggling, poses held very still, and plenty of too-close eye contact with Tyler. I was also told to "slouch more" by Havana, more than once. But Havana's best direction was simply, "Tyler, I want you to be happy, but not that excited. You shouldn't look like you're getting ready to go on a water ride."

My cheeks still hurt from all that cuteness on Saturday! The month of love has just begun, and I can't imagine a cuter way to ring it in.

Say hey to Havana at http://havanamahoney.tumblr.com/.

Wedding Diana Style, Part 2

2011-01-12T07:18:00.000-08:00

These are the real deal Diana F+ photos. They were shot with 120 film in black and white, and I'm really excited to see indoor shots turn out so well for my first time with the camera. I also have two other rolls that were developed in color that I'll be sure to share once they're all scanned.

Isn't the bride beautiful?!

To see the set on Flickr click here.

Wedding Diana Style, Part 1

2011-01-09T12:26:00.000-08:00

1. Bridal shoes
2. Bridesmaid dress + bride's veil
3. Maid of Honor holding the veil
4. Bride getting ready

One more day until my film prints are in! These are from my DSLR+Diana lens. More to come, don't you worry.

Dress Rehearsal Diana Style

2011-01-08T15:19:00.000-08:00

While I still haven't gotten back my rolls of film from my real Diana camera, these digitally-shot Diana's (taken with a plastic lens for DSLR) have really turned out. Here are just a few that I shot at my good friend Katie's dress rehearsal before the wedding. The day of the wedding I also got a lot of beautiful digital shots and, finger's crossed, Diana film shots as well. More to come on another day!

Still Life Through a Diana F+ Lens

2010-12-27T21:40:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas to me! I now have a Diana F+ lens for my DSLR and a real Diana F+ camera! These shots were taken with the DSLR lens and edited to a 1:1 format in true Diana 120 film fashion. I must say, I like the square format. I also love the freedom that this lens gives me to make an imperfect photo.

1. That blurry, abstract shot is of piece of costume jewelry from my friend Katie's bridal shower. It's a ring, of course! We used them to decorate the tops of her cupcakes. She will be getting married in less than a week on New Year's day! I'm bringing my camera along, plastic lens in tow, to document the little moments that I see. Because I'm a bridesmaid, I'll be a little more behind the scenes. I'm excited to see what my DSLR, my Diana+ plastic lens, and I come up with...

2. This photo is of a Babs Mellor sculpture given to me by my mom a few Birthdays ago. I've taken a few summer art classes from Babs before, and she's just an absolute doll. Not only is she extremely talented, but she's also a total personality. This little angel is a sweet reminder of Babs, summertime, and beauty as she sits on my dresser and overlooks the room day and night.

3. I walk by this shadow box, and two others, almost every day now that I'm home. The three frames hold special mementos from my brothers' and I's births. This specific one is my youngest brother Drew's. I remember a lot about his birth and baby years because I was eight when he was born. I used to love watching him kick his feet in his car seat when we rode in the car.

4. This chair is part of a twosome of matching chairs that have lived in my family's living room since before I can remember. While this specific chair isn't hugely sentimental for me, it's a symbol of home and family. Both my grandparents and great-grandparents also have/had matching sets of chairs that sat side-by-side. I can still vividly see each couple sitting beside one another in their chairs, writing in journals and chatting with family. Isn't it amazing how many memories can be tied to a simple piece of furniture?

Still life shots tend to bring out the sentimental side in me. Expect nothing less in the weeks to come as I march into my dear friend Katie's wedding with my camera in hand. Weddings tend to make me sentimental as well!

Photos on Flickr, click here.

Merry Christmas to All

2010-12-25T18:15:00.000-08:00

And to all, a good night!

It's Christmastime at College!

2010-11-18T17:59:00.000-08:00

Okay, okay. Spare me and my roommate the lecture. We know that it's not even Thanksgiving yet. We know that Christmas comes earlier and earlier every year (and we are great with that!) We also know that we won't be in the apartment for most of the Christmas season, so we like to get our decorations out nice and early. Last year, Katie and I bought way too many ornaments between the two of us, so I used the leftovers for decorations this year.

My favorite addition to this year's decorations is our Countdown to Christmas Calendar. For every day of December that passes, I will hang a mini Christmas light above that number. The mini-lights are from Hobby Lobby, and are originally for dollhouses! They really couldn't be cuter. By the time Christmas is here, the whole calendar-house will be all "lit up!"

I just love Christmastime!

A Letter from My 16 Year-Old Self

2010-11-12T23:03:00.000-08:00

Sometimes, I leave around happy surprises for my future self like old inspiration notebooks and funny notes from friends in high school. When I was sixteen, I wrote myself a letter (with an enclosed Teen Vogue article, of course) and taped it behind my bed's headboard. I gave myself strict instructions not to open it until graduation. I then quickly forgot about it, until graduation when I luckily remembered it was waiting for me. At the time, I was a summer away from my freshman year of college. I read the letter, and went on my way. Since then, I had forgotten it existed. Today I came home for the weekend and found it amongst some old magazines in my room. I couldn't believe how in tune I was with my sixteen year-old self. I also couldn't believe how messy my handwriting was. Yikes!

1. Get a cartilidge piercing. Check!

2. Or a nose piercing. Got a belly button one instead. That's enough piercings for life!

3. Don't completely screw up your hair, but try experimenting with colorful streaks (something the parents would never go for!) I had a red streak for awhile. I may have to return to that, sometime soon...

4. Get a pet, and name it after someone famous. Ha! Hasn't happened yet. Though the part about "someone famous" makes me laugh.

5. Go to at least a few protests. I have yet to have taken part in one, but I have walked by many on campus over the years. It's an upsetting experience sometimes, especially if Westboro Baptist Church shows up.

6. DON'T dress up for class (PJ pants have been a long time coming!) I do this often! I love rolling out of bed and walking out the door on my way to class. It's a freeing experience after 9 years of uniforms.

7. Decorate your space. I think I was referring to future apartments and dorm rooms, which I have decorated from top to bottom meticulously.

8. Meet Prince Charming. Done and done. At the time that I wrote this, I was months away from "meeting" my Prince Charming.

9. ALWAYS wear your retainer. I went through some awkward years for that smile. Ouch. I remember that pain. After I read that, I went and put my retainer in ASAP. Two years of rubber bands, sores, Ibuprofen, and a lot of flossing means that I never take these pearlies for granted.

If I were to write back to my 16 year-old self, I don't think she'd be too disappointed. Thankfully, I took myself seriously after reading this, and I accomplished quite a few of these goals. I'm considering writing my 30 year-old self a letter. What will I want when I'm 30? I doubt I'll still want nose rings and multi-colored hair, but a lot of the core values still apply. Remember who you are. Remember who loves you. Remember that you are a child of God. Some things never change.

On a side note, the photo above is from a collage I made when I was about sixteen, though the photo is fairly recent.

The Last Pieces of Fall

2010-11-10T17:54:00.000-08:00

My apartment is decorated in Christmas goodies and a 7 foot tree that lights up our whole living room! You could say that I'm ready for Christmas, but in reality Fall is already half-way out the door. About two weeks ago I brought my favorite old camera to KU's campus and spent some time photographing between classes to make sure I captured some of its beauty on film.

The lake I photographed is right down the hill from KU's iconic Campanile Memorial. Potter's Lake is currently infested with algae, though the school is working hard to clean it out. Every Spring, my boyfriend and his friends ride a bike off a ramp into this lake, and it is a smelly mess of fun. I'm proud to report that as of my photo venture, the lake is smelling less, and sparkling more. Keep up the good work, KU!

Sadly, Fall is fading fast. I'm so looking forward to Thanksgiving though, because it means Christmas is just around the corner!

To view the rest click here.

Social Project Stills

2010-11-06T00:39:00.000-07:00

Here are four of my favorite stills from my social project on young mothers and families. I did all of my interviews/shoots in one weekend, which was challenging. However, I got to shoot some sweet little ones, and hear about their then-upcoming Halloween costumes. Nothing is cuter than babies in costume. Nothing. I'm also really pleased with the outcome of my stills from that crazy weekend! I had to get stills as well as video for this project, and switching between two cameras can be awkward, as well as frustrating because of time lost. Luckily, I had an easy to use video camera. Though it's an old model (It uses tape! What a dinosaur...!), it made my job a little easier with its Autofocus and basic buttons. Because I have little to no background with a professional level of video, my shots are still quite amateur. But you do what you can!

On a different note, I felt like I really got to know these four girls in the short amount of time I spent in their homes and in the interviews. Each one is a very strong, very loving mother. And it was interesting to see the relationships that each mother and child/father and child have, through both video and stills. Even the little personalities of the babies were fun to capture, especially the older ones as they flitted around, getting into everything.

I'm excited to see where this project takes me during the editing process. To see a mini-version of what I've edited so far, in video form, scroll down to the post below.

Special thanks to my four mommies that opened up their homes, and shared their time and stories with me!

Teaser Video

2010-11-06T00:30:00.000-07:00

I'm currently in the middle of a giant video/ photo still project for class right now! My subject is on young mothers, their partners, and their children.

Here's a little teaser that I put together while editing clips for the ending of my video. I have a long road of editing ahead of me, but it's nice to be able to have something like this to look at when I lose focus for the project. Enjoy!

The End of WWI

2010-10-20T16:11:00.000-07:00

The end of WWI finally arrived. 92 years after the WWI officially ended, Germany made the last payment of $94 million in reparations. And you better believe we had a party to celebrate.

First, there was a reenactment. Germany and France really fought it out. There were water balloons, water guns, terrible French and German accents, smoke bombs and, of course, roman candles. The civilians even celebrated with a few firecrackers. As a "war photographer" I was in constant danger. Flaming fireballs few inches from my face more than a couple of times. I spent most of the event up on the fire escape

Then we all had a feast of the war countries' famous foods. We had hot dogs from Poland, sauerkraut via a can from Germany, pizza fresh from Italy, apple pie courtesy of America, and beignets from the ovens of France. It was truly a smorgasbord, and a total success.

Fall in Lawrence

2010-10-20T15:53:00.000-07:00

Fall is beautiful, especially in Lawrence, KS. Because Lawrence is smack dab in the middle of the Flint Hills area, sometimes I forget that I'm living in Kansas. Lawrence could secretly be Oz... There is a lot of color here this time of year!

During the celebration of the end of WWI (I'll save that post for later) I climbed to the tippy-top of a very rickety, very spiral-y fire escape to capture shots of the festivities. I'm not a huge fan of heights, but the view was fantastic. Just look at those yellows.

Can you smell the apple cider in the air?

My Hand is Famous!

2010-10-13T15:46:00.000-07:00

In case you were ever curious, this is what one of the KU photo labs looks like. My prof. shot this footage during one of our classes for his own blog, and at the very beginning my hand is featured. Just thought I'd share the fun!

To see my prof.'s website click here.

Laundry: Part 2

2010-10-12T23:12:00.000-07:00

After approx. 1,000 exposures, I narrowed my photo cut down to 5. Yes, 5 out of 1,000. That was the assignment!

I lugged around a 15 lb tripod, courtesy of the KU Photo Dept., to three different laundromats on four separate occasions, not including my hike up the campus hills carrying the thing from class to class. I'm now the proud owner of two girl-guns, stay tuned for two free tickets to my own personal gun-show. That tripod is also the reason for the gorgeous motion shots you'll find in this series. About 80% of my shots incorporated that kind of movement - I just can't get enough of that color! The main theme of this series is the juxtaposition of cold, hard machines with bright, loose color and the humanity of the clothing itself. They look fabulous together all lined up in print. I'm pleased with the way the project ended.

On another academic note, I recently attended a lecture of Fredrik Marsh's, a Guggenheim winner and international photographer. His work is stunning - especially my favorites of Dresden, Germany, post-Iron Curtain. "The Inhabitants" is a spectacular series, and is a great example of juxtaposition and use of color. He was an inspiration as I finished up my project. Very down-to-earth guy, as well. To visit his site, click here.

To see the rest of my Laundry series, click here!

A New Mark

2010-10-07T22:27:00.000-07:00

This semester, I've been working on designing a mark for myself in a Visual Communications class. What's a mark, you say? It's a design term for a personal logo designers use for many different purposes. I will use mine on letterheads, resumes, business cards, invoices, and leave-behinds. The leave-behind has been my favorite project so far, hands down. It's a folded-form, typically paper, that you leave with an interviewer for either a job or internship. The leave-behind says more about your skills as a designer than a business card can, and it hopefully gives people something to remember you by.

I wanted to be able to say "I'm a photographer, check out my stuff online!" without actually showing any photos on the leave-behind. Here's my piece:

Yes, that's my business card you see sticking out the side of the camera! I wanted to be able to incorporate my card in this piece, as well as the interaction of pulling the card out of the camera like a film strip.

This was based on the Dirkon pinhole camera, and though my piece is not a functioning camera, the original template does allow for pinhole photography. To see more click here.

I'm excited to finally be able to incorporate the final mark into all of my websites! This mark will be the one that sticks and evolves with me as I grow in my career as a photographer/designer.

El Dorado, Kansas

2010-10-03T18:57:00.000-07:00

This weekend, my boyfriend and I traveled home to visit family. On the way back, we stopped in El Dorado, Kansas and ate dinner before we met up with everyone at the football game. El Dorado is a tiny town with a lake that grows trees above its water level. The lake is a landmark in the drive home from college, but the drive never goes through the actual town. So when we got the chance to stop and eat, I wanted to make sure we didn't just stop at the local Taco Bell. Tyler and I made our way to downtown, which consists of one short street, where we found Willie's, a great local grill. But I have to say, my favorite part of El Dorado's downtown is Sugar Bunny Boulevard, a place with yarn, coffee, and WIFI.

Laundry: Part 1

2010-09-29T16:29:00.001-07:00

Right now, I'm in the middle of yet another photography school project. This assignment is to find beauty in the everyday or the mundane. I'll be shooting three times, and probably three different laundromats, hence the title "Part 1." Unfortunately, I have to save the best for class. So all you get to see (for now) is me ruining the picture!

Fun fact: This is the same laundromat where I took the "Go Hawks" photo from my postcard set "Illustrated Lawrence." The window paint is still there, in case you're wondering!

Hello!

2010-09-27T16:52:00.000-07:00

Just a few updates! School has been crazy, but I've still had time to fit in a few photo shoots. My photography website finally has a domain and a new look, so be sure to check that out! Finally, I've downsized my shop to just postcards for now, and it's been slightly reorganized because of that.

I also got a gorgeous holga print in the mail recently from Mathias at http://holgarific.net/. We switched a bag of coffee beans for a print this summer, and I finally have it framed in my little apartment kitchen. It's such a nice addition - Thanks Mathias!

http://www.abbydavisphotography.com/

Veggie Lunch: Part Two

2010-09-15T16:08:00.001-07:00

Veggie Lunch: (vej-ee ˈlənch) noun 1. A gathering of omnivores and herbivores to eat vegetarian food around lunchtime and also to have good conversation.

Click here for the rest of the photos!

Veggie Lunch

2010-09-09T21:27:00.000-07:00

This semester is really starting to speed up. I've been working on a big project recently for my Photo Communications class which involved me shooting photos of "Veggie Lunch," a free vegan lunch held once a week at Ecumenical Christian Ministries. The people there are so friendly and open, and that alone made my project a lot more enjoyable. What was on the menu this week? Couscous and hummus, of course! That and a table stacked high with local bakeries' day-old donated bread made for a really great (free) lunch. And yes, those are kalamata olives in my bread. It's my favorite kind from the local bakery, Wheatfields, in town. I also took bread home today. I must have looked really goofy walking around campus all day with a baguette in tow... However, free bread and homemade croutons are hard to beat.

These photos were all taken at Veggie Lunch and ECM. The sunflowers were shot in the back parking lot, the windows were from inside the building, the plate was mine (yum!), and the sign is obviously by the entrance. I'm not looking forward to editing through approximately 700 photos, but when it's all finished I'll be sure to blog a few.

Oh and TGIF, seriously. My camera and I both will be sleeping in tomorrow!

Rachel's Headshots

2010-09-06T16:53:00.000-07:00

This is Rachel. She and I have been friends for a very long time because our mothers have also been friends for a very long time! Rachel is a music student at KU, same university as me! When she asked me to take some headshots for her, I was really excited to be able to help her out. Rachel is auditioning for KU's opera on Friday, so she needed a quick and easy shoot with just a few great shots she could use for future auditions. The two of us headed downtown to South Park, a park in Lawrence favored for wedding shoots and local festivals. I personally love South Park's gazebo (featured in one of my postcard sets!), which ended up being the focal setting of our shoot.

The headshot winner was actually also my favorite (click here for the winning shot). I can't wait to see it printed in color and b/w for Rachel's audition! Good luck friday, Rach!

Spreading the LOVE

2010-09-02T22:56:00.000-07:00

In honor of redesigns, 6 new shop items, and just all-around fun, I've decided to give 10% off anything in my online shop until September 15th! All you need is the super secret discount code I'm giving out only to my blog readers and Facebook fans.

Ready?

The secret discount code is: ROCKCHALK. Enter it as you checkout of my store and you'll get 10% off your purchase! Offer ends 9/15/10.

http://abbydavis.bigcartel.com/

New, New, New. And Did I Mention... New?

2010-08-30T21:18:00.001-07:00

That's right, I redesigned my banner on both my blog and my shop! It needed a little makeover, but I've held onto my signature "A," as well as adding my own real signature! ("Real" meaning "the prettier version." My real life signature is far messier...

In part, the redesign is in celebration of a ton of new products (six new postcards sets!), and it's also in salute to my new business cards that I won free from moo.com! For my new business cards, I updated what I typically order for the backside with my signature, the "A," and my website, all on my favorite shade of blue-gray.

So here's to a new school year, and a brand new redesign! Be sure to check out my six new postcard products up for sale (each set starting at just $9 each!).

Click here: http://abbydavis.bigcartel.com/

Rock Chalk

2010-08-21T16:21:00.000-07:00

Right now, I'm in the process of putting together a set (or 2) of KU-inspired postcards! These photos posted here were taken with my vintage Argus C3 camera around KU's campus.

To see the other 40 photos taken with this camera around Lawrence, KS, click here.

Back to Jayhawkland

2010-08-17T12:03:00.001-07:00

I'm back in Lawrence, and getting ready to start my junior year at KU. My first roll of vintage Lawrence pics only had 12 exposures, so stay tuned for more Lawrence shots to come!

Ready or not, school starts Thursday!

Senior Lydia

2010-08-11T23:34:00.000-07:00

Fun Fact: Lydia and I are going to be bridesmaids together this winter! Her sister, Anna, is a good friend of mine. We all go wayyy back!

This session was just filled with great spots, adorable outfits, and even doughnuts (yes, doughnuts!). We started out at the original Wilson Estates home, which has now been whittled down to a very old, ivy-covered greenhouse, complete with an attached outdoor fireplace. For my Wichitan readers, Wilson Estates is the gated community behind Bradley Fair shopping center. Basically, this is one of my favorite hidden spots in Wichita. I was so excited to take Lydia there! After that, we drove downtown to shoot some more photos. Downtown is just filled with unique photo op's. It's all about keeping an open eye! Lydia was such a great sport about climbing into any and every place I pointed, in heels no less! She rocked it! We ended our afternoon at the Donut Hole, which was the cherry on top of our shoot.

Senior Alex

2010-08-11T22:26:00.000-07:00

I am luckily enough to share a few blessed genes with this gorgeous girl. We had such a great time running around town together, changing in parking lots and chugging water bottles. If it weren't for her mother, and my aunt, we would have seriously struggled! It can take a lot of behind the scenes work to get a full-blown senior photo session (4+ outfit changes and all), but the three of us definitely pulled it off in style. My favorite photos were at the end of the shoot, when the sun was setting. I pulled one of my stumbled-upon Wichita spots out of my back pocket, and we hurried over to finish before we lost daylight. The mural, blogged about here, was a perfect fit for Alex's request for "graffiti." It made both mom and Alex happy!

I am continually running into great places for senior pics in Wichita. My second senior shoot with Lydia, to be posted soon, was also filled with secret spots (Cross our hearts, we'll never tell! Unless you say "please..."). In fact, I've run across so many unique places, I've had to start making a list!

If you're a Wichita resident, and a senior needing some creative, original portraits to be taken, I'm your gal! While I'll be in Lawrence, KS for the school year, I love making appointments for weekends. For more information, visit my website (click here).

New York, Revisited

2010-08-03T18:49:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, I like to go through my archives and revisit photos I never edited that seemed to fall through the cracks. This time, I think I found some gems! It's amazing what a little bit of digital editing can do for a photo.

With all my last-minute before school projects, I've definitely been neglecting my blog. Poor blog! However, I haven't been so busy that my shop has suffered. The latest print in my shop is one from my trip to NYC. Links are below!

See More Photos Revisited
New print.
Click here for my online shop!

Vintage Wichita

2010-07-27T13:15:00.000-07:00

I'm really excited to finally introduce to you my "Vintage Wichita" postcard set! It has six of my favorite Wichita spots, and is printed on some seriously awesome 16 pt laminated postcard stock. I mean really, this paper is fabulous. I have yet to have found a postcard that is as sturdy as the ones I order for my shop from moo.com.

What I love most about this set is not only the gorgeous vintage wash and unique film texture, but also the fact that each of these photos has a piece of Wichita that's been around for at least the last 30+ years. The oldest of these is NuWay, opening shop in 1930. However, Joyland and Dog-n-Shake come in a close second opening in 1948 and 1949.

Right now there are only 3 sets in stock! Click here for my online shop!

A Little Something Extra

2010-07-25T15:35:00.000-07:00

In honor of my shop's ever expanding popular postcards, I've decided to have a little fun with my packaging. For a limited time, I will include a copy of this postcard (postcard credit to John Avery) with any purchase made from my shop as a special gift from me to you. Doesn't it just make you smile?

Limited time offer ends 9/1/10.

Click here for my online shop!

A Bushel of Peaches

2010-07-24T22:31:00.000-07:00

Just a quickie post today...! I went to a local peach orchard today with my grandpa, mom, and little brother to pick peaches. There was a little rain while we were picking, and it was a nice change from the typical Midwestern July heat. Needless to say, we have a lot of peaches (oh, about 30+ lbs). Tomorrow I'm making peach ice cream!

New York, I Love You

2010-07-22T23:34:00.000-07:00

During my second visit to NYC, I was obsessed with photographing the taxis. If you were to look through my files from that trip, you would notice that taxi cabs are sprinkled around in 80% of the photos. Of course, it was easy to find taxis for photos in Manhattan. The problem was getting the perfect photo of them (which I finally got in Times Square!). You see, I love those yellow cabs because in my silly mind, they are a symbol of romance. Some of the greatest romantic movies are set in New York, with taxis peppering the background. My favorite New York movie, however, is Breakfast at Tiffany's. If you've ever seen it, you understand why I associate taxis with romance. The final scene with Audrey Hepburn, George Peppard, and the cat is so perfect, so sweet, and so classic. Of course, it all begins with a ride in a New York taxi cab.

Speaking of love, how sweet and romantic is this? This was a rainy New York day, obviously shown by the four, count em', umbrellas in the shot. Originally, I think I was trying to capture the bold colors and font of the graffiti. I'm usually not so stalkerish when it comes to taking photos, but this couple just happened to make it into the shot. That's the thing about photographing in New York. You almost never can get a shot without someone walking through it. The best option is to just go with it. I love this photo because it evokes a typical New York romance for me, and yet it has a quirky appeal to it as well because it's set in Chinatown and not the usual spots.

The photo on the left was taken at a spot called "Tiles for America." These tiles are in memory of those who were lost in the tragedies on September 11th. I was only in 6th grade when the towers fell, but it was a vividly memorable, unsettling day. The tragedies have only made New York stronger as a city, and you can see it well in places like the Chapel that Stood. While the effects of that day were unspeakable, the citizens of NYC came together and forged through the rubble. Today, the tiles are a humble tribute to humble people who lived, lost, and carried on, as well as a place of remembrance for those who did not survive. My collection of New York would not ever be complete without a photo relating to 9-11.

On a lighter note, cupcakes. This photo, on the right, was taken at Magnolia Cupcake Bakery. We walked long and far to find these cupcakes. New Yorkers stand in line for hours to get a box of these babies. Luckily there were no lines when we arrived, thank goodness! I love the neighborhood that Magnolia sits in, and although it is deep in the heart of New York, it is so worth finding. Across from Magnolia, I swear there is a bookstore exactly like the one Meg Ryan owns in You've Got Mail. And even crazier, a Marc Jacobs store is only one building down from the bakery. What I love about this photo is not only the colors and the yumm-appeal, but the fact that it was taken in a semi-famous (Sex and the City filmed there once), yet almost hidden bakery smack dab in the middle of the Upper West Side.

Now that you know the background of each postcard, and understand why each was picked for the set, head on over to my shop to browse (and maybe purchase?) this fabulous new set.

Going Postal

2010-07-20T15:19:00.000-07:00

I love snail mail. As a matter of fact, in only the last two days, I've sent two packages out in the mail. One package went a few streets and stoplights down the way, and the other went all the way to Berlin! And last week, I mailed one of my own postcards out to a friend living in Switzerland. It seems that I'm having a bit of an affair with the mail. I admit it!

This week, I'm anxiously awaiting the arrival of many many more sets of new postcards to come in from the company that I order from, Moo.com. There will be a vintage-wash Wichita set, a NYC set, and another film-camera assorted set similar to the "Pieces of Summertime" set that is currently "sold out!"

I will be posting more on the postcards this week, including a little bit of history behind the new postcard photos.

While you wait, check out my latest addition to the shop: a smaller set of Wichita postcards that came in only yesterday! This set of four features NuWay, Joyland, the Orpheum Theater, and Watermark Books. Each is a beloved and classic site in Wichita, KS!

the OnionTree

2010-07-15T15:06:00.000-07:00

Today, I ventured over to Douglas and Hillside in Wichita and visited a new store called "the OnionTree." It is, as my mom said, "like Etsy come to life!" Local artists sell their goods on consignment, and the owner hopes that her store will be like a "springboard" for people to build local fans/buyers of their online shops (or etc.). It's a darling store - I recommend anyone in the Wichita area or nearby to stop in there and look around. I've found myself leaning towards more handmade products, especially local work. I love the stories and the people behind the products you buy. It's also wonderful to own unique and original pieces, besides the fact that you're supporting local artists!

I even dropped off some work of my own in there today! I'll be bringing by even more in the weeks to come. Be sure to stop in the OnionTree at 120 N. Hillside - it makes for a great summer afternoon shopping trip!

Projects, Projects

2010-07-14T15:40:00.000-07:00

Let me just start off by saying, I love summer projects. And on blazing hot weeks like this one, I'm a fan of sitting inside and enjoying the outdoors from behind the kitchen table.

My first project displayed here is a personal one I've been working on for awhile now. It's a tote bag, painted with black fabric dye, and the illustration is based on a photo I've taken of a bowl of cherries. My next step is to add red, but the problem with fabric dye is that it fades and is hard to control when washing it out. So I'm taking my time with this tote bag...!

The second project is my camera stamp. One night, I was so tired of my typical packaging ways that I completely took apart one of my mom's old stamps to create this new one! (Don't worry. She knows about it!) I basically ripped off the orange rubber top and "carved" the squishy, sticky gray cushion underneath. I'm not sure if "carved" is the right word though. It was more like "cut dangerously with a kitchen knife." I was in a corner when it came to little details, though, so instead of cutting out every detail of the camera, I simply took a pen and indented the stamp to my liking. I think it turned out really well! I was pretty shocked at how detailed the stamp actually prints.

In addition to these projects, I've also ordered new postcards! If you have seen my shop recently, you'll notice one set is sold out. This will be remedied by July 27th, at the latest! Wanna see a sneak peek? You know you do! Click here.

Pieces from the Pentax

2010-07-12T18:14:00.000-07:00

First: A mural I came across while driving downtown.
Second: A bowl of sugar (7 cups to be exact) that I used in making strawberry jam today.
Third: The neighbors' house.

The strawberry jam is still cooling off from earlier today, but I'm very excited to try it on toast later tonight! If you've never had homemade jam, you're missing out. It's not entirely difficult to make, though I'm glad my grandpa was right there with step-by-step instructions. My first time making it was today, and I must say that boiling fruit can be a little scary. However, the jam is setting up and was never even close to burning, so I'm anticipating that it's going to turn out just fine!

Next week I'm making blueberry jam!

A Little Bit of Life

2010-07-10T21:57:00.000-07:00

Here are a few pictures from my week, taken with my vintage Argus camera.

First Photo: This photo is of some homegrown vegetables sitting on my kitchen table. All the veggies were grown by my mother, except for the cucumbers! Apparently the peppers are verrry hot. Also, the tomatoes and cucumbers were used today in a cucumber salad that was pretty great!

Second Photo: The subject of this photo is my furry friend Tibby. Her muddy pawprints all over the carpet underneath her are on an outside rug, not indoors. No need to worry!

Third Photo: The flowers at my house are in full bloom! We have Black-Eyed Susans, Daisies, and whatever these flowers are in the photo (Geraniums?). It's just an explosion of color at my house right now.

Don't you just love summer?

In My Own Hometown

2010-07-09T13:38:00.000-07:00

I went out around town yesterday and explored my hometown of Wichita, again! I just can never get enough of old signs - there's so much character! There's more where that came from at my Flickr (click here).

Postcards Postcards Postcards!

2010-07-08T17:24:00.000-07:00

Introducing two new sets of postcards in my shop! The first set is of photos taken with my vintage Argus C3 camera in Redington Shores, Florida. The second set is a collection of different photos taken with both the vintage Pentax and Argus. Each set is $12.00. I've also gotten in more of my "City of Wichita" postcards, so they are no longer "sold out!"

To browse my fancy new postcard sets click here.

Vintage Argus Meets Stockton Lake, MO

2010-07-07T17:54:00.000-07:00

Our campsite at the lake was reserved and rather large, so when I took the majority of my lake photos I just had to use the red shiny moped (brought by one of the families who came) to get around the site quickly! I feel like knowing that fun fact should make these photos even more enjoyable for you... I definitely enjoyed taking them! This was my biggest successful roll yet - 18 photos out of the 24 that I'm posting on my Flickr. That last photo posted here is my favorite. I haven't lucked out with a double exposure that gorgeous before now.

Straw-"beary" Ice Cream!

2010-07-02T11:27:00.000-07:00

I was itching to make some homemade ice cream last night. The best kinds of homemade ice cream flavors come from what's in your pantry and fridge. So I scoured my fridge and found frozen berries, which I defrosted, chopped, and sugared. But strawberry ice cream isn't exciting enough on its own without something extra! Miniature gummy bears were the final touch to this spontaneous recipe, and they were just what it needed. I'll post the recipe below for those of you who want to try it, or manipulate it and make your own! I started with a plain homemade vanilla recipe, and then added my own bits. The best part is, it's egg-free, which in my book means that it's easier!

2 cups heavy cream
1 cup whole milk
1 cup sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup sugared strawberries & syrup (let them sit for a few minutes to let the sugar create a syrup)
1/2+ mini/regular gummy bears (I dumped in as many as I wanted! I saved a few also, to put on top of my ice cream.)

Mix this all together and start to churn in your handy-dandy ice cream maker!

On a side note, I will be gone at the lake for the next couple of days. But no worries! I'm taking my camera, and there will be many fun pictures to blog about when I come back! In the meantime, try this recipe. It's yum!

Grocery Shopping

2010-06-30T13:56:00.000-07:00

I went grocery shopping today, and decided to take my camera along. I'm now making it a habit to take my camera with me on everyday occasions, to be sure that I never miss a shot. The rest of the photos are here in my creatively titled set, "Everyday Life in Summer of 2010."

In My Grandparents' Backyard

2010-06-28T18:48:00.000-07:00

Today I went over to my grandparents' house and took some pictures of their backyard. I used my grandpa's Pentax camera to take the photos, and I'm really happy with how they turned out. I'm still figuring out how to use the camera, though, because I accidentally opened the cover and ruined half of my film! Luckily, the entire roll wasn't overexposed. The 13 pictures that survived my spazzing-out can be viewed here.

Thelma and Theodore

2010-06-26T23:40:00.000-07:00

Some old high school friends of mine played their first show at a coffee shop last night, so my boyfriend and I stopped by to see them play. They did really well! If you're curious as to what they sound like, you can have a listen here. As for the rest of the pictures, they're in a set on my Flickr, as always.

Vintage Beach Photos

2010-06-21T14:59:00.000-07:00

There's more where that came from on my Flickr. I just love the colors the Argus C3 captures, especially the blues.

And the Winner Is...

2010-06-21T09:47:00.000-07:00

Thanks to all who participated in my giveaway! I've got plenty more surprises up my sleeve, so stay tuned...

Think I'd Forgotten?

2010-06-17T19:26:00.002-07:00

No way I haven't forgotten! The white sandy beaches and Mickey Mouse weren't any kind of distraction at all. Actually, I confess. I totally forgot. But don't worry! I remembered just in time to remind you, my followers that haven't entered the giveaway yet, that there is still time to enter. There are only three more days until I announce the winner of the giveaway, and that means you have til 12 AM US Central Time of June 20th to enter.

Need the link to the giveaway? Click here!

Florida!

2010-06-14T09:17:00.000-07:00

Florida is beautiful! I will be back June 20th to send out any orders made while I was gone, and
the giveaway also ends that day! The winner will be announced the 21st. Oh, and Mickey Mouse sends his regards!

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road

2010-06-10T22:40:00.000-07:00

As of Saturday, I will be on my way to the beaches of Florida! I will hopefully have internet at the beach house to post pictures and check up on the shop. Otherwise, I'm in total vacation mode!

And if you haven't checked out my postcards yet, you're missing out! I can't think of a more appropriate time to plug the Wichita set of postcards, as I'll be leaving Wichita soon and very soon...!

Hellooo, Florida sun!

And don't think I've forgotten about my giveaway! Be sure to enter if you haven't already!