What We Miss

I wake up, face glazed over with sweat. The air hangs heavy and the box fan hums in the windowsill. My spare pillows are scattered on the floor; I reside on the left side of the mattress, a heap of blankets to the right, thrown off my scrawny bones. In the midst of the nightmare, everything goes flying. It could've been a beautiful night. We could have had dinner on the porch. We could've talked about our dreams. We could've sat with each other after the storm, after the screen door slammed shut and the crickets came to sing their songs. I would've told you that I'm sorry for burning the potatoes. I'm sorry for all of my ridiculous expectations.

Sometimes, I cannot believe where I am. Each time the golden hour comes, I think of a beautiful face, soaking up the rays. I think of an evening that could've been ours to watch the sun go down and talk until it came back up. But I've got an empty house.

Some trickles of expired daylight remind us of everything we've missed while sitting on our hands.

The Storm Is Coming

Take me, take me back to your bed
I love you so much that it hurts my head
Say, "I don't mind you under my skin
I'll let the bad parts in, the bad parts in"
Well when we were made we were set apart
But life is a test and I get bad marks
Now some saint got the job of writing down my sins
The storm is coming, the storm is coming in
- Brand New

Emilee

Ashleigh

I Forgot

I was reminded today about these two out takes from my photo shoot last month with Emily and considered them share-worthy (especially after my halfhearted "goodbye" letter to fashion in previous blog entries). These images were shot on two different days (maybe that is obvious). I chose the second to complete the series for my class assignment. During the shoot for the second image, Emily and I both acquired rather annoying skin irritations. Her rash was a bit more mysterious than the annoying patch of poison ivy that remained on my right hand for a solid three weeks.

Will Nature Make a Man of Me Yet?

Three image fashion series for class... and that's about it. I've exhausted my interest in shooting fashion for the time being. That leaves me with a community of criers and their beautiful faces from here on out.

Thanks to Kiel and Jenna for their infinite patience during this shoot while I thought on my feet, fumbling and stumbling through the forest, somehow reminded of/inspired by Morrissey's savvy sav the entire time.

I would go out tonight
But I haven't got a stitch to wear
This man said, "It's gruesome
That someone so handsome should care"

A jumped-up pantry boy
Who never knew his place
He said, "Return the rings"
He knows so much about these things
- The Smiths

Susannah

Jenna

Jill

Tyler

Smell the Flowers While You Can

A visual intermission...

Last week, I had to shoot a "fashion" image for a "fragrance" advertisement. I have been pretty out-of-the-loop lately, feeling largely removed from the throng of stylish, good-looking women who politely pose in front of my camera while I snap away. My gaze separates me from my female subjects in a surprising way. The separation is something I've only recently recognized. I can hardly embrace my feminine self, and I'm a little out of touch with any grace I might still have, but I continuously look for it in other people. And so, photographing beautiful people is a funny thing. I think I've totally disassociated lately.

In the end, thanks to Lisa for wandering aimlessly through the trails with me to make this photograph everything that it is.

Kelly

Elodie

Beth

Liz

Rachel