But Darling Just a Taste of It

     I was recently reminded of one of my favorite camera apps to date: Hipstamatic.  Yesterday I was outside a good bit of the time playing with the app by taking photographs of the doggies.  Sometimes it is frustrating that you can't see exactly what the picture is going to turn out like until the very end (and yesterday the app had an extremely high crash rate).  However, I am so inspired by the magazine the designers of the app put out called Snap that I just can't help but keep trying to get the combinations just right for that perfect photograph.
     If you're interested in a magazine that has beautiful pictures, hardly any ads, and relevant content (especially the formulas of the photos taken), check out Snap.  All of the photos featured in the magazine have been taken with the Hipstamatic app--seriously, it's fascinating.

Title: "Magpie" by Khushi

You're Gon' Find Your Way, Find Your Way to Be

5 things I'm thankful for this week:

I've been productive!

I'm working on being a little more professional in on and around this blog/

First step, a working manifesto (that I probably will display somewhere on here).

Next step, a new site map.

 My first attempt at gloves that have designated fingers!

Of course, there are things I would probably change if I made them a second time, but I love them.

I can't wait to wear these to work so my fingers won't be cold.

However, by the time I'm done with the other hand, my internship will probably be finished.

I know CODE!

Well, let's just say I have a somewhat working knowledge now.

I can get by with what I know (and I can teach myself anything else I need to know... which means I probably will a few repetitive tags or what not, but it will get the job done).

I learned HTML code so that I could put together a sidebar for my book club's blog, I'm rather proud.

It's almost time to start a new 365 project!

As I stated before, I think I'm going to do 2 separate photo-a-day challenges.

This is the prompt for the second challenge. 

I'm already starting to contemplate what I could photograph.

Of all the Christmas gifts I received, my favorite Christmas memory/present was Skyping and Facetime with my Sister and Brother-in-Law.

We waited to open our presents from each other until we communicating.

It was a very surreal moment watching MM and Greg open their presents from us and made me really appreciate the technology that we have.

While I would have loved to be in Hawaii again this Christmas--because let's face it, who wouldn't want to be in Hawaii over Mississippi?--I'm glad Mary Margaret and Greg got to have their own special Christmas (alone for the first time).

Title: "Up Up Up" by Givers

We're Going to Hibernate All Year

     I've been meaning to post this song for about a month or two now.  Not only is it just a beautiful song to listen to, but I definitely relate to the lyrics.  Plus it's gets stuck in my head, I walk around singing off tune "freeeee range" and that's the only part that really sticks with me.  The lyrics are all about my generation that sits behind a computer screen ignoring a completely beautiful day outside.  However, I think I'm of the personality that even if I lived in a world where computers weren't invented, I'd still have my nose stuck in a book instead of enjoy the outdoors.

Title: "We Are the Battery Human" by Stornoway

Trust in Your Dream

     Oxford.  It's what for the weekend.

Also until November 6 (2012), Hipstamatic and Rock the Vote have teamed up to give the public a Rock the Vote Freepak.  It includes this awesome film (above).  Check it out if you have the Hipstamatic app.

Title: "Madness" by Muse

If This Would Be a Perfect World

     Yesterday, September 12, Apple released the new designs for the iPhone 5. The photos on the website are rather sleek. It's supposed to be smaller (thinner really) than its brothers, but who can really tell from the photographs and drawn out dimensions? Not me. What I can tell is that the glossy glass has taken on more of a matte look and the universal USB that connects to so many of our Apple products is being replaced.  Instead of using a USB, iPhones are now going to use Thunderbolt.  Thunderbolt was introduced with the MacBook Pros starting in 2011.  It is supposed to be the fastest connection available.  While the world is getting used to having to use a Thunderbolt connection for their iPhones you can buy a converter that will allow you connect accessories you already have that require the special iPhone/iPad 30-pin plug-in (I think that's the correct terminology but I could be wrong.)  There are tons of other little major upgrades that Apple has made to the iPhone.   Shoot panoramas (with an even better camera), LTE data network capability, a bigger and better retina display, a map system that is more like a real GPS (it can talk and detail your turns), a more intelligent Siri, and of course new headphones (that re-imagine the way you listen to music).  Plus you can get the iPhone in black or white the first day it comes out!  No more waiting another year for them to come out with a new color.  If you're ready for this new phone, you'll have to wait until September 21 (but that's not too far away).

 (Photo Credit)

(Photo Credit)

     Today is Mary Kay's 50th anniversary, that's a huge milestone.  In order to celebrate right, Sondra (my boss) had me make up flyers for a sale of which I'm pretty proud.  I love being able to use my talents at both of my jobs.  Plus once I finish a task like this one, I'm satisfied that I did a good job.  (I think I'm pretty much a closet perfectionist.)

Title: "Americano/Dance Again" by Glee Cast (Kate Hudson)

Tell Me You're In Charge

     I have no idea how some people do it.  They have websites, twitter accounts, blogs, tumblers, Instagram, Facebook, and many other social networking site accounts.  How do they manage to keep everything updated?  I am doing good to keep up with my blog daily, Facebook (which to be honest usually just always runs in the background until someone chats me then I most likely sign off), Instagram (that I have been slacking on lately), and I think that's about it.  I feel overwhelmed with just that and when I think about adding anything on top of that it I almost feel claustrophobic.
     I don't like having multiple things in different places.  I feel like that is somewhat cheating.  Instead if I had all of those accounts, I would want to have a bunch of original ideas and postings.  Maybe that is a romantic, naive notion of mine that can not really happen.  I'm not sure.  Then again maybe I should be producing more personal photographs or more projects than I am now.  If I was doing that then I could most definitely have more of a presence on the internet.
     And I'm thinking about redesigning my photography website so that I am no longer using something that costs a monthly fee to keep photos on it.  I currently use PhotoBiz which has been equally great and frustrating at the same time.  (The most frustrating part about it was trying to set up a wordpress blog on it, but I finally managed to work it out.)  I honestly can't remember how I came across PhotoBiz last summer, but it was what looked best for me at the time.  I had no knowledge about any thing (website wise) and I wanted a professional looking website.  Since then I have also come across ShowIt who have some really amazing photographers using their templates.  The two pictures below are screenshots of two different websites by the same photographer, Christianne Taylor.  I love her work.  The first website is her portraits and commercial and then the second website is her wedding website.

 Photo Credit

Photo Credit

The downside there is a monthly fee that is more than I'm paying now and I'm not really getting much business.  So I know I want something that is simple and cost efficient and yet timeless.  I want to be able to update it and change it whenever I need to and not have it be this huge ordeal.  I found another photographer's website that I like (Kamieo Photography).  Her website is powered by a Wordpress blog template company (Photocrati).  But that might be just a little too simple for me.  AHHH!!! I don't know.  All I know is that I am not going to solve this anytime soon.  But if you have any experience in this or just know of something helpful, I would never turn away free advice.
     On a completely different subject, the pups allowed me to document their ruff-housing today.  Sometimes they got a little too close for comfort, but they were mostly good.  No barking, yelping (except once for a split second),  or growling.  Which for these very vocal pups is pretty awesome.  I'm so glad Oscar is learning how to be a big dog and Jack isn't hurting him (P.S. I just realized that putting their names together = OJ... I think it's time for me to go to bed. )  I hope you enjoy these ferocious puppies!

 A very happy pup after playing so hard.

And while I was uploading pictures (and typing) a frog managed to climb under my closed door.  (And I live on the second floor away from the stairs.. at an angle so it's not a straight and easy way to my room.)  He immediately tried to escape (before Dad came and got him... I wasn't about to touch him!)

Title: "Your Side" by Young the Giant

Put On Your Dancing Shoes And Show Me What To Do I Know You've Got The Moves

     I'm always on the look out for inspiration:  how to get it and how to keep it.  So I can tell you guys how awesome I am at it and teach you a little something about it.  Okay, that's supposed to be funny.  But in all seriousness without ever thinking about it I am always on the hunt for the next thing that inspires me.  It might be a really amazing outfit in a magazine that makes me want to wear something like it or it might be a picture that makes me want to capture images just like that.  Our constant search for inspiration has led to the popularity of pinterest and millions of collages worldwide.
    I have numerous ways of keeping things that inspire me.  None of which are particularly better than the other.  

   There's Pinterest that I've already mentioned.  But I have 18 boards none of which have any specific rhyme or reason or that I really go back to.  I just want to make sure I can get back to that specific thing if I really want to.  Which leads me to sporadic pinning at best.  I guess that's a good thing since it has taken over so many people's lives but sometimes it leaves me wanting for more.  

    Which leads me to my next way of keeping inspiring things.  My "Inspiration" notebook.  It's just a composition book that has torn out pieces of magazines pasted in it.  Well, not exactly pasted.  I have used double sided tape because actual glue leads to those unseemly crinkles.  (If you're going to do something why not do it correctly?)  But I can spend hours on this and I rarely go back and look through.  Plus when I don't have time to go through magazine I end up with a pile I have to go through in one sitting.  Like I said before, it's a lot of work.  However, I love the idea that I can just flip the notebook open to any page and it would be something that I liked.  Plus to me fashion is just something that adds to each other (and it's all about your personal style) so things that I liked in fashion magazines back when I was in high school I still like/still could wear (if you really can wear anything straight out of a fashion magazine anyway).  What I'm trying to say is that my notebook is not really dated.  Well, maybe 10 years from now I'll look back on it and say wow that's what I was into?  Crazy! 

I said earlier that when I didn't have time to put things into my notebook my magazines ended up in piles.  

Hello, piles.  I just can't bare to throw them away before I have a chance to go through them at least to tear out whole pages!

I then neaten it up when I have a spare time or am really trying to procrastinate. 

   Then there is my current obsession and it maybe an obsession no one else shares, but its a website/app called 500px.  It's AMAZING.  All it is photographs uploaded by other photographers.  Man am I blown away by all of these photographers.  Most of them aren't even from the US most of them are actually from Russia or Germany.  But these pictures.  WOW.  I love them.  It makes me want to take more photographs.  The ones that I love the most are usually just portraits but the way you feel when you look at the photographs.  I'm not even sure I can even explain it.  Check it out for yourself.  You will be amazed.  But please don't be fooled by the photos on the homepage.  The photographs you find there are more like the ones below or the ones found on their blog.  And the popular, editor's pick, fresh, and upcoming photographs change constantly so you're always seeing new photographs. Some of the photographs are breathtaking because of their simplicity and others because of their complexity.  Either way it makes me want to get out there and take more pictures, especially portraits.  Heck, it even makes me want to go to photography class after class if it would mean I could take pictures like this.  I am INSPIRED.  

P.S. the photos below do not do the real thing justice by any means so please click on the link to see the real picture.

Untitled by Dmitry Kuznetsov

“I can't change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination. by Jorge Moreno Jr

snowgirls by Serafima Mayakowskaya

   But I'm sure you have your own way of being inspired.  Something that speaks to the very core of who you are just like the fact that this website inspires me speaks to the photographer in me.

Title from the song "All My Own Stunts" by the Arctic Monkeys.