mer du sud

2011-01-01T12:32:00.001-08:00

if anyone still follows this blog, I have started a new lifestyle/crafting/inspirational blog: http://sweetpeashoneybees.blogspot.com/

Check it out!! and follow!

love!

2010-08-27T00:17:00.001-07:00

Hey...I've moved. Over here. So..go? I don't know, you can read some crap.

It's Maile!

2010-06-25T09:48:00.001-07:00

http://www.formspring.me/1000ships

I like questions?

2010-06-07T12:57:00.000-07:00

barefoot in the garden. eating strawberries still warm from the afternoon sun. nothing better.

2010-05-16T09:36:00.000-07:00

Oh Hay.

I'm still here.

This is what I have done/am doing/will be doing:

-Removed the poisons from my life. Have not been happier or more at peace since.

-Starting a new blog based on natural living and agriculture and pretty pretty things.
Sweet Peas and Honey Bees.

-Finishing my final project for Personal Expression. So far I am pleased with it. We had to make a book, so I am making an unbound book. It has a hand made cardboard envelope to hold the pictures, and I'm finishing it off with a sewn bag to keep it in. And I've hot glued a pressed leaf to the bag.

-I took pictures of Robert and his lovely fiancee, Simone for their engagement photos. =]

- I am moving to PA for the Fall and Winter. There are Mennonites down the road! This means I need to get my beach on as much as possible this summer.

- Need to finish a super cute present for my super cute friend that I can't mention here because I think she might read this but it'll be awesome..I hope.

-My heirloom tomatoes are starting to fruit, I have 40 plants total. The sweetpeas just had their first bloom yesterday, I've eaten almost all the peas off my sugar snap plants, harvested and ate baby potatoes, the blackberries are starting to set, beets and carrots almost all gone and my strawberries have kicked into high gear for some reason. Oh, and I have CORN.

Lots of photo related things to accomplish this summer. Especially water based nymph project stuff because I have forests I get to work with in Fall.

2010-04-09T12:14:00.000-07:00

I know I've been quiet lately. I'm sorry. I'm trying to get my new blog up off the ground..I'm just waiting on the header image. I will still update here from time to time though.

Here is some of what I've been doing:

For Kimmy over at A Couture Life
Miya and Kimmy as models.

And this is for my project at school. Lauren's little sister Olivia was kind enough to save my life and model for me.

I'm really happy with this shoot, probably one of the best I've done in a long time. It's supposed to be for a sequence and I'm basically telling the story of a girl on a spring day. They're not in order, obviously.

And other than that, I'm heading to Philly for a few days to be with Dan on his birthday. I'm interested to see Spring there. It'll be fun.

Maile

one piece at a time

2010-03-28T21:02:00.001-07:00

one piece at a time
Originally uploaded by maileroseland

Post 100. and I have bad news. Yesterday evening my computer got a trojan virus..or..126 to be exact and went crazy. Luckily I have someone trying to fix it, but there is a chance I might lose all my photos from the past 5+ years. And I was just waiting for my next paycheck to buy an external hard drive and back up my music and photography. Sigh.

Nonetheless, I had a shoot today and I think it went amazingly. I just need to get my computer back so I can sort through everything and post process.

2010-03-19T12:16:00.001-07:00

I ain't dead. Just busy.

New blog coming out sometime..some..day. But I'm keeping this one for my photos.

Killing myself every day in the garden and I've taken it upon myself to re-landscape the front yard too.

Got some shoots coming up, haven't had as many as I would have liked though..Ah well.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/maileroseland - Check out my latest shoot with Christiane if you haven't already!

I always need to expand my portfolio...Ladies...?

2010-02-15T20:19:00.000-08:00

I'm getting close to 100 posts in this guy. I'm also flirting with the idea of tumblr, but I don't quite understand it..so..blogspot it is for now.

I haven't tried to be MIA purposely, I've just been busy...I have to spend all day tomorrow in the darkroom and well..that is gonna blow. I did take a few digital photos from my film expedition to my grassy field.

I couldn't begin to explain what my recent fascination with books has been about. This particular one is one of my grandmother's books and I just loved the red cover in the grass.

Aside from that..I've worked 4 days straight on my garden. Back breaking work. Day one, I pulled all the weeds/grass and cleaned up the general area. Day two, I started in on the giant pile of random crap my dad has amassed from the years. I've lost my fear of spiders..I've killed so many black widows. (that didn't stop me from duct-taping my jeans to my boots though) It's almost all cleared out though. I filled up 6 trashcans with debris, pulled out an antique wooden chair that I plan to refinish, and declared war on all the bugs in the garden. The space I'm clearing right now is for my next project, a chicken coop. I miss having chickens like we used to when I was younger, and I miss the eggs. I'm planning on buying an Araucana (I want the green eggs) or two and maybe a Orpington or a Plymouth Rock.

Anyway, after I finish leveling the ground for the hen house, I'm moving back towards the rest of the garden. I need to prune the blackberries, weed the other raised bed and recover the apple and lemon tree from the stupid trumpet vine/passion fruit vine that has taken over my life. I swear to god I am never letting my dad plant another vine again.

2010-02-04T20:01:00.000-08:00

Two photos from this afternoon

and some news, according to various blogs it looks like Siren by Tricia Rayburn will be out June 8th, 2010 and my face is gracing the cover.

yay!

2010-02-02T12:39:00.000-08:00

I'm going to try to use flickr now, as well as DA and I'm also twittering away about random stuff, much to the displeasure of my friends.

So enjoy some links:

Flickr

Twitter

and a photo I took yesterday:

2010-01-25T17:42:00.000-08:00

Ladies and gentlemen, I return triumphant. Well..not really. The past few weeks I have been sick and sicker still and in more pain that I ever imagined being in. Bedridden for the past four days, except for then I was silly enough to try to work! Haha, that lasted all of an hour before the pain got to me. But I'm slowly recovering, catching up on my reading and doing some delightful ribbon embroidery.

Plus, Dan was here! He enjoyed a few days of the lovely, mild california winter before all hell broke loose and the sky practically fell from the heavens. I miss him so much already, but I'm hoping to get back out there sometime in spring. I will have pictures when I'm able to get out of bed and sit at my desktop computer!

Now I have to go sift through 400 messages on deviant art and check all my blogs and websites..since thats what happens when you neglect the internet for too long.

2010-01-11T11:16:00.000-08:00

the maidenhair fern and a leaf print tote bag I made.

Not horrible for my first attempt at leaf printing. I used rose leaves. It'll probably be easier on the muslin I have..and I think I need to get better paint...I was using puffy paint..so..yeah.

2010-01-06T15:49:00.000-08:00

I made a pillow.

I hand stitched the little embellishments. They're called Yo-yos and they became popular in the 30's and 40's as a use for leftover fabric scraps..

2009-12-29T23:51:00.000-08:00

what I spent my evening doing, from the archives:

2009-12-23T12:50:00.000-08:00

So I was netflixing foreign movies and this was from Umrao Jaan, an Indian movie with Aishwarya Rai. The movie was horrible but this particular song was so beautiful. Not to mention Aishwarya is like the most beautiful woman ever created. So..yeah.

2009-12-20T15:36:00.000-08:00

I'm currently brushing out yarn with a comb because I can't find wool roving for felting.

Edit: I gave up for now. I started on the Raffy that I got for the White Elephant exchange instead. I suck at drawing for the most part, so I consider this an accomplishment. I have a lot more to do.

And now I will finish my ribbon embroidery.

2009-12-19T11:45:00.000-08:00

I ♥ Metalocalypse.

I loves the way your furs felts on my face.

2009-12-15T21:49:00.000-08:00

School is over for the semester! My teacher liked my project so much she wants to use it as an example. This pleases me.

Who can give me some good victorian/regency era inspired movies?

Also, now that school is over I can really put my planning for the photo book into full gear. I have a lot to do before April/May...Ladies, get ready to model for me, please.

I also bought some neutrogena skin iD because MY FACE SUCKS LATELY. Time to go wash!

2009-12-12T11:33:00.000-08:00

I have nothing to say, so I will just post some interesting links.

La Princesse Endormie
Inspiring photoblog.

Oddee
Weird blog that lists weird and interesting stuff in top 10 form. and I love it, because I'm weird.

Design*Sponge
Love this.

We Heart It
Lots of random inspiring photos that you can "heart" and put in your own collection on your account. I'm sad because my collection disappeared..it was so pretty. =[

Two days...

2009-12-09T16:37:00.001-08:00

Just some dried nasturtium leaves I framed and a photo of my final project for class.

EDIT: and a ginkgo

phone pictures, too lazy to take out my camera.

2009-12-07T16:40:00.001-08:00

2009-12-06T17:40:00.000-08:00

parts of my final

2009-12-01T21:11:00.000-08:00

My very first night rainbow.

2009-11-30T22:42:00.000-08:00

what the hell.

they have beads. on their heads.

2009-11-26T12:30:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving.

2009-11-22T16:46:00.001-08:00

Handmade Christmas 2009!

I'm poor but this just might be awesome.

2009-11-18T15:16:00.001-08:00

I'm putting these together in a photobook for my mom and my grandpa for christmas. I spent all day yesterday scanning the slides...now I'm just repairing them.

welcome to 1950's America.

2009-11-14T16:57:00.000-08:00

One month until I am 22. I don't like this. I wish I could stay 18 forever.

2009-11-14T11:19:00.000-08:00

I have craft ADD.

Anyway, nothing really cool is happening other than on Wednesday I'm going up to Warner Hot springs with my parents to my mom's friend Kathy's house. My dad is planting her a garden. We get to go into a hot spring...I've never been, so I have no idea what to expect. But it will be warm and I like that.

I entered some photos into the photo contest at OCC. I also asked one of my professors her opinion on my work and she seemed to like it so that makes me happy. I just really need to get out and start shooting. I have all this artistic energy and it's making me want to felt things and make hydrosol and live on a lavender farm. Shauna? Shauna's friends? Lauren? Laura? Anyone else that might be interested?

My room is in limbo. I have to wait for my brother to remove the mirror from the wall AND I still need to get paint and oh god why it is almost Christmas?! I DONT EVEN HAVE WRAPPING PAPER AND THE HAPPY TAPE I WANTED IS SOLD OUT. CHRIST. CHRIST. DAMMIT.

LOOK AT IT.

The Happiest Tape.

but not as happy as this Tape. (my cat is named Tape..long story.)

2009-11-13T17:16:00.001-08:00

who wants to shoot? I am dying for a shoot. DI DI MAU.

2009-11-10T11:11:00.000-08:00

I'm going to try to make some hydrosol.

2009-11-09T10:48:00.000-08:00

Buying paint tomorrow hopefully. I am pleased that my older brother gets a discount at Vista Paint. Shelving on Wednesday (AND SHEETS AND A TRASHCAN)! Other than that..I've been down and out with a sinus infection, lagging on editing/taking photos and falling asleep at like 10 every night.

Is it weird and creepy that I have a secret desire to live out in the middle of nowhere and have a farm and pretend like it's not 2009? (I think this stems from my desire to be Amish/Mennonite...which stems from my love of the past.) Also, I would like to photograph cowboys.

the end.

2009-11-06T22:07:00.000-08:00

I was going to get in bed at 8:30 on a friday night because I live a glamorous life, but I got distracted and painted a bag instead. Don't ask me how that happened, I have no idea.

It has fruits! ^_^

Rosebowl Flea Market on sunday!

2009-11-06T10:56:00.000-08:00

Yay camera returned and all fixed. Who wants to brave the freezing cold pool with me?

2009-11-04T09:39:00.001-08:00

ignore the crappy quality of the pictures, but I organized my bookshelf by color and set various things on top of it. Ye.

2009-11-02T11:33:00.000-08:00

Today I am not feeling well.

But the weekend was great. Stayed in and spent the night at Laurens on Halloween. Sunday we picked up Nicole, went to Laura's apartment in Pasadena and hung out. Met Shannon at the Getty.

I really really loved the Irving Penn exhibit. I loved seeing the way everyday people presented themselves in the past, there was a sense of pride that you don't see today. And it's always nice to see the Van Gogh Iris painting and the Monets and my very favorite Spring by Lawrence Alma-Tadema.

After that, we headed to the Sunset plaza and had a delicious meal at Clafoutis on the sidewalk. That was followed by too many red velvet cupcakes back at Laura's, the best ice cream ever and astrology.

This is the color I'm painting my room. Okay..it's a little lighter in person, but my monitor isn't calibrated so..whatever. It's called Restless Seas by Valspar and it's part of the Seaside Retreat collection. I think it'll go well with my intended decorations.

Other than that..I'm going to put out a new Blurb Book. Only it's not going to cost an arm and a leg and I hopefully wont be telling people NOT to buy it because of the price. (such a good saleswoman)...I'm going to start shooting in Nov-Dec-Jan and I'm aiming for March or April as an intended release date. Throwing around ideas for a title still and I have a basic premise. At this point the book will be less about me making money off of it and more about me making it affordable so people can have it. And all my friends are beautiful, wonderful models so it makes that part of the equation quite simple.

2009-10-29T09:51:00.000-07:00

Felting! I want to felt something. What is felting, you ask? It's awesome. That's all I have to tell you. It's all autumny and pretty without any of the talent required for knitting or crocheting. Which I unfortunately do not possess.

Now..I'm pretty positive this is probably going to go the way of my quilling escapade...but who cares! You get to stab things with three pronged needles!

Also, I want to make this.

2009-10-28T09:03:00.001-07:00

I return triumphant!

Actually not really, I'm really tired and I miss Dan a lot. But we got to see the leaves AND the Anthro in Glen Mills AND Terrain AND carve pumpkins. It was fall-tacular and I loved every minute of it. Pictures on the FB.

If there was a terrain nearby, I would definitely want to work there.

Other than that, I'm still working on photos from my shoot with Gabby. Here is a small sneak peek.

Jewelry by Gabby Lardizabal-Bray
Model: Lauren

2009-10-22T22:06:00.000-07:00

Off to Philly til Tuesday. I get to see THE TERRAIN STORE!

Terrain Website

2009-10-17T12:51:00.001-07:00

I've been kind of MIA on this blog...Nothing really has happened lately.

Tomorrow is my photoshoot with Gabby and Lauren for Gabby's jewelry line, GabbyBella. I am so happy to have so many beautiful and talented friends.

After that, I've got a few days of school and closing shifts at work and then I'm heading to the east coast for an extended weekend in Philly. Thankfully the cold front over there is going to pass by the time I get there and it should be in the low 60's...which is still cold for me...but at least it's not snowing or something.

Other than that..I'm trying to save up for things that I want...unfortunately they're all expensive things. A new Camera, a Mac, a pug, a trip to Hawaii.. They all have their pros and cons. Blah, I'll probably just end up buying clothes.

Hawaii 2007 - life is good.

2009-10-16T15:09:00.001-07:00

I finally updated Maile Photography

go look?

2009-10-14T14:28:00.000-07:00

My mom was just served a subpoena to testify as a witness against the crazy man.

2009-10-05T15:59:00.000-07:00

yesterday:

2009-10-05T11:09:00.001-07:00

You guys...

Everyone is all happy about fall. MORE LIKE FAIL. I want my heat, I demand my heat. I broke out the heating blanket last night. I already cranked it up to 6! Do you have any idea what it's gonna be like for me when it dips below 50? God help me if I lived anywhere but southern California. I spend the winter months with no feeling in my hands or feet because I'm dependent on outside heat. I'm some sort of creepy refrigerator with long hair/cold blooded animal.

Besides, I have more beach to attend to. This is not a welcome cold spell.

dammit.

2009-10-03T13:07:00.001-07:00

I'm very torn. Halloween is an important holiday for me because I like to dress up and be fancy. But for me it's go big or don't go at all. and...by big I just mean be legit...None of that glitter corset fairy bullshit for me.

So I have two ideas, but there are circumstances that are making this more complicated than it should be. Firstly, there is no way in hell I'm getting off of work..so I am 75 percent sure I'll be closing. Now..I have two ideas in mind.

Alice in Wonderland

- I need to find or make a dress. I want it to be right color, tea length and I need mary janes, white tights, a black headband and a white apron.

Pros:
- Easy to change into if I have to close, little to no makeup required..well..no more than I usually use. Straight hair.
- I basically already look..like Alice. O_o
- My mom can help me sew it.
- Fabric would be cheaper than if I had to get fabric for Lovett.
- Easily recognizable, no one is going to wonder who I am and I wont have to explain.

Cons:
- It's really hard to find the right color, type, shape and length of dress and if I end up making it, it needs to look good. My sewing skills are not..super good, I like to wing it.
- kind of a cop out.
- All the alice costumes for sale are shitty and polyester and whorish.

Mrs. Lovett from Sweeney Todd

- Ever since I saw this movie, I've been in love with the idea of being her for Halloween. It's scary and fun and I get to have a rolling pin. Except..once again, I need to make the dress, find a corset, get boots and all the other accessories.

Pros:
- It's fucking awesome.
- The dress I can fudge on, it's supposed to look beat up and crappy/covered in flour and the corset will help things look more tailored.
- I could have a not so great dress and keep working on it throughout the year and be her next year for halloween, but better.

Cons:
- I don't have red/dark hair and that bothers me. I don't know how I feel about a wig..especially because I have a lot of hair to shove in there.
- a lot of prep, makeup wise. I couldn't do it at work after we close in any sort of quick manner.
- I don't have a Sweeney and she is not easily recognizable. People are just going to think I'm some sort of murderer crazy rollingpin woman.

WTF do I do?!

and..I was thinking about being Beyonce from the single ladies video but I am pretty sure no one would know wtf I was doing..seeing as I look..nothing like Beyonce, I would need two other girls, the only one shoulder, long sleeve leotards are special order for some reason. AND I NEED TO CONSTRUCT A ROBOTIC HAND. and I really don't feel like walking around a bunch of people with no pants.

Theres Penelope Pitstop too..which..I'd need helmet...a pink one.

And Marie Antoinette is still in the back of my mind, but if I'm gonna get that fancy, I want to actually go somewhere where everyone will see me and I can feel fancy.

Really I just shouldn't be so picky.

2009-10-02T15:06:00.000-07:00

I like doing stuff (and ripping off Martha Stewart Crafts in the process)

Though I guess it's not really ripping anything off if she puts instructions...

So, in the spirit of actually trying to do something with my time in regards to my room renovations without actually having any money, I decided that for decor I would press leaves and flowers and stuff like that and hang it on my walls. I already have 348275823743 black ikea frames and right now I have botanical prints that I cut out of my 2007 NY botanical day planner and they were cool and all but now I want something different...more leaves! Maybe even some seaweed! Because my room is going to have some sort of weird garden/ocean theme.. Maybe..Natural Curiosities? Yes.

god my life is...so cool.

Anyway, this is what I did yesterday:

PROTIP: If you're a fan of like..you know...breathing..you probably shouldn't because EVERYTHING will fly EVERYWHERE and just...trust me it sucks.

My next plan is to build a succulent terrarium! I totally have a life you guys!

2009-09-30T09:52:00.001-07:00

I don't even remember if I mentioned it here, but I got another offer for a book cover from a different publishing company. It's another one of my underwater photos...and I just printed out the invoice yesterday..so it's going to be an infinitely faster process than the first one...which seriously took like 9 months haha. But yes, yay for contacts, yay for money that I really need and yay for my work/face on two books.

yay for picture unrelated.

2009-09-27T12:36:00.001-07:00

Alright. So..the crazy child molester story.

I had just gotten up, I had a strange dream the night before (that oddly enough, involved being chased by police AND crazy people) so I went out into the living room to tell my mom about it.

So there we were, idly discussing random things when there is a rustling outside. Usually that kind of noise would be one of the dogs trying to get through the plants and getting stuck or something like that. No big deal..they are giant, clumsy Great Danes...So I don't pay any mind to it until my mom scream "WHO ARE YOU?!" and I turn around to the window and there is a man I've never seen before in my life staring right back at me. He had a glazed over look in his eyes and there was absolutely no recognition in them. He was wearing white boardshorts, a navy tshirt and a hat. No shoes. He had crashed into the wooden archway that is covered in flowering vines and was now against the window and screen and he was looking for a way into the house. He made a movement towards the door but I started yelling "GET THE FUCK OUT OF HERE. WHO THE FUCK ARE YOU! GET THE FUCK OUT OF HERE." I had no idea what the hell was going on. My mom got the phone and called 911 and we both went out the back door as the man was in our driveway. He was obviously disoriented and I wasn't sure if he spoke english or even understood anything, so I pointed to the gate and yelled "EXIT! EXIT!" and he went towards the gate. Unfortunately, it was latched and he couldn't open it and he couldn't jump over it. So he started back towards us and the house. Thankfully, at this point the dogs came out...Except they were less into the idea of protecting their family and more into the fact that there was a new friend. But their size deterred him enough and he started back at the gate. I guess at this point he decided to try to hop the fence that ran between my house and the orange grove next door. So he went over to it and began to try to hop over it through the bushes. Unfortunately for him, he chose the one place where a cactus grows up in between the bushes. This whole time, he was silent. The only noise he made was when he crawled over the cactus. He fell over the fence and my mom got off the phone with 911. At this point we heard yelling on the street and we went out there to find out what the hell was going on.

As it turns out, this man had been on the school field/track area directly next to my house while a foothill football game was going on. He was acting strange and eventually moved to under the bleachers, where there were small children playing. He apparently was trying to grab them or touch them or doing something inappropriate, which raised the alarm to the parents and it just so happened that a good portion of the dads there that day were off duty cops. So when they approached him, he bolted, hopped over the fence around the field, booked it down our street, jumped over my garden wall (and stepped on one of my lettuces! god dammit) and tried to HIDE in MY house. If my mom had been at the store like she was planning I would have been alone in my room, with the door shut or if I had been at work, or if no one was home, he would have gotten into the house and according to a cop he may have been able to hold one of us hostage.

SO, back to the story, there is a small angry mob of men after him. At this point the police have arrived and they are directed to the orange grove where this crazy bastard is loose. Apparently he tried to break into my next door neighbor's house as well, the man that lives in the orange grove, but his nurse, her husband and the man that picks oranges for him were all there. There was also a family buying oranges at the time. So he is running around, he turns back towards my house and a guy finally tackles his ass right against the fence. It takes 4 men to hold him down, he is still struggling, he is maced AND tazed and still trying to get away. He eventually had to be hog tied. The entire street was blocked off with cops cars, an ambulance, there may have been a firetruck there as well. It took 4 guys to carry him to the squad car and then he started convulsing (which I was told was probably from the drugs and not the tazing.) And yeah.

Fucking scary. Scariest thing I've ever encountered in my life. This man was like a wild animal. It might as well have been, there was nothing behind his eyes. He just was scared as fuck and wanted to get away and thats what makes people dangerous. I guess he was on acid or pcp because the way he was acting was not the way people act on other drugs. And..yeah.

God damn, you guys. God damn.

2009-09-26T23:31:00.000-07:00

I didn't even know about this, but I find out all kinds of fancy things when I search my own name on Google.

OC register, look at the photo credit

oh yeah! *kool aid man voice*

Aside from that shameless boasting, I've reached new heights in arrogance and have acquired a twitter. I don't know why..I told myself I wouldnt and have no business being on that website. I'm not important enough for that. But hey..sometimes you do crazy things. And I have nothing to write. I can barely update this with more than a sentence. I guess until I get something newsworthy, I'm going to be forced to read the ever inspiring twittering of Martha Stewart. Yeah....yeah. I know.

And perhaps when I get more energy I will regale you all with the lovely little ditty about how a pcp crazed child molester on the run from an angry mob almost came through my living room window this afternoon and held me and my mother hostage. You know, shit like that is almost twitter worthy..you know..if anyone was actually following me.

2009-09-25T10:22:00.000-07:00

I'm cutting my hair today.. Well..trimming..it needs it. I'm scared. I'm losing probably 4-5 inches.... ._.

Hopefully it wont be like that episode of Rugrats where Chuckie's hair turns black and suddenly no one notices him anymore...What? Am I the only person who watched that as a child?!

2009-09-23T23:35:00.000-07:00

So many ideas in my head right now.

I'm starting work on making another book. (like winterspringsummerfall but more..themed + all new work.)

Plus, look at all these beautiful things I found and hearted.

We Heart It

2009-09-20T15:23:00.001-07:00

Everything is more delicious when it's rainbow.

unfortunately my food styling talent is not up to par with my photographic talent.

2009-09-18T21:40:00.000-07:00

"The voice of the sea is seductive; never ceasing, whispering, clearing, murmuring, inviting the soul to wander for a spell in the abysses of solitude; to lose itself in mazes of inward contemplation. The voice of the sea speaks to the soul. The touch of the sea is sensuous, enfolding the body in its soft, close embrace."

2009-09-14T14:14:00.000-07:00

I'm in the market for a new camera. I'm thinking the Canon 50D...but as I know next to nothing about the technical side of cameras, I'm obviously going to do more research.

But yeah. I want way too many things and I have next to no money right now. Ah well, such is life.

Also, Design*Sponge, my new favorite blog.

2009-09-12T13:25:00.000-07:00

Still trying to perfect the underwater photography..it's not very easy or fun when you're being thrashed around. Nonetheless, it's a great excuse to be in the water for long periods of time and that's what I enjoy the most.

Other than that..I've also taken to pressing flowers and leaves.

hydrangeas.

Aside from that..My garden is going... Two strawberries died and Bergie's bones poked up from the ground.

I've downloaded the newest Iron and Wine album. It's called "Around the Well"..and as always it's great. The Trapeze Swinger is one of my favorite tracks, even if it makes me cry every time I hear it.

Listen to "The Trapeze Swinger"

Listen to "Kingdom of the Animals"

2009-09-07T14:36:00.001-07:00

I had an unexpectedly busy labor day weekend. Six Flags, San Diego Zoo. Possibly first shift back at work tonight. Tomorrow snorkeling in Laguna Beach. No pictures to speak of.

but I will show you this delightful pear that caught my interest.

haha what is wrong with me?

2009-09-03T15:45:00.001-07:00

taken today. My inspiration was Persephone, I've always loved her.

2009-09-02T21:42:00.000-07:00

I did it. I had to. I went out and bought the new Fuji Finepix Z33WP. It's waterproof up to 10 feet and it was on sale and it was the last one and..well..since I've been living at the beach, I thought..hell..why not?

I am dying to try it out.

2009-09-02T16:42:00.001-07:00

I am addicted to the ocean.

2009-09-01T09:36:00.001-07:00

Ahh, first day of school today.

I've started preparations for my winter/fall garden. I didn't actually have a summer garden, obviously. But winter should be nice. Probably strawberries, lettuce, and maybe endive or Swiss chard. And of course I'll be throwing in sweet peas somewhere because I need them.

Going to be trying to start a new photo project soon. Basically, a series of photos based loosely off of the work of Alphonse Mucha. Haven't decided much more. Going to be needing models!

and..now I should probably shower. Still can't decide on my paint color...

2009-08-26T09:45:00.000-07:00

Annnd, I'm back. I'm back in California. Sitting here, drinking tea out of my fancy cup and headed to the beach later. It's truly bittersweet to leave everything I had behind. It was hard to leave the people, but I'm finding it equally hard to leave the independence I had there and the sense of..just having something of my own...I mean, sure, we could get into technicalities about how it wasn't actually mine, but really, shut up, I don't want to think about it.

So I'm back here with my blog and my run-on sentences.

I'm thinking about repainting my room...I'm sure I've mentioned it before. The green is just getting to be too much for such a small room. I'm not sure on the color, but definitely sure that I want a matte finish. No shininess for me. I'm deliberating on either an aqua or a gray or something in between. A blue gray, headed more towards the gray side. Or a sea blue.. Pretty much I've decided I should just have an entire house and an unlimited budget to create my dream home...and people wonder why I love Sims so much.

Inspiration time!

2009-06-18T12:02:00.000-07:00

Breathless

2009-06-16T16:48:00.001-07:00

Photos for Kina Grannis.

www.youtube.com/kinagrannis

2009-06-03T20:06:00.000-07:00

What Summer Brings is my photoblog for the summer. I'm not really sure of the direction I'm going with it yet. Might only be my portfolio status work, maybe I'll write, maybe candid shots. Maybe all three.

what summer brings

All I have to say is that I will still probably be updating this one as well and I can't promise that they wont be sporadic updates since I don't have internet access at my apartment...but if I'm feeling into it I can always just write out my blogs on Word. So whenever I get a chance I'll pop on over to Panera or Starbucks and update with my stuff.

and I can't put a recent photo right now because photobucket is being stupid.

2009-05-25T23:33:00.000-07:00

Writing this from my new laptop. It's fancy.

So, I leave in 10 days.

I have three photoshoots before I go. One for Kina Grannis, another for a girl that is graduating from FIDM and needs to put together a look book, and then the third is for Gabby Bella jewelry. Haha..that's a lot.

My last day at work is June 1st, I'm going to miss everyone so much...I feel so overwhelmed right now, but I'm excited.

I also got an account over at lookbook.nu...but I have no idea when I'm going to put any looks up. God I'm totally not hipster enough. We'll have to see about that.

My teeth hurt from whitening...aaand..thats it.

2009-05-21T20:06:00.001-07:00

Everyone go on and check out Kimmy Mhanna's blog over at
A Couture Life, she was kind enough to feature me.

And take a look through her other entries, it's a good read. Lots of interesting fashion and art related things.

2009-05-19T00:05:00.000-07:00

I just received the contract for the book cover! It's pretty much official!

Yay!

2009-05-16T19:29:00.000-07:00

- Thinking about starting a new blog in addition to this one. Themed. Like a photo project. I just need a good idea. Hmm..any suggestions?

- I also want to do this

http://www.marthastewart.com/goodthings/dyed-canvas-sneakers

2009-05-12T11:47:00.001-07:00

I am really slacking on my final project. Basically we have to take three rolls of self portraits and pick three. One needs to represent hot, one cold and one warm.

I'm..kind of at a loss for ideas right now. I've done some stuff with ice, some stuff with matches and now I've just woken up and..took some pictures of myself laying in bed. I know I've gone over this before, but for me, a lot of information and ..meaning is lost without color. But I have one more class and I'm not going to whine about BW photography anymore.

This is a practice attempt with my digital camera set to BW mode in extremely low light. Is it okay? Sure. Does it imply hot? No idea...but it's better than nothing? It's no great feat and nothing to be proud of...but..at this point I just want the semester to be over with. Then I can focus my energy on things I'm interested in shooting...like bees!

2009-05-09T00:14:00.001-07:00

Brittany might kill me for posting these on here before I even show her..but it's 12:14 am and I smell like a bonfire.

That really has no relevance.

I'm finding these are coming out a little different from my usual style. I blame it on the sea cave. I guess I just wasn't used to the lighting/nervous about the tides/I don't really know. I like them so far and it's good to mix it up. I especially like the fourth one. I decided to try to do something a little darker than I usually do.

Aside from that, I'm leaving in less than a month. I have an apartment and it is yellow. I'm really dying to get out into the birch forests and get some really pretty, summery shots. I've got a picture in my head of what I want..so hopefully I can make it happen.

ps. my plastic bag sucked.

2009-05-02T16:53:00.001-07:00

Finally finished, I think. This was for Miya and I haven't even had a chance to show her anything yet.

Tomorrow is an (attempted) underwater shoot with Brittany and friend. I have no idea how it's going to work..but I want it to. It will either be a complete success or I will die in a sea cave. Plastic bag "underwater housing" don't fail me now!

2009-04-29T23:04:00.000-07:00

I really need a change of pace.

and I'm really really behind on photo related things..for myself and school.

2009-04-18T12:09:00.000-07:00

Let it be known I do not consider myself at all skilled in the art of sewing. So I was a little confused yesterday when my mom came into my room around 5pm and told me I had to help her friend's daughter, Erin, make a toga for her birthday party. Of 300 people. Tomorrow. (Which is today)

So..I dutifully set off to the fabric store with Erin and despite my frustration, I'm pleased with the results.

2009-04-17T23:57:00.000-07:00

I just have to say, poladroids, man.

I love it. I never got past the permanency and fleeting characteristics of polaroid film, so I never wanted to experiment too much. Which is why I have a two different types of instant cameras that I never use. This allows me to experiment all I want and I find the interface super cute...so to hell with the naysayers. Poladroid!

http://www.poladroid.net/

2009-04-16T13:46:00.000-07:00

I've been quite lazy about my latest assignment for photo. I can't really figure it out, but I just really don't have any feelings for the class. I don't hate it. I don't like it. I certainly don't like the long hours in the darkroom, though to some that could be compared to the long hours I spend behind the computer.

Nonetheless, I need to get this done. I will probably enjoy the digital photography class I plan on taking next semester.

The book cover is going smashingly. I had the pleasure of speaking with the art director on the phone the other day and it looks like things are actually gonna happen. The book is due out around July 30th in places like Barnes & Noble. It'll definitely be good exposure for me.

looking forward to some underwater shots this summer.

2009-04-13T01:41:00.000-07:00

errbody look at Laura!

I'm afraid my photo idea cannot be created because unfortunately people have heads...maybe I can find someone with freakishly long, pale arms.

2009-04-11T10:37:00.000-07:00

why do I feel like something is wrong?

2009-04-06T01:19:00.000-07:00

Why so restless?

I want it to be summer, desperately. I need a change of scenery, I need a change of pace. But I also need a laptop, lots of monies and a place to live.

I found these on livejournal a while ago, I enjoy them.

I need light and shade and pretty colors. My room is a mess. I've had a lot of photoshoots in the past two weeks and it almost makes up for my lack of scheduling at work. Almost.

Laura/Anthony

Ashton Morris

2009-03-28T12:21:00.000-07:00

I am so addicted to F My Life that I went to the french version of the website (vie de merde) and translated it in babelfish...

2009-03-28T11:11:00.000-07:00

I'm sick.

I'm sick.

I'm addicted to look book.

and I'm sick.

my grandpa's camera. from around 1952.

2009-03-22T18:35:00.000-07:00

model: Katherine

I've got lotsa stuff to do.

2009-03-16T22:54:00.000-07:00

So today I had a test shoot with Ashton Morris. It was fun and very cool to work with a professional model. I don't think this girl can take a bad picture, haha, so my job was made easy in that respect. The only problem was the time frame in which we had to do the photos. Unfortunately, we had to shoot at 2pm in Peter's Canyon. Anyone familiar with Peter's Canyon will know that there is not a huge amount of shade and 2pm is probably the worst time ever to take pictures. So we made due with what we had. I'm in the process of looking through the photos, but I'm kind of worn out, so I don't believe I will make any permanent edits at the moment.

You can check her out at www.ashtonmorris.com

I've become very interested in the idea of pinhole photography. Which amuses me because I'm not a huge fan of film. I'm thinking of making my own, but I'd want it to be easy to operate...and develop. I actually have a pinhole option in my Diana, but the film is 120 and unfortunately its not like I can drop off a roll at walgreens and get it developed. So..I might make one...I'm not sure. or..I guess just use the pinhole option on Diana for now and develop it myself...or find a nice camera body on Ebay and make one myself!

2009-03-15T13:58:00.000-07:00

It's a little early to be thinking about Halloween, but I've totally figured out what I'm going for.

Penelope Pitstop from Wacky Races. Sure, maybe this idea was the product of watching a little too much Boomerang...and maybe Penelope is a little bit of a helpless bitch, but I'd get to wear bright pink spandex pants and a HELMET and run around yelling "HAYULP, HAYULP"! (say that last part out loud if you don't know what it means)

And frankly its either a semi obscure cartoon character from the early 70's or a naked glitter corset fairy like every other girl.

2009-03-13T18:53:00.001-07:00

Just bought my ticket for the summer.

2009-03-12T20:40:00.000-07:00

I've got a lot on my plate right now.

But I've got a lot of ideas too.

2009-03-07T12:46:00.000-08:00

I'm feeling quite anti-social lately.

I miss this dog.

2009-03-04T22:26:00.001-08:00

Nearly 6 hours in the darkroom and for what?

A boring ass print.

Guys..I really like digital.

2009-03-02T14:04:00.001-08:00

credit card bills and cramps. My luck just doesn't end.

I got a weird catalog full of cheap hooker clothes. But there are two decent, cheap jersey dresses that I think I might want for summer.

2009-03-01T09:24:00.000-08:00

Working on the very first photo assignment was intensely frustrating yesterday. It's not hard, it's just busywork. I understand the actual value behind doing this because he wants us to understand about equivalent exposures and get people to look at things from different angles..but the way we have to do it turns something I find cathartic into something that bores the hell out of me. I don't want to make this art into a science.

In other news, I've recently netflixed the Planet Earth series. I had been meaning to buy them for my dad for Christmas last year (when I wasn't poor as hell) and just steal them for my own purposes, but they were sold out. So..netflix is the next best thing. Watching that kind of stuff, especially the "Diary" segment they have at the end of each section, really makes me want to do that kind of stuff. I don't know, it's just a passing thought, but maybe something to look into later on.

2009-02-28T11:23:00.000-08:00

Dude, fuck this photoclass. I hate the lame ass assignments...which I am currently putting off right now.

with Lauren

2009-02-24T15:06:00.000-08:00

So I'm sitting here, listening to Iron and Wine and pondering the finer points of black and white photography. I don't know...I just can't do it. Very rarely do I find a piece of my work come across better when it has been desaturated. I just love color so much (and I'm not just talking about photography)..I love looking at it...I love everything about it. Maybe I'd be a good candidate for psychedelic drugs.

Also..I seem to be incapable of taking a photo of myself that I don't hate. It's not even about being photogenic or being attractive...I'm not taking photos of myself so people can tell me how pretty I am. I want them to be powerful..I want them to mean something...and they just don't as of late.

Anyway..the fruits of my labor this afternoon.

funny how a little bit of color still got in there.

plus some of my favorite self portraits from over the years.

I love this. I wish I hadn't resized it to such a small size, but it was taken back when I was in highschool. No one else likes it. I love it. It reminds me of a darker Dorothea Lange photo, which is what I wanted.

2009-02-22T22:14:00.001-08:00

Internet games. Beautiful internet games. It doesn't sound right, but I've had the pleasure of coming across some of the most well designed BEAUTIFUL internet games I've ever seen.

Check it out, you wont be disappointed.

2009-02-21T10:59:00.000-08:00

I wanted a pretty, fresh, springy look. Thank you Shauna and Brittany!

2009-02-20T10:09:00.000-08:00

I'm excited today. I have a photoshoot to do! Yay. It's always nice to be able to use a model...If you pay attention to my photography, you'll notice aside from the fact that I wasn't shooting anything, my self portraiture had stopped altogether. Part of that had to do with the fact that I was becoming bored with myself and part was because I hadn't been feeling or looking my best. I'm still not really...I don't know why, I'm just going to blame it on winter. So yeah, models are well appreciated.

I feel like going on a road trip...

2009-02-19T10:16:00.000-08:00

Some inspiration for the day...

2009-02-16T23:08:00.000-08:00

just some photos I took today in the rain.

2009-02-16T11:02:00.000-08:00

I went on an adventure a few days ago with my good friends Robert and Katherine to a few places in Trabucco Canyon.

I can't help but be inspired by this place. Living where I do in Orange County, I'm quite pleased at the last little bits and pieces that haven't been marred by track housing -- and this is definitely one of these places. I somehow always find myself out there when it's raining, too, which is calming.

Speaking of calming, we found a monastary out there and I plan to go back and visit. There's a small trail in which you can ponder the different religions of the world and places to meditate...quite interesting.

Perhap's I'll force myself to brave Blackstar Canyon one of these days.

2009-02-15T15:37:00.000-08:00

I've had the fortune of making a few trips to Los Angeles this month with my friends.

I love Los Angeles. I'm drawn to places with a lot of history, I don't really know why. I'm always thinking about the past and what it was like. During the summer I'll often sit on the beach and contemplate the past lives of individual grains of sand. You don't have to tell me how odd that is. Really.

2009-02-05T19:53:00.000-08:00

My photo class has actually inspired me to take photos again...probably because I finally figured out how to USE my camera. I feel like an idiot for saying this, but I've gotten along this far on a sort of half assed knowledge of the basic mechanics of photography...I'd just take pictures of things I found pretty. I'm hoping with more technical knowledge my photos will improve even more.

I'm also quite pleased because a publishing company in NYC has contacted me about using one of my photographs for a book jacket. I'm not going to say any more about it, but I'm really excited and I hope things go well.

In other news, I want you all to meet my little muse, Daniel Faraday. He was an impulse purchase one rainy afternoon with Robert, but he is no less loved for it.