Cupcakes

I was pretty busy with school today. When I'm under pressure, though- I often do something completely random. Like make cupcakes. Then take photos of them.

I had a City Of God marathon today. I sat down and read about angels and demons and how the demons are different than the angels and how the angels are entirely different from God, etc. It's a wonderful book. But I wanted to fall asleep due to the fact that I've been staying up way too late every night.

I tried listening to various kinds of music while I studied, but in the end it was Vivaldi that jerked me out of my coma. Did you know that it's Vivaldi's birthday today?
Tomorrow I'm attending my very first school auction. Actually, my very first auction ever. My choir is singing at this event. I have to show up in my choir dress. Since the church where the auction is held at is approximately .5 miles from my house, I debated riding my bike down there. But then someone might look out their window and see me riding down the street in a long black dress. I might be mistaken for a missionary. What kind of missionary I don't know.

I think I'm just going in the car.

That's a safer idea.

I'm going to end this post because

a) I want to
b) I am tired of watching the morons on televangelism networks try to extort money from elderly ladies.

And lastly, because all the cupcakes are gone.

Photography Books

I received a mysterious package from my aunt and uncle in the mail Sunday afternoon. Photo Idea Index: Things was put together by Jim Krause. It's full of random, colorful pictures intended to inspire photographers who use standard digital equipment. Krause, as far as I can tell, often disregards typical photography "rules." His pictures are fun and quirky. What immediately endeared my to the book were all his photos of junkyards. He shoots busted up lightbulbs and seems to have an immensely fun time doing it. If you know me, you'll admit that is definitely something I would do:)

I really love this book. It's lying on my desk right now. I don't want to shut it!

Another photo art book I like is Boston's North End: Images and Recollections of an Italian-American neighborhood. Author Anthony Riccio interviewed countless Italians who live[d] in the northern district of Boston. This section of the city is quickly changing as the elderly immigrants die and the hip, urban culture encroaches on this rustic locale. After walking down the streets past the aging brick flats I was struck by the thought that someday soon this little society will be gone.

Riccio's book reminds one of the work of KayLynn Deveney- a photographer from New Mexico who moved to Wales and happened to meet 85-year-old Albert Hastings. With Hastings' permission, Deveney began photographing his daily activities. Her portraits are mellow and unobstrusive.

Deveney also befriended Edith and Len, an elderly couple who resided in a Welsh nursing home together. She tactfully photographed the couple who had been married for 7o years and told their story one frame at a time.
"It was clear that I could not come into Edith and Len's small room and be a fly on the wall. Nor did I wish to be. Nine months after my first visit with Edith and Len we had thoroughly and knowingly blurred the line between a conventional photographer-subject relationship and a friendship," Deveney writes.
The photos of people in the aforementioned books really aren't that glamorous. But in the end they are the ones that are remembered.
Anyway, I find them interesting.

Portland Pictures Part 1

NOTE: I took so many pictures this weekend I'm going to have to do two posts. Stay tuned next week for more.

Every time I venture into urban environments, I'm reminded how bizarre people can be. The people in my neighborhood don't yell at me to take pictures of them, or comment on my gelato, or give long-winded lectures about the evils of drinking and cigarettes. And they definitely do not walk around with raccoon tails.


But here, they do.

Despite the weird people, I love cities. I especially like walking around with my friends and experiencing strange but delicious things like pear pizza.

We went to a huge old bookstore, which contained everything from Plato's Republic to cupcake-flavored dental floss. We successfully avoided the metaphysics section. I never cared for metaphysics. Maybe I would like it more if I knew what it was.

Since we collectively had three cell-phones, we split into groups and wandered off. Please note that we walked very fast, were very responsible, and had no communication whatsoever with any disturbing characters. This notice is hereby signed by all the girls who laughed hysterically at approximately 4:09 PM at a lady who appeared to have a live ferret hanging out her back pocket.
But then, you know- it was really just that raccoon tail I was telling you about.

I am proud to say I only almost got left behind once. It was probably a good thing I realized in time, because as far as I'm concerned- pay phones do not exist. And hanging out with the angry man on the corner who was shouting at someone (or something) did not sound very appealing.


Autumn was the GPS system.

Mrs. S. and my mom:) I love this picture of them.

Some epic ionicness. (Sorry, that was a homeschooled nerd moment.)




Thanks for spending the afternoon with me, girls! I had an excellent time.

PS: Sorry, Autumn- I tried to get you in that last one.

The Birthday Recap

My sixteenth birthday was Sunday. Saturday morning I had a classical singing evaluation, and that evening my parents took me out to dinner for an early birthday celebration. We ate a ridiculous amount of garlic and came home to discover that my sister and brothers had filled the house will balloons and hung streamers while we were gone.
Sunday morning my family went to church. During the potluck afterwards, my friends Ellie and Autumn gave me a rather odd present:

Dish soap and hand sanitizer! They were horrified when I accidentally squirted some into my mouth.
At this point you might come to the conclusion that my friends are very strange and that I am even crazier. So I will explain.
Our church is "divided" over dish soap. I am infamous for wholeheartedly embracing it- others treat it like a harmful substance. So you will now agree with me that this really was an amazing gift;) (Plus...it came with chocolate. Which is edible!) Thank you girls! Now I just have to think of a good gag gift for you....I still have time!

My dear parents gave me Aperture for my birthday. Yay! I love all things Apple. Maybe I'll post a review on it sometime...

The pretty flowers Jessica gave me. And I even remembered to put them in water!


Sunday afternoon I drove my parents down to campus so we could take some pictures in front of some fun old brick buildings. (Yes, that's right- I drove!)

I did alright until I went down a street lined with fraternity houses and almost hit a car with my side mirror. We found a parking spot, and went over to the park area near the art museum to take pictures. (I'm saving those photos for another post.) While getting back in the car, I correctly identified a rather large theta emblazoned on a building situated close to where we parked. I don't know Greek, but after being introduced to trigonometry, I can now randomly exclaim "IT'S A THETA!" while driving around university neighborhoods. That sounds like a really lame thing to get excited about it....but thetas are exciting.

My mom and I watched the Olympics later that evening. I've really enjoyed watching the figure skating and ice dancing competitions this week. If you know me well, you'll remember that I am NOT a sports fan. But for some reason I love the Olympic games. Although I can only handle so much bobsledding....

First Post Of The Year

Happy New Year! I was babysitting for my neighbors last night so I really didn't have a choice whether or not to stay up. (Technically I could have gone to sleep, but what babysitter risks being found in a stupor when the parents get home? You tell me.)

My neighbors have two very well behaved kids who have become remarkably fond of the Photobooth program on my laptop. But all good things eventually come to an end, and I could tell that leering into a "fun house mirror" was getting old. So I showed them pictures of photo- shopped animals. You know, bits of pictures that have been stitched together to form bizarre creatures. Most were very funny, and harmless. However, I accidentally pulled up an image of a wolf-spider/grizzly bear combo that still creeps me out a bit. Won't be doing that again.

So I put the kids to bed and spent the rest of the evening watching parts of Dickens movies and BBC Narnia clips on YouTube. (Am I the only one who thinks the old Lucy really needs a new hairdo?)

After that I spent the rest of the year reading the last paragraphs of the prophetic books in the Bible and watching the clock. I like good endings. The clocked turned to twelve, and it was a new year. Immediately fireworks started going off and the dog started to whine.

It was a very nice evening, even though I was really tired. Four late nights in a row have convinced me that I never, ever want to pull and all-nighter. Don't try to change my mind. Even though I'm notorious for staying up late.....I could never do it.

In closing, I will post this picture:

Yes, it's me. I'm currently experimenting with taking full portraits of people that include surroundings. Mostly so I can practice with textures. I tried to do a photo shoot with my two-year old brother today, but he became remarkably grouchy. I didn't even ask him to pose! I guess the paparazzi can get tiring after a while.

I've heard that brothers will often critique their sister's outfits. None of this sort of thing has ever gone on in my house. Probably because I am the oldest. Louis, however, has decided that my clothes ought to be compared to......various other garments. Take the above picture, for example. I am wearing, according to the eleven-year-old Louis, a "striped prisoner's suit that has faded so much the stripes have turned gray." Apparently I'm also wearing a hat with a "black rose of death on it." (This is peculiar since my family tends to be unpoetic.) I also own a tan shirt dress thing that Louis dubbed my "girl scout" uniform. (Notice the "uniform" theme....)

In the new year, I look forward to hearing more of all my siblings' profound insights- be they odd, or just plain alarming.

I wish you all a blessed year!

Natalie