the rest of the adventure

Two blogs in one day? It seems weird but I wanted to make sure my project 52 entry was up on time. I already covered the wedding in detail but I took some other pictures on the trip.

I started my trip with two flights: one to Atlanta and then a connecting flight to St. Louis. I managed to get window seat so I could watch the sun rise from the airplane. (I wrote about my love of mid-air sunrises before I left.)

As I was landing in Atlanta, I got this shot out the window. It struck me as profound and something I HAD to capture but I'm not entirely sure why.


I already blogged the wedding and there's nothing to show from the bachelor/ette party.

The day after the wedding, Mattie took me to the Laumeier sculpture park. One of Jim's friends came with us and at one point, he let me try out his 5DMkII.


Those are my favorite photos from the excursion, and not just because of the camera. I honestly do not understand art sometimes. For example, why use bleachers as part of your piece if you do not want anyone to touch them?

That isn't to say that I didn't love some of the pieces. This one made me so happy.

These did too.



Mattie had posed me on the last sculpture because the side we were on didn't have a sign. So I figured once we had already broken the rules (unknowingly), I might as well enjoy myself and get a picture of Mattie with the sign.

On the flight home, I got window seat from St. Louis to Atlanta. I got to see the river (I'm not sure whether it was the Mississippi or the Missouri) and some really fluffy clouds.


I got to watch the sun set over Atlanta.

Mattie and Jim are married

After being super nervous about shooting their wedding, I can honestly say that this was the best way to ease in and try out being a 'pro' photographer. I've known Mattie since I was a freshman in college and she's always made me feel more confident about myself; meeting Jim just added to the list of people who make me braver and better. I could go on and on about how much I adore Mattie and Jim but it should be obvious by now. I still have a hard time believing that they like my work enough to fly me out to St. Louis to shoot their wedding but apparently they do. Jim is a photographer himself so I know what a big deal it is for him to choose me.

Their wedding was held at the Old Playground Pavilion in Tower Grove Park.
Her dress (for the ceremony) was her grandmother's and every woman in her family is given the opportunity to wear it.
The ceremony was officiated by their friend, Claudia. Mattie and Jim met when Claudia hired him to photograph her wedding.



We started off doing portraits so everyone could relax and eat after the ceremony.










Nervously waiting for the ceremony to start.


With the rings secure on their fingers and not lost in the grass, they were pronounced husband and wife.



Our friend Randi and her mister, Brad, drove up from the Panhandle with their swords. They gave Mattie and Jim a sword arch to walk through and something fun to cut the cake with.


Brad sabered the champagne for the toast.


The wedding was beautiful and I am so glad I got the honor of photographing it.

party time [teaser]

I got back from St. Louis a few hours ago and immediately launched into working on the pictures. I was just so excited about seeing them on a big screen. I figured you might be too so I thought I'd share a sneak peek of what happens when I promise Mattie I'll wear a skirt.


I promise I'll write a few full posts in the coming days, once I've slept.

watching the sun rise from above the clouds

One of my favorite tags on this blog is "away on adventure" and for good reason. There is just something special about being out of town/away from home. I wrote this post ahead of time and scheduled it to go up around the time my flight is supposed to take off, bringing me to St. Louis. It's been a while since I've flown but I still remember how amazing it was to watch the sun rise from above the clouds.


Sadly, I have aisle seat on all my flights so I can't take photos out the window, but I'll survive.

This weekend, I'll be shooting my second wedding. (Kat and Derek's was my first.) I'm pretty nervous, especially since the groom is a photographer himself.

sunrise and butterflies [52:20]

Many years ago, my cousin was selling holiday gifts through school and tucked in the back of the catalog was a set of butterfly window clings. I saw them and immediately decided that they would be perfect on my east-facing window. Even now, cracked and faded, the butterflies add a special touch to my view of fluffy clouds and tree tops.
Last night, when I couldn't sleep, I got a rare opportunity: to watch the sun rise through the butterflies. I rarely see the sunrise because I'm a night owl and therefore sleep right through it. But last night, I absolutely could not fall asleep. So I got to watch the sun rise this morning before I finally dozed off.







As I watched the sun peek through, I realized that I had the perfect photo for my project 52. This is springtime. This is the world waking up after a long, cold winter (although not in Florida). And this is exquisite happiness, especially to a sleep-deprived mind.

Watching the golden sunlight play on every surface of my room was absolutely wonderful. Maybe I should wake up early more often and go play in the sunshine somewhere, soaking up its golden shine. Anyone for a beach day?

combating the darkness [52:19]

Another last minute project 52 entry, just barely making deadline. Oh self, what am I ever going to do with you?

This week's theme is window light, which I have been avoiding like the plague. I have a lovely east-facing window so I can wake up to a beautiful morning. I also have had a lovely side effect from the steroids that keeps me up until almost sunrise, which makes me want to hide under the covers forever when I finally get to sleep. So basically, I have not been putting my window to good use. But this morning I noticed that my windowsill has exactly what I need to make my world happy: sunshine, a purple lightsaber, and a good book.

my favorite time of day

I have been saving these photos for a day when I really would rather not be awake. When I feel like I could use some time off from my life, I just have to look at these photos to remember why I'm here.

I wrote this as my Facebook status on Tuesday, right before I ran outside to take these photos:
"Dear golden hour, the world feels better when you come around. Our love affair needs to last forever (although I may cheat on you with your early morning sister)."

it's time for a FIELD TRIP!

Did anyone else hear that title in Miss Frizzle's voice?
Moving on... On Saturday, mom and I were babysitting one of her former students, who is so much like me when I was her age, and so we just had to go to the Museum of Discovery and Science. I went over winter break so I was overdue for a return trip. I didn't take too many pictures because my main priority was my mini-me but I couldn't resist sharing a few of my favorites. I already sent my favorite people photos to her parents.

I love the fruit bats.

If I ever questioned why I needed higher ISO capabilities, this shot proves it. Hello 1/50 handheld shutter speed. (For those of you who don't know much about photography, low light means I need a longer shutter speed, which most likely entails me either putting my camera on a tripod or having a blurry shot because I move too much.)

I got a better picture of this guy last time. His glass was a little smudged and he was a little sleepy.










Those of you who knew me pre-blog know my obsession with alligators. (I'm slightly embarrassed by how awful some of those photos are.) While mom and her student explored the kids' section, I chilled at the alligator tank.


There was one gator who kept diving into the fountain and trying to grab something. I think he was trying to catch some lunch, except there isn't any in the tank.