runyon canyon bench series (post 2)

This personal project is purposefully a very simple one: To photograph this bench with my Diana (a plastic toy film camera) every time I reach the peak of my hike up Runyon Canyon. The rule is: I'll wait only a minute or so to anticipate and document a fleeting moment, and I must take a picture of whatever is happening every time I reach this spot. (even if I am not terribly inspired and wouldn’t have taken the shot otherwise) I started hiking Runyon Canyon within days of landing in Los Angeles. My brother’s best friend took me the first time and I was hooked. I loved the physical challenge, the views, the dogs.. and I loved the crooked, oversized bench with peeled paint that sinks back just enough that you can’t help but really let go and just be. It is a place to disconnect from the city and calm your mind.

After over 4 years and a couple of hundred hikes, I started to take my camera. Knowing I won’t always live so close to this trail that is so much more than a trail to me, I needed to document a piece of the experience. I am now hooked on the project and excited to see where it goes (even though these photographs are super grainy and completely imperfect).

I'm planning to post more photographs from the bench series next Friday, so check back!

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Same day... a few moments later

Thursday, May 6, 2010

[photographs taken at runyon canyon in hollywood, california with my diana camera, may 2010]

a child's world..

While we try to teach our children all about life,

Our children teach us what life is all about.

~Angela Schwindt

As I was reflecting on my recent photo session of this sweet 16 month old little girl, I couldn’t help but re-connect so strongly with the very reason that led me to photograph children in the first place. I find it so inspiring to delve into a child’s world, even for a few hours, and experience their curiosity and wonder firsthand. I believe children see the world the way it is intended to be seen and experienced: simply and beautifully. Children help you connect with the present moment so naturally, which in turn, connects you back to your inner child… I love that.

I first photographed this beautiful girl last year when she was just 7 months old (my favorite baby stage to document). For this session, I met up with her and her lovely parents at the Huntington Gardens in Pasadena. The thoughtful conversations and peaceful walk we shared that Saturday morning will remain in my memory for a long time to come.

runyon canyon bench series (begins)..

I love simplicity. I love the fact that my Diana film camera has exposure settings simply for cloudy, partly cloudy, and sunny; and only 3 approximate focusing distances. I love that it is plastic and weighs nothing and I can throw it in my bag while I hike. I love that I don’t care if it collects a little dust or gets dropped. I love that it can take me 3 weeks or even 3 months to shoot ONE roll of 12 exposures. Shooting with my Diana is such simple fun and reminds me of my early film days… pausing time to wait and patiently anticipate a moment... and then, hoping I captured it with that one shot. When you shoot film, you naturally take more time to think about making a photograph and I love that. I also love getting my film back. It smells like sweet nostalgia.

...

I took my first photographs of the Runyon Canyon bench with my Diana camera in June 2009. For those photographs, I waited until the bench was empty to fit my vision. I photographed the bench again this past March and April, while documenting my regular bi-weekly hike (for the sake of personal nostalgia). This time, I found myself more interested in the dynamic of what happens in that spot and how fleeting those moments are. I waited only a second and photographed what was there.

I took only two pictures of the bench on that roll of film, so I was delighted to see them show up side by side on my contact sheet (even though they were taken 2 weeks apart). An idea sparked and I instantly knew what I wanted to do with the last roll of black and white film I had on hand.

I decided to set out to fill it solely with Runyon Canyon bench pictures – whatever is happening when I arrive after my steep climb. As of yesterday, I finished the first roll of my official “runyon canyon bench series ” – 12 exposures, spread out over one month. I am SO excited to get my film developed and will share photos (even if it’s nowhere near as cool as I thought it would be) and more about this personal challenge/project next week!

For now, here are the two images that sparked the idea. (And you can see my original bench photos from last year here.)

[photographs taken at runyon canyon in hollywood with my diana camera, march and april 2010]

for no reason other than love

as a collective society, i don’t believe we take enough time to appreciate and honor the love that exists in our lives. we are too busy and too distracted with work, technology, and things; but that is all nonsense. the distractions fail to compare to what is really most important: love, in all its capacities and forms. making these photographs, even for someone else, gave me a reason at the end of the day to squeeze my husband a little tighter and to see him more clearly. take time out today to hang on to the ones you love - with your arms and eyes wide open.

this is my friend robyn with her boyfriend, chris. robyn is an exceptional person, role model, and friend. if only there were more people like her, the world would be a lighter, brighter, gentler, wiser, more honest, kind, and loving place.

hurry never..

to live content with small means;

to seek elegance rather than luxury,

and refinement rather than fashion;

to be worthy, not respectable;

and wealthy, not rich;

to study hard, think quietly, talk gently, act frankly...

to listen to stars and buds, to babes and sages,

with open heart; await occassions, hurry never... this is my symphony.

-william henry channing

Deetjens Big Sur, California Photograph

Deetjens Big Sur, California Photograph

i stumbled upon this poem a few days ago, while making a collage with old magazines soon to be discarded. i have read it countless times throughout the week. it speaks volumes to me, each and every line. is there a better way to live other than to be content with small means?

tonight i began to ask myself where and when in my life have i felt a sense of being overwhelmingly content, when have i truly felt that it is ok to hurry never. of course it happens to all of us at many different times, but i wanted personal imagery to pair with this poem.. if nothing else, but to serve as my own reminder of the little things.

big sur was the response that came to me and specifically the photographs i took at deetjen's. i love its historical charm and understated elegance.. and the way this magical place allows you to just . slow . down. so, here's to listening to stars and buds and hurrying never..

[photographs taken at Deetjen's in Big Sur, California March 2009 and February 2010]

beautiful..

i met alexis about 3 1/2 years ago at santa monica gymnastics center, where we both coached. i was a newcomer to los angeles at the time and meeting people in the gymnastics community was a much needed home away from home. alexis and i soon realized that we grew up just a couple of hours away from each other in michigan and were probably unknowingly at many of the same gymnastics competitions. how funny that our paths finally crossed as adults so many years later on the other side of the country. alexis traveled in for this photo session from las vegas on the last possible weekend before she'll have to stay put and wait for her little guy to arrive. we were so lucky to have missed the rain by one day. it was totally worth tromping down the muddy path, as we were delighted to see such clear skies and green landscapes that can only result from a rainy winter in LA.

i've been envisioning these maternity photographs for quite some time, patiently waiting for the perfect opportunity.. and this was it. the first image is one that i specifically had in mind, a simple and serene moment in time, the shape of the hillsides ever so subtly echoing the beautiful form of an expecting mother.

as i look at these photographs, i am at a loss for words. it fills me with great honor to be asked to document such special moments in life. i am so appreciative to be able to spend time with lovely people in magical places like this one.

thanks so much, alexis and justin!