The Island.

I've probably walked passed this place over a thousand times. But I can't help wondering how many people have actually walked on this tiny island. Britt swam over to it (because she's a trooper) and the adventure commenced. 

It was hot and muggy. The sky was slowly growing darker as we walked to our shooting location. When Britt arrived on the island the rain started. She scrambled to dress herself and I pulled my shirt over my head to shield my camera from the rain. Somehow this didn't rush us all that much. We both knew that the more trouble you get into and the more hardships you face, the better the adventure.

Britt and I have discussed story lines to go with these images as part of our future project together, but I'll keep that all a secret for the time being. 

Underwater attempt #4. It's getting better but still nowhere near what I want it to be. But fear not. I'm still working on it.

What Happens when all our Hiding Places have been Found

(Just threw in this old image - which everyone has seen before - because I think it's suitable for this post)


My childhood was spent in games of hiding. Hide and seek, cops and robbers, things like that. But I've always sought out quiet places for more than just games. I crave moments of solitude in safe places. I've retreated to rooftops,  beaten paths in forests, waters' edges, homemade structures, whatever kind if place I could find to feel grounded and comfortable in my own skin. To spend some time with myself and sort out the whirlwind of thoughts that constantly spin in my head.

But what happens when your special places start to become known to more people? Strangers showing up in spots you thought were secluded. Strangers who see the beauty of a place but ruin it immediately with greed, jealously and exploitation at another’s expense. Do you stand your ground and fight for the magic that these places hold? Or do you retreat and hope that you can come back another day when other’s will hopefully be busy with something else and leave you alone?

Or what about when you need those times alone and you feel like you have nowhere to go, or no chance to escape. The concept of wanting to be alone can be very foreign to some people. Why would you want to be alone when you can be with people? Don’t you like people? Aren’t we fun enough for you? Don’t you love us at all?  People see your need for time alone as a desire for them to go away. That is, of course, not true. It’s never that we WANT to be away from our loved ones. It is, instead, that we WANT to be with ourselves. I find that sometimes while I’m with people I forget how to be with myself at the same time.

And your relationship with yourself is the most important one you can ever have. Nobody should know you better than you do. But sadly this is the case with most people. We don’t like to get to know ourselves well enough to see our flaws, or even the parts of us that make us beautiful. We are so self-conscious that we’d rather not learn the reasons for why we’re wonderful. But don’t you think we would be so much happier if we did discover these hidden treasures within ourselves?

 I recently told a friend that what I want in life is a quiet place to drink tea and read books. She told me not to ever let go of that want. So basically my solution is this: I will always find places to be by myself. I might sometimes share those places with loved ones, or, depending on that place, strangers. And I will never feel guilty for needing the time to escape because after all, it will make me a better person to be around when I do return.

The other day Britt and I decided to get together and do a photo shoot. She asked if I had any ideas, and I didn't so I thought for a moment and said "How about someone being swallowed by vines." And here's what came of it. It may have been a bit rainy and there may have been a thunder clap or two while we stood under lots of tall thin lightning rods - I mean trees... But what's adventure all about, right? At least our destination was close and we miraculously got back inside just before mother nature sent a hail storm our way. 

This shot haunts me to my very core but it turned out so intense that I wanted to share it. My Mom says it looks like an old movie poster for a horror flick.

On a somewhat related note, Britt and I are planning a very big ongoing project together which I am very excited about. I'll share more about it once we get some details sorted out. Oh! The anticipation!

It was Everything. It was Nothing.

It was perfect. It was cold and windy and I was in a childish frenzy over a precious little garden shed we had just walked by. We walked to a place we'd never been before where the sun was setting over tree tops and the dry grass crunched under our feet as we climbed the hill. We were both quiet and I knew something was different. Before I knew it, it was happening. There were tears in my eyes and a man on one knee in front of me. He asked me a question but my mind couldn't answer. My body already knew what my mind would have said and answered with a nod and a hardly audible "yes". I was shaking as the ring somehow magically found it's way onto my finger. Then we sat for what seemed like an eternity as the cold air washed over us and the sun sank lower behind the trees.

He told me he couldn't have done it on my birthday. Not at the pond, in the cliffs, or at the camp where I spent my childhood. He said he knew those things were already special to me for their own reasons, and he didn't want to impose a new kind of special onto any of them. Maybe that seems strange to some people but it's suits me perfectly. It was quiet and ordinary. It was its nothingness that made it everything to me.

The Engagement

Apologies for not posting anything lately. I could give excuses but I won't bother. 

Today I finally got off my lazy butt and did a photo shoot with the help of my amazing fiance! When we got engaged he asked if I wanted to do engagement photos. But of course nothing with me can be simple and straight forward. So these are a couple images from our "engagement photos". Couples photo will hopefully be up within the next few days.

Now... Somebody else get engaged (or have any other reason for me to shoot them). I'm tired of photographing myself.

The Old Road

And now back to real photos. I've been driving past this location for a few months now with the idea of using it for a shooting location. And I naively thought it would be relatively easy to get to.

It's an old closed road that runs parallel to the new one which has replaced it. Perhaps there's something in me that longs for these difficult and uneasy places. Forgotten things, hidden treasures. I suppose it's my version of an adventure. And I consider myself incredibly lucky to have friends who are willing to make the journey with me.