Summer has slowly reached it's settling place here in Minnesota. That makes me a pretty happy little girl. Well, as happy as I can be due to weather.. We have had 2 or 3 solid weeks of rainy weather. Which is fine by me. Finally it's been warming up, and getting rather sunny and toasty. Which is also fine by me. It inspires me to drag out my camera and get my creative mind in motion. (as well as go tubing)

I've been attempting to update my list of links on my blog so they are all up to date. I like to keep things up to date..

As I mention in my past post, I am trying to get together a semi-decent portfolio for myself. I'm not fully sure why, yet. I know I have had a few people request a portfolio from me in order to 'hire' me, and I suppose I would like to be able to hand one over if the topic ever arose.

Anyhoo! Moving on.. I need a project. Something to keep my lil' mind busy! At first I thought of doing a mass project on graffiti. But apparently.. I live nowhere special for that type of art. I would have to do that when I stop by San Fran and move East and visit Tokyo. But I still keep my eye out.

365 Days, only on Day 2..

I started the "365 Days" group on flickr. (Edit: Never finished.. I can hardly look at myself sometimes) You take an image of yourself every day for a year. I started yesterday. It's in hope to keep my mind busy from the stuff that's going on in my life right now. Also - To help me be a bit more creative. So far, so good. Though I am only on day 2.

As for anything else. Well.. I can't talk about that.. I can hardly think about it without breaking down into a fit of sobbing. Hehe. It's hard. Really hard. People tell me things will get easier.. I'm waiting, and trying.. But it's not working yet. :( Yeesh.. (5 months later, not at all easier.. BTW! >:( )

I'm almost finished with a book called: The Education of a Photographer. It's not too bad, actually. I want to pick up the book 'Photography Theory' from the bookstore. But I haven't any extra money to get any books right now. ^^

More links added to your right. Enjoy!

Mom's pup Carmen is growing up. She also enjoys playing outside. :) I got very depressed at mom's this weekend and fell ill. This was the only image worth keeping. Maybe next weekend I'll get some more.

Photography, really?!

Today is a day that I actually talk about photography. Verses just my mundane life. *smiles* So any readers out there. It may be worth it after all! I was looking at all my older cameras.. Most of which are TLR cameras. Others which are simple hawkeyes, or unnamed box-cameras. And wondering when I'll ever get around to doing more film photography. The cameras I want to use seem to take 620 film. Which I am just not going to find at the store any time.. Ever. Eeech. So next I get my laptop, and begin looking up said cameras, films, etc.. I came across this interesting article on 'TTV'.. What's TTV you ask? Well!

TTV stands for: 'Through the Viewfinder'. A seemingly new breed of experimentation and photography.

I am oddly drawn to this! I am unsure of the reasons as of now. Perhaps because it's cold outside and it gives me a reason to shoot at anything. Whether it be inside, or outside. Perhaps simply because it is new. I don't know. But.. Funfunfun. Okay, okay.. 'We don't get it.. Elaborate, Angelé!' Okay.. Well basically, to make this as short and easy to understand as possible, you take a TLR camera. (In my case I used my Argoflex Seventy-Five that I recently acquired from 'Savers') Then I took a cereal box. (knock off of Honey Nut Cheerios, of course..) Hacked it to bits.. Then taped it back together to create a 'light-less'-like-tunnel.. Basically looking like this. :) You aim your camera through the 'top', using a macro lens (If you have one. I don't, and it still works for me. I do what I can) Ta-dah!! Picture after picture of funness! Now.. Granted I have only done a few things.. I would love to toy around with portraits this way. Though I am sure that they would have to be sitting. I.. Don't have a ladder.

Anyway. This is TTV and what it looks like.. If you are interested, or have any questions. Either comment here or drop me an email. As for now? I'll link my flickr gallery that has plenty of other TTV photos in it. If you'd like to take a peek. After said link. I'll be linking helpful sites for anyone interested. And here they're listed.

• TTV @ Flickr
• TTV @ Blogspot
• Ground Glass @ flickr
• Russ Morris / TTV

Thank you -- And good night! (hee)

People of Earth:

As much as I don't like to admit it. I really am not a fan of cold weather. *thinks* Well.. There's cold, then there is -COLD-. :| Being in Minnesota, it gets mighty cold. I'm not sure why, but for me it's hard to stay warm even during summer months. The past couple of weeks have been bitterly cold, and windy. Below zero with 20 mile-per-hour winds. Not favorable weather for me by any means. Therefor I haven't been taking any outdoor photos. I miss that..

As for today, I am quite unsure as to what I should write. In all honesty I'm extremely depressed and horribly miserable. But we wont get into that. *grin* All I know is that I am unsure of what I've done wrong in order to receive the bundle of things I have been receiving. But I can only take it one day at a time. Which is sometimes very hard.

I think I may set up something to shoot at today. I miss taking pictures. Even if of trivial things. Because.. If it's something I am passionate about. The picture will be beautiful. And if it's not beautiful to you, or many others, and only to me.. Then that's fine. Because I don't take pictures to become worthy, or to get friends and be popular. I do it out of passion. I love it.. But.. Truly I can't wait for it to get a bit warmer. My shots will become less 'studio' and more as they used to be when I started photography.

Short but sweet..

"Look at life through the windshield,
not the rear-view mirror."

Umbrellas..

It's strange.. I am not usually one to be 'moody'. Well.. Quickly switch moods in a rather.. Almost 'bipolar' way. But, today I can say is different. Though I am generally happy. I am ultimately sad. The one I love so truly is so far away. At my own fault. I flip-flop through happy and bubbly to somewhat saddened and hurt quite frequently. I can only hope it'll be fixed soon.

A little daily goal I have been trying to accomplish (along with others) is taking at least one photograph each day that I will actually be willing to show someone. Yes, I am afraid I am one of those people who often throw away nearly every photo they take. But that's not too uncommon for a photographer to do. I had a fun time taking quick snapshots of myself in the bathroom mirror (above) in bed, outside, and inside.. And photoshopping them together. (Mind you, I am FAR from great at putting together any sort of photo manipulation). Nothing fancy. Nothing artsy. Nothing 'professional' (I despise that word..). It's me being me. Me being true. Me in RAW, everyday form.

I hit up the thrift-shops today in attempt to find something interesting. Something to perhaps triggers a sense of creativity in my idle, uninspired mind. The only thing I found was a wall-eyed cat bank. I laughed harder at that little thing then I have at anything in days! He's incredible. I had to take it home with me. He's currently holding my coins. His name is Jeffy..





Every time I dream. It's a dream of you...