Self-Portrait

For my creative portraiture class we were asked to do self-portraits. First, an "environmental" self-portrait followed up by an outdoor self-portrait portraying the same emotion. I just finished the indoor segment and below is what I came up with. Self-portraits are hard!! In it I am going for the "I'm a pregnant, tired mommy who still strives to be a good mommy to her son" look. Hopefully this comes through....

Holga Fun

I recently got a new camera, called a Holga. It's basically a cheap, cheap plastic toy camera known for its light leaks, distortion, and possible blur. It's also known for its production of some beautiful images. Who better to practice on than by boy James and a furry creature or two? This camera takes film (remember those?) and I must admit there was that long-lost anticipation of "what will I end up with" I used to feel while anxiously waiting on picking up developed film. The results weren't so spectacular but I look forward to more practice sessions with this new toy. If you'd like to learn more about the Holga and its imagery, try this site:

http://www.theholga.com/

Instant Family Photo

Compliments of my friend Ali and the instant camera I got not too long ago, I have a picture of my family which includes a smile on my husband's face! It's not that he doesn't love us, but that looking at old family photos of his, I think this was just the Albanian norm - some sort of serious photo-taking expectation - a habit I think he finds hard to break. (Gjon, any comment on this?) Anyway, since I am usually behind the camera, we don't get a lot of family photos. Don't mind me I am as white as a ghost....just about glowing. Obviously, James does not get his coloring from my side.

Swim like a fish!

Ok, so maybe not swim like a fish yet but we're taking steps to get there. James had his first "swim" class today, which was more like a "float and get used to the water" class at LA Surf & Swim, a pool in our neighborhood. Good news is he took to the experience right away and really enjoyed his time with the teachers and in the water. Perhaps he'll give Michael Phelps a run for his money one day....hmmm. I think his favorite moment was when they turned him around and he floated on his back, just lounging away. Oh how I sometimes wish someone might still hold me and let me completely relax like that too!






Waiting with Jessica for class to start



And off he goes!

Experimenting with water

Loungin'

Happy July 4th Everyone!

Well, we are having a pretty mellow July 4th holiday this year.  The weather here is still pretty cool and I'm ready for some temperatures that get over 65 degrees.  Today James and I ventured out to the front yard with his Star Spangled 4th of July helium balloon for a little photo shoot, only to lose the rock that held it down so that it didn't fly away.  Low and behold someone (and I'm not naming names here) managed to rid the string of the rock and away it went seconds before the first picture was snapped.  Sigh.  Anyway, we watched it float away into the neighbor's tree and carried on with our shoot both inside and out.  James had a lot of fun standing on the chair and doing anything but looking at the camera when Mama wanted him to.  

Wishing you all a happy and safe 4th of July!

I've been going back and forth about starting a blog for some time now, and figured now's a time as good as any. Plus, I should get it going before baby #2 makes his debut. Mostly, this blog is for keeping family and friends up to date on my sweet boy James but also to post some of my photography and overall happenings. Welcome and feel free to comment!