Wednesday, December 29, 2010

A handmade Christmas for Mom

Back in September I had the great idea to make a quilt for my Mom as a Christmas present. I was struck by a flurry of inspiration and apparently a bout of amnesia, blocking the memories from my previous quilt making endeavors. Hey, it's September, that's plenty of time to sew a quilt from scratch and with no pattern, right? The short answer to that is yes, plenty of time for stitch ripping and cursing up a storm! It seemed like a good idea anyway and in the end I think it was worth the effort.

Here is a short photo essay of the life of a handmade quilt. Hope you like it Mom!

Quilt 01b

Quilt 03b

Lue Machine 02b

Quilt 03ba

Quilt 02b

Quilt 04b


Quilt 05

Mom Quilt 01

Monday, December 27, 2010

Photographing Juliana, Mark & sweet baby Laila J

I met Juliana when we both moved back to our home state of Michigan to work for AnnArbor.com. During that first month a group of us met up at a brewery to get to know each other better. I didn't notice it at the time, but Juliana was the only one drinking pop. Little did I know, but she was newly pregnant with a sweet little baby, Laila June.

Laila is eight-months-old now and Juliana and Mark decided to capture her cuteness in some family photos. We managed to squeeze in a photo session at their apartment just in time for the holidays. Here are a few of my favorites!

Juliana, Mark and Laila

This photo was taken while Laila's special holiday dress was still special and before she realized it seriously hampered her mobility! Frustrated baby ensued! :)
Juliana, Mark and Laila

Juliana, Mark and Laila

Juliana, Mark and Laila

Juliana had a second outfit for Laila and I stole this photo while she was being changed. The look on her face just makes me melt! What a sweetie.
Juliana, Mark and Laila

Juliana, Mark and Laila

Proud Mom and Pops!
Juliana, Mark and Laila

Juliana, Mark and Laila

Laila's nap was cut a little short so that we could take photos, her patience started to wear towards the end.
Juliana, Mark and Laila

Juliana, Mark and Laila

Juliana, Mark and Laila

Sunday, December 12, 2010

The Big Chill

The Big Chill was not too chilly and for that I am very grateful! Michigan hockey hosted Michigan State outside at Michigan Stadium at what turned out to be the largest attended hockey game ever. The official number was 113,411, which is more than any other college event in history.

121110_SPT_Big CHill_MRM

I split my time photographing from the photo deck (way up above the press box) and in the stands with the 113,411 people. My primary goal was to photograph the atmosphere of the game and not just action. Check out a multimedia from the event below.

121110_SPT_Big CHill_MRM_15b

121110_SPT_Big CHill_MRM_13b

121110_SPT_Big CHill_MRM

121110_SPT_Big CHill_MRM_07b

121110_SPT_Big CHill_MRM

121110_SPT_Big CHill_MRM

121110_SPT_Big CHill_MRM

121110_SPT_Big CHill_MRM

121110_SPT_Big CHill_MRM_40b


All photos in this post © AnnArbor.com 2010

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Friday, December 10, 2010

Color Contact, NYC

In March of 2002, a couple of art students and I spent spring break touring NYC. Besides it being the first time I'd ever been to New York, it was also the six-month anniversary of 9/11. I came across this contact sheet while digging through an old box of negatives. It's sort of a mini time capsule, exploring an overwhelming city through the eye of a young photographer.

NYC contact sheet blog

Friday, December 3, 2010

Ain't nothing but a number

On Monday I turned 30.

It's funny that as you age milestone birthdays go from being exciting, like becoming a teenage at 13 or old enough for booze at 21, to something you are supposed to dread, like leaving your twenties for the "big 30." Seeing as I can only speak on those birthdays leading up to 30, I'd like to turn the tables on age and embrace it.

Here is a self portrait I took for a photo class assignment in college at age 20. I am not sure what I was "trying to say" when I made this picture but it is interesting to come across it ten years later.

Me Photo class 2000blog

As I look back at the 20-year-old me, I'd like to give her some simple advice, perhaps the same advice I'd give myself now: 

- Be a good person, even to a stranger

- Appreciate what you have

- Work hard

- Learn

- Laugh

I've lived a lot of life in the last 30 years and in an optimistic stance, I can't wait to see what the next 30 have in store.


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