My biggest struggle with my own photography seems to be lighting. Granted, I’ve never set up a real “photo shoot” and readily admit I have no concept of this seemingly basic fundamental. Rats! I’ll leave the tricky stuff to photographer Noah Kalina instead.
Noah’s use of light along with cold and surreal subjects is at once creepy and magical. Please visit his portfolio site for a glimpse at more of his work. The series taken in California really grabbed my attention; instead of capturing the expected sunshine and palm trees, it’s all deeply foreboding skies, jaded-looking models and shadowy interiors. Truth and beauty.
Today is my 26th birthday. I’m not one of those people who dreads a birthday, grays or getting older. Maybe because I feel like “old” is still a long way off? We can revisit that in a few more years over a dish of Werther’s Originals, but for now I’m excited about getting older; I’m excited about the next 365 days of my life, what they will hold, what I might accomplish with them.
For posterity: I took today off of work to “celebrate.” My close friends and I went out for burgers and drinks on Saturday, so the larger celebration—the wild one, if you could even call it that—has already taken place. Today, the actual day, has just been quiet. I am going to go get a tomato, mozzarella, cucumber and basil sandwich for lunch, read my book somewhere outdoors, work on some stories I have in-progress, and have dinner tonight at Gjelina in Venice.
My joy, does it speak for itself? I feel a bit spoiled this year in the gifts department. I can now officially shut my fat mouth about not owning a typewriter! Cameron got me the exact seafoam Hermes 3000 typewriter-of-my-dreams that I had been staring at for months and months. It’s from 1962 and it’s in beautiful condition, complete with its original manual and cleaning brushes. I unwrapped it on Saturday and I think, like a child, it has crossed my mind at least once an hour since then. I wake up in the middle of the night to make sure it is still there.
The typewriter was made in Switzerland (Serial# 3140602) and, as usual, I would really like to name it. Boy or girl? I’m not sure. If you have a suggestion, please let me know!
As well, Mom and Dad chipped in and I was able to buy a gently used Canon Digital Rebel XTi EOS 400D camera for my birthday. I’m on the very-very amateur scale as far as photographers go, but I’ve been wanting to learn and practice; I think this is the perfect opportunity.
So.
I feel like I am in a very good place going into my 26th year. Grateful and lucky, yes. There is so much to work on. My hopes are high and through the ceiling for what I can learn and accomplish. LET’S GO!
If you decided to take a set of photographs from behind a screen and you had mad skills to spare, you might find yourself with some shots similar to those in photographer Matthew Tischler’s Screen Series.
Tischler writes: “None of the subjects in these photographs have any discernable facial features or characteristics. The screen that is imposed over each tableau subjugates their identities. Richly saturated colors and flattened space create alluring vistas that seem to resemble video stills.”
I do love the contrasting colors between the outfits and the background settings. These images are lovely.
