sometimes i doubt myself. i wonder if i should be a photographer at all. other times, an image comes out like this, and i realize that i can't give it up. i really love this picture. i have been able to say that about more and more of my images lately.

I was walking the dogs this morning when I noticed man leisurely walking in the rain on the metro path. As I got closer, I realized that he was walking slowly because a Canada goose was on the path in front of him barking at him in a treatening way. As I approach with my dogs, the goose flapped it's wings and turned to shoo it's family towards the pond. I said to the man "were they holding you up?" and he responded that he didn't know if they were dangerous or not so he was going slow. "good thing" I said. "canada geese are really mean".

"oh, then I don't feel as embarassed for being afraid of them then".
He was six four, 200lbs and afraid My little 38lbs dogs were fearless.

Tags: via ljapp
Current Location: US, Virginia, Fairfax, Springfield

v and i went to see "UP" last night. it was incredibly sad, something i wasn't expecting in an animated film. years ago, i went to see John Lasseter speak at the Smithsonian right after Toy Story came out. he said that at the core of every movie should be a truly great story, because if you don't have a great story, it won't matter how good the animation is. both the story and the animation were amazing. we saw the digital 3D version and after a while, i forgot it was in 3D, it just felt like i was there, watching things unfold.

when we left the theater, it was pouring down rain. by the time we reached the car, we were soaked for the drive home. the movie left me in a very emotionally raw state, so once home, we opened the window, listened to the rain and watching the lightning. it was a very nice way to end the evening.

ps - saw the trailer for Toy Story 3, due out in June of 2010. long wait!
pps - squirrel!

Current Mood: tired

i got a new laptop recently that has one of those tiny little integrated camera's above the screen. my wallpaper is very red so it colored the entire picture *lol*

i look happy.

Tags: 2009 valerie michael

"I thought I knew, but now I know that rose trees never grow,
in New York city."

for the second weekend in a row, we went to new york for an overnighter.
that makes three times in the past two months we have been to the city,
and before that it was four years ago with azcra and aliona,
who coincidentally called me yesterday for reasons i don't yet know.

if you have been wondering, i haven't intentionally been hiding away, i just
have a lot of new things going on in my life, some that take every spare
moment. there have been both wonderful and not so wonderful things happening,
and i have been learning a lot about myself and the people that i call family.

i have a tendency to see the potential in people and when people don't meet
their potential, i find disappointment follows. part of me wishes i wasn't
blessed (cursed) with that gift, but i am and so i learn to take the bad with
the good and find a middle ground where everyone can meet. it occurs to me
that this applies to many situations i have going on at the moment...

years ago, i read the fountainhead, and it changed me. i think about it now
and how it's words still apply, even to this situation

"Anything may be betrayed, anyone may be forgiven. But not those who lack the courage of their own greatness."

perhaps i need to read it again...

i haven't updated in ages so when i saw this pic of mason and i hanging out at vicky and dan's i thought i'd share :) hope you all are well! life is really looking up these days :D

i had not intended to do a shoot today, but azcra asked me to come to the studio with her and when she got tired, i picked up a few sets with brittany athey.

today, azcra was modeling all day, so i hung out with a girl named liz.

Tags: 2008-366

today, brynn and i braved the cold to take pictures. "i know the perfect place!" she said and proceeded to take me to a spot where she and her husband had gotten lost by accident one time. we only got to shoot for a short while before it started to rain and we ended up back at our studio.

i got some news today on my bloodwork, i don't have mono, but it turns out i have had mono in the past, both forms of it. i was completely unaware of this. i seem to be getting better, so the doctor wants to wait two weeks and see how i am before sending me for a sleep study.

Tags: 2008-366

tonight, i shot christina beasley at the studio. victoria stiles did makeup and azcra did styling. we make a fabulous team, the three of us, and we got so many good shots! christina was looking to update her book as she is planning to go to nyc to visit agencies in the near future and this shoot was just what she needed.

Tags: 2008-366