eye+heart+photo

Like Napoleon from Elba, I return to blogging...

2011-09-19T13:32:00.017-04:00

At least, it kinda feels that way. Hard to believe I quit posting over two years ago! Everything is so different, I considered deleting all the older posts and starting new. To sum up those self-imposed years of blogger exile (especially a particular 16 months), those thousands of little stories, in just a handful of photographs in a single post would be quite a formidable mountain to climb, so I will quickly mobilize (er, restart) with a bit of recent happy news.

In college, I fell into a sort of close- knit 'band a part' with two other photojournalist friends, Ed & Evan. We were three idealist peas in a pod until Evan decided to switch schools, Ed returned to England, and I went to Denmark. Last time I saw Ed, I was staying with him in his boat-like London apartment in 2007; Evan, 2009. In 2010, Evan surprised us all and joined the Navy and has been serving in Afghanistan as a medic. Ed has since been climbing and photographing around the World: http://www.edluke.com/ & http://www.rockstarsexhibition.com/

The cartwheel inducing news that made me so excited, I actually blogged:

1. Evan is returning to CA this week - safe and sound! AND will be on the East Coast this Fall.

2. At the same time I heard from Evan, I found this charming email in my inbox!

My reply:

In other words, let's pretend there are words for how happy I am to see these two again and that I wrote them here.

Protecting your images: part 1

2009-08-24T15:50:00.009-04:00

Recently, a friend of mine had images from her website taken by a foreign company, who then used her photographs on their website. When she asked them to take it down, she got a nasty email in reply, disputing her rights and the validity of her copyright. Image stealing on the internet is easy-peasy if you can right-click or make a screen shot, so its important for photographers to know their rights and ways to make it harder. Thus, why I've decided to dedicate a few posts to image protection.

First, any image from this blog or my personal website is mine and under copyright. If you take any of my images and use them on your website or for any commercial use without permission, you are stealing. Thankfully, I have a few lawyers in my family : )

long deep breath, happy thoughts...

Now, The Copyright Issue.

This will be a two part post, delving into the options for photographers should an image be stolen off their website or blog. Please let me know if you have any suggestions or feedback.

Part one: Copyright Basics & Copyright Registration with the U.S. Government.

1. Your images are under copyright protection the moment they are created in a tangible form.

2. You do not have to register with the U.S. government to be protected. However, if you want to take legal action for infringement of a U.S. work, then you should register.

3. "Poor Man's Copyright", mailing yourself a copy of your images, is not a substitute for registration with the U.S. government.

4. Most countries around the world respect U.S. copyrights. The U.S. copyright office has a list of all the countries on their website.

5. How to register your work with the U.S. government: As a photographer, you can send the U.S. Government all your images at once. You can also register your entire blog or website and anything you post or upload will be protected. It is cheaper and faster to do it online, which costs $35. If you do it via snail mail, the cost is $65 (fee changed August 1). Most file types are accepted and can be sent in a zip (compressed) file. It takes a few months for the registration process to be completed and if you apply online, you can check on its status.

Where to register online: http://www.copyright.gov/circs/

files accepted:

.bmp (Bitmap Image)

.dwg (AutoCAD Drawing)

.dwf (Autodesk Design)

.fdr (Final Draft)

.gif, .giff (Graphics Interchange Format)

.jpg, .jpeg, .jfif (Joint Photographic Experts Group)

.pdf (Portable Document Format)

.pic, .pict (Picture File)

.png (Portable Network Graphic)

.psd (Photoshop Document)

.pub (Microsoft Publisher)

.tga (Targa Graphic)

.tif, .tiff (Tagged Image File Format)

.wmf (Windows Metafile)

For further protection:

1. © - Use a copyright symbol somewhere on your image. To make one on PC, press the "ALT" key, then the numbers 0 1 6 9. For Mac, press Option-G

2. Watermark - Placing text or an image on your photo that identifies you are the owner (your name, company, etc).

3. There are also ways to prevent people from right clicking. Sites like Flickr and Photobucket have an option you can click in your preferences to prevent this. For further info on how you can do this, click here.

Next: What to do if your image is stolen and being used commercially or on another website without your permission.

This blog is not dead : )

2009-08-17T22:53:00.004-04:00

This bird, however... hit my window the other day and was not so fortunate.

Same old story as always, I've been quite busy, mostly with decision making. I had grand plans of sitting at waterholes and swimming my little heart out all summer, but the majority of it was spent doing graphic design work and dealing for a private fine art group (high maintenance+severely understaffed= too much overtime/ ugh!). But, I did manage to squeeze in a few little travels, some photo gigs and alot of spelunking! In a few days, I'm back in the district to see what I can see and live as an urbanite again. As usual, my feelings are mixed. If I could have my cake and eat it too, my family and the mountains would move with me.

ooh, I also put together my website: www.hollidaywilliams.com

Also, Patton Oswalt posted an impressive speech he gave to his old high school on his website. There's a part where he mentions the best advice anyone has ever given him:

"And then this banker – clean-shaven, grey suit and vest – you’d never look twice at him on the street – he told me about The Five Environments.
He leans forward, near the end of the dinner, and he says to me, 'There are Five Environments you can live in on this planet. There’s The City. The Desert. The Mountains. The Plains. And The Beach. You can live in combinations of them. Maybe a city in the desert, or in the mountains by the ocean. Or you could choose just one. Out in the plains somewhere, perhaps. But you need to get out there and travel, and figure out where you thrive. Some places you’ll go to and you’ll feel yourself wither. Your brain will fog up, your body won’t respond to your thoughts and desires, and you’ll feel sad and angry. You need to find out which of the Five Environments are yours. If you belong by the ocean, then the mountains will ruin you. If you’re suited for the blue solitude of the plains, then the city will be a tight, roaring prison cell that’ll eat you alive.'
He was right. I’ve traveled and tested his theory and he was absolutely right. There are Five Environments. If you find the right combination, or the perfect singularity, your life will click…into…place. You will click into place."

Hits the nail on the head, no?

2009-04-30T21:25:00.000-04:00

Moratorium

2009-04-17T19:36:00.002-04:00

Got a call today... Because of White Nose Syndrome (see post below) all caving in the east (north & south) has been placed in what is called a "Moratorium", meaning all caving is illegal until further notice. Most commercial caves like Mammoth will remain open however. Poor little bats...

2009-04-13T00:03:00.011-04:00

Since I was about 17, I've been an avid caver (funny story for another post). There are over 100,000 caves in Tennessee alone and the Chattanooga area just happens to be a hotbed. Recently, my friend Jerry Wallace asked me, as well as a few members of the Chattanooga Grotto, to do a trip to a cave in Sewannee, TN to photograph it. If you want to learn how to use a flash, by golly, cave photography would be the hobby to pick up. We had so many flashes and people running and firing them off, trying to get the right angle at the right time...well, it all was a bit hysterical. I learned I'm more of a minimalist. I'm not very fond of lighting up every corner or having a big team of assistants. That's not how I visualize caving or a cave and that approach just seems to take away some of its allure.
Also, please educate yourself about White Nose Syndrome, which is spreading quickly from North to South wiping out the country's adorable brown bats at an alarming pace.

2009-04-12T16:39:00.005-04:00

My good friend Roah was married yesterday to another friend of mine, Malach. I started photographing Roah nearly 4 years ago when she was the only single woman at her commune. Malach and Roah joined the same community on the same day by coincidence 10 years ago and now they're married! There really couldn't be a more perfect match, considering both have an amazing sense of humor and energy (and they certainly didn't hold back during the wedding). Here are a few outtakes:

Their first kiss!

2009-04-12T00:35:00.006-04:00

Happy Easter/ Chocolate Animal Day!!
I found this little bird while walking to a wedding after doing an Easter portrait sitting with an energetic Toddler who was determined to make me run the entire time. Spring has finally arrived it seems...

little man on a mission! (to avoid my camera)

also, my external hardrive broke, so until I get it fixed, I'll be posting new stuff and then I'll post the rest of the DC photos. Cheers!

Last Days in DC part 1

2009-02-03T20:07:00.003-05:00

Laney Lane visited.

For old long ago, my dear 2008

2009-01-09T00:27:00.015-05:00

A New Year, indeed!

I didn't have a definite resolution to usher in my new year, but I did ponder many things.
This week, I've been given an unexpected push to take an idea that I've been tossing around for awhile and just do it. Its kinda terrifying to give up a bed of roses and cross your fingers that this big decision is the best for what you want. Comfort does not particularly equal happiness. Here's to the new year, taking leaps and not wasting time!

List #8: Songs that will always remind me of 2008, in no particular order.

1. The Funeral - Band of Horses
2. Shake Shake Shake - White Denim (the best video)
3. Black Moth Super Rainbow (the entire album+fun to see live)
4. Islands
5. Far Away - Cut Copy
6. Requim - M. Ward
7. Confessor- Annuals
8. On Our Way Home - The Silent Years
9. Block of Ice - Thee Oh Sees (I was obsessed with this song for a period)
10. Det snurrar i min skalle - Familjen
11. You're All I Need To Get By - Mark Ronson
12. Why Do You Let Me Stay Here - She&Him
13. Low - Flo Rida (who doesn't? ha.)
14. Mostly Untitled - Hysterics
15. 5 Years Time - Noah and the Whale (entire album, really)
16. Junior Senior
17. Wonderland By Night & Swinging Safari - Bert Kaempfert
18. Ce Jeu - Yelle
19. New York Groove - Ace Frehley
20. True Affection, parenthesis - The Blow
21. That's Not My Name - Ting Tings (I actually hated this song at first)
22. Heaven, Hey Mrs. - I Monster
23. That Beep, Its 5, Heart It Races, Hold Music - Architecture In Helsinki (i like the remixes of AIH too)
24. Floating - Jape
25. Over and Over - Hot Chip
26. Touch 2 Feel, Can't Stop - Girl Talk
27. Come To Me - Koop
28. Buried And Dead - Masters Apprentices
29. Richard Hell and the Voidoids (good to play when you're trying to stay awake editing)
30. Ratatat (all)
31. Sun always Shines on TV - Aha (meh, guilty pleasure)
32. The Knife - Heartbeats
33. Little Bird - Annie Lennox
34. If I Can Dream - Elvis
35. I Am John - Loney, Dear
36. Pangea- Somebody Still Loves You, Boris Yeltsin
37. Carmensita- Devendra Banhart
38. Secret Identity - How I Became the Bomb
39. Spacer Woman - Charlie (Thanks, Smudge)
40. Olivia Tremor Control
41. This Is What I Wanted To Tell You - The Nobility

...i'm gonna stop before this list gets out of hand.

Holiday in the fog.

2008-12-27T22:18:00.005-05:00

Flew home this christmas only to be held hostage the entire time by the mountain's dense fog. It was quite lovely.

Closest I got to the sun.

my models

Chertoff

2008-12-12T02:08:00.003-05:00

The U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, Michael Chertoff. His favorite thing to say seems to be "I can't confirm as of right now".

all photos copyright of H.W.

Thanksgiving

2008-12-03T21:17:00.004-05:00

at my parent's new house.

t'was a good time had by all.

hanne

2008-11-11T20:08:00.005-05:00

That which many people only use as a muscle, she uses as a heart.

hvatthode.wordpress.com

Eye Candy

2008-10-30T20:27:00.008-04:00

my new roommate and I wish you a
Happy Halloween!

Rob and the torch

2008-10-29T22:48:00.008-04:00

Rob Van Elburg from the Netherlands.
These are the outtakes from the shoot. My two favorite will go into my portfolio. I think that's what this blog should be for- the photos that otherwise would never be seen.
*all photos are copyright of Holliday Williams

Caldwell Wedding

2008-10-29T21:03:00.006-04:00

900 miles over the moon

2008-10-27T22:33:00.003-04:00

I thought I'd kick off the new photo+blog by reposting the first entry I made with my old blog a year and a half ago. Just for old times sake...
"Anomaly"

hard to believe I'm still kickin' it in d.c.!

2008-10-25T01:00:00.002-04:00

Hey Little World! I've just switched blog addresses, that's all. My old blog will stay active for awhile, but will not be updated. This is its new home.

old blog: heylittleworld.blogspot.com
new blog: eyeheartphoto.blogspot.com

Cheers.

Jewel of the South

2008-09-18T23:49:00.000-04:00

Last year I spent nearly a month photographing Drag show performances in Appalachia. Today, I discovered that my favorite appalachian GLAM-A-ZON is no longer with us. This is shocking and sad and I feel so lucky to have known and photographed Stayzia, who was only 38 years young.

The Problem of RAW files

2008-09-12T16:39:00.000-04:00

For those who shoot with a digital camera:

There's a problem with the future of the RAW format.

In the future there will be new computers, new operating systems and old software will become obsolete. Remember how you bought all those 8-tracks? Remember floppy disks?

"...camera makers will support legacy files only for that long, until it becomes too much of a burden or expensive (or they go out of business like Konica-Minolta), so the future for current RAW files is very, very uncertain."

Thankfully, there is someone trying to address the issue by finding solutions and grilling companies about their plans for the future preservation of our work. Check out the OpenRAW website and be more aware of your camera model's files and your options.

Or, start shooting film again.

Summer is nearly over, sigh.

2008-09-09T00:11:00.000-04:00

Portrait of the artist, Aimee Anthony.

a blow to the head

2008-06-04T18:39:00.003-04:00

I've been meaning to post this for awhile. The photo above is one I took of my father's silhouette in the foreground with our family business burning behind him. I was the one who received the call in the middle of the night that it was on fire. When we first got there, it was small and in the back of the building. My father was even joking about what trouble it'll be to bring in someone to fix the roof.
Then there was a loud roaring sound. Gas-fire.
My family watched it burn to the ground for over 11 hours with flames up to 70 feet in the air. At one point, the police moved everyone about 300 meters back and the heat was still too hot to not avert your face. I experienced first-hand what it was like to be horrorstruck and have the local media there with cameras.
I wonder if my emotions and senses will ever be as extraordinarily alert as they were that night. It was completely out of my control and all I could do was watch.
its awfulness
its awe-fullness
and take pictures.

My home away from home

2008-06-04T16:17:00.011-04:00

I'm a homebody who's never home. A mountain girl, living in a city, who belongs in a field. A typical gemini with varying interests. Many of the people I have photographed over the years, I've established tight bonds with. One in particular, I consider my 2nd family. They invite me to frolic on their beautiful farms as a friend whenever I have the time.

I'm so lucky to have them in my life.

Cult, tribe or commune, call them whatever you like. I know them individually (my best friend lives in the community) and as a group and am in constant awe of their dedication and beautiful lifestyle. Sure, I may not agree with everything they say, but that doesn't mean I can't learn a lesson or two and be a friend. They have a right to live the way they do and I'm always glad to see people champion against the grain.

I do believe they have found something (a connection, community, and compassion) that our superficial, selfish Capitalist society has lost. Every time I visit, city living and popular culture's luster just floats away, unmissed. It's not just about visiting a farm, its about being around and witnessing a community founded on love, acceptance, and human goodness.

"The culture we have does not make people feel good about themselves. And you have to be strong enough to say if the culture doesn't work, don't buy it. Create your own." - Tuesdays with Morrie.

The Circus Comes to Town

2008-06-03T03:14:00.000-04:00

Speaking of the circus... Barnum and Bailey's Circus came to D.C. about a month ago at the Verizon Center. Given my history, I just HAD to go! I'm not too fond of arena shows. I prefer the small, arty one-ring circuses, but I really liked some of the BB performers.

Cutest clown ever? He attached himself to my backpack.

Meet Me in St. Louis!

2008-05-30T15:12:00.003-04:00

This may be my favorite image. At the time it was taken, I was in a very euphoric place. I was 18 and had traveled to St. Louis to join a circus. It was one of the first times in my life I felt completely independent and free. And it almost didn't happen. My mom had her foot down that I should not go after I repeatedly tried to convince her that I'd be taken care of and had a place to stay. After about a week of pouting, my father secretly helped me buy a ticket and a few days later I was off. In reality, though, I didn't have a place to stay and no one was there to watch after me. I just assumed I'd sleep in a tent on the premises after I met up with my contact. I didn't calculate, however, that St. Louis would have a record breaking heat-wave that year and the circus would sit on top of black asphalt.
I spent my first day falling in love with St. Louis. I walked around the arch, fell asleep in the park, watched gigantic trees float down the Mississippi, admired St. Louis' amazing old-world architecture and rode the light-rail. I was traveling alone and felt completely at peace with the world. Strangers kept speaking to me out of curiosity and expressing worry for my safety in St. Louis, especially a cop I would see every night at 2 a.m., after the last show and cleanup. St. Louis is dangerous, apparently.
But I can't say I was completely alone. I'll never forget the musicians, who were the first performers to warm up to me. Certainly, I owe a lot to Hovey (78 years young at the time!), the juggler, who took me under his wing, and with whom I spent my afternoons with in his RV hiding from the heat, playing cards, and talking endlessly about Ancient Egypt. Also, the lively, liberated manager, the somewhat vain but sweet clown, the crazy and mesmerizingly good-looking Cossacks, the Mer-man (who would throw water at me) and the two Mexican women I met in Soulard.
I moved to the historic Soulard neighborhood when the heat was unbearable and all the performers moved into hotels. I was broke, and there was a hostel I stayed at that was empty except for 2 Mexican, who bought me cream sodas everyday and took me to their cousin's wedding. I was in love with the neighborhood and its strange isolation. I thought I might never leave it.
One night, when I was coming back from the circus, I found by a gate the book The Outsiders. I stayed up all night reading it and assumed there was a higher reason I stumbled upon it. Once finished, I called my friend Sarah and had one of the best conversations we've probably ever had. I sat on top of a rusty, old coke bottle machine, petting a black cat and just broke everything apart. I was contemplating so many things, feeling so alive and questioned the relevance of experiencing them alone. I knew what I was doing was different.

And what's the relevance of me writing all of this? Well, when the Washington Post reporter asked me why I do photojournalism, specifically photographing subcultures, I had a hard time explaining and kept tripping over my own words. I just wanted to tell her the story of joining the circus one Summer. I think its easy after such an experience to want to dedicate your life to a camera or pen.

List #5:

1. The Man Who Planted Trees by Jean Giono. I found this book a few months ago in Blagden Alley. Some librarian deity wants me to read more.

2. Another reason i do what i do... i heart Stephan Hawkin!

My Mom (and you) Now Knows...

2008-05-28T13:46:00.006-04:00

...that I photograph Sadomasochists in DC.

The Washington Post interviewed Aimee Anthony and me about working with Annie Liebovich and ended up writing a little about us:
ARTICLE
* excerpt: "Williams became fascinated by subcultures and people with lives on the fringes. She did long documentary projects about a cult in rural Virginia and vagabonds in Denmark, and she photographed sadomasochists in Northeast Washington. She learned to keep her eyes open, take risks, be more accepting."

I called my mom to see if she got her copy and what she thought. Her response: "Nice article - you photograph sadomasochists??" And then I was lectured about how I will end up dead, face down in an alley. Funny thing is, I was in an alley, getting ready to photograph a warehouse filled with skateboarding squatters, when someone asked me if I wanted to go into a building that had a red glow coming from the windows (ok, maybe my mom has a point...). The person who invited me was an N.G. photographer and old friend. He knew what was happening inside and that he couldn't even get in the door without a girl. He ended up not shooting much - this was one situation where being a female photographer made all the difference.
The 'be more accepting' part of the article was a bit out of context of what I actually said. See, I used to be paralyzingly shy (which is funny, since I come from a giant family). I've always been interested in photographing different cultures, sub-cultures, but really didn't take the photos I wanted until I started pushing myself out of my shy comfort zone and understood the importance of being open and vulnerable to what you're shooting. If you want to communicate an effective story and have your subject be open and honest in front of your lens, you will gain little being the fly on the wall. It wasn't easy photographing sadomasochists the first time - its was a strange, intimidating world I knew very little about. Before we went in, I may have eyed the pepper spray on my keychain, just in case. As it turns out, everyone there was quite friendly & nice. One leather-clad woman gave me a card, so I could email photos - it was her real estate business card with a photo of her with perfectly coiffed hair and in a grey business suit.

You Got Eyes.

2008-05-10T22:36:00.001-04:00

wandering wonders! wondering wanderers!
Where did I go?

It has come to my attention that I still actually have repeat visitors to this blog, despite the fact that I've managed to neglect it for nearly a year

I've mostly disappeared because of work, work, work and school. In a few days I will graduate. Imagine that!
Last summer was a whirlwind and the week before school started my family's business was involved in a gas fire and burned to the ground. That's initially what set me back with posting and we're still picking up the pieces, so to say.

Nevertheless, a new random LIST:

1. record player. I have one now. hooray!

2. "Lolita" soundtrack record. Is amazing and I need to stop listening to it.

3. Alarm Dancing.
I'd marry him. quite possibly.

4. My blog was blogged about.

5. I named my school's photojournalism website (and I kinda want to steal it back :).

6. Giant Particle Accelerator.
Just another reason why Carpe Diem never gets old.

7. Oceans won't freeze.

Farewell Denmark (part1)

2007-06-19T19:04:00.000-04:00

some of my Danish roomies

our little mermaid. we call him Morten.

Deutschland jollification part 3

2007-06-06T11:15:00.000-04:00

Nordlingen. 48°51′N, 10°30′E
population 20,000
It is one of only three towns in Germany that still has a completely established city wall.
"Chocolat" was filmed here.
If you have any voyeuristic tendencies, just walk the wall and spy on the people below.

people have also built their homes against the wall.

these homes look more like doll houses.

princesses.

I like that this kid is decked out in camouflage. Apparently, he likes to spent his afternoons shooting at the tourists walking the wall. For awhile he walked along with me. He'd shoot and i'd pretend i got hit and then shoot back- with my camera, no less. what a sweetheart.

Deutschland jollification part 2

2007-06-05T10:59:00.000-04:00

I also spent a week and half in Bavaria doing a project on a religious commune. Here's just a small sample of all the pics:

they live on an old monastery from the middle ages. On the property is a cathedral they refuse to use because of its Christian roots. They use it for storage instead. The pews are original and handcarved. They also have relics from the crusades, which they keep in a box.

Me on a swing/ one of the houses i stayed in.

Deutschland jollification part 1

2007-06-02T15:59:00.001-04:00

These were taken in my last days of holiday in Germany. I went to Weimer to visit an old art buddy.

Sitting on the roof avec Ilana.

Bauhaus School work ethic.

Ilana's kick ass studio. (a.k.a. my dream studio)

roommates

Ilana's place

that time of the year again. Yummy cake made by Ilana. The days were hot and humid in Germany, but this day, the perfect rain came to supplement the perfect day.

Aarhus: Hippie project continued...

2007-05-02T04:11:00.000-04:00

This is my 2nd favorite project I have done this year. The residents were so welcoming and friendly. I had my tarot cards read while staying there. Things are looking bright.

A colorful night

2007-04-21T09:36:00.000-04:00

I'm on the west side of Denmark right now doing an assignment on Hippies. whoot. I photographed/partied with them last night. I also learned to never accept tea from them. Especially, tea boiled in a cauldren. never EVER.

i haven't decided whether or not i want it to be in black and white or color. suggestions?

Aarhus: Finn Solomon 2 (a post in process)

2007-04-07T17:34:00.000-04:00

I've decided to call this story "Zero-Eight: Five-O"
That's was the time Finn's plane took off. Throughout the night he kept referring to it and trying to get me to understand how important those numbers were. After 8:50 a.m., Finn wouldn't taste alcohol for 4 1/2 weeks.
I'll keep adding to this and eventually post the entire story and the audio. Here's a sample until then:

"When i am at home, its just like a rollercoaster. To be at sea is here at the top and then it goes to the bottom." - Finn

"the brightness, the darkness, the roughness, when i'm at sea that's the best, that IS the best, to be at the sea is the best because there is no alcohol at'all." -Finn

"And when i'm gonna sit in the airplane a couple of hours now, I'll change totally, and then, the power, the straightness, the feeling of being back again, back again at sea, i'm a free man." -Finn

Aarhus: Finn Solomon 1

2007-03-29T12:29:00.000-04:00

Finn Solomon is a sailor I met in Aarhus after a potential story fell flat. I just happened to meet him on his last night before going to Romania for 4 1/2 weeks.
"I'm a professional alcoholic", he told me two nights ago while we were sitting in his livingroom. It was his drinking which caused his wife to leave him 12 years ago. She moved on and married her childhood sweetheart.
He still misses her.
The photo he stares at is of her in the house they once shared.

Many more to come of Finn, but be patient. In one night I took 570 photos.

Aarhus: 3/28/07

2007-03-28T17:07:00.000-04:00

One day shoot.
was a good day.

Aarhus: Tour de chambre 1

2007-03-25T16:37:00.000-04:00

I finally moved to a new apartment and have gained 13 new roommates. A new family. We had our Tour de Chambre a few weekends ago. Decorations, games and an ungodly amount of alcohol. And if you're lucky, a kiss or two.

Two girls and two beers. Lucky boy. My room's theme was "Russian Space Program". The game was Russian Roulette. with beer.

**i apologize for the quality. iview media did something weird to my photos.

Aarhus: 3/25/07 Bazaar Portraits

2007-03-25T13:00:00.000-04:00

Fatiih (Somalia). Farhan (Somalia). Jamal (Kuwait).
I've been very lucky with the amazing people I have met.
I met these men at the local Bazaar. There's a large number of Middle Eastern and Somalian immigrants in Aarhus. The majority live in Brabrand which is one of four "ghettos" in all of Denmark.
Unfortunately, I'm finding the Danish surprisingly xenophobic.
But more of this later.

Aarhus: 2/26/07

2007-02-25T18:08:00.000-05:00

Met some neighbors. Peter and Hanne.

Built a snowman together.

Then they ran off.

I'm becoming quite tired of carrying my camera equipment through snow and slush. Supposedly, this is the worst snowstorm Aarhus has seen in 10 years. whoot.

Another list of things I need to do:

1. Stop listening to The Standells. According to my itunes, I've listened to "Dirty Water" 33 times since x-mas and "Sometimes Good Guys Don't Wear White" 28. Song that i've listened to the most? "There Is An End" by The Greenhornes featuring Holly Golightly, 67 times.

2. Learn how to say "I don't speak Danish" in Danish.

3. Buy cheap LP's while in Germany.

4. Run away to South Africa.

5. Sleep.

6. buy colored pencils.

7. save money to support growing appetite for crack and whores.

Aarhus: 2/22/07 i heart kids

2007-02-22T13:41:00.001-05:00

got him.
and that's what big brothers are for.

Aarhus: 2/22/07 Snow

2007-02-22T12:40:00.000-05:00

Aarhus: 2/20/07

2007-02-20T12:44:00.000-05:00

my roommate Rob.

Aarhus:2/18/07 backstage for Chinese New Year

2007-02-18T17:49:00.000-05:00

Aarhus: 2/9/07

2007-02-13T00:37:00.000-05:00

DSJ has a bar in the basement. Every Friday the entire school shows up around 2 p.m. and drinks 5 kroner beer until midnight. After that? Everybody moves downtown for 25 kroner beers and dancing.

Anna, my Russian roommate.

that swedish girl

Dan, the wide-eyed American.

Hanne, the Norweigan

Anna air-guitaring a love ballad to "New York", our other roommate.

Aarhus: 1/31/07

2007-01-31T12:28:00.000-05:00

view from the apartment

the school

the people

Aarhus: week two

2007-01-28T18:37:00.000-05:00

How to say "75" in Danish:

femoghalvfjerds

pronounced: "fem-o-ha-fiers."

means: 'five, plus half of a twenty less than four twenties'
5 + (4 - 0.5) * 20.

...and that's all I have to say about the Danish language.
oh and this: http://youtube.com/watch?v=s-mOy8VUEBk

Aarhus week 1: bleh

2007-01-26T13:32:00.000-05:00

Quite a way to start a study abroad. Way to go, Holly, way to go. Took this on the 6th day in the hospital. One peice of toast and an egg: just about all I ate manually while I was there. bleh.

a gift from Rob, my roommate, after I got back.

intro to Aarhus, week 1

2007-01-20T18:11:00.000-05:00

Aarhus is a lovely city.

Bliss

2006-11-22T19:23:00.000-05:00

Home Sweet Home...sort of. My parents moved into a temporary rental house until the home they're building is finished. We're living on the Tennessee side of Lookout now. strange.

Spent the majority of the day with my niece Sophie doing the little things; climbing trees, bicycling through the new property, petting the animals, feeding the ducks, and throwing leaves. It is so good to be home.

one of those days

2006-11-21T00:01:00.000-05:00

hmmm... Today was mighty fun. Woke up early, met Dave at school and went to visit the wall of fame and aimlessly walk along the train tracks. Then we lunched at Chipotle, where Dave told me about a man who dresses in spandex shorts and dances/twirls around Chinatown on the weekends. Like clockwork, the man appeared under the arch twirling and pointing at the pretty girls passing by. We couldn't believe it. It was hysterical. This guy doesn't ask for money. He came out on a cold MONDAY to dance in his royal blue spandex shorts. He doesn't appear homeless, either. That's dedication. I wonder what kind of music he's listening to.

Discovered that the rhinosaurus is a Jehovah's Witness. The questionable noises coming from the apartment have gained a whole new mystery. sweeeeet jesus...

Past few weekends

2006-11-08T19:38:00.000-05:00

Portrait Gallery, aka: my new love; MICA annual juried exhibition in Balt-amore; Grandpa Christenberry's b-day.

Halloween. Apparently when I'm inebriated, camera focus becomes a bourgeoisie concept.
I've been told over 400 to 500 people showed up. Depends on who you speak to.

flawless

2006-10-25T00:06:00.000-04:00

The annual High Heel Drag Race.

Early Man!

2006-10-21T18:27:00.000-04:00

Top Set of photos: I'm told this is what happens to guys when there's not enough estrogen around. At least there was no pig head on a stick. The person pointing to the huggers kept chanting "early man! early man!" and pointing to Dan, who started the fight.

Bottom: Ben. oh so incredible at skateboarding.

red lipstick, rollerskates, and violence

2006-10-13T21:12:00.000-04:00

I love sleep. Its too bad I never do or can. This week I split my insomniac time between skateboarders and rollergirls. The rollergirls are AMAZING. They're my Yankees...and they gave me a shirt to make me feel part of the team. Its too bad I don't have a violent bone in me because the uniforms are so so hot.

yes, there ARE missles on top of the white house

2006-10-10T23:36:00.000-04:00

Don't you just adore drunk calls at 11 p.m. on a Monday? I know I do. Tomboy called last night to ask if there were missles on top of the White House. Of course there are, google it.
While avoiding homework again, I met a guard named Antonio at the National Gallery today. He retired from the Army at age 37 and has been volunteering ever since. He's fluent in Korean and bows whenever one passes him. What he had to say about asian tourists, "They always want to touch things."

Books I need for my library:

Dada by Dorothea Dietrich (Corcoran Faculty, no less) - best exhibit at N.G.
The Americans by Robert Frank
Story Lines by Robert Frank

metro rides

2006-10-09T21:25:00.000-04:00

photo 1: I'm getting tired of riding the bus. I miss my bike. But it was an antique and needed a doctor. An inebriated man on the metro asked me two nights ago if I was Marsha Brady. I said yes. Beats being called "white cracker" every other day in Baltimore.

photo 2 and 3: Ben parking his sweet ride in front of the White House.
Supposing Ben, Tim Gunn, and I were at a party and I was introducing the two, it would go
something like this: "Tim Gunn meet Tim Gunn".
Ben's shoes are mink, by the way.

signs

2006-10-08T19:06:00.001-04:00

Rossi has turned her bed into a fort. It's pretty awesome. She hates the morning light that comes through our windows. The other space is mine. Not quite as cool and a little girly, but I've been considering investing in a globe light and new record player. I need something darker, something red.

Signs that show you live with a graphic designer:

1. You used Quark Express to design your last party flyer.
2. You're aware Quark is becoming outdated.
3. Typography makes you waaaay too excited.
4. You had a dream that resembled bemboszoo.com
5. You and your roommate argued over the aesthetic layout of a small wall space.
5-b. You and your roommate lose hours of sleep one night flipping through Coloraid to find which shade of hot pink you like better.

inclement weather details

2006-10-08T01:41:00.000-04:00

The Points at FC

The weather in D.C. is...sketchy.
sketchy- adj.; incomplete, fragmentary, patchy, scanty, vague, imperfect, imprecise.

It's been raining the past few days and the cold has settled into D.C. All Rossi and I care to do is hide under our blankets and bake this weekend. I forced myself outside today to attend the "All Roads" photo presentation at National Geographic. I met all the photographers Thursday, but I thought I'd show up early and hang out, since I couldn't Thurday night (class, you know). They were bored b/c of the rain and asked Harry, Cocco, and me to come hang out at their hotel. All very genuine and sweet.

Spent the rest of my evening aimlessly walking through alleyways and hanging out in Northeast. When I came home around 1 o'clock, Rossi was baking bread.

with our powers combined...

2006-10-05T00:28:00.000-04:00

first photo is the infamous one of me drunk as a skunk at the Black Cat which was posted on the D.C. fashion blog (pandahead.blogspot.com). We were celebrating multiple birthdays.
Rosie's response: "you look like you're about to fall over and pregnant". I agree.

Rossi and I were put on the cover of our school's information pamplets. Which is funny, because we're roommates. Rossi brought them home last night and I couldn't believe it. We're both so embarrassed (at least yours isn't photo of you wearing a mink coat! -but no worries Jess!). I'm suppose to be looking dissappointed and I posed under the impression that no one would ever see it. The photo is also on the catalogue request forms. Oh boy.

update: 5.2008- Another photo from the same sitting has resurfaced POSTER-SIZE! as advertisement for the Corcoran. I tried to rip it down. twice.

time well spent.

2006-10-04T23:21:00.000-04:00

Felt good to be shooting there again. I need to go more often. Sometimes I need a different atmosphere. Air.

figures

2006-10-03T17:33:00.000-04:00

1 hour drawing
I hate male models. They're creepy.
and I always give them hips.
W. Christenberry's drawing class has become my favorite. Instead of PMS-ing, it seems I go through monthly cycles of wanting to change my career path from photojournalism to fine art.

salt of our lives

2006-10-02T23:41:00.000-04:00

Tonight was suppose to be an attempt to find a new photo story since the one I've been working on isn't. Instead, we ended up aimlessly walking through Dupont looking for a place to get coffee. Marianne and I nervously (ok, I was the only nervous one) walked into a strip club that was suppose to be "shady". It ended up being quite posh and empty. I asked the owner if I could document what happens behind the scenes. He told me to come back tomorrow. Did that really just happen?

"salt of our lives" - Mike.

These guys.

Rossi, Maria, and I once mistakened this place for a convenience store. "I don't think they sell water here."

new bungalow

2006-10-01T23:02:00.000-04:00

trash room. People seem to be always moving out and leaving their couches and tables up for grabs here. We've yet to gather the guts to take anything. We're holding out for someone to toss their stuffed cheetah.

across the street. worth the move alone.

Our new space is quiet. High ceilings, hardwood floors, crown molding, and a park next door. Very old and charming. I'm in love.

Anomaly

2006-09-30T22:30:00.000-04:00

After deciding to spend my morning at school writing a paper, I found myself not getting off the intended metro stop. The day was so nice. I bee-lined it to the National Gallery. On my way home, I spotted a man feeding pigeons from the back of his Lexus. He stayed long enough for me to take a few frames. I was then stopped by a man wanting to know what camera I was holding. We spoke a bit about photography and education. I asked him if he worked around the mall and found he works in the National Gallery. He asked if I wanted to come to work with him one day. What a strange question to ask someone you've just met! I said yes, of coarse. Next week, he's going to show me the ins and outs of the National Gallery and take me out to lunch. Its amazing what one whim decision can do.

simple

2006-09-30T21:40:00.000-04:00

Yes. I have a blog now. I've decided to use this blog until I learn how to build a website using Dreamweaver (a class I'm currently taking). Its an excuse to keep me shooting
everyday
and to share photos with friends.

Simple. Enjoy.