I know I have been absent- I'm going to try to change this

I hope to change a lot of things this summer...

Here are a few photos of my baby. It was a really bad month. This cheers me up. <3

Let It Snow

     This photo was kept a secret and only people who came to the gallery got the "first look."  There was a person who I was once very close with that told me this was his favorite one I have ever shot! It now has a very special meaning to me. He told me that I have to put myself out there and go for my dreams. I miss him. I'm going to try to take his advice.
So- here it is- I'm going to start from the before and work my way down to the final photo!

It started like this:

Simple and I loved the lighting and the bit of my shoulder that was out of focus...I really wanted this to be up close and detailed. The above is the complete before, unedited, SOOC photo!

It then turned to this because I wanted to try the "double exposure" technique...

I didn't love it. I liked it. It was okay? I didn't love it- couldn't go in the show....

So - I started over and got this: 

Let It Snow

     SO HAPPY WITH IT!  It's amazing how you can take the same photo and get two totally different end products out of it!
     It ended up in the show as well! My Dad and I searched for a frame in his "art room," - my old bedroom, and he found a sliver frame with a white mat!  (He has so many frames and mats he could be a Michael s Craft store! haha! What would I do without him!?) We framed it and it turned out amazing! Seeing your work in print, framed and matted is so worth it! It is worth paying the money for the prints! It's the final step to your work, or at least I feel this way!

     This one was going in the show! I finally had my 6th and final print for the gallery!
Which I will post about the gallery next!  It was perfect and I am so grateful for my parents that really knew how important it was to me and they really went above and beyond and tied all the details together that I would have missed...food, wine, coffee, frames, prints, title cards... you name it, they helped me with it. - My Mom and Dad are my heroes- they really know how to make a girl feel special! <3 I love you guys! THANK YOU!
If you live close by- the photos are there for two weeks - North Hills Art Center on Babcock Blvd!  

Always Look Up

Always Look Up

     This one is dedicated to my mom and dad. My Dad has always told me to look up and more times than not I have found something awesome to look at! Northern Lights, moons that are picture perfect, shooting stars, the milky way! Life has been something to write about lately. I have never felt so depressed and off. I try to be this cheery person and try to force myself to be happy when I am just NOT. My parents are always there for me. No matter what and I want to show them through a photo how much they have helped make my life happier even when I fall into a depression. They are my stars. My light to guide my way. I love you guys. TO THE MOON AND BACK! <3

 I made this dress years ago for another shoot of mine:

     I decided that after my mom found it and told me to take it home to use it for a new shoot! I am so glad that I did. We had a busy day though and I feel so bad for puppers. He had to have a vet appointment today and he is worn out.  Stress, I'm sure. I also think he hit his tale pretty hard today while wagging it. He has been acting strange and if he doesn't perk up by tomorrow it's back to the vets....

So as he got his rest, I edited:

 Before and after!

This is right after I added the stars....

COLD!

 Really COLD!

 My Right Hand Man...

Helping me focus the camera! 

     It was COLD! 20 degrees I think it was.  I was frozen and couldn't feel much of my feet or arms ....or legs... or face... you get the point. It was worth it though! Brian of course helped me carry out the chair to stand on with the extra long dress, and my props. I am so glad we have some "woods" beside us but soon I'm going to have to scout some new locations. I did this quick and most likely would have tried a different angle if I wasn't freezing my ass off but overall I guess I'm pretty happy with it! <3

Much Love

Shannon

The Butterfly Effect

The Butterfly Effect

If you have never heard of the butterfly effect, please click the link above and read about it. 

but·ter·fly ef·fect

noun

1. 1.

   (with reference to chaos theory) the phenomenon whereby a minute localized change in a complex system can have large effects elsewhere.

      I shot twice today. The first shoot my boyfriend was kind enough to ride down to north park with me, I'll explain at the end of the post...

The second shoot was last minute and turned out much better. It was a bit dark down there but it turned out just as I pictured it.  I has a dry spell lately because of the pressure of the gallery coming in January.  I guess I could use old photos but I really wanted some new ones!

       I went into the basement shot this photo and started to get a million ideas on photos. I guess that's what I'll have to do more often instead of sitting around and racking my brain. I'll just pick up my camera and take it somewhere that I think looks like a good location. In this case it was the basement over the pretty snow covered lake of north park. I guess it's just how I have been feeling lately!         I partly have the problem of procrastination under high amounts of stress.  

I am so glad the boyfriend helps me out. He helps me focus the camera by being the subject then holds my coat or cleans off goose poop from my hands... haha. The first shoot had lots of goose poop on the location and of course- I am the one to put my hands in it...

 Here is a quick before and after

 and us having some fun

 and me putting Brian to work...

 He's very loved...

 as you can see by my face, I was not happy with this shoot....

It just didn't feel right. I guess I'm sick of shooting outside in the cold and YES I WAS FREEZING DURING IT! I was really bummed because I felt like it was total waste and then I decided to shoot indoors and in the basement so I guess it was meant to be!

and this is how I got goose poop on my hands, picking up my fake feathers- North Park is great if you don't mind stepping in poo everywhere you go. I mean everywhere- One even wandered into one of my photos!!!!!!!!!!!! 

damn geese. 

     Anyways, I'm really nervous about getting all my Christmas stuff together- I am making all my gifts this year which was not a good idea with the gallery coming and me having a creative block...

but- it is what it is and I'm determined to get it all done! I really hope to clean up the apartment tomorrow and get out some Christmas decorations and put my to-do list aside for a day.  I want to spend time with Brian and Chance, drink some hot coco or lots of coffee and decorate! 

     I'm so lucky that my Mom and Dad were so willing to watch the doggie this weekend to let me have some space around the apartment. They are the best! Tho, I do miss him around and my Mom doesn't want to give him back.  If she had it her way, she'd keep him!

I hope everyone is having a great weekend.

The gallery will be January 11th we are just trying to decide on a time for the opening! Please check back for updates! 

<3Shannon