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  • Hi Friends, and welcome to my Photo Blog!

    I'm Michelle, a BFA Photography student at the Academy of Art University. On these pages I will share my images with you - some are homework assignments, others 'professional' photo shoots, and some are from my travels.

    If you like what you see, I'd love to hear from you. Feel free to subscribe to my RSS Feed, or follow me on Twitter and Facebook.

1916 vs 2011

Wednesday, November 2, 2011 Posted in School Assignments

Today’s the last day of this class – Photo History I.  And it’s been a whirlwind these last 5.5 weeks!  Considering the fact that over a span of 6 weeks I’ve been away for 3 and sick for 1.  I’m ready for a break!  My next class starts up November 17, and I think it’s going to be Lighting.  So I’m pretty excited it – because I NEED that information!

Tomorrow we fly {part of the ‘away for 3 weeks’} down to GA for my cousin’s wedding.  I can’t believe she’s getting married.  In my mind she’s still the little girl who wanted my brand new Cabbage Patch Doll that I had just opened for my 8th birthday.  I couldn’t play with it that whole weekend because she wanted it.;)  But she’s all grown up now. In her 20s. And gettin’ hitched!  So we’re going to have a good ole’ fashioned southern family reunion.  The last time we were ALL together was Christmas 2 years ago.  So I’m looking forward to it.

I’m also the wedding photographer.  It’s my first time. And I’m kinda nervous.  ’Cause it’s just me. That’s a lot of pressure on me and my camera and 5 photography classes!:)

My list of blog entries has been building and I still have photos to share from our MN trip a few weeks ago, but I’ll get back to all that once we return from GA next week.

But I want to share this image with you quick because it made me smile.  I was looking into Paul Strand {an amazing photographer from the early 1900s} for yesterday’s research paper and came across one of his images.  Look familiar?:)

It encourages my heart that while I don’t know everything, and I still have TONS to learn, I’m doing something right!

A-Mazing Espresso & an A-Mazing Experience

Tuesday, October 25, 2011 Posted in Places, Yummy Goodness, Yummy Goodness

Our last full day in Minnesota we went into Minneapolis, and made a stop at the most A-Mazing Bakery I’ve ever set foot into since our time in Italy 5.5 years ago.

Rustica Bakery.

Walking inside I was immediately transported back to Europe and the many little bakeries we visited.  And ate in. And drank in. {Espresso.  Of course…!}.

I judge my coffee shoppes / bakeries on the basis of their espresso.

Good espresso = a Happy Michelle = a Return visit = I will love it forever.

I had high hopes as I ordered my shot, thinking that the espresso had to be at least as good as the inside of the bakery was fragrant with the scent of freshly baked bread.

I took my first sip and was immediately transported back to Venice, where I had my very first sip of espresso.

Seriously, I have not had a shot that full of yummy goodness since Venice.

My only complaint?  It’s in Minneapolis, MN and not Lancaster, PA.

So, enjoy a few shots from our brief visit!  {Oh, and the 2 pics at the end are of my brother-in-law….!}

 

by Michelle

2 comments

add a comment
Lisa~ - October 25, 2011 - 2:29 pm

:) aww, I love that picture of your brother-in-law. <3

[Reply]

Michelle - October 25, 2011 - 2:42 pm

ha ha ha!!

[Reply]

What Should Her Name Be?

Monday, October 24, 2011 Posted in Randomness

Good Morning!

We’re finally HOME after 9 days of being away.  We had a wonderful time with Js sister and her family, but it’s always good to get home and into the everyday routine.

So today is filled with catching up … especially now that I have my computer back!

Yes, She {I still haven’t figured out a name for my laptop, and it’s been a year since I’ve had her… any ideas from you creative ones out there?} was confiscated by TSA at the BWI Airport on our way out to MN.  We got to the airport late, and had 40 minutes to print out tickets, make it thru security and catch our 7am flight.  So we totally missed the {apparently} huge signs that said to take all electronic devices out of our bags!

So TSA took her out for us {wasn’t that so kind of them?}, but didn’t tell us they took her out {which wasn’t so kind of them}.

We grabbed our shoes, belts, and bags and made a dash to the plane, hopping on with a few minutes to spare.  My laptop/camera bag was extremely heavy {due to my 6 pound textbook, camera and lenses}, that we didn’t even notice the weight of my laptop was missing.  It wasn’t until that evening that I went to do some homework that I realized she wasn’t there.

So now that she  is at home, I just finished putting a TON of photos into Lightroom from our trip.  Which means I have lots to share with you!  But I have a few hundred loads of laundry to do, some food to buy, and emails to catch up on.  So the photos will have to wait just a bit!

Happy Monday to you all!

What sort of fun stuff does your week entail?  I’d love to hear about your plans!

by Michelle

4 comments

add a comment
Your husband - October 25, 2011 - 12:02 am

I think you should call her Adelle…

ILY

[Reply]

Kim A. - October 25, 2011 - 7:01 am

Lovely photo! :)

[Reply]

jessica - October 25, 2011 - 9:28 am

That pic is so typical–you with an espresso cup and Jonathan with a cookie.
Um…my plans this week?? Survive. Along with hair appointment, last meeting with the venue coordinator, pick up dress, and bridesmaid luncheon.

And i think you should name her….Shelbie.

[Reply]

Iisa - October 25, 2011 - 9:44 am

I like Shelbie. :)
I hope you’re catching up on laundry and home duties and getting your homework done. I’m sure it feels nice to be home. I caught up yesterday on my laundry and some light house-cleaning then had the Engs and another couple for dinner again.;) Today I have a whole lot of nothing planned. And then it’s just the routine. It was lovely having you in our space last week. I so enjoyed your company.
Love you much.

[Reply]

Six Degrees of Separation…

Tuesday, October 18, 2011 Posted in Family, Friends

Roger was Js senior high youth pastor.

Roger and Cindy are married.

J and his sister Sarah were on a high school missions trip to Zimbabwe with leaders, Freeman & Beth.

Roger and Cindy were also leaders on the missions trip to Zimbabwe.

Freeman was my Youth Counseling professor in college.

Beth and I chatted and introduced ourselves at her graduation from that college where I was working at the time.

Freeman, Beth, Roger and Cindy are great friends.

Js sister and brother-in-law, Lisa and Jeff, moved to MN four years ago and their church was looking for a senior pastor.

Roger and Cindy are now their senior pastor.

Roger and Cindy are now friends with Lisa and Jeff.

Freeman and Beth came to visit Roger and Cindy this past weekend.

Roger and Cindy, Freeman and Beth, Lisa and Jeff, and J and I all met up this past Saturday – because we were all in the same town together!

 

How absolutely CRAZY is that?!  It’s such a small world.

We had a great night of reminiscing, making new memories and new friends {on my end}, and had just a wonderful time together.  I haven’t laughed that hard in a long time!

by Michelle

4 comments

add a comment
Lisa - October 18, 2011 - 11:44 am

LOVE IT! :)

[Reply]

Kim A. - October 19, 2011 - 2:09 pm

HA! Too cool….I know those people, too! Roger and Cindy and Freeman and Beth are good friends with my brother and sister-in-law! :) Beth and I planned my sister-in-law’s party this spring! She’s great! I can see why you had such a wonderful time!!!! :)

[Reply]

Beth Chakara - October 21, 2011 - 7:21 am

And Kim, you are great too! I raved about the fun of planning Deb’s party to Michelle last week. Certainly is a small world!

[Reply]

Kim A. - October 25, 2011 - 6:58 am

Ahh, the vastness of the internet…here I am leaving a personal comment for Michelle, not even thinking about the fact that Beth, you would be reading this, too!!
If we want to talk about a small world and give credit where credit is due….remember the fun decorations for Deb’s party?…OUR VERY OWN MICHELLE was the brains behind the operation! I went to her first, since I have “creativity handicap” and SHE sent me the ideas that Emily and I carried out!
Thank you, again, Michelle! (OK, I won’t hijack your blog anymore!)
Welcome home, Walls! :)

[Reply]

Stupid O’Clock & Lovely Faces

Friday, October 14, 2011 Posted in Family

Nine Hours.

That’s how long it is from right now, until our alarm goes off.

That’s Stupid O’Clock.

Also known as 3:30am.

We then leave for the 1.5 hour trip to the airport at Dark Thirty, or 4:30am.

All this earliness so we won’t miss our Has-The-Sun-Even-Risen-Yet? flight to Minnesota at 7:00am.

All of that earliness will be worth it when we can see these lovely faces ::

Yeah, they’re a little crazy. But we love ‘em!

Last time we flew out it was Thanksgiving and there was free wi-fi on the plane!

I thought it was so much fun to update my FB from thousands of feet in the air.

It’s the little thing, my friends. The little things.

Hopefully it will be free again … because I can now Tweet from the air!

Like a bird!

Um, yeah.

Yeah.  That’s corny.

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