reflections

Photostory: The Bean

I love observing the world around me.  Over the years, I have found there’s so much to take in, to appreciate, to love.  I enjoy photographing the everyday wonders – sunrises, vistas, waterfalls – and I get excited for the less-common opportunities: events, travel, candids.

© LotsaSmiles Photography 2011

But when I come across a surprise that catches me completely unaware.. well, then.  I lose all sense of rational adulthood as I devolve in the presence of sheer joy.  The object of my delight becomes my sole focus, and I’m as giddy as a kid in a toy shop.

You think I’m exaggerating, but I assure you, I’m quite serious.

© LotsaSmiles Photography 2011

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WC: Then and Now – My Photography 10 Years Ago

I often get the question, “How long have you been into photography?” but I don’t have the standard answer many other photographers have.  I can’t count the number of years I’ve wandered with a camera, because I frankly can’t remember a time when I haven’t.  My earliest photos predate digital, when I carried a cheap plastic something that took film cartridges I didn’t even have to queue or wind.

Then
Now

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Chicago: The Opportunity

In an effort to tackle some of my monstrous backlog, I’m going to try to post about some older adventures from time to time.  This one hails from 2011.

I learned from my father many years ago one very important lesson: take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way.  After all, you never know when you might look back on a “no” and wish that it had been a “yes.”  I strive to live every day by the mantra of “no regrets,” and thus far, it has served me well. Continue reading →

Photo of the Week: Round and Round

I recently bought a new camera because I needed something high-quality and ultra-compact/lightweight.  Too many times, I found myself lamenting that I had only the dismal quality of my phone to capture a truly remarkable sight.  I’d occasionally grab my big camera when the clouds promised a colorful sunrise, but it was a heavy risk that didn’t always pay off.  This little camera can now live in my backpack – I won’t notice the negligible weight – and I’ll no longer have to pretend my phone is simply a DSLR that hasn’t grown up yet.

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Rainy

Bonus!  I’m taking a quick break from the Japan posts and throwing an extra one out this week.  This is to talk about something near and dear to every Northwesterner’s heart: rain.

The Pacific Northwest has been pummeled by record rainfall this week, creating rivers in the streets and flooding in parking lots.  The storms have been quite hazardous, and I hope for everyone’s safety.  We are fortunate to live on a hill (though not so much to be in danger of landslides), and I work close enough to walk, so I can avoid the resulting traffic nightmare.

Rainy

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