A chapter quickly coming to an end

The tassel, cap and gown are purchased.

I have 3 days of college classes left.

Graduation is 2 weeks away.

It's becoming all too bittersweet.

'Tis the Season

I went to the Junior League Marketplace at the Classic Center earlier in the month to get some photos for my internship with the Convention and Visitor's Bureau.  I came across a ton of stuff my Mom would love, so naturally that's what I was drawn to photograph.  My Mom loves Christmas time (especially snowmen) and she's incredibly patriotic. There were a ton of great local vendors and I probably could have gotten all of my Christmas shopping done in one day....too bad I was working.  However, after my visit to the marketplace I was quickly in the Christmas spirit that's for sure! 

Light up the Night

Since I have gotten really behind on my blogging, I am now working backwards.  

Before Thanksgiving Alan was surprisingly in the Christmas spirit, it was probably due to the fact that it was the first day that it was actually cold in Athens. Fall had finally arrived! So, we made a trip to Wal-Mart for more lights to decorate his balcony.  Well, he did most of the light hanging and I did most of the hot cocoa sipping.    

Trimming the Tree

My nephew Brandon has his very own tree at my parent's house.  This year will technically be Brandon's 3rd Christmas (he was hardly a day old on his first Christmas). He is a Christmas Eve baby and I think he must have been born knowing how to decorate a Christmas tree. Without anyone showing him what to do he hung ornaments all over his tree.  I was pretty impressed, but he is a pretty smart little boy.    

A little help from Uncle Bryan was needed for the top of the tree. 

The artist with his finished masterpiece. 

Family, food and fun

I spent Thanksgiving at home with my family as I have done most every year.  Everyone was there except for my big brother David, who is in Afghanistan.  He called though, and I was rest assured to find out that he probably had a bigger, nicer spread than we did.  Since Thanksgiving is one of his favorite holidays it was nice to know he got to enjoy a good warm meal today.  Here are a few of my favorite shots from today.  I hope that you had a Happy Thanksgiving surrounded by family, fun, food, and love. 

   

Brandon is well on his way to being a master chef. 

The final product: they don't look too bad and tasted delicious. 

After plenty of hard work cooking up a storm we all sat down for a nice Thanksgiving dinner.  (yep, those mashed potatoes came right out of the serving bowl). 

Brandon ate enough to make up for Daddy's absence.  He would be proud. 

Somewhere over the rainbow....

After one of the most hectic days I have had in a long time - Last Friday - the run down included class all day until 3:30, with a very important paper due that afternoon, then rushing over from class to shoot swimming and diving, then rushing over to the men's basketball season opener...all of which happened in the pouring rain.  It's a good thing I don't mind the rain..but really my day was so busy I didn't have time to worry about be soaking wet most of the day.

My Saturday was almost as busy...ballroom practice until noon, then georgia football, which I ended up napping through because it was so boring, then the lady bulldogs season opener. On my walk from the parking lot to the coliseum to shoot the game I saw this....

which totally made those really hectic days worthwhile.  A beautiful gift from mother nature; a calm in the storm of my crazy life.  I know, it's just a rainbow, but I really can't remember the last time I saw one so I photographed it just incase it's a long time before I see another one.  

The Big Picture

Yesterday was Veteran's Day and since I come from a military family [my dad is retired from the military after serving 23 years and my oldest brother is currently serving in Afghanistan] I thought it was appropriate to post a link to some pictures that I came across on a photo blog that I read daily.  Two of my favorites are pictures 15 and 16.  Who knew that such beautiful photos could be made in the middle of the desert.  

Puppy Love

For as long as I can remember growing up, there has always been a dog in my house.  For the longest time, our family cocker spaniel, Joli was the protector of our home and now my dog Harley, less a protector and more of the neighbor busy-body is the dog of the house.  

I guess I didn't realize until being away at college for the last 4 years that I greatly miss having someone to greet me with a wagging tail and a happy face when I get home everyday. I think that kids that grow up without a pet in their homes are missing out immensely on a special friendship and love you get from an animal, especially a dog. 

I took these pictures of my dog Harley when I was home and I can't believe that I have had her for 5 years already.  Well, for the past 4 years she has really been my parent's dog, but maybe someday we can reunite and live together once again. 

Fall is in the Air

One of the many things I love about Athens is that with the changing of the seasons there also comes changing of the leaves.  At home the leaves don't change and there's is just something about the obvious season change, colder weather, and beautiful colors that makes me so happy!

I never thought these birds in the windowsill were ever very interesting, except when I saw the beautiful changing leaves behind them the other day.

a 2-year-old's Halloween

Last weekend I went home and since Friday was Halloween I spent the day documenting how my nephew, Brandon, who will be 2 in December spent his Halloween.  The best part was that he was in costume the entire day...yea, he's pretty hardcore. 

The day started with story time at the library. 

Then 606 Cafe for lunch

After his nap Brandon painted his pumpkins.  Yes, pumpkins are supposed to be carved, but that is not the easiest thing for a 2-year-old to do. Painting was much for fun! 

 

Pop Pop got dressed up in his harley gear for a mini me photo and trick-or-treating. 

Brandon and his friend Jagger met up to go trick-or-treating together.  (They aren't always the friendliest of friends). 

 

Brandon's First trick-or-treating house.  

He got a hang of the trick-or-treating concept pretty quickly and seemed to really enjoy taking candy from neighbors.  But don't we all? 

A Day in the Life of a Photojournalist

Last Thursday I traveled to Augusta to do my "Day in the life of a Photojournalist" project for my Advanced Photojournalism class.  I contacted Kendrick a while ago about shadowing her for the day because I came across her work and really loved it.  She works for the Augusta Chronicle and that's where I met her Thursday morning to be her tag-along for the day and get to know her and the newspaper side of the photojournalism industry a little better.  There weren't too many exciting things to photograph lined up, but I had a great time none the less.  Kendrick has been photographing a breast cancer survivor series in the studio and I got to check that out and then I played around a little photographing Kendrick for my project.  I had such an amazing day hanging out with Kendrick and meeting all of her great friends and I even learned a little bit to boot! (If you happen to be reading this Kendrick-Thanks again for letting me hang out for the day. I had a great time!)

Shooting the last of the 31 Breast Cancer Survivor Portraits.

 Check out some of the portraits Kendrick has taken for the Breast Cancer Awareness Month series. 

Here are a couple of the photos I shot of Kendrick while we were playing around in the studio.

Kendrick needed someone to test the lights on...I gladly volunteered

my new favorite hobby

Well, I know that the title of this post is my "new" favorite hobby, but actually, I have been knitting for a while now and I have just now finished my first project, a scarf for Alan.  Yes, it took me forever to get it done because I never have enough free time to just sit down and knit. However, with the excitement of finally getting this scarf finished I am officially making more time to knit.  There are so many projects that I really want to tackle and I can't wait to get another one started!! Don't be surprised if you get something hand knitted for the upcoming holidays!  

Petit Le Mans

On Saturday, October 4th, (I know...this post is really late!) I went to the Petit Le Mans to shoot the event with 15 of my peers from my photojournalism class.  We left Athens before the sun was up and didn't return until after midnight.  It was a VERY long day!! The race is 1,000 miles or 10 hours long (whichever comes first).  So, since it started around 11am it lasted into the dark (which made for some fun pictures).  Here are literally a FEW of my favorite pictures from the day..I took so many I can't even keep them straight.  It was an incredible experience, and I am so glad I got the chance to go! My professor is pretty awesome for hooking us up with such a great opportunity! 

sports, sports, sports

Well, my semester has been incredibly busy and I have been doing a pretty bad job of blogging.  I haven't been taking pictures for fun very often because I am either in class, shooting for work and for class, doing homework, or dancing (some simultaneously).  So, here are some pictures that I have gotten during practices and games recently while I have been working.  I hope to be able to work some FUN into my schedule soon, but I doubt that will happen before graduation :(      

I have been trying to master the perfect header shot lately, this one is kind of close. 

This isn't a photo that we would use as a "sports" photo, because people like to see action shots, but I really liked it anyways.

Yes, the baseball team plays in the fall!  This is during a scrimmage where the veteran guys play the newbies.

Unlikely garden

I was taking pictures of flowers for a graphic design class project yesterday and I didn't have to go very far to find this one.  This flower and two others just like it sprouted up all of a sudden right on t he edge of my driveway.  I was kind of surprised to find them there because my driveway is gravel (as you can tell in the picture).  I can't say that I have ever seen this type of flower before.  I am not sure what type it is (I will have to research and find out).  If anyone knows please share!  I think it is absolutely beautiful.  It simply made my day (it doesn't take much to do that these days...as you can tell).