Happy Fourth!

 

What's the best kind of ship?

A friendship.

(Yes, I actually made him bring a toy ship when he came to visit me. Yes, I know what you're thinking. :D)

Today would have been our four-year anniversary. It's a different kind of celebration now, a happy realization that we're still close and supportive of each other without the toxic dependency. Even with these damn photos, Edgar was ever vigilant, trying to teach me for the 143th time how lighting works and how to balance out shadows. These very important concepts don't seem to stay in my brain for too long. High ISO + a slow shutter speed = temperamental Julie.

These were taken in a very, very dark room with light green walls, a small floor lamp and two 60-watt bulbs in those Home Depot clamp contraptions. See the first picture with the gray walls? Yeah, the room looks nothing like that. =D In the second picture, his side wasn't as lit as my side, which resulted in the green/yellow wall effect. I'm a sucker for gradiance, so hooray to this happy mistake. It still amazes me how pictures taken in the same setting can come out so different-looking.

The originals. Check out those puke green walls. 

P.S. While I was writing this, I found out that Heavy D died today. :( 

The Happiness Project

Without realizing it, I started my own version of Gretchen Rubin's The Happiness Project. I'm almost 29 at the end of this year and finally, thankfully understanding that happiness is not some unobtainable, abstract concept only meant for the future or for the exceptional: exceptionally stupid, wealthy, attractive, goal-oriented. You can fill in the blank.

I packed up my boxes, finally moved out of my ex-boyfriend's, and have made peace with the truth: Just because our relationship didn't end up with marriage vows doesn't mean it wasn't life-changing for either of us. My Happiness Project won't be as specific and methodical as Gretchen's, but I'm slowing starting to see that no amount of things to cross off to-do lists, goals to accomplish and exciting future plans can make up for what you have right now.

I'm happy I get to live with my friend in a lovely condo with lots of light and space. Two words: vaulted ceilings. :D I'm happy to have a sister who I can guide and, at the same time, inspires me. I'm happy to know how resourceful I am. And simple, and creative. Who else could quit a job in this economy, leave without unemployment or severance pay, and go on to buy a DSLR, a laptop and have two of the most extraordinary travels of a lfietime? I'm happy new friends like Alice and old friends like Natalie read my blog and find my photos beautiful; and I'm glad I can encourage one of them to start her own. I'm also happy to have friends I can trust, even though they've disappointed me lately; I'm happy they've disappointed me, because this ultimately means I love them and want them -- and us -- to be at our best.

I'm looking forward to lots of decorating my new, pretty space; photo shoots with friends; balloon festivals and road trips to random lands; reconnecting with old friends; connecting with new; hiking and getting fit again; planning for Paris in April and my long-term goals of working with children. There are many things to do every day, because even though the days are long, the years are short. I'm excited.

But for now, lunch with Carol and meet my end-of-the-month deadlines.

You have to start somewhere.

I Spy With My Third Eye

I love my camera necklace from Etsy :)

Some of My Fave People Shots, Pt. I

... Since I was talking about so many photos I didn't like, here are a few I enjoy:

Day 28

A self-portrait with a tripod at a wireless remote in the forest of Big Bear. I had always dreamed of taking a picture of myself in a tutu. Really. So I waited till sunrise -- yes, the kind you have to wake up at 4 a.m. for -- to get non-shadowy lighting.

Day 5o

My sister's mantra: Speak Up! Made with post-it notes on her bedroom wall.

Day 74

My boyfriend, again in Big Bear. I still love the shot, even with the hard shadows on the left side of his face.