(Still making good progress on the book, but still lots to go.  So, in the interim, meet another wonderful friend of mine, Andrea Jenkins, otherwise affectionately known as "Hula."  Hula is one of my favourite people I know in real life -- this is a woman who looks for the fun in every aspect of her world, and luckily for us, she makes a point to record it on film.  Here, she shares how she composes her shots -- enjoy.  --Ed.)

"To quote out of context is the essence of the photographer's craft.  His central problem is a simple one:  What shall he include, what shall he reject?  The line of decision between in and out is the picture's edge.  While the draughtsmen start with the middle of the sheet, the photographer starts with the frame."

~ from The Photographer's Eye by John Szarkowski

Never am I more aware of the importance of framing than when I've just loaded a pack of film into my polaroid SX-70.  While various forms of polaroid film are still available (and will even go back into production later on this year), I still shoot like it's my last pack.  You'd think shooting like this would be a joyless affair, but it isn't.  I'll admit, initially, I resisted.  I wanted to be able to go through pack after pack of film with nary a care.  But my budget doesn't allow for this and I've come to consider it a blessing.  Somewhere along the way, I learned to shoot more thoughtfully, more intentionally.  To seek out specific colors and a special brand of light.  To look through the viewfinder at least a dozen different ways before pressing that little red button.  One thing I know for sure -- polaroid photography has sharpened my sense of framing and quite possibly, transformed the way I work.

Photo by Andrea Jenkins

There's no sound like the zip and whirrrr a polaroid camera makes as it shoots the photograph out.  As the image gradually appears, I hold my breath.  Just a little.  I cross my fingers that all the work I've put into it has somehow paid off.  Sometimes it has, sometimes it hasn't.  But when it has, the image I hold in my hand practically sings out.  Which is worth all the waiting and thinking, all the composing and conserving in the world.  And then some.

Song:  Man, are you in for a treat:  today's song of the day is the official video, below, of "My Sunlight," by Remnant, featuring Scar.  And get this:  the video was directed by none other than Hula's brother, Nathan Corrona.  It appears a talent for the visual seriously runs in the family.

(This is the last week I have to work on my book before I turn the final manuscript in to my publisher; as such, my blogging may be a bit spotty.  Nonetheless, keep checking back:  there are couple of outstanding offers to provide a few guest posts by some talented photographer friends I really admire, so you never know who might show up.  

Today, meet Susannah Conway.  I had the opportunity to meet Susannah about a year and a half ago while traveling in England; she's so intriguing that I wrote about her here.  I love her work -- there's such a haunting quality to it -- and she's magical with film photography.  I hope you enjoy her as much as I do.  -- Ed.)

I can't paint or draw.  I can scrawl a straight line on a piece of paper and I've tried interesting things with paint and cut-up magazines, but when it comes to creating something pleasing to the eye, I'm a no-hoper.  But here's the kicker: it really doesn't bother me any more, because, in all honesty, I'd rather take a Polaroid.  My Polaroid camera is my paint brush; the film my canvas.  I paint with light and shadow, and nothing makes me happier than watching that creamy square of film develop into something magical.  I believe we can all find the medium that suits us, whether it's paint, pixels, food or yarn.  Maybe you've turned making your bed into an art form; perhaps your garden is a symphony of colour and scent.  I have a friend who wears scarves twisted into the most wonderful shapes; another whose poetry moves me to tears.  Each day is an opportunity for a creative adventure; there's so much to see, so much to experience and cherish.  Let's explore it with our stitches and brush strokes, our scribbles and our beautifully shined shoes ...

Photo by Susannah Conway

Song:  Engines by Snow Patrol.  Today's song brought to you by Susannah.

Yesterday, I took a break from editing to spend time with my friend Tracey.  Tracey had flown into town to help set up the Mom 2.0 Summit Photo Exhibit, of which Shutter Sisters (which Tracey founded) is a big contributor (and I have a few photos being shown as well!).  So I picked her up at her hotel, and we drove over to the FotoFest gallery, to make sure all the images were properly hung and labeled.

Then, because we couldn't help ourselves, we took a couple of pictures.

After, we went to grab a bite to eat, and our friend Laura joined us.

It was a really, really good day.

And now, back to editing.

(See Tracey's shots of all the actual photos exhibited here.)

Song:  Lively up yourself by Bob Marley

 "Mom?  Daddy bought you those.  But Mom?  Mommy?  Mom?  Umm ... Mom? Well, okay, but Mom?  I picked them out for you myself."

* * * * * * *

Happy Love Thursday, everyone.  Please feel free to leave your stories or links to your words or images of love in the comments below.

And feel free to brag (like Alex did) about the way you show love, as well.

Song:  All I know as performed by Five for Fighting

As of yesterday, I've finished all the content of the book.  To be clear, it is not in any condition you would possibly want to read.  I haven't reread any of it since writing it, so I've no doubt it's chock full of misspellings, sentence fragments and full run-on paragraphs.  It's possible that the entire tome doesn't have even one punctuation mark in it.  Seriously, I have no idea.  But the content is in there.  And so, for this, I am happy.

To celebrate yesterday's milestone, I danced a little jig in my studio.  Then I made a cup of tea. 

Then took a few more pictures of the orchid.

Now, for the next two weeks, I edit.  I edit like the wind.  I cut, paste, rearrange, remove, delete, add.

And possibly insert punctuation.

Song:  Milkshake by Kelis.  Because it works as good, dance-a-jig-in-your-studio, celebratory music.

Marcus' orchids are beginning to bloom -- a sure sign that spring isn't too far away.

In other news, here are some cool things I've found recently while I was supposed to be working on the book:

• I purchased a custom iPhone case from Uncommon, using one of my photos (the image that's in the banner of the front page of my site, in case you were wondering), and it arrived last week.  Holy moly, do I love this thing.  If you are a photographer or any type of artist and you happen to have an iPhone, run-do-not-walk to this site and pick yourself up one.  It's very cool.
• Within one week, two people have recommended this book to me.  Is that a sign?
• Speaking of books, on the flight to Utah, I read this little novella by Steve Martin.  A bit strange, but a quick read, and ultimately quite good.
• Update -- Speaking of more books, just found out that Gayla's book, Grow Great Grub, is available now.  Gayla is a friend of mine, and she gave me an early copy of this book at the ALT Summit.  It is seriously beautiful:  all the photos were taken by either her or her husband, and her husband did the graphic design of the book.  It's full of really great, informative gardening tips, even if your garden happens to be on the fire escape outside of your window.  A really, really gorgeous work, and if you have any interest at all in gardening, you would do well to own it.  No lie, and I would honestly say this even if she weren't my friend.
• Loving this post by Eden.
• I've never mentioned it before, but I have a separate little blog where I dump my iPhone photos, shots taken while I'm out and about.  If you're interested, you can find it here.

More soon.

Song: Fireflies by Owl City

"Hello, babies.  Welcome to Earth.  It's hot in the summer and cold in the winter.  It's round and wet and crowded.  At the outside, babies, you've got about a hundred years here.  There's only one rule that I know of, babies -- God damn it, you've got to be kind."

~ Kurt Vonnegut from God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater

Have a great week, babies.

Song: Call and answer by Barenaked Ladies

I mentioned yesterday that Justin and I traded photo sessions while we were in Salt Lake City this past weekend; so today, I thought I'd share some of my favourite shots he took of me.

Photo by Justin Hackworth

Photo by Justin Hackworth

Photo by Justin Hackworth

Photo by Justin Hackworth

Like most people, I suppose, I generally hate having my photo taken -- but I have to say I love these shots with a white hot passion.  Justin is really good about connecting with his subjects, so they feel very comfortable and natural as he shoots them; for that reason, these shots feel more like "me" than any shots I've ever had taken of me.  Ever.  Thanks so much, Justin.

In other news (and in lieu of today's song of the day), check out the truly beautiful video below, written and put together the lovely Katherine Center for the upcoming Mom 2.0 Summit (and if you pay attention, you'll see some of the actual images that will be in my book):

(I'll be speaking at the Summit -- will I see you there?)

Have a great weekend, everybody.

While I was in Salt Lake City, I had the chance to meet the immensely talented Justin Hackworth, a wedding and portrait photographer based in Provo, Utah.  Justin was also on my panel at the Altitude Design Summit (discussing photography on the web), and I cannot begin to tell you what a lovely person he is without embarrassing myself by gushing.  In addition, it was just so interesting talking with him, particularly because we come to photography from different places:  he's always been a professional photographer who recently started a blog; me, I used blogging to help improve my photography.  In any event, we really clicked (ha! see what I did there?), so I was pretty thrilled when he suggested we take portraits of each other.

Right before our panel, I had the chance to meet his lovely wife of almost 10 years, Amy; after we were finished, I showed her a couple of the images from the display on the back of my camera that I had taken of him.  "Those are great," she said.  "I'm so happy to have them -- we have very few pictures of him, or of us, for that matter."

"You want to take some now?" I asked.

"Really?"

"Well, you're here, he's here, I have my camera, it seems silly not to, don't you think?"

"Wow ... sure! Thanks!"

And so we went back to the lobby, and I shot a few more.

What's amazing about the above images is that none of them were staged in any way -- they just sat down together, and we were all talking and I was just shooting, and these were the images that resulted.  And it occurred to me that this is probably why Justin is so successful as a wedding photographer:  because this is a man who clearly knows love.

* * * * * * *

Happy Love Thursday everyone.  Please feel free to leave your stories or links to your words and images of love in the comments below.

And may you know love today.

Song: It's love by Jill Scott

(While I'm winding up working on my book, periodically over the next few weeks I thought I'd have some guest posts by a few photographers who I really admire for your viewing pleasure.  Today, meet Irène Nam.  She's another artist whose work I've been following forever, in part because she's really astounding: she was born and has always lived in France, but Korean was her first language, and she writes masterfully in English.  I've found her so exceptional, in fact, she's going to be featured in my book.  Read on, and you'll see what I mean.  -- Ed.)

Photo by Irène Nam

“What brings me the most joy, that’s what I do.”

~ SARK

I’d always figured that being a writer and photographer would require a lot of discipline, work ethic, and a sense of certainty in my own strength. But I’ve learned that there’s also a sense of humbleness that every artist must accept and approve of in order to find balance, and true joy in what they do. 

Realizing that I can stop writing for the rest of my life and very few will notice, no one will die and yet I would not have failed has relieved me from the discontentment and hopelessness I experienced and thought were legitimately part of the job. 

And now I write because I know my voice matters. I write because words have the power to heal. I write because some days I actually think that I’m good at it. But most importantly, I write because this is what brings me the most joy.

Photo by  Irène Nam

Song: Stay (I missed you) by Lisa Loeb.  Today's song brought to you courtesy of Irène.