Lauren Doran Photography

Creeping Along

2011-08-15T08:07:00.001-04:00

I finally finished the post processing and editing this weekend of a series I am calling Omniscient Oaks. Now I just need to write my statement for the series... It is a project shot in Orlando that I started on a foggy day in November 2009. I stopped in Orlando on our Christmas travels in 2010 specifically to take more photos and I came out with a few good ones from that stop. At the moment I have 24 photos but I think I still need to do a final edit. Why is it so hard for me to come up with more than 12-18 photographs for a series? Perhaps I am not a prolific enough shooter. In any case here is one that will certainly make the final cut. I hope to finish my new website sometime this month and once that is up the whole series will be posted there.

Amazement

2011-06-16T14:15:00.000-04:00

I am continually amazed by my children. I am amazed by the mess that such small creatures can create. I am amazed by the noise and chaos that surrounds them. I am amazed by how little time I have to do the things I used to take for granted like showering, cooking, thinking, talking to my husband. But most of all I am amazed by how much I love them. I couldn't conceive of loving anyone as much as I love Rowan, but somehow my heart expanded to allow just as much love for Connor.

Smiles from the Subtle Mind

2011-05-07T22:11:00.000-04:00

I love how newborn babies smile and laugh in their sleep. I caught the tail end of one of Connor's smiles the other day. As I watch him smile long before he knows how to in his waking mind I am reminded of a Buddhist teaching on the levels of mind.

Buddhists teach there are three levels of mind or consciousness: gross, subtle and very subtle. The gross mind is our waking mind; it is tied to and influenced by the body. It experiences the senses as well as delusions such as anger and attachment. The gross mind dissolves into the subtle mind when we die and its memories are not carried from life to life. The subtle mind serves as a conduit from the senses to the very subtle mind. The very subtle mind is the clear light of mind; it is a blissful mind free of delusions. Through meditation we can tap into the very subtle mind and it is through this mind that enlightenment will ultimately be obtained. It is also believed that our gross mind dissolves into the very subtle mind when we sleep. It makes me happy to think that Connor, even though he doesn't know how to smile when awake, experiences the bliss of the clear light of mind while he sleeps.

Between Green Walls Again

2011-03-27T22:48:00.001-04:00

I have a series of photos I started long ago in our house in VA when I painted our bedroom walls a bright avocado green. Last week my mother in law came to visit and painted almost our entire house for me (Thx!). Rowan has a teal room again, the kitchen is a blue gray which really brightens up the space and our bedroom has returned to a slightly different, more muted green. I am so excited to be able to continue this series. I guess it will sort of be a new chapter in the series- this chapter has Rowan in it and another character on the way. Here are a few photos I took this weekend:

Community

2011-02-21T22:40:00.000-05:00

I was very excited to find The Light Factory a few months back; it is an amazing resource bringing contemporary photography to Charlotte, offering classes and to my delight the Sunday Salon. I attended my first salon yesterday and it is a great group of people interested in the art making aspects of photography. Too often groups of photographers focus on gear and getting the perfect shot, it was very exciting and refreshing to meet with a group to discuss ideas and art. I look forward to making the monthly meetings in the future. This month we discussed the nude in photography in conjunction with the current show Body and Soul. Towards the end Sally Mann came up and there were varying opinions of her methods and her work. I had something to add but I just could not formulate the thoughts while at the meeting- there were certain words used in this interview on NPR about her most recent body of work that struck me but I couldn't remember them. I came home and listened to the interview again.

I personally find Sally Mann's work, particularly of her children, to be beautiful and intriguing but I think that it is tainted by her methods. In watching an Art 21 interview with her I started to see something that disturbed me in how she worked- that instead of collaborating with her children, her work came at their expense. I also ask the people closest to me for help with my work and I remember telling my husband as we watched it that if I ever crossed that line I wanted to know because I never want to exploit my loved ones. In the interview Melissa Block says that Mann thinks "a good picture often comes at the expense of the sitter. Exploitation is at the root of it." This quote really struck me because I think it is exactly what I object to in her methods. To knowingly and willingly bring exploitation into the mother-child relationship for the sake of one's art is I think disturbing and sadistic. In her newer work of her husband while that element of exploitation might still be there, at least he seems to be a willing participant in the process.

I sometimes miss the constant learning, thinking and being exposed to new ideas that comes with school. In my year and a half as a stay at home mom I haven't had much opportunity to explore new ideas (aside from exploring patience at a whole new level). The discussion at the Sunday Salon got my mind cranking and my creative motor purring. I am hopeful that I will find in Charlotte those little pockets of community that are so very important for personal growth- a spiritual community, a creative community, a community of mothers.

A New Year and a New Project

2011-01-20T20:54:00.000-05:00

"What about last year's portrait project?" you say. Well, amidst the relocation, the many moves (3 to be exact) and terrible first trimester of pregnancy I have still managed to come out with close to my 100 Portraits. I obviously will not have completed them all in 2010 but I am OK with that. I am currently up to #87. So, 13 more to go. To see the portraits visit my flickr set: 100 Portraits Project. Here is #87:

So, while my 2010 project isn't quite complete I am moving on to another project for 2011. It is ambitious and may extend beyond the year, but I am going to put what creative time and energy I have this year into it. I am going to attempt to illustrate a novel with photographs. I have been reading in search of a book that speaks to me for some time now and I believe I found it. The novel is Housekeeping by Marilyn Robinson. It is a beautifully written book like none other I have read. Images were whirling through my mind as I read it. I have several ideas to start with and hope I will find the time to shoot and share soon.

Over the next year I also hope to find a way to finish a series I started in Orlando and tried to wrap up the shooting for on my journey through Orlando over the holidays. I think I am going to call it Omniscient Oaks. I still have some processing and editing work to do but as long as that goes well I should have all the photographs I need. I would also love to find a way to print them myself, but we will have to see what I can manage. Here is a new one from that series taken over the holidays:

Well, Happy New Year and hope to blog a little more this year:)

A Little Push

2010-11-03T21:05:00.000-04:00

My inlaws came to visit us in our new home in Charlotte, NC this week. We took a trip to the new Mint Museum in uptown which was fun because my mother in law entertained Rowan and I could actually look at the artwork and absorb. The trip got my creative juices flowing. It has been many many months since I have had the time, mental space or even the desire to work on something creative. I had to dig deep but I found some photos I had taken in the spring using a projector and branches from the yard. Originally I had been taking the photos to use in logo and website designs but upon returning to them I thought the simple compositions were quite interesting. Once we find a house here and truly unpack I am sure that old projector will surface again. And if I am not swamped with renovating and raising two kids I just might play around with this idea some more.

My original motivation for the photos was for use in designing a new website which is still in progress...well maybe more accurately on hold.

Portrait #34: Haunchiclese the Great

2010-07-01T09:21:00.002-04:00

Haunchy has been a neglected kitty since Rowan came along and usurped her throne, but she has handled it pretty well. As usual, she wandered into the scene where I was setting up to take photographs looking for some love and attention. This time I got a great shot of her...and so here is my one and only pet portrait of the project...doesn't she look regal?

Portrait #33: Ships Passing in the Night

2010-07-01T09:15:00.000-04:00

Life here has been a bit hectic. Ian has been traveling and working like crazy so our little family has not had much quality time together. Rowan and I both miss him and look forward to some slower more relaxing times soon...and maybe a vacation too?!? I was out of town visiting my parents for Ian's birthday but here are a few photos taken on one of the few days we have had together recently...

Portrait #32: First Father's Day

2010-06-24T18:14:00.001-04:00

Ian was home and off of work for the first time in ages this weekend. We had a great time doing the simple everyday things families do together...eating, running errands, playing, swimming, laying in bed, walking around the neighborhood and cleaning. It was wonderful and relaxing. And of course I had to add a little photography into the mix. This was taken on Father's Day a little too late in the day for the little man, but his dad was able to coax a few smiles out of him. I can't help but smile looking at my two cuties.

Portrait #31: Little Author

2010-06-18T09:10:00.000-04:00

Last summer I volunteered at Page 15's Young Writer's Camp. It is a wonderful camp here in downtown Orlando working with kids to encourage creative writing and a love of reading. This summer I am taking author portraits for the kid's books. It was a fun challenge to try to capture the camp goers in a few minutes and a few quick shots. This little one was easy, she's just so precious!

Portrait #30: Hello Summer

2010-06-12T16:12:00.002-04:00

Summer arrived in Orlando quite some time ago now. Temperatures below 90 and low humidity are a distant memory. One of our favorite things to do these hot sticky days is to cool off in a pool. I plan to turn Rowan into a fish by summer's end. I'd say he looks pretty happy to be splashing around in the water!

Portrait #29: Jackson

2010-05-27T21:28:00.001-04:00

Jackson is Rowan's very cute cousin, but he is not my biggest fan. For some reason whenever I look at him he cries. So, needless to say taking photos of him is a particular challenge! I captured a few of him but I plan to keep at it as I am sure he will get over his fear of me soon enough.

Portrait #28: Isabelle

2010-05-15T13:36:00.001-04:00

During a visit from Rowan's cousins I spent some time running around the yard with Isabelle. She had me jumping fences and even tried to get me to crawl under the house. We had fun. At one point I asked her if it felt strange to have me constantly taking photos of her like the Paparazzi. I asked if it made her feel important. Without hesitation she said I am important; smart girl!

I am having trouble choosing one...any thoughts?

Baby Wrangling

2010-04-27T22:56:00.002-04:00

Rowan's cousins came for a visit this past weekend. Isabelle had her work cut out for her. We wanted a photo of the three of them and it was up to her to hold on to the boys. This was not an easy task! Jackson is scooting away in most of the shots but she managed to reign him in for a brief albeit not so happy moment here. Rowan was trying to explain to him that all he had to do was sit still a moment and look at the camera and then they could get back to banging pots or whatever it was they were up to. Something in the struggle and the many limbs reminds me of a painting of Greek mythology. I'm not sure which myth; maybe Romulus, Remus and the she-wolf Isabelle?

Portrait #27: Baby Blues

2010-04-18T19:34:00.000-04:00

Newborns are quite a challenge to photograph, but it is so rewarding to capture this brief moment of tiny perfection. This photograph was my favorite from a recent shoot. I was so happy to capture my little friend's beautiful big blue eyes.

Fancy Dinner in St. Augustine

2010-04-11T08:57:00.003-04:00

Rowan goes to bed early which can be interesting when traveling. On our recent trip to St. Augustine to meet up with my mother and aunt, Rowan was ready for bed before we were ready for dinner. Take out was our only option, so I put Rowan to sleep while Mom and Aunt Kathy went out for pizza. We were staying in one hotel room and once they saw how light of a sleeper Rowan is (Rowan woke up as soon as they came in the room), it was decided that we would just have to eat dinner in the bathroom. Luckily it was a very nice hotel with a very nice big bathroom with a partial wall separating the toilet from the rest. But, the fact remained that we were eating dinner in the bathroom, ahhh how children change your life!

A few more from our trip...

Portrait #26: On the Move

2010-04-10T17:36:00.001-04:00

Rowan is on the move these days. This image captures that movement for me; Papa has a hold of him but not for long. We are on the move too; a new house and new projects. Everyone told us that children change your life, but the extent of the change is unfathomable until you are swimming in the midst of it. Buying a house and moving are big events regardless, but with a baby, WOW! We are lucky to have family close enough to help us through. Thanks Papa and Granny...come back soon:)

Portrait #25: The Poet

2010-04-09T08:26:00.000-04:00

My father in law is actually a painter not a poet, but in this image he looks like a poet to me. Perhaps it is the intensity of his gaze, perhaps the dappled light or maybe it reminds me of a photograph of a poet seen on dust jacket long ago. During his visit we discussed artists and living on the edge and how being close to that edge can really drive creativity...he mentioned that poets, of all artists, lived closest to that edge. Perhaps I have captured something of Bill's edge in this image.

Portait #24: Blossom

2010-04-07T19:46:00.000-04:00

Rowan just flourishes with visits from his grandparents. My in-laws stayed with us for a week helping us move into our new house and giving us some time to unpack. Rowan started all sorts of new things while they were here. During his time with Granny on the front porch bathed in the scent of orange blossoms, Rowan started sitting up on his own and mastered pulling himself into standing. He even started learning to fall- cute little plops. I wish all of our family was close by because Rowan is just so happy with all the love and attention. Luckily I think we can expect more visits from Granny and Papa soon!

Portrait #23: Seer

2010-04-06T09:59:00.000-04:00

My husband has his mother's eyes. They are big and beautiful and they see things others don't. My mother in law sees through the haze that distorts the views of so many of us. She can size up any situation from complex family relationships to home renovation projects and see exactly what is going on and what to do about it. As someone who is in a perpetual fog (but hey, there a good photos to be made in fog:) I admire such clear vision and decision making.

Portrait #22: Mamma

2010-03-25T22:24:00.000-04:00

Gavin is at such a cute age. I was hanging out with him in the living room one day while Cara was getting ready and he kept running over to the hallway and yelling "Mamma! Mamma!" after Cara. I would successfully distract him for a few minutes, then he would lose interest and sneak away to yell for her some more. I can't wait for Rowan to call me Mama, all in due time I suppose. I had a hard time picking my favorite of Cara and Gavin, but I think one captures the joy of a 14 month old best.

Portrait #21: Old Friends

2010-03-23T21:28:00.002-04:00

One of my oldest friends came to visit recently. Cara and I have been friends since grade school; something like 20 years now! Her youngest son Gavin is 7 months older than Rowan. We sat them down together for a little photo shoot and the results are pretty hilarious. I had a hard time choosing one as they are each quirky in their own unique way. This particular one made Ian and I laugh the longest and hardest. They make such cute little buddies; from old friends come new friends!

I couldn't resist, a few more outtakes...

Portrait #20: Uncle B

2010-03-21T19:39:00.000-04:00

Rowan just adores his Uncle B. Somehow B inherited every bit of the wee bit of Italian we have in us. I like the contrast between his olive skin and Rowan's pure white complexion.

Portrait #19: In the Brambles

2010-03-16T09:47:00.000-04:00

For B...may this be a year of climbing out of the brambles.

Portrait #18: Me Da

2010-03-16T09:41:00.000-04:00

Growing up I often wondered where I came from, where I fit in. As a strong willed/self indulgent/myopic teenager I felt my creativity and wanderlust were completely out of place and unique in my family. In the years since, I have come to know my parents as people. When I learned of my maternal grandmother's travels my desire to travel became a family legacy instead of a freakish urge. My father and I have always been alike; we are calm, reserved, steady yet questioning. In recent years he began writing poetry and I realized that we share something beyond personality traits; the desire to create.

During a summer in Ireland I attended an art exhibition; The Fantastic in Irish Art. One of the artists believed that the Irish were an inherently spiritual and creative people. I loved this idea and thought about my own creative wellspring being connected to this deep and vast aquifer; an aquifer my father's well pulls from too.

Portrait #17: Riding Tall

2010-03-13T10:45:00.000-05:00

My Dad found Rowan's newest love...riding tall on his shoulders. He loves the high perch and wants to see who is down there holding him up. It is so nice to have this time with my parents and my son and thanks to this project I am making the effort to capture it.

Portrait #16: My Mother

2010-03-12T10:06:00.002-05:00

I usually read to Rowan before naps and bedtime. He seems to enjoy it unless he is overtired and cranky. We both have our favorites- he likes In My Den with a little bear cub that I move around while reading to him. I like one called My Mother is Mine. It is illustrated with soft pastel drawings of animal mothers and babies and describes a mother:

     My mother is soft
     My mother is strong
     My mother watches me long and long
     My mother is pretty
     My mother is brave
     My mother still loves me when I misbehave

I hope Rowan will one day think such things of me. It is very likely he will think these thoughts as a child, but what will he think when he is an adult?

I recently asked my mother to sit for some portraits which made her squirm in discomfort. She hates photographs of herself, though I am not sure why. I think she is beautiful. I also think she is forgiving and amazingly strong. In crisis or tough times I am glad my mother is mine.

Portrait # 15: Big Kisses

2010-03-10T10:41:00.000-05:00

The past few weeks have been filled with visitors and excitement. Rowan seems to thrive on having lots of people around so this week we are both adjusting as we return to our quiet and calm routine. I have a back log of photographs to sort and process which makes me happy because I love the feeling of having work to do. It is interesting that with digital photography I find sorting and choosing the final photos the most challenging part of the process. I guess it is because I shoot so many that it becomes difficult to determine exactly what I want to say; I have so many different moments and perspectives captured. I will have more to share soon, but for now here is one of my mom and Rowan.

Portraits #13 & #14: The Doorway (1 & 2)

2010-02-26T09:19:00.001-05:00

Our time spent together always begins and ends in this doorway. This door is a portal into your world and your language. In its frame myriad emotions are captured. I am greeted with smiles, excited acrobatics, hugs, kisses and inquiries and I leave in sea of hugs, goodbyes, waves and "I'll miss you"'s. For me this doorway is a part of you.

Portrait # 12: Little Bird

2010-02-22T08:50:00.001-05:00

I had forgotten how small newborns are only 6 months after mine was born! It is a treat to take the first photos of a new life and a fun challenge to try to capture this brief moment of perfect tininess.

Portrait # 11: Don't Go

2010-02-18T08:16:00.002-05:00

Sedra is a very cute little terror. She adores Rowan and wants to carry him around and hold him all the time. I am still working on getting a good portrait of her sister who is more self aware and camera shy.

Portrait # 10: Waiting

2010-02-17T14:01:00.001-05:00

I like to think of belly shots as the first portraits of the little one to come while mother and baby still coexist to create a beautiful and unique melding of two bodies.

Portrait #9: On the Dock

2010-02-06T09:29:00.002-05:00

We had just finished a picnic in the park and wandered over to a fishing dock when I caught this one. In Florida it rarely ever feels like winter so I was surprised by how much this looks like winter light.

Portrait #8: Learning to Read

2010-02-06T09:24:00.001-05:00

I bought some alphabet blocks that I thought might do double duty as a toy for Rowan and a photo prop. He just loves them. They usually go straight into his mouth.

Portrait #7: First Meal

2010-02-05T10:36:00.000-05:00

A little skeptical.

Portrait #6: The Bed

2010-02-05T10:20:00.000-05:00

I noticed one morning what gorgeous light our bedroom gets in the late morning.

Portrait # 5: All Eyes

2010-02-04T10:51:00.001-05:00

Portrait #4: Little Musician

2010-02-04T10:45:00.002-05:00

This little guy's mother plays piano and after seeing how much he enjoyed her piano, his parents got him his very own. They brought it with them for the shoot and I was so happy they had. His just loves to play! In fact he was so intent on playing that it was a struggle to get him to pay attention to us. I think we have a little musician in the works here.

Portrait #3: Smile Study

2010-02-03T12:52:00.000-05:00

I love how babies study faces. It feels so nice to be on the receiving end of those curious stares. This little guy is mesmerized by Daddy's smile.

Portrait #2: My Little Light

2010-02-03T09:33:00.006-05:00

This photograph is from a shoot of a family I did recently. As a new mother it struck a chord with me as it seems to embody the shift in perspective that comes with motherhood. We mothers are no longer a single entity once we have children. With this expanded worldview comes an overwhelming sense of love and pride in our little ones.

100 Portraits Project

2010-01-27T09:49:00.002-05:00

I have decided to dedicate 2010 to the art of portraiture and in this vein I am embarking on a new project: the 100 Portraits Project. This will require a new portrait every 3 days or 8-9 portraits a month for the year. I am excited and a little nervous at how challenging this will be. My goals in undertaking this project are to hone my portrait taking skills, to branch out and find new subjects and to amass an interesting and varied portfolio of portraits. The project will last up to a year but only as long as it takes me to complete 100 portraits I am truly happy with. It gives me deadlines and benchmarks throughout the year that I can exceed but should not fall behind on. Invariably Rowan will show up in these portraits as he is my ever changing and amazing model, but I plan on half of the portraits being of people outside of my family. This will certainly push me outside of my comfort zone! Before I even conceived of this idea I had set up some photo shoots to take portraits for a portfolio to build a business on, and so with the first month of the year I should be off to a good start. I will kick off the project with a recent portrait of my newly sitting Rowan....

Portrait #1: Sitting Up

A Visit from the Fog God

2010-01-21T09:40:00.001-05:00

I shared a few of my oak photos with the group of artists I meet with every month. This one evoked the most feedback, though they liked some of the others as well and thought the series was a good idea. Now I am waiting for another visit from the fog god so I can head out to take more photos with this lovely ethereal glow.

Orlando Oaks

2010-01-15T21:54:00.002-05:00

The first thing that captivated me when we moved to Orlando were the huge live oaks growing throughout the city. They are majestic, gnarled, old trees with vines, ferns and epiphytes growing all over them. They are the elephants of the plant world; they live long, grow large and forget not. I often find myself wondering in their presence what they have witnessed over the decades it has taken them to reach their branches so wide and blanket me in the much needed shade they provide.

Chilly

2010-01-11T07:53:00.004-05:00

It has been unusually cold here in Florida for the past week and a half. I had figured we'd arrive home from the holidays to some nice warm sunny weather, but just the other day it snowed in central FL for the first time since 1977. My father, mother and in utero self were down here trying to escape the cold that year and actually experienced that long ago snow. We have spent the past chilly week recovering from travel and the holidays and catching up on some work. Rowan's sleep schedule had been thrown out of whack, but we are getting back on track. I had a maternity shoot just before the holidays and I had some post production work to complete on those. This was one of my favorites from that shoot.

Holiday Reflections

2009-12-21T14:25:00.003-05:00

Parenthood brings about a whole new take on the holiday season. Luckily we have a few years before Rowan is old enough to really know what all the holiday hoopla is about; by then maybe we will have acquired all the necessary accoutrements for a truly American Christmas. This year we did not opt to wrap our porch and palms in lights like all the neighbors, but we did get a tiny tree. All of our ornaments are still in storage, so anything larger would have been quite bare. It is cute and Rowan-sized. I am looking forward to an exciting new year full of many new firsts and hopefully some exciting photographic projects.

This past year was a pretty exciting one as well. I started the year off hunched over a toilet with morning sickness in a friend's San Francisco apartment. The highlights of 2009...

Pho in San Francisco...one of the few things I could eat at the time:)
Surprising my dad for his retirement/60th birthday party
Rowan was born
Got my first digital SLR
5th wedding anniversary
Orchid photo show
Rowan's first smile
Rowan's first laugh

A pretty exciting year I'd say! Happy Holidays to all.

First Book

2009-12-08T21:15:00.006-05:00

I just published a photo book of Rowan's first few months on blurb as a Christmas gift for the grandparents (shhh don't tell). It was quite a feat to get all the photos together- it turned out to be 36 pages! The preview looks good and I can't wait to see it in print. You can check out the first few pages by the following the link below. Unfortunately the preview doesn't get to some of my favorite shots of Rowan. There are a few great Christmas ones which will I will save until we get a little closer:) Here are are few little bear shots....

Rowan James 2009

Book Preview

My Mind Doth Slowly Return

2009-11-19T13:03:00.006-05:00

I feel as if I have been away on a long journey and I am finally returning. My mind has been a different beast this last year. The world viewed through the varying hormonal lenses of pregnancy and childbirth has yielded many new and varied hues. Now, these changes are giving way to my old familiar self. The flood of ideas has begun to flow again, so I must find some time to pursue a few.

The weather has finally changed and we are loving every moment of it. The other day the indoor temperature dropped into the 60's and Haunchy just couldn't bear it; she stayed snuggled under the covers until the sun warmed the house. She emerged slowly like a bear coming out of hibernation. It is at this slow comfortable pace that my mind returns to me; like the bear it stretches and finds it is hungry.

First Flight

2009-11-02T21:27:00.003-05:00

I am off to visit my family bright and early tomorrow morning. Rowan will take his first flight at 3 months of age. My dad's first flight was when he was 26. My Grandmother has never flown anywhere and has never been more than 2 hours from Philadelphia by car. It is amazing how much has changed over the generations. We are so mobile and so spread out. I love to be able to travel so easily, but I do wish my friends and family were not so scattered. I would love for Rowan to grow up surrounded by a large network of friends and family. Alas, we will see what we can do.

I have decided to start an Etsy shop to sell some of my Polaroid work. Check it out here if you get a chance. More items will be listed once I return from my travels.

New Love

2009-10-23T17:12:00.006-04:00

As of late my artwork has taken a backseat. You'll have to forgive me for my preoccupation with my little one, but having a baby is like falling in love. I am happy, tired and sometimes delirious. I can't seem to think of much else. And I don't want to be apart from him for more than an hour here or there. In fact, the other day he took a really long nap and I started to feel lonely, so I kept creeping into his room to see if he was awake yet:) Presently all of my photographs seem to be of Rowan, so I'll post another. I will get back to some creative work soon, but for now I am enjoying my new love.

Orchid Show

2009-10-14T12:00:00.004-04:00

My orchid series Afterlife of an Orchid is hanging through December 9th at Leu Gardens here in Orlando. Getting this show together in the midst of having a baby was quite a challenge, and one that was made quite a bit easier with the help of my in laws (thanks Cecily and Bill!) Unfortunately, I was unable to put as much time into promoting the show as I would have liked. Perhaps I will think of this as the show that got everything together for future shows and hope that it is enjoyed by those who do get a chance to see it.

Orchid #8

Living Meditation

2009-09-30T22:00:00.005-04:00

Since Rowan's birth time has been elusive;I don't know where it goes. Days seem to fly by without notice, and yet I am living more in the moment than I ever have before. It is amazing how a new life affects those around it. A friend of mine told me she thought her baby niece was healing her mother. I think babies have a positive and healing impact because they require us to abandon so much of the baggage we carry around with us on a daily basis and to just experience the here and now. Life with a baby is a form of living meditation.

Rowan and Aunt Caitlin

Itty Bitty Feet

2009-09-14T21:09:00.005-04:00

I have been trying to capture Rowan's baby feet for weeks now. They seem to be constantly in motion, so it has been a difficult task. I still have more shots to go through, but I thought this one wasn't too bad once converted to black and white. As I look at this image more closely, I think it might be interesting to include something which gives a sense of scale...these are itty bitty feet!

Announcements

2009-09-03T14:42:00.004-04:00

Most of my creative energy these days is going towards calming an unhappy baby. Amazingly it takes endless energy as it seems Rowan always want to see some new trick mom is willing to do to keep him from crying. I was however able to get our announcement together which was a lot of fun. I made a little watercolor inspired by the rowan trees in Ireland for the top. Then, I took a million photos of Rowan and decided this one would fit well. Finally, my favorite part was bringing it all together into a nice layout. I hope everyone enjoyed them.

Parenthood

2009-08-28T11:54:00.004-04:00

It has been a busy while since I last posted. Our son Rowan was born on August 4th and Ian and I have been adjusting to parenthood and its many joys and challenges. I have been trying to figure out how to get anything done other than soothing a baby. Finally today with a sling I borrowed from my sister in law and the guidance of my friend Jenny I have myself a hands free baby device. It is amazing- I can type, clean, read, knit, or do anything I like. Well, at least while he is asleep. We'll see what happens when he wakes up. I better go ahead and post a few pictures now before he starts a stirring.

Triptych

2009-07-17T15:04:00.006-04:00

I have been working on some still life photographs (middle and right photos) with a green background similar to the lovely green bedroom walls we had in our house in VA (photo on left).
I am still not sure about the middle image in the triptych, partially because the scale is so different and partially because I have not worked through its story. Here is a larger view of that middle image. Any thoughts?

Forgotten Photos

2009-07-14T15:47:00.009-04:00

I have been meaning to get around to some black and white film developing for quite some time. The challenge here in Florida is that the tap water comes out at 85 degrees- well above any acceptable development time. I finally figured out the best method which involves some premixing and refrigeration. So, yesterday I processed two rolls- one was pregnancy shots and the other was some pinhole images I took last fall. It is always fun to see photos I have long forgotten about taking.

Portraits

2009-06-26T16:00:00.008-04:00

In an economy where landscape architecture jobs are hard to come by, I have spent many a day thinking about other possibilities for work. Photography, my love and passion, seems like a natural path to follow. But there are so many different ways to go with photography, it can be difficult to find the best place to start. I love the idea of licensing my artwork for for advertising or editorial purposes or shooting creative advertising assignments. However, these fields are highly competitive and can take years to break into and find success.

Until recently, I had not really considered portraiture. But why not? I love to take photographs of people; it is both challenging and rewarding. It is also something I have the space and equipment to do right now. I found my first willing participants in the family- always a good place to start. I was a little nervous doing the shoot and I worried about how the photos would turn out. But alas, working with such beautiful people, I need not have worried. Now I just need a few more willing subjects to help me build my portfolio!

Fertility and the Apple Tree

2009-06-23T14:19:00.003-04:00

Ian and I spent the summer of 2007 in Ireland and while he was off working on research and writing, I had the opportunity to explore Dublin, read and photograph. I noticed how few trees the country had and thought this was rather interesting. I also noticed that among the trees still standing there were many very old specimens. This piqued my interest and I began to read about Ireland's trees and tree mythology. I then found the Ogham calendar which is based on trees and decided I would shoot a photography series based on this calendar and the tree stories, myths and legends I could find. I did somehow manage to find a specimen of each tree I wanted to shoot and to set up a photo but I was not happy with the results. I needed more time for each photo and I needed the time to find the best tree and setting to tell the tree stories. Thus, the ideas for these photos are still floating around in my head and when I decided to shoot some pregnancy photos of my sister in law, the stories and images I had read about the apple tree sprung to mind. The apple tree is associated with fertility, replenishment and otherworldly delights. Golden apples are symbolic of the endless fruits of the land of promise and the fertility of the goddesses. I thought these might be interesting ideas to play with during the shoot. Instead of finding that perfect apple tree as I had tried to do in Ireland I thought I could bring the ideas in to a controlled environment. Thus, there are apples, an apple branch and blossom and a silhouette of an apple branch incorporated into the image. I thought the results were pretty interesting and have started to think about how I could shoot the series I had envisioned being shot outdoors in Ireland, in my living room in Florida.

Prego Photos

2009-06-19T12:29:00.005-04:00

Ian and I had a fun photo shoot this week. I developed two of the three rolls he took of me and there were a few interesting shots. I was having a bad face day- in almost every shot my face is in a strange contortion or half expression. Ian kept trying to get to get me to relax and act normally but I just couldn't do it for some reason- I guess I could blame it on hormones. Oh well, we'll just have to take more before the little one arrives. I really liked the way the sheer curtain in the second photo came across on film. I think we will play around with that again. We also learned that as long as there is not a huge thunderstorm, we get nice light in our dining room around 5-6pm. Good to know!

Cat in my Prop

2009-05-22T12:05:00.004-04:00

I have be doing some cleaning and rearranging and I moved my suitcase setup into the living room. I just found Haunchy happily laying in my carefully constructed scene which I thought was quite amusing.

Working Through an Idea

2009-05-20T11:16:00.006-04:00

I am working on creating some narrative still life images which has been quite challenging. I want something visually compelling that tells a story. The following shots are a few I recently took as I was thinking of the lure of travel and the simultaneous need for stillness. I feel like something is missing. I was told by one critic that the image was too simple. I am not sure if that is it or not...I like to keep my images simple and yet I do feel like they need something. Any thoughts?

Afterlife of an Orchid

2009-04-28T11:41:00.005-04:00

Scanning finished prints is not the most glamorous or exciting work, I guess that is why it has taken me so long to get through the finished orchid series. Each image takes 4 scans and some piecing together in Photoshop which is quite laborious. I have scanned all 100 finished prints from the series and pieced together 1 of each of the 20 orchids (I printed them in variable editions of 5). After a little editing I came up with 18 I am happy with and they are now up on my website for viewing. I would like to show the series and so I must begin the somewhat daunting search for a good venue.

Orchid 18 © Lauren Doran 2008

Serendiptious Inspiration

2009-04-23T08:21:00.006-04:00

I have been struggling recently with equipment frustration. I have been known to say things like "If I only had a digital slr..." or "If I only had some better lighting equipment...." And, yes these things might help me out, they might make shooting easier and faster. But as I look into pricing I am always daunted by the enormous cost involved. Until now, most of the photography equipment I own has fallen into my lap. My medium format camera and my darkroom were all Ian's grandfather's, stored for many years and given to us by his mother. I have started to think that perhaps when the time is right for new equipment, doors will open that make it possible to do (without going into debt or selling my soul). Serendipitously, just as I started to realize this I came across a book of photography at the bookstore that inspired me and made me realize I have everything I need. The book is a series of wildlife photographs from east Africa where I have had the amazing fortune to visit. I am not usually drawn to wildlife imagery, but these are different, these are portraits. I was so drawn to the images in this book that I went home and did some research to learn more about this photographer and his methods. It turns out the images are shot on B&W film using a medium format camera quite similar to what I own. The photographer then scans his 120 negatives and processes them in Photoshop, both things I am capable of doing. He then prints on an archival inkjet printer, which I don't yet own, but until one comes my way I can get the work printed by a lab or service bureau. This hybrid method of working is one I have been considering for quite a while; it was so inspiring to find such amazing work being done this way in a time where digital cameras seem to rule the world. The artist is Nick Brandt. Visit his website and check out his books.

Elephant Drinking © Nick Brandt 2007

Hello Summer

2009-04-03T09:33:00.004-04:00

On Wednesday morning I walked out the front door to get the mail and I was hit by an unexpected wall of humidity. Later that same day I decided to walk to the grocery store and I got caught in a downpour on the way home. It was the kind of rain that brings out the smell of wet earth (or sand as the case most often is here) and heightens the fragrances of flowers and plants. It was a warm rain which other than drenching your clothes, is actually quite pleasant. All this points to arrival of summer here on April 1st. It seems as if the humidity and rain switch was hit; it was such a sudden change. The winter in Florida was amazing, but here comes the other half of that equation...the heat. Hopefully I will adjust well as my belly continues to swell.

Projects

2009-03-24T13:03:00.006-04:00

I have been very buy recently with life, travel and family visits but as things slow down and we take a planned hiatus from travel I have been finding the time to work on several projects. I am starting a class tonight which focuses on goal setting and marketing my art work. To prepare for this I have been scanning my Orchid series which are 16" x 20" color photograms that I made in the darkroom last year. It is quite a feat since my scanner is 8.5" x 11"! My first goal is to find a venue for this work. I am also working two business proposals one for a commercial photography business and the other a non-profit community design center. There is a lot of research involved in both of these endeavors and both would require a lot of hard work to pull off, so ultimately I will have to choose one path to pursue. For now though, I want to see how viable each option is in this location and in this economy. I am excited to delve into these ideas and to see what comes of my inquiries. I am sure I will meet all sorts of interesting people along the way.

The Polaroid project is on hold for a little while as the film is expensive and we are trying to cut down on spending. I will however post the remainder of the tutorial one of these days!

Polaroid Transfer and Emulsion Lift Tutorial Part 2

2009-03-11T21:47:00.006-04:00

The Polaroid Emulsion Lift Process
To prepare for an emulsion lift, a Polaroid print must be created 24 hours before the lift is to be made so as to allow the emulsion time to harden. To begin the process the chosen slide should be placed in the viewer on the Instant Slide Printer and the machine turned on.

Align chosen slide

The area of the slide lit up by the viewer will be the area that prints. There is a slider tab to the right of the viewer which shifts the slide position. Once the slide is aligned properly, insert it into the slot above the viewer. The image exposure can be adjusted by the slider to the right of the viewer. Normal exposure is indicated by the line 3rd from the bottom. Exposure will vary from image to image and depends on aesthetic preferences. I have found that for emulsion lifts I often prefer a print that is a little darker than the original; in this case the exposure setting should be moved down one notch from the normal setting.

Slide is placed in slot, exposure is set and ready light is on

It is now time to expose the film: check to set that the ready light is on, then press the print button which triggers a flash exposure. Now the film must be pulled out; the number tab gets pulled first and then the tab with arrows must be pulled out in a straight and steady motion. It is with this second pull that the film goes through the rollers which break the chemistry pouch and spread the chemistry across the print.

First pull number tab straight out, then carefully and steadily pull
arrow tab straight out without pausing

At room temperature the development time is 60 seconds. Using a stop watch to keep track of the time, pull the film apart after 60 seconds.
The negative can be discarded and the positive print put aside to dry until the next day. After 24 hours have passed the emulsion has hardened enough to withstand high temperature water. Place water in a kettle and bring it to a boil.

Me in electric kettle...Hi!

While the water is warming, the white borders around the print should be cut off unless these borders are desired in the final print. Pour the hot water into a tray and soak the Polaroid print in it for 2-4 minutes or until the emulsion begins to separate from the paper backing.

Emulsion lifting away from backing

Using a spatula or similar tool, move the Polaroid to a tray of warm water and carefully remove the emulsion from the paper. If clear gelatin adheres to the emulsion use your fingers to carefully remove it. Transfer the emulsion to a clean tray of water. Unfold and orient the emulsion, then slip a piece of watercolor or printmaking paper underneath the emulsion and lift it out. The emulsion can be played with using fingers or q-tips. If the emulsion get too distorted, place the paper back in the water and reconfigure. Once the image looks good place the watercolor paper on some blotting paper. Take a wet brayer and lightly roll over the image to remove air bubbles and adhere the emulsion to the paper. If the emulsion sticks to the brayer (usually b/c it is dry), just remove it in the water and start again! Let the print sit on the blotting paper until it is dry. Once the image is thoroughly dry it can be sprayed with a UV resistant print guard.
Emulsion lifts are a great way to get started with Polaroid transfers as they are considerably easier and the results far more consistent than with the image transfer process. However, the lovely muted colors and the soft watercolor feel of the image transfers tempt most Polaroid users to try and to attempt to master this process as well. In part 3 I will provide full instructions for the more finicky Polaroid Image Transfer process.

Creation and Motivation

2009-03-10T09:43:00.005-04:00

I recently joined a camera club here in Orlando and I attended my first competition last. It seems like a really interesting group with diverse talents and knowledge. I am planning to use the competitions as motivation to shoot new things and ideas each month: this month's theme was colored glass. The only colored glass I own is a red hummingbird feeder, a housewarming gift from Ian's mother, so that was my starting point. I submitted one of my first images to the competition since as always I waited too long to get started.

Image submitted: Good starting point but needs some work

I am still in the process of trying to get what I want from this image. I tried one where I took two different frames and merged them in Photoshop. I like the color in this image, but it feels a little too photoshopped for me.

Two frames merged in Photoshop

Then, I shot a set of double exposed images where I would use a blue light in one frame and a white light in the other. This resulted in a lot of color shifts in the shadows. Ian thought there was something still missing in these shots and that I should add some light to the birdhouse. I had done this with previous shots but was having trouble with too much spill light drowning out the desired shadows...so I guess I need to rethink the lighting a bit.

Double exposed image

Other ideas for changes include a new location/background for the projection, working to get a deeper blue cast to the light and playing around with the composition to get rid of the dead space in the upper right. Any thoughts or opinions?

FYI: I will post the second part of the tutorial tomorrow.

Polaroid Transfer and Emulsion Lift Tutorial Part 1

2009-03-04T13:20:00.004-05:00

Shooting Slides and Choosing a Process
Here it is, the long awaited (at least by Jessica) explanation of exactly what it is I was doing to create the daily Polaroids I had been posting a few months back and hope to start posting again soon. The first step is to shoot 35mm slides of the images to be made into Polaroid transfers and emulsion lifts.

My Canon AT-1 and 400 Sensia slide film

One thing to keep in mind when shooting slides for this purpose is that the format of the Polaroid film is different from that of the slide film. Thus, there will be cropping of the image in the conversion process. For this reason it is important to leave a little space on the sides of the image when shooting landscape style or the top and bottom of the image when shooting portrait style. For example, below is the original slide image on the left with darkened areas on the top and bottom representing the part of the image which will be cropped in the process. Next to it on the right is the emulsion lift made from that slide.

Once the slides are in hand, one must decide between two different processes: the transfer process or the emulsion lift process. This is an aesthetic decision, as each process creates a different look. Below is the same image created as an emulsion lift on the left and a transfer on the right. An emulsion lift retains much of the color and clarity of the original image and the emulsion can be moved and warped to create wrinkles and waves as seen in the sky below. A transfer results in a warmer and more muted color palette than the original and it often has a soft painterly quality. Once the aesthetic choice is made, the slide printer can be loaded with film and the corresponding process begins.

Loading the Polaroid Film
There are several Polaroid slide printing machines available, but for this tutorial I will describe the process using the Vivitar Instant Slide Printer.

Vivitar Instant Slide Printer

The best film for doing transfers and emulsion lifts using this machine is Polaroid 669.

Polaroid 669 Film

The rollers must be cleaned before loading the film. This can be done with lint free tissue and water if there is dried chemistry.

Clean rollers

The film should be handled from the side and placed into the machine with the window facing down toward the lens.

Window with black paper protecting the film

The white tabs should fit into a recessed area below the hinge for closing the hatch.

White tabs

Once the film has been loaded properly, the hatch can be closed.

Closing the hatch

The black paper can now be pulled out so that the film is ready to be exposed to light. There are 10 shots in this pack of film and the hatch should not be opened again until the last image has been pulled through the rollers.

Pull out the black paper

With this pack of film both emulsion lifts and transfers can be made. Before exposing each shot determine which process you want to use, then follow the appropriate set of instructions. I will provide detailed instructions for each process in Parts 2 & 3 of the tutorial.

Jumping Back In

2009-03-04T10:42:00.005-05:00

It is so easy to fall out of step with a routine, and so difficult to jump back in. I had some serious momentum going with the Polaroid project before I fell ill but starting again has been a challenge. For one, the film has gone bad. But more than that, I had developed a system for making the transfers which I, in all my wisdom, did not write down. So, I am relearning the process as I go. I had started writing a tutorial of the Polaroid Transfer process a while back and it seems now would be the perfect time to finish, as I need a tutorial myself. So, this week I will give you my tutorial in three parts.

Rooftops in Bogota (expired film)

Darkness and Distractions

2009-02-19T16:05:00.012-05:00

I finally broke out the Polaroid Land Camera today to find that it does not appear to be working. I took a few shots which all came out black. A shot of a birdhouse in very bright light was the ultimate test, but alas, it looks like no light is making it to the film, so I'll have to take a closer look at the shutter. Otherwise, I have been distracted by baby thoughts. We decided not to find out the sex, so I have been dreaming up ideas for a gender neutral nursery. I thought orange and brown might be a fun color scheme and I love the addition of turquoise below...
I have some Tinga Tinga paintings from Tanzania to hang in the nursery, one of which is a huge black and white painting of a giraffe. This very cool giraffe lamp would be a perfect addition, but it is a bit pricey...
So, I am going to start working on plans for making a replica. More giraffes fell into my lap yesterday at the Habitat for Humanity store when I found this cute set of hooks. Looks like we have a theme starting here!

Blog Revival

2009-02-16T09:21:00.004-05:00

This post is for those few who actually still check this blog to see if maybe, just maybe I have written something new. I am heading into week 18 of my pregnancy now and I have been feeling great. My energy has returned and I haven't had much in the way of nausea (well, except last night, but I think that had more to do with eating movie popcorn than being pregnant). We just moved into a great new place, I finally set up my computer and I am trying to get back into a rhythm of creating. I found an old Polaroid land camera for a few bucks at a thrift store so I thought I'd try a few shots with that this week. I left behind that bright aqua-blue wall that I used as a backdrop for so many Polaroids so I guess I'll have to find some new sources of color in the new abode. I have also been thinking about ways to expand my photography into the income earning realm...selling already created work is high on the list, but I might also look into doing some portraiture. I have about 6 months of relative free time to explore the possibilities before my life changes forever...so I best get movin'!

Morning Sickness My Arse

2009-01-08T21:43:00.004-05:00

In case you were worried; I am still alive. I found out after our Thanksgiving trip to Colombia that I am pregnant which is exciting and joyous, but since then I have been suffering from debilitating nausea- also known by the misnomer Morning Sickness. I spend a lot of time on the couch in the fetal position mimicking the wee fetus within. Almost everything has fallen by the wayside; photography, blogging, cooking, eating properly, cleaning, my marriage...well maybe we are still holding that together. I often get dizzy and sick from using the computer which has made writing anything at all here a challenge. It is immensely frustrating to be unable to do much of anything and I anxiously await a nausea-free day. I am in my 11th week now and from what I hear I should start feeling better sometime between 12-15 weeks...as soon as I am able I will return with dazzling prose and stunning Polaroids. Until then, wish me well:)

Influenza

2008-12-06T13:21:00.006-05:00

I returned home from Colombia almost a week ago now and I'm still not sure where that week of my life went. I have been in a sleepy, delirious or nauseous state all week as I have been fighting off the worst flu I have ever experienced. I was sick almost the whole trip as well, but I ignored my aching body so that I could enjoy our vacation. Perhaps this only lengthened my illness, but vacation is vacation, right? I am on the return now and hope to be back to normal by Monday. I shot some photos in Cartagena that I hope to make some Polaroid transfers with this week. We enjoyed our travels and were pleasantly surprised by how beautiful Colombia is. I should have spent some time prior to the trip brushing up on some Spanish as finding an English speaker is not easy, but between Ian and myself we were able to figure things out. Here are a few snapshots from out travels.

Lunch in La Candelaria in Bogota

JC, David and I outside of a house we toured in Cartagena

Suitcase Sayonara

2008-11-22T07:13:00.003-05:00

I bought an old red suitcase at a thrift store a few weeks back and I had some fun with it in my makeshift studio as well as on a trip to the coast. Serendipitously, as I was contemplating how I should deal with the 9 day cessation of Polaroid printing, this little suitcase sayonara series arrived back from the lab and seemed the perfect answer. Well, I am off; I hope to return with a vast new pool of images!

November 21: Packing Party

November 22: Washed Ashore

November 23: Near and Far

November 24: Horizon

November 25: Distant Shores

November 26: Baggage

November 27: Destination Unknown

November 28-30: Suitcase Sayonara

On the Move

2008-11-21T21:30:00.005-05:00

I have had a busy week, it seems like I have been constantly on the move. This coming week is sure to continue that trend as we will be traveling in Colombia. I have a few images to share: the final dead bird and my orchid plant, a gift from Ian when he was having a bad day. I will say goodbye tomorrow morning with a special set of images prepared for my weeks absence. I may stop by and upload a few digital pictures from Colombia if I get the chance. Otherwise, have a good week and a happy Thanksgiving!

November 19: Final Bird

November20: Orchids

Miming Amelia

2008-11-18T10:33:00.006-05:00

I bought a vintage swim cap a few weeks back and I decided to play around with it at the end of a roll of film. I had no preconceived ideas for the photographs, but when I got them back I thought the striped shirt was reminiscent of a French mime and the swim cap of an aviator cap. I find it fascinating how the brain is always trying to make associations and find some way to explain images.

November 18: Miming Amelia

November 17: Bubbles

Another Week Come and Gone

2008-11-16T14:20:00.000-05:00

I've been shooting a lot recently, so I have quite a bit of new black and white and color work in the scanner queue. My Polaroids are still coming along as well, but with so much new work I haven't been able to find scanner time for these prints. I finally put aside my stacks of film today and documented the accumulated prints of the past week.

November 9: Blue

November 10: Fern

November 11: Little Feet

November 12: Poem

November 13: Brass

November 14: Brass and Bird

November 15: Lost Flight

November 16: Shed

Hi-fi Lo-fi

2008-11-13T16:03:00.008-05:00

Even after years of creating photographic art, I am amazed at how much time and effort it takes. There is a perception amongst some in the art world that photography is somehow easier or less creative than art forms like painting or sculpture. I think it is in some ways one of the most challenging art forms. By its very nature, photography is inextricably tied to technology; a photographer must constantly learn and master new technologies while still following their creative vision. This week I have embarked on the long process of learning to scan my negatives. It is an intensely complicated process and I am trying to wade my way through all of the available information to find out how to get what I want out my scans. I also recently purchased a Diana camera which I am considering bringing on my trip to Columbia next week. I figured I'd better shoot a few rolls and see how they turn out before committing. Here are a few shots from a trip I took to the beach last week of decidedly lo-fi images as scanned by my hi-fi new scanner.

Experiments in Jars

2008-11-08T16:49:00.005-05:00

I started a photo series in VA which I call The Green Wall. I had hoped to finish it before we moved, but alas I don't seem to be able to work as fast as I am able to think. In these images, the lighting is experimental, and I often find I need to reshoot the scene after seeing my initial results. Recently I bought a Polaroid back for my camera, so now I can get instant feedback on my lighting. I had an idea for an image with fireflies in a jar, so I started to play around with it on Polaroid film before shooting the actual roll. I should get my film back and scanned soon to compare results.

November 8: Fireflies

An Exceptional Week

2008-11-07T13:31:00.000-05:00

I am feeling quite happy, quite hopeful for the future this week. For the first time in a long time I have the sense that our country is headed in the right direction. I recently found a non-profit here in Orlando called Page 15 which focuses on offering supplemental literacy education for students in Orange County. I plan to put together a photography and writing workshop to offer the kids. Today I found out that through the refugee program I signed up to volunteer with I will get the chance to help an Iraqi student and her family in their transition to the US. On top of all of these exciting developments, I had a great morning. I went to the coffee shop to meet a new friend to talk about photography. I brought some of my Polaroids to show her. She really liked them. As we talked a couple approached to ask me about the camera I had on the table. Then they saw the Polaroids and were intrigued. As I was leaving they stopped me to ask if they could purchase one, which I was happy to offer them. I sat down and talked to them a little more and met the family they were visiting. It is always encouraging to meet people who are interested in and enjoy your work. I am grateful to them for being so inviting and supportive; it made my week.

November 5: Suspended

November 6: Wings

November 7: Suspended with Love

Scattered School

2008-11-04T11:31:00.005-05:00

I just listened to a podcast of Forum from 10.28.08 on innovative thinking. The guest was a neuroscientist talking about the conditions required to become an innovator or iconoclast. It was quite fascinating. He claimed the first step was to experience a change in perception allowing one to really see things differently. He said this often was something accidental, like the loss of vision in one eye or a jarring experience. I think this is why so many creative people get wanderlust; it is a desire to have one's perception of the world somehow turned on its head. In a world where information travels so quickly it seems somehow harder to really see things in a new way. The next step is to overcome the fear of new, unfounded ideas and the fear of failure and the final step is to use one's social intelligence to convince others of the merit of these new ideas. It is extremely challenging to come up with really new, groundbreaking ideas. But it is probably even more challenging to overcome fear and convince others. I will leave such monumental tasks to others and leave you with this...

November 4: Scattered School

Witness

2008-11-03T17:19:00.002-05:00

Witness the many quirks of Polaroid peel apart film...

November 2: Ball

November 3: Dishcloth on Fire

Halloween and the Day of the Dead

2008-11-01T16:25:00.002-04:00

On Halloween Ian and I walked around downtown marveling at all the bizarre costumes and enjoying the hallicinatory, dreamlike experience. I was amazed at the number of women who dressed up in outfits resembling street walkers. I saw one couple where the man was dressed up as Cookie Monster and the woman wore a glittery gold garment that barely covered the minimum. There is something disturbing about Sesame Street characters getting mixed up with trashy women. It made me think of Meet the Feebles and I had to laugh.

October 31: Pumpkin

While Halloween is always entertaining, I have always been more drawn to All Souls Day (as I knew it growing up) or the Day of the Dead. Someday, I would like to go to Mexico for Dia de los Muertos. I love the idea of celebrating the dead with a party in the cemetery.

November 1: Dia de los Muertos

Tragedy

2008-10-30T13:35:00.008-04:00

I just finished reading What is the What, a novel based on the life of Valentino Achak Deng. Exposure to such a tragic story makes me want to do something to stop such horrors from ravaging another life. Awareness born out of this and other such stories has lead me to sign up to help a local refugee family, but even this is not enough. Through the Valentino Achak Deng Foundation I found a series of links related to stopping genocide in Darfur. We have influence over our elected officials and it is our responsibility to write to them, to push them to action, to ask them to prioritize ending genocide. At Darfur Scores you can find out how your senators and representatives have voted, and then write or call them to thank them for their efforts or to push them for stronger action. Please do.

I often wonder if art is a selfish pursuit in a world so full tragedy and suffering. This book is an excellent example of the power that art can have in spreading a message. But, I think it is also important to realize that all art need not be so epic in scale. Celebrating life in small ways may in the end be just as valuable.

Fall Flowers

2008-10-29T22:12:00.006-04:00

In a moment of doubt last week, I deemed my Polaroid project as scattered and unconnected. I think this was in large part due to the fact that I have had to play catch up (and bust out a weeks worth of prints in a day) more than once this month. I enjoy the project as a daily meditation and I think its value lies in the act of daily creation more than in the product, and so I will continue.

The temperature has really dropped in the past week. The past few days have been in the upper 50s/60s; this feels really cold after months in the 80s but I am enjoying the crispness in the air. It almost feels like fall, but this far south I am more likely to find a branch bearing pink blooms than fire red maple leaves...

October 29: Balance

Crunchy

2008-10-28T19:52:00.012-04:00

Cooked carrots have always been one of my least favorite vegetables even though I love the crunchy raw version. I think my aversion goes back to the sickly sweet mushy carrots in brown sugar that we used to eat on holidays...yuck. I recently ended up with a plethora of carrots which needed to be eaten quickly and decided to make a sauteed carrot dish with red bell pepper, onion, soy sauce and balsamic vinegar. The carrots retained a bit of their crunch and were salty instead of sweet. Quite an improvement in my mind. Perhaps cooked carrots are not so bad after all.

October 25-27: Carrots Triptych

October 28: Wave

Lake Eola

2008-10-24T11:07:00.005-04:00

Central Florida is a land speckled by little lakes. We live quite close to a few, one of which is a great downtown park. Ian and I often go for walks around Lake Eola where we have seen swans sitting on massive nest eggs and Ian recently rescued two baby sea turtles from the busy walking path. With the change in weather, I have started running outside and I like to run around the lake. Yesterday, as I was doing my laps, a little boy walking with his mother took off and started running with me. His mother called him back, but he wanted to run. I looked down and smiled and he looked back hoping his mother would join us. He stopped when she demanded it and I was off on my own again. I enjoy running here, in a public park full of other active people in a way I never could out in the country where there were no sidewalks, parks or other active people. I guess the built environment really does impact how people behave. I hope cities and towns don't lose sight of how important the design of our outdoor spaces are in this down economy; in some ways these spaces become more important as people look to cut back on spending and start walking instead of going to the gym or start heading out the local park to enjoy their weekend. Below is a shot from one of our sunset walks at Lake Eola.

October 24: Swans and Shadows

Adrift

2008-10-23T09:21:00.011-04:00

As inevitably happens with a project, I am running out of steam with my Polaroids. There was a time in my life when I was content to wander in search of photographic material, but I don't find this as enjoyable and freeing as I once did. Now, even setting up still life images and playing around with ideas in my makeshift studio has become arduous. I am feeling adrift in a sea of unconnected Polaroids. I think I need to find something more than just making a photograph a day to keep this project alive; I need some purpose or thread to tie these images together. I guess the process of finding that thread is really what art making is all about. Until I find my thread, here are a few new selections from my sea...

October 16: Surfing

October 17: Surf

October 18: Little Birds

October 19: Stool

October 20: Trap 2

October 21: Plums

October 22: Mausoleum

October 23: Spanish Moss

Birds

2008-10-15T08:42:00.004-04:00

I have been slaving away this week on updating my website. I am slowly learning the tricks to getting what I want out of Dreamweaver and my finished site should be up by Friday. One of my new features is to link my website to this blog and vice versa. At some point in the future I might attempt a blog redesign, but for now linking will suffice. I am creating a gallery on my website for the best of the Polaroid Sketchbook Project and at some point I hope to create a shop to sell them on Etsy. For now, here are two new birds...

October 14: Birds1

October 15: Birds 2

Process, process, process

2008-10-14T14:07:00.004-04:00

Tonight is my last printmaking class and I just realized I only have one plate even nearing completion! Etching is an extremely process intensive art. I have enjoyed it immensely and I will be able to continue working in the open studio sessions. I spoke to a friend the other day who mentioned finding a way to use my photography in the printmaking process. The thought had occurred to me, but as of yet I haven't figured out exactly how to do this. With that reminder, I will renew my effort to find some interesting intersection of photography and etching. For now here are a few newer versions of the plate I first printed here and have continued to work on for the past few weeks. I wanted it to have the look of an old photograph. I am trying to decide if I prefer it to be handcolored or just printed in the sepia ink. Any thoughts?

Inspiration and Dinner

2008-10-13T12:15:00.008-04:00

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to go to the Winter Park Autumn Arts Festival. This festival fills the city's Central Park with Florida artists. It was a hot day, the crowd was thick and the air still, causing us to be selective about where we stopped for a closer look. For the most part I thought the photography was rather unimpressive except for one surprise at the end: Laurie Coppedge. Her work was all black and white, and I believe it was mostly inkjet reproductions of large format black and white negatives. I enjoyed all that she had displayed, but I really loved this print from her Swimmers series.

Laurie Coppedge Listen

Her work makes me want to get out and shoot some black and white film. Perhaps that will be the plan for this week. Today's Polaroid is a shot of some red potatoes I plan to roast for dinner tonight...yum.

October 13: Red Roasters

Catch Up

2008-10-12T23:33:00.006-04:00

I finally found some time this weekend to work on my Polaroids after a busy week with visitors. I had a great time visiting theme parks, kayaking, swimming in the clear water on the Gulf coast and surfing in the turbulent water of the Atlantic coast. We also found a little time for shopping and I found a fun pair of red shoes which made their way into the series below...

October 3: Biblioteca

October 4: Tree Forms

October 5: Passion Fruit

October 6: Passion Fruit Innards

October 7: Prickly Pears

October 8: Severed Prickly Pear

October 9: White Carrots

October 10: New Red Shoes 1

October 11: New Red Shoes 2

October 12: New Red Shoes 3

Sweet and Grumpy

2008-10-02T08:29:00.004-04:00

Well, September has come to an end, and so has my first month of the Polaroid Sketchbook Project. I ended on a sweet note with a jar of sugar. I plan to continue through October but my parents will be visiting for the next week, so I will be on a short hiatus.

September 30: Sugar

For some reason, I began October in a grumpy mood. It seemed fitting to start the month with Meditative Equipoise to help me on my path towards a happy mind. I tried this print a few times and was unable to get one without the emulsion lift on on the left side. Perhaps this is symbolic of the delusions which pollute my mind and cause grumpiness.

October 1:Meditative Equipoise

October 2: Reach

Marie

2008-09-29T19:13:00.004-04:00

I spent the day working on updating my website which never seems to go smoothly. I guess when you learn by doing, mistakes and hurdles are inevitable. Today's transfer is a photo of a photo. This is my maternal grandmother Marie. I wish I had had the chance to get to know her better; I think she was a pretty interesting lady. She took a train trip out west with her friend Marian when she was in her 20's and Marian still had slides from that trip that she shared with us when I was in my 20's and had started to get a little wanderlust myself. There are photos of the two of them hiking and exploring the rugged west in skirts and nice shoes. I like to think I got my sense of adventure from her.

September 29: Marie

New Urbanism and Black Stew

2008-09-28T20:37:00.005-04:00

On Saturday we visited a new urbanist development here in Orlando. It was a very attractive place with lots of park space and trails as well as a town center with restaurants and a grocery store, but it kind of gave me the creeps. It was too perfect and controlled, and while it seemed like a great place to raise a family, I don't think I would find it very creatively stimulating. I think even though older homes and neighborhoods have their issues and idiosyncrasies, they also have a character and uniqueness not found in new construction. When we are ready to buy our next home, my vote is for something that inspires.

I have finally come to the end of the daisy shots and moved on to pomegranates. The pomegranate I ripped into was not very tasty, so after the shoot I decided to get rid of it. I am fascinated by the novelty of our garbage disposal and tend to put anything down it I can, much to Ian's disbelief. I put half a pomegranate down and a thick black stew started bubbling and rising in the sink. I left the disposal churning for a while thinking it would unclog itself, but this approach was not successful, so I went in search of the plunger we do not own. I started to panic a little, but I didn't want to call Ian so I used a plastic lid to try to plunge the sink. Again, no success. I went to gym to run off my worries. I came back and turned on the disposal while shaking it below the sink. Eventually the black stew disappeared down the drain and Ian never knew what I had done; I will think long and hard about what I put down the sink in the future.

Pomegranate (plan) 09.28.2008

Pomegranate (elevation) 09.27.2008

Shadows 09.26.2008

Noise

2008-09-25T23:06:00.005-04:00

It was so nice out today, that I decided to turn off the a/c and open the windows for the first time since we moved in. The fresh air felt great, but the noise of traffic from our busy street was quite distracting. Haunchy was freaked out most of the morning and hid under my desk. I found the noise put me on edge and made concentrating very difficult. I remember reading in a Taoist book once that the city can wear on one's soul and that we need to escape to the countryside for meditation. Certainly, there are few things less conducive to meditation than cars and sirens, but I think in general cities give as much or more to the soul than they take. On a short walk this afternoon I was reinvigorated by all the people and activity happening on the streets below me. I came across protesters, shoppers, runners, beggars, picnickers, wanderers, children, business workers and landscape crewmen all within a few blocks of home.

I made some Polaroid prints before that reinvigorating walk, while feeling slightly distressed due to the traffic filling my apartment and my brain. I was having a lot of trouble pulling the film out straight so I kept getting cut off edges on my prints. This is another shot of the daisies with the figure facing forward this time. I hadn't wanted the eyes in the frame but they somehow edged their way just over the line.

September 25: Blooms and Silk (Front)

Polaroid Sketchbook Project: Daisy Diptych

2008-09-24T23:17:00.003-04:00

The weather has begun its shift away from the oppressive heat of summer. I walked out of our apartment today and was greeted by a pleasant breeze instead of the usual wall of humid heat. It is a welcome change and though it may not come close to the autumn I so cherish, I think I will enjoy the winter down here.

In high school, my best friend and I were obsessed with blue and orange. We liked the idea of complimentary opposites, as it embodied our relationship. I was blue- calm, quiet, shy and she was orange- fiery, energetic, outgoing. She got married this summer and carried a beautiful bouquet of orange. This diptych reminds me of her and makes me smile.

September 24: Daisy Diptych

Deadlines and Figures

2008-09-23T11:49:00.005-04:00

I have a few ambitious posts up my sleeve for this week. The first is a request from a friend who asked what exactly it is I am doing with these Polaroids. I have started shooting some digital pictures for a tutorial post on Polaroid Image Transfers and Emulsion Lifts that will show me in action. I also recently had the opportunity to see an interesting exhibit and presentation by artist Maggie Taylor and I am working my way through a review of the work which I will post soon. Why these announcements and not just the real deal? Well, I need a looming deadline to kick me into high gear and I figured a public pronouncement might just work.

I haven't explored the figure with the Polaroid transfers yet, but I was pretty happy with softness of this one. With the northern light from my window and the glow created through the transfer process I think I could create some interesting figure studies.

September 23: Blooms and Silk

Polaroid Sketchbook Project: Backlog

2008-09-22T15:12:00.005-04:00

The latter part of the week just flew by. I had several Polaroids shot, dried and ready for emulsion lifts on Friday, but with our busy schedule and travel plans I did not get around to finishing them until this morning. I am still playing around with the daisy shots I took. I enjoy having the freedom to make so many iterations of a single idea; I don't usually give myself enough reign to play like this.

We made a trip to the Gulf coast to visit family this weekend which was a lot of fun. We met up at an architectural salvage store where I found a few small creatures and props for future photographs. Sunday we went to a great nearby thrift store; I always find photo fodder when I am there. Last year I found my orange tutu and this time I found a dress and some nightgowns. In the afternoon we went to the beach and I happily discovered a new swimming buddy in my 5 year old niece...we had a blast.

September 19: Netted Bunch

September 20: Shroud

September 21: Peeking
September 22: Unveiled (lighter and darker...trouble deciding again!)