I have always been told, I’ve lived a sheltered life. All because by the age of 18 I had never to gone to the principal’s office for being in trouble (okay maybe once, but not really), I hadn’t mastered the art of swimming, hadn’t learned to rollerskate or rollerblade (not really anyway…at least not without falling on my bum. really. hard.), had never been outside of the United States, or gone to Medieval Times, and the big kicker….I had never seen falling snow.
Sure, you say…”You live in California, that’s quite common!” Okay…well, how bout this… by the age of 18…I had never even been in the presence of snow. I had always had this longing to see it. Despite my mother’s insistent arguments that I indeed had already been to the snow…I just didn’t remember. Sure mom…did you recall, that you have 3…count them…three…. other children. I’m pretty sure you’ve mixed us up in the childhood stories, as always. Yeah…and my name is Erin, mom…not Lerin. “Oh, but you must’ve been too young to remember…” Nope…I looked through all the photo albums, mom. There’s isn’t even any faint whisper of a photo from a snow trip.
The summer after my 18th birthday, I finally visited the snow. It was just a short day trip, but it was amazing. I giggled my heart’s delight all the way down the slippery slopey snow in a sort of saucer like plastic thing (heck, I don’t know…it was the first time I had seen one). I guess it’s what you people call…a sled? Sure. Why not.
So…now…falling snow. It must be the much coveted experience by Californians. I know it is for me. When I talk about it to people…sometimes I hear…”Snow! I hate snow! Try having to shovel loads and loads of it out of the driveway just to get to school or work in the morning…try living in it when the chill factor is beyond bearable and no matter how many layers you have on, you feel as if your boogers have already frozen up inside your nostrils.” Ew…yes I said it. Boogers. Ala dumb and dumber style.
Oh, yes…I’m aware. But, I’m not saying I want to live in the snow. I just want to SEE falling snow. In my head, I have this idea that when it happens…it will be this gloriously magical moment. A moment where I will tilt my head back with my face up ward to the sky, long flowing hair in the cold wind (maybe wave it around glamor shot style), and spiral myself in a tornado with my arms out wide in excitement. Soft, flaky, almost like pixie dust (who doesn’t like pixie dust) when I brush it off of everything. Then, there’s the snow angels…I mean…who can forget those? Oh! and snowball fights! Well, suffice it to say that if I get anywhere near snow and expect it, I will have my trusty camera by my side, to capture that magical moment.
Alright…if after all of that, the only thing you zeroed in on was the fact that I can’t swim…you just wait and see. Why?! You may ask. Well, that’s a whole pandora’s box of goodies I’ll save for another time.
I was driving very early in the morning on my way to Vegas for WPPI, and I was taken back by the breathtaking view of the mountains. It had rained the night before, which made for an amazingingly clear sky of the horizon ahead of me. I kept telling myself that I should take a picture of it, but that’s always the thing that makes me late…”Oh sorry, I’m late…the sunset was just so purdy…” Finally, as I drove along the 15, I got the closest I probably could in that situation, and decided to pull over on the shoulder. I got out my camera nervously as the cars whizzed by me at enormous rates. I bit my lip, when my car fettered from side to side with vibrations from the speed of the freeway.
I love how you can tell where the altitude is no longer fitting for snow to form…the line where the snow stops.
Snowday.
A lot has changed since I was 18…I should hope so right? I can tell ya’ll about it later though. But, for sure I haven’t seen falling snow yet.
I try to take my camera to as many performances as I can. This time, the atmosphere was lovely at El Cid (the food looked good too!)….later in the evening I was so happy that we stumbled upon this hidden room. Arthur and I were just waiting around until Omar came back when we turned a small dark corner disguised with a curtain. This burnt reddish orange curtain from what seemed like the 70s. He peeked in and flipped the switch. It was some sort of dressing room, but we called it a green room and explored while we waited. It had such a cool feel to it because it was aged. Plus, Arthur standing inside of it just added to the style of the room. I got excited and started snapping away. Eventually Omar came back, and it was the perfect opportunity to get some band portraits. It was the perfect setting because it fit their style of music. I hope this gets featured one day in an episode of “Before they were Stars” on VH1.
You guys will get there… 
I put some toning into this one because I couldn’t help it. It looked like a film photograph (As did most of the rest)…Love it.
“Have you seen them?! They’ve blossomed!” my sister asked one day. I wasn’t quite sure what she was referring to, but then she mentioned that she had planted some Almond Blossoms a little while back. NOT to be mixed up with Cherry Blossoms…although they do look quite similar. My schedule always seems to get so hectic, so I had never stopped to look at them. Boy, I really wish I had though. One day, in the rush of walking by, I noticed some gorgeous flowers…a ton of them, all beautiful and in bloom. I remembered what my sister had said and realized that’s what she was talking about. I took some time to appreciate them, smell them, and just stop wherever I was in my day for a few moments. Then, later that week, I brought my camera out to photograph them. In case you didn’t know, I love flowers. LOVE them.
Later in the week, I had been tidying up my desk area, trying to get everything organized so that my mind wouldn’t spin (When my working space is cluttered, my mind feels cluttered). While doing that, I came across a little fortune…Oh, you know…those tiny slips of paper with pink words on them that sometimes seal your fate (or at least they feel like they do). I remembered a different fortune mentioned in a previous post and realized…Wait a second…I’ve never seen this one before. This fortune somehow was just chillin’ near my mouse and had been hidden on my desk for who knows how long. Someone else must have gave it to me? I didn’t ponder about that too much, I just enjoyed it and smiled.
Sometimes I get so caught up in my busy schedule that I don’t “stop to smell the roses”. If I’m looking for something to cheer me up, or just something to make me smile on a tough day, maybe it’s because I’m just not looking in the right place. I’ve learned to just let go and breathe in the past month or so. It’s very liberating.
All this time I’ve been working toward building my business…fearing the worst, anticipating all the steps I need to take…I overlooked the moment I began to blossom…the moment my business began to blossom.
My heart is joyful.
After a cold, long winter… Spring is approaching (I think it’s pretty much here)…and this makes me happy.
I can always count on Jedi to give me a warm welcome when I get home. She delightfully wags her tail and barks/squeals with excitement at my arrival and there’s nothing quite like it. I mean, yes, she’s pretty much just buttering me up so that I’ll scratch her tummy…but that’s beside the point. Her affection is so sweet…so, who cares if she’s using me to get some tummy action.
Jedi usually has quite the shaggy fashionable look, but since spring and summer are approaching, I thought she’d be much more comfortable with a new do. Short is the new trend ya know? In doggy fashion world that is. I mean…come on, get with the program everyone. It’s all the rave. Unfortunately, her poncho (courtesy of my brother, Matt) doesn’t quite seem to fit her. Maybe Matt just wanted to humiliate you Jedi….and make you feel fatter than you really are. Or maybe you just put on a few pounds. It’s okay, I still love you.
But, I think you should tell Matt the next chance you get….to maybe pick up a little sexy, ultra fab number for you (you know for all that late night clubbing). Although, this will go great for Cinco de Mayo!
I miss her fuzzy chag of a coat. I’m sure it’ll be back soon. Then, it’ll probably get on my nerves again when it becomes unmanageable and I will have it chopped off…
Sorry, Jedi….it’s just the inevitable cycle
HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS
March 11, 2010
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Personal
I’ve gotta face it…it’s great to get away and have some fun when you travel. But, at the end of it all, it’s even nicer to go back home. Back to my comfy, cozy couch, my overwhelming desk and those other wonderful things that make home…home. Time to take everything that I’ve learned and apply it in every way possible. I’m excited. Yet, exhausted at the same time. It’s been a long week, and I find myself falling asleep standing up…or sitting down in this case even while I write this. Yes. That’s just how tired I am. My mind is fatigued from all the images I’ve seen and my heart has been pumping at an alarming rate as I absorbed every bit of information I could from everywhere possible. I met some pretty amazing people that I hope to stay in touch with, and finally got to meet the real versions of the avatars I’ve chatted with on forums/emails. It’s nice to finally put a name to a face. If I’ve come away with just a few solid friendships, I’m completely satisfied… No…scratch that. I’m completely enthralled. I love forming new bonds with people!
Thank You to everyone I’ve met and have learned from at WPPI. I wish you guys all the best, and hope to see you soon!
And now, back to my home………..where a big chunk of my heart remains. I look foward to Jedi’s snuggly wet disgusting nose digging into my legs (I’m not so anxious to cleaning of after her poo though). I’m ready to get back to the warmth of my tea ritual every morning…sipping it cautiously at my desk while responding to emails (I’ve never quite gotten over being terrified of the first sip. I mean, geez…it could burn my taste buds away if I’m not careful).
This was my last cup of tea in Vegas…
Here’s to another great year in photography!
Cheers!
I’ve made some. SOME…capital S-O-M-E.
As I walked into this whole WPPI experience, I felt like a nobody. Hmm…hold on, I should have rephrased that last statement. Here at WPPI, in a sea of so many talented photographers, I AM a “nobody”. Sometimes I really wish I didn’t look so young. Maybe it just feels like sometimes people brush me off and underestimate my abilities in so many different aspects of life. My size throws people off…I know that. It used to bother me. OKAY, I guess sometimes it still does a little. But, I know that what I lack in size, I more than make up with the measure of my heart.
As I continue on here at WPPI, I’ve realized that…Yes, maybe I have come a long way since the beginning of the journey, but there is always a constant progession that I strive for. I like to learn a new thing everyday and discover hidden treasures within my photographic strategies. More than anything, I want to stay my true self, and continue increasing the quality of my work. There are so many talented photographers to learn from, and so many tips to learn that sometimes my head spins with all this overwhelming information.
I’ve definitely taken some great phrases away from WPPI that will help strengthen my photographic philosophy.
“Humility over ability” …I’m not in it to win big awards and all that (don’t get me wrong they’re still nice to get…but it’s just not my goal). I’m in it to be in love with my work and make my clients happy. It means more to me to be able to give a quality product and have my clients to be in love with the images I provide them. No, really…it does mean the world to me. I may be a “nobody” in the photography industry, but as long as I become somebody to my clients, that’s alright with me. I really just want to work my butt off to produce work I’m not only proud of but work that my clients are proud of as well.
I’m not one of the hot shot photographers that have a whole entourage and groupies to match…and I’m okay with that. I’m just Erin. But, being Erin is what I do best, so I’m going to keep at it.
I guess I’ve just taken the time to reflect on these thoughts for the past few days.
WPPI has been an amazing resource. I mean, where else would some 12,000 photographers come together for the sake of educating the industry professionals?
Only two days left…
It’s wise to have a good ebb and flow when it comes to your life. Moments of extreme busy-ness (that’s not even a world, I hope you get the point lol) should be counter with moments of calmness. Otherwise, too much of either one of those things may drive you mad.
Had a crazy time in WPPI for sure!
Glad I finally got to meet you!