Here's what happens every winter: I look at my calendar with so much empty space and I say "dang, I'm going to be sooooo bored." I then proceed to say "yes" to my every tiny whim. For instance, this winter, I was
simultaneously taking classes or self-directing learning in calligraphy, Judaism, ceramics, Java programming, guitar and yoga.
In March, I traveled to Charlottesville for a friend, took the Northern Virginia Short Course in Photojournalism, spent a few quality days in NYC, and juggled many things for a styled shoot last week. It feels like it's been crazy and Spring has barely broken through.
But, truth be told, I
love to be occupied. Gaining new skills makes me feel useful and travel is always on the agenda. I have a really big announcement to make but you're probably going to have to wait quite a while to hear it. My mental energy feels like it's split right in thirds: clients, side projects and enrichment, and "the news". I'm being vague on purpose. You'll have to deal. Or talk to me in person.
Without any more rambling, photos from March:
Just a quirky wine display in a store in Charlottesville. A friend passed away. Someone I hadn't talked to - really talked to - in years. Someone I was honestly never very close with to begin. But someone who has had a presence in my life for the last seven years - through mutual friendships and stories and memories. Somehow this person is entangled in my life, like when all of your necklaces are at the bottom of a drawer and you can't just fish out the one you want to wear. And somehow it's all related to growing up and living in the real world. (I met him when I first came to DC and lived in a room in his house. I still talk with every person that lived in the house at the same time, and a bunch of related folks to boot.) I didn't really know him, not for a long time anyway, and I can't really say that I miss him, since I didn't talk to him these last years. And even though he was sick, his death was still jarring. I mostly try not to think about it.
I turned 31 at the very, very beginning of March (my birthday is Feb. 28). As a present from the Universe and a reminder (as if I needed one!) that I'm getting older, I threw out my neck on said birthday. I spent the next week on the couch and eventually had to get a muscle relaxant from the doctor. I've since gotten back into a daily yoga practice. It feels good, though of course sometimes it's a slog. While my neck was out of commission, my hard drive decided to crap out. When it rains it pours, as they say. I shot this while I waited for a repair at the Pentagon City Mall.
Then I spent three days attending the Northern Virginia Short Course in Photojournalism. It was half-good. The other half was a bunch of stuff that just wasn't relevant to me. I spent half of these days mentally pacing thinking I should be getting all my work done. On the other hand, I got really jazzed about video at this conference. So many possibilities...
This was a first: an image of mine was selected for a juried photography show. The
closing reception for the show is this Saturday. You should come - it's free and there will be a bar and lots of nice photos of DC things to look at. It was really neat to see people talking about my work.
George had a big conference in NYC last month. He gave a talk and as far as I can tell, did really well on stage and off. He's going to be a big-shot physicist man and I'm along for the ride. I only stayed in NYC two nights out of the optional four in order to make my Jewish class. That should tell you something about how much I enjoyed the Jewish class - just five lectures / Q&As on Jewish history, culture, spirituality, food. Hebrew always sounds so intimately familiar, even though I have no idea what they're saying. I'm deeply conflicted about my relationship to Judaism. According to the rabbi, that's pretty typical, so I guess I shouldn't feel down about it.
Anyway, this dude was playing a huge piano in Washington Square.
That's Carrie and this is her partner, David. I have known David for more than a decade. He's a weird dude but I like him. David, Carrie and I spent the whole day doing street photography in the City. New York has a vibrancy that is unparalleled in places I've seen. It's an exciting place with tons of character. Ideal for street, which is why so much street is produced there.
Our hotel had one of those weird NYC rooftops whose door is open but you get the feeling you are not meant to be out there.
Characters in a Chinese coffee shop.
Carrie shoots on film. I find this both admirable and ridiculous.
And, as these things go, I didn't pick up my personal-shooting camera again until I hosted the third #DCPhotowalks Photowalk. Shortly after this day, I made up a
website and a
Facebook group for #DCPhotowalks. I'll be hosting one each month and I hope others will host under the banner. There's a void where camera enthusiasts can get together just to shoot for fun / learning. I hope to grow this group to meet that need.
Photowalk #3 took place at the Natural History Museum. It's damn hard to shoot in museums like this - the ambient light is directed at the exhibits, not at the viewer and overall there's just a lot going on. Still, patience is rewarded.
So much easier to shoot outside, with a bright sun and throngs of people around Gallery Place.
And that wraps up Stray Frames for March. Until next time. (February Stray Frames
here).
May was a bit of a rough month for me. I sprained my ankle halfway through and I've had to rest it since. Even though it was a minor sprain (as self-diagnosed by me and the internet), it's still swollen more than two weeks later. If you know anything about me, you know I walk a lot. It's my main form of entertainment and my default activity to get out of the house and do something. (It's a working from home thing, see. If I didn't get out and deliberately walk, I'd just sit inside my house all day at the computer.)
So far, thirty one is the year of my body breaking on down all over the place. I'm kind of hoping to get quickly to 32 so I can maybe avoid this pitfall year of sprains, strains and other maladies.
Early in the month, I headed north for a Baltimore Fun Day. PostSecret's Frank Warren was giving a presentation at the American Visionary Art Museum. I'd never seen him talk and it was free, so I rolled on up. I spent some time walking around the city but it was more of a pound-the-pavement day than a photo day.
This next presenter is my own lovely husband George. He gave a big talk at DC Nerd Nite last month and it seemed to be a hit. He's an accomplished dude.
Later on, a whole mess of WWII-era planes made a flyover on the Mall, so I gathered with the fine folks at Exposed DC to photo it on up.
Mid-month, a friend of mine got hitched in Canada, so I went up to the Great White North to photo his nuptials. On the way out of there, I hit up Niagara Falls, which was well worth the two-hour detour and rush rush rush through the carnival atmosphere. I didn't photo the Horseshoe Falls, which you can see to the right in the photo below (it just looks like a big cloud) but when the boat pushes into the half-circle of massive, rushing water, you feel this sense of awe that's really indescribable. I loved it. I would do it again.
I spent another couple days in Toronto banging around. I had my camera and all, but maybe I was sort of photo'ed out from the wedding.
Ankle sprain day. I needed to entertain myself, as George had been out of town for a good week and a half at this point. I took the metro in to see an art festival way on up in NW, totally inaccessible to metro (except for crazy walkers like me). I got out at Shaw, walked a huge loop and then came back through to Brookland. I rewarded myself with a glass of wine and a long sit at Brookland Pint, but when I went to stand up, my leg had fallen asleep and just collapsed under me. When I got to my feet, I realized I had a busted ankle. Womp womp. I spent the rest of my month sitting on the couch and complaining.
Rolling Thunder motorcycle riders gather in the Pentagon parking lot. I didn't expect to be photographing bikers, but it was a nice detour on my way into the city.
Creeptastic dolls in Shaw.
Finally, the fifth #DCPhotowalks photowalk took place at AwesomeCon. I was still hobbling around, so I didn't go hard at this one, but it was great fun seeing all the elaborate costumes.
Until next time!
I spent a fair amount of time in the city this past month, just wandering around and enjoying the warmer weather and rich variety of experience our town has to offer. Above, I was very impressed with the red red red tulips the Capitol Gardener (I assume there is such a person / committee) chose for the White House and other areas. They were so tall and big and RED.
Street is all about patience. I probably stood in front of these balloons for 15 minutes waiting for someone interesting to walk into my frame. After a while you get bored, and that's OK too.
A student work from 
In April I accompanied a friend to a 
This photo was taken on my daily walk - a loop through my neighborhood. It's fascinating to see the same things change over time. These trees are blooming now, then they'll have big green leaves and eventually those leaves will turn colors and fall off. Forcing myself to take the same loop daily (or pretty close to daily) makes me take notice of little things. It's nice.
Our April photowalk was in Georgetown and I didn't even have to host it (thanks Maria!) We met in Rosslyn and photowalked over to Foggy Bottom. It's a good circuit and I might just have to do a repeat. Georgetown has a lot to offer.
Last week, I took a little trip to a place I'd never been before: Congressional Cemetery. It's set in a fantastic spot and has lots of beautiful trees and nice shady spots to rest in. They also make it a subscription-only dog park, which I've never seen done with a cemetery before! Seems like a pretty good mixed-use of land.
And finally, I got my 
That's it for April! See you in a month for more riveting personal updates!