Fog...

Today was the most amazing foggy day in Wisconsin. It was 50 degrees! Of course, I grabbed my camera and umbrella and headed out to see what I could find. I love the mysterious feeling that fog brings to everything...

Water for Elephants...so amazing!

I have been sitting at The Bad Waitress for the last 3.5 hours and finally finished "Water for Elephants." It was truly amazing and my mind is reeling. The characters were so easy to connect with and no matter how long I left it sitting on my bookshelf or in my bag in between readings, I was immediately engrossed as soon as I picked it up. As a visual person(helloooo, I'm a photographer after all!), I loved all of the vivid imagery, the richness of characters, the depth that Sara Gruen found and explored in this book. I would recommend it to anyone!!! 

MN Women's Press: Changemakers

I photographed these incredible women for The MN Women's Press "Changemakers" issue that comes out on December 23rd.  They were all so gracious and inspiring. I'm constantly amazed at the positive things people in my community are doing and how many people need assistance in some way. I'm honored to have met each of them.

Ann Lewis, Peace Activist

The peace flag behind her was her partner's, who died of cancer a few years ago. It was passed onto her. She told me that when you're a troublemaker, you can't stay quiet when something is happening that you don't believe is right. She has been an activist for over 40 years. I love troublemakers! 

Kathryn Kysar, Editor of "Riding Shotgun: Women Write About Their Mothers". I photographed her at Micawbers Bookstore in St. Paul. I ended up buying a copy of her book as a gift for my sister! 

Cindy Reuther, Executive Director or Laura Jeffrey Academy in St. Paul, MN, a girl-focused, year round charter school. I could feel the excitement in the students when I was there and the very strong sense of community and dedication to the students. Cindy is one of the most energetic, passionate people I have ever met. And I only spent 15 minutes with her!

Maria Cisneros, Women's Group Facilitator, and Alicia Ranney, Civic Engagement Coordinator, The Waite House, Minneapolis, MN. These women are running a new leadership and professional development program for women in our community. They braved the cold with me to take photos by the incredible murals outside! 

Suzanne Koepplinger, Executive Director of The Minnesota Indian Women's Resource Center in Minneapolis, MN. They offer child care, living facilities, mental health care, parenting skills and much more for American Indian women and their families.

Some thoughts on Photography...

One of my absolute favorite books is "On Photography" by Susan Sontag. My amazing sister gave it to me in college and I ended up doing an independent study on Visual Culture because of it(I was a Philosophy major, so you can imagine how much I LOVE to think about life). This quote stood out to me:

"Any photograph has multiple meanings; indeed, to see something in the form of a photograph is to encounter a potential object of fascination. The ultimate wisdom of the photographic image is to say: "There is the surface. Now think-or rather feel, intuit-what is beyond it, what the reality must be like if it looks this way." Photographs, which cannot themselves explain anything, are inexhuastible invitations to deduction, speculation, and fantasy."

I love thinking about what is behind images, what the photographer was thinking, hearing, yearning for, distracted by, in that moment. I love the richness that some images have, that history that lies within it. I search for that kind of richness in life and hope that my images show some of that. 

Self-Portraits

These are some new self-portraits I did after an affirming trip to Wisconsin.  

Married: Cathy and Matt!

Cathy and Matt were married on November 22 in Maple Grove. What a wonderful couple they are! We braved the chilly weather to do a lot of fun portraits outside...Their wedding was gorgeous and the dance floor was packed until the moment I left(always a good sign). 

Thanks to both of you for such a wonderful experience!