Today I'm Inpsired By: Humans of New York

 

 

Have you seen this great website, Humans of New York? I don't know what's more inspiring, the photos and the stories, or photographer Brandon Stanton's own personal story. I love that he's a failed Chicago Board of Trade bond trader who moved to New York City to take pictures. He said his mom was not happy with him on this decision. Now he's taken over 5,000 portraits and written over 50 stories about the fascinating, diverse population of NYC. The pictures and the captions are awesome. Some are funny, some serious and heart warming. Be sure to check out the website for more great pictures and stories.

I Dig This - Polaroid Z340 Instand Camera

I totally dig this new Polaroid Instant Camera, found at here at Photojojo. The Z340 takes 14 megapixel pictures that can be printed out either in high resolution or old fashioned polaroid style. The memory card can also be taken out to print pictures outside of the camera. Awesome. Something else I need!!!

Retro Signs

I totally love retro neon signs, usually found on the scariest of 

motels and restaurants. I want to do a series of drawings or 

paintings of retro signs, they are so creative and colorful even if 

I don't want to stay or eat there!! Here's a few of my favorites:

http://whatkatieate.blogspot.com/

https://www.tumblr.com/login

http://pieceof8.tumblr.com/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/society_in_decline/3947947901/in/set-72157594323475636

http://www.flickr.com/photos/maryannsphotos/5058279705/

http://www.retroroadmap.com/2010/08/30/mels-diner-lebanon-pa-cool-vintage-sign-and-diner-best-blt-ever/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/toomuchfire/4857070545/in/photostream

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8171213@N03/4740004750/in/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/detourart/4508544634/in/set-72157603668647008

New Ideas Tuesday

Love this DIY clothesline for a kid's bedroom. It's so easy, even a non-sewer like me could probably do it!! From Rowantree Design

 Funky 3D letter font, from How About Orange

 I love this project idea using an old thrift store painting, some tape or sticky letters, and paint. From Craftzine. I may even have to borrow the quote, since my daughter was born on St.Patrick's Day. This would be PERFECT for her bedroom.

This is totally funky but it's a creative use of all those old VHS tape holders we all still have laying around. A picture frame with a hidden message in it. From Divaani

 This is such a sweet idea, photographing your little girl in your wedding dress for display at her wedding. I think I may try that soon. From Pinfluence

The Colors of Fall

A couple weeks ago I posted this post, about a local nature photographer, Anisha Palmer. She inspired me to take these pictures, thank you Anisha!! We have an awesome farm stand across the street from our house. It's one of my favorite parts of living out here in suburbia. I love taking Bean across the street to the farm stand in her little red wagon to pick out apples, strawberries, and other fresh fruits and vegetables that, as my dad always says, are so good because they "don't have stickers on them." Today was not a very fall like day, it was about 80 degrees and humid. But I can tell that fall is around the corner, because the farm stand is full of the bright colors of fall. Bean and I took the camera over today and took some shots, and then visited the pumpkin patch in the backyard. When we got home we ate about three different kinds of apples and then uploaded the pictures and talked all about the different veggies and colors. Such a simple, sweet early fall day. 

The farm stand across the street, Meadowbrook Farms

 Orange pumpkins, tons of them!!

 Beige squashes

 Gray "ugly veggies" as Bean called them.

Green pumpkins

 Red apples, bushels full of them

 Red and yellow tomatos

 Orange and green carrots

 Bright red radishes

 Orange mini pumpkins

Out in the pumpkin patch behind Meadowbrook where the pumpkins are just now beginning to fill in.

Featured Artist Friday - Anisha Palmer Photography

I had the pleasure of attending a gallery opening for today's Featured Artist Anisha Palmer at a local restaurant this week. Anisha is a Boston-based food and nature photographer who's love of photography began when her father gave her his old Canon camera. She's been hooked ever since and has developed a passion for capturing "seemingly ordinary moments in nature in unique ways."  It was great to meet Anisha and see her photography, I always love meeting new artists, especially when they are so passionate about what they photograph or paint or sculpt as Anisha is. This gallery opening featured part of Anisha's Farm series, with very clear and crisp photographs that capture the amazing colors, lines, and organic shapes of the world's fruits and vegetables. Anisha said that she loves the colors of nature and how vibrant they are, especially when they are farm stand fresh and haven't been shipped or packaged for the grocery store aisles. Anisha's Farm series will be on exhibit and for sale at 15 Walnut in Hamilton until December 11th, so if you're in the area be sure to check it out. Also, to find out more about Anisha, learn about past and upcoming shows, and see more of her work visit her website here. Anisha also has several great quotes on her website as inspiration. Here's my favorite:

"A mind, stretched by a new experience, can never go back to its old dimensions."   
                                                                                                      Oliver Wendell Holmes

A few of my favorites from the Nature, Farm and Food Gallery

A few of my favorites from the Seascapes gallery:

 A few of my favorites from the Architecture series:

Martha's Vineyard Beach

A few pictures from our beach day on Martha's Vineyard. We found an amazing hidden beach near Edgartown called Long Point, with maybe 5-6 people total on a sprawling miles-long stretch of beach and ponds. It was gorgeous, a hidden gem that I recommend visiting out if you're ever on the Vineyard. Go here to find out more about the beach and the nature preserve.