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I like to have a project to work on. It keeps me busy, feeds my need for creativity, and gives me a chance to try out a new experience.
My projects have come in the form of interior decoration, journaling, cooking, office organizing, and most recently, photography. Some of those have been more successful than others (the office organization flopped almost as quickly as it began).
I have been toying with the idea of doing a photography project for awhile now, but I couldn't nail down the details. I didn't want to start something I couldn't actually fulfill, so I have been brainstorming thoughts on how to create something I can realistically commit to.
I've seen several '365' projects swimming around the internet world (Becka Knight from Studio 222 Photography has created one, as well as my good friend, Shirley) and I love them. They are straightforward and individualized. I decided that this type of venture could be attainable; a daily contribution - I can do that.
So what are the components of my project, you ask? Here's a breakdown:
I will be taking one photograph per day of something that inspires me. The photo will be taken with my Canon 5D (which will simultaneously force me to use my camera more - something I should be doing anyway). The photo will then be converted to black and white to express my love for simplicity. A quote (lyric, phrase, etc) will be paired with the photo, describing the contents of the photo. This is symbolizing my love for words.
I am calling this project 'the shades in between.' I found a quote that I believe adequately portrays my thoughts behind this undertaking:
'Life is like a good black and white photograph; there's black, there's
white, and lots of shades in between." -Karl Heiner
My project will illustrate the shades in between; the moments in my life that aren't necessarily completely black and white - the subtle, inspiring, simple ones that make up my point-of-view.
This project is personal - it has no affiliation to Starks Photography. It's an Amy Starks thing. :) I love being able to use my passion for photography in something that is so raw and intimate. It's not for work, it's for me. And I'm looking forward to looking back at my journey after the 365 days are complete.
I actually started the project on the 9.28.09, so I have a couple of posts already up. If you'd like to check out my little site, click here. :)
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the shades in between.
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Ben and I have the most incredible clients. No, really. I'm not just saying that. We have lucked out with some of the most laid back, photogenic, outgoing, down-to-earth, super-fan-tab-ulous clients. We don't like to talk about it too much because we're afraid we'll jinx ourselves (I'm knocking on wood and throwing salt over my shoulder simultaneously right now). But it's true. I don't know how it happens, but I'm pretty thrilled that it does.
Larissa and Justin are a perfect example of what this good luck streak looks like.
I won't get too detailed in this post because it's 1:00 in the morning and I don't trust my descriptive typing skills past 10:30. However, I will say this - Larissa and Justin's wedding was one of the most fabulous events I've ever had the pleasure of photographing. I even tweeted about it that night - and that makes it legit:
Ben and I were amazed at how easily the day progressed - no stress, no chaos, no tension. Just a lot of smiles, excitement, and love. Larissa and Justin have a ton of people that truly care about them, and it permeated the atmosphere with good, cheerful energy.
Icing on the delicious, raspberry-filled cake? Larissa and Justin are totally comfortable in front of the camera. We figured this out at their engagement session about a month ago, but it's usually a little different on the big day when emotions are running high. So as we were snapping some of them together after the ceremony, I started to guide them through some poses ('alright, let's have a kiss for this one'...'Larissa you look past me, Justin, right into the camera...') but they were 5 steps ahead of me! They went with the moment and allowed us to capture some of the most natural, romantic shots ever.
Enough rambling - onto the photos! Here's a handful of our favorites from the ceremony, and the post-ceremony session. More to come - including some reception images! :)
Isn't Larissa an insanely gorgeous bride?! She has a little bit of an old-Hollywood look - flawless. :)
Possibly my favorite moment at a wedding - the bride walking down the aisle.
I really like the following 2; the first is a sweet moment between Larissa and her father right before he gave her away. The second is during the ceremony - a nice angle of the venue, Casa Feliz (my favorite wedding venue to date!)
Easily in the running for my favorite of the day. I can literally feel Justin's adoration for Larissa radiating through this moment.
I definitely felt all creepy and paparazzi-like while I was taking this shot, but after seeing the result, I'm happy to hide out behind trees any day. :)
I love Justin's expression in the photo on the left.
I think I love Ben a little bit more because he captured these next two. I'm having photo-credit envy for a minute.
Like I said, they're naturals. :)
Probably my favorite from the day so far. The light was amaaaaazing. I wish I could bottle it up and carry it around with me to every shoot.
Eric Farewell:
KILLER light in that last one... WOW!! :)
Love all of these... I'd have to say it's a toss up between the last one, and your paparazzi shot... Good times :)
Shannon:
all these photos are gorgeous! the venue looks amazing, and my favorite shot was the paparazzi photo =)
(09.28.09)
Nicole:
Wow. Wow wow wow. I really need to stop looking at your blog because it is making me soooo sad that you cannot shoot my wedding. I so wish you could, you are absolutely amazing! WOW!
(09.30.09)
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larissa & justin : sneak peek!
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Since my parent's recently celebrated their 25th anniversary, I understand just how special that milestone is. From my observation, 25 years of marriage means comfort. It means acceptance. Respect. Unconditional support and love. Peaks and valleys. Growth. Understanding. Over the course of my life, my parents have been a stellar example of what true commitment looks like. Now that Ben and I are adventuring through matrimony together, I understand just how important that dedication is. It's only been a little over 2 years for us, but I'm stoked for number 25. Bring it on. :)
Ellen and Doug share that same kind of chemistry. 25 years after saying "I do," they are still laughing together, dancing together, and enjoying life together. It really is encouraging to be around a couple like that. They are so at ease with each other and their relationship, and that relaxed energy extends to people who have the pleasure of spending time with them.
Emily (Ellen and Doug's daughter) set up a session with us as an anniversary gift to her parents, and we felt extremely honored to be a part of such a significant chapter in their lives together. We met at Disney's Key West Resort where Ellen and Doug were vacationing, and spent some time strolling through the beautiful, peaceful area. Ellen and Doug brought their fun, down-to-earth personalities to the session, and Ben and I truly enjoyed capturing candid moments of their interaction throughout the day. Even though we only spent about an hour and a half with them, I can tell that the images are a true representation of what their marriage is all about; happiness, affection, and devotion.
Here's some favorites from the day! :)
I knew we were going to get along great when Ellen e-mailed me before their session to let me know that she had purchased a 'spiffy little red dress' - bright color is fabulous. :)
They are so photogenic! Seriously.
I love these bamboo branch thingies. (Man, I'm so eloquent with my descriptions).
A nice portrait of the lovely couple. :)
LOVE this.
Like I mentioned, Ellen and Doug brought their personalities to the shoot - in a big way. They had props! I lovvvve it! Ellen informed me that they "drink coffee, read books, and smoke cigars" together. You'll notice that the mugs and the books made it to the session. The cigars were a bit too tempting, so they didn't last long enough through vacation to make an appearance at the shoot. :)
Ellen and Doug are from south Florida, so having their session at the Key West Resort could not have been a more perfect fit.
And there's that laughter I was talking about. :)
Hello golden Florida sunshine.
**Ellen and Doug, thank you for being so great! We absolutely loved hanging out with you guys! Congratulations on 25 years together! :)**
Anonymous:
Miracle workers, both of you! Thanks for making this memorable in so many ways. Being photographed is so out of our comfort zone, and yet there we are just strolling around, carefree and in love! We will treasure these photos always...
(09.26.09)
Katrene DeLoach:
AWESOME AWESOME AWESOME! thank you for making it such a fabulous girt for them!! :)
(11.06.09)
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After my trip to New York, I decided that the experience was incredible enough to earn it's very own 'fab/drab' post. Thus, here we are. An entire write-up detailing my adventure in the Big Apple.
FAB!
1. Wicked. It was a common phrase I heard from people who had been to New York before; "Oh, you have to see a show." Now that I've experienced a Broadway musical, I couldn't agree more. While I have no doubt that any production would be spectacular, I can only speak about the one that I sat through; Wicked. I don't think any adjectives I know could sufficiently describe Wicked, but I'll give it a shot. The actors and actresses are brilliant. The orchestra is mind-blowing. The script is phenomenal. Holyfreakingcrap. Go see it. Do it. I'd watch it 237 times over.
2. Top of the Rock. A few of the shots from my previous post were taken at Top of the Rock. It's name is quite befitting - the view is from the top floor (observation deck) of Rockefeller Plaza. Not that I have much to compare it to, but I'd bet big bucks that there isn't a better way to see New York City. We went at night (a choice that I would make again), and we were able to take in every bit of the glamourous, bright, magical scene NYC is known for. And as a photographer, I was drooling. No, really. I had to wipe off my camera.
3. The Warwick. Let me be honest for a second. Going to a place like New York City (or any new destination for that matter), I want to make sure that I'm staying some place legit. I'm no hotel snob, but I wouldn't want to end up sleeping in sketchtown. It's just a matter of logic. And the fact that I like being alive, really. So when we were searching for places to stay, we had some stipulations: convenient location, relatively spacious (there would be 3 of us sharing a room), and again - the non-sketchy factor. The Warwick was everything that we could want in a hotel. Friendly service, nice accommodations, great location (with a Starbucks across the street - hello!), and no super-creepy vibe. Win-win-win, across the board.
4. H&M. Oh. H&M. You rock my closet. I love this store almost as much as I love Pumpkin Spice Lattes and Ryan Reynolds (and seriously. That's a lot.). New York had eight - count them, EIGHT - H&M stores within walking distance. And those are just the ones that we hit up. I was on shopping cloud 9 - immersed in an atmosphere of skinny jeans, ankle boots, and adorable dresses. Florida, rumor has it you'll be acquiring one or two H&M locations in the near future. Though my bank account will suffer, I couldn't be more thrilled.
5. New York Niceness. I know this isn't necessarily tangible, and I can't link it to anything (though I contemplated attaching it to a Google image of a smiley face), but I think it is absolutely fabulous in it's own right. Thanks to media portrayal (well, and Naomi Campbell), we sometimes get the impression that New Yorkers are snooty, rude, and somber. In movies, often times they are strutting around in all black, Louis Vuitton bag in hand, and cell phone attached to their ear. It doesn't really scream 'I'm-a-warm-and-fuzzy-person.' But let me set the record straight. There is a lot of black attire. There are plenty of Louis Vuitton bags, and there is an abundance of cell-phone-attached ears. But, there is also a lot of smiling. And helpfulness. Politeness. Talk-to-a-stranger-on-the-subway niceness. New York, I don't want to ruin your too-cool-for-school reputation, but I can see right through those oversized shades.
DRAB...
1. No public restrooms. Seriously. With all the shopping and tourist-y activities, you'd think someone would have hooked this city up with more facilities. Not so much. If you do happen upon a place that houses a restroom, be prepared to make a legitimate purchase before they allow you to have a potty break. They will stay on you like a hawk, so don't even think you can sneak out. Been there, tried that - still ended up buying a drink.
....as if I could actually come up with 5 drab things about NEW YORK! Yeah, right. That city puts the 'fab' in 'fabulous.' I'd live there...in a New York minute. ;)
***
A few other things that were pretty spectacular...
-Central Park: Well, duh. :)
-TV and Movie tour: For cinema buffs. Pretty fun (and fast) way to check out a large part of the area. Plus, you can say "I saw that [fill in the blank] while I was in New York!" every time you watch a movie. :)
-Subway transportation: It's really not that bad! And much cheaper than cabs.
-SoHo: Shopping central.
-5th Ave: Again with the shopping. :)
-Fashion's Night Out: This was a one night event while we were there, but it was incredible! Hundreds of stores throughout the city (and around the world) came together to promote and celebrate fashion by staying open late (until 11pm) and offering great discounts and incentives.
-VMA's: Yep, it was a pretty fantastic week to be in New York. MTV's VMA's were hosted at Radio City Music Hall - just a couple of blocks from our hotel! The crowds were intense, but we caught a few short glimpses of celebrities...from a far, far distance. ;)
I can't wait to go back! I'm officially in love. <3
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fab & drab : issue 5 [All things New York!]
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NYC truly lives up to it's catch phrase. I'm still trying to make up for the z's I missed while I was visiting there this past week. But I'm definitely not complaining - it was so worth the post-travel tiredness.
This was my first time in New York, and I came in with high expectations. Bright lights. Fast pace. Hustle. Bustle. Fashion. Entertainment. Glitz. Glamour. And shopping. Oh. Shopping.
I left feeling energized. Excited. And absolutely fulfilled.
The trip was everything I was expecting, plus some bursts of unexpectedness that made the experience that much more thrilling (for instance, who knew New Yorkers were so nice??)
I'm going to be dedicating an entire Fab/Drab post to my trip (highlighting details), but I couldn't wait to post a few photos. This city is a photographer's mother ship. I felt a reconnection with my passion that was invigorating and much needed.
So it rained. A lot. But that didn't deter the good times. :)
Times Square and Radio City Music Hall. Pretty sure these will be gracing the walls of my home.
...along with this one. I like it split into 3 frames like this. I'm thinking a canvas print. :) This shot was taken at the Top of the Rock. The view cannot be adequately described in words.
A little New York 'love.' <3
The Brooklyn Bridge.
And more Central Park. How much would you love for this to be your backyard view? Yes, please.
Check back for more New York fun! :)
Andy:
These are great photographs!
(09.16.09)
Lisa:
Ummmm.... we want more.... please?!??!
(09.16.09)
Bethney :
Ugh, can I just live there please? It's impossible to live in a place like Tavares after going to New York. My life feels way too ordinary.
(09.16.09)
Ben:
I wanna go!!!
(09.16.09)
Kristin:
OMG Amy Lee! These are so great!!!!!!!
(09.22.09)
Becka @Studio222 Photography:
Oh my. NYC is my favorite city in the United States. I'd move to the Village in a heartbeat if Nate would be down for it. But he isn't, so I'll have to settle for vacations. Isn't just lovely? The photos are gorgeous!
(09.22.09)
Amy:
@Becka & @Bethney - I feel the EXACT same way. Being there makes me want to reside there permanently!
(09.23.09)
Stefan Brummel:
Wow. I love the "A little New York 'love.'" shot!
(09.27.09)
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the city that never sleeps.
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Love this idea! I need to commit to working on a project at least 15 minutes every day (a quilt??) and eventually it will be completed.
(09.30.09)Love you!
Great idea, Amy! I planned to start one January 1st of 2010, but I like your idea of jumping right in!
(09.30.09)Love this idea! I soo want to do this one day (or should I say 'one year'?).
(09.30.09)Amy! You are basically the epitome of creativity and awesomeness...I love your work and am always left with a twinge of jealousy because of it :) You truly have a gift and I am so glad you choose to share it with everyone else.
(10.03.09)Aw, thanks for the shoutout! :)
(10.22.09)very cool. :)
(10.24.09)