It’s long overdue that I backed up all my files…websites, graphics, and hundreds of digital photos.  So I’ve been spending some time every week since Christmas, organizing and transferring all my files from one hard drive to a second one (the monstrous terabyte).  It’s been an interesting trip down memory lane, finding photos and graphics I created as soon as I started using the computer to create art.

I used to have a lot of time to experiment with photography and digital editing in Photoshop…the following images are just one of the many results of experimentation.

The Panoramic

This panoramic photograph of the Lake Erie coastline in my hometown of Willowick, Ohio at the Lakefront Lodge, was created by taking multiple shots while panning my camera (stabilized by a tripod).  I then seamed the images together in Photoshop.  I used to sit here with friends, dreaming about floating away on a boat to Canada.  It’s a wonderful place for meditation, contemplation and philosophical discussion.  The crash of the waves on a windy day is amazing.  Click on the image for a larger view!

This one is a mirror image of a photograph at the same location.

What is something interesting I could do with these?  Maybe a website header?

These photographs were taken last Fall with my good friend and consistent model, Kristy Rose. I dreamed this series before it was created…in the dream I was taking photos of Kristy running through the green coastal plains of Ireland, large flowing scarf trailing behind her as she ran. I like dreaming about epic “high fashion” photo shoots

This is not quite the the location from the dream, and it’s definitely not high fashion, but the beautiful Autumn palette and Kristy’s serene expression gives these a very soft, romantic feel.

What do you think?  Should I pursue conceptual portraiture more aggressively, or just stick to nature and landscapes?

There are a lot of nice shots I’m still going through, so this is just a preview of what’s to come.

Our first trip after moving to Seattle was about 60 miles south to Mount Rainier National Park. The mountain overtakes the horizon from the entrance onto I-5 near our home, and it can be seen as far away as Portland and Vancouver. Up close, it’s mind-blowing…

We climbed to about 6,000 feet after a long, semi-terrifying bus ride up the winding roads. The crest is at a little over 14,000 feet. These photographs hardly do the real views any justice, but they come close. Very little editing was applied.

These photos were snapped at the Paradise location (named for the pure gorgeousness of it’s wildflower-covered slopes), where there is a visitors center and beautiful mountain lodge. To the south are some lower elevation peaks that are much older than Mt Rainier, and in one of the shots you can see Mount St. Helens faintly in the distance (about 50 miles away).

Mt. Rainier is the most glaciated mountain in the lower 48 states, but we heard stories from park volunteers about glaciers that have completely melted since they were children (over 50 years). That’s global warming for ya. Yet, it was a 90 degree August day when we visited and we were so high up that we eventually had to stop because of all the snow blocking the path.

Upcoming series: Oregon, Mt. Hood, old-growth forests, and Puget Sound & Lake Washington areas

These two photographs were taken in a rural part of Northeast Ohio where my parents now live. Their very kind neighbors have a beautiful pond with some rather lovely inhabitants. This swan and her babies posed prettily for me as I carefully walked around the pond snapping some photos of them.

Today Ben and I went out to the North Chagrin Reservation of the Cleveland Metroparks, a place where anyone in the east side of Cleveland has most likely visited since childhood..us included. You’d think now I’d have seen it all..and I admit sometimes I’m a little bored with the same old trees, pathways and ponds…but coming during the changing seasons is always a treat. I captured these photographs on our woodland walk near Buttermilk Falls, adding to their vibrant colorful glory with a little digital enhancing. Autumn is my favorite season so there were quite a few photos to go through, and I’ll probably add more in the future. I hope you enjoy these!

* Featured on *
MediaevalBaebes.com

I’ve had the honor of photographing two live performances of classical medieval songstresses, the Mediaeval Baebes. This series is from the second show that I attended in Columbus, Ohio, in October, 2007. Some of these photos are used by the band on their official website (see link above)

At the show in Columbus I met Emily and the other ladies (first time I saw them the band was a very different line-up). They were all very warm and welcoming, and encouraged me to keep taking photos at their gigs! Haven’t been to a show since last year, unfortunately, as they stay around their home in London and only come to the East Coast here in the US. Hopefully they’ll make a trip out West to my current area someday.

You will see a lot of portraits of my dear friend, Kristy Rose. She likes to dress up and frolick in front of the camera! I would be nowhere without the willingness of my friends to sit (stand, run, jump, dance!) for portraits. This series was shot in my childhood home, where we made use of a dark purple canopy net and some old prom dresses. This was right after she cut her hair really short. I titled the collection Stately Grace for Kristy’s striking resemblance to Princess Diana in some of the shots.

My good friend Rachel and I did a little photo shoot the day before she left for San Francisco in October, 2007. Little did I know I’d be leaving home as well, less than a year later, and end up on the West Coast less than 200 miles away from her then home of Portland! Rachel is now back in San Francisco with the great friends she’s made there.

I worked with Rachel at my job in the photo lab…I had a part in hiring her as my assistant. We worked together for a little over a year before I finally left that position to focus full-time on Web/Graphic Design. We recently attended FaerieWorlds in Oregon where we met our faery artist idol, the famous Brian Froud. We’re hoping to be vendors there next year!

I have an ancient friendship with my dear friend, Andrea. We’ve been friends through thick and thin for 20 years now. In first grade we were standing in line waiting for our teacher to take us in from morning recess on the first day of school. Standing around, waiting, a group of us little girls agreed to be friends…and some of us, like Andrea and I, still are today. I cherish these close friendships in a world were trusting people and making real connections is very difficult.

This series was shot on Andrea’s little Elf! (A Canon Digital Elph point and shoot). We were enjoying a walk along the “Duck Pond” at the North Chagrin Reservation of the Cleveland Metroparks when I took these shots. I especially like the one of Andrea taking in the glory of the beautiful forest.

This is one of my favorite series, taken in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Ben and I just finished watching the movie 300 in the digital theatre in Valley View, Ohio, and I was left in a dream world because of the amazing visuals in that movie. So this series reminds me of that magical day and of course the Mystic Woods themselves are quite magical.