{Wild and Free}

“the only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars.” ― Jack Kerouac, On the Road

{Let's Join Under The Stars}

“You’ll need coffee shops and sunsets and road trips. Airplanes and passports and new songs and old songs, but people more than anything else. You will need other people and you will need to be that other person to someone else, a living breathing screaming invitation to believe better things.”― Jamie Tworkowski This Wedding was out of a fairy tale. The reception tent was adorned with string lights, candle lights...lantern lights. As I photographed, so much was happening around me but it drowned out to a faint background buzz. Could be the insane heat and classic Erie humidity (that left my lens fogged up and palms slippery with sweat)or the technicolor dreamworld coming alive around me. Selfishly, I took some time to photograph some good ole bokeh...always always a favorite of mine. Capturing twinkles of magic to keep for my own, like all the people around me.

{Ranunculus In Wonderland}

“have i gone mad? im afraid so, but let me tell you something, the best people usually are.” ― Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland Ranunculus have been on my mind, since coming across beautiful photographs of this finely detailed flower. From what I understand, it blooms late spring and includes the most identifiable Ranunculus, The Buttercup. Personally, I love them because they appear almost comical and unreal. Almost gigantic lollipops...Or something to be found out of my favorite childhood book Alice In Wonderland. This week a wedding party had requested Ranunculus for their event. I was giddy when they arrived and slightly disappointed when I saw them still closed tight in their bud. By the end of the day they showed hints of life. The next morning, with camera in hand, I found them blossomed into a crazy maze of beautiful madness.

{Walking On The Sun}

“Night is purer than day; it is better for thinking and loving and dreaming. At night everything is more intense, more true. The echo of words that have been spoken during the day takes on a new and deeper meaning. The tragedy of man is that he doesn't know how to distinguish between day and night. He says things at night that should only be said by day.” ― Elie Wiesel, Dawn

{Unbound}

“For what it’s worth: it’s never too late to be whoever you want to be. I hope you live a life you’re proud of, and if you find that you’re not, I hope you have the strength to start all over again.”― - F.Scott Fitzgerald

{Perfect Petals}

"Give the ones you love wings to fly, roots to come back, and reason to stay" -Dalai Lama One of the small pleasures at work is taking petals off roses for weddings that request their use for decoration. Usually there is a mix of different colors and shaped rose petals. The flowers are usually a bit older and have added texture and darker contrast from aging. When there is a lot in the box, I take my hands and run the petals through my palms and fingers. They are soft and beautiful. A Rose Petal salad.

{Foot on the Gas}

"I began to realize how important it was to be an enthusiast in life...if you are interested in something, no matter what it is, go at it full speed ahead. Embrace it with both arms, hug it, love it and above all become passionate about it. Lukewarm is no good. Hot is no good either. White hot and passionate is the only thing to be." Roald Dahl I really dig this quote. Most of my life I have lived this way and it's intense...I really have no choice in the matter. It is just who I am. One foot on the gas, one foot on the break. Full steam ahead!

{Friday Highlights}

"What's Comin Will Come, And We'll Meet It When It Does"-Hagrid, Harry Potter

{Sprinklerlogged}

“In my dreams, I never have an age.” ― Madeleine L'Engle This has to be one of my favorite pictures of my daughter when she was smaller. Huddled, post sprinkler run, with matted hair, soaked swimsuit and grass remains clinging to her ankles. When I was younger, my sister and I loved to spend summer running through the hose. We would take turns holding it, while sticking fingers slightly over the mouth to create a wider spray range. The water was always way too cold and by the time we were finished there would be a gigantic marshy puddle in the middle of our backyard and a peeved off father who needed to mow the lawn the next day. Sometimes we would try to be clever and hide waiting to pounce and spray when one of us would turn the corner of the house. And then there was always the funny bending the hose in half to stop the water flow on the unsuspecting hose handler. I'm not kidding when I say I found that to be funny every time...My own kids had similar times many summers over the years. Water, summer, hoses, sprinkler....wet matted, grass filled hair and peeved off fathers, a timeless summer joy.

{Hi Ho Cherries Yo}

And I say to my heart: Rave On-Mary Oliver Summer fruits are a simple delight this time of year. I love how shiny and perfect these cherries appear. The colors popped out to me absolutely had to be photographed!

{My Boy with a Coin}

A boy with a coin he crammed in his jeans, Then making a wish he tossed in the sea, Walked to a town that all of us burn, When God left the ground to circle the world -Iron and Wine Mostly, these days he is a goofy eight year old boy who enjoys his Minon Fart gun, being outside, baseball and video games. He's also insanely observant and sweet. For Instance, the caterpillar that he saved from the spider web just recently, I'm sure, is extremely grateful. He's always been my snuggler and I hope that doesn't change anytime soon.

{Galaxies Far Far Away}

“I am a part of all that I have met.” ― Alfred Tennyson, The Complete Poetical Works of Tennyson This day is brought to by another stunning succulent. Just toying with focus, playing with texture. I get to photograph some great stuff this weekend. Pretty nervously excited. A whole different arena. Ah life and it's crazy curve balls...

{Castle on a Cloud}

“I have dreamt in my life, dreams that have stayed with me ever after, and changed my ideas; they have gone through and through me, like wine through water, and altered the color of my mind. And this is one: I'm going to tell it - but take care not to smile at any part of it.” ― Emily Brontë, Wuthering Heights I've been lucky enough to live a life where I have fulfilled many of my dreams. Of course they have changed how I see the world and opened doors that have led to new, different dreams. Honestly, If I'm not too careful, I could easily get lost in daydreams...night dreams...mid-afternoon, lunch haze dreams. And d it goes. My newest job opportunity has been an unexpected dream. How I ended up here, I can't fathom. The process has been like one of those Russian Dolls where a big doll opens, another small doll appears...til the end. One tiny doll left. Just staring you back in the face. Similar to all these beautiful, dreamy flowers that stare me in the face. All day. So I can't believe I'm going to say this but I'm "trusting the process." Letting life and all it's incredible dreams unfold without pushing, pulling and twisting it to death. And in itself is a big deal. Just some random, free floating observations for the day. Peace on out and I hope your day is filled with many sweet, crazy and unexpected dreams.

{Succulence}

"It's life that matters, nothing but life-the process of discovering-the everlasting and perpetual process,not the discovery itself at all"-Virgina Woolf, From Night and Day I am in love with succulents. I have been admiring them for awhile but never purchased them for myself until today. The texture, shapes, angles, cut...colors...low maintenance care (MY TYPE OF PlANT!). I've gotten lost in photographing flowers of a late in an attempt to build another area of my portfolio. These little succulents were a nice addition to the lot. I'm addicted...sigh

{Sunshine on a Cloudy Day}

“A person who has good thoughts cannot ever be ugly. You can have a wonky nose and a crooked mouth and a double chin and stick-out teeth, but if you have good thoughts they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely.” ― Roald Dahl

{Tides}

“I love the smell of the universe in the morning.” ― Neil deGrasse Tyson

{1.2}

“The air was soft, the stars so fine, the promise of every cobbled alley so great, that I thought I was in a dream.” ― Jack Kerouac, On the Road: The Original Scroll Shot with that sharp, beautiful 50mm at 1.2 aperture. I love it. The background geeks me out every time.

{Remains of the Day}

“Your sacred space is where you can find yourself over and over again.” ― Joseph Campbell The poppy has a short life span of maybe a day or two. It was so delicate it stood no chance against the summer wind. I unwrapped it to find only two had made the trip home. The rest were remains of tissue paper petals and the most fascinating buds I'd ever seen. It had spread across the paper in a whirl whipped pattern that delighted me just fine.

{Sahara}

“As the years pass, I am coming more and more to understand that it is the common, everyday blessings of our common everyday lives for which we should be particularly grateful. They are the things that fill our lives with comfort and our hearts with gladness-just the pure air to breathe and the strength to breath it; just warmth and shelter and home folks; just plain food that gives us strength; the bright sunshine on a cold day; and a cool breeze when the day is warm.” ― Laura Ingalls Wilder I've never been a big fan of the Rose. More of a tulip girl. I can certainly appreciate roses but I never got that wow, breathless feeling you get when you see something beautiful. Then I saw this beautiful rose. Apparantly, there are many different types of roses (Might be common knowledge but not fore me!). It was hidden among many other day old roses ready to be thrown away. The way it opened, the color and even the name gave me that...wow, breathless feeling. I was lucky enough to be able to take it home. Every time I walk in the door it sits on my dining table and greets me. I am happy and wowed every time. A everyday blessing, the rose.

{Entrance} Pittsburgh, PA FIne Art Photography

“After all, Bao Bomu says, what is the past but what we choose to remember?” ― Amy Tan, The Bonesetter's Daughter

{Details In The Fabric} Twin Cities Fine Art Photography

“When it is dark enough, you can see the stars.” ― Ralph Waldo Emerson