Category: Inspiration

LOOK3 Photography Festival | Charlottesville, VA

So it's not all happy couples looking adorable at this job. Sometimes a girl has to attend educational conferences (or, you know, editing or office stuff or taxes or etc. etc. etc.) Last week, I went to the LOOK3 Festival of the Photograph down in Charlottesville, Va. I'm happy to say that I've already met up with some new friends and have started the planning for a large-scale personal photography project - so it's gotten my ass in gear about a handful of things, at least. I'm an impulsive and independent traveler. Last year, I happened to be in Charlottesville during the festival, and noticed all these photographers everywhere and big photographs hung down the main shopping strip. So I went home and signed up to be part of the next one. Seemed cool enough, didn't cost so much - I'm in. I then proceeded to book a group house, with just myself to fill one of the six sleeping spots. Someone will come, I figured, and they did! I met five very wonderful people in my group house and nobody got robbed or stabbed or anything. I put myself in situations like this hoping to walk away inspired. It's intimidating hearing from photography greats - who so often tend to be totally blasé about their accomplishments - and for some they get depressed about not being able to achieve. I get inspired to push harder, which is really a nice side effect. spudnuts If you travel enough, you learn how to have the best time in the given situation. I know that I do really well when I surround myself with new people and I have a pretty good idea of how to find the right folks to put in front of me (hi new friends!) But then I just need to go out on my own. Fortunately, photography for me is a very solitary thing. I don't work well with others, so I can set out to take some images and have it be completely alone time. Even if I'm photographing people. (Sorry Nathan.) The used bookstores in town (and there are a freakin' ton of them!) had been pretty well-scavenged for photo books worth picking up. We stayed at an Airbnb rental with a very nice man named Alp. Here we are riding in the back of his truck while he lets a dog sit up front. As a side note, it's really tricky to take pictures when you're attempting to sit on the wheel bed of a truck. Poor Alexis got quite an eyeful up my skirt. Spent a few days with this pretty cool cat. Nathan is somebody to contend with! It was pretty great. I want to put myself in more situations like this in the future. Especially considering LOOK3 isn't coming back next year. Onward!
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by Amber Categories: Inspiration, TravelTags: , ,

Hillwood Estate & Gardens

David and I dropped by Hillwood Estate & Gardens on a whim yesterday while scoping out places to do a photo shoot in Rock Creek.  I'd been meaning to go and it seemed a good time.  The gardens are really lovely and the house does have quite a collection.  Ms. Merriweather Post was quite fond of buying and displaying things.  Of course, no photos allowed inside so you'll only catch the garden and greenhouse here. The Japanese garden is quite lovely. But there are some rather creepy things around the house, like a pet cemetery and this lovely lady/sphinx.  Was this popular at some time?  It probably was but now just seems absurd and freaky. Pretty cool place, all told, though.  I'd definitely consider it for an engagement shoot.
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by Amber Categories: Inspiration

Arlington County Fair

Met up with just two DC Social peeps for an outing to the Arlington County Fair.  It was a fun time and I like the images I took.  Fairs are smorgasbords of color, people and chaos - some of my favorite things to photograph. We met at the piglet races, where there were many pig puns to be had.  First, the ring master called for volunteers. Then the races were on! The pigs were faster than I thought they would be. Our pig (the blue pig) didn't win a single race, though there was much debate over whether the "blue pig" was the same pig each time.  It would take a true pig master to tell them apart.  That, or at least a moment of study.  Go Wilbur! The Midway is an awesome place in any fair. Because I'm a baby, I don't like to take pictures of strangers with the camera to my eye.  Because sometimes they glare at me! What that means is that I "shoot from the hip" - not looking into the camera but holding it toward my subject and hoping for the best.  I end up junking a lot of shots I might have nailed if I hadn't been a coward.  But sometimes it works out. It's cool to go to a fair in your home town or county because all the competitions are for things grown or made near you.  Check out these "amateur" baked goods! And what is a fair if you don't get a funnel cake? It was a good and photo-packed time.  Not sure if I'll be back to get the cliched motion blur Ferris wheel.  Perhaps next week when George is out of town.
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by Amber Categories: Inspiration, Life