unruly things

today’s photographer spotlight is one of my favorites. Jennifer Causey, of Simply Photo, has a fantastic ability of capturing light. her work is so vibrant and cheerful. I first fell in love with her blog, Simply Breakfast. breakfast is my favorite meal, however I rarely have time to indulge in breakfast during the week. usually sticking to boring oatmeal, I tune in to drool over Jennifer’s delightful breakfasts each day. her shop is stocked with beautiful photos and her blog is always an inspiration. thank you, Jennifer, for letting us indulge today!

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what first sparked your interest in photography:
I don’t actually remember. I think it was a friend of mine in college. She started taking photo classes for fun and I decided to join in.
what was your first camera:
I know I had some sort of polariod camera growing up, but the first camera I remember really shooting with was a minolta slr. i’m not sure of the model.favorite thing to photograph:
food. definatley food. and things.favorite artist/photographer:
there are so many. i love sally mann, robert frank and harry callahan. and i love the contemporary work of laura letinsky.most memorable advice you’ve been given:
shoot a lot. shoot what you love.advice you’d give starting or aspiring photographers:
go for it. keep your eyes open. notice the things around you.favorite color:
emerald green and the color of wheat.if you could eat only one thing:
bread.something you can’t live without:
of course, my camera. and my family.on repeat from your headphones:
i’m amazed by my morning jacket.what inspires you:
so many things. nature and how different it is with each season and depending on where you are in the world. food and how beautiful it is in it’s raw form.

for today’s photographer spotlight, we arrive in Portland. Traci French, better known as Mrs. French, is such a kind person with an amazing eye for photography. she’s one of those people who literally takes time to stop and smell the roses. her love for nature and things around her shines through her photos. her blog, Bliss, is constantly filled with lots and lots of eye candy and she’s even got a shop filled with gorgeous photos for your indulgence. thank you Traci!

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what first sparked you interest in photography:
My dad. He is an amazing photographer…I just grew up with a camera always in my face. I used to laugh at how many photographs he could take of one sunset….now I am exactly the same way. Moving to Oregon definitely played a part in the pictures I take today…it is such a beautiful state and I love the fact that I am surrounded by the most amazing creative community.what was your first camera:
ummmm….it was in the 80’s, it was small, it was a kodak (I remember the gold box).favorite thing to photograph:
I love taking photos of the outdoors (especially the beach), the sun doing funny things, weird vintage treasures, and my baby.favorite artist/photographer:
Alicia Bock, Elle Moss, Hadley Hutton, Irene Suchocki, my dad….on and on….most memorable advice you have been given:
it’s not how people treat you, it’s how your react to them.
advice you’d give starting or aspiring photographers:
trust your eye, take pictures of things you love, take pictures everyday, put yourself out there in as many ways possible (blogging, flickr, etsy, etc) and never stop admiring the work of others.favorite colors:
all bluesif you could eat only one thing:
crusty bread with olive oilsomething you can’t live without:
the outdoors, my camera, and my baby.on repeat from your headphones:
engine heart by mirah, you don’t know me by ben folds and regina spektor, amelie soundtrackwhat inspires you:
kindness, nature, the ocean, music, my family, children, flickr photographers, animals and sunshine.

what a perfect day to introduce the newest addition to the photographer spotlight, Mary Wells. if you’ve never seen Mary’s work, you’re in for a treat. no tricks here! Mary’s photos are incredibly moving. the emotion in her pictures is fantastic. I especially enjoy seeing her love for the world, especially her husband, shine through her photos. {she and Doug are one of the cutest couples ever!} I bet you’ll especially love her pack film set as much as I do. meet Mary, and take a minute on your Spooky Friday to enjoy some wonderful photography!

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what first sparked your interest in photography:
I remember when I was little loving looking through my moms photo albums of her life in Colorado and wishing I could take pictures just like that- when I was 15 I started to volunteer at the community theater where I met a professor name Jerry who also did photography on the side and I really enjoyed talking to him in the evenings about his hobby. Talking to Jerry really helped push me in that direction.what was your first camera:
I remember when I was little getting a polaroid from my dad’s friend (who we called uncle Moe) but I had to share it with my sisters. When I was a teenager my mom got me a cheap 35mm camera for my birthday and my first digital was the Nikon D100 that I got used from Jerry.favorite thing to photograph:
I really love my environments. I love the home my husband and I created with our pets :) and I really enjoy my time at the beach, I go about two days a week. I also love capturing moments with my family and friends along with still life.favorite artist/photographer:
This changes so often but lately I’ve been loving Pierre Crocquet and his book “Enter Exit”
Also, I grew up loving Shel Silverstein. I made it my mission to collect every book he did and his work still inspires me till this day.most memorable advice you’ve been given:
Don’t be afraid to take the picture
advice you’d give starting or aspiring photographers:
Keep your camera close by, keep shooting, take shots of moments you never want to let go, and don’t worry about it coming out perfect.favorite color:
I really love brown. I like it best with greens and blues (and pink)if you could eat only one thing:
pasta and cheese.. I would say tacos because I love them but I don’t want to be gassy all the time :)something you can’t live without:
my family (including our pets), my goofy friends and camera of course. I also couldn’t live without my sewing machine, bike, cartoons and candy (man, I love candy)…. that’s a lot of things huh? I’ve never been good at picking one thing when it came to this question.on repeat from your headphones:
Denison Witmer is who I’ve been listening to non-stop
these days. Right now I love listening to “Breathe In This Life” and “Paper Doll”what inspires you:
everyday life, my husband and his many ways of fixing things or coming up with solutions. they always seem to be funny and really creative. My friends, children, music , the great outdoors and so many strangers.

today’s photographer is Destiny Dawson, one of the most amazing people I’ve ever met. her kindness is so bright and her photography is incredible. I love her passion for photography and can say, that she was quite possibly my biggest inspiration to get out and shoot film. she recently moved from Portland to Colorado, but I hear rumors that she’s coming back! I hope to shoot with her soon. check out her stream for more gorgeous photos and get ready for a fantastic interview.

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what first sparked your interest in photography:
My father and absolute hero is a wonderful analog photographer. I remember hazy, early mornings in Alaska of being 2 or 3, carried around on my dad’s back in one of those kiddie-backpack contraptions while he went out on photo shoots. Climbing rocks, walking the beach, adventuring….all with me in tow. There was so much magic in those mornings. I think there was something in me that eventually became very inspired and found value in the whole process of photography after those early experiences.
what was your first camera:
The same I use now, my dad’s old Canon AE-1.favorite thing to photograph:
Beautiful moments in everyday life we all tend to overlook. Beauty in simplicity. Lights, shadows, honest expressions on the faces of people I love.favorite artist/photographer:
It’s so hard to choose one artist. I am ever inspired. I suppose the first famous photographer whose work I really fell in love with was David Bailey. I have this fascination with the whole ’60s time period. The fashion, the music, the subcultures; the whole renaissance of it all. He captured it all so well. There’s a new Flickr member I’ve found who happens to be blowing my mind at the moment called i.anton.most memorable advice you’ve been given:
Love yourself, do what you love, and everything else will fall into place.. Thanks, Dad.advice you’d give starting or aspiring photographers:
Bring your camera with you everywhere, some of the best moments can be lost without it. Never, never, never stop shooting. Discouraging moments and filler shots will turn into something beautiful eventually.favorite color:
Green. There’s something both loud and earth-like about it.if you could eat only one thing:
Sushi. Everyday.something you can’t live without:
Inspiration. Without it I don’t feel completely alive.on repeat from your headphones:
Waterloo Sunset by The Kinks. It’s so beautiful and suits the energy in my life right now.
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hat inspires you:
Life, love, heartache, laughter, friendship. Finding moments where I’m actually impressed with my art as well as that of other artists. It keeps the creative process going.

I mentioned that there would be a bonus photographer spotlight this week and today’s photographer is not only a really special one, but she’s such a cutie and truly inspiring. it’s always the tiniest things that inspire me. full of youth and innocence, she has definitely learned a lot from her lovely mother. I love her polaroids of every day things in her life. her name is Adie Faye. she loves her Polaroid named Polly. she is four years old. check out her polaroid blog, Adie love Polly.

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what first sparked your interest in photography:
because I thought it would be a fun thing to do.what was your first camera:
polly the polaroidfavorite thing to photograph:
my friends and my baby sistersfavorite artist/photographer:
my mommymost memorable advice you’ve been given:
hold the camera still and frame the thing where you want it and oh, to take good care of pollyadvice you’d give starting or aspiring photographers:
hold the camera still, this is very importantfavorite color:
green and pink and brown and red.if you could eat only one thing:
pasta alfredo baby with extra cheese on itsomething you can’t live without:
wyken – my lovely bunnyon repeat from your headphones:
the lion sleeps tonight {by the tokens} and have you met miss. jones? {by robbie williams}what inspires you:
being outside makes me happy. that’s all.

Jen Altman is one of those people who takes pictures that you just want to be a part of. I love the way she photographs life. her girls, her baking, her pearls… her attention to everyday life and detail is impeccable and her ability to capture each loving moment is beyond perfect. her recent projects include a monthly photo trade and the lovely book, For the Love of Light. her blog provides endless inspiration as well as her flickr stream and shop.
stay tuned this week for a *bonus* photographer spotlight!

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what first sparked your interest in photography:
I have always loved photography and when I was young I remember being very careful about how I composed the composition through the viewfinder before shooting. I remember thinking how perfect everything had to be. I shot a lot of film when I was traveling in my 20s, but it was not until my daughters were born that I began to take the entire process a bit more seriously. Sometimes I feel like I should have been a historian – I think documentation is so important.what was your first camera:
My first camera that I remember buying myself was an Olympus IS200 35mm. I bought it to travel with and it took great photographs – it was a workhorse.favorite thing to photograph:
My girls of course, but I love still life and food photography and all that it implies – everything from harvest to table and the beauty of lifestyle pieces that can lead to the quietness of still life.
favorite artist/photographer:
I love my friend Nanako’s work – I love how she sees. And I love the work of Marcus Nilsson. I adore John Singer Sarent, Marc Chagall and Jim Dine.most memorable advice you’ve been given:
My photography mentor and dear friend once contacted a rather well known editorial photographer asking for advice about the industry – he told her point blank, put yourself out there. It is slowly becoming my mantra – it is such an intimidating and competitive industry when you look at it from an editorial and commercial standpoint. But where would you be if you never shared your work?advice you’d give starting or aspiring photographers:
Shoot, shoot, shoot. Challenge yourself to look at things differently, experiment and to pick up an old film camera so you can truly appreciate the fundamentals of the art.favorite color:
light.if you could eat only one thing:
Cheese. Mostly Italian.something you can’t live without:
My family and girlfriends. And Pecorino Sardo {the best cheese ever}, Rosebud Salve, film, chocolate-peanut-butter-banana milkshakes and my Kitchen-Aid mixer.on r
epeat from your headphones:
British Sea Power, Sleepy Rebels, The Republic Tigers, The Watson Twins, The Hush Sound and Teddy Thompson.what inspires you:
Oh goodness, I could go on forever – but right now I love the feel of water, the smell of the earth after a morning rain, the taste of crisp apples, the sound of the leaves dancing on the sidewalk and the vision of old films tinged with age and melancholy.

today’s photographer spotlight bring us to the lovely work of Allison Cox, aka allie anne photography. her work is gorgeous and truly inspiring. from wedding photos to family portraits, her love for color shine through her photos. take a look at her blog for more amazing photos. thanks Allison!

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what first sparked your interest in photography:
I took my first photo classes in high school and immediately fell in love with the entire process. I was so fascinated with developing my own images that I sometimes spent lunch in the darkroom working. nerdy? Probably, but I loved it so much I knew that I wanted to continue to study photography in college.what was your first camera:
I think it was a 35mm Nikon, I’m not sure the model.favorite thing to photograph:
I like to photograph children the most. But I am always drawn to wide open spaces and unique landscapes too (although my work doesn’t always reflect that)
favorite artist/photographer:
I think it changes every month, but lately I am really inspired by Laurie Frankelmost memorable advice you’ve been given:
something along the lines of “.. make every shoot you do your very best, no matter the circumstance”advice you’d give starting or aspiring photographers:
I think it would just be to shoot what makes you happy and what keeps you inspired.favorite color:
I think it’s always been green. or blue. or greenish blue.if you could eat only one thing:
jr. mints (refrigerated)something you can’t live without:
my Holgaon repeat from your headphones:
“west coast” by Coconut Records
what inspires you:
so many things keep me inspired… music, moody cloudy days, other wonderful photographers and artists, the people in my life, nature.

first there was my love for polaroid and instant film. now I believe I even more in love with medium format photography. there is something about those square prints that pulls me in and captures my attention. today’s photographer, Hitoshi, comes from Kyoto, Japan and is uber talented. when I first stumbled upon his work, I was immediatly blown away. his care for life and the beauty of nature is wonderfully inspiring. see his flickr stream here or his personal webpage here. thanks Hitoshi, for inspiring us today!

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what first sparked your interest in photography:
“Town” and “person” and “atmosphere” that saw when I went to Eastern Europe for the first time established my thought to my photograph.what was your first camera:
Olympus OM-2favorite thing to photograph:
“person” “the scenery that light comes in”favorite artist/photographer:
p0cket-paul / TommyOshima / Henri Cartier-Bressonmost memorable advice you’ve been given:
“Take light”advice you’d give starting or aspiring photographers:
It learns “handling of the natural light”, and it is to take in natural light.favorite color:
I like black and white and gray, a monotone color.if you could eat only one thing:
Sweet coffee.something you can’t live without:
I think that I cannot live without my important wife and daughter.on repeat from your headphones:
I always hear “CAKE“.what inspires you:
When I am able to meet a wonderful thing and person and when I was able to take their photograph.
When my daughter was able to look.

more polaroids, you say? more polaroids I deliver. today’s photographer spotlight features one of the most delightful ladies I’ve met in “blog/flickr-land”. when I first discovered her photos, each one had a way of making me grin. her love for polaroid shows through her beautiful photos, especially of the ones she loves. she was featured among the other amazing artists in the recent book dedicated to the art of polaroid, For The Love of Light. check out her flickr stream for more gorgeous inspiration, especially her roygbiv set. here she is my friends… meet Lindsay Josal.

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what first sparked your interest in photography:
I’m not sure exactly when the spark was made, but I do know that my whole life I’ve been stimulated visually. I’ve always been interested in art, and photography was an excellent way for me to collect what I saw, felt and loved from what I found around me.what was your first camera:
My parents bought me a little point and shoot 35mm camera for Christmas when I was a little girl. I still have some of the first photos that I took with that camera hidden away somewhere. The shots are just of anything around our house that day; plants, lights, rocks, my toys, etc. The thing I really love about them are just that they were exactly what I saw, no thought about composition or distance or if someone else would enjoy them. And I could also tell how young I was by the height they were taken at- when I could barley look above the table and when everything was “up” to me. Haha.favorite thing to photograph:
I love photographing my sister, Allison. Not only is she totally tolerant of me, but I think she’s just plain perfect.favorite artist/photographer:
Goodness, this is always a tough one for me! I suppose my background in Graphic Design always leads me over to the work of Mike Mills, Geoff Mcfetridge and others; though I’d never be completely inspired alone by one particular medium. I do get inspired by feelings and how artists use them integrated into their work. Things that are scaled “10″ on the beautiful factor are rarely my favorites. I’ve always enjoyed the sketches and pre-thoughts/work to the final, finished, polished piece.most memorable advice you’ve been given:
I suppose just to not give up, and to keep going with what it is I’m working on/thinking about/hoping for. I’ve had some great teachers push me and my friends and family have always supported me. I tend to doubt myself a lot.advice you’d give starting or aspiring photographers:
Try to put yourself into your work. Not necessarily in the literal sense, but every single person is unique, so therefore your work will be that way too, right? And what is unique is appreciated. By me at least.favorite color:
I suppose it’s hard for me to say- I love so many colors! The ones I tend to lean towards most are the ones considered “ugly.”if you could eat only one thing:
I love Mexican food, especially Tortilla Soup. I’m a vegetarian, so it’s quite rare to find a place that makes it without chicken broth and all that. When I do find it, I am very happy.something you can’t live without:
Dogs and sweets!
{editors note: I immediatly went out and bought red nail polish and hershey’s kisses after I saw this photo!}on repeat from your headphones:
Lately: Beach House, Fleet Foxes and Atlas Sound. Favorites: Goldfrapp, Broadcast, Led Zeppelin, Menomena, Blonde Redhead. My friend, Whitney, just recently introduced me to Bon Iver. He’s defiantly someone to check out.what inspires you:
Music, my surroundings, people (family, friends, strangers, weirdos, etc.), nostalgia, feelings, the past, science. I love science, especially outer space. I love old yearbooks, I think I’ve flipped through my parent’s old yearbooks more than they have. And I guess pretty much everything else that there is.

today’s photographer spotlight is quite a feast for the eyes. Amy Nieto has just relocated to Portland from Vegas and doesn’t miss the dry hot hot heat!! she’s an awesome girl with an eye for photography. from weddings and family portraits to product photography and even crafty goodness, she shines with creativity. I hope you’re ready for some gorgeous photos! check out her stream and website for more inspiration.

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what first sparked your interest in photography:
It was a special edition of LIFE magazine documenting the greatest photographs of the last 150 years. It had Louis Armstrong on the cover. This was probably 1995-96.what was your first camera:
Nikon FM 10. Sadly I had to leave it behind in Georgia, when I moved to Vegas a year ago.favorite thing to photograph:
Anything that is back lit by the Sun. My fashion photography professor called it the “Peter Frampton” look. ;) But lately, all Ive been wanting to photograph is people. Hard to explain why this sudden desire.favorite artist/photographer:
War photographer and co-founder of Magnum Photos Robert Capa. A surprising choice considering what I shoot (and don’t shoot), but photojournalism was my first exposure and to this day it still is what drives me, real life (even though I have never done photojournalism – unless you count weddings). Though to be honest, some of the most beautiful images I’ve ever laid eyes on are in Flickr. It’s just… overwhelming, in the most fantastic of ways.
most memorable advice you’ve been given:
A bathroom stall in Charleston, South Carolina had written on it: “The worst mistake anyone can make is being too afraid to make one”. It’s what fueled my (not so) little feet to move to Portland just last week without ever having visited this fine city.advice you’d give starting or aspiring photographers:
You know very well what the best advice is. Keep that finger on the trigger and don’t ever let go, EVER. It’s funny, but during my formal college years, I barely photographed. I graduated believing I was a photographic and film making failure. But now I know.. keep that finger on the trigger. Always. (well, except when you’re driving, please) (bah who am I kidding)
favorite color:
Aqua blue! Seafoam green! Anything that reminds me of my Atlantic Ocean!if you could eat only one thing:
my Puerto Rican food. Hands down.something you can’t live without:
Aside from oxygen, underwear and my watch, I would have to say… internet. Cupcakes. Family and cool peeps. GREENERY. Oh and a camera. (though I gotta admit… sometimes cupcakes takes more importance than my uber expensive camera…)on repeat from your headphones:
Feist. Feist. Feist. Her music cleanses my soul, my ears, my stress. She was the greatest birthday gift.what inspires you:
Life. Lace. Rufus Wainwright. Feist. Wildflowers. Laughter. The Ocean. Soft breeze. Craft Fairs. AWESOME BLOGS. Pretty black and white photographs of old times.