from a heavy heart

more for "downtown"

a stroll downtown

Also back in November (I know--that's a long time ago, but I've got some catching up to do!), I wandered down the streets of Minneapolis, camera slung over my shoulder. It was one of the most freeing things I've done. Ever. When I take pictures, it's me that's watching the world: not the other way around.

I also met a few people and asked them if they'd like to get their pictures taken. It's funny how these men with nothing but the clothes on their backs would be willing for me to capture that very fact on film. Neither of the men I photographed asked me for anything--except the guy with 90-some signatures on his jacket, hula hoop, and cane, but he just asked for my signature. As for the other man--I simply listened to his story for awhile. Have you ever stopped a homeless person and asked about his or her story? What they were doing 20 years ago? If they'd fought in a war, or played football in college?

Later I walked into Starbucks to warm up, I couldn't help but think about what I had walked across. One life after another; one story with real characters... real people. Why do I forget that?

photo shoot with Cassie Lokker

In late November I headed to a friend's coffee house gig. We did a photo shoot in the morning and afternoon before she performed. These are a few shots from that time--some of which will be featured on her CD coming in March. (If you want to check out her incredible music, go to www.cassandralokker.com!!)

why I love winter in Minnesota

A few favorites from extraordinary frost we've had this winter. I'm loving snow more and more every year, and have been especially giddy on the mornings of thick frost.

The photograph on the top (the one with the single snowflake) was taken while out on a hike by my parents house during Christmas vacation. There was a build-up of at least 3 days worth of frost... and then it started snowing. Huge clumps of snow landed in slow motion on every branch, every weed, every oak leaf. This snowflake was the biggest I'd ever seen. When you look at it, what do you think of?

a poem

About a week ago I wrote this poem. It encapsulates this new season of my life--a season of becoming fully alive, fully present. "unleashed" Foolish was I to ignore that tremor beneath my feet, a hungry inferno yearning to rise and touch the lips of free blue sky. Then I watch liquid flame burst, spill over ugly crest, a fiery tidal wave pushing over scraggly weeds that half-heartedly grew on sterile embankments; it swallows alpine plateaus, burns beauty into summit side with breath-stealing speed: at last this once-dormant heart has erupted.

first one

Well... as much as I said I'd never get into blogging--here I am. I've been poking around at other photographers' web sites and blogs, and it appears that I'm slipping into copycat mode and now I'm doing the same thing. What have I come to?! But enough of that. The intention of this blog is to share beauty with you: whoever you are. May you see more than a photograph.