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February 20, 2012 by Anya Elise

diptychs and triptychs || Weekend roundup

(This is really more of a 10-day roundup, as I have been woefully absent from a.e.photography lately. The above collection of photos was shot in San Francisco last weekend.)

Following the lead of our safe return flight from San Francisco to Denver last Monday, the past week was uneventful, smooth-flying, lacking in turbulence and all together a safe re-entry onto solid ground. (That was the kind of metaphor where you start off strong and then realize you have no idea how to stick the landing, but you go for it anyway.)

After the first two weeks of February, and the great muchness it contained, I longed for just such an uneventful week to recuperate. Luckily, it came to me. I needed to revel in it and soak it into my pores. And so I did.

However, sadly, this translated into a lackluster week on the blog posting front (apologies!). But, I’m back now! With pores all shiny from my Uneventfullness Facial! (I don’t even know what I’m talking about any more. So much for a smooth re-entry into blog posting. Eesh.)

So today, I bring you a bit of diptych/triptych goodness for the Weekend Roundup.

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February 6, 2012 by Anya Elise

a certain gal and the intrepid fellow || Weekend roundup

It was the winter of 2012.

The snow began on a Thursday, late in the evening.

It didn’t stop for two days.

Students everywhere rejoiced at forced school closings.

Commuters cringed at icy roads and careless drivers.

Backs broke while removing the thick, heavy snow.

And a certain gal in Denver coped by concocting some French toast.

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January 23, 2012 by Anya Elise

avoiding clowns || National Western Stock Show roundup

“There are clowns heading this way.”

Insert frantic searching of the crowded walkway here.

“Mayday! Mayday! Begin evasive maneuvers!”

Emily and I went to the National Western Stock Show this weekend and very narrowly avoided a run-in with some clowns. There were three or four of them. About yea high with big, artificial hair and painted faces.

Nothing, dear friends, is scarier than a clown.

Except, perhaps, three or four clowns.

While the Stock Show doesn’t exactly have the same flavor as London or Paris, the two of us very much enjoyed our annual trip to this Colorado tradition. The rodeos, the maze-like complex, the cows and chickens and fried food.

I took far fewer photos this year, and instead focused on shooting video footage, which I am in the process of stitching together. Hopefully that will be ready by week’s end.

Until then, tell me of your weekends!

Were they merry and clown-free?

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January 16, 2012 by Anya Elise

the time line || my people

These are my people. You’ve met them before.

But you’ve never seen a picture of them put together in one frame before. And neither had I, until I saw this photo, shot by my aunt.

My aunt is a remarkable woman and one who has been an inspiration to me throughout the course of my life. In fact, she – a talented and passionate photographer herself – first inspired me to consider photography more seriously.

When we were all in the mountains of Colorado several months ago, she quickly snapped this photograph. And I’m very grateful to her for doing so.

When we’re young, photographs tend to be of our families. Sometimes childhood friends also grace the frames, but mostly, the snapshot memories are of your siblings and parents.

As we get older, other people start making appearances beside us, significant others. Timidly at first, then more frequently, then constantly, until their absence in such photos is more startling than their first introduction.

Then families grow, tiny humans are added to bundles in arms and then peering shyly behind legs.

And eventually, if you’re lucky, the people in the frame – in your family – number in the double digits. They are loud and smiley and perhaps a little out of hand, but content in their wildness.

You can then put the photos side-by-side-by side on your wall. A family tree time line. You can see the growth right there in front of you. Of the one, then another, then the more and the many.

And finally the whole.

These are my people, as they look right now. I can’t wait to see what we look like – and who else will grace our time line – years from now.

A very big thank you to my aunt for this photo. You have contributed more than a few photos to our time line over the years and I can’t tell you how much we love and appreciate you for that.

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January 11, 2012 by Anya Elise

lines and blurs || an update

This has been a week, my friends, of brain-filling and work-doing and snow.

It has proven to be difficult and expansive and yet, still very promising.

This week:

I’ve worked in my 9-to-5 world what feels like nonstop since last Saturday (though it has only been daily doses of eight hours each).

I’ve been trained on new computer software and felt like my brain has been mushed into a new shape that’s just a little bit more lumpy to make room for the new information.

I’ve enjoyed 50 degree weather, and then shivered through 7 degree weather all within 24 hours (thank you Colorado for that).

I’ve awoken at 4:15 a.m. to help ferry a beloved to the airport on time.

I’ve enjoyed reading old classics (The Great Gatsby) and watching new clever shows (~~Downtown~~ Downton Abbey. I seem incapable of remembering it’s not DowntoWN Abbey, but in fact DowntON Abbey. I’m hopeless.).

I’ve been floored, humbled and thrilled by the rapid uptick in wedding photography inquiries Dan and I have seen in the first weeks of January.

I’ve envied my sister’s travels in London (and Paris!).

I’ve dreamed of how to reorganize my studio apartment (but done nothing productive to act on it).

I’ve rested.

How have you all been spending your week?