the 2009 list - revisited

Ok, i failed. I didn't blog yesterday. Can i take a mulligan? I just didn't have anything to say. but.. today I do! Every year I make my list. My list of things I want to accomplish for the year. As I already shared, I am in love with the biggest loser and the finale reminded me to revisit my 2009 list to see how I did. I set goals, but did I attain them? Here it goes:

The List 2009

1. Pay off credit card and keep it under control - umm no. not even close

2. Run the Melissa's 10k run - well i wanted to, but it sold out before I had a chance, I did run the Calgary Stampete 10K, so I guess it's not a complete right off.

3. Take a photography course - yup! I took portrait photography at ACAD last spring, it was fantastic.

4. Shoot 3 portrait sessions- wow, I honestly can't believe this was my goal, it's a reminder of how fantastic this year has really been.

5. Bring my lunch to work 4 days a week - yes and no. i tried and some weeks I accomplished this, and sometimes I didn't. It's an ongoing battle.

6. Read 12 books-not quite, I'm at 10, I could still make it though over Christmas break! Incase you're interested, here's what I read:
-Prisoner of Tehran
-Love is a Mix Tape
-Dreams of my father
-Wasted
-the 4 Twilight books
-The Glass Castle
-The Gum Theif

7.Do yoga - not nearly as much as I'd like to you, but yes I did.

8. watch an entire sunrise - sure did! From inside a train traveling from Paris to southern France. which brings me to number 9!

9. Set foot on another continent - YES!! my favorite, Europe. Spent 3 weeks traveling through France and Spain.

Well, I don't think that's too bad 6 of 9, possibly 7. Stay tuned because the 2010 list will be coming soon! AND because I didn't take any photos of the sunrise I'll post the next best, sunset in Spain.

long road south

dear friends. I'm sorry it's been so long since my last post. I don't have much of an excuse other than not setting aside enough time. My goal is to be more dedicated to my blog. This past weekend I travelled the southern half of our lovely province by car. I'm enamored with the landscape but am sad to say driving the same path over and over had made it lose some it's appeal. This past weekend I gained some of that back and managed to capture a few photos. 

There is lots happening with Beloved Photography these days. First of all, we have and address to call our own! www.belovedfotos.com. For now it links to this blog but soon it will be connected to my new website. more details on that to come! Next up, business cards! At the printer and ready for pick up tomorrow. Of course photos are to come. Lastly, I have a few shoots coming up in the next couple weeks so I should have plenty of material to blog about. I'll leave you with a few shots from this weekend. 

much love. 

revived

I realized this week I can't remember the last time i printed a photo. I have hundreds, perhaps even a thousand files neatly stored away, organized by year and month, on this little black box. In this digital world, people don't print pictures anymore. we watch slide shows on our computers and tv's, we post them on facebook, we blog,  we may even set them to our desktops, hell there are even digital picture frames, but we don't print photos anymore. I think it is sad. 

I remember my very first camera. it was bright pink and my brother had a matching blue one. I think they were gifts from our aunt. I remember taking it on summer vacation, taking what i was sure would be a perfect role of film. I thought about my pictures before i took them. each one of those 17 shots had to be perfect. I was so excited to take that roll of film in. Now we can take a hundred pictures and delete all but 3. I'm going to start printing photos again, I think it will push me to take better photos. 

Here are a few shots I've been reworking - photoshop is a big playground, and so far I've only mastered the sandbox. 

Coming up next: Revisiting "the list". 

friends. 

a few photos i wanted to share.

much love. 

shannon

the list

dear friends. my apologies. i have been neglecting my blog for the past couple weeks. therefor, let me start with Merry Christmas, Happy New and all that stuff. I hope santa treated everyone well. 

That brings us to this. The List. A couple years ago i started making a list. I start it around the new year, but add to it throughout the year. I know many of you make your own lists. I've decided to share mine, for some added accountability. I know many of you make your own lists, feel free to share them in the comments if you'd like.

The List 2009

1. Pay off credit card and keep it under control

2. Run the Melissa's 10k run

3. Take a photography course

4. Shoot 3 portrait sessions

5. Bring my lunch to work 4 days a week

6. Read 12 books

7. Do yoga

8. watch an entire sunrise

9. Set foot on another continent

Below are a few fotos from the holidays, here's to hoping for a great 2009!

Much Love. 

Shannon

Brrr. Winter is here (unofficially).

Dear friends. 

Today I do not feeling like blogging, but am making myself as to make it a habit. Maybe it's because it's cold outside. Maybe it's because I got a flu shot today and I HATE needles. Maybe it's because it feels like it's been a really long week. 

Never the less, here we are. I only have a couple pictures to share today, both from my trip to San Francisco this past summer. I know I've only been posting old photos, but I've been spending some of my time playing around with photoshop, and these are the results. This weekend we are having a girls night and I expect plenty of photos to come from this. Stay tuned. 

As many of you know music is near and dear to my heart so I think I will also start sharing a song each week as well. This week I'm listening to: Last Request by Paolo Nutini. 

Dear friends.

 It looks like Wednesdays are becoming my blog day. I kind of like this idea. Wednesdays are one of my least favorite days. Mid week, two days left till the weekend. two whole days. This gives me something to look forward to on this ho hum day. For now I think I will only blog once a week. It gives me 7 days to come up with something to write about. It's sort of like homework, but way more fun. 

First off I must recount this past Saturday which will be called art day. I was joined by my good friend Shelley and her to-be-born baby Jones. We started with Starbucks of course. I trust everyone has had their first Gingerbread... i mean gingersnap Latte (what's with this! Why change a perfectly good name?). 

The ACAD art show and sale was our first stop. I think this is becoming a tradition for us. If you've never been it's a put on by the 3rd and 4th year students and is a great opportunity to see/buy some great local art. Next was the Market Collective - an independent artist market. It was inspiring to say the least. Young people like you and me, following their dreams, creating beautiful pieces. I was lucky enough to find something for myself and a few Christmas gifts as well. The last stop the Art Central and The Siding Cafe. Perfect ending.

This day was exactly what I needed. The reassuring "you can do this". One day I will be there too. Sitting with fellow artists showing my work, hoping someone else likes it too. 

Now to my progress. The camera hunt is on going and mostly in the research stage. I think I know what I want, but I'm checking out other options just incase. 

I've waitlisted myself for a photo class in January; if that doesn't work out I'll get in the spring session. 

Photoshop is a daunting and interesting adventure all on it's own, but I'm learning. I've posted a few of my experiments. 

I think that's about it. Have a great week. 

*heart* you. 

ps. over 10 dollars has been donated to the camera fund! :)

Dear friends. This is the beginning of what I hope will be a beautiful adventure. Today I begin my journey in exploring art and creativity in the best way I know how. Photos. I have been in love with this art form for some time and have always said I'd be a photographer if I didn't need a "real" job, well that just won't do.

This is the birth of Beloved Photography. I chose this name because it captures everything I hope to do. Thank you for coming, I hope to see you again soon.