1,000 Stories {One Million Words}

This album is my 1,000 day photo project. I loved doing my 365 day photo project entitled My World. It was the best thing I have ever done for myself artistically and one of the best personally. I expected to be relieved when I completed it but I wasn't, I missed it terribly. I decided to start another daily project but I wanted it to have a different theme. I have always loved stories. I feel like I always have one or more going on in my head at all times and when I photograph I am always trying to tell the story of what I see and how I feel in my images so I decided to make that the theme of my new project. If a picture is worth a thousand words then I hope to record a million of them.

I decided to start on Leap Day because it's just a fun day and here is my favorite story so far.

I took this last night, it was my Grandfather's 86th birthday and my extended family was together to celebrate it along with St. Patrick's (we're Irish). My Grandparent's were enjoying a moment (I won't say quiet because my family is NOT) and I bolted for my camera.

Here is the link to my Boutique site where I will be posting all of my stories.
http://fineart.illuminephotography.com/1000stories


p.s. The file names are dates and times the images were taken. I like to remember both. Although my objective was to not explain my My World photographs I will be telling the stories behind these images more often.

Sundance 2012 Recap. Yes, I did have fun. Thank you for asking. {Utah Photography}

Fair Warning: This post will probably end up long and personal...it's just that kind of a mood today.

Whenever people hear that I was at Sundance their first question is always "Did you have fun?" I always hesitate for a second because usually they want to know about the parties and celebrities and to be honest I'm not into any of that. Also, this year I didn't have time to play. Oh, I meant to, but I worked 44 hours at the festival on top of my "real" life and the few days I set aside to "play" the weather hit and I may be a big baby but I am NOT a fan of putting my life at risk driving in the snow if I don't have to.

As far as celebrities, I like to meet and talk to the directors and production teams of the various films because that is where my heart lies and my idea of fun is honestly to work myself into the ground doing the best possible job that I can do. Plus, I love adventures and crazy things that happen to add to my treasury of memories and stories. Did I have fun?

HECK YES!!!

{new years resolution to not swear anymore, not even for creative emphasis}

Tuesday, January 24, 2012 brought on a mad dash between two different venues. I was to cover the VIP Reception at New Frontier art gallery from 6-8 only to find out when I got there that the reception was from 8-10. I took photographs of the exhibits by themselves, ran over to the Tower Theatre to cover it, then back to New Frontier. It was a zoo and so crazy fun. I was very much entertained by the goings on.


It's probably the photographer in me that is always fascinated by pictures made out of pictures.

This was a really cool Bear exhibit that I wished my Mom was there to see. She would have loved it. Ahhhh the days of going with my Mom to art exhibits...but that's another story.

I was supposed to get shots of people interacting with the exhibits, the difficulty lying in the fact that the place was crazy packed and very dimly lit except for the bright screens of the exhibits. I prevailed!!!...and probably wacked 3/4ths of the people there with my tripod. Really sorry everyone.

I'm at an art exhibit so of course I'm going to get into one of my "artistic" moods. Here's playing with 3D glasses in front of the 3D screen. Another photographer who was there was watching me and asked if that worked. I told him I was just playing and he told me it was a good idea...made me feel good. I love the shot below. It took me quite awhile to get just what I wanted but I love when I see a picture in my head and then am able to make it happen.


Another of my "artistic" photos. I was up in the VIP lounge and fascinated by the world within a world up there and thought the reflections illustrated that multiple-dimensionality...plus it was fun.

I've never been to the Tower Theatre before but I have to go again soon, the atmosphere is delightful. I love venues with a quaint, quirky, hole-in-the-way feel. I mean that in an absolutely good way.

Most of the volunteers in the Salt Lake venues are the same year after year. They know each other, know what they are doing and have a blast doing it. You guys were awesome, thank you for all of your help!

See? Having a blast! I needed shots of wait-list ticket sales but was afraid I would miss it so they were helping out by staging the shot but then they started laughing...it's my favorite.

This lovely lady was the first there for the next showing, the previous film hadn't even let out yet. Die hard festival fan!

The Tower is the only venue I've been too where you aren't inside or in a tent. It was COLD but everyone was so happy and nice. It was a joy just to be around so many positive people. We talked, and laughed, and had a blast!

My brother Ben has been in NYC for the past six months doing an internship at Entertainment Weekly. He actually got back the day after I took this. Most of his writing appeared in EW's online site but here is an article of his. It was in the issue that was all over the Sundance Film Festival because EW is a Sundance sponsor. I had to take a picture. People were probably thinking I was crazy but I'm used to that so it's all good.

I have been interested in getting into film, film photography, and DP work for a long time. I've worked on a few independent films and loved every minute of it but kind of shut the door on that dream because I just couldn't see how it would work with my life being the way it is right now, family etc. But because of some opportunities that have come my way through Sundance it looks very possible that the door to that dream is being re-opened for me. I don't want to get too excited but to be honest I really am.

It's interesting that sometimes when things in one area of your life are going really well things hit you in other areas. Maybe equalizing karma, a test to see how badly you want things, or a chance for you to really appreciate the good through contrast. Perhaps a test of faith. Anyway, Wednesday January 25th was a hard day. I had to say good-bye to a difficult situation that has been going on for over three years. It sounds like a good thing I know, but it's heart-breaking to finally give up on something that you once believed in so strongly. My grandmother also had a heart-attack but she is home now from the hospital and doing well.

That night I was able to go to Peery's Egyptian theatre which is my very most favoritest theatre in the whole world. The volunteers were so nice and patient with me, I was bouncing up and down I was so happy to be there. I used to go to the Egyptian theatre when I was a child before they remodeled it. I remember loving all the Egyptian decor especially the twinkling stars on the "sky" and being so fascinated that it would be day outside after seeing a matinee inside under the stars.

Peery's Egyptian Theatre is Sundance's second largest theatre after the Eccles in Park City, a fact which I was not aware of until that night. It holds eight hundred people. The lines were long but everyone made it in.

Stampede! {Tremors reference}

I am so in love with this theatre!

AND they have an organist. He's spectacular and he plays a mean showtune!

Thanks Egyptian Theatre Volunteers you made a hard day wonderful!


Saturday the 28th marked my third attempt to make it to the actual Sundance resort. Third time proved to be a charm, it is beautiful up there. I'm so grateful to have gone to all of these places I've never been before.

I have so much fun taking atmosphere shots. The ski slopes are just a hop, skip, and a jump from the screening room.

Isn't this a beautiful location?

People were so fun and great about me taking their picture!

This is a Q&A session held after a special private screening event. The film was about dyslexia and listening to the audience response I was sad to have missed it. It brought many audience members to tears as they told about their own experiences with dyslexia and thanked the director for making the film. Stories to change the world...it's what film is about.


The wonderful volunteers of the Sundance resort. I couldn't do my job without them and special thanks for making sure I knew what was going on and for showing me the best shots!

I liked how her upturned face echoed the faces of the women in the two signs around her.

This audience member and her friend were the absolute cutest. I loved being around people who were so positive and excited to be there.

Lol, for once I'm not making someone take a picture of me and my friends/family. This shot makes me smile, especially hearing them say "One more, one more" and one of the guys saying "that's what email is for". Hahaha, story of my life.

Sundance projection room and projectionist and check it out...

Old School!! This is the actual film on 35mm about to be threaded into the projector. Fantastic!

Patiently waiting in line and...

Voila!

It's SHOWTIME!

Last but not least I headed to the airport where for the very first time Sundance has an info booth, two actually. When I got there I found that there was no one there. Apparently it was too late in the festival. I stood there perplexed and these two travelers started talking to me and then volunteered to be in the shot. So fun guy on the left is wearing my credentials and jacket and talking to his friend (also a fun guy). How nice was that? My whole festival experience was person after person doing kind deeds. I love seeing such proof that people in general are wonderful and good and kind. These two are from Florida and Iowa and ironically were headed up to Powder Mountain, my neck of the woods. Thank you kind friends!

I spent the rest of the day editing and uploading and yesterday in bed recovering. I'm totally exhausted and burnt out but in a very good way. It's been an amazing ten days full of adventures, opportunities, possibilities, heartache, laughter, tears, and hope. I wouldn't trade it for the world.

Did I have fun?

I most certainly did!

My World {365 day} Photo Project

On January 10, 2012 I finished my My World {365 day} photo project. Not to be melodramatic but this project may very well have saved my life.

Flashback if you will to January 10, 2011. A miserable day. I was in a terrible place at that time in my life. Why exactly? I’m not sure I remember accurately. Some things I do but I don’t really want to dwell on them at this time. Now I love a brand new fresh year. I’m not super jazzed about New Year’s Eve, it always seems a bit of a waste of time but I absolutely love New Year’s Day. I love new goals, dreams, and the feeling that you can throw off the old mistakes of the past and create a brand new better self. The beginning of 2011 was no different and when I found myself miserable on the tenth I was determined to not let the New Year get started off on a bad foot so I did everything I could think of to feel better. Practice my voice lesson (singing always makes me feel better), text friends, call friends (everyone was busy). Nothing was working and I was frustrated because I truly was trying. Finally I decided to get out of the house and call my sister Leah who lives in Australia. I took my kids to the library so they could be entertained by something other than me and used the Library’s network to Skype call my sister. I had a hard time getting through because she was in the middle of something. Perhaps you, dear reader, will recall the terrible flooding that occurred in Australia at that time. Well, she called me back to inform me that she was being evacuated, her husband wasn’t home yet, and she would have to do her best to get her pregnant self and baby son out alone. She would call as soon as she could, pray for her.

I sort of lost it.

It’s very selfish to say that, I know, but at the moment it was the straw that broke the camel’s back and I was a wreck of stress, misery, fear, and worry.

I probably should add that I had been praying for help this entire day. I really am not a fan of wallowing in misery without fighting to make things better and as I drove home I was still praying…pretty darn hard. Some may not believe in a higher power and of course I respect their views and only ask that they respect mine in turn. I, myself, believe unequivocally in a higher power and I believe with everything I am that as I pulled out of the library parking lot that the inspiration to undertake this project that came to me at that moment was of God. I can still remember everything about that moment. I was to photograph something every day that had to do with my world. It could be something I was doing, something that meant a lot to me, something that caught my eye, or to portray, without words, how I was feeling that particular day. I remember feeling immediate comfort and a lightening of spirit as I planned some of the things that I wanted to “say” and the “stories” I wanted to tell. I remember feeling strongly that my sister and her family would be all right.

January 11^th was day one and I remember that it was so cold, like only January can be. Bighting cold that seeps through your piled on layers and you almost want to cry you are so cold. I wanted to portray cold, solitude, loneliness, hope.

This is also a place that I see extremely often as I run or walk in the mornings and I have enjoyed the beauty of the scene at every season and pretty much every time of day. It means a lot to me.

As I look through the pictures of the last year of my life it reads like a diary. It brings back so many things; experiences, emotions, laughter, and tears. At one point I decided to write the stories but I stopped that quickly. I wanted to be able to speak straight from my heart without worrying about whether anybody else would approve or judge. I should add that I posted every picture on facebook and am in the process of uploading them to my online Fine Art Boutique. I cringe sometimes that they are public but that was part of the cathartic process. I learned to see the world around me, to appreciate the unexpected beauty I found, to tell stories and convey emotions without words, to really be in touch with myself.

The end of my project grew near and I began to get very nervous. I was so afraid of losing all that I had gained. I was afraid of stopping. The end photograph had to be something special and so I decided to do a self portrait. Have you ever wondered what super power you would want to have? I do all the time. My number one super power of choice is of course to fly but a while ago I decided that a good semi-useful super power to have would be the ability to yell “Confetti” and confetti would shoot up from your hands. Good to throw into the eyes of an adversary and fun at parties. I told friends about it and it kind of became a thing. Hence the pictures on facebook of either throwing confetti or rolling in it. Hence again the self portrait of me with confetti in the air to close out a wonderful year…. there really is only one more thing to say

CONFETTI!!!

p.s. Here is the link to all 365 images
http://fineart.illuminephotography.com/myworld

Las Vegas Ragnar. Being a part of something bigger than yourself.

Last weekend I participated in my first ever Ragnar relay race. This one happened to be the Las Vegas Ragnar and can I just say that I am completely hooked. It was honestly one of the best adventures I have ever had in my entire life and I truly don't say that lightly. I've actually thought long and hard as to why this is so because if you know me very well or have read my post about how much I love the book The Alchemist you will know that my personal treasure involves searching for adventures. I love beyond anything to travel to new places, try new things, meet new people. Well, this experience had a little bit of everything.

I was on a team from my husband's work and I was a little nervous to be around relative strangers in such close quarters and almost intimate circumstances for such an intense time. I was worried about people (and myself) getting ornery after hours upon hours of intense physical effort, not "real" food, and little sleep. I also just really wanted to do a good job for Todd so the people he works with wouldn't think his wife was way lame. :)

We met at Todd's work and caravaned down to Vegas. We did a brilliant thing in renting a house in Vegas. Not only were we all together which made things more fun but we had a place to crash while the other van was running their legs. In other words we were able to sleep, eat "real food", and have a little time out of the van. There was absolutely no crossness and we all felt pretty darn good.

Here is our pre-race safety seminar. You can see how people have some really fun costumes. I was a little bummed that we didn't have fun costumes but being the wife and a first timer I hadn't wanted to push. My delightful van mate Nichole Hardy had felt the same so we are in cahoots for fun outfits for next time. The costumes, team names, decorating of the vehicles really creates a fun festival environment. The energy was simply intoxicating, I was loving every minute of it!
It was so fun to run the race with my husband Todd. I am a musical theatre and photography person, he is a brilliant CEO type, so as far as hobbies go we don't have many that we do together, I loved the chance to share this with him. We had an absolute blast!

This is Jason Hardy, well the back of his head anyway. He definitely had the coolest Ragnar symbol use. People asked to take pictures of his head the entire time.

Isn't this the most beautiful starting locale? We are at Lake Mead, early in the morning (9:30 am start) and it was breathtaking!

Christel was our leg one. She is a delightful person, I am so grateful for the chance to get to know her. I would run with my Van again without hesitating. Incredible, fun, awesome people!!

Pausing to give Christel van support and to paint Todd's hair orange. At our safety meeting we learned that the night before Ragnar officials had been informed that there was to be no support on the first eleven exchanges, so while we could pull over we weren't allowed to cross the street. We spent a lot of time hurling water bottles at each other across the road...lol, good times!

Todd very frequently (he says I shouldn't use absolutes like ALWAYS, lol) gets injured when we go on trips of any sort, and it FREQUENTLY occurs at the beginning of said trip and he is hobbling for the remainder so I wasn't surprised when he bashed his knee and was actually relieved that 1. He had gotten it over with so now we were good and 2. It wasn't so bad so now that he had gotten it over with...we were good. Ironically after the entire race was over he realized he had twisted his ankle so he's been hobbling a bit since then (I think he just wants sympathy, shhhh, don't tell him I said that).

This was at the exchange after leg 25. Those who were there will recognize leg 25 as the brutal running through a dry rocky riverbed for six miles in the dark with no van support at all leg. Poor Christel! Everyone who came through the shoot looked like they had been through the ringer. Anyway, I knew my friend Todd was running Ragnar but I hadn't found him. Then suddenly I found him out in the freezing cold at about 4:30 am. I had to get a picture.

It felt wonderful to check off my legs. It was difficult but not nearly as hard as I thought it would be. I do wish that I had pushed myself harder on my last leg. I wanted so badly to run the WHOLE thing that I was trying to reserve energy. Next time I'll do what I did my second leg. Just tell myself to not hols anything back because I can walk if I have too. Sidenote...I did end up running the WHOLE DARN THING. Yay!!!

Here's my team finishing. I'm crouched on the ground yelling "Just go around me, I want this shot."
View from behind as my team finishes. I don't know what our official time was but it was somewhere around 31 hours. There's a great festive party at the end. I love a spectacle!

Team portrait!
and the toast!

I think what made this such a great experience for me was being a part of something bigger than yourself. Everyone was so nice. You didn't just cheer for yourself, you cheered for everyone. We shared blood, sweat, tears, colored markers, water, and stories. It was beyond wonderful and I WILL be doing it again!!