Single Photo Friday:: Safety in Numbers

In honor of Celiac Awareness month, I am posting a photo that brings someone like me great comfort.

I took this photo at one of my favorite gluten-free establishments - Wildflours in Brunswick, Maine. The first time I went into her store and turned to see this shelf I remember feeling overwhelmed and then comforted in a matter of seconds. For someone navigating the gluten-free life, seeing all of these products reminded me there were still plenty of options.

When a common food ingredient makes you sick, and you find a place where EVERYTHING is safe for you to eat, the word comfort doesn't even come close to how you really feel. It's much more than that. And, Bob's Red Mill is one of those companies making safe things for so many of us to eat. Big shout out to companies like Bob's and Wildflours for making life better.

I made this yummy thing yesterday, and feel the need to share. I think I have found a favorite new snack!


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Single Photo Friday:: Favorite Place

Boat on Ferry Beach.

Today I took a walk on my favorite beach in the whole wide world. This is what I came home with. Oh, and I also came home with a feeling of calm and happiness that I rely on this beach to deliver.

What I really needed was a technology break, and I got that and more. This beach and are like best friends. A best friend I have to share with loads of other people. It was nice to catch up.

Do you have a favorite place that feels like an old friend?

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Single Photo Friday:: Smiles

Oh man, it's Friday already, and you know what that means: Single Photo Friday! Only I've had kind of a crazy week and haven't given an ounce of thought to what kind of photo I should share today. Hmmmm... what kind of a mood am I in?

Haha.

Well, I had a reminder today how important positive people are in our lives. I try very hard to surround myself with supportive people and a general positive outlook. I need to find a photo that reflects that, or one that makes me happy....

Joe laughing @ Chowderhead's.

Yes, I do believe we have found a winner! How can you look at this face and not smile or crack up laughing? 

Thanks, Joe for brightening my day! 

I get a dose of double happiness when I look at this photo, since it brings back memories of the visit that brought him to my doorstep. Two friends and a baby who left NYC last summer to hang out in my town and on my back porch and eat as much seafood as possible. So, I see this photo and remember the long weekend I shared with them laughing, smiling, EATING. I love how a photo is powerful enough to bring waves of memories rushing over you, creating instant happiness.

Really good stuff.

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Single Photo Friday:: Ride

Getting back on the road after a brunch stop on Sebago Lake.

 

Welcome to warm weather, friends! The Weekend Warrior and I hit the road this past weekend on our bike. It was an awesome first ride of the season, and remains on my mind as I sit in front of my computer on this sunny Friday.

What kinds of outdoor things do you have planned for the weekend?

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Single Photo Friday:: Wear and Tear

Wharf wall in Portland's Waterfront.

Happy Friday! This week I'm digging this shot of peeling paint on a wall in Portland's waterfront, taken with a lensbaby.

Interesting how when buildings age like this they take on a beauty all their own. If only we had the same deal as humans.

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Single Photo Friday:: Brunch!

Welcome to a new adventure on this here bloggity blog. A little thing I'm calling 'Single Photo Friday.' Not photos of single people (though that is a possibility), just a single photo I like. No big thing. Check back every Friday and see what it is my mind likes from week to week!

And, please feel free to leave comments. I love hearing from any and all of you!

I must have been hungry when I picked this one :)

Delicious Brunch @ Local 188 in Portland, Maine

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LIFE :: in Black & White

I photograph life. Simple as that.

So I may photograph your life, your business, or just my own everyday life. It is my simple goal to actually make images that have LIFE in them.

Here is a small sample of some past moments I have collected of my own life. Some of them are old scans, and all from my Black & White film days, so please forgive the quality...

 The Weekend Warrior, before he was truly my warrior.

 Family Reunion (Mom's side) in Virgina.

 Family (Dad's side) cooling off in Pittsburgh.

 Family Pig Pile in Maine.

 Friends at an Avocado Party in Bowdoinham.

 My Nephew on any given day.

 Weekend Warrior and his brother power washing the deck.

Nephew testing the waters. My bro and Weekend Warrior try to encourage him into the pool.

 My mom (Jamma) and Nephew (Max). Hard to believe he's now 7!

 Max's first Haircut.

 Max shows me that his Dora gummies are all gone. I like how his hands are shadowed on his shirt, in a similar way to the graphic on his t-shirt.

Weekend Warrior in full warrior mode, and needing a break.

That was kind of a fun jaunt down memory lane, photographically speaking. These are the kinds of things I capture because I like to bring my camera almost everywhere.  I think after all these years it's paying off.

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Moved by Cupcakes

There's just something about cupcakes...


That makes everyone happy. This Gluten-free photog never really gets to eat them (unless I make my own... and these cupcakes inspired me to do just that), but I love to photograph them. Especially when they are served at my nephew's 7th birthday.




First, there were craft projects to work on. The neph made me a fantastic purple bookmark with foam swirlies covered in glitter during craft time at his party. Then there was a game of Twister which seemed to be something this group was not quite ready to grasp. Funny for the rest of us, though. And of course, blowing out the candles and making a wish!



After the kids od'd on sugar, there was dancing to be had. I photographed their legs as they twirled and jumped and shook the house. This one of the red stockings was my favorite.



It's funny how inspiration can come from the most unexpected places. I found myself inspired at my nephew's 7th birthday party, first by the cupcakes, then by all the fun they had doing crafts and laughing and dancing and just... well, just being kids. A few days later I bought a Gluten-free cupcake mix and while I was frosting them all I could think about was how much fun it is to frost cupcakes! And why did I forget that along the way? Or have I just never really done it that much? I'm not sure. But I was kind of digging how one event inspires an action which triggers a feeling and can just keep going from there.

All because of a few cupcakes!


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mullenberg designs-portfolio design studio from lcm=liquidcreativemedia on Vimeo.

Local Plug

Scott Mullenberg of Mullenberg Designs in his studio.

I'm a big fan of collaboration and cross-promotion. I have worked with some amazing people in the past years, which has proven to be mutually beneficial in every case. For me, building community is important as I build my brand. I will share your links, retweet your tweets, tell people amazing things about you. I'm honestly better at promoting others than I am at promoting myself. I'm a work in progress, to say the least.




But I get a high of sorts whenever I work with other creative types and small business owners, and I want to tell everyone how great they are. I want people to buy their products. I want them to be successful. I want them to be important parts of my community.




People let me into their lives and I get to witness things that perhaps other people don't see. But I'm there with a camera, so I'm recording evidence that will be shared with pieces of the world. Still, photos don't tell every story. They can tell a lot, but there are still some secrets that remain. I often use my big mouth or the computer's keyboard to tell more of the story, to let people know how great someone's product might be.




Scott Mullenberg has a studio in an old mill in Biddeford, Maine. He makes amazing portfolio books, and has clients all over the country who have pushed their careers to the next level by having their work displayed in one of his original pieces. I will post a video soon that was made in collaboration with Liquid Creative media (you may remember them from this post)

Earlier this year I photographed Gabrielle Melchionda, owner of Mad Gab's, Inc. They are small company in another old mill in Maine manufacturing the world's best natural lip balm. That's my opinion, anyway.

I recently did the photography and the website work for a local art-based preschool called Creative Pathways - a gem in the Portland landscape, so if you have a creative child and need a great preschool, this could be the answer.

Last night I spent time at a local theater company called Mad Horse Theater photographing what will become the poster and promotional pieces for the next production. I laughed the majority of the time I was there, and the entire time I edited the photos today. I can't wait to put some of those photos on this here bloggity blog. I hope to do a post with info about times/dates to help them get even more people to come see their amazing production.




So, while it may be a bit of a flaw that I still don't promote myself quite enough, I find that building these relationships and sharing their info with others is often what I love to do. I am confident that I will be given the chance to work with each one of these fabulous businesses again in the future, and I welcome that opportunity!


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