Lights, Camera, Action!

Harris Cooley and Braden Biddings at the Q Street Diner

And away we go! Here it is folks, the day so many of you have been waiting for. The day when local production company Gitgo Productions (Kate Kiminski and Betsy Carson) launches its highly anticipated and totally hilarious web series 'Willard Beach, The Real Story.'

Ok, so it launches tomorrow, April 1st (no, this is not a joke), but I wanted to give you just a tiny bit of warning.

Denise Poirier at the Empire Dine and Dance

There is something for everyone in this fun new web series, from gossip to local celebrities to lover's quarrels to what happens in everyday, small town America where everyone knows your business. It also features really good looking, local talent hanging out in fun Portland landmarks (think: Q Street Diner, Enterprise Records, Empire Dine & Dance...).

Jennywren Sanders and Braden Biddings at Enterprise Records

Kathryn Morrison and Keith Anctil making their way through morning coffee

It's comedy meets quirkiness meets soap opera meets satire. And just so you don't forget, it's called WILLARD BEACH, THE REAL STORY. You can learn more here and here. You should probably bookmark those two things so you can be sure to tune in every week. That way you'll always have something to discuss at the water cooler.

David Wallace reads the local news and eavesdrops at the Q Street Diner

And why am I telling you all this? Because I'm the project's still photographer. Oh, and because I know a good thing when I see it and I wouldn't want you to miss out.

Hip To Be Square

Ferry Beach - Scarborough, Maine. My favorite beach in the whole wide world.

Recent jaunts around town with my dusty Hasselblad have served me well. Using a medium format film camera forces you to slow down, something I think we all should do every once in awhile. Plus, it got me out exploring some of the jewels Maine has to offer us all. A solitary walk along Ferry Beach and a trek around Macworth Island with another photographer were both good ways to feed the soul and work on the craft.

There are more rolls of film waiting to be shot and places waiting to be explored. More chances to shift gears and slow down. More reasons to love photography.

Thank you Victor Hasselblad and Carl Zeiss. I owe you one!

Missing the Grain

Avocado Party, Bowdoinham ME

I miss film. I miss it like you might miss an old friend. An old friend who lives far away and always makes you smile. Maybe you've forgotten that you miss this person and suddenly a memory triggers something, you laugh, then smile, then wish you could hang out together. You remember how many good days (and nights) you've had with this old friend. That's how I feel about film right now.

I miss seeing grain. I miss the surprise when you get a roll of film back. I miss the feel of a sturdy camera in my hands. I love you digital, but you still don't hold a candle to my love for a technology that may have passed us by.

Matrix Ben, NYC subway

Why this sudden sentimental overload? I think it has been building slowly. When I look at some images shot in a square format I remember that I own a Hasselblad and that I can also go out make cool square images . Then I sigh and go do something on my computer. The final kicker was Friday night when I went to see a show at the Portland Museum of Art called 'Backstage Pass'. Brightly painted walls covered with Rock & Roll photography, grainy and gritty and sometimes candid but all amazing. I stared at image after image shot on film, often in low light, sometimes even exposed somewhat poorly and ached for my old equipment and a roll of film. I wanted to take my Pentax K1000 and stand on a street corner, camera dangling at my waist and shoot an entire roll of Tri-x 'from the hip'.

The Naked Cowboy, NYC

So, I have pulled out the rugged Hassy today and realized there is still an unfinished roll in it that has been in there at least a year. I searched for more 120 film at home and was sad to discover there was none. I'm not sure why that was a surprise to me, especially since I have always been much more of a 35mm shooter, but it was. I could take the ancient Pentax for a walk, but the battery is dead and the battery compartment seems to be sealed shut. Guess it's been awhile since that camera has been put to use! So, I am dusting off the medium format beauty (ashamed that I let it get dusty in the first place) and heading out the door to get some film, find some inspiration, and remember what it feels like to shoot film. Then I will wait impatiently for the results.

Sick Day

Higgins Beach after the latest snow storm

Even photographers get sick. Today I sit in my pj's surrounded by tissues and battling up and down body temperatures and low energy. There's no one who needs calling with a report that I won't be heading in to work today. And there certainly isn't someone who will pay me to sit home sick. I had already forgotten that many people in our country have that option.

So, I sit surrounded by the many tissues and almost empty cups of liquids and just get to work. Build a new page on the website, contact a local magazine, spend time with the blog, work on some photos. The news shows slowly turn into soap operas (nice to learn Bo and Hope are still on TV...) and I wonder where the remote is and how much effort it will take me to get up and change the channel. Maybe I should make some tea, which will require more effort than finding the remote, but might be more rewarding. Sounds like a lot of things in life.

There is something funny about telling myself I need to take a sick day, and then still finding ways to get things done. Funny I guess, because I am still getting used to being my own boss. I like that I can stay home, feeling far below 100% and still accomplish something. Don't need to look nice to work on the computer. Plus, there are so few distractions for me right now.



Yesterday I left the office after only a few hours. I drove to Higgins Beach in Scarborough and took a little walk with my camera. I hoped the fresh air would make me feel better. I also thought if I wasn't feeling up to getting work done in the office, then at least I could put the camera to use. The air wasn't the right answer, it just made my nose run even more. But using the camera, as always, was a good recipe to make me feel better. Even if it was only temporary.

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The Inspiration I Was Looking For...

... happened when I walked into the Q Street Diner yesterday. A sunny spot in a cold winter day - seriously, the building is painted bright yellow - with walls covered in movie and music and political memorabilia, the Q Street Diner is just what I needed to help shake this case of the blahs.

How can you go wrong with Bogart and Nixon sharing the same wall space?

An empty window after the lunch rush. I could stare at it for hours and still not get every detail...

Here's a story in the Maine Switch, in case you want to go see for yourself. Don't forget to check out the life size cardboad cut-out of of Humphrey Bogart...

Trying to find some focus

A beach in California. Where I wish was right now...

It's cold and it's January and I'm struggling to find some inspiration. OH! It's not January, it's actually February. Ooops. My mind is a month behind. I guess those 2+ weeks I spent in sunny California did something to my concept of time. Anyway, I am still getting used to the idea of working for me and keeping some sort of schedule that doesn't involve my pj's and a laptop and endless cups of coffee. I find myself in this almost weird sort of time warp, struggling between getting lots of little things done and feeling like I'm getting nothing done. I head into the office where I'm happy to find myself around other photographers, all of whom have helped me in some way. We come out of our offices and try to laugh or distract ourselves from the fact that there isn't much work right now. Keeping a positive attitude is essential and yet a struggle.

I spent Tuesday in the lighting studio bonding with my new lighting kit. I have been editing still photos from recent stints on different film sets. Some images for a friend who is working on a short film (that is a continuation of his 48 Hour Film Project), and the other for an independent feature I hooked up with while in Los Angeles. That whole experience is what I really want to write about and I am DYING to post those images on my blog. It was by far the highlight of my trip. But we will have to wait for that project to wrap and hopefully be released before I will share much more. Stay tuned.

So between editing and learning more about my equipment and lighting, there is the need to promote oneself. Everyone in the office is feeling discouraged and worried with what little work there seems to be. Perhaps a good time to update the website, start a new project, or maybe learn more about your craft. I say it's also a good time to work on relationships.

A fellow photographer I have assisted for a couple of times gave me a good piece of advice. He told me the key to marketing yourself is relationships. Take those relationships you make along the way and cultivate them. This makes perfect sense. How else will they know to think of you when they are in need of a photographer? His advice clicked with me and in that moment faces of people I had already been building a relationship with flashed through my mind. It was a moment that helped me to let go of that unhealthy schoolgirl feeling that maybe I'll be bugging someone by contacting them. It's just the opposite. The cultivated relationship is mutually beneficial, and the key to growing success for yourself and those around you.

This is where being a social creature can start to work in my favor. At least, that's my hope. Hopefully this will help me find some much needed focus.

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Baby, It's Cold Outside!

But that's no reason to stay in....

I visited my nephew at an ice skating party in his neighborhood. He ate snow while I networked. Well, my plan was to visit with him after several weeks of not seeing each other, but a little outside socializing led to me working the crowd and passing out business cards. Seems like a good way to spend a Saturday. (And right now those of us who are self-employed need to take every opportunity we can to boost business.)

Even cookies still taste good when sitting out in the cold. Shaw's should be paying me for this amazing product placement.

Sticks, shovels, and hats combined with a little ice can make for a great day. But don't forget your camera and business cards...

Latte Morning: From the Sunday Morning Series

Sage looks into the kitchen to see what her mother is up to

Sunday mornings in my mind have always been a day to relax. Get a late start, have that extra cup of coffee, maybe do something fun, and hopefully get recharged for the week that lies ahead. So I have found myself posting photos of my occasional Sunday morning (see Magical Morning, and Golden Morning). I thought about doing a monthly Sunday morning photo for my blog, and today while in San Diego I photographed Erika and Sage getting ready for their Sunday morning visit to the zoo. Erika whipped up some latte's while Sage watched and I photographed. Welcome to the Monthly Sunday Morning Series...

Erika fires up the espresso machine and I realize there is amazing light coming through the window and caffeine on its way to me.

Magic pours out of the two spouts...

Sage joins the party, and all the great light falls onto her face and into those crazy blue eyes.

Future Coffee Drinker :)

Sage gets her first taste of foamed milk, and her eyes once again catch all the light.

Chances are high that coffee will be featured often in my monthly Sunday morning posts, as it is one of my favorite things to enjoy. Lucky for me, Erika's love of caffeine matches, maybe even surpasses, mine. Sadly, next Sunday I will be back in the cold of New England, drinking regular drip coffee and longing for sunny skies. So spoiled am I after barely two weeks!

I guess I better start bracing myself for reality....



photographer's note: it is important to note that no coffee was given to the child in the photos, but more importantly the subject is nowhere near as skilled with the espresso machine as her husband is. Since he is serving in Iraq, the subject is doing the best she can and anxious for his return so that amazing lattes and mochas will be prepared for her once again. :)

Green Art

On the waterfront in downtown San Diego there are these cool globes decorated by different artists, and all spreading the message of caring about the earth and living eco-friendly. Naturally, a very cool idea in my book. This one caught my eye, with its message of not wasting in order to create. Or creating with things that would have once been wasted.


I have spent the last several days of my California Conquering Tour scoping out LA, shooting some stills on sets, staring at the amazing colors in the sky, and generally just enjoying my time here. I think I have developed a bit of a crush on CA. This New England girl is pretty surprised!

Hopefully tomorrow my camera will be back in my hands and another post will follow. For now, I am ready to fall asleep on the Navy base outside Malibu, at the house of an old neighborhood friend.

Too tired to make sense today....

Another One Bites the Crust

I had Gluten-Free Pizza yesterday!! California Rocks.

This is no award-winning photo, but it is evidence that in California I can eat at a chain restaurant and get it gluten-free and organic (and hopefully local, but I didn't ask) at this great place called Pizza Fusion. Can someone please open up one of these places in Portland, Maine? I would and all, but I don't really have any interest in spending any more of my life in the restaurant biz. Besides, that would cut into my time and prevent me from taking great photos like the one below.

2 divas and a Mainer

My heart swells when I see these two. Melody and Zeamora are my pals from Semester at Sea, and there's just something about the bond shared with people who see the world for the first time together, especially when some of the adventures include ex-prisoners. Of course, any involvement with criminals was always Melody's fault. Always.

Oh, I could write some stories!