westminster vines

Westminster Vines
December 2007

My iTunes: In Uomini, In Soldati by Kyle Engler

It's the last time I can put "2007" in a post. The year really has flown! Before I head out to do the usual New Year's Eve festivities, I like to take a minute and think about everything that has happened in the past year and to write down some of the landmark events, both positive and negative. Perhaps I'll share a few of them over the next couple posts...

But anyway, this was a picture I took outside Westminster Abbey. Being an art historian at heart, I like to see the symbolism in pictures (both paintings and photographs). I like the juxtaposition of the old brickwork with the lively vine. It reminds me of the end of a year, with the new and the old right next to each other. Neither is inherently better than the other, but instead they work together to show off a greater narrative thread.

Okay, enough with the philosophical reflections -- have a happy (and safe) New Year's, wherever you are!

the hat lady

The Hat Lady
December 2007

My iTunes In Uomini, In Soldati from Mozart's "Cosi Fan Tutte"

I just finished installing the printer-scanner-copier-faxer I got for Christmas. Why is it that technology sometimes seems like more trouble than it's worth? At least the printer installed... I can't say the same for the driver software for the new cell phone I got as well (the old one was the freebie almost 3 years ago, so old it isn't even listed online anymore, and something inside it rattled when I shook the phone). Eventually it'll all work, right?

This is another picture of the same friend in "Girl in a Red Hat." This was another hat she tried on in the antique shop that day. I set out in Photoshop to try to make her look kind of like a statue, but then realized that too much hair and not enough neck was showing for the look I had originally envisioned, so I went with this instead. Kind of fun.

antique shoes

Antique Shoes
December 2007

My iTunes: La Vie En Rose by Edith Piaf

Taking photos at antique stores is quite fun -- you can find some really interesting stuff there if you look. This was one of my favorite finds -- old wooden shoe molds in a hand-made wicker basket. Makes me wonder whose shoes they once filled...

downtown

Downtown
December 2007

My iTunes: "The Medium" by Gian Carlo Menotti

This is one of the shots I took while in the historic downtown area last week. I like the coral-color of the building contrasted with the almost black-and-white feel from the trees behind, especially when combined with the geometric shapes of the building contrasted with the random, lace-iness of the trees. And, thanks to Photoshop, there are no more power lines! (Really, I hate power lines.)

flower pot

Flower Pot
December 2007

My iTunes: "La Cenerentola" by Rossini

I really liked these flowers when I saw them. They decorated the entrance to a bridge in Bath, England. The weather was beautiful the two days I was there, as you can see a little bit from the blue sky behind the flower pot. Unfortunately, much of my time in Bath was spent in meetings so I didn't get to sight see as much as I had hoped to. Perhaps one day I'll be able to go back and see a little more of the city. I did, however, get to see the Roman baths -- definitely a highlight of my trip because I am an avid scholar of Roman art!

london ornament

London Ornament
December 2007

My iTunes: Gesu Bambino by Kathleen Battle

One of my favorites. Yes, it's red.

Happy day AFTER Christmas...

merry christmas

Merry Christmas
December 2007

My iTunes: It Feels Like Christmas from "The Muppet Christmas Carol"

I always thought this little chapel looked like it could be a painting. Now it IS, thanks to Photoshop.

Merry Christmas!

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests." When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told."
--Luke 2:1-20 (NIV)

decorations

Decorations
December 2007

My iTunes: It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas by the Chipmunks

One of my favorite parts about Christmas is all the decorations that you can enjoy for weeks ahead of time. There is something about red Christmas balls that especially catch my eye. Maybe after Christmas I'll try some of my creative juices on a picture of one and see what I can do with it in Photoshop.

Merry Christmas Eve!

coffee drinker

Coffee Drinker
December 2007

My iTunes: The Sun Has Fallen by Kyle Engler

2 days until Christmas...

snowy steeples

Snowy Steeples
December 2007

My iTunes: Clair de Lune, Op. 46/2 by Kyle Engler

I'll bet looking at this shot you have no idea that the tree on the left is really half the size that it appears here. Yay Photoshop. One of my friends was sitting with me as I editted the picture and she thinks I could make it into a Christmas card. Perhaps one day...

Happy first (full) day of winter!

girl in a red hat

Girl in a Red Hat
December 2007

My iTunes: Bravo (Monica's Waltz) from Gian Carlo Menotti's "The Medium"

My friend and I walked around the historic main street section a few miles away from my parents' house yesterday afternoon. It was fun having a mini photo shoot in the antique galleries and as we walked. She liked to try on the hats in this one shop, and this is one of my favorite pictures both of her hat adventures but from the day as a whole.

carousel smoker

Carousel Smoker
December 2007

My iTunes: I'll Be Home for Christmas by Josh Groban

Another Florence shot (I seem to be in a Florence mood lately)... This just reminds me of something you would see in a magazine.

lovers' tension

Lovers' Tension
December 2007

My iTunes: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling

I love how this picture seems to tell a story, and that you can practically cut the tension between the two people with a knife. This is, once again, one of my pictures from Florence, courtesy of the amazing zoom my camera has. I was probably 100 feet away. Not bad for a non-digital SLR camera...

Final grades were posted today for all my classes. I've been solid in the past, but one class was a bit up in the air as to whether or not it would break my streak. But I ended up getting two points higher than I had thought! I was slightly in shock when I saw those grades -- I honestly have no idea how I managed to get what I did given everything that happened this semester!

Oh, and for those of you who are wondering, I got an A in my digital photography class. My professor even kept talking about how I have a "good eye" and kept hinting that I might be able to do something with photography as a career! I don't know about that, but I definitely want to keep taking photographs!

florentine jewelry

Florentine Jewelry
December 2007

My iTunes: Con Te Partiro by Andrea Boccelli

I just found a note I had written to myself when I was in Italy almost a year ago about a song title that I really liked. I found it on iTunes and it takes me back to my Italian adventures... This was one of my favorite shots that I took on the trip, but now that I know how to work Photoshop, I've played with it a little bit. What do you think?

winter wonderland

Winter Wonderland
December 2007

My iTunes: Falstaff by Verdi

"Wintery mix" is in the forecast... we'll see if I can snap some good shots...

twinkle lights

Twinkle Lights
December 2007

My iTunes: Die Zauberflote by Mozart

One of my favorite parts about Christmas is putting up the lights and then seeing them each night. Before I hung these around my door, I decided to do a little photo shoot...

I just got a new opera to listen to: "Die Zauberflote" or "The Magic Flute." Unfortunately, when it arrived in the mail, the plastic case was broken into a million little shards. But for the $3 it cost, including shipping, I figured I still got more than I would have through iTunes and I'll just keep the CDs. It's too much hassle to try to send them back at Christmas time.

wintery weather

Wintery Weather
December 2007

My iTunes: Monica's Waltz from Gian Carlo Menotti's "The Medium"

Taking a 5 minute break from studying for my America Since 1945 exam. I'm still not a big fan of the professor, but after he sent me an email saying, "Your paper rocks," I detest him slightly less than I did this morning. I'll still be SO glad when tomorrow's exam is over, though!

christmas ball

Christmas Ball
December 2007

My iTunes: The Sun Has Fallen from Gian Carlo Menotti's "The Medium"

Finals week this week. I may not be posting as frequently... wish me luck!

christmas balls

Christmas Balls
December 2007

My iTunes: Minuit Chretiens by *moi* = )

Tonight my church had a Christmas coffeehouse and I sang "Minuit Chretiens," the French version of "O Holy Night." One of my girls came with me and recorded me singing, so now I'm listening to myself. Kind of cool...

Doesn't this picture just exude Christmas-y-ness?

shadowy nocturne

Shadowy Nocturne
December 2007

My iTunes: What Child Is This by Josh Groban

Another image for shadows. I like how the shadow for this one appears because a light in shining through the paper and you can see the shadow of what is written on the other side. It's actually one of Chopin's Nocturnes. Any guess which one?

My new Christmas music for the season is Josh Groban's CD, Noël. I am a big fan of this CD. I know that Josh Groban has a bit of a polarized audience -- I have friends who hate him and others who love him. While I wouldn't characterize myself as a Josh Groban afficionado, I really enjoy his sound and how he is so influenced by classical music.

jewel case

Jewel Case
December 2007

My iTunes: Joy to the World by Point of Grace

This shot was for an assignment on shadows -- I did a lot that were very Christmas-y, like yesterday's picture, but thought I'd like to do a more modern one of light through a colored jewel case. I used one of my papers in the background -- I thought it would fit with the theme of studying... bring on finals week!

christmas decor

Christmas Decor
December 2007

My iTunes: The Prettiest Thing

musician's peace

Musician's Peace
December 2007

My iTunes: Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Ballet

Today's assignment is a photo collage that we had to put together ourselves. I decided to do one with a theme of music and how it makes me feel. Music is something that makes me feel at peace, yet simultaneously drives me to action from that feeling of peace. It grounds me, which is why I included the pictures on the right of my great-grandparents because your heritage is something that grounds you. I also love older, classical music and history, so the older photos fit nicely. My favorite part of the photo is how the words of the verses from the song ("Ave Maria") come together to say "Peace above, look now!" Such appropriate subliminal messaging... I lift up my eyes to the hills, from whence does my help come?

westminster abbey

Westminster Abbey
December 2007

My iTunes: Wiegenlied by Luciano Pavarotti

Now that I have Photoshop CS3, I'm starting to pull up some pictures I've taken on my travels and editting a few of my favorites. The first time I went to London, I wanted to take a picture of Westminster Abbey without any people. But the problem was: it's a tourist hot-spot. So the next time I went to London, I went to a Sunday morning service then walked around a bit afterward. There were no people, but there was a sign in this shot that irritated me every time I looked at the picture. But now, thanks to Photoshop... it's gone!

boys will be boys

Boys Will Be Boys
December 2007

My iTunes: Gesu Bambino by Kathleen Battle

These little guys were just too adorable. Noah is Chloe's little brother and Jackson's big brother, the second in the clan of three. He was sitting behind his friend Zechariah and they looked like they were having the time of their lives. Definitely captures the essence of boyhood! 3 is such a good age...

fountain of coins

Fountain of Coins
December 2007

My iTunes: Cantique de Noel by Luciano Pavarotti

Happy December! How appropriate is it that tomorrow's weather is supposed to be freezing rain and sleet... We just decorated our house with lots of Christmas-y and winter-y decorations and I'm burning my mistletoe candle. We're having people over tonight for a Christmas movie marathon and I treated myself to a cheery red patterned sweater for the occasion. I love the Christmas season!