Visit my new site: ChrisandLeighAnna.com
I have a blog there under "News" and also you can view my photo portfolio and Chris's design work as well. Thanks for visiting!!! Hope to see you there!

new stuff

Two days in a row...don't faint!
Here are a few pics from the cutie pie I hung out with today:

Life in general

So...first of all, Chris and I are going to be starting our own blog together. It will go along with our new site, still in the works, at chrisandleighanna.com. We figure with both of us talking about design, photography and whatever else strikes our fancy, we might be able to keep it current! Let me know what you think of the new design.

Chris has been in NYC all week, attending the SahreVictoreWilker Workshop at the Art Director's Club. Apparently, he has been bitten by the NY bug and is talking about possibly going there one day to live...wow. I used to never think I could get to a place like this but once I started changing my thoughts and expectations, it started happening. Anyways, he is learning lots plus getting to hang out with some really awesome folks.

I am headed out tomorrow to Johnson City, TN to photograph the Tyson family. They are some friends of ours that I have not seen in years, since they moved. I'll post a few pics here soon! After that, I am driving to Nashville to shoot for LifeWay! I am pretty thrilled about this and very thankful. It should be a really fun shoot to promote their Children's Music Series theme for next year.

Yeah, and in case you have not heard, Chris will be graduating in October! We are planning a trip to NYC for the photoexpo and his portfolio show that month. Keep your fingers crossed that an incredible opportunity will present itself to him soon!!! I will be leaving PC as well, and keep shooting and assisting...big changes ahead, it could get really exciting!

where am I going?

Gosh, isn't that the million dollar question that we all ask ourselves? I have not been taking photos long enough to figure that one out yet...I have not found my "style" yet. But...I have found a person whose work I absolutely love...and I even have a bit in common with him. Norman Jean Roy Apparently he studied graphic design before finding photography...he lived in Nashville while starting his career (anyone know him by chance?) and he is only a few years older than me. I think his work is amazing and would love to be able to shoot like this. I guess me and a few thousand others... ;-)

Check out the article on PC...

Taxi

If you look closely, the last ad on the page, with the girl holding the mirror...that's my shot!

published again!

http://gettotallyrad.com/recipes/
Check out my pier image from Belize on the front page!
WOOO HOOO!

2nd quarter finals

I kind of forgot to update this for a while....school is kicking my butt this quarter!!
Here are some final shots that I turned in from last quarter...

My right hand man

Chris and I have not worked together too much in the past ten years. It is really hard to do the same thing and not argue about it. Now that I am doing something different, it seems to be going a little bit easier. Last quarter, he had to make a poster about homosexuality and signs. He decided to do a poster on the moral issues between gays and Christians. Turns out, he had a great concept that I shot and photoshopped together for him. We have heard a lot of good response from this but last week, we were shocked to find out we had both won a gold award at school and together we won Best in Show for the quarter! It sure does feel great...and I am sure glad to have someone so special to share it with. Here is the photo...

I'm gonna be published!!

I got the news last week that 2 of my photos (daisy and the umbrella) have been chosen for the next issue of CMYK Magazine! WOOOHOOO!!! It will be coming out in June!

Belize

it's about time

I have been really lazy about updating this huh? Sorry about that.
Finished my first quarter and went on the trip...we lived out of the car basically for three weeks, it was really good to get home! As soon as we got home, 2nd quarter began. It has been going good...but much different than last quarter. I have a still life class and an art photography class, along with another illustration class and advanced photoshop and printing. I feel less challenged this quarter but that's ok, I know it will hit soon enough.
Here are my final pieces from last quarter. I got a 9.6 out of 10 overall (and that would have been higher if I had not gotten a 8.6 on my flash work!) One of the professional photographers even gave me a perfect 10. I was pretty stoked!

Sunrise/Sunset
Shaft of light:
Extra shots from the shoot:

Goggles:
Motion:
Up Close:
Vermeer Lighting (window light from one side) 1960's Bob Dylan inspired
Additional shots:
Shoot a fruit:

Road Trip

One of the best parts about being in school and freelance is that we get these long breaks between quarters...3 weeks this time. Chris is in a content branding class and his group has chosen to design an Apple sponsored high school. I won't get into details but we are getting to interview some great people, Michelle Rhee, James Victore, and a professor at MIT that I cannot remember his name. So Chris, John and I are headed up to DC today for the weekend. We are staying with friends and get to do some sightseeing....exciting! Chris has never been so it should be lots of fun. On Monday, we are driving to NYC for 2 days then on to Boston! YAY! This will be our first time staying in NYC....wish us luck! We are pretty excited to be able to do this...next year Chris will be working and trips like this won't be able to happen as often. I cannot believe it is almost Christmas of 2008....where does time go?

HELP ME!!!

I need your votes please! All you have to do is sign in with an email address then it will let you vote. My shot is on page 2 or 3...look for it and vote PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!

CLICK HERE

Dear Santa...I want a frug.

That's right...a FRUG! This little face has stolen my heart...She is a half French bulldog, half pug mix. Too bad my dogs would be way too jealous (plus they cost enough as it is!) But keep this little one in mind, one day I want one one! Check them out.

A treat for you...

just in case you missed it.

1 week and counting!

I cannot believe it...I have one week and first quarter will be over! I am really excited and feel pretty good about my work this quarter. I have been pretty lax on writing, it has been a busy few weeks.

My first quarter at Portfolio Center has been amazing. I really feel like I am on the right path and in the right place. Just the people I have had the opportunity to meet this quarter has floored me.
1. Gregory Heisler: An amazing portrait photographer...he has shot over 70 Time covers alone. Look at his work, people like Bono, Bill Gates, Bruce Springsteen, and the list goes on and on....amazing to get to hear him speak.

2. Joyce Tenneson: Another amazing talent. Her work is so dreamy and soft...She was inspiring, she did not start doing photography full time until she was 40. At one point in her career, she was making more a day than some people do in a year. That's incredible.

3. Harry Benson: My personal fave. Can I tell you that I loved this guy? I have a sweet spot for old sweet men, I just want to hug them. He was extremely huggable! Jerry and I picked him up from the airport and took him to lunch. We got to pick his brain and he was so open and friendly about it all. He told us about shooting the Beatles, former presidents, MLK, Ashton and Demi, and many others. What a great guy who has been at the forefront of history and has been able to record it for generations to come. He was even in the room when Robert f. Kennedy was murdered. Wow. Amazing stuff.

4. Steve McCurry: Recognize the shot below? Sure you do...National Geographic, in the 80s. We got to go meet with Mr. McCurry on Monday and listen to him talk about his career and ask him anything we wanted. What a treat.

I just am in awe at the talent that has been put before us. That is not even mentioning the designers that have been in for seminars...James Victore, Steff Geissbuhler (NBC logo, anyone?) and the list goes on...I am so thankful to be able to attend a school where they value the industry so much and really try their best to make you aware of what can happen if you work hard enough...and have a little talent too.

Did you Know?

The thought of all this scares me. Life is moving faster than we are...

Max is a star...

Well not quite, but he sure does look cute on this package! One of the designers at Portfolio Center, Michelle Haft, is in a packaging class and needed a boxer for a dog food project. He looks good huh? Good job Michelle!

You Can Vote However You Like

This is a little late but I am so impressed with these kids. If you go to youtube you can also see an interview...they are so smart and articulate. Nice to see some polite smart kids in this world!

Max Update

Max went back for a 6 month checkup this week and the doctor said he looks fabulous! No sign of any cancer at all! YAY!