summer of jen...

Film is awesome...

2011-10-26T17:54:00.000-06:00

So I dropped off some film at the store today, and then picked it up after school. It was worth the money because look how awesome it looks!! Film just has a different feel than digital, plus there was no retouching on these. Yep, none. I can't wait to shoot more. I want to offer it in addition to digital. I really like the fashion shots with film. So beautiful.

Jake at the pool

Oliver chilling poolside

pretty poppy

A little out of focus, but the light is amazing


Horses are pretty too

I love messy beds and babies

Looking out the window

Kylee at the game

Hays is beautiful

at the Arts Festival

Art

Waiting for the show

I promise I didn't make him pose like this

Splashing in puddles

love love love

Cornelia is a beauty

The colors and the soft focus make this picture look like a French Rococo painting. If only Cornelia was in a hoopskirt

A lot of this film was shot this summer. The shots with Cornelia was shot last week, though. So fun. Can't wait to keep on trucking with my Canon AE-1!! Awesome little film camera!

Blah...and Yay!! Pictorialism

2011-10-03T10:48:00.000-06:00

I'm feeling blah today. I don't know why. I think it's a combination of feeling really stressed over school and getting shoots in. Also the pressure I put on myself to be the best is starting to wear me out. I need to get over it, but I've always been like this. It's just worse now because I really love photography, and I'm so desperate to not be a amateur or a "corny Utah" photographer. I need to stop, but until then, I feel blah.

Here are some things, though. I tried to shoot a photo inspired by Julia Margaret Cameron. Here is one of her photo's for an example. She was a British Photographer back in the 1860's-80's. I love her work.

Here are some of mine...I don't think I was too successful, but that's what school is about. Learning. The failure is what causes you to learn and grow, and hopefully become better!!

I'm actually going to be printing some of these with the VanDyke and Cyanotype processes. I also have some 3200 film that I need to develop. Hopefully those will look cooler. Guess I'll find out. I was going to do it today, but since I have to work today, I didn't feel like standing up for hours. I'll wait for another day.

July 4th...

2011-09-26T11:57:00.000-06:00

So I meant to post these FOREVER ago. This summer I kind of took a break from blogging. Not that I'm a huge blogger, but it was mostly just a summer of healing and dealing with stuff. I didn't do a lot. I didn't do anything exciting, but it was nice. The family drama was still there, but I think we're learning to deal with it better. We're just resigned to the fact that this is our life now. It's just going to be this way, and if it gets better...than super!!

On July 4th, we didn't do a whole lot. We were all just kind of bummed out. But I bought some sparklers so that I could do some light painting with Jake and Jaynie. Here are some of our pictures. The first ones are of us trying to figure out what we are doing!

I was trying to use a heart filter, this is the only time it worked

This was a lot of fun. I only wish I had bought the huge sparklers!!

Thailand: Part VI~the floating market

2011-09-13T11:11:00.002-06:00

So, I haven't posted at all really. I need to get back in the swing of things and use my blog. Since, I'm stuck at school in between classes, I've decided that when I'm not doing homework or in the darkroom, I'll blog. I have a lot of stuff to catch up on. I have pictures from all summer, personal and photoshoot stuff. But until I get that stuff edited, here is some more Thailand pictures. I'm almost done posting my trip photo's (two years later). Here are the ones from the floating market. It was really touristy, but still fun.

These poor dogs had mange. They were so sick. At the temple you can buy food to feed to the fish. It helps your karma, but Mem and Noc decided to feed the dogs instead. Poor things.

The next Thailand post is also the last. But it ends at the beach!! Yay for the beach!

Small update...

2011-08-13T10:39:00.000-06:00

I have a whole post planned out about the anatomy of a shoot, plus some awesome pictures from that shoot. But I had to first, shoot it, second edit wedding pictures and newborn pictures. Get ready for school to start, watch Oliver, work, and just live life, you know! I also want to finish posting about Thailand. But for now, here is the newborn shoot. Go check it out here....

Horrible...

2011-07-28T18:51:00.000-06:00

I'm a horrible blogger. I realize it's been two weeks. I've been busy. Shooting, working, camping, being sick...you name it. I'll have a proper post soon. In the mean time, I did a family shoot a month ago...go check it out...

2011-07-10T10:50:00.000-06:00

Shot a wedding yesterday, check it out...

Thailand: part V

2011-07-03T14:41:00.000-06:00

This Thailand post is going to be a little different. It's not really anything exciting, it's just life at home in Lam plai mat. The first picture is of a big piece of fruit. You might remember it from a few posts ago. It ripened, and now it was time to cut it open.

Here is Mem, waiting for it to get cut open.

Noc, striking a pose...

Tit is the man that takes care of everything. He's cutting it up. Fun times.

This is what we rode into town. Seriously, if you're a little Thai person this is perfect! When you are me, you are afraid that you will break it. Not good for the ego...seriously.

Eating fruit...though, I wasn't a huge fan of it.

Mem and Fang. He just had a bath. In Thailand, they put white powder on the children's faces. It helps with the heat and moisture.

Noc and Beir being funny...

Hero, the cutest dog ever...

I love this picture...

This is where we slept. Kind of spartan, but it was fine. It's a huge mess at the moment. Luggage all over the place...

Poi...

Hanging out and watching the world go by...

Some more of the back yard...

The other spirit house...

Gerhardt (Mem's aunt's boyfriend from Germany), Noc, and her dad...

The dragonfruit plant at the front of the house...

The shrine to the King across the street. These are everywhere. Some are as big as the skyscrapers they hang from. They also can be as small as this...

Going on a walk to the river...

The river, and a small canoe...

So that's a day in the life of me on my Thailand vacation. Hanging out and just enjoying the experience...

Follow me...

2011-06-30T20:34:00.000-06:00

Go check out my photography blog...I posted a family shoot and a bridals session...

Click here for Katie...

and HERE... for the Kolbs!

Also here is another two photo's from my shoot with Hayley! I really like them.

Playing dress up...

2011-06-22T15:01:00.000-06:00

This morning, my friend Hayley came over and we played dress up. I did her hair and makeup, and then we took pictures. It was a lot of fun. I hurried and edited some pictures so that I could post them and Hayley could see them, also because I'm in the middle of editing bridals, and need to get them done!! I think they turned out awesome, and who knew that putting tin foil on the wall could produce an awesome backdrop!!

Thailand: part IV...otherwise known as the post of Khmer Ruins...

2011-06-20T00:10:00.000-06:00

This post consists of mostly pictures from some ancient Khmer ruins that I was able to visit while I was in Thailand. The first bunch is a place called Phanom Rung. It was such an awesome experience, and completely different from the ruins in Greece...There are a lot of pictures, so be warned...

On these stairs is where I was asked by a Thai lady to take her picture. She came up to me and pointed to her camera and said picture, and then pointed at her daughter. Naturally, I thought she wanted me to take a picture of her with her daughter. Nope, she wanted her picture with me...a white person. Awesome. So there is a random picture of me floating around Thailand somewhere in someone's vacation pictures...

The view from the top was so beautiful!

Ignore the unflattering picture of me...It was like noon, and we all know that noon light creates very unflattering shadows...

I loved all the cool carvings and stonework on these ruins. It reminded me of when I was younger and pretended to live in the Indian Jungle after watching the live action version of the Jungle Book. I wish I could find that on DVD.

The Thai people take really good care of their ruins...a lot more than the Greek's do! That's for sure...

Elephants!!! My favorite part of Thailand. Elephants everywhere!!

The Cardeiro Family!! Friends since 1995! And the best hosts ever!

Mem and I! She is really an awesome friend, even if she is the size of half of me...

These were some more ruins down the road. Not as spectacular, but still pretty cool...

I love the monks in their orange robes. It was cool to see them everywhere. I don't know why, but I just liked it a lot.

Noc and Mem, with Noc doing the traditional peace sign, hahahahaha

It was a really awesome day. I had so much fun, and we had some awesome food on the way home. We ate at this shack on the side of the road. Looked iffy, but was actually kind of amazing. I miss the food, I can't lie.

How does your garden grow...

2011-06-10T14:21:00.000-06:00

So I planted a garden! I accomplished one of my goals. I don't have anywhere to actually plant anything, so I did a container garden. I hope it actually works. I went to D.I. and bought a bunch of old containers and pots. The tupperware containers, I had to punch holes in (for drainage). That was a lot of fun let me tell you. I planted 1 zucchini, 1 summer squash, 3 regular tomato plants, 1 yellow cherry tomato plant, 1 regular cherry tomato plant, spinach, Thai basil, chives, cilantro, and if I get buying more dirt and pots, some lettuce. But we'll see. I'm so busy, that I'm actually lucky to have planted the ones that I did! I also bought a little rose bush that was on sale for a few dollars. I think it's pretty, but we'll see if it survives lol. I planted a hanging bush too. I'm really excited to see how my plants do this summer!! I hope they do so well that I'm swimming in tomatoes, zucchini, squash, and herbs!!

Here are some pictures I took a few minutes ago...

Goals...

2011-05-27T19:19:00.001-06:00

I took the summer off from school. I thought about getting a second job so that I would have extra money, but then decided that after the events of the last 7 months, I am going to treat myself to a break. Yes, I may be poor this summer, but I want peace, relaxation, and healing. With Jarika in rehab, and my family slowly getting emotionally stronger, I figure this is a perfect time to set some short term, "easy" goals...

(picture by me, March 2011, Oregon)

So here are my goals...

1. Read some "real" books. And by real, I don't mean fluffy teen, historical romance novels, or chick lit. These are the books that stressed out me have been reading. I have shelves of history, classics, and meaningful literature...I mean to read them. Or heck, even read the books for book club, instead of reading the summary off wikipedia an hour before it starts...

2. Exercise. With the stress of the last year, I've really let myself go. Not that I was a svelte, athletic person to begin with, but at least I was active and ate healthy. I am neither of those things at the moment. So, I'm going to bite the bullet and buy my membership with the goal to swim and lift weights every day. I need to do this. At the least it will boost my endorphins so that I can be happier and more equipped to deal with the stress of Jarika getting out of rehab and school starting again...

3. Take a picture every day...with my FILM camera. I have decided to get into film. Digital is fun and easy and CHEAP, but film is beautiful. I had a teacher fall semester who told us about a photographer back in the day that could only afford 1 sheet of film a week (or maybe a day), and that was all that he did. He made it count. I'm going to try this with film. Carry around my heavy metal camera and just do it...

4. Grow some plants...I don't have anywhere to have a garden, but I'm going to try and grow some vegetables, herbs, and maybe some flowers in some containers...

5. And finally, just enjoy the simple things. Like sitting on my porch, hanging out with friends, being outside, taking pictures, and loving on Oliver. I'm letting it all go this summer. By all, I mean stress. Sadness. Worry. Easier said than done, but that's what I'm striving for...

I have had some good things happen the last few weeks. Jarika is in rehab, that's good. Hopefully she'll take this opportunity and get better and be herself again. I'm not going to hold my breath, but I do hold a wish in my heart.

Jake graduated last night. I can't believe the baby of my family is done with high school. I remember when he was born and thinking, I'll be 31 when he goes on a mission...wow, that's 1 year away. Crazy.

Also! The best news of all...I got a tuition waver scholarship for next year. My tuition is covered. Paid for. Free. I applied for it before the school year ended, and then a week after school got out I had a portfolio review with a whole board of art professors from the Visual Art and Design department. It was a great experience and it paid off as well. I can afford to go full time, and I'm so excited. I'm so flattered. In the immortal words of Sally Fields, "They like me! They really like me!"

this weekend...and some from this week...

2011-05-15T23:13:00.001-06:00

This is what happens when you play with the hose in the wind...

Here are a few more pictures from this week...I'm trying to get my camera out whenever the mood strikes me, so that I don't lose my creativity over the summer. Whenever I think, that would be a good picture, I try to make it happen...

A picture from today...

2011-05-08T23:46:00.000-06:00

I was helping my dad out by taking pictures of his horse that he's selling. As he was saddling up the horse, I took some shots...I kind of like this...

Photography 2 Final...

2011-05-01T15:02:00.000-06:00

So I was waiting to put these pictures up until I presented them for my final, but I can't wait. I found a photo spread by the photographer Andreas Sjodin in the most recent issue of French Vogue. I really loved the airyness and lightness of the shoot. So I tried to recreate it. I wish I had a copy of the picture to show you, but I couldn't find one on line. It was either going to turn out really bad or pretty good. I think it turned out pretty good. I'm really happy with them...

Here are some outtakes...I really like them too, but I decided to choose the above three because they tell a story...

I love this bottom one, but Jaynie said it looked like the girl from the movie "The Ring" so I chose another one hahahaha

Thailand: part III

2011-04-22T12:07:00.000-06:00

Here is a beetle nut tree. People chew the nuts off of it, it turns your mouth black, and gives you a buzz...a lot of the old timers in Thailand chew it. Teet grew it for his mother, (Mem's grandmother)

These are two of Mem's cousins. I can't remember what their names are, but the boy in the green shirt was so quiet. He barely said boo to anyone. Well, it was his birthday, so we took him to the store and told him he could pick whatever he wanted. It was the saddest thing I've ever seen. He chose a bag full of apples and some dried squid. It was definitely a learning moment for me. This is what these children who live a poor, third world life think of when they think of presents. Food that they normally never get to eat. We took him to the toy section and made him choose a toy. At first he chose a small battery powered truck, and then Mem's dad made him get the biggest one. He was so excited. You should have seen his face. I don't think he ever expected anything like that in his wildest dreams. I almost cried. Here I am complaining that I don't have enough money for a brand new camera, and here is a little Thai boy who thinks the best birthday present is a bag of apples and dried squid, not even beginning to imagine owning a $20 toy truck. It was a very humbling experience.

This is Mem's grandmother's friend. I didn't want to be disrespectful, so I was trying to take a picture without her knowing. When I go back to Thailand, I'm going to learn how to say "can I take your picture, please" in Thai, then I won't feel like I'm being rude.

This is the back yard and kitchen area...Those are also our clothes hanging in the background. There is no washer and dryer!

This is Mem, as I follow her to the real backyard.

Mem's dad and her Uncle Teet were building an irrigation line so that Teet could start a garden. There is pond near the back of the property that they were going to pump water from.

This is the spirit house of the first owners of the property. You always leave the spirit houses on the property, they are never removed.

Here is Mem's mom and Hero. That dog was so cute.

This is the bamboo grove. It makes the coolest knocking sound in the wind..

The pond...Makes you want to go for a swim, right?

This is a Tamarind tree. The pods, have beans that are wrapped in this gooey, fruity stuff. It's like nature's own fruit rollup! It was very good.

Coconut tree in Tia's part of the yard...

Papaya tree! Mmmmm....Som Tam....best stuff ever... (green papaya salad)

Mem's dad and Teet figuring out the water...

Tia going to cut us down some coconuts...

Chopping open the green coconuts, for some refreshing coconut water...

Mmmmm....

After you are done drinking the liquid, you scoop the coconut flesh out of the shell. At this stage it's a coconut flavored jelly. Sounds weird, but it's really good. I guess there are three different stages. The first stage (like what we had), second stage, (which is like a tan color inside), the third stage (my favorite. Still soft, but more coconutty), and then the final hard coconut.

This is Fang doing his trick. He thought it was hilarious, but couldn't understand why us with our Western noses, couldn't do it.

This is the Albino Hedgehog. Someone bought it and then gave it to Mem's family. Teet made it a house out of the coconut husk. It was so weird looking. It escaped one night, and we thought that something ate it. Well, a few days before I came home, a neighbor from up the street brought it back! It had escaped alright, and made a break for it. It was dirty, thirsty, and starving. So funny!

Thailand: part II

2011-04-09T23:12:00.000-06:00

So here is what I did in Lam Plai Mat...I went to the market...

The purple fruit under the number 25 are mangosteens, the only weird Asian fruit I liked...

One of the main streets in the town...

The following pictures are of the temple in Lam plai mat...I was able to participate in a Buddhist ceremony that involved feeding the monks, since they aren't allowed to grow their own food or shop for their own food. It was such an amazing experience. I was so worried that I was going to do something offensive. But I didn't, thank goodness. I was able to hear the monks chant and then I gave them rice into their bowls. It was something that I didn't think I would be able to do. Amazing.

Mem's mom is releasing goldfish. It helps promote good karma, basically. Since Buddhist's believe in reincarnation, they believe that if you release animals, like fish and birds, it gives you points. Basically doing a good deed.

This is the main temple, where people have their ashes interned...

The color's in this country blow my mind. It's just bright and vibrant...

This is Mem's uncle, Pu...he is the youngest in Mem's Mom's family. He was a really sweet man. He is a guard at the King's palace in Bangkok...

I love this picture...

Water Buffalo!!! And the local school, right behind them...

Noc (Mem's sister), and their dad. We were coming back from the temple. You should have seen the cart I was riding in. I seriously thought I was going to break it. I'm not Thai sized...

Mem, and her other Uncle Teet...One of the most genuine, humble, and spiritual person, I have ever met. I hope everyone gets to meet a man like him. I wish so hard that I could speak his language. The night I left Lam plai mat on my way back to Bangkok, we were loading all of our stuff on the train, and as it started to pull away, he grabbed my hand and just held on to it and said the nicest things to me. I didn't know exactly what words he said, since I don't speak Thai, but sometimes you don't need to understand the language to understand the meaning behind the words.

Mem's mom had her birthday while we were there. The cake was interesting, but it was really nice to celebrate with her. She's the matriarch of the family, and her siblings love and appreciate her so much. It was so nice to see something that wasn't about gifts, just love and appreciation. It was really special.

Mem and the cake...

From left to right, Teet's wife, Pu, Pu's wife, and then Teet...

Noc and Mem...

Noc and Hero (Remember, Hee-lo), this is where the food was cooked. No one cooks inside, it's too hot...

I hope you enjoyed more Thailand pictures! Every time I look at them, I get sad and want to go back. I need to learn Thai, so that I can actually talk with them next time.

Mindy and Raylin...

2011-04-09T22:11:00.000-06:00

Took some pictures...check it out...click on me.

I should post other stuff besides pictures...

2011-03-30T11:30:00.002-06:00

So in lab today, I worked on another picture of Audrey. I love the edits to this one. The first one looks all gothic. I kind of love love love it. I did a more sedate one in sepia, too. The final one is the one self portrait I liked out of my assignment. We had to do half portraits, and half self portraits. Talk about a crappy assignment. There is a reason why I take the pictures. Very humbling.

Help me choose!! Which one do you like best?

2011-03-28T10:38:00.000-06:00

Busy, busy...

2011-03-23T11:53:00.000-06:00

So I am going to post about my trip to Oregon over spring break (my first ever spring break trip), and some more Thailand, but I just haven't had time. Between work, family responsibilities, homework, and getting ready for the stupid student art show, I have no time at all. Plus, no internet at home, which helps with the no time thing. But oh well. Here are two pictures from my flash assignment. I thought they turned out pretty good! Even if the cat one is a little cheesy! Smokey is the best model, for reals. He poses whenever I snap my fingers...

Shot some pictures today...

2011-03-06T20:20:00.000-07:00

Go check out this engagement shoot I did today at my photo blog...

Thailand part 1...finally, what? It's only been a year...

2011-03-05T20:08:00.000-07:00

So here is the long awaited post on Thailand...or at least one of them. I still don't have the cd from my friend, Mem, but I figured I'd start anyways. It took me awhile to edit them all. The problem, is that the pictures kind of sucked and I had to edit them a lot. It's interesting coming back and looking at the pictures with a year of photo school under your belt. They make me a little sad and frustrated, actually. But with that being said, here they are!!

This is a shrine in the middle of the market. I didn't really take a lot of pictures in Thailand. I was a little freaked out with it and I thought it would mark me as a target for theft, not that the white skin didn't already do that. I was very much a farang (fuh-long)...which means foreigner.

View from my hotel room...

The weekend I flew in was the King's birthday, so we just left Bangkok to go out to Lam plai mat. (Mem's home town)

This is the first part of Thailand I saw outside of Bangkok...

Everyone else had the same idea we did. It was a holiday weekend, so everyone was going home to the country...

All the taxi's were hot pink, neon orange, or neon purple...it was hilarious...

If you can't afford to take a taxi like us, there is always a pick up truck...

Here is a giant Buddha that we drove by...

This is Fang (Faung), he is the sweetest little boy ever. He tried so hard to talk to me. It didn't go very far. He only knows how to say the ABC's in English, and I only knew how to say pretty, good food, and thank you...hahahahaha

This is Poi. Don't let the smile fool you. She is the most spoiled little girl. We all couldn't even believe how bratty she was. She threw fits, stomped her feet..the whole shebang.

I loved that you could just go pick bananas our of your backyard in Thailand. You woke up in the morning, and there was breakfast hanging on the porch. It was awesome. I liked the little bananas the best. That's Noc hiding behind the little bananas...

This is the laundry room...Haha, awesome...

This is kind of the hanging out area/dining room. In Thailand, you pretty much just do things outside. It's too hot inside. If you look closely, you can see the brooms that we sweep the porch off with. I love them. They sweep really well! I wanted to buy one and bring it home with me, but I thought it might be a bit impractical.

This is Poi and her cousin wrestling. I can't remember his name. He was really quiet. I'm pretty sure Poi won, she is a very solid girl, lol. She reminds me of Jaynie in her build.

Taking a break...

Here is Fang and the front door. I really liked Mem's house. It was nice and open.

We had just woken up, and it was kind of chilly, weird. We were waiting for a parade to start. The previous night the neighbors were having a party because their son was entering the monkhood. The music was insane and it went until the early morning hours. It was crazy. After the big party, they lead a parade to the temple. That was what we were waiting for.

Mem's Uncle Nan-teet, is the best gardener I've ever seen. He has 5 green thumbs. Plus he is the sweetest, most genuinely good person I've ever met in my life. I can't w wait to see him again.

Here are all the kids waiting for the parade to start...

Here is someone's store that is ran from their home...a little sketchy, lol...

The street in front of Mem's house...

Noc and the kids...

Mem's mom and Poi, and Hero (pronounced Helo)

The parade is about to start...

Cool flowers...

This is the jackfruit they cut down from the tree the day before...the stick is jammed inside it to help it ripen.

Here is the parade!! I wish this post had a soundtrack, the music was nuts and really techno...

This is the music truck. Basically their job is to supply really insane techno music for all the parties...

Here is the monk and his family...

There is no such things as car seats in Thailand, lol.

If you look closely you can see them staring at the white chick. They don't see a lot of them in this part of Thailand.

Goodbye parade!! When I go back in December 2012, Mem and her family are throwing a party for the anniversary of her grandma's death, and it's going to be huge. Days of partying and fireworks. The food vendors are going to park their rigs on the street. It's going to be crazy. I'm pretty sure that we'll have that techno music too...I can't wait...

Some more school...and Jake

2011-02-23T11:19:00.000-07:00

The first two pictures are an assignment. The others are just because.

Mr. Jake is a Senior...whoa...That is bizarre to me. He decided he's going to UVU to play his trumpet.

They got mad at me for taking so many pictures, but it's because the two Palmer men are crap at pictures. This is the best one I got, which isn't saying a lot because it sucks.

Of course when they aren't paying attention, they are a lot more photogenic.

Family Pictures...

2011-02-20T14:12:00.000-07:00

I took some family pictures a few months ago...go check them out on my photo blog!

Skull Valley...

2011-02-09T10:59:00.000-07:00

I was supposed to be blogging about Thailand today, but the cd that my friend, Mem gave me was blank. So sad!! I could blog with just my pictures, but she has a bunch of me, and I really want to put them in with mine. So I guess Thailand will have to wait a little bit longer. It's already been a year and then some, so what's another week or two?

Instead, here are some pictures I took of Skull Valley for an assignment. It was a black and white assignment, which was kind of hard for me. I naturally like really bright and light pictures, and these were all really dark. I didn't want to lose the detail in the clouds, so I just sucked it up and had darker pictures. I still think they turned out pretty well! It was so windy that day. I think I actually got windburn on my face.

I love school! Even when it's boring...

2011-02-03T22:49:00.000-07:00

So some of my assignments are really boring. For example, in one class we are learning different light meters. Not very inspiring, but it's very important. My personal goal in this class is to make every boring picture I take, fun and interesting. See, we all take turns playing model, and it's a challenge to make it look interesting. So here you go Juanita! If you don't like them, I will take them down hahahaha....I did them in black and white and color. I couldn't decide which ones I liked best, so I posted both versions.

The other pictures are for Photo 2. I was in a hurry and took them in my front yard and a potted plant in my house. So boring, I know. But I still think they look cool. Well, anything can look cool if you shoot it at 1.4 aperture.

More photoshop...same shoot...

2011-02-02T10:55:00.000-07:00

So I love to post pictures. I haven't really taken any new ones, so here are some oldies, but goodies. We are learning black and white in photoshop and different ways to achieve different effects. So here are some more of the Salt Lake Temple.

Before and After...

2011-01-26T11:32:00.002-07:00

We had a photoshop assignment in class today...I had fun...

Before...

After...

Before...

After!

I was so excited to lProxy-Connection: keep-alive
Cache-Control: max-age=0

rn how to do this. I love the pink hair, and I love our emo pop music cd cover, hahahaha!

It's that time of year again...

2011-01-20T17:18:00.000-07:00

So the semester has started, and you know what that means! School assignments! There won't be as many this time because one of my classes is Photo techniques and equipment. Basically we'll be learning all of the studio equipment and most of our assignments will be in class and of random things that aren't very cool. But Photo 2 still allows me to use my creativity!!

I've been wanting to use my friend/old co-worker Sara in a photoshoot for a long time, and I finally did, and I LOVE the picture that I chose to hand in. It's amazing. Here it is in black and white for you to look at.

We had to choose two subjects for the assignment, and I had no clue what to shoot, so I hiked on down to Temple Square and shot the temple. The same assignment and the pictures don't even match, but whatever, they still look cool to me!

It's nice to get back in the swing of things!

Photography...

2011-01-13T19:00:00.000-07:00

Took some family pictures, go check them out...Jennifer Palmer Photography

Free wifi at the Tute!

2011-01-10T10:28:00.001-07:00

So I decided that I'm going to take an Institute class. There is one at 11:00 am in between my two classes. I figured that was a sign or something. But one plus, is they have free wifi. SLCC does too, but I think there is issues with my account and I didn't feel like figuring it out. Plus the Institute has chairs and tables and isn't too crowded.

Now I can post some pictures of things that I've been doing, and of Oliver. It's been awhile since I've posted Oliver pictures....

I was taking pictures of Oliver for a Christmas present, and while I was, this happened. It was funny. I was going to post this picture on my New Years Resolution post about falling down and getting back up, but I didn't have internet, alas. So here it is anyways.

This is the picture I gave my mom for Christmas. I realized that I had never really taken a "real" portrait of Oliver. Just candids, so I tried. It wasn't the most successful shoot ever. It was freezing, and Oliver doesn't like to stand still. But I'm still marginally happy with this photo. Even if it is typical and a tad cheesy.

Here is O outside at Thanksgiving. Snow was a new thing for him. I don't think he really likes it. One of his favorite words is cold.

Oliver also discovered Rock Band on Thanksgiving. He's obsessed, and that's just putting it mildly.

I took some family pictures after Christmas. I'm still working on them, but I'm pretty happy with them. They are a really cute family.

I'm also working on pictures for a new cupcake business. This is just a small sample, I have tons of editing to do, since I don't have a real studio.

And I just started a new semester at school, so I should have a lot of pictures to start posting. I also have some awesome ideas for conceptual photo's that I want to do this spring/summer. I'm excited. Photography is cool.

New Years Resolutions...

2011-01-05T14:02:00.000-07:00

So my internet is stupid again...(meaning my free internet has disappeared)...hence the no posts. I am slowly getting out of this bummed out time in my life. Things haven't necessarily gotten better, I've just learned to deal with them better. I'm actually grateful that all of this has happened. I was getting too attached, I care too much. And before you say what?! Let me explain. My house is a mess, I have no clean laundry, I don't hang out with my friends anymore. I have a backlog of pictures to edit. It's insane how much my life has gone to shambles since this all has started. So my new years resolution is this. Have a life again. Learn to let go. Oh, and finally post about my Thailand trip. Hopefully I'll get those other pictures tomorrow!

ps...I'm going to buy a sleeve for my laptop so I can just take it to work and use the free internet there...I'm tired of not being able to post on my blog, and I'm too cheap to buy internet.

Christmas day...

2010-12-25T18:22:00.001-07:00

Christmas day. We ate, read, slept, had crazy family drama, and then I took pictures. The fog is crazy here. It was cold, and it was peaceful...I needed this..The bottom picture is weird and out of focus...but I weirdly like it a lot...

Lamest 100th post ever!!

2010-12-21T00:11:00.001-07:00

So small update...life is crazy. I'm working like a son of a gun. Stupid retail job during the holidays...but it keeps me busy. I got my hair done, I haven't posted pictures yet because it's a little too crazy for me, so I'm getting it fixed tomorrow. My sister might get out of jail tomorrow, I don't know how I feel about it. Oliver is freaking cute, but my dad took him to get his hair cut at Walmart, now it looks like someone took a weedwacker to the poor kids hair. I'm still waiting on a cd of pictures from my trip to Thailand last year, so that I can start posting about that trip.

I got an A in photo 1 and an A- in Photo Vision. Yay for me. I forgot what it was like to wait for grades. I have a photo shoot on the 27th, and I'm excited for that. Yeah, so that's about it. I'm still here, I'm going to have a real post soon...

But congrats to me for making it to 100 posts!! Even if it's a lame post. hahahaha

I know, I'm a slacker blogger

2010-12-05T13:40:00.000-07:00

So, I've been debating about talking about this on my blog, but since it is in fact my blog, I am going to. I'm going to explain the family drama that I have alluded to the last few posts. My sister is a prescription drug addict and an alcoholic. She was arrested and is in jail for stealing prescription drugs. She is as bad as they get. I love her and I miss the real her. As a result of this my life has been consumed with worry, and driving out to Dugway a lot. I have to help with my nephew, since my brother in law works full time. Plus, I have work (Retail in the holiday season), and school. When I do have a few hours to myself, I tend to vegitate. My house is a disaster, there is always something that is causing stress, and I'm worried about my family.

There are some really good things, though. That we now know how bad my sister really is. We've always known that she had a problem, but she hid it very well. We thought she had gotten better. So now we have been learning all that we can, so that we can help her. My nephew is getting better. He has suffered from this as well, but he is resilient and I can already tell a difference since he has moved to my parents with my brother in law. I've seen a side of my Dad that I have never seen before, and that is amazing. I've also been so grateful for school and photography. It has given me a positive outlet for my stress. I'm also grateful for my sister, Jaynie. She is only 21, and she is shouldering a lot of the responsibility of helping with Oliver because her schedule is a lot more free than mine is.

I'm not looking forward to the future right now. It's going to be really hard. My sister is still refusing to admit that she has harmed anyone and that she has a major problem. This is so hard to deal with, but I feel confident that we can overcome this. It just sucks that it had to happen on the holiday season, when it's supposed to be about family and love. Not stress, jail, and addiction. Oh well, what is life without trials and heartache? I know that not all of my readers are religious, but I just want to say that it helps me to know that Jesus Christ has felt all of these sorrows and heartaches of me, my family, and even my sister. And he knows exactly how we feel and he is there for us. I am most grateful for that.

Now, I don't want this post to be only about negative things, so here is some pictures from my final projects. I'm still working on them, and there will be more, but I just want to give you a taste, plus I can't post without pictures...

Another assignment...but cooler

2010-11-17T11:40:00.001-07:00

So our assignment in photo 1 was to find a famous photographer and one of their pictures and then either copy it or interpret it. I had a lot of fun with this shoot. I called my friend Kasey, (the girl I shot bridals and her wedding this summer) and then found some pictures I wanted to copy.

Edward Steichen

Irving Penn

This is my interpretation of the photograph with the black girl. Since Kasey is not black and is blond even, I did things a little different. White background and really overexposed.

This was when I was shooting the lace one, but Kasey just looked so regal and I had to shoot this one. It reminds me of Girl with a Pearl Earring by Vermeer...which is cool because he's one of my favorite painters...

So this is my interpretation of the lace photo by Steichan. It was kind of creepy, but cool. Oh, the turban...totally Kasey's goucho pants. That is why it's so bulky, haha

The original picture is of Gisele, so I think Kasey did a pretty good job considering she's not a supermodel!

I had a lot of fun with this shoot. I had no idea what I was doing, and I've never done anything like this before, EVER. It was a good learning experience.

blah blah blah

2010-11-12T11:20:00.000-07:00

I really have no desire to blog right now, but I don't want to let it go weeks and weeks without blogging. Real life just sucks sometimes, you know? Dealing with very troubled family members tends to take it out of you. I don't even know what it's like to have free time any more. So here are some more assignment photo's. I wasn't feeling these two assignments that much. I loved my color photo's and my abstract and conceptual photo's, but these ones just were kind of blah...oh well, here you go and you can be the judge!

This bottom one is from a previous assignment, I just have never posted it and I like it a lot...

Color...

2010-11-03T11:21:00.000-06:00

I swear this blog is turning into my assignment blog, but I have no time to even experience anything else in life. Basically I go to school, shoot assignments or commissions, edit said pictures, work, tend to family drama, and if I have any time left I read or watch tv or maybe even hang out with friends. I have no life, but hey! at least there are pictures, right?

And before you ask, no I don't have a studio. This is what you get with color foam board, a table, my porch, and photoshopping out the line. Fun times...

Matthew, Camille, and Cooper...

2010-11-02T21:04:00.000-06:00

Just posted some more family pictures on my photo blog...go here. They are of my old boss, Matthew, and his family. Love them!! (the family...well, and the pictures, too)

Before and After...

2010-10-31T22:57:00.000-06:00

I am very VERY proud of this image. This is the first time since I've started this photography thing that I have succeeded in something important. I have successfully created an image that matched exactly what was in my head. I needed photoshop to do it, but I have since learned that with Conceptual Photography, this is often the case. You don't need photoshop, but it helps a lot. So here it is. The before and after. Like I said. I'm so incredibly proud of this image. It could suck, people could hate it. I don't care. It represents sooo much hard work and dedication. I can't wait to see where I'm at in a year and compare it to now. Because when I compare my images from last year to now, it's insane how much better I have become. Here's a toast to a great photographic year!!

Kari, Todd, and Cole

2010-10-26T14:26:00.000-06:00

Go check out some family picture I took for my old roommate, Kari at my photo blog. I think they turned out great!

Help me with my assignment...

2010-10-25T16:31:00.000-06:00

So our next assignment in Photo Vision is Abstract, Minimalism, and Conceptual photography. What do you, my loyal readers think. Are these abstract? I have no clue! Hahahahaha! I'm not a very abstract person. I'm all about absolutes. Is it okay that most of them are blurry? You can't tell what they are, I think that's the point. So do you love them? Which one? Hate them? Do they suck? Why? Let me know. I need some outside opinions.

Yo Gabba Gabba!!!

2010-10-25T13:08:00.001-06:00

Friday, my mom, sister, brother, and I took Oliver trunk or treating at my mom's ward. It was the first time we got to see Oliver in his Yo Gabba Gabba costume. This kid loves Yo Gabba Gabba. When he was a baby, it was the only show he would show any interest in. He still loves it. I personally wanted to spray paint it blue because his new favorite word is cookie. He walks around saying, "cookie cookie cookie". I think it would have been more appropriate for him to go as Cookie Monster. Though, I have since found out that Cookie Monster only eats vegetables now. My childhood is slowly being killed, yo.

Oliver with Uncle Jake, who is his most favorite person. We still don't know why, exactly.

Little Monster!!

Don't mind the blur. This was taken when it was almost dark, so my shutter speed was very low.

Oliver's pumpkin candy holder didn't make it through the night. The handle was busted.

Eating his loot while he could. His mother wouldn't let him take any of it home, and gave it to Uncle Jake instead. How rude...

More film...and photoshop

2010-10-20T10:19:00.000-06:00

I'm learning photoshop in class today. This is a film image I scanned in, and I cloned and retouched. This is a big day for me! Now I can clone out the bugs in a recent family shot I did for my old roommate. If I had known it was this easy, I would have learned this a long time ago. Ps...I love Oliver and I love how the film looks.

I hate life...so I'm blogging

2010-10-18T22:38:00.000-06:00

So real life right now is really stressful and I hate it. Addiction is evil, friends. Avoid addictive stuff at all costs, it only will ruin your life. There is my Public Service Announcement for the day. As a result of this, I'm blogging. I'm kind of living for my photography right now. That and Oliver are the only things that even bring a smile to my face right now. So thank goodness for school. I need the distraction.

Our assignment in Photo Vision is about breaking the rules. I don't really understand the "rules", so I hope I actually did the assignment and didn't just take a random picture. I like them anyways. The rules I tried to break are "Fill the frame with the subject", "Do not shoot against the light," "Follow the rule of thirds," Obey the light meter," "Photograph children/pets at their eye level," "Avoid lens flare," and "keep the camera level with the horizon." I tried to get three of these in every picture, but they aren't all in every picture. Funny story, I couldn't use some of them because my dad was flipping the camera off. He's special. This is the one I really like, the rest of them I am getting printed off just in case I like them better on paper.

I think I have to do a series, so maybe I'll do that too. I had a really great idea, but I just don't have the time or energy. I might still do it, who knows, but at least I have something to hand in, right?

Film is not dead....

2010-10-18T15:38:00.000-06:00

Here are some of my film assignments that I promised. The first four our photograms. Just light, objects, and photo paper. They were a lot of fun. These aren't the ones I turned in. They were way cooler, but I forgot them at my house. (I don't have a scanner, my parents do.)

This one is crooked. I didn't feel like rescanning it.

This one of Wilbur the pig (recently deceased), is my favorite. I love the light, and I love that he's not looking at me. I don't know why...I just love it.

I also LOVE this one of Oliver. A girl in my class said it looks like a mugshot. I still love it, though.

Sorry this is light on content. I'm dealing with some major family issues right now, and don't have the energy or brain power to right anything else...

Egg Shot #2...

2010-10-13T12:35:00.000-06:00

So for our next assignment in Photo Vision, we had to use a creative exercise and redo our egg shoot. I was seriously drawing a blank...this is what I came up with. Whatever.

Yes...those are my feet...

Action!!!

2010-10-10T20:56:00.000-06:00

I have a huge assignment due on Wednesday. It's the beginning of our digital block. So we'll be learning photoshop and stuff, I think. So the assignment is Action/shutter speeds. Fast, slow, ect. This was the fast part. I made Jaynie take me to her friend, Ande's house. She had a built in trampoline and it was perfect.

I really like these three...it looks like a series of stills that show her taking off and flying...

I love this picture, too. The shadow completes the action...

I was making Jaynie just move her hair and stand (jump) still. It's kind of awkward...exactly what I was going for.

Jaynie still has some of her mad tumbling skills from when she was little...awesome

I told her she had to be apart of this shoot because she has the best hair for this kind of shot...

Air Ande! Awesome...

Again with the awesome hair...

This was a lot of fun! Too bad that this was only part of my assignment. I still have to shoot slow shutter speeds and panning...I had a lot more fun with this, lol...

ps...I've been a posting machine lately!

Families...

2010-10-09T11:29:00.000-06:00

I had a Family Portrait Session a few Sundays ago...go check it out at Jennifer Palmer Photography...

One year ago...

2010-10-08T23:51:00.000-06:00

One year ago, one of the biggest dreams of my life came true. I went to Europe. Greece and Paris. I can't wait to go back...one day...(and take better pictures!!)

A break...

2010-10-07T23:21:00.000-06:00

I'm tired of this week. I'm tired of drama and hate. And I think it really sucks that I have to deal with it on something as stupid and superficial as Facebook. I'm over it. So I took the Facebook app off of my phone, made it so I won't receive notices in my email. I'm on a break. I'm too invested in something that is as ridiculous as Facebook. Yes, people have the right to believe what they want and free speech. But I also shouldn't have to worry about reading something hurtful to me every time I get on the stupid website. Whatever! I'm probably being too sensitive, and it will probably seem to some people as really emo, but I didn't really know what else to do. I could de-friend, and I really didn't want to do that because they are my friends. I could block their posts, but I didn't want to do that, either! They are my friends, and I'm interested in their lives! So I'm taking a break until this all dies down and life can get back to normal. And if it doesn't? Well, then I might have to make a more permanent decision.

Until then, email me...jenjojen@yahoo.com...oh, and my teacher thought my forest picture was cheesy...I feel a little defeated...This week has kind of sucked....

Another assignment...

2010-10-05T23:26:00.000-06:00

So I have an assignment for the same class and due at the same time as the egg assignment. It's called mindfulness. Basically we have to take time to understand our subject. To be aware of everything about it or them. Take time and try and record what that object or person is. I had no idea how to do that with an inanimate object or still life. Our professor said that if we wanted to do a portrait, than we should. Of course I chose portrait. I love taking pictures of people. I think it's what I'm best at. So I wrangled my friend Angela into helping me. I took this when it was almost dusk and it was overcast, so I had to open up my aperture really wide, so I don't know if it's exactly what I wanted, but I still like it.

BEST PICTURE EVER!!!

2010-10-04T14:16:00.000-06:00

So for one of my future photo assignments we had to shoot an egg...here is my idea. Thanks to Jaynie for letting her OCD go and being my model. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

Boring Baseball post...

2010-09-27T18:11:00.000-06:00

So Jake is a Senior. As a result, on my days off I'm usually at one of his games. I would post more pictures from my class, but we are doing film, and I haven't scanned those pictures in the computer yet. I'm also still trying to get some other pictures from Thailand. So hopefully, I'll have some more interesting posts coming up. I drove down to Wasatch Academy in Mt. Pleasant with my Mom, Dad, and Oliver. We had fun. Here are some pictures of Jake playing ball...

Too bad that it's blurry. I finally got a ball hitting the bat shot! Okay, I really don't care that much. Sports photography isn't my thing. But I know my parents and Jake really like me to take them.

Now here are some of my favorite subject!

I'm kind of loving how warm it's been at the games. I've got quite a nice tan going on...

What to choose...

2010-09-22T00:03:00.000-06:00

So here are the pictures that I took for the assignment I was talking about. I have to choose two... The assignment is the relationship between the subject and what's around the subject. I think I had the right idea...maybe...

I think I'm for sure going to choose #5. I just really like it. It's kind of weird, but I kind of want to go there.

Thoughts...

2010-09-21T09:14:00.000-06:00

So today I had an optional field trip for class. I got up and ready to go. Then I decided I didn't want to do it. We were going to walk around down town Salt Lake near our building and the library. I just couldn't do it. I'm tired of taking photos of buildings, signs, and flowers. Sick of it. Last week I went out to I-80 and I still had to force it. I've been pushing myself to take non-people pictures. I'm trying to find my fine arts side. Well I've been doing that for a month now, and I'm not feeling it. So today I'm going to go visit Oliver and use him as a model for my assignment. I don't care if the teacher has made comments about taking pictures of kids. I really don't care. I'm getting bored with taking pictures of trees. I want to take pictures of something that interests me. People interest me. Not inanimate objects. So I'm going to do this assignment with subjects that engage me. What of it, teacher man?

More photography assignments!!!

2010-09-14T22:04:00.000-06:00

So today was an interesting day. I was really bummed out with some personal family stuff, and I was trying not to think about it. Instead I started thinking about how much my bangs were bugging. So I decided to play hairdresser and chopped them myself. Bad idea...terribly wrong. No worries, my favorite hairdresser Shelley fixed them up pretty. Then I had to go and shoot some photos for both of my classes. As a result of said stress in my life, I was so not feeling it. But I had to shoot my for photo 1 because we are developing film tomorrow. So I made myself get up and drive out to I-80 on the frontage road and take pictures. I'm pretty happy with how they turned out. The film ones are not on here since they haven't been put in all the chemicals and stuff in the dark room. I took some of the same ones with my digital camera for my other class. Here they are!

After this I went to Cafe Rio and got a salad. I deserved it! Hahahaha! I also have a family shoot lined up with an old roommate and her family, Yay!!! Speaking of family shoots...

I finally finished editing these pictures...go check them out on my photography blog.

I have been busy...

2010-09-12T22:55:00.001-06:00

So sorry that it's been almost two weeks since I posted last. I've been really busy, and my internet was being really inconvenient. I've been trying to readjust to to closing every night at Barnes and Noble. It's hard to get used to that again, especially with getting up at early and being at class by 8am. But here are a few pictures to show what I've been up to. First assignments...They were for both classes and we went across the street to library square. I'm so over taking pictures there, that's for sure.

I've also been going to my brother's baseball games. He's a senior in high school, so I it's the last time I'll ever get to see him play! sniff...

Jake is such a goofball. I love this kid....

I also love this one...look at that belly...

I've also been hanging out with these people a lot...

At the games we get to watch Oliver play soccer. He kicks it with like 99% accuracy! It's crazy!

Then he has to cheer and clap for himself. I have to take blame for that one, since I taught him that when he was till a little baby.

He made friends with Jordyn. Who I've known since she was the cutest little baby...I talked her into doing a little photo shoot for me. I just couldn't help myself, what with the tutu and her little sassy personality!

But really, we all know where my heart lies...

I also did a photo shoot of these sweet boys. I'm still editing them, (this is an outtake). So Jess! I am getting there!

I'm so busy, but I'm having so much fun. Well, not at Barnes, but the school part is awesome. I just bought a film camera and it works like a dream! I just got my first roll of film back and the pictures are beautiful! I had no idea how they would turn out, so I didn't get a cd along with them. But I will scan them in eventually. This week I start work in the dark room. Hooray!!! I'm pretty stoked. Also, I'm going to start blogging my Thailand trip, but I'm waiting on some pictures from my friend, Mem. I don't have a lot with me in them on my camera, but she has a bunch of them.

I promise to be better about blogging...

Very first photography assignment...

2010-08-31T14:24:00.001-06:00

So I got my first homework assignment in Photographic Vision. This is basically a 100% creative photography class. Thursday was our first class, and the teacher asked us to go outside and find an object. On our way back, we had to make up a story or history of it. I wandered around and found a few things. A cool tag, a Christmas ribbon, but neither of those were really giving me anything to work with when it came to a story. Then I found a trax schedule. I picked for two reasons. It wasn't gross garbage, and a story easily came to mind for it.

Here are the pictures I chose to tell it...

Can you guess the story? A girl is going to school on trax for the first time. She is really nervous because she's never used public transportation before. She knows it's not a big deal, but she is still nervous. So she makes a few mistakes, is worried, and then figures it out and is happy. She realizes that she doesn't need the map and schedule and drops it on the ground. This is how I found it.

This may be corny, but it was the best I could do!! My friend Hayley helped me out a lot by playing model. She's a hoot and a half. I hope my teacher likes them!!

Here are some outtakes...

I actually like some of these a lot, but they didn't really fit with the flow of the story, that's why I chose the 5 that I did...Thanks again Hays!!

first day of school...

2010-08-25T14:56:00.000-06:00

Today was the first day of school....Here is my first day of school picture...

This is in the parking lot at the Library Square center for Salt Lake Community Center. I decided I needed a first day of school picture. I was going to take it in front of my house, but ran out of time. I didn't know what the parking situation was going to be like at the school. So when I got there and saw that parking was not an issue at 7:45 in the morning, I decided to take advantage of the light and the way it was making the garage looked. So here it is. I like it.

This is going to be an interesting semester! Hard, but interesting. One class is going to be all technical and I'm going to learn how to use a film camera, how to develop my own pictures and film in the darkroom, plus all the digital stuff. Pretty exciting. The other class is going to be how to be 100% creative. I don't know which one will be harder!! All I know is that I'm pretty excited. I wasn't excited about all the supplies I had to go buy at Pictureline (photography store). I had to buy a gray card, printer paper for digital and darkroom development. Film, a special kind of binder/portfolio device, regular folders, sharpies, and those scrapbook paper protector sleeve things. All kinds of junk. Thank goodness I already had cd sleeves, blank cd's. I spent $100. Suck!! That was only half the stuff I need. There is still stuff that I'm going to have to buy later. Oh, well. It's all worth it, right? RIGHT!!!

Paris: Day 16...the end

2010-08-24T18:18:00.000-06:00

This was our last day in Paris, the last day of our trip...unless you count the day spent on the non-stop flight from Paris to Salt Lake. (I don't.)

We spent it in Montmarte and walking around. We got up in the morning and had a yummy breakfast near our hotel of eggs, ham, baguettes, and a croissant. It was delicious and so French. Well, at least I thought so. We also had one last cup of chocolate. So good. Angela and I decided that we should write a book about hot chocolate around the world after this trip. We also got on the tourist bus again, for a quick last look. Here are some pictures...

Here is the Sacre Coeur. It's really cool. Watch out for the African guys trying to sell you friendship bracelets, it's a scam. Thanks to Rick Steves, I knew this.

Here is the view from the Sacre Coeur. Montmarte is all that you see. Makes you want to go watch Amalie...

This is Youri. He's this Italian singer who just performs on the steps. He is amazing! He sings a bunch of American cover songs. He is great live, and interacts with the audience. We sat there for an hour listening to him. We even bought his cd. Which, isn't as great as his live performances. But it was the perfect Paris moment.

Here's a little taste of what it was like. It was awesome. The perfect Paris moment...After the concert we went around the corner to where the artists corner is...

Here are the paintings that I bought! The bottom one is of a corner near where the painters set up. I also got it with some mad barter skills. She wanted 85 euros for it, I got it for 50. Awesome, even Dawn and Angela believed me when I said I didn't have that kind of money. Oh, I had it. I just didn't want to spend it on a painting. Here is a picture of the corner...

We also ate a nasty crepe here...no bueno...

We wandered a little...I wish we could have wandered some more...next time, I have a next time list, so I have to go back to Paris eventually...

After Montmarte we went back to the main part of Paris, along the Seine. This is where we just wandered until it got dark.

Bridges and lamposts...my two favorite things...

I think this is the tower where Marie Antoinette and King Louis were kept before they were beheaded...

Pont Neuf...the oldest bridge in Paris...

And finite...that is the end. The sun set, we went and got dinner. Not the best way to end the trip that is for sure. We met a lady that said you can't get bad food in Paris. I beg to differ. Our dinner was just so so, and then they ran out of the normal desert so they gave us a fruit cup...it was canned fruit cocktail. No joke. Seriously? And we got the rudest waiter in the world. The only rude French person I met on the entire trip. Oh well, I guess it makes a good story.

This was the most amazing trip of my life. I still can't believe that I got to experience this. It was the trip of my dreams. I wasn't disappointed by anything. Paris was everything I thought it would be and more, Greece was...I just can't describe it. Let me put it this way, Angela and I are always talking about going back to Greece. Not anywhere else. Not England, not Peru, not Italy. Greece. It's just amazing. I think everyone should go to Greece. And well Paris...I can't even imagine not ever going back. New York was my favorite city, and now I have to say it's my favorite American city because I can't compare the two. I'm so grateful that I got laid off. I was able to have a year of just traveling and discovering me. Not that I didn't know before, but the Jennifer now after having experienced this year is not even close to the Jennifer that worked at the Foundation. I'm so grateful to have had this year. So grateful...

Cora...

2010-08-24T17:12:00.000-06:00

Go to my photo blog for some sweet pictures of baby Cora!!

New shoes or as I like to call it...Birthday presentpalooza

2010-08-17T17:58:00.001-06:00

So I'm 29 today. I spent $900 on my car last week. As a result, I swore I wouldn't spend anything on myself. That lasted about an hour into my birthday. Spent $250 on clothes at Old Navy and $90 on new shoes from Famous Footwear. Oh yeah, baby! I invented a new song, "It's my party and I'll buy if I want to! Buy if I want to, buy if I want to! You would buy too, if it happened to you!!"

I bought my clothes on line, so I will have to wait to do a fashion show. Here are my shoes, though!

Pretty sweet, huh?

One year older, and wiser too!

2010-08-16T12:08:00.001-06:00

So tomorrow is my birthday. I'll be 29. Crazy. One more year to thirty. I remember when my mom turned thirty. I'm not depressed about it or having a midlife crisis, it just feels weird because I don't feel like I'm thirty. I know I'm not the only one who feels that way, but I still do. I wish I had more to say about it, but I don't. I went home yesterday for a joint birthday dinner with my brother. He's almost an adult, that is just as weird. I had yummy food, my mom is almost finished with my blanket, I got a lot of jokes about being old from my dad (Ironic, I know), and I got to play with Oliver which is always a good time. Here are some pictures...

This is the outfit I bought Oliver in Thailand. It barely fits him 8 months later...Oh, he's teething like a son of a gun, hence the hand in mouth. I think it's hilarious.

Here is our cake. My mom attempted balloons, I told her it was more an abstract modern art piece. It's the thought that counts, and the taste...yum...

I also messed with my camera and tripod a little bit more...

So happy birthday to me!!! I was thinking about buying myself an e-reader for my birthday, until I had to spend $900 on my car last week. I'm trying not to think about how that's the price of a plane ticket to Europe. Nope, didn't even go through my head...*SOB*

Introducing....

2010-08-11T10:33:00.001-06:00

So I have finally decided to start getting serious about this photography thing. I am starting school in a few weeks, and I have a lot of shoots under my belt. Obviously, I still have a lot to learn. I have better equipment to buy, BUT to do that I need money. So why not charge? I'm not charging a lot, and for those who I've told get free shots, still get free shots. Mostly, I'm just charging for weddings. That's a lot of work and time! So hopefully I will get some clients. If not, maybe I'll just be free again.

I am really nervous about taking this step. I don't want to be one of those people that buy a camera and can do some fancy photoshop work and call themselves photographers. I want to be a real photographer. I want to take a picture and know that I don't have to do a lot to it. This is why I'm going to school, I can be self taught, a lot of photographers are, but I want to fast track this, hence the school. I just felt like to get there, I need to have more of a presence and for that I need to charge. So, I got another blog and some business cards. Cross your fingers for me!

Here is the blog header I made, ALL BY MYSELF!!!

Here is one of my business cards. I have five different floral designs. They are pretty cool. I got them off Etsy. Oh, and here is my new blog, Jennifer Palmer Photography

* edited to add, this is still my personal blog and I'll keep on posting here like normal. I just wanted a blog dedicated solely to my photography and for clients!

Paris: Day 15

2010-08-06T14:15:00.000-06:00

So this was our nicest day in Paris. It was kind of cold, but the sun was out all day. After the day full of rain before, it was a welcome change. First thing we did was check out the Eiffel Tower during the day. We had only seen it at night before. It was awesome. I had to pinch myself, really. Our hotel was right near the Eiffel tower, so we had a nice, pleasant walk over to it.

I don't know why I have such a crusty face in this picture. I have on of me smiling all nice, but I think this one is hilarious and actually shows my "Daria" personality more, lol.

We walked over to it and just walked around admiring the Eiffel tower, trying to ignore what I like to call the "1 Euro guys" hawking Eiffel tower key chains. They were annoying.

Then we decided to get on one of those double decker tour buses. Yes they are touristy, but we didn't have a lot of time in Paris, so we decided to at least try and see most of the sites. Plus, we were still a little foot sore from Versailles and thought it would be a nice way to get to Notre Dame. I took some pictures while I was waiting for it to leave...

How would you like to get your wedding pictures done in front of the Eiffel Tower? Pretty cool! As I was waiting I started noticing all the ways people were taking pictures of themselves in front of the Eiffel Tower. Kind of hilarious...

The bus took off and we headed towards Invalides and Place de l'Ecole Militaire...funny enough, we passed our hotel on the way! This was the nicest neighborhood. Thanks Rick Steves!

Our room was the third one up. I left the window open so that my shirt could dry...(I hand washed it in the sink.)

We passed by Napoleans tomb...didn't go in. I'll save that for next time, I guess...

I really love the opulence of French architecture...It's pretty to look at...

This is my favorite bridge in Paris. I love it. It's so huge and ostentatious. It's the Pont Alexandre III bridge..

This is what happens when you take pictures at noon. They are really washed out. If I had known how to shoot manually back then, I probably could have made them look better. Oh well. NEXT TIME!!!

One last look...

Here is the Place de la Concorde...this is where the royals bit the big one...(French Revolution)

On our way to Notre Dame! This is the stop by Pont Neuf. The oldest bridge in Paris.

Notre Dame! I wish we would have gone to the top. Again, I say next time. We seriously needed a week there, not 3 days.

Now for inside...Not many pictures, most of them are blurry and gross...

Now for the other side of the Cathedral...

And now for the "flying buttresses dating all the way back to...." Name that movie...

Such a beautiful building...

On the way to the Palais de Justice... After this we got back on the bus and took a round about way to the Arc de Triomphe...Along the way we passed the Paris Opera House...

Then we made it to the Champs Elysees...

We climbed to the top, or actually took an elevator. It was the coolest view.

You can see the Sacre Coeur and Montmarte...

This is the part of Paris we didn't go see. You can see the Holocaust memorial in the distance...

These are the stairs you had to go down to get out...This might be TMI, but I really had to go to the bathroom. So I basically stayed for 5 minutes up on the top before I just couldn't do it anymore. I rushed down the stairs, and almost made myself sick I was going so fast. It was like spinning in a circle. I finally found a bathroom without toilet paper or soap. Thank goodness for tissues and hand sanitizer. I then just waited at the bottom for Angela and Dawn, and just took some pictures.

While I was waiting they started shutting off access to most of the Arc and then a band came out. After asking a guard, we found out that they were doing a ceremony at the tomb of unknown soldier.

It was pretty cool. A bunch of old veterans and families laid flowers on it. Some things don't change no matter what country you are in.

Last shot of the day. After this we went to a nice restaurant on the Champs Elysees. I had duck and it was SOOO good. I wasn't that adventurous, though. The girl next to me ordered frog legs. Couldn't do it. We also got Creme Brulee and hot chocolate. I miss the deserts and hot chocolate in France. Best things in the world.

Friends and photography...

2010-08-04T00:45:00.000-06:00

So I have this friend named Andrea. She was one of my first friends in college. I was in the CEU band, and we both played clarinet. I have to admit, she was nicer to me from the beginning. She remembered my name and always said hi and invited me to things. I'm glad that I finally took her up on her offer of friendship. I'm thinking this is a reoccurring theme with me. I think I did the same thing to Annie. Anyways, we were friends for two years at CEU, and then we were roommates at BYU for a year. I feel bad for her that she got me in my grumpy, depressed, burnt out phase of life. Poor girl, it's amazing that she still talks to me.

She has lived all over the country, moving to Chicago for Ross (her husband) to go to law school, and then to DC for a job. She's in town visiting family, and I decided that 5 years has been too long and we needed to hang out. We just got together at the park and talked and caught up, while her kids played. I also brought my camera along and took a few quick pictures. I hope you like them Andrea! And I'm so happy that I got to see you!

First is Allen...He's going into Kindergarten this year.

Then there is Abby! She's 3 and quite the cutie...

They are so nice to each other. This is a good thing, since Andrea is expecting twins! They will be the best big brother and sister...

I tried to get a good one of the kids and Andrea, but Abby was a little grumpy because she wanted to play in the sand, not take pictures.

Thanks Andrea for still being my friend!! ps...she has a better picture of the two of us, it's hard to take these kind of pictures with a SLR.

Bear Lake

2010-08-01T16:29:00.000-06:00

So I went up to Bear Lake this weekend. My dad has a friend, named Lyle. They have been friends for years and years. Lyle and his wife, Jenny, have a job where they go and heard cows in the mountains. Well, since one of my dad's favorite things to do is play cowboy, he goes up there and helps them. My mom goes on occasion, just to hang out in the camper, read, sew, crochet, and pretty much get away from it all. She decided that it would be great for all of us kids to come up. We agreed. Though, alas, Jaynie, Justine, and my brother-in-law couldn't make it. We still had fun, though.

When we got there, (after a harrowing dirt road that shouldn't be driven on), this is what awaited us. My dad's own version of Lonesome Dove. Oh, that's my dad and Jenny. (My dad's the one in the hat).

So, I'm sure I've mentioned it before but my dad hates getting his picture taken. I have pretty much taken it upon myself to catch pictures of him when he doesn't realize that I am taking them. Case in point...He might look mildly annoyed, but really this is his normal face, and he wonders why people are intimidated by him...

Here is my mom making Mountain Man breakfast. A Palmer family tradition. Though, we have graduated to a dutch oven stove, instead of using the fire.

Bacon and onions, a great way to start a dish...it could also explain why us Palmer's would last awhile in a famine...

Still cooking...there is Oliver in his pack n' play. He wasn't too thrilled with this. He would rather run around, but he still is in the habit of eating anything he picks up. Doesn't really work with camping, especially when there are horses and cows around. What does that equal? Poop. Lots of it. Yuck.

After breakfast/lunch we went for a drive around Bear Lake, so that my mom could show us the Old Lady and the Shoe house. She thinks it's the funniest thing she's ever seen. Then we stopped by to get the Famous Raspberry Shakes! I was the only one who got raspberry. Jarika got oreo, Jake got caramel, and my mom got smores. Oliver got a vanilla cone.

This is the before picture...

The middle...

The after picture...good thing they had a hose...

Then we went to the lake. Auntie Jen (me) bought Oliver his very first sand toys! He was pretty impressed.

Though, he didn't really get them. He thought the shovel was a spoon, and tried to eat the dirt. Hopefully he didn't get a parasite or something...

Uncle Jake is so nice, playing with his nephew and teaching him all kinds of cool things!

Including how to be 17 and dump lake water all over your 1 year old nephew...

Jarika and Jake gave up on running after Oliver. So basically it was just me and my mom. Good times...

I love how blue the lake is. It's almost like you are at the ocean, except for the mountains and fresh water...and no seagulls...and it doesn't smell weird...

My mom revisited her childhood in Panama and collected shells for Oliver...I hope she doesn't hate me for posting a picture of her bending over...oh well, I thought it looked cool!

He get's this crusty look from his mother, believe it or not...

Jarika's shirt says "Goonies never say die," basically she's awesome...

Oliver is obsessed with balls. OBSESSED. He kicks them and throws them and shouts GOAL! Though, it's more baby talk, than a real word. He found this abandoned beach ball, and you would have thought he died and gone to heaven. The rest of us weren't too thrilled because we had to chase after it when he threw it and the wind took off with it. If we didn't then he ended up on a mud hole or in a random puddle of water.

For example...

When we got back, Jake decided to ignore us and read Harry Potter. Don't let this picture fool you, I had to yell at him because he has the unfortunate habit of flipping off the camera...

This is across from our camp. I really need to invest in a nice wide angle lens. I have started using my 50 mm lens for everything because it's just nice glass. The wide angle lens I have is just kind of crappy. It's like difference between a Hyundai Accent and a BMW. Yep, too bad my BMW costs $1700. Awesome.

This is Junior.

What?! Jennifer play with lens flare?! No way!

This is what we got to see all day, giant bulls wandering around bellowing. It was cool? Not really, there was cow poop everywhere. Gross.

Here is Junior again. If he looks pissed off, it's because he is. My dad was gone with his fellow horses on a ride. They get nervous and stressed out when part of their herd is gone.

Here is Jake taking Junior up to the pond for water. It was really pretty...minus the cow poop....

The pond...and lens flare!!!!

After a night full of rain, thunder, lightening, and the stink of my brother after he ate BBQ chicken (we shared a tent), it was home again, home again...

I shot this out of the car window...I kind of love it. I made it home, and now there is a tent on my front lawn drying out. Good times. I just wish the other three yay-hoo's could have made it...

New things...

2010-07-28T22:00:00.001-06:00

So I bought a tripod...I'm pretty excited.

It was an early birthday present for me...from me. Well, I haven't really had time to practice with it and I really have no idea how to shoot at night, hence the tripod. So I took a few minutes to play with it tonight. Still hate that my camera sucks with a high ISO (film speed, the higher the number the more light it takes in. ex; 200 = sunny, 1600 = night.) Anyways, the nicer the camera the less grainy a high ISO picture looks. Mine isn't the nicest, so my pictures look super grainy. Oh well, one day I will hold a Nikon D300 in my hands, one day. I won't even think about the full-frame sensor D700. There in lies depression.

I also bought my tripod because I keep toying with the idea of doing a 365 Project. Which basically is to take a self portrait every day for a year. I don't know if I am brave enough to do it. That's a lot of exposure for someone who would rather be behind the lens. But we'll see. Here are a few of the pics I took tonight. I'm not too impressed with myself, but I thought I would share anyways.

Look Ma! No blur!!

Here I am playing with the timer on my camera...

ps. I'm this close to finishing a photography blog. I also ordered business cards...It's about time I get serious with this thing...

Kasey and Chris...the wedding

2010-07-24T23:10:00.001-06:00

So, two weeks ago I shot Chris and Kasey's wedding. It was so much fun. I just love this couple and their families so much. It was my first big wedding. Lots of people, and lots of things to take pictures of. I am really proud of them. I still have quite a bit to learn, and I noticed some things that I need to fix for next time, but still, I'm pretty proud of myself. The wedding was so beautiful. They were married in Kasey's parents' backyard. Her dad and brothers have been working so hard on it the last few months, and you could tell. It just looked amazing. So without further ado...

Kasey's aunt put all the engagements and bridals on a piece of wood and modge podged it. It was the coolest thing I've ever seen. No frames, no glass. It was really cool. It was also really cool to see my pictures all over the place. I actually wanted to steal one and hang it on my wall.

I love this family...seriously, they are awesome...

These are all the girls from CEU. They all played on the basketball team together with Kasey. Jaynie was the one who told Kasey about me, and started the ball rolling...

This is Kasey's brother, sister-in-law, and nieces. I think this is the best expression on a newborns face, that I've ever seen...

Kasey's sister, Bailey made the cake. Her very first one, and it looked professional!

I love that they are basically palming each other's face. They are both basketball players, hence the large hands. This was also hilarious, because it got up noses, down dresses. Yep, it was violent.

I'm just so glad and grateful that I was able to be Kasey's and Chris' photographer. It was such a great experience and I loved every minute of it!