Fall for the Book 2007

Every year, George Mason University organizes Fall for the Book, a literary festival that is pretty much the best collegiate literary festival in the world. They bring in dozens of writers, from all sorts of genres and from all over the country. I am currently a graduate student in the MFA writing program at GMU, so I was coerced in taking photographs at some of the Fall for the Book events. Actually, I'm did it gladly, I love photography :)

The images here are from the readings by Jennifer Egan, Alexandra Fuller, and James Houston (respectively). I had the opportunity to drive James Houston around the Fairfax area and although I had printed internet directions, I got horribly lost (on both occasions) but he was really nice about it. I wish I had been in his Visiting Writer's class this semester but I did manage to get a spot next semester, when Jennifer Egan will be coming back for it. If you're looking for books to add to your reading list, check out The Keep, Don't Let's Go To The Dogs Tonight, and Birds of Another Heaven.

Operation Crossroads Africa

Those who know me in my personal life know that I spent a summer in Nkubu, Kenya in 2006. I pretty much talk about it all the time and as if I was there for 5 years. I really did have an amazing time and I learned so much about myself and about a land and a community 7,500 miles away from my own. I worked at an orphanage called the Huruma Centre, through a program based in New York City called OPERATION CROSSROADS AFRICA.

Yesterday, I was looking up the OCA website to include in an email to an interested friend. When the OCA main webpage loaded, I was incredibly surprised to see one of my images from my trip! In fact, the entire website, which was recently redesigned, is loaded with my images! I am really honored that my photography is being used to represent this incredible program, which was the progenitor of the Peace Corps. It definitely was a challenge to lug around my camera; there was a time when I slipped into a river bank and my camera was inches away from being soaked in muddy water. Everyone else was worried about my well-being while I was only concerned about my camera!

The OCA website also has a link to my KENYA SLIDESHOW. Here are a few of my favorite images from my time in Nkubu:

I love John!

This is one of my favorite images of John, the love of my life and the man I will marry next year! We were on a beach in Okinawa (Japan) and I snapped this one before he was fully aware I had the camera on him. The next series of images were of him being Jim Carrey-esque to purposely sabotage my photography efforts. I think I remember that he didn't want a picture showing his teeth. Ohh, John. On Thursday we are headed to California for a mini-vacation!

Jason's Graduation!

Here is my brother's graduation from Cumberland Valley High School! It took place on June 7, 2007 at Hersheypark Arena. Some of these photos remind me of Where's Waldo for some reason; I'm not sure if it's the white and red colors or the fact you really have to hunt to Find Jason. I was thinking about hopping into the arena floor, but there were Principal-like guards all around... Most importantly, CONGRATULATIONS JASON!

Grandma Joyous

I spent the last week in Florida, spending 3 days in Tampa and 2 days in Melbourne, which seemed like no time at all after the days flew by. I did manage to take a couple pictures of my grandmother with my brother Derrick. As those in the family already know, Grandma Joyous is an incredible woman, independent, intelligent and intuitive. She also raised nine children! One morning, I asked to see pictures of when my mother and her siblings were young. I spent over an hour poring through them and was lucky to hear some stories behind the photos from Grandma. The bottom photo is of orchids that Aunt Dawn grew. I wanted to take photos of Dawn, George, Brittany, Kevin, Joyce, and Curtis as well, but the timing was all too brief... Hope the family enjoys the photos here!

Jack & Mary Ashley's Wedding

Kenny, one of my best friends from college, invited me to the wedding of his 4C friend, Jack. 4C is a group of friends hailing from JMU and if I know anything to be certain in this world, it's that in 40 years or more time these friends will still be hanging out and causing a ruckus. Jack was the first of the 4Cers to be wed and I felt honored to be included in their special day. The ceremony took place in a lovely Episcopalian church in the Charlottesville area and the reception was held on the farm Mabby's family owns. The land was absolutely stunning and made a perfect backdrop to celebrate the love between Jack and Mabby. Here are some photos from their day:

A Walk Around the Block

Spring is here and providing a lovely backdrop for portraits. Yesterday I took a short walk around the neighborhood and photographed details of Spring's arrival. Winds blew the cherry blossoms down along the street and it was like snow without the damp chill, but it was a difficult image to capture. With the cherry blossoms in their prime, life is bursting out of its seams in our surroundings. I hope you have a chance to enjoy the outdoors during your day!

Photos in Mandala Magazine

With the help of Julia, the leader from a Kenya volunteer trip this past summer, I have two photographs published in an international magazine! Mandada Magazine is the premier magazine for Tibetan Buddhists. Julia was a former assistant editor there and in the past Dec/Jan issue, she had a personal essay published along with my accompanying photos. Here is the online link: http://www.mandalamagazine.org/2006/dec/summer_kenya.asp As a side note, Julia is one of those all-around amazing individuals, filled with positive energy and white light! :)

The pictures below appeared in the magazine, (top: Julia with Joy, our neighbor's delightful daughter in Nkubu, below: the volunteer group all together planting a peace vase in Masai Mara) as well as the actual page the photographs appeared.

Page 35 is reprinted with permission of Mandala Magazine, copyright 2006/2007.