Before the snow came

Nina in the backyard before the snow and freezing temps arrived.

Dancing Queen

This photo of my co-worker and friend rocking out at our company party makes me so happy inside. Yes, there is a back-story, but it’s not mine to tell.

Dark Twain

Taken a week ago last Sunday. Angus MacLeod as the Spirit of Mark Twain in “Dark Twain” (A one-man show utilizing the darker writings of Mark Twain, with a few other anti-war, anti-imperialist types thrown into the mix for good measure). Performed at the Coffee Shop at Wildflower Village on 4th Street.

Community

A co-worker of mine had a reception for her art class project show last night.

Her show was held at The Generator. From their website (link):

We’re an inclusive art space in greater Reno, Nevada, Sparks to be exact, for anyone who wants to make art and be part of a creative community.

The Generator is an oasis of decommodification. We don’t buy. We don’t sell. We dream. We convene. We create. We make. We’re inspired by the magic and inspiration we see in all its enormity at Burning Man each summer, and we want to keep it alive all year. We combine forces and share resources in the name of creative growth and community involvement for all.

We have industrial equipment and tools, a powerful network of creative minds, 3 phase power, and 34,000 square feet of workspace. We share our collective know-how and we hope to learn from yours. We’re here to encourage professional artists and beginners alike to make art and to learn from each other as a creative community.

We operate under the same creative community ethic outlined in Burning Man’s Ten Principles.

We were given a tour of the first floor. It’s really an amazing place, and I hope to go participate somehow in this community.

Party!

We had our company holiday party last night. Most of my photographs were pretty standard, but towards the end of the evening I slapped on my 50mm, set my ISO for 6400 and shot with no flash, which made for some fun low light photos.

I really love this one. Out of the camera:

Sometimes lens flare is your friend.

Snowy Morning

Winter appears to be officially upon us. With our drought, this is welcome. More, please!

The dogs tolerate it, mostly.

“Smile, Baby!”

For Alain and Emilio. Happy now?*

* Sometimes a portrait is trying to be more than a grinning face, and being told that my self-portraits would be ‘better’ if I smiled, feels a lot like the experience women have when they walk down the street and have strange men tell them to “smile.” Why do they feel they have the right to do that? My body. My self. My smile.

Going with the grain

From my little selfie session the other night. In Lightroom I softened the clarity a bit, added a medium grain, and subtle sepia. I like the end result, and lean towards the vignetted version (#1) but kind of like it without, as well. What do you think? (Poll below images)