Monday, November 21, 2011

Free

It's been two weeks since my facebookicide, and let me just say, it's really liberating! In the last two weeks since I have removed the shackles from my heels, I have been far more productive with my time at home.

That said, I have some fun new pictures to share. I have been donating my time to the community in efforts to provide those of lower economic status the ability to give professional family portraits in their Christmas cards. I am always game for new challenges and thus far, it has been difficult working with posed pictures. Even though I am completely in control and can manipulate everything prior to sessions, right down to lighting, it's still unnatural. That unnatural feeling translates into my photographs if my subjects are not completely comfortable. It's tough to covey the feeling of ease and fluidity when you are posed for a picture and waiting for everyone (yes, even the three year old) to look at the camera.

If anything, this foray into the realm of still, contrived photography has given me the opportunity to practice prior lessons (like frame the picture before clicking and paying attention to EVERY detail) as well as learning new ones.

Another upside to doing portraits was the excuse to purchase a super cute backdrop from Lemon Drop Stop Studios! I absolutely love their product and will certainly be purchasing more in the future. I got the least expensive option and it's super high quality. It also comes out great in the pictures. Check them out and buy a couple backdrops, you won't be disappointed!

Here are a few snapshots from the first session. I am editing the others this week.

Overall, I had fun and I cannot wait to get better and better!



Monday, November 14, 2011

Of this, I am certain

Last week I did something completely drastic. I deactivated my facebook account. In todays world, doing such a thing is akin to social suicide. That is to say, I removed my "online presence" from easy access and made it a whole lot more difficult to reach me.

I did this for several reasons, the first of which being that I am completely impulsive.

I don't meant to go emo on any of you, but lately I've been pretty down. Down for many reasons, most of which are my own fault, but I was down because I feel as if I do not have any friends. This is a pathetic statement, but it is true. Yes. I have facebook friends, but I don't have friend friends. Friends that come to visit. Friends that go out for coffee. Friends that treat me like I'm someone worth hanging out with.

I used to have friends, back in college and even after. We would hang out weekly and do things together, and it was nice. Now, time and distance separates us, and we are reduced to digital buddies. The occasional wall post, poke, or message is all that we have left. Even texting seems somewhat mediocre compared to the level it once was. I understand the convenience of it all, but in some ways, the substance is lacking. Watching this slow decline into casual acquaintances both infuriates and saddens me.

So I deleted my facebook account.

And it feels marvelous. Like starting from scratch in life. No longer do I feel the weight to update, check, and post, just so I can stay visible to my friends. No longer do I feel sad as I watch myself be replaced by closer, more convenient friends. No longer am I constrained to parameters of digital friendship. Now I can pursue those deep, meaningful, substantial friendships that I have been lacking these last three years.

I'm hopeful for this future.

I'm also incredibly busy with work and life. But that is a story for another post.