Live It Up

Today I was hit with an important realization yet again of how vital it is we appreciate all the moments we are given in this lifetime. All the characteristics of your life right now, in this very moment, will never be the same even days from now. Years from now you'll find yourself in a completely different situation. 10 years, 20 years, 30? Time flies and you need to see this for a fact and take the time to do that extra drive you want to. Take the time to stay up late and be regretfully tired tomorrow morning to spend time with people and do the things you love. Explore the ideas of your mind and take steps to make your wishes become goals and help them become a reality.

I talked to a good friend of mine today and we both discussed how people just accept what comes to them in life. Why? Who ever made rules to follow by as to what your life should be lived like? Your parents? Maybe it's the fear of letting go of what you've always known. Maybe leaving something you've always been close with. But... what does your heart want? What do your soul want? Think about it.

And damnit, take VACATIONS!





“Only as high as I reach can I grow, only as far as I seek can I go, only as deep as I look can I see, only as much as I dream can I be.”





This is someone I love very much. My best friend until the end.



Her and I rarely get days anymore where it's just us two doing a n y t h i n g. Today, we were lucky enough to put together one of those days last minute randomly when we both realized we had the day off :) We drove over 90 miles today through back roads that ultimately led us to a small highway along the Ohio River. Saw THIS amazing house:



And this small highway led us into the heart of Cincinnati as the sun started to set. We stopped off at Newport on the Levee to see the art gallery for local artists and got a couple snapshots of the new cityscape with the city's newest and most gorgeous skyscraper.


It's days like this that make me keep going, planning, and wanting to do more. Realizing that the important things in life are not money but family & friends. That all our measly problems are so small compared to the works of the entire universe. And that life is as short as taking a few simple breaths before you realize you've come to the end. Indulge in the daring. Live up for the future. And never be afraid at what's coming to you. No matter what it is.

-Brooke

Notes from the Outernet

I've been thinking a lot tonight about how we all get ourselves in a rut. Most of us complain about the rut we get ourselves in and never completely pull ourselves out of it because it's easier to keep ourselves there than to go to further places. And sadly from what I've noticed, the majority of people I've known like to do things as easy as possible.

So how can I keep myself from becoming the same way? This my friends is a question I ask myself almost every single day. And my answer?

Goals. Keeping your sights set further. What do you want to accomplish? Where do you want to be this time next year? What do you want to be able to do? Write yourself new goals as you accomplish old ones and take time to recognize the things you have accomplished. Me.... I want my camera to take me places and to allow me to travel to several parts of the world. I haven't been adding to my list recently because it's already so long it's overwhelming, but I won't ever let myself forget about it either. But, I could keep this paragraph running for many many more...

Believe. Keep your mindset positive and believe in good things happening to you. It's inevitable for the universe to throw you obstacles because that's the fact of life for every living creature from bacteria, fish, mammals, amphibians, humans.... it happens. Prepare for the worst, but hope for the best. Take a leap of faith and build your wings on the way down. When you believe that failure isn't an option, you'd be amazed at how far you could go. Luckily, I've been fortunate to experience a little taste of this myself. And despite all odds, I keep believing that more experiences will come my way. No matter what is happening in my personal life, or with the rest of the world.

So.... . . ... .. .... *awkward silence*

Skittles.

Ben is getting bigger by the day. Soon, it's going to be very hard to do our epic hugs.

Things that really got me laughing/entertained/interested tonight included a few videos. One girl on youtube I randomly watch her stuff and this video got me laughing. So did this one.

And this video has two of my favorite things in the SAME video. Bring it Boba.



This Thursday I have the day off. I decided no matter the weather I'm going to spend the day taking pictures of whatever my heart desires that day. It's been so long since I've done that. My heart craves it. I've gotten a few weddings/photoshoots booked for this year that will be paid jobs and I'm feeling motivated to get some more booked especially for the summertime. I would love to be able to buy myself a new lens and save up for a trip somewhere. I've been finding myself reminiscing on the days back in England...

I need to go overseas again. That trip started a thirst
for my adventurous soul.

And before I wrap this up, just wanted to share where Ben likes to sleep when he's not in his cage. Those, are my slippers. Yeah.

Good Night World!
Brooke

Sing Me a Lullaby

My lovelies and I all found ourselves at the Antique Mall experiencing a early evening adventure hurdling through forgotten pieces of junk, furniture, and absolute treasures that time has left behind. To describe the massiveness that boasted through this place, it was similar to blasting off into space while riding a camel into the deepest depths of the ocean.... at least, that's what it felt like to me.

So, my lovelies found some old cameras that my heart instantly fell for like a little kid once again sipping lemonade in the summer's green grass gazing up at the passing clouds. So yep. My heart skipped some beats. Fell in love. And they were instantly added to the shopping cart.

First, the Kodak 35mm.



Second, the Polaroid 250 Land Camera.



This next one was absolutely intriguing. Pulled me in faster than an elephant on a tight rope. It's a Keystone 8mm film camera dating back to the late 1930's early 40's. I youtubed different clips to see if I could find anything that history buffs have uploaded and there was one good one that I found that gives an accurate picture of it.







Honestly, I'll probably never get film for these just because of the huge expense for the film and developing. But I'm pretty stoked to finally have my vintage collection started!

In other news, my last few weeks have been hectic. Weather has offered a preview to Spring, job has me worried about every detail, family makes me want to curse to the world, going on a mini road trip tomorrow to Louisville, KY again, and I guess I have gained some major XP points with these epic battle wounds (thank you wonderful puppy Ben)....

(I am now going to have a lovely scar..)

I actually spent the last 2 nights on this small project making a claymation "sequel" to my first upload for my 365. Check it out.



AAANNNNNDDD also, watched a movie tonight called "Exit through the Gift Shop" which was a documentary on some of the biggest street artists in the world. And it was quite inspiring! Not gonna lie, it kind of opened a little vandalism inside me that makes me want to decorate my entire city now........ even if its with small stickers.....

My favorites mentioned in the movie are Banksy and Invader (his website is the BEST WEBSITE I have EVER visited!!!!)

Well, storm is picking up now and my light keeps flickering. Probably best to call it a night :)

-Brooke

In Retrospect

I've been spending the night reflecting. Reflecting on how much changes in just a few years. But something that is wonderful about being a photographer, you are able to see a whole scrapbook of your life laid out from the time you started. For example, the above photo was taken in the spring when I was 17 [[the time when big t-shirts were a win & haircuts were still being done by my mom]]. This was my favorite picture of me for the longest time but now knowing what I know about techniques and the importance of lighting, this photo is almost impossible for me to look at now. Now, I didn't have a fancy camera that allowed me to play with shutter speed, aperture settings, white balance, and the lot. I had my little Sony DSC-H7 and only had the options for factory defaults because changing anything made everything grainy. But, there's one thing that could have made this photo 85 million times better.... Lighting. Lighting is the key to unlocking the Pandora's Box of photography elites. If I would have faced the opposite direction and had the setting sun on my face instead of lighting me from behind, my entire appearance would be 90 times more visible. You'd be able to see the details on my face, my clothes, the movement of my hair...everything would POP. Despite the quality of the picture. I suppose the only way to learn any of this is to experience, experience, experience. Did I mention experience?

My next thing is framing. But framing isn't really something that you master all too well in my opinion. It's something that photographers just know how to do. When you study how photographers frame their photographs, it's what makes them unique and stand out against anyone else. See if you can spot any differences between Carsten Peter and Jim Richardson.


This photo was also taken in the summer when I was 17 with the same camera [[I've never posted this photo anywhere before... in fact, I don't remember showing it to anybody either]]. The way I frame a photo hasn't really changed at all. A lot of times, I like to leave the main subject off-center and capture a photo by telling a story with its surrounding atmosphere. So in that respect, I can still honor this photo.

The next two are recentish from the fall time. I was too tired in these photos to care what I looked like, and I just have to laugh at the first one haha. But these two photos were only seconds apart. The first one was kind of completely accidental when the flash didn't go off at all and I kind of had a sigh of regret a bit lol. But the purpose here is to show how much lighting can effect a photo and make it look SOOOOOOOOOooOoOooOOooOOOOOOOOOOOOOO differnet.

Giggle. Giggle.

All of these next ones were taken when I was 16 with my Kodak C315. Some of these surprise me with the abilities that this little camera had. I guess it's all in how you use with what you got.

And these next ones, all taken with my Sony DSC-H7 a year later when I was 17.




So I suppose it's time for me to get some good sleep!
I'm looking forward to having the majority of next week off!! :)

-Brooke

Change Without Changing

Don't part with your illusions. When they are gone,
you may still exist, but you have ceased to live. -Mark Twain

It is, to my observation, that this world is filled with many types of different people. There are those of us that flow freely through life, taking each obstacle as it comes and learning with everything that life gives us. The good. The bad. AND the ugly. The ones that embrace each season they come to experience and let down their walls for change to take place. Much like a tree does every year.

Then, there are those of us that can never let go of anything. Sometimes it's because they like the way things are, but with time, change is ultimately inevitable. Time changes, but they are lost in the past. Sometimes it's because they experience something so devastating, they fear of letting it go because they don't want anything like it to happen again. It's almost like a constant reminder so they can never create such regrets to happen again. And sometimes, it's purely based on the fear of not having a certain element of control in what might happen to them. They become so afraid of the unknown that they are consumed into a life filled with doubt, a lack of self-confidence, and an inability to embrace anything and it stunts their growth as a person.

Now, I'm definitely not one to preach because up until recently, I was one of those people that could never let anything go. I loved how the majority of my childhood was and when it came time for me to take on my own life, I was almost reluctant to start at all. I was like the kids from Hook that said they would never grow up and they would stay in Neverland forever. But if you don't learn to let go of your leaves in Autumn, you will never be able to survive the winter with all your heavy, burdened, and broken branches.

So, being past the horrors of the so-called storm of life, I've learned that we don't have to ever grow up completely. If you just build your being like you would a tall, strong skyscraper, or a tall, grand Oak tree, then you'll change throughout your entire life, without actually changing at all. Meaning, you just add brick by brick, branch by branch to the same foundations that were laid down for you. Times change. People change. Work changes. Change with it! But never change who you are inside. Embrace the positivity that change brings to allow your soul to grow in deeper and deeper ways than you ever had before.




PS: Like some of the new editing techniques? Been without my computer now for a few weeks and without my usual programs. Trying new things! Layers have been my friend tonight in both these images in this blog and my flickr post here and here.

PSS: I wish winter coats didn't make you look like you have 30 lbs more on you than you actually do.

PSSS::::.... These two (1 | 2) songs are the soundtracks for my night.

Shhh...

Dear World: I have a secret to announce. And this secret has been in process of being made for a little while now and I'm sooo happy to let it out in the open. Now, knowing this secret, you can either take full responsibility and never tell another soul orrrr you can unleash your inner gossip and spread the news like wildfire. Either way, I leave the choice up to you because ultimately, you are going to do whatever you want anyways despite what say I have in the matter.

So.

I have kept the world from making me busy today and taken my off hours as a day to myself. When days like this happen, reflection and a lot of thought streams through my brain and usually pumps my creativity up like the energizer bunny. Sooooooo, [ready for the secret?!?] I used these creative efforts today to finish the works of my latest website design with the free site my sister suggested to me called wix.com. I'm really happy with the way it looks and have left some room for my portfolio to grow as this year plays out. Hopefully I'll be able to upgrade to the pro account and be able to use my own domain again, but for right now, it's something. And that something is more than I had before.

http://www.wix.com/brooketownsend/photography

Well, in other news, I finished up the wedding photos from the wedding I did on January 8th for the lovely couple Erin & Josh. Due to the weather that day, we couldn't take any pictures outside but Erin rocked that nursery of the church like no other! She was absolutely stunning. Here are some of my favorites : )


That's all for now folks!
(Drum in Looney Toons closing theme)

-Brooke

Life Left to Go

I've noticed through my walk of life thus far that there are lessons to be learned from the day to day happenings we all experience. It happens when we almost spill our drink down our shirts to teach us to slow down. It happens when we don't fully listen to the person talking in front of you because you're so absorbed in your own thoughts. It happens when you almost squish the beautiful caterpillar mindlessly crawling across the sidewalk in front of you.

Well, I had another one of those lessons.

When I was driving home the other day, I was caught on the highway peering through my windshield trying to see the road while it was covered with snow, ice, and rain. I couldn't see the car in front of me at all and felt the need to turn my wipers on full blast. But I didn't. Then, the wipers on the lowest setting would finally click on and smooth out the entire windshield giving me the sight to see clearly. The car was clearly visible after so much struggle before in trying to focus on even the basic shape of it. It became an instant metaphor to me of life, my life, in how my whole 2010 year played out. I was so focused on trying to get promoted, get moved out and on my own, that I wasn't looking clearly out my windshield. I was moving blindly through the year focused on one thing only. I suppose this blind eye can be good for success, but it's important to realize that there are so many little things happening to you all around. And also, you can lose yourself when you focus on petty goals that aim toward "success". Enjoy each moment that you come to hold in your time of life, turn those wipers on in the downpours of rain and keep your eyes peeled on all details. There is so much to experience, it's a shame to let any of it go to waste.

Alone as you walkThrough a crowd and its awkwardLike nobody seesAnd you can't help but wonderWould anyone come after youIf you'd leaveSo a pain grows insideAnd a fear comes aliveLike you'll never be freeBut there's no pain you feelThat I know love can't heal here at all

Safety Suit - Life Left To Go