Blackberries.

 Having picked wild blackberries before, this was my first experience with a 'you pick' berry farm. Luckily, I saw the sign advertising the fresh berries and made it down to pick on the very last day of the season. It was so hot Saturday morning; after only a few minutes the sweat was dripping down the middle of my back.

I literally took 100s of photos over the weekend....mostly random objects, but it felt good. This berry picking trip wasn't meant to be a photo outing, but it turned into one...and I really like some of the photos.

For a while, I felt like I was missing out on certain pleasures.... experiencing things only at lens length, always having my camera in between myself and whatever I was doing...so I took a break from carrying it everywhere. But lately, I've had my camera (and lens baby) with me at all times...and it feels good to be documenting again...too many times I just take one photo with my iphone, and it doesn't seem like I really capture the essence of the experience....like I can with my Nikon.

Now....I can't wait to make a blackberry cobbler. 

Berry King Farm. if you want to check it out for yourself. Its just south of Reddings Mill.

Lens Baby + Dr. Sketchy's

One of my goals this summer is to work on my portfolio. Since I don't have a 'specialty' this has always been a challenge for me. I like a little bit of everything: photography, drawing, painting, clay, etc. When my friend Martha invited me to the Dr. Sketchy's anti-art school drawing class in Kansas City, I was completely thrilled.

I haven't done much serious drawing since college so most of my drawings of the model look a little amature-ish, but it was so fun to be surrounded by other artists and photographers. (Peregrine Honig even sat behind me for most of the class).

After riding up an old-school death-trap elevator, the atmosphere in the West Bottom's loft was relaxed and cool. I felt like I was stepping back through time to an artist's haven in the 60's. The windows were open and a soft breeze would waft through the sheer curtains bringing in the sound of slow moving locomotives on the tracks below.

The loft smelled of braised chicken and sauted peppers, only $5 a plate. Some people in the crowd were only there to socialize, some were there to draw or take photos. Everyone was friendly.

The loft was decorated with a very eccentric collection of found objects, old furniture and fine art. There were plenty of things to photograph and as the sun went down (and the eclipse came up), I had a very good time experimenting with my Lens Baby. 

Lens Baby Addict {Around the Art Room}

Photo Walk with Lens Baby 2.0 Around Joplin

This week, the weather is predicted to be near perfection...

Sunny...

80 degrees...

Every.

Single.

Day.

And I am still in school...

But the evenings have been so nice. Perfect for a photo walk around the neighborhood.

 I took these photos near my house in south Joplin, MO.

It has been almost one year since the May 22nd tornado...Lots of things have changed.

My favorite time of day: golden sunset light...

Not a Banksy.

Sunset Reflecting off St. John's Hospital

Ammmerika.....MMMM...RIKA

A perfect Vanilla Sky