the wait

A few months ago--6 to be precise- I was in Minneapolis for a few days photographing for a new book of knitwear designs.  It was a joy of a shoot.  And it's a beaut of a book.

Working with the Wear With All creative team was what the joy was all about --from the big concepts, to the marathon photo shoot, to the very last detail.  Not to mention the post-shoot celebratory local beer and tater tots dinner.

 

detail from Stole by Theresa Gaffey

• • • • • • • • • • • • • 

More  photos of wooly subjects over on my website , in the She Shoots Sheep Shots portfolio.

consistency

So, I took a writing workshop from Beverly Army Williams  and was all inspired. I mind-mapped! I have ideas! I shall create regular features! New blogposts will go up weekly! ...and then I left to work in California for a week. 

 

Sweetest little motel ever,  in Los Angeles.

In LA, I upgraded my phone. My long established Hipsta addiction is back. See what I mean? Consistency.

verrrry pinteresting*

I'd like to be the braggy early adopter, but in truth, I am more of a 2nd waver.   I joined Pinterest in late 2010. It was quirky, below the radar and totally visual.  I liked pinning what made me happy, not what might be good for my so-called social media presence: DIY projects, typefaces, places I want to visit, images with light that made me swoon, and over-the-top craft gestures.

This image of mine is all over the boards on Pinterest, with nary a photo credit. 

Baaaaad pinning. (and punning.)

On the downside are people who pin to blatantly promote themselves, or a political agenda (esp, ahem, one I disagree with), or scary points of view, like praise for anorexia.  There's also, sometimes, a downward spiral of conformity.  Witness the many many weird naked newborns photoshopped heavily and wearing ginormous knit headgear. (And I say this as someone who loves all of these elements but please god, not together.)

Anyway, now Pinterest has hit the big time, commercialization is imminent. Word is out. And you know what else is out? Linking credit to the creators. You can diligently (but not always reliably) click back to the source, but face it, how much diligence is going around these days? Watermarks (yuck)  aren't the answer if our work is being pinned from a publication, like a book or magazine or website that isn't our own. The answer? I don't know. But I'm trying my best to give credit, and to pass it on.

********************************************************** 

see more sheep & farm & wool & fuzziness on my website, in the she shoots sheep shots portfolio

*yes! the title is a Hogan's Heroes reference.

peace conflict

I want to choose the perfect photo for you. Something for the season. Something with some meaning, maybe unusual. Or funny. Or, though it's not usually my thing, breathtakingly beautiful. Something just right. 

I've been saving this image all year but, now that it's the right time, I'm thinking it's a little odd.  

 Wishing you a season of love, a new year of prosperity, and a clarity of vision. 

P E A C E

tooting my horn: Best Books 2011!

When I was thinking about starting my first blog, way back in 2005, I asked a few people what they thought about this new form. "Nerdy." "Needy" "Really narcissisistic", were the replies I got.

(Not that I heeded them).

Anyway, I'm going to be a nerdy narcissist and announce, proudly, that we made Amazon's Best Books of 2011 list!

3  students- from Knitting for a Cause section

In my defense,  some of the content in the book is about making the world better and helping others. Here's a free excerpt with knitting pattern (value! added!) on the subject.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

actually I shoot for many non-profits--see some of that work on my Gale Zucker Photography website