Future Ideas for Holiday Times

I absolutely LOVE this idea posted by A Beautiful Mess: 12 Dates of Christmas!

How amazing is that? The perfect way to wind down the year and enjoy each others company; a time to reflect on the year together and embrace the little things shared.

I can not wait to start my own traditions with Kyle!

I also hope to start the tradition of cleaning out and rearranging our home each New Year. Yesterday I spoke with my professor’s wife. She told me in Japanese culture, New Years is a more spiritual event where they reflect and refresh to make themselves better for the coming year. I guess this can be related to America’s “Spring Cleaning” but I think New Years makes more sense. It’s the perfect time to start new and what better way than to clean out the old and roll in the new year with a positive attitude, and lemony fresh, feng shui friendly home?

Rollins on Music Today

Have I ever mentioned how much I absolutely love Henry Rollins? I know I have… but just to reiterate the fact:

Henry Rollins on Music Today

<3

Lovely Owls

Owls are such beautiful creates! Here is a little mashup I found on a friend’s Facebook wall that I could not resist sharing and bookmarking here.

Thank you to Mr Nura for sharing this video!

Nancy LeVine

Just came across a photo series by Nancy LeVine that I absolutely love. I think I have seen one or two shots from it before, but never knew it was a project. Her series titled Senior Dogs Across America is just that, senior dogs across America.

I guess I’m just really missing my dog who is back home with my parents while I’m away at Grad school, but either way, check out this beautiful series that is sure to warm your heart, especially if you’re a dog owner.

Chuck Testa is a Genius

Today, Amanda introduced me to the greatest Taxidermist on earth, Chuck Testa. If I was in the Ojai Valley area, I would want Chuck Testa as my friend.

Here is one of his awesome advertisements.

Favorite quote:
“Hold on a second, there’s a leopard feeding on an impala out on my deck.”

“Nope, just Chuck Testa with another realistic mount.”

Made my day.

The Future of Photography

The future is now.

Lytro Camera is embracing the new photographic technology of focusing a photograph AFTER it’s been captured. This is a more affordable version than the crazy advanced plenoptic lenses that Adobe has been working on.

The speed at which the photographic medium has advanced in just two hundred years blows my mind. Seriously…

Sad News in the Animal World

I’m sure some of you have already read, but I thought this was worth passing along. A man that had prior animal cruelty convictions was still in custody of exotic animals. Sadly, there obviously isn’t enough concern taken into this kind of situation before things like this happen. The man shouldn’t have had these animals in custody to begin with, he couldn’t even take care of himself, let alone the animals.

Learn More Here

“Well we don’t carry tranquilizer guns” is the worst excuse ever.
This could have been taken care of in other ways.

John Gutmann

Work from John Gutmann…. I don’t know how I haven’t heard of him before. I thought it was worth sharing some of his shots, I hope you enjoy them as I have:

One Sexy Shot

“Crossing the Ohio River” from The Bikeriders by Danny Lyon

I think this will forever be one of the sexiest photographs of all time. Seriously. Everything about this shot is so perfect.

I’m still kicking myself for not going to the Lyon exhibition they had a little while ago in Champaign. Stupid.

The Truth Behind Artist Statements

This video lays out the comedic truth of writing an artist statement.

Those of you that are forced to write these atrocities might get a laugh, and those of you that don’t, I hope you see the struggle visual artists have to go through to explain their natural impulses.