blog. lame. done.

Over a fairly extended period of time I have come to really hate this blog.  It feels more like an obligaton than a way of being continuously and proactively creative with photography.  In fact, looking back on the past few months of postings, there is hardly anything clever, beautiful or particularly interesting herewithin. So... I'm taking a break from this blog, taking the link off my facebook page, not posting for awhile.  I want to regain some purpose here.

Meanwhile, I am currently in a color photography class and I've worked entirely with film and manual processing in the dark room, as opposed to digital.  I have found a serious love for this art and do hope that I will have more opportunities to continue pursuing it.  Photographically, I've been exploring some new ways of shooting, presenting and seeing photographic images.  Some of my favorite recent influences include Uta Barth & Moyra Davies.  I've also been particularly stirred and provoked by the writings of photographer Susan Sontag.

I'm not entirely sure why I'm including all of that information... perhaps its my way of concluding a photo blog, for now anyway.  I do intend on writing more, so perhaps some of that will become the new 'blog'... but then again, everyone blogs now and my attempt is a far cry from competition with others'. 

I had a moment recently where I found myself feeling slightly alarmed by my life's online presence.  Posting a picture every day (which I was not successful at, but many posts were made, nonetheless) swings wide the door into my life.  It never struck me as invasive until recently, and I find myself retreating back to simple and pure ways (like printing photographs in a dark room instead of via photoshop).  I understand that this is the age of technology and online is "the way to go," but reading tweets and status updates that notify me where someone is every 2 hours is not only annoying, but it makes me feel uncomfortably "in" on peoples' lives.  Regardless... I'm done.  For now, anyway.

And for my final selection of images for my final blog for now...

(some pictures that i really do like)

A kayaking adventure that involved 4 people, 5 hours, 12 miles of paddling, 4 portages, 2 bridges, 2 dams, 2 lakes, 2 streams, miscalculations, duck hunters, and hitchhiking...

 

Cheers to all of you anonymous readers of the blog! Email me anytime:: michelle.leanne.smith@maine.edu

Piazza Rock & Molly

Piazza Rock on Saddleback Mountain... dad & me

The new Smith puppy, Molly

weekend of adventure!

a sneak-peak from an awesome weekend of adventures in maine

more to come soon...

down by the shore

November sunsets at home are quite lovely.

trip planner

I am planning 2 trips in the next few months:

Nicaragua in March

Egypt/Israel/Jordan in September and October

All this talk of travel makes me excited and uncomfortable at the same time.  Most of me wishes that I was there now, out in the nations, exploring and adventuring to my heart's content.  Yet, in all practicality, clearly I need to be here.  Regardless of my current wanderlusty thoughts, I have enjoyed casually browsing through some old images from past adventures.  Here's a night shot of Tel-Aviv, Israel.  The picture was taken from the balcony of the most incredible hotel I've ever seen, let alone stayed in.  Just to give you an idea:: the wall that separated the oversized shower and the bedroom was made of glass- but one could only see through it from the shower.  And the shower came equipped with a remote control for the television that was in the bedroom.  So, while cleaning up after a blustery day in Tel-Aviv, you can shower and watch your favorite sitcom at the same time... along with everyone else staying in your room.  Brilliant!

on tv!

Ok, so today's not a picture, but a video instead. And no, I did not make the video.  But I am in it!  Check it out!  I'm an advocate for UMA!

UMA Hotspot Video

This video and a few others will be broadcast through January on over 20 stations in Maine. 

Awwe Yeaah!

colorful season

since the foliage of autumn is virtually gone, here is my final (and brief) tribute to fall 2010



autumn discovery

found this dead snake on a walk near the house



ground shot

from a walk with a friend today



my dad...

...is even cooler than I thought

I'd say a lot of my love for adventure comes from him...

This picture was taken when he was my age, a college student, taking a few summer months to check out national parks in the southwest. Not sure exactly which park this is... Bryce? Badlands?

Does it really matter?

And no, this image has not been touched with photoshop- this was straight-up scanned from an old yellowing album.

night glow

best friend on skype

Meet Angela.

She makes me laugh more than anyone I know.

haircut demonstration

100 pounds... in the FACE



haiku...

Haiku of the day.. maybe of the year, since I'm not a huge fan of Haikus...

It's raining outside

I sit happily indoors

Next to the fire

...all of this is true!  YEAH!

childhood memories...

Is this not the most adorable picture ever!?  Yes, I am doting on myself, but only on my childhood self.  Nick and I were such happy kids.  This picture makes me want to really dive into the autumn season for all that it is worth.

have some flowers!

Ok, so this picture was taken this summer, but I needed something to cheer me up today!

Flowers from mom's garden that I arranged for a friend this summer.

chapel at night

running in the woods

I explored in the woods on an unknown path.  It was nearly 5pm and the daylight was fading quickly.  Further and further away from my car I ventured, and when the sun hid its light behind the horizon I knew that my time of illumination was closing quickly.  So I ran.  And I ran.  And I ran.  My adrenaline pumped my legs as I leapt over tree stumps and bound up rocky pathways, my heart beating like a gong in my ear.  And then I arrived, feeling fully alive and positively refreshed.

curvy road

look up!

flower from mom

apples in autumn

Went apple picking at "The Farm" in Fairfield with the lovely Amanda Adams yesterday...



the door was open...

The lift attendant's cabin was open, so we went in!



Sugarloaf in Autumn

Went up to the Loaf, the favored downhill skiing mountain, for some hiking.  It was 28 degrees at the top, but the fall foliage was wonderfully bright and the windy weather was invigorating.  Here are a few shots...

Picnic on the slopes

This is the first moose I've seen in the wild in 3 years.



October Wedding

Jamie & Shannon Dickson

Jamie high-fiving his dad as a married man.



silly 60's

Sometimes I crack myself up...

my best friend's wedding

Elizabeth & Andrew Garcia

some of my dearest friends...

This wedding was a few weeks ago, but absolutely worth including.  It was the most incredible wedding I've ever experienced.  What an amazing marriage these two are going to have!

sailing...

I got a random email message yesterday inviting me to go sailing out of Rockport with some beautiful friends in just a few hours, and couldn't pass it up.  Here are a few images from the evening.

I love my life!

Sailer-Extraordinaire

Storytelling

Jess saw the seal she was waiting for

Sunset from the sailboat

Why We Travel

Despite the wonderful adventures I have had lately, I have abandoned my camera at large, and therefore have no pictures to post.  Buuuttt... this website never gets old with its incredible images, so check it out!

NYTimes- Why We Travel

impressionist

a misty morning at home