A Forest Hymn May 28, 2009
The groves were God’s first temples.
- William Cullen Bryant, A Forest Hymn
*Click to view larger and catch a glimpse of all of the details*
Standing Out in a Crowd May 27, 2009
Trees are the earth’s endless effort to speak to the listening heaven.
~Rabindranath Tagore, Fireflies, 1928
In contrast to yesterday’s post regarding being alone in a crowd….
This is another in a series of photos that I took after the passing of my father during the 2 longest weeks of my life weeks in North Carolina. This photo was on the roadside in Pollocksville, NC close to where I photographed the horse pasture 2 posts back.
This area is known for the logging industry and this forest was a logging forest. I love how perfectly the trees are planted in rows. Sometimes I think that logging is sad but I know that it’s definitely necessary. It just hurts to see the trees cut down…a forest cleared…but the positive is that they are replanted…I guess that is the the cycle of life.
I wanted something positive to come from the lost of my father. I tried with volunteering organ or tissue donation but unfortunately he wasn’t a good candidate we were told…which broke my heart. I’m glad we tried metaphorically to “replant” even if it didn’t work out.
I’m a registered organ donor…I thought I’d include the link in case anyone else is interested in considering it: http://organdonor.gov/donor/index.htm
On another note: I noticed that sometimes, the way I process photos, depends on how I’m feeling at the time. Rather then describe how I felt in my heart (in words) during the moment I took this photo – I processed it this way to convey a specific mood. Do you feel it?
*Click to view larger for a more detailed view*
Alone In A Crowd May 26, 2009
You cannot be lonely if you like the person you’re alone with.
Wayne Dyer
Greener Pastures May 25, 2009
“…He makes me down to lie In pastures green: he leadeth me the quiet waters by. My soul he doth restore again: and me to walk doth make Within the paths of righteousness, ev’n for his own name’s sake….” -Scottish Metrical Psalms
This was taken on the roadside in Pollocksville, NC, close to where my father lived. I was driving home one night and pulled over on the side of the road to capture it. I left the telephone wires in intentionally, which may not be to everyone’s taste, but I really wanted to keep them in. I can’t explain why exactly…but maybe it’s because I wanted to remember it how it really was: Quiet Rural life with luxuries that we all seem to need in the times that we live in?
*Please click to view larger or you won’t see all of the wonderful little details*
A Hero May 25, 2009
A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself. ~Joseph Campbell
Take time out of your day today to remember the U.S. military men and women who have died while fighting for our country and also remember those who continue to fight for our freedom today.
Collected here are a handful of photographs for remembrance, acknowledging some of the men and women who have passed in conflicts from the U.S. Civil War through Iraq and Afghanistan today: http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/05/memorial_day_2009.html
Happy Memorial Day
♥MY HERO♥
Yarn’in To Please! May 23, 2009
I’d like to introduce my mother’s new venture!
As of the end of May my mom will be retiring from Johnson & Johnson after 25 plus years. Recently she took knitting up again after many, many years and she has been cranking out some amazing pieces!! She learned from my grandmother many ago. Grandma used to make the most beautiful sweaters – I still have some saved to this day.
I’ve already been graced with a beautiful blanket as well as multiple scarves from mom. If you know me – you’ll know I have tons of coats and I always try to have matching scarves and gloves for each coat. So, you know I’ve been thrilled with all of the cool/funky scarves she’s been knitting me in her spare time.
Now that retirement is upon her in one week she thought she might want to sell all of the beautiful scarves she’s been knitting. She was going to do an ETSY site but reconsidered based on the amount of work it would take so she decided she wanted to start with craft shows, etc and see how the sales go.
Below are some of the photos I took of her scarves with things in my house as props. I enjoyed doing this product photography for me mom. We had fun. 
*Click on each photo to view larger*
Lil Man D and the P Family – Sneak Peek! May 21, 2009
Back on April 19th I had the pleasure of photographing the wonderful “P. family.” I’ve known Dad, Joey, since Kindergarten…let’s see…that’s about 28 years…I can’t believe I’m old enough to say I’ve known anyone that long!
I met, Mom, Erica on the day of the session but we got to know each other on Facebook for a little while before and I was so happy when Erica asked me to photograph the entire family including 4 beautiful children.
I have a few more sessions to edit before theirs but I wanted to do a “neat” sneak peek.
I did an HDR type of effect on this one – except on lil “D.” I haven’t really tried this type of effect on one of my family portrait sessions before but when I saw that sky in the distance I had to try it!
She’s Like The Wind May 20, 2009
*Please promise that you will click to enlarge to see the details of the texture, etc. If you don’t this might just appear to be a blurry photo of flowers… lol*
It was so windy so I experimented with slow shutter speeds hoping for the best as the flowers swayed in the breeze.
I love the result after a little color popping and texture.
Reflection May 18, 2009
I’ve been doing a lot of reflecting lately…so much to consider and decide.
So many choices…so overwhelming.
I believe everything will work out.
Somehow it always does!
Radiant Bride! May 13, 2009
I’m working diligently on the wedding photos for my life-long friend Michelle from her wedding the last weekend in March.
Usually I like to share a sneak peek of the couple but I couldn’t help but share this one photo of Michelle from from tonight’s editing as the sneak peek.
Michelle’s eyes look amazing! The color one is great but the B&W version just grabbed me!
The Hardest Journey May 12, 2009
To get through the hardest journey we need take only one step at a time, but we must keep on stepping - Chinese Proverb
Click to view larger for more detail
I Know I Have Reasons to Smile May 11, 2009
Do not look back and grieve over the past, for it is gone;
and do not be troubled about the future, for it has not yet come.
Live in the present, and make it so beautiful that it will be worth remembering.
This was taken the Sunday after my father passed away. Chris and I took a long ride and I saw this gorgeous field of flowers and knew that on the way back that I needed to stop there. I asked him to take this photo of me. Nature is beautiful and I love capturing it. On this day this field of flowers and my day with Chris made me smile even though I felt such sadness.
Losing a parent is one of the hardest things one could imagine.
I still feel like it’s a bad dream and I’m waiting to wake up from it.
You lose a piece of your heart when someone close to you dies but after time passes the hurt seems to lessens a little each day.
I started to see a little clearer through the hazy fog I was walking through for the past couple weeks and even though I was devastated…and I felt as if life was so unfair…I realized that I still have reasons to smile.
Spending time with those that I love dearly helped to heal the pain and anguish each day. Seeing the outpouring of love from so many people who genuinely cared enough to send words of encouragement through emails, Facebook messages, calls, cards, texts, lifted my spirits each day.
It’s hard to decide what to do next. I’ve been away from my home in NJ for 2 weeks and 3 days. When I arrived home tonight, from NC, I felt as if I didn’t know where to begin…and hours later I still feel that way. I’m all out of sorts and flustered that I don’t know where to start and how to get back to normal.
I know it will take time, but if you know me, I’m not that patient about letting things sit for too long no matter what is going on in my life. I have a lot of work to do and more work is on it’s way…so rest assured that I will be back to “somewhat” normal soon. I will be working away into the late hours on my photography jobs and trying to think about the positive things in life rather than the bad luck that I feel I’ve been experiencing for a while. My work is one of the things that seems to keep me going through anything. I’m so thankful for the gift of photography given to me by my Dad (aka: Poppy-Seed).
I have a lot further to go before some of the turmoil in my life subsides but with all of your love and support I know I will make it through.
We gain strength, and courage, and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face…
we must do that which we think we cannot. –Eleanor Roosevelt
(thx Amy for the quote)
hugs! xoxo
Jen
Loss… May 5, 2009
I’m sure some of you are wondering where I’ve been for the past couple weeks and as many of you know I normally don’t miss a day of blogging if I can help it.
The reason I’ve been away so long is that my father was in a near-fatal motorcycle accident last Saturday, April 25th in North Carolina where he lives. Luckily I happened to be in North Carolina less than an hour and a half away and was able to go to the hospital immediately.
Unfortunately, his brain injuries were too severe for recovery and he passed away Friday, May 1st at 11:54 p.m. I’m still in North Carolina because the memorial service will be Saturday and will be here until I leave on Monday to head back to NJ.
I appreciate all of your support through the past couple weeks and I will be back soon!
