Behind the Scenes in Ohio

We take a break from reporting about France to highlight some awesome behind the scenes photos from my trip to Ohio in late April.

I rarely get behind the scenes photos but when I do, they're always fun.



Dave's friend, Tim Black, caught a fun moment of Dave showing me an awesome shot we just got.


Dave was probably telling a punny story.


Mark and I outside of Dayton's German pub.


I'm shooting Dave...


...Dave shooting me and Tim.


Gary M documenting my massive appetite. Yes, I did eat it all. Taaaasty! Love Bob Evans.


Dave taking behind the scenes photos of Herb Ascherman shooting me with his lovely large format camera.

Great times!!!

And I promise that sometimes I do wear another hairstyle then just a bun. But its not often. ;)

Next time I write will be an overlook through my first two weeks in France. :)

Dear Abandoned Readers

I apologize for my absence. I haven't kept up with this blog as much as I've wanted to. I've neglected it, and neglected you. It makes me feel bad, but hey, what can you do?

I absolutely, positituvely (yes, I know that really isn't a word), promise that very soon you will see a drastic change in the amount I post. I will be writing very frequently about my travels and experiences in France. You will be my link back home, back to friends, and back to loved art and artists, and hopefully I can be a link to some lovely happenings (at least in my world) in small-town France.

That is less than weeks away - OH MY. Anxiety, excitement, curiosity - a whole range of emotions is tingling through me. Thankfully, I'm not terribly stressed getting things together for the 3 month excursion. I've known about this trip since October so it's given me plenty of time to stock-pile supplies, compile to-do lists, and get psyched up for my adventure. There are last minute things that need to be done, such as car insurance, cell phone account suspension (definitely not taking my cell phone across the pond with me - it's terribly expensive), and actually packing, but other than that, nothing to stress on.

Okay, I lied.

The one thing I'm terribly concerned about is being homesick. I'm an "attached" sort of person. I love my family, friends, and of course, the boyfriend. Being away from them all will be the hardest part of the trip, I'm sure of it.

But anyway, enough of that!

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Two weeks ago I was in Ohio for a whole week. Wow, it was what I needed. Papa's funeral was three days prior to me departing for my trip, and I needed to get away and just make art and hang out with friends. Dave Levingston hosted me in his house for the week, and we made such lovely, wonderful images like the ones below.






It's always wonderful working and hanging out with Dave. He's one of the best people to be around and create art with. One of my favorite people in the whole world.

Thanks Dave!

North Shore Bliss

Dave Levingston made a long trek from his home in Springfield, Ohio to come up to the North Shore to visit and shoot with me. We've been here since late Sunday and have had a wonderful time of shooting, talking, hiking, eating and exploring. Unfortunately, we both go home tomorrow.

Yes, and I've been shooting too! I brought my Lubitel, and have shot 3 rolls of film. 2 of which were black and white, so I'll be developing those when I get home. Expect to see some of the results of those relatively soon.




This is my favorite place in the world to be, and I'm so happy I got the opportunity to share it with my friend, Dave.






Short post, as Dave has been covering most of the trip on his blog. Visit there for the in depth scoop about our adventures.

I wonder why they call it the Badlands...

Actually, I do know why they call it the Badlands - I was just being facetious.

I'm at the Badlands modeling for a workshop (Dramatic Portrait: People and Nudes) for Doug Beasley. It is really fitting that I'm here because as of late I've been on an intensely personal spiritual search, and Doug's philosophy on photographing people and nudes comes from such a like-minded approach. He encourages his students to really get to know their subjects/models, and I think we can all agree that that is a cornerstone of making very powerful and substantial images, especially with portraits and nudes.

I'm getting along fabulously with all the participants, Doug, and my fellow models - Jordan and Dave. I'm getting lots of sun (and using a ton of sunscreen), getting well-fed, and feeling very connected to the world and people around me. It's like seeing something for the first time - I'm so intrigued, curious, and accepting towards everything. I feel still and love down to my bones. It's not always and continuously present, but it becomes more frequent and stronger each week the more I practice being aware - present - conscious of every moment. And that's all that I could ever hope for.

Because that's all that we ever have. It's this moment right now that means everything. There is no past or future. All there is, is this moment.





I get to see and work with good friend Dave Levingston for a good portion of a week in about a week and a half. We'll have a wonderful time of conversation, connection, collaboration and creation, for sure!!


____________________

Dave Levingston. <-- Check out his awesome new website!

Playing hookie

So, I've been playing hookie from school this past week. It was pretty much necessary - I've been bogged down with stress, the blues, and family gloominess that I just needed to hop on a plane, escape, and go have some fun and make some art.

I've had an amazing time this week. I finally got to work with two photographers I've wanted to collaborate with for a very long time: Nad Iksodas & AJ Kahn. They were wonderful, and I had an absolute blast creating art with both of them. I also got to visit and stay with Lela Rae again, which was so very lovely. She is a sweetheart.


(Photo by AJ Kahn)

I also got to work with two favorites again: Dave Levingston and Chip Willis. Both have very different styles, but both are brilliant in their own way.



(Photo by Chip Willis)


"Love does not begin and end the way we seem to think it does. Love is a battle, love is a war; love is a growing up." - James Baldwin


I am happiest when I am naked. And with friends. Preferably at the same time.

Because I can't wait.

I need to show you the rest of Doctor Horribe's Sing Along Blog. I hope you've enjoyed it. It's quite a treat, isn't it? :)







And of course, other artistic nude photo. This is is of me in Montana off of a popular trail in Glacier National Park photographed by Dave Levingston.




____________________

Dave Levingston.

Classes, Cakes and Computers

I'm starting into the third week of classes, and routine is starting to comfortably settle in. Including (gasp) homework. Which, considering the schedule I'll have even next semester, is cake. Really bland cake, but still cake. I'm taking Intermediate Algebra and Intro Psychology.

Then I registered for Concert Choir, and took a shot at auditioning for the Chamber Choir, and made it in! It's a far cry from the quality of choirs I was in in H.S., believe it or not, but after being out of singing for over 2 years, I am quite happy with where I am starting up again. It will provide me with a great foundation to audition for other community choirs, and the Concert Choir and Chamber Singers at the University of Minnesota when I transfer there in a year or so.

Speaking of cakes, it's my dear Grandma's birthday today. She's 69, and as lively, happy and rambunctious as ever. Happy Birthday, Gram.


I finally got my computer, wiped clean and as good as new, and its up and running. I'm in the process of loading all my modeling pictures from CDs and off the web. It gives me the modeling itch...

...which is slightly satiated by looking at the prints Dave Levingston just sent me from our trip out west. They make me absolutely giddy, and tremedously proud of our work together.

Many of you have probably seen this posted on Dave's blog, but I'm sure y'all wont mind to see this splendid image he captured, once again.

Cracks, Strains, Trojans, and Restlessness

I'm home!

Dave Levingston and I had an extremely successful and fun photo trip. If you kept up with Dave's blog the last two weeks, you've read and seen some of the exciting (and some not so exciting [i.e.: the air conditioner]) highlights.

I would have kept up with my own accounts of the trip, (probably not with the same amount of frequency) except that my laptop has reached the pinnacle of uselessness. I cannot open any of my programs on my computer except for the internet browser, the viruses have blocked me out of my google services (my email, and having the ability to post or see/leave comments on other bloggers) although I can still access them from other computers, but worst of all... I have no control panel in which to operate any administrative controls. Nothing, poof, gone. I have tried downloading anti-spyware, anti-viral programs to no avail because I am unable to run any ".exe" files. It's my fault I let it get this far.

There's only one solution. Crash the whole fucking thing and re-install XP.

But how do I crash it if I have no administrative controls? Uncle Greg, please help!


Today I received my first crack in my windshield. Thank you large, random pebble gone AWOL. You've made my day.

I am broke. Broke as broke can be. Brooke is broke. Brooke needs to get a job. Anyone know of any awesome coffeeshops in the Twin Cities that are hiring?


Anyway, I am glad to be home with the family and friends. Unfortunately, my anxiety has also returned and reared its ugly, worrywort head and is inflicting it's usual havoc. Usually its just internal irrational worrying which I have learned how to keep better in check, but when its paired with its best friend, restlessness, I feel literally as if I'm a cat on a hot tin roof with no way down. woo!

I know its all bullshit, but its really fucking hard to get past.


So is cussing, apparantly.


But you know what helps right now? Reading Crazy Wisdom, a book Dave gave me halfway through our trip. It reminds me to take a deep breath, relax, and not take life so seriously.

Rinse, lather, repeat.


And I need me some sushi and plum wine with Erin. sigh. Safe travels sweetie. I'll find my way over there soon.


Thank you to my friends that have been so patient and kind to me. You are all my heros. Really.





"Since everything is but an apparition, perfect in being what it is, having nothing to do with good or bad, acceptance or rejection, one may well burst out in laughter."
- Long Chen PA, Tibetan Meditation Master.

____________________________

Stephen Melvin.
K Leo.

They have iconic, unique signatures and talents.

But then again, the artists I aim to collaborate with the most, always do.