the thoughts of a girl who captures simplicity

I honestly can't even tell you guys how I let my little blog sit for this long without making any form of appearance, but somehow it happened. I guess I've been too caught up in the thing we call "highschool" to worry about other things. I've barely picked up my camera the past few weeks, and it's almost been painful with the horrible lack in photography in my life.

But today I wanted to capture some everyday moments. There was no model. No fancy subject. No perfect lighting. Just life as I know it. And it happened to be Mark sorting out his halloween candy. Something so simple to anyone else, but to me behind the camera, it was food for my starving creativity. It is by no means my best work, but you know what : I don't care. It doesn't have to be.
All I wanted to do was take photos. And that's what I did. I photographed this little moment for me. Because next year, this may not happen. I may have documented the last time someone sorted halloween candy in our house. We all grow up. And I know it's silly, but if you think about it, there's always a last time for everything.
There's that last hug between an unmarried woman and her father before she steps up to the altar to become a newlywed.
There's that last pitch a major league pitcher throws before retiring.
There's that last rehearsal someone goes through before becoming a broadway star.

I just captured the last halloween candy sorting. No, it's not special. But you never know, someday my family and I may look back at these photos and smile.

xoxo
hannah

how I shoot

I apologize for the lack in words on this blog. I feel like I have nothing to say. School has kept me busy and whenever I get time to shoot I take it, and I often forget about the story woven into the images.
And was trying to change that. I was trying to make each click of the shutter mean something to me. But I realized that for me, it's not about each individual photo that is produced, it's not about the story in one or two of them.
It's about the pictures as a whole, and how I feel while I'm taking them. Because I'm finally seeing that maybe that trying to pull a story out of every single photo just isn't how I shoot. That isn't what defines me as a photographer. I like to see the big picture.
Everybody is different and unique. This is just how I prefer to shoot and think of photography.

What about you?
-hannah

my life || realistic, not picture-esque

I'd like to say that I'm taking everything about summer and turning it into moments and of whimsy and nostalgia, but alas, not many people have the pure will to do that.

I'd like to say that today I awoke to meet the sunrise and sat under my apple tree with my journal and found peace with the world, with the morning dew clinging to blades of grass and tickling my legs, but I didn't. Instead, I did what most teenagers did, and I was cozily burrowed into my bed until 10:00.

I'd like to say that I had fresh cinnamon rolls for breakfast, the smell wafting through the house and lingering throughout the day, and the sweetness of the rolls warming my insides and satisfying my soul, but they didn't. Instead, I sat at the kitchen table, munching on Special K, while my sleepy morning eyes drooped.

I'd like to say that after breakfast I put together the loveliest outfit with floral patterns and light flow-y material and long necklaces and bohemian braids in my hair, but I didn't. Instead, I'm comfortably sitting in a t-shirt and running shorts.

I'd like to say that I was so inspired by my perfectly lovely morning that my makeup is consisting of the most delicate flicks of eyeliner and light airy shades of eyeshadow that it would make anyone's eyes sparkle, but it's not. Instead, my face is makeup-less and I'm proud to say that I don't care.

I'd like to say that I'm living every day of summer to the fullest, but I'm not. Instead, I'm being lazy.

But you see, I don't have a problem with that. I understand that not everyone lives the perfect picture-esque life, and I'm not going to pretend I do. I enjoy my life. Isn't that all that matters?

-hannah

summer nights

Fireflies begin to shine,

as the pale sherbet sky fades to navy blue.

Laughter is heard from backyards, as little toddler's fingers,

reach for the glittering bugs.

Bare feet are running through the cool, green grass.

Hard breathing,

Harder sprinting.

Tennis balls are hurled,

Diving and twisting to dodge them.

Ice clinks against sweaty glasses,

and cold water is gratefully consumed.

Summer nights,

I missed you.

-hannah

my {beautiful} nutty life || a new beginning

Hello faithful friends, followers, and readers! Yes, it's finally here: my blog re-launch. You may be thinking "um, Hannah, you've just changed your design, there's nothing really different about your blog." You. are. incorrect!
Lately I've been feeling like the quality of my posts has been lacking. A lot. I feel like I make posts just to post something. I haven't been inspired. And I hate that feeling. So from now until forever, I'm going to let the inspiration flow. I'm going to take photos of everyday life, I'm going to dig deeper into the beauty world, and I'm going to write, write, write.

It feels refreshing to think I can start over, but with more experience. And I'm ready to face the fact that I am capable of writing more. Because I do want to write more, I love writing. I guess I just needed a new beginning to find my love for it :)

-hannah
p.s. please wish my amazing friend Jodie a happy birthday!

re-thinking

I've been re-thinking my book. Well, that, and I've just been thinking about it. The more I think, the more I want to write it. But honestly, I don't know where to start. I know, I know, if your going to write a book, start at the beginning, but thats not how my brain works.
My mom just told me yesterday when I was saying this to her, that I learned the alphabet by random letters, and eventually I just threw them together and they became the alphabet.

So I started with Jade, As she is my main character.
This is the first re-do of Jade:

I like it, but she seems too shy, too quiet, not like a strong, courageous warrior ;)

I really like this one! Her outfit is just about perfect. When I drew it I could totally see Jade living her life in it :)

I like this one, but its a bit too soft for her. I definitely like #3 the best!

I'll post the re-dos of Trina some other time. I'm not promising tomorrow because I'm still working on them ;)

-hannah

giveaway winner

Hi guys! Last weeks giveaway winner is...

Thats the second giveaway Lauren won on here! Girl, you are a lucky dog! Oh, and there were only twelve entries last week. Come on guys.....

And I'm sorry to say there will be no giveaway this week, but, there will be next week so stay tuned! Also, sorry for announcing the winner a little late!

Moving right along...

I downloaded FreeMind on our computer yesterday and I've been tooling around with it a bit.

For any of you who are wondering, I did not outright copy Ara's layout, The names for the branches just fit :)

Inspired by the ever wonderful Ara I got to work.

This is possibly the best outlining tool on earth, and I don't even like outlining!

Anywho, here's what I've been up to for the past few days:

I've been oil painting!! Oil is my new favorite medium. Here's my favorite one that I've done so far:

I love this! I think this is the first tiger I've painted/drawn in my life. Except I did few when I was little and they were *cough* terrible ;)

Aah, and a few days ago I was baking and luckily there were still leftovers:

so. good.

Question: What is your favorite dessert? I love cake but you can't beat a good old ice cream sundae!

Happy Friday!

-hannah

art+me=a bottomless pit of imagination

i. love. art. I really do. It's a part of me that I need to nurture consistently. Whether its watercolors, a ball point pen or just a broken crayon I need to draw or paint at least once a day.

Drawing relieves me of stress. I let all my emotions flow out onto the paper. Writing also a good stress-reliever, but somehow whenever I grab a notebook and a pen to write my mind goes blank. Meanwhile, when I'm drawing I think up tons of stories in my head and usually the people on the paper end up being the characters. For instance....

Meet Jade

Jade is a courageous, clever, heroin-to-be. With jade-green eyes and a jade-green scarf around her head, she faces the world with a determination only she can have. Jade was orphaned as a child, her father left before she was born and her mother was tragically killed by Queen Isa's knights, as she was accused for overhearing the queens plan for... well, you'll have to find out ;)

Queen Isa herself adopted the baby and kept the secret of Jade's true mother from her.

As Jade grew up in the castle, she noticed how different she was from her mother. At last, she discovered the truth, and another dangerous secret along with it.

Jade travels around the country, uncovering the mysteries of her past. But she doesn't go alone...

Meet Trina

Trina, Jade's spunky companion, is the always-optimistic one of the pair. She thinks plans out carefully before she puts them into action, and often does things better when she wings it.


Being half elvish she has an excellent sense of hearing and smell, and is very light on her feet. She often speaks in poetry and is excellent as solving riddles.


Her only real fault is that she breaks down under pressure. Will this weakness end up risking the lives of both her and Jade? You'll have to wait and see ;)


Along their way, Jade and Trina meet friends and foes, allies and enemies and here is one of each:

                  Meet Ana                                                                                                                           Meet Fawn

Ana is a shy, artistic, caring half-elf. She has a knack for animals and her favorite moments are when she is alone with her pet falcon. She meets Trina and Jade during their adventure and is happy to offer them help when they need it.


Fawn is a quick-thinking, mysterious, beauty. She is also half elfin and brings her mischievousness that is naturally in her elfin blood to a new extent. Her heart smothered in evil, she tries as hard as she can to stop Jade and Trina from finding out the truth of Jade's past.




Well, there you have it! Whenever I draw, things usually end up like that and I'm emersed in my own thoughts and paintings. Which character is your favorite?




-hannah


p.s please vote on the poll in the sidebar!

Check out this AWESOME blog!

Hey guys, I'm kinda bored so I thought I'd tell you about a blog that I contribute too:

The Jabberings of a Few Teenage Authors

This blog has everything from suspense to romance, mystery to fantasy.
I absolutely love reading the posts my fellow authors write and they're all so well-written. And you can write for it too! Just visit the blog for more details.
So go check it out! And be prepared to be blown away by some amazing, intriguing and generally fantastic writing. :)

Attention Photographers, Writers and Graphic Designers! (But mostly graphic designers!)

I found out through this blog that a girl was going to make a new online magazine called Bloom! Magazine. Click here to check it out! This girl needs staff members so I submitted an application to become a photographer! Go submit your application today!

Just a random (but real life) thing that I wrote

Here is something that I just randomly jotted down:

"I smell onion and get up from the floor, I had been lying there listening to the noise below and resting. The onion smell is good and it mixes faintly with potatoes. I don't like onion but I adore the smell of it frying. The breeze coming through the window is cool and light and makes the certificates on the closet door sway forward and back again.
Time for lunch.
The first bite of mushy potato and tasteless dough smothered in butter burns my mouth. I enjoy it anyway:)
Kate offers to get the milk out for me and when she brings it over to my place at the table I thank her and pour myself a glass.
The conversation wanders from one thing to another and soon everything that was put on my plate is gone. I set my plate and glass on the counter because the dishwasher is full. then I head back up to may room to finish writing this."

Yep, I wrote that. And I honestly was just laying on the floor for no reason :D
Thats how my mind works. I see an ant crawling up a tree branch and I try to make something graceful or poetic out of it. Like the breeze coming through the window. That's one of my favorite things to do. Make a simple but beautiful line out of anything at all.
lol no I'm not crazy, I'm just a writer.

Hannah

Story Blog?

I'm debating, should I have a blog where I write stories? I definitely have a passion for writing fiction! You be the decider! Go to my right sidebar and vote on the poll that I have!