today i watched two movies.
justin bieber's Never Say Never and the King's Speech.
two movies you'd think would be on opposite ends of the spectrum,
and also two movies that i would have never imagined myself watching.
especially the one about justin bieber.
sometimes i quickly write things off without giving them a chance
......like a 16 year old boy who sings high pitched pop songs.
......like a 16 year old boy who sings high pitched pop songs.
but somehow i found myself watching both of these films on the first of my new monday ritual: fill day.
i want to use mondays to fill. to fill my tank so that i have something to let out tuesday-sunday. i dont quite know what this will look like........but i do know that it's on my calendar and that i am going to do it. this came as a response to an issue i've felt needs attention: my habit of filling space with the internet instead of things that fill me in a real way. its been hard to face the fact that yeah, i'm glued to the screen. i wish i was a person who went on more walks instead of "just checking one more thing". which leads to one MORE thing. until woops its 2am.
to face the battle i'm going to test out the monday fill day idea.
to face the battle i'm going to test out the monday fill day idea.
so yes, my first one was today---- and i wound up at the grocery store red box with my friend jill.
and then all of a sudden i was learning about justin bieber and king george the sixth.
and then all of a sudden i was learning about justin bieber and king george the sixth.
the weirdest and most perfect combination.
the way lionel logue so brilliantly loosens him up.
the way justin threw money in that girl's guitar case and told her to keep following her dreams.
the free ticket giveaways that made people's day explode.
king george finally believing: he has a voice.
something about that inner confidence being the pusher.
something about that inner confidence being the pusher.
something about friends being key.
something about everyone being human and having major questions and doubts to wrestle with.
something about everyone being human and having major questions and doubts to wrestle with.
oh my gosh.....justin going right up to usher so confidently..
hilarious. and key.
and then there was the lighting in the king's speech. (oh my lanta)
and the texture of that wall.
and his wife's hair.
the blurry microphone shapes in the foreground.
and his wife's hair.
the blurry microphone shapes in the foreground.
and the soundtrack which i am now listening to on repeat.
i am sorry to say that i did not end up feeling drawn to download One Less Lonely Girl, or Baby, --------- or U Smile......but yes i did download the whole King's Speech soundtrack. maybe i should throw a little Never Say Never in there to spice it up. well....just thought about it decided that it's a no. that's where i draw the line.
i am sorry to say that i did not end up feeling drawn to download One Less Lonely Girl, or Baby, --------- or U Smile......but yes i did download the whole King's Speech soundtrack. maybe i should throw a little Never Say Never in there to spice it up. well....just thought about it decided that it's a no. that's where i draw the line.
anyway, an unexpectedly rich day today.
who knew.
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a new idea: fill day.
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i went on the trip to the czech not knowing exactly why i was going,
i just knew i had to go.
the experience ending up making me feel more alive than i've felt in a while.
originally, i was scared that in saying yes to an experience overseas that i'd be saying no to finding enjoyment in my ordinary daily life in south pasadena. i'm the girl who photographs daily life. there was this part of me that feared getting out of the safe zone of my daily and into something new.
but what i found was that there is something deep in my soul that does really crave the new.
i really enjoy letting my eyes have new experiences.
letting my eyes soak something in for a long time.
putting myself in situations where i have sensory overload.
putting myself in situations where i have sensory overload.
letting myself be so overstimulated by the shapes and colors and lines and personalities that i can't help but sit down in the middle of prague and take a deep breath and experience just one thing out of the thousands of things that i'm noticing.
its so good for who i am to get out of the CZ.
comfort zone.
i also remembered that i really really really really really really like polaroids.
its so interesting to imagine something is going to be scary, but to go for it anyway and then.... surprise! to find a part of yourself that was there all along but just needed to be let out.
hi i now like to travel.
the ocean over new york
the gift of a venti instead of a tall
that teensy plastic bag floating around
reminds me of the pleiades.'
.......there is so much to say.................!!!!
bugs that looked like stars.
((polaroid sx-70))))
((polaroid sx-70))))
4 comments so far
christina says:
what an awesome gift allowing yourself to experience something so amazing! polaroids...aw yeah!
(09.03.11 @ 08:00 AM)
hollie says:
I always welcome travelling friends :)
(09.07.11 @ 06:19 PM)
Jason leith says:
Um, these pictures are absolutely beautiful... You are still becoming a better photographer everyday
(09.16.11 @ 01:36 AM)
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whats in you.
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a, from shell world in florida. ie: tourist coral. i am always curious about that rusty color at the bottom.
b, from my friend rachey the wire artist. a reminder to embrace the overlooked. like wire and rocks.
c, obsessed with cardinals. danny painted this one day and mailed it to me. that was one awesome mail day.
d, from the czech, from a real blacksmith. more on this a little later.
e, a reminder to not live in fear
f) this one is so ordinary and not special to me....and this is why i keep it. just a shell.
g< one of the best textures ever. i hold it when i need a moment of peace. it looks like an ear.
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Elzie says:
e, my favorite. and the first letter of my name. thank you for sharing these.
Shelley Leith says:
Where are the hundreds of comments I would have expected on this post!? This is one of my favorite pictures, accompanies by one of your most insightful slash darling commentaries. I LOVE YOUR LIFE PERSPECTIVE, and this collection is quintessential you.
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a small collection:
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:::::::::::::::::::::
Monday, August 29, 2011
when the priorities of the day revolve around food i'm inspired and excited.
elise and philip's wedding felt so effortless and was saturated in this sense of YES.
they met in france, ingrid michaelson's you and i was playing the whole time she was getting ready, and they served wood fired pizza and rabbit at their reception. i also got to experience the new line of dresses from bhldn, and oh my gosh. elise's friends looked stunning.
beyond all of that though, watching philip as he first saw elise, telling her 'its HERE! its TODAY!' that was my favorite part. watching them soak it in.
5 comments so far
Margaret Jacobsen says:
This is one of my favorite weddings you've shot! Its BEAUTIFUL! I especially love the shot of the bride & her bridesmaids. So natural and lovely!
(08.29.11 @ 12:23 PM)
Stevie says:
Amazing! You can feel the emotion through all these photos .. You did an incredible job.. and the lighting was incredible
(08.29.11 @ 07:46 PM)
Christina says:
wow, so much lovely light! these are awesome. love the one with cut-off heads and you only see the bride's face. cute!!
(08.30.11 @ 01:24 PM)
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elise & philip ::: their wedding in ojai.
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while we were in the czech,
we danced EVERY DAY.
------------- (kassandra and john when our bus broke down.)
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john says:
Best. Day. Ever.
(08.25.11 @ 04:04 PM)
john says:
Best. Day. Ever.
(08.25.11 @ 04:05 PM)
john says:
Best. Day. Ever.
(08.25.11 @ 04:05 PM)
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top highlights.
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today my job is to tackle the 5000 photos and get it DONE.
when i went to africa a few years ago, i took photos and then still havent gone through them. this is kind of a burden over my head. man does it ever feel good to lighten the load and get it out the door, sifted through, all nice and nice. when i was going through the images this one got me deep down. when i saw her there i felt it, and its amazing how that transfers over to 1 month later--------- still feeling it.
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Sarah Parro says:
I love this. It's so simple, yet so captivating. It makes me feel lost in time.
(08.25.11 @ 10:09 AM)
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--------------------- jane,
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i thought i had lost this photo, and then there it was.
how come cameras can see through things?
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found it!
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Haha! I love that you watched Never Say Never. Let me just say that having a little Bieber on the iTunes comes in pretty handy every now and then...I liked this post! Monday fill days sound brilliant. I hope you like them! :)
(09.06.11 @ 03:06 AM)i love this idea! look what 2 movies sparked. :) i look forward to seeing how these Mondays shape up.
(09.06.11 @ 09:34 AM)What a fabulous idea. I love that you are giving this to yourself.
(09.06.11 @ 07:24 PM)fill day = brilliant. and i loved this post x10.
(09.08.11 @ 11:18 AM)Wow. Very true and helpful thoughts on the Internet and what actually fills you up. Thank you.
(09.10.11 @ 08:36 AM)oh my lanta - love that (side note: one of my best friends says that all the time and it totally made me smile to see it in writing). shannon, i love this. i've started taking mondays off and sometimes it just doesn't feel like a "day off" i think because it's a monday and life is just busy and i tend to get sidetracked. so i hope you don't mind if i borrow your title. seriously brilliant, girl. going to put it on my calendar right now. i think it's going to bring the focus i was lacking. i just started working with a life coach with the intention of achieving a healthy work-life balance. i recently read an analogy that working on your self isn't selfish, it's like putting your own oxygen mask on before helping others. i love that idea of "filling my tank" for the week so i'm able to give without feeling so drained & depleted. such wisdom. love you, friend. =)
(09.14.11 @ 10:24 AM)Such an inspiring post! I've been feeling EXACTLY the same way lately...all I ever do is either edit photographs, send emails, or other internet-y things. And all the while the tv is happily playing in the background. :/ At the end of the day my eyes feel totally "screened" out and yet I feel like I haven't done anything for me. So thank you for reminding me that a chance to stop and do something NON business related is good. :)
(09.15.11 @ 05:14 PM)this is brilliant. thanks for sharing this, shannon! I think I will try it, too. :)
(09.21.11 @ 08:40 AM)http://www.myfashionuggs.com/
(10.10.11 @ 12:17 AM)Shannon, I l love and am really encouraged by your concept of a "fill day". I can really resonate with being glued to the computer screen (especially on my 2 days off or on the time before work) and how it is often just checking one more thing then being up until 2am. Thanks for the encouragement.
(10.10.11 @ 02:57 PM)