Week 7 in Seattle: Breathtaking Views.

The scenery in Seattle always amazes me. Every day I see something breathtaking. In Washington State we have Mountains (high enough to have SNOW), Desert, Rain Forests, The Ocean and Lakes. In a 6 hour car ride you can hit all of them. There aren't many places where this is possible.

On Saturday Laura (roommate) and I went for a 4 hour walk around our home. We live 5000 feet from the Puget Sound in 3 directions. From our dining room you can see these mountains- the Olympic Mountain Range. If you walk down the street for 3 minutes you come up over a ridge with an even better view. Walk 15 minutes down to the water and this is what you get. A sweeping view of the entire mountain range! Mount Olympus, the largest mountain on the left (south) end of the range tops out at 7980 feet above sea level making it the 5th highest mountain in Washington State. Don't worry- I will have Mount Rainier photos up here at some point during this project. :)

When the weather warms up a bit I'm definitely going to be taking more day trips to photograph this beautiful state.

Week 7 in New York: Feathers & Friends

Sometimes inspiration strikes at the strangest times, and in very strange ways.

This slightly feral, framed, feather formation hit me out of nowhere one afternoon while I was getting started on a very other craft project. As I sat pulling feathers apart from the bunch they came in from the art supply store - in preparation for creating feather earrings for a client of mine - I noticed that I had lain them all in perfectly straight, puzzle piece, interlocking rows. While this was fascinating to me (the subconscious always is, no?) I knew that I couldn't take ANOTHER photo of stuffs just sitting in their place. So I started looking around for a more creative outlet.

I thought about taking them outside and seeing what I could do with nature - but it's winter, and it was windy - so that was a no good. I mentally went through the possibilities of what else I could do - ranging from gluing them to the door to hanging them up on fabric with string and straight pins - I realized that the answer was right in front of me.

This frame until recently (and probably will again soon) housed a gridded photo that I took in California. Knowing that it would be the perfect home for my fanciful feather design, I quickly took the photos down and got to work.

I realized soon after that this was an absurd idea and that none of the feathers would actually stay put for very long, nor would they actually even go in the positions that I had intended. However, the end result was pretty funny, and decided that it needed to be recognized for what it was. The polaroid of my girlfriends in the middle was a last minute addition when I noticed how spot on the color-scheme matched with the feathers.

A week later - after taking about 5 feathers down for the earrings, 3 more feathers falling on their own, and then taking about 8 more down for a second pair of earrings - this spontaneous combustion of creativity, is looking laughably pitiful. Time for the photos to go back up!

Cheers,

Breezer M.

Week 6 in Seattle: Poison

Last year I had the opportunity to photograph so many musicians. It's a pretty cool gig. Being from New York I was not really that aware of west coast bands. And actually, I was pretty out of the cool music loop all together. I grew up listening to mom's music- Karen Carpenter, Anne Murray, James Taylor, etc. You get the idea.

One year for Christmas my grandmother got me a Phish CD. I thought I was the coolest kid ever. Turns out I was the last human on earth to get "Billy Breathes" as a gift. That Christmas my sister was pissed at me. *I* got the Phish CD and she didn't. I never really liked her taste in music but I did like Phish!!

In 2001 I started dating James. He introduced me to so much: Stereolab, Steely Dan, MMW, Nickle Creek (note: NOT NICKLEBACK)... Within a year of dating I got to meet his brother's girlfriend (now wife) Liz. Liz, let me tell you, is the shit. She was really the person who influenced me the most in this area of my life: Old 97's, Liz Phair, Belle and Sebastian, Wilco, Billy Bragg... See where I'm going? This girl was my hero.

I'll get to the point here. I don't remember anyone introducing me to early 90's R+B. I guess it just kind of happened? This week I got to photograph... drum roll please.... Bel Biv DeVoe. HOLY HELL. I love these guys!! And to top it off, the other artists there (that you would know) were Jon B, Al B Sure!, and SWV. What a rockin' show!!!! I mean seriously- who wouldn't like hearing BBD's song "Poision" last 15 minutes with an awesome DANCE OFF!?!? My life sure can be pretty darn fantastic.

Cheers!
Jill Rachel

[For a full review with photos from that concert, visit http://backbeatseattle.com/wordpress/?p=43722]

Week 6 in New York: Thrifty Socialite

I'd like to say for the record, that I promise next week's photo won't be a tight, over-exposed, "stuff" shot! Clearly, I like these types of shots, perhaps too much. I'll switch it up. PROMISE.

I decided on Saturday afternoon, that it had been far too long since I'd been inside a thrift shop. There was a time that I couldn't make it a full week without stopping into any given shop, the thirst of the hunt too intense to be sated. Recently though, I've become jaded by Westchester thrifts - their ridiculously overpriced used goods, the lame selection that is most likely going to be picked over by the ever growing populace of those hipster folk. And, in truth, I've too, probably just become lazy. So, I decided to make the journey to my local Salvo - all of 1 mile away.

It was like a big warm (if slightly moth-ball smelling) welcome home hug. This particular Salvo has been a big letdown in the past, especially considering the shear magnitude of this place. The first floor is full of your random odds and ends, the second floor is entirely dedicated to women's clothing and the third floor is a mix of men's and children's. That's right. A three level Salvation Army. You'd think this would be fortune and glory personified - but the ratio of awesome to tragic in this place is 1:150. However, I felt like today was the day, and I ended up being at least 80% content by the time I left two hours later. I not only picked up this amazing brand new Zara dress for $4 (yellow tags 50% off!), but I also came out with a cute plaid tunic and business dress & blazer combo. Not my usual bag, but they definitely suited my current needs. Not much in the way of functional vintage on this day - so I'll have to try again in a few weeks.

Armed with this amazing steal of a dress and feeling good about getting out and about, when my girlfriend called in the evening and asked me if I wanted to grab a drink, I was only too excited to oblige. What could have easily been a jeans & tee night out, became a 'let's dress up like real girls!' outing. I would never ACTUALLY describe myself as a socialite - but it's great little finds like this one that make me want to get out there and wear my thrifty threads loud and proud.

Cheers,

Breezer M.

p.s. bonus!

Week 5 in Seattle: Seattle Center

There are so many things I love about Seattle. The culture, the food, the scenery, and the weather (yes, even the rain!) top that list. This here is one of those things I love. Right in Seattle Center which is home to the Space Needle (seen behind the trees), lives this popcorn cart. I've never seen anyone actually selling popcorn or even a human inside the cart. During the day Seattle Center is bustling no matter the season. It's full of locals and many visitors. In the late evening there is hardly a soul around. This night I went to the Pacific Science Center to see "Laser Floyd"- a live laser light show in the planetarium to the music of The Dark Side of the Moon- and enjoyed a peaceful walk through the tree lit walkways of Seattle Center. For me, walking through this area is a staple of my living in Seattle.

Cheers,
Jill Rachel

Week 5 in New York: I Say Bagel; You Say Bagel

This is a two part story - one half food, one half linguistics. It's hard to say which comes first, or which is more important - but the end result is that these are two things that help to define me as a person.

My love affair with bagels started so long ago now that I can barely remember life before them. It's like they've always been there - soft on the inside, crispy on the outside, warm and delightful - taunting me from both near and far, seemingly calling out to me saying "Eat me, Brianna, I'm delicious." So I do. And often. I've had good bagels, amazing bagels, mediocre bagels and bad bagels. It's not that I blame the bad bagels, though. I blame their makers - and their unfortunate lack of the proper setting, because I think we all know, there are no bagels in the world...like those in New York City. I'm sorry, but it's just fact.

When I first moved to Westchester, Carlo introduced me to the tiny hole in the wall known only as the Wykagyl Bagel Shop. This place...really doesn't even have a name. It doesn't need one. It's so incredible, that Westchester-ites know it, or have heard tell of it no matter where they live, where they've come from, or how long they've been here. It's legendary.

As often as I can possibly get there, I go. The pumpernickel has become my standard. With a giant slab of cream cheese. And though this place doesn't toast - the bagels are always fresh, warm, and crispy, making it a nearly magical - definitely spiritual - experience, and wonder to behold.

This all being said, it's not without tribulation that this miracle of bageldom is enjoyed, which brings us to part two. Linguistics. I know up until now you've all been reading about bagels and saying 'bay-guls' in your head. Your vowel here is a close-mid front unrounded vowel that borders on diphthong where as my vowel is a near-open front unrounded vowel. Try it and see what you come up with. In fact...try it while eating a bagel. Just for me.

I bring this up because I'm probably the only person EVER to say this 'incorrectly'. I've tried to change, to no avail - and trust me there are no shortage of people in my life that think it's hilarious (and possibly annoying) that I can't say this the way they can. So, while I will continue to enjoy this absolutely unparalleled carbo-creation...I'll do so at the mercy of those around me...and their giggles.

Cheers,

Breezer M.

Week 4 in Seattle: Meeting Sean Lennon

For the last 2 months I've been taking a mini hiatus from doing Music Photography. Between Moving, my new commute to work, the holidays, and attempting to unpack and settle in, my time has been precious. When I did have free time I was just exhausted.

On Saturday, my first show of 2011, I had the privilege of being the photographer for the last tour date of GOASTT. The band is comprised of Sean Lennon (yes, John Lennon's son), Charlotte Kemp Muhl, and CJ Camerieri on the horn. Usually there are 5 photographers there for various publications, but this night I was the only one! Duma Love from Cibo Matto and Laura Gibson were the opening acts. The show was great. Really low key, not too packed, and full of laughter. After the show I got my CD and set list signed by Sean as well as a hug and photo-op.

Some days I just want to shoot for a living, but I know that's probably not feasible unless I can invest a lot of money and time- both of which I am lacking. So for now, back to the day job.

Cheers,
Jill Rachel