april in pictures ...

So i have been in a little bit of a funk in recent weeks ... a combination of running injury & just some photographic "issues" ... it happens to the best of us. & in 3 days me & the little man are heading stateside for 4 weeks of hanging with the family & hopefully for me a chance to find my photographic "mojo" again! I have to admit there are a few new toys waiting for me in cali, & i'm super excited to try out some new skills & take some much needed me time. So for this weeks sisterhood stories I just wanted to share a few photos from april ... it hasn't been hugely exciting in our world but I've taken the camera out in Cambridge a couple of times & i took a landscape workshop at the beginning of the month. Anyways enjoy a little spring, a little color & a little learning! & don't forget to make your way around the rest of the sisterhood circle starting with Jessica. 

my almost 3 year old ...

I can't believe this little man is turning 3 this month ... & he really is a little "man" now! 

Love him ... that's all! 

& don't forget to head on around the sisterhood stories circle beginning with Jessica! 

Happy Wednesday! xx

London Kings Cross ...

So here's the ummm geek in me i guess ... I love railway stations. I mean i adore them. I love the mix of emotions that can be found in them, the sense of romance & the history that goes with. & then, then there is the architecture. Back when i was in 6th form i studied Station Architecture for my a-level art, travelled around stations taking pictures & read about their history. I really do love them ... did you know they were considered the "cathedrals" of the 19th century? Anyways every time i travel to London from Cambridge I am lucky enough to enjoy London King's Cross station with it's huge arches & historic clocks. 

Well now it has a much newer addition so i decided to have a little lensbaby fun. I am in love with the contrasting side to this station, now if only I could spend a whole day exploring it you know without Jacob! 

& yes that was an amazingly short post for me ... who knows what you will get 2 weeks from now! Don't forget to head on round the sisterhood stories circle for some inspirational words & beautiful pictures starting with Karrie. 

street photography ...

So something I have always admired is street photography, i mean who doesn't right? I can look at the work of Cartier Bresson for hours, drooling over the pages of his books, & i have incredible talented friends such as Rob Grimes & Sasha Holloway who can capture those instant moments, me well i don't think that fast. So i have been trying to step outside my little box, stop waiting for the people to get out of my shots (because seriously they are always in my way) & capture the moment as it's happening. But also I have been working on the "format" i shoot in. I naturally see everything in "landscape" & i feel this is something i need to work on so. 

So a couple of weeks back i ventured into Cambridge with just my Lensbaby composer pro & edge 80 lens for company, & a lot of rain! I have to say i love the results, i love the darker side of cambridge & that i actually captured people in my work! So enjoy some "pretties" here & then take a moment to work your way around the sisterhood stories circle starting with the blog of Karrie Drake. & you can of course check out more of my lensbaby work over in my etsy shop sweet dreams & honey. 

Lake Isabella ...

I think we all have a place where we can find peace, a place that we can sit & watch & dream. I have a few of those spots but one of them is on the shores of Lake Isabella. Up in the Sierra Nevadas of California it's a huge man made lake, a damn protecting Isabella & Bakersfield from it. The Kern River flows into it, & it's rounded by dirt & mountains & rocks & everything England isn't. I first met the Lake in 2007 when my then boyfriend took me to see it, since then I have been back to see it 3 times & have simple grown to love it more. This time we were in for a shock as the drought that has hit the area means the Lake is drying up, all those trees you see in this pictures sticking out the water weren't there in 2011 when i saw it last. My favorite spot to go & stand is now dirt, the water hundreds of meters from it's edge. It makes me sad to see it disappear. But i set out to photography it, something i have never managed to do justice too, & i have to admit it took me about 4 tries before i got the images you see here. The problem (& yes it was a problem) were the blue blue skies, too much contrast. It's January, mid winter & barely a sign of a cloud in the sky (the opposite of winter in England) but finally the week before we left we had some hazy days, i jumped on this & found the peace I feel there in person in my work. 

Don't forget to check out the rest of the sisterhood stories ... follow the blog circle from start to finish beginning with the words & pictures of Karrie Drake. 

a little lensbaby love ...

Ok ok i know i am bad at blogging ... what can i say, i distract easily ... I keep having good intentions but then they fail. So it's been a few weeks, but i will allow for the fact i was on vacation. But now i'm back & it's time for a few pretties & you chance to enjoy the inspirations of the sisterhood stories. 

So i wanted to share some of my favorites from our month in California (& Vegas) ... & as it turns out they were all shot with my beloved Lensbaby. I admit i do have some favorites that weren't shot with said Lensbaby but i swear this lens was designed for California, it just suited the "vibe" of well everything. I love how it used the pretty light so well & the tones were beautiful, & then Vegas a city i have never been able to shoot well it captured it perfectly for me. So enough talk it's picture time ... & when you're done here be sure to head on round the rest of the sisterhood stories circle & check out their musing, words & inspirational pictures starting with Karrie. 

If you want to purchase one of these or to view more of my lens baby work you can head on over to my etsy shop sweet dreams & honey ... Happy wednesday!