Back to Texas.

Raven, originally uploaded by matrixchic.

I enjoyed my trip back home to visit my family. It had been way too long since I'd been back, and the trip was way too short. I was just glad I didn't have to be the one to pack the truck and drive my Grandmother's 3,300 lbs of stuff from middle-of-nowhere Kansas to Plano, TX (nevermind factoring in the August Summer heat). The truck arrived the Tuesday before I did. But somehow I was deligated the job of breaking down boxes. oh well...

My 2 year old niece, Raven, is so headstrong and outgoing. Nothing stands in her way (hee hee, sounds familiar...) and she never sits still, what a ball of energy! She is such a doll and I can't wait to see her again. Michelle & Brian are doing such a good job.

I'm also looking forward to my nephew Zander's arrival in November.

Yeah, I'm in!

Playhouse, originally uploaded by matrixchic.

Got a letter today that my above image "Playhouse" was accepted to the Chicago Art Open 2007.

OCTOBER 4-OCTOBER 27: PUBLIC VIEWING
Monday-Sunday 11 am – 5 pm

Iron Studios
3636 S. Iron St.
Chicago, IL

travis_footballw, originally uploaded by matrixchic.

Ah. More self promotion...
Submitted to JPG Issue 12 theme: Family

Please click here to vote for me now!

Red barn.
White snow.

Blue sky.

Submitted to JPG Issue 11: America theme. Please click here to vote for me now!

Yes, I know... it's shameless self-promotion.

me1w, originally uploaded by kwadephotos.

Yup. This is me. The focus this week in class was portraits, so I decided to challenge myself and include a self-portrait in the group. I feel so narcissistic...

My son obliged, but only with compensation. What a supermodel diva (or early signs of good business sense)!

Eva, whom I work with at my "day job," also stepped in and really helped me out.

For more portraits from the shoots, click on my self-portrait photo to go to my flickr account.

panned motion, originally uploaded by kwadephotos.

I'm no sports photographer, and the "motion" assignment this weekend only reinforced that. Maybe I'd have felt more creative if it were better weather, not to mention I've been fighting a migrane... making it really hard to concentrate.

My son got a kick outta watching what I came up with from his pull-back toys and remote control cars, though.

lavender2, originally uploaded by kwadephotos.

The lavender basket photo is from my latest class project "my room." It really made me remember last spring when I was at a farmer's market in New York with all the fresh lilacs. I'm so ready for spring!

m1_5x5w, originally uploaded by kwadephotos.

Last year I finally bought a digital SLR camera and since it had been back in the days of Photoshop 2.0 when I first took a Digital Photography class - I decided to take Photo 1101 this semester at COD. Even though I've been using Photoshop for awhile and have been able to figure out a lot on my own - I'm learning more in-depth about the Photoshop tools, and what CS2 has (I have 7.0 at home).

This photo of Mjesec is from my first class photo shoot "around the house." It's surprising he's not in every single photo since he kept following me the whole time...

lightroom, originally uploaded by kwadephotos.

Just got an email from Adobe that my submitted work has been approved and posted at the Project: Photoshop Lightroom gallery:

http://projectphotoshoplightroom.com/usergallery_detail.php?id=35

How exciting!

Family Time

travis_carson_w, originally uploaded by kwadephotos.

Well, definately a lot of family snapshots this week! Travis' cousins came to visit from Oklahoma, and he really had a ball having another boy his age to hang out with.

Hyatt Hotel Tree, originally uploaded by kwadephotos.

It's the week before Christmas, and instead of being home shopping and writing Christmas cards - here I am in Greenville, NC for work. Thank goodness for USPS Priority Mail and FedEx so when I get back I can ship presents on Wedensday. And I hope my friends and family don't mind instead of Christmas Cards they'll be getting "Happy New Year" cards.

Training went well. I was worried about the people that had been there a few years being bored, but everyone was enthousiastic and very nice.

The one night out the office took me to Soby's resteraunt in downtown Greenville. It was awesome! I really enjoyed the southern fusion cooking. It also didn't hurt that at the table right next to us sat Tommy Lasorda and Jim Rice.

After dinner, Barb and I went back out to the car so I could retrieve my camera. Here is a photo from the Hyatt Hotel. The only light in this hallway was the tree and what was outside, and flash from my camera would have just ruined the mood. So I just prayed while leaning against the elevator entry for support that wasn't the moment someone decided to come to the floor we were on! Times like this I really wish I had a really light weight tripod or monopod (I've been eyeing one by Manfrotto - hint, hint Santa Clause...).

Yeah - how exciting! I got the check today for my image that sold at the CAC Chicago Art Open. Found out it was purchased by a Curator for the Robert Morris College in Chicago. I'm not sure what they plan to do with it, it would be nice find out.

While I'm glad to have the money (Christmas is next month), I'm a bit sad it sold. I decided to pay the extra expense to have have it custom framed at Corner Frame Studio in Winfield, IL - and was really happy with the job done. So, now I'll just have to have another one done for my own wall. :)

The 2006 Chicago Art Open officially kicks off today! My digital photograph "NY Morning" is being shown. The exhibit is sponsored by the Chicago Artists' Coalition, click here for more info and a map.

Zhou B. Art Center
1029 W. 35th St.
Chicago, IL 60609
October 17 - November 4, 2006
Hours: 11am-5pm, Monday - Sunday.
Admission is a $5 daily donation.

Here I am at last, a spot of my very own to collect my thoughts and visions...

The plan is to post photographs from my projects, events, and may even write about what inspires me.

Photography has been my passion and film will never die for me (especially 4x5 and silver halide printing), however I have recently embraced digital. My style of photography is still in developement, as I have a broad range of interests, although I do love urban landscape and portraiture.

Hope you enjoy the site and keep coming back to view my images. Comments are always welcome!

-- Karen