Here we go round the Maypole high, The Maypole high, The Maypole high, Here we go round the Maypole high, Let colored ribbons fly, Let colored ribbons fly.
Last weekend I attended the annual May Day festival at the school my children attended from Kindergarten through 8th grade. Now, my sweet nephew attends and had the honor of throwing the rose petals for the May Queen.
It was such a lovely day! Let me know if you have a favorite photo and happy Spring!
Last week’s quick trip to Dillon Beach for my birthday, was a wonderful reset. I got to watch a magical sunset (joined by my women’s group on Zoom), take a nap, play rummy with my daughter, and listen to the sound of the waves for an entire day.
I also got an unexpected show! The Sonoma County Sheriff, Marin County Fire Department, and CalFire were holding training sessions right on the beach. From the balcony of the house we were staying at, I pretended to be a journalist documenting the scene. It was wild fun and a wonderful way to cap off the trip. They aren’t the best quality, as I was pretty far away and didn’t have my biggest zoom camera, but it was fun to document the entire thing.
Hope you enjoy these photos and let me know if you have a favorite.
As you may remember, I’m doing photography for the #100DayProject. This means, every single day for 100 days I’m out taking photos, editing them, and sharing them with my friends. In addition, I’ve started doing photography sessions for people I know. I’ve done three senior sessions, a family shoot, and several portraits.
I’m loving this! It feels like I’m understanding my camera more and more. I’m still battling with computer storage and editing, but those are getting easier too. I’m having fun experimenting with different lenses, playing around with color, and dabbling in street photography. I still have an editing class to take, but each session I’m learning something new. The project ends June 2, which means there’s still lots of images to take and skills to learn.
Here’s a ton of my best photos from the last few weeks. Let me know if you have a favorite (and I totally understand if viewing 40 photos is a bit much!) These appear in order of photos taken, not favorites. I thought you might like to see how each grouping was edited differently. Among these was my first photograph of lightening, some crazy macro bug shots from my yard, and some really cute animals.
Oh, and if you were curious if the egret’s had their babies…I think so? I was able to capture what looks like heron babies being fed in the nest (#33), but they are pretty large. A quick google search says they grow super fast, so maybe?
One more thing, at the last minute I added some photos I took yesterday (the ones I mentioned to you, Michael!)
Took my camera camping with my family at the end of March. Finally finished editing them last week and wanted to post them here, because these are some of my favorites.
I recently booked ten photo shoots. These are all free while I’m learning and building my portfolio, but I’m so excited people trust me to take their photos. In a few months, I’ll share some favorites as I get ready to launch a real business.
For now, let me know if you have a favorite amongst these photos.
“What she needs are stories. Stories are a way to preserve one’s self. To be remembered. And to forget. Stories come in so many forms: in charcoal, and in song, in paintings, poems, films. And books. Books, she has found, are a way to live a thousand lives—or to find strength in a very long one.” —The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab
For the month of April, my model was my dear friend Bonnie. I met her when she was just in high school and I’ve had the pleasure of watching her grow into a giving, talented, hard-working young woman. Bonnie is the kind of person who gathers others to her. She cultivates community, has a wonderful sense of humor, and is a fierce defender of kindness. Her friends call her a silly goose, which fits her, but she’s also the very thing Shakespeare talked about when he said “though she be but little, she is fierce.”
In addition to being a kind human, she’s a gifted editor. She whipped early drafts of my 52 shorts stories into shape, and recently edited her wife’s beautiful fantasy novel Wayward Magic. She’s currently studying to be a librarian. and so it was only natural for us to be around books. As it also happened to be National Library Week, we drove to the gorgeous Mill Valley Public Library. Tucked amongst redwoods, and brimming with golden light, it was the perfect setting for these photos.
Please leave Bonnie some love below and visit her fantastic IG page where she talks about all things books.
I’d love to know if you think my photography skills are growing. With each session, my confidence behind the camera grows and I’m starting to really enjoy putting together galleries as a new form of storytelling. Stay tuned for lots more work to come.
Every year on my birthday, I write a poem. This year, I decided to pair those words with a series of self-portraits. I’m so grateful for this space and for everyone who stops by to read. If any of these words or images resonate with you, please let me know—I’d love to hear from you. I’m so glad you’re here.
49
Within my freckled chest lie sheets of watercolor paper over saturated and weak in the middle where I pressed too hard, bending into rainbow shapes. My hips
tell of this separation, of forty-nine years of horses, dogs, babies, troubles sat propped against bones, praying understanding will expose fragmented shadows, pockets of light. Tomorrow
another sunrise, pink fog touching horizon, hot coffee sweetened just right with words now said instead of swallowed whole. White-crested waves wake the birds, and the tide-pull aches
in every corner. See clouds reflect upon the sand, soft starfish clinging to crag-born rock, green flashes flinty like my eyes. Look for it, keep tracing thumb over back of hand. This time
A little note about self-portraits: I took these using my tripod and the timer on my camera. It did not occur to me (until I was done) to use Auto mode, so I kept trying to get in the focus point, hence the mixed results here. I think it works for this set, but if anyone has tips on self-portrait photography, I’d love to hear them.
These were taken with my Olympus E-M1 MarkII, using various lenses and edited with Lightroom Classic
A few weeks ago, a friend showed me this nesting tree near me. It’s located behind a fast food restaurant, in between two strip malls, if you can believe it. I pulled out the tripod Neil left me, and sat behind the stores to watch these beautiful creatures flying in and out of their nests.
I couldn’t get close, so I used my lens with the greatest zoom. These aren’t the best quality, but I still like them. They tell a story of resilience and community. You’ll notice that among the egrets, there was a pair of herons, and several red-winged blackbirds.
Let me know if you have a favorite and have a fantastic Monday.
#1#2#3#4#5#6#7#8#9#10#11#12#13#14#15#16#17#18#19#20: Here’s my setup and how far away I was (taken with my iphone).
These were taken with my Olympus E-M1 MarkII, using a 75-300mm lens and edited with Lightroom Classic.
A week ago today, after returning from a few days camping near the ocean, I woke up late to photograph the full moon. I’d missed it the night before, too tired to go out, and tried to get there in time. I got off exactly one shot before the moon disappeared behind the trees.
Instead of just beating myself up, which I’m very apt to do, I decided to just enjoy my morning. I followed around some ducks, obsessed over water droplets again, and got inspired by the sunrise. Life is too short to keep being so disappointed in myself. It was the morning it was meant to be.
Let me know if you have a favorite shot and have a great day.
#1#2#3#4#5#6#7#8#9#10#11#12#13#14#15#16#17#18
These were taken with my Olympus E-M1 MarkII, using a 14-150 mm lens and edited with Lightroom Classic
Bridgette Tales 