Spent a few days by the ocean for my daughter’s birthday. It was a lovely, relaxing time filled with giggles, music and games. I’ve been going so much lately it feels good to finally be home this week. I’m taking a little time to get my house back in order, return to my regular routine, and focus on my health.
On July 1st, I’ll be launching my 100 Day Poetry Project and be posting daily here again. You’ll see me experimenting a lot with words as I work on my poetry book which I hope to publish by Christmas. In addition, I’m adding more clients to my calendar and working on a website to officially launch my photography business in January of next year. This includes getting a business plan and license, buying new gear, and taking a few more classes.
For now though, let’s watch the sunset together. Let me know if you have a favorite and have a fantastic rest of your week!
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Also…
When Lola was little we went to hundreds of music festivals. Over the weekend she played Pops in the Park, a huge outdoor music concert with three bands. Watching her perform while little girls danced in front of her…it was a big moment in a year of big moments. Here’s a few of my favorite photos. Thanks G.I.R.L.S. Rock Sacramento!
These were taken with my Olympus E-M1 MarkII, with various lenses.
The last few weeks I was in Vegas with my daughter and her best friend house-sitting. I’ve been doing a lot of polished portraits lately, so I used this as an excuse to play with a different style of photography. For these, I really embraced grain as it seems to fit the grittiness of the city. I tried to focus more on composition and on catching interesting moments. These photos are from Fremont Street and edited to give them a more documentary feel.
How did I do?
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These were taken with my Olympus E-M1 MarkII, 12-50mm lens.
This weekend I helped my sister with her booth at the Folsom Farmers Market. Of course, I had to spend some time walking around with my camera. I’m getting faster at switching up my settings, and I met some pretty cute dogs. And a pig! Let me know if you have a favorite and have a great week.
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Over Labor Day weekend, I attended the 35th annual Chalk It Up event, a free open-art festival for families. My daughter had the privilege of opening the show with her G.I.R.L.S. Rock Sacramento band, Wisteria. It was a lovely, albeit hot, morning filled with art and music.
Let me know if you have a favorite shot and have a fantastic day!
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Photos were taken with an Olympus OM-D and edited with ON1 Photo RAW
Labor Day weekend I visited our local Chalk It Up event, a free open-art festival for families. My daughter had the privilege of opening the show with her G.I.R.L.S. Rock Sacramento band. One of her friends was a featured alumni artist and created the first image below. This event has become a family tradition and this year felt even more special with lots of our friends and family attending. Life has been busy, but it’s never too late to share.
Let me know if you have a favorite image and have a fantastic day!
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The last photo is of my gorgeous daughter. I’m so proud of her. Keep playing!
Photos were taken with an Olympus OM-D and edited with ON1 Photo RAW.
“As long as there are kids who are pissed off and have no real way in venting out that anger, heavy metal will live on.”—Ozzy Osbourne
This week my assignment for the 52 photo challenge was to create an environmental portrait. Ideally, the image would be of a person in their surroundings and it would tell a story.
I didn’t quite follow the instructions. Instead of featuring a singular subject in an environment, I redefined it as featuring the environment itself. The place I focused on was Aftershock. It’s a four-day festival featuring 90 bands with more than 160,000 people in attendance.
As I wasn’t allowed to bring in my camera, all these photos are from my iPhone 13. I added a “gritty” look during editing which fits the mood of the audience and the music. Some of the bands featured on the day I attended were Avatar, Baby Metal, 311, and Korn. The temperature was hot. The crowds were wild. It was a lot of fun. I’m still tired.
If you are in the mood for some reading, here’s a short story I wrote this time last year. It’s one of my favorites. Week 40: Room 313
#1#2#3#4#5#6#7#8#9#10—the crowd walking out at the end of the night looking like a zombie movie.
Photos were taken with an iPhone 13 and edited with ON1 Photo RAW
If you want to join the 52 Photo Challenge, you can find all the information at nicolesy.com
“I am my own muse. I am the subject I know best. The subject I wish to know better.” —Frida Kahlo
For the last seven years, my daughter has been part of an amazing organization called G.I.R.L.S. Rock Sacramento (Gender Inclusivity through Radical Love and Support). It’s a wonderful nonprofit 501 C-3 organization that does far more than teach girls to play instruments.
Their mission statement is to help those who identify as girls, non-binary, or gender-expansive youth build self-esteem through music education and performance, collaboration, empowerment, a supportive community of peers and mentors, and the development of leadership skills.
They do this by putting together bands and guiding them as they create an original song. Prior music experience isn’t required, and for some, this is the first time they’ve played an instrument. The week they spend together is filled with workshops, mentors, and fun. It’s incredibly important we support programs like this as they can be life-saving, particularly for LGBTQ+ youth who may not feel safe being themselves.
I’ve watched my daughter grow immensely each summer in confidence and skill. Every single person involved is loving, caring and genuinely wants to help these girls thrive. The love here is what the world needs and I’m beyond grateful for this supportive community.
Last night I had the opportunity to watch my daughter’s band Limerence record their song at Rosa Mortem Recording Studio. From the moment we arrived, the owner Ashley gave freely of herself, her space, and her time. I was floored by the way these girls were treated as professional musicians and how much they rose to the occasion.
The girls recorded in the studio for five hours and Ashley and her assistants are doing the same for all five bands. In addition, she’s using her talent and expertise to make the songs sound the very best they can. It’s no small thing, but a generous gift and remarkable to witness. I left feeling tremendous hope for the future and with a full heart.
The recording studio resides in the Sacramento Media Center and Ashley gave the girls a tour of the entire building. Perhaps this exposure will lead one of them to consider a career in the technical side of production. It sure made me wish I could be a part of this magic.
One of the back rooms belongs to Odin Makes, a YouTube channel that has been described as “a cooking show for props”. This was a highlight for the girls and for me. I’m absolutely obsessed now with watching his videos and hopefully can meet him someday.
Myki Angeline, who you can find at Myki on Middays on 98 Rock, has been involved in G.I.R.L.S. Rock Sacramento since the beginning teaching self-defense. She was at the recording studio last night bringing her positive energy, encouragement, and playfulness. Also, maybe, revealing her true superhero persona.
You might consider sponsoring a girl for the camp or donating to help cover costs. For more information visit:
Turn up the music, turn down the lights I got a feelin’ I’m gon’ be alright Okay (okay), alright It’s about damn time
On Sunday, my daughter and I attended a Lizzo concert in downtown Sacramento. It was a combined birthday present for us both and it was life-changing.
We got to the arena five hours before showtime and were lucky enough to be number 35 and 36 in line. The fans we stood beside became our friends as we waited in excitement to be let into the arena. I’d never done pit tickets before and didn’t know what to expect, but our new friends took us under their wing and walked us through the ropes.
Once inside, we got a spot on the barricade—right beside the stage! My daughter and I kept turning to each other in disbelief. It was more than we could have hoped for.
Lizzo’s DJ opened the show followed by the gorgeous Latto. One of her songs featured protest signs and we chanted “My Body, My Choice” as a crowd. The energy felt incredible.
Then, the moment came. When Lizzo took the stage in a striking purple sparkling outfit, my daughter and I cried. She is more than a performer to us, she’s a symbol of how to love your body. She’s a role model. She stands for self-love in the biggest way possible. We were starstruck! We danced, sang along at the top of our lungs, and laughed. We felt free and beautiful. We felt her magic.
When Lizzo appeared in a stunning silver robe and removed it to sing Naked to the crowd, it brought up some big feelings. I’ve had such a hard time loving my plus-sized body, but she made me believe I could. She made me believe I deserve it. We all do. What a gift!
Let down my guard, undo my robe I’m standing here, don’t need no clothes I’m naked Love how you look at me naked Come make this body feel sacred I’m a big girl, don’t you waste it, naked
The most powerful moment of the night, for us, was when Lizzo played the song Special. This song is an anthem in our house and has played a major role in my daughter’s mental health journey. It’s a mantra and a call to self-love. We play it on the dark days as a beacon of light. We cling to it when times are hard. To hear Lizzo sing it mere feet from us was transformative. My daughter and I sobbed beside each other feeling the weight of the last few years, the bigness of what we’ve been through together, and the love we share.
In case nobody told you today You’re special In case nobody made you believe You’re special Well, I will always love you the same You’re special I’m so glad that you’re still with us Broken, but damn, you’re still perfect
At one point during the song, Lizzo saw my girl sobbing and they had a moment. She gave my girl love. Directly. Life can be so hard, but that moment was pure and utter magic. I can’t thank Lizzo enough for seeing her, for her powerful music, and for making me believe in the good of people. Here’s a bit of the song for you to enjoy:
It’s been a few days since the concert and honestly, I still feel transformed. My body feels somehow more comfortable. More like my home. I wore tighter clothes the last few days and didn’t hide my arms. I felt more peaceful about my body. More in love with it. This morning I even caught my reflection in the back door while watering and thought I looked pretty. I snapped this picture so I can remember this feeling.
If you are reading this today, consider it partly a love letter to you. Yes, you. I know it’s hard to love our bodies when they don’t look like we think they “should.” But it’s okay. It really is. You can work on yourself and love yourself. You can be happy with your body right now. Please, be kind to you today. We all need you here. One more time, all together:
You’re special I’m so glad that you’re still with us Broken, but damn, you’re still perfect
“One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain.” -Bob Marley
My last week was entirely about music. It pressed my body to its limits and although I’m exhausted, I am also inspired and grateful.
My nephew, kids and I attended the Aftershock Music Festival on Thursday. If you are unfamiliar, it is a four-day outdoor concert featuring some huge metal and rock bands. This was my first time attending and it was a graduation present for my nephew. We saw some incredible performances including Stone Temple Pilots, Ghostmane, Ice Nine Kills, Evanescence, Slipknot, and Rob Zombie. It was hot, crowded, and smoky, but when the bands were performing none of that mattered. I suppose that’s the power of music.
Then, in total contrast, last night my daughter and I saw Elton John in the Bay Area. My mother gifted us the tickets last minute and when we got there a staff member gave us a complimentary upgrade to really wonderful seats. Although we didn’t get home until 2 a.m., seeing this legendary performer sing some of my favorite songs made me far more emotional than I expected.
Neither of the venues allowed my big camera, so all the photos this week are taken with my iPhone 13. I’ve got a lot to learn about photographing big events, but I do think there’s something interesting in each of the images below. Let me know what you think and have a wonderful week.
Bridgette Tales 