i noticed that i'm really picky when i pick out bananas, because i can't stand when they're too yellow. so i forecast for the week and buy 3 or 4 or 5.... all with increasingly brighter shades of green so that they'll be perfect when i get to them.
then i noticed that i bought a red pepper instead of an orange like normal, which matched with the tomatoes, which faded beautifully to the apples, which made the real orange pop. which transitioned to the yellow bananas, which transitioned to the pear and finally the lime.
PRAISE HIM FOR POLAROIDS,
and yay for the color wheel which makes our lives so much better.
also a documentation of what i call my forest---- the flowers.
monday loves you, so love it back!
shannon
my favorite thing was taking my big spoon and eating a strawberry, a tomato, a bite of quiche, and a huge piece of avocado all at once. YUM.

my co-worker david and i think this looks so wonderful!
(01.07.10 @ 04:59 PM)Oh my. That looks fresh and delicious. I love seeing fruits and veggies just sliced up on their own and not all mixed together. It is beautiful and flavorful. That's how I eat my fruits and veggies too. And quiche... that is a delicacy I haven't had since my dairy days! Yum.
(01.07.10 @ 07:00 PM)heidi----- i had the quiche because i finally remembered to buy lactose pills!!!! ;)
(01.07.10 @ 09:56 PM)did you make that thing? Its beautiful. This is SUCH a good breakfast. I miss california where you can buy all of those things any time of the year. I guess I'll keep eating potatoes.
(01.08.10 @ 01:38 AM)Ok, you just made my boring bowl of cereal look even more boring. :)
(01.08.10 @ 08:41 AM)if only mom and dad would buy me healthy foods, i would literally eat this every morning.
(01.08.10 @ 10:50 PM)yeah, have you gotten them to shop at trader joes yet heath??
(one of the top reasons to live by yourself and buy your own groceries!)
(01.08.10 @ 10:55 PM)Besides the fact that this looks amazing, you have blue-owl salt and pepper shakers.
(01.09.10 @ 04:21 PM)I am so excited for you to take my family photos! I LOVE these pictures! I love your plates!
(01.10.10 @ 07:19 PM)

"perfectionism is a refusal to LET yourself move ahead. it is a loop--an obsessive, closed system that causes you to get stuck. instead of creating freely and allowing errors to reveal themselves later as insights, we often get mired in getting the details right."
my journey right now is largely focused on getting un-stuck... on letting myself live and make mistakes instead of waiting for the moment when everything is right and perfect.
the book has you list things you'd do if you didn't have to do them perfectly.
here's my list. if i didnt have to do it perfectly, i would like to try:
- dancing (one of my biggest fears. DONT WANT TO SCREW UP! I'D RATHER PHOTOGRAPH OTHER PEOPLE DOING IT!)
- publishing books of my photos
- swimming on a team. weird i know.
- going to yoga more than i do now.
- wearing loud clothes that are hot hot hot.
(ie: i am scared to wear boots because they're 'too loud'.)
so, yeah.
shannon
I like how you imperfectly posted three of the same posts on perfection!
Your list is cute :)
(no dancing)!!!
(11.12.09 @ 12:37 PM)oh, Shannon... I know how you feel. I am a total perfectionist too and it has kept me from so much. I barely ever finish creative projects because I can't get them just right. I am also afraid of dancing because I don't want to look silly. I'm even married now and can only bring myself to slowdance with hubby at weddings on occasion. This last year of being sick has forced me to get over my perfectionism in how I look. I can finally go without make-up, wear sweats out, etc. if I have to. It's very freeing. I think our imperfections are what makes us perfect as God's creations. Imperfections make life interesting. I hope you and I can learn to embrace them. : )
(11.12.09 @ 12:58 PM)DITTO. i perfectionistically deleted those other two, fyi to the world.
(11.12.09 @ 01:00 PM)DITTO. i perfectionistically deleted those other two, fyi to the world.
(11.12.09 @ 01:02 PM)Wow! I feel like that too sometimes. That is a great passage. Something that I will definitely keep in my mind.
You are way cool and full of life. I think you should get yourself a pair of super loud cowboy boots!
(11.12.09 @ 02:12 PM)I love how both you and your 'brownie' brother Carson posted blogs featuring COFFEE on the same day.
(11.12.09 @ 11:57 PM)"I do what I don't want to do, and what I want to do I can't"
~Paul the Apostle (paraphrased of course)
That is exactly how I've felt this week. I hope to do much more than I do right now if only because I am learning to let go of fear.
(11.13.09 @ 07:05 AM)"I do what I don't want to do, and what I want to do I can't"
~Paul the Apostle (paraphrased of course)
That is exactly how I've felt this week. I hope to do much more than I do right now if only because I am learning to let go of fear.
(11.13.09 @ 07:08 AM)"I do what I don't want to do, and what I want to do I can't"
~Paul the Apostle (paraphrased of course)
That is exactly how I've felt this week. I hope to do much more than I do right now if only because I am learning to let go of fear.
(11.13.09 @ 07:10 AM)"I do what I don't want to do, and what I want to do I can't"
~Paul the Apostle (paraphrased of course)
That is exactly how I've felt this week. I hope to do much more than I do right now if only because I am learning to let go of fear.
(11.13.09 @ 07:19 AM)Hi Shannon, when I was first single in 1975 it was a time when I could have lived in fear of doing things, but a single gal told a group of us to "have adventures". When I felt uptight I would choose whether to live in fear or look at the situation as a great adventure. My kids thought i was flaky sometimes when I moved or did different things, but I did have adventures and still do!!! Don't get up tight - make the time into an adventure.
(11.13.09 @ 09:06 PM)Your Grandma totally knows what she is talking about. If you let perfectionism get in the way of having adventures and taking risks… well, really, it boils down to fear of failure. And never trying things will result in potentially missing an opportunity to fall in love with a new activity or perspective. I am hereby volunteering to take you out to a beginner's dance lesson. Conquering your biggest fear is hyper-empowering.
(11.14.09 @ 05:22 PM)here's my thoughts about swimming on a team:
it's like...putting yourself through hell every day,
but each of those days being intensely satisfying.
being able to say, "why yes, i did just swim 200 laps" is the b-e-s-t.
plus you get rockin' arm muscles.
love
heath.
p.s. you could totally rock boots, and you know it.
This was so nice to read right now.
(11.21.09 @ 11:10 PM)Shannon! I have been a lurker for a really long time now...which sounds creepy, but it's not. Since I've moved to San Francisco, I've wanted something that can be a creative outlet, and the natural choice for me is writing! So I've looked at The Artist's Way a bit, and with the encouragement of yoru blog and another friend, I've been writing in a journal every day and it's amazing.
So I just want to say thanks!
(11.23.09 @ 05:00 PM)
>> i had two phases of it: one with sage butter sauce, and one with cinnamon and more butter. it was amazing, and i'm pretty sure i got some healthiness from my soup and cupcake that i had for lunch.
>> i ordered a free return address stamp from overnightprints.com (the promo code = 1SSTAMP) and it came today and IT HAS MY LOGO ON IT. my handwritten shannon leith. oh my gosh, its the best thing that has crossed my mailbox in a while.
>> shot a roll of medium format film at an engagement session on sunday and am so anxious to get it back! tomorrow!!
>> thought i'd go out on a limb with some new envelopes for my stationary collection and got gold.
>> ROSANNA JUST BOUGHT ME MORE STRAWS! I WAS OUT! tragedy turned victory.
>> i love how white my kitchen is! i love that my blog has a white background! i love white.
>> look at this fun video about a polaroid show i'm in at bergamont station, january 9th
>> i've been wearing the same jeans for about two weeks straight. true confessions.
>> i like that my friend rachel knows that i eat soy ice cream only. no regular.
>> i like that rosanna is wearing an all-pastel outfit right now.
>> i like writing my blog,
>> i like arrows >>
and,
sage butter cinnamon spaghetti squash.
its the next best thing!
eat it.
shan
>>i like rich chocolate tarts,
>>i like eating them even more>>
That video is SWEEET.
And hooray for spaghetti squash -- I haven't found any here yet :( Sad day... but there are White and Grey pumpkins! Fun fun. miss you.
whenever either my sister or I find you posted a new blogpost, it gets very exciting over here. :) "Shannon posted!" "REALLY?" *insert clicking noises here.*
(11.12.09 @ 09:40 AM)thanks for the stamp code! just got one as a present for a recently moved fam member. you da best.
(11.12.09 @ 03:48 PM)
so we busted out all three french presses.
coffee anyone??
Shannon!
I just got the tennisball green of the those new ones from Bodum--how INCREDIBLE is the pour spout action?! :D
and, it matches the color of my bistro chairs perfectly.
i love the fun-factor involved in drinking water through a straw.
and, its really nice that they're usually neon.
i buy them by the hundreds at the dollar store,
and they have literally inspired me to drink more water.
definitely.
i used to think that my addiction to using straws was purely because they were bright and beautiful.....
but when i recently drank a glass of water withOUT a straw and spilled on myself 3 times,
i realized that there's also the clean-factor.
i stay more dry when there's a straw.
(my favorite glass!)




---------------- shannon the OCD straw lover
Guess who finds straws all over the house including the bathroom!?
(10.19.09 @ 08:09 PM)Well, my guess is: one of Shannon's roommates?!
btw, how is that POM cocktail drink?
I think you inherited your love of straws from your great-grandmother, Mary. She always had to have a straw and she liked the bendy kind....love ya
(10.20.09 @ 07:50 PM)I think you inherited your love of straws from your great-grandmother, Mary. She always had to have a straw and she liked the bendy kind....love ya
(10.20.09 @ 07:51 PM)Hi Shannon, you can be sure you inherited your love of bendy straws from your great-grandmother, Mary! She always wanted a straw with her liquids! That's not a bad thing to inherit....
(10.20.09 @ 07:54 PM)Hi Shannon, you can be sure you inherited your love of bendy straws from your great-grandmother, Mary! She always wanted a straw with her liquids! That's not a bad thing to inherit....
(10.20.09 @ 07:55 PM)Hi Shannon, you can be sure you inherited your love of bendy straws from your great-grandmother, Mary! She always wanted a straw with her liquids! That's not a bad thing to inherit....
(10.20.09 @ 07:55 PM)
vibrance.
loveliness.
but today i bring to you a real spice:
pumpkin!
pumpkin spice.
i love putting this spice on everything....
pasta...coffee...ice cream...
i put it on my soy cream today (yay lactose intolerance, no seriously... i love vanilla soy creamy from trader joes.) and it was so pretty. which is a great thing because i was GOING to blog about my fish dinner from last night.... but the pictures make it look disgusting. >>> baked tilapia with mint, coconut milk, nectarines, and limes.... tasted delicious, photographed horribly. so i will not show those to you. i did post them on facebook though on my FEED. so. stalk me and you can see them.

and guess what---- i made that bowl!
i was in a semester-long class and amazingly came up with a few things that are functional!
click here to see the other little guy!
i'm going straight away to add you as a friend on facebook, just so i can see the fish pictures. ok... maybe that's not the only reason, but i'm curious :)
(09.23.09 @ 08:07 AM)



Shannon:
(04.19.10 @ 02:36 PM)1) I like your blog/photography. I generally click the link to it when it's on my facebook newsfeed, though I don't know if I've ever commented before.
2) I do the same thing with bananas!
3) Your "forest" looks lovely, what pretty flowers, and fun, eclectic vases!
your fruit spectrum made me SO happy! thank you - my monday is now better. and i love your banana picking method. :)
(04.19.10 @ 02:54 PM)the moment i saw the title "fruit spectrum" i IMMEDIATELY thought of the ID2 fruit heart poster you made. like instantly it popped into my head. i feel like all the noise fads around me when i look at your pictures. the are a place of quiet, peace + meditation.
(04.19.10 @ 03:41 PM)Shan-
(04.19.10 @ 04:03 PM)this post kills me.
I love it so, so much. COLOR. my heart hurts.
I love the flowers on your table. Happiness.
Also, I am aware that this post was mostly about fruit. I just happened to really enjoy the flowers.
(04.19.10 @ 04:20 PM)shannon these are incredible! what lens did you use to shoot these?! thank you so much for the inspiration!
(04.19.10 @ 04:27 PM)j.
CAMI! thanks for commenting! love that you do it too :) :) :)
MEG, your reflection about them being a place of meditation moved me. thanks for saying that. //
KODI, the post was definitely about both fruit and the flower forest. and many other things. love that you loved the flowers. //
JENNIFER------i used a 35mm f/1.4 for all of these---- FAVORITE LENS! i used it 90% of the time. it sees how i see. //
(04.19.10 @ 05:45 PM)Such lovely colors!!!
(04.19.10 @ 07:05 PM)Again again again... I thank you for the beautiful ranunculuses........... and o definitely remember your previous fruit heart encounter and the bountiful produce we ate afterward! AWESOME.
(04.21.10 @ 02:50 AM)Lovely! Yay for the way you show me colors! And, if you ever decide to make a big vegetable heart again, I want to help!!! What a great health metaphor! And, how fun!
(04.23.10 @ 07:41 PM)Oh Shann.... this makes me miss the PH. I love Spring's flower selection. And I miss long mornings with you :)
(04.24.10 @ 09:50 AM)