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Wednesday, July 28, 2010

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this has been a dream of mine for two years.
photo classes that focus on light, how your eyes see, and discovering the unique vision you've been given.
these classes are unique because of the personal attention you will get: this is essentially a mentoring relationship that will help you discover more of who you are as a person, a photographer and an artist.  It's about the holistic process of your own journey as a lover of life and a person who wants to become more free.

i'm bursting!
glitter glory!
so excited about this.

Week 1: Sunday, September 19th, 1-4pm at SPACE art gallery in South Pasadena, CA

Weeks 2-4 are one-hour private sessions at my home studio (the pink house!) in South Pasadena.  You will sign up for your own weekly slots for the weeks of 9/27, 10/4 and 10/11. These can also easily be done over the phone if you live out of the area.

all the details are on the website :)
i made the site through into the darkrooom,
the best photography website company out there.

the class is sponsored by all of my favorite companies.
Into the Darkroom::: photography websites
Finao::: albums
Shootsac::: lens bags
and check out SPACE, the art gallery where we get to have our first session!

this is is limited to ten people: sign up quick!







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Jason Leith says:

Congrats Shan! this is so cool.

(07.28.10 @ 04:19 PM)
blythe says:

:)

(07.28.10 @ 06:20 PM)
Seth Cutter says:

Congratulations on getting this going, Shannon! Your students will be extremely fortunate to get to spend the time with you.

(07.28.10 @ 06:21 PM)
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Tuesday, July 27, 2010

talk to me, tuesday.
this is what i saw today.....
revved me up, even though its quiet.
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Allison says:

I really like the "don't worry" post-it in the 2nd photo. I hope you left that post-it for yourself, I like leaving post-its for myself.

(07.27.10 @ 11:18 PM)
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Monday, July 26, 2010
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i am becoming really passionate about this kitchen & dish series that i've been doing for the past year or so.  i've been posting them on here now and then.... and am slowly realizing that there's something here to pay more attention to.  the series is going to become my next body of work that i frame.  i got some test prints the other day----- 16x24"----------- and i screamed when i opened the box.  there's a spirit to these images that just gets me.  these say shannon to me, but in a way i didn't know really existed.  so. this is now my new thing.
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favorite part about this one....... the water marks on the french press. the glories of hand-washing your dishes in southern california's hard water,
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and i figured out that 4pm is magic in my kitchen.
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....its crazy to me that all of these are from the same 10 minute span of time, from the exact same mix of dishes just sitting on the counter.  they all feel like they're from opposite ends of the universe.  this is a good example of my best photo trick: move around a lot.
IMG_8031.jpg

so i hope today is a really good day for you.
if its not..........
i hope these made you a little happier.

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blythe says:

love it!!

(07.26.10 @ 08:38 PM)
Marilyn Paul says:

While you are having fun working in your kitchen, I'm having fun in my NEW kitchen! Come take pictures of it - I'm getting out things from storage that I haven't seen for 10 years!!!! Now that's about as fun as it gets. Two sets of dishes that I remember enjoying to join the two sets that Caol left for me. Mine are better - hehehe

(07.27.10 @ 01:02 PM)
Anonymous says:

In honor of Shannon...Dad and Carson took a pic of our breakfast table spread in Scotland...sooooo cute. See Mt Facebook site at http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=6040045&id=721122227

(07.28.10 @ 03:54 AM)
Paige says:

Shannon, I love these. Seeing them just made a my day.

(07.29.10 @ 09:58 AM)
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Saturday, July 17, 2010
the artist is a cartographer.
he maps the world.
the world within him and the world as he sees it.
---- JULIA CAMERON, WALKING IN THIS WORLD

this is my world this week. our floor in our kitchen is getting re-done.
what i love about it is that all they're doing is removing the old linoleum and refinishing the wood floors that were underneath.
work with what you've got.
accept what you have.
creatively see what's in front of you with your own unique eyes.

it was hard to sit down and breathe this week because a) southern california is 100 degrees, b) i didnt own an air conditioner until yesterday, and c) life feels mixed up and not normal with our whole kitchen in our living room while the floor is being done.

i enjoyed peeking in through the plastic temporary door and documenting our house as it was today.IMG_9574b.jpg

i normally expose for the midtones and shadows to make my images bright, which ends up leaving blindingly white areas, but while photographing this today i asked myself why i dont let the shadows in.  the mystery.  the darks.  they draw me in but also make me uncomfortable.  doesn't feel connected to me and the way i see.  but i think i needed to pay attention to that and ask why.  in the photograph below i'm in the same place as that one above, just about 2 steps back and vertical.  crazy how there's a million ways to see the same space. the same world.
IMG_9576.jpg

the artist is a cartographer.
he maps the world.
the world within him and the world as he sees it.
---- JULIA CAMERON, WALKING IN THIS WORLD


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tiny twig says:

this is a really beautiful and insightful post. xo.

(07.17.10 @ 06:32 PM)
Hollie says:

congrats on the air conditioner!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I think that brings your stress level down about 10 notches when its that hot!

(07.17.10 @ 09:32 PM)
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Wednesday, July 14, 2010

so the pink house is in a bit of a transformation mode.  the kitchen floors were disgusting, and our really nice landlords have decided to have them re-done.  it only took 6 months of asking, and i am so jazzed about it.  they're taking up the linoleum and refinishing the wood that was underneath. 

the whole house smells like wood stain and polyurethane, which is rough when you work from home.  its also hard to have the stove and fridge in the living room, and to not be a believer in microwaves.  i've been eating out for every meal and its getting annoying to not be able to eat anything in my own house.  on top of that, we have no air conditioning.  stagnant, hot, polyurethane filled air.  awesome.  cosmo is staying at the neighbor's house.  they have a cat, but i think that a cat is less of a threat than deadly vapors. mmm?

so, all of that wraps itself up into me being a bit stressed out.  the whole kitchen is on tables, surrounding me as i type, and i'm still in my yoga clothes from this morning because i had to do the whole out-for-breakfast escapade..... and now its lunch. so i have to leave again. 

this is how my brian and heart feel:
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

what's exciting though is the anticipation of MONDAY WHEN IT WILL BE DONE.
what's also exciting is the great dish photos i'm getting to add to my collection which i am hoping to launch very soon.  and by launch i mean frame.




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blythe says:

!!! life change.

you should try out some raw food recipes. :)
wait, do you still have a fridge? or is it turned off?

(07.14.10 @ 01:14 PM)
valerie says:

Cosmo is having a great time down here listening to Frank Sinatra...

(07.14.10 @ 03:28 PM)
Marilyn Paul says:

hi Shannon, sounds like your situation is worse than ours. When we get to our new house in "5 more sleeps" (remember saying that when you were a kid!, then we will throw stuff into a box, take it into the house from the RV and that's about it. At first we will need clothes and food - everything is already there. Love this easy kind of moving. Your's sounds frustrating, but it will beautiful soon! love ya, gr ma

(07.15.10 @ 11:56 AM)
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Friday, June 25, 2010
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cosmo has the opportunity to fly wherever he wants, but he usually chooses to perch on some random object and look at the wall for 15 or 20 minutes.  he'd do this all day if i let him.  why doesn't he fly in circles, eat the food that's laying around, or play with his toys? why does he choose to isolate himself and look AT THE WALL?

hello cosmo, you're free buddy.
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Jen May says:

That's hilarious!

(06.25.10 @ 01:42 PM)
maemae says:

no. 1 i love the colors in this pic.
no. 2 this is the funniest thing ever.

embrace, cosmo.

(06.25.10 @ 03:25 PM)
teri says:

sooo funny. thanks for the laugh! your bird reminds me in many ways of our bearded dragon lizard, malduney, who will remain in the silliest positions for hours. yay for quirky exotic pets! :)

(06.25.10 @ 04:24 PM)
shannon leith says:

ha! teri........ so funny!!

(06.25.10 @ 11:04 PM)
Claire says:

HA! I love it.

(06.28.10 @ 11:20 AM)
Jeanette says:

Thank you for your sweet words!
You really made my day

I love your blog, your photos and Cosmo ;)

(06.29.10 @ 01:48 PM)
maren mcmillan says:

that is sooo funnnneeeee

(07.05.10 @ 04:10 PM)
Suzanne says:

Gosh, that is so darn funny and cute!

(07.08.10 @ 10:32 AM)
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Monday, June 21, 2010
IMG_1218.jpg
okay, he wins the quirky cute YOURE MELTING ME award.

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Jennifer Hood says:

This is sooo precious! i want one!

(06.21.10 @ 05:56 PM)
Shannon Garcia says:

Oh my goodness. I miss my tiels... what a great photo :D

(06.21.10 @ 09:43 PM)
jennifer young says:

oh my! such a cutie! lovin' the head tilt!
j.

(06.22.10 @ 12:57 PM)
elizabeth says:

I ADORE this photo! it's fabulous!

(06.22.10 @ 10:06 PM)
Stefan says:

agreed!!!

(07.01.10 @ 11:48 PM)
Ronnie says:

Awesome, love it!

(07.03.10 @ 01:45 AM)
maren mcmillan says:

god .. he is soooooooooo cute

(07.05.10 @ 04:12 PM)
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