Hi dear friends. Just a final bid of farewell til next year from this space; I’ve been pondering this incredibly full year of ours, which has been brimming with so many good things. With great friends in town from far away places, and loved ones embracing the sweetness of the year with a little help from our bundles of cookie love sent all over the world, I have immense joy in looking to the new year with wide eyes in anticipation of many more exciting things to come.

A few scenes from our holiday, which has been perfect in every way. Just me and my guy and new york. Celebrating our last days of 2011 in the best of ways; out on the town, on long walks out to dinner or a movie and to see the lights in the neighborhood, and my favorite, just us two, at home doing what we do best.

I'll have one more post to share this year, and then it’s onward to 2012!
See you back here in a bit, friends.

I delight in our dear friend Lin’s exclamation, “cookie madness!” in response to the bundle of cookies we gifted them last year.

I baked over 10 dozen cookies this weekend (definitely cookie madness!).

These cookies are becoming my holiday tradition. (Heidi, you’re a genius) We love them. I’m a huge fan of a spicy/savory cookie. (Ideally, nothing too terribly sweet) And so, I’ve conjured up a new cookie recipe this year to accompany Heidi’s ginger gems, inspired by these lovely darlings. They’re perfect.

I wandered into luddite and met rebecca the other day. Turns out they relocated to their new franklin street location about the same time we landed in greenpoint, nearly five months ago.

I love having prop rental / antique spots so close to home. But more than that, I love walking our neighborhood and feeling truly home. That's a beautiful thing.

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A bit of news....

This past July, I was delighted to be asked to photograph Sian Keegan’s first craft book, How to Make Stuffed Animals: Modern Simple Projects, Patterns, and Instructions for 18 Animals Friends. I had such a fun time working alongside Sian over the summer shooting her adorable projects! What a whirlwind it was....  I literally jumped right into shooting Sian's book the moment we moved to New York.

Published by Quarry Books, the official release will be summer of 2012.... so I'll be posting a bit more about our shoot, with outtakes and fun tid-bits in the months to come...

But in the meantime!.....you can pre-order a copy of Sian's book HERE.

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In other news....

I am thrilled to be teaching TWO full-day photography workshops at Squam for their Autumn 2012 retreat. Located at Squam lakes in New Hampshire complete with cozy cabins and our own fireplaces..... well,  I know it will be five days of just what the doctor ordered.....

Registration is January 9, so I'll post a bit more about registration details in a few weeks.

working / soaking in all of this sun in these last days of autumn.

.... and listening to this guy.

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mamiya c3; 120 fujipro 400h film

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above, a very early breakfast at home. Right now i'm attempting brilliance in a cafe / working on a project. I find i switch up my cafe in the hopes that each will inspire productivity in a new/different/exciting way. The afternoon sun is warming my cheeks and glaring this screen a bit, so I may not be so lucky in this spot. All I'd like to do is close my eyes and feel the sun on my cheeks, instead of working. So needless, some cafes are more successful than others.

I could also probably sit here for a while and pontificate on my macchiato, and the perfect ratio of espresso to milk, but I should probably try to get back to work.

more soon.

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my lately; a stroll with family and loved ones through prospect park over the holiday. Even though the rain clouds came just after we entered the park  (as they always, always seem to when I go to prospect!) ... it was perfect.

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mamiya c3; 120 fuji 400h film

 





A few weeks ago I met up with a handful of really beautiful ladies for an early morning coffee and a little stroll of the high line. Was just lovely.

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mamiya c3; 120 Fuji 400H films

A bit of house cleaning news today. 
I've rearranged the site a bit. 

Also!.....

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Stephen and I spent a great deal of time in Stokes Croft, Bristol this time last year whilst Stephen was on tour/performing/teaching in the UK. Our flat was in Stokes Croft and lucky for us, HERE Gallery was right around the corner.... such a great little bookshop/art gallery/neighborhood spot.




above:  "painting of my camera"  by Aaron Sewards for Tom Cops new book "MIDWEST".


More to the point, a great friend of a friend, Tom Cops has a lovely show up at HERE this month featuring portrait and landscape photographs he took on his My Two Toms' 2010 American tour with Charlie Parr.




There are actually only a few more days to catch the show, but Tom's book from the show, MIDWEST is on sale if you're interested. It all looks so wonderful. Wish we could be there to see it! If you're in Bristol, I'd pop in if you can.

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I picked up My Two Toms most recent LP from the shop last year. Our pal Joff has a bit of artwork on this one. It's really great.

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The kind people at "It's Nice That" posted an interview with Tom over here.


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We took a day trip upstate last Saturday, November 5; Shared a hot cocoa and a cookie, and it was magical.

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mamiya c3 tlr; 120 kodak ektar 100 and fuji 400H films

I'm a big fan of homemade granola and I think I just conjured up my winning recipe. This stuff is the best. (I admit I'm totally the kind-of baker that switches it up every time I have at a recipe, but this one is worth noting.)


My all new go-to granola recipe from this day forth

recipe inspired by this and this



Dry Ingredients:

3 Cups rolled oats; from our local grocery bulk bin

1 Cup raw pecans; I use Jr. Mammoth pecans & break them up into quarter-sized pieces

1 Cup raw sprouted sunflower seeds; I use go raw

1 Cup raw sprouted pumpkin seeds; I use go raw

1/3 Cup dried sour cherries

3/4 Cup light brown sugar

2 tsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp salt


Wet ingredients:

3T + 1tsp safflower oil

1/3 C + 1T brown rice syrup

1/4 C honey

Pre-heat oven to 300ºF


In a large bowl, toss all dry ingredients together. With your favorite wooden spoon, mix well to combine.


In a small bowl, combine all wet ingredients together. With the same wooden spoon, stir well to combine.


Pour the wet mixture into the dry mixture. Using a little elbow grease, stir your granola until well combined; all ingredients will be slightly dampened by the wet ingredients and will be wafting of cinnamon-y goodness.


Divide up your granola onto two prepared baking sheets. Leave a few clumps here and there for texture; doesn't have to be perfect.


Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until evenly light-golden brown; (I prefer this granola to be on the lighter side of golden; so not too dark toasty brown.) While baking, feel free to open the oven and stir your granola at the 20 minute mark to be sure it browns evenly and/or switch your sheet pans so the pan that was baking on the top rack is now baking on the bottom. This helps the even browning quite a bit.


When ready, remove from the oven to cool. Be sure to stir and break up your granola from time to time, while it's cooling, to prevent it from clumping too much. When cooled completely, your granola will be crisp; not quite the sticky & soft stuff you removed from the oven.


Store in an air tight bag or container. Refrigerate to keep it fresh.


Yields about 10 Cups


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mamiya c3 tlr; fuji pro 400H film

At the Stone Gate (Kamenita vrata*) at the top of Radićeva street in Gornji Grad, Zagreb there is a little, hidden nook where people go to light candles; it's a place to make a wish and it is believed by many locals that if you make a wish and light a candle here it will be granted. I just really like being there. I remember when we first traveled to Zagreb a few years ago, how I was taken by the mood that lingered there. I visited this spot a few times during that first trip, mostly just slowly wandering past on my way to the top of the hill. It was my desired route; a really beautiful addition to my day to see people of all ages come and go lighting candles and making wishes. This time around, I stood with my tea a bit longer and felt a little more comfortable taking pictures.

It definitely feels intense at times, but mostly it just feels hopeful. On my next visit I think I'll be a bit more brave, and make a wish.

*thanks, Isidora

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I really like what molly recently wrote about a place she likes to visit in paris.

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mamiya c3 tlr; 120 ektar 100 film

Zagreb but mostly Graz in black and white.

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minolta xg-m; ilford HP5

a hodgepodge of memories from the beginning of this month.

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The sun has been shining all day, and all remnants of winter melted for now. We have warmer weather in our near future; thank goodness!

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I've made a handful of updates to my website lately; Feel free to take a peak:
GRAZ | MY ZAGREB | TO MARKET | OUT & ABOUT

Happy Sunday.

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mamiya c3 tlr; minolta xg-m; various films