Dearest friends,

I am writing to you from the Pacific Northwest, from a cozy living room decorated with succulents and books and adorned with travel trinkets warmed in sunshine, hello! I've been journeying west for weeks, shooting bundles of film in the process.

These images were taken with my iphone. I wish I could share my film with you, but it's currently in storage; I am SO ANXIOUS to share my journey with you, soon.






Longing for a change of scenery, at the end of June I ventured westward; driving only U.S. roads from New York to Seattle, taking a few weeks, most often camping, swimming in lakes, hiking, and venturing through small towns, documenting my travels on film. There really is nothing like wind in the hair, and dusty roads and the kindness of strangers.






My experiences in Seattle have made me miss New Yorkers like you wouldn't believe. I'm grateful for familiar faces and warm hugs from long time pals that I grew up with, and consider family.

All in all, I've been adventuring, I've been journeying homeward, reconnecting with good friends and learning a great deal about myself and about people in the process.




 

I have more exploring and adventuring to do, so if you'd like, find me via Instagram, where I have been sharing tidbits of my whereabouts these last weeks. My username is “jenkorff”

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A bit of fun news!

I've recently landed a children's book illustration gig with one of my favorite clients and I can't wait to share more about that with you in the coming months.

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Also! I am TEACHING at SQUAM for their Fall Session this September! If you are interested in joining my class, registration is still open! I can't wait to be back east during my favorite month of the year, and am so anxious to connect with a handful of awe inspiring ladies.


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AND last, but certainly not least, I am really thrilled to share the news that Sian Keegan's first craft book which I photographed (ON FILM!) for Sian last summer, ”How to Make Stuffed Animals: Modern, Simple Patterns and Instructions for 18 Projects” has an OFFICIAL release date of AUGUST 1! TOMORROW! I am so proud of the work we put into this book and had the best time working with Sian. Pick up a copy!

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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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

I'd like to drink this many bottles of wine in my lifetime.





I could definitely go for an afternoon bench conversation with another local, retired austrian man with a great haircut and linen blazer.





Such wonderful, long indian summer days.





And the styrian pumpkin seed oil is so nice! (They dress all of their salads with it)
I'm glad we brought the taste of styria home with us.

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I've posted a new set of photographs from Graz on my website. Feel free to view them HERE.

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mamiya c3 tlr; 120 portra 400

After a bit of breakfast...





...on my second day in Graz, I climbed what everyone referred to as the Schloß (short for Schloßberg); a hill topped by a castle, in the center of the city of Graz, Austria.







Graz (aka the city of design) is even more lovely when viewed from above... the kunsthaus looked pretty cool from up there.

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mamiya c3; 120 portra 400

There's a lot of shopping in Graz; it's pretty posh. But I loved the markets the most.

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mamiya c3 tlr; ektar 100, portra 160

We were put up in the festival district and so I didn't have to walk very far to see some really beautiful things. On the afternoon I arrived I popped into the Kunsthaus to see Ai Weiwei's Interlacing. 

We've been listening to this music stream quite a bit lately, and loving it.

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If you would like to see my photographs from Zagreb, I've posted most of them HERE.

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mamiya c3 tlr, minolta xg-m; portra 160

my guy is flown to some cool places sometimes and when I’m able to join him he is usually pretty busy doing work, but I love the moments when I get him all to myself. Even if it’s just to share a bit of time over coffee for a few minutes.





The quiet moments when I'm not really doing anything at all are my favorites. Like when I’m futzing about our room after a long afternoon nap and take a picture looking out of our hotel window.




And then turn to do the same of our mussy bed. Because these are the moments worth really remembering I think.  

A new lovely view. Someone will come to make the bed. No kitty litter to tend to. No laundry to do. And another lovely coffee waiting for me just around the corner...

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mamiya c3 tlr; 120 portra 160

“My friends are scattered all over the earth, and this is evidence of my age.”
--- via Mending the great forest highway, ehhad





Our days were long and hot and our nights were cool and celebratory.




Such a lovely little town to stumble upon. More soon.

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If you haven't heard the new feist, I highly recommend it: take a listen

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mamiya c3 tlr, minolta xg-m; portra 400

hey hey from Austria.

The indian summer heat we've had in these parts of eastern europe has been truly idyllic. So happy to have had this time.... so lucky to have met so many wonderful people and so grateful for my stolen holiday visiting with a few of my favorites. I'll be leaving a bit of my heart behind here for sure.... but taking so much with me.

more soon.

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above: wandering a favorite haunt; franklin street in brooklyn...

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mamiya c3 tlr; 120 kodak portra 400

We've been in Austin and don't want to leave. (crossing my fingers Chicago embraces spring by the time we get back next week). A bit of this and that from today:

a relaxing brunch in the city, cold brew at Frank, baja shrimp tacos at Torchy's truck on S. Lamar, a dip in the pool, Cedric Andrieux/Jérôme Bel at the Long Center, drinks with friends on the eastside, with a bit of work in between. good stuff.

Leila's shop, Shoreditch, London.

I walked from our flat in Dalston to meet a friend. Was a nice breakfast here (warning: eggs are drenched in oil!) but most of all I loved how the little man in the kitchen kept popping out to wipe the steamy windows. Such charm!

Been meaning to watch Whale Rider. I've heard such good things.

Sitting in a café called Zazu's Kitchen in stokes croft drawing my surroundings while enjoying a tea and risotto. I'd like to be back in this moment.

a few more journal drawings from england.

well hung

I'm packing/sorting and settling any last minute loose ends before I'm off to England for a month. So I'm feeling a bit scatterbrained this weekend. Best to leave you with a bit of inspiration. I'll be thinking about these images quite a bit over these next few days.

The top photo is mine but click on the links below for a better view of these other lovely photographs.

1. Untitled, by Katherine Squier 2. Untitled, by Stefano Marchionini 3. Untitled, by Joshua Whitelaw 4. Untitled, by Will Govus 5. autumn blues, by Jördis Anderson 6. northern expedition, by Rebecca Genet 7. Untitled, by Christian Pitschl 8. roadtrip, by Johanna

out and about in and around san francisco

Memories of a town swallowed by the sea

lauren nassef :: a drawing a day her work is so elegant and delicate.

keibunsha books

Making messes cooking in the kitchen this past week has kept me happy while the sun was away, but it finally reared its head yesterday. Oh thank goodness. Let's hope the sunshine has plans to stick around for a while.

S is preparing for a trip to work abroad and premiere a work in progress performance at the PSI Conference in Zagreb, Croatia... and I think our boys are suspicious of his actions. :)

Remember my post about Maya Lin's Storm King Wavefield? Her website plays a beautiful melody.

More beautiful sounds.

Interview Project. Gordon lives in Moab, Utah, one of my favorite places to visit...

In austin I found a mint vintage yashica electro 35 gsn rangefinder at uncommon objects on south congress. I'm so happy about that find..

while flying home i came across this passage reading dave eggers's the only meaning of the oil-wet water:

low-flying, quick moving clouds: I haven't long to live.

treetops, rounded and rough: That's probably true.

low-flying, quick moving clouds: I won't even make it to the sea. I can already see where I'll end.

treetops, rounded and rough: I don't know what to tell you.

low-flying, quick moving clouds: But the thing is, I really love moving like this, though I know I won't even make it.

treetops, rounded and rough: There are advantages to flight.

low-flying, quick moving clouds: But thought is its unfitting companion.

so fitting... isn't it? it was really wonderful watching the boys perform their latest in austin.