I heart film.

A little over a year ago I bought a Canon Ae-1 and last week I found the first roll of film I shot on it and finally had it processed (Its been a crazy year ok, in the middle of being pregnant, giving birth and raising a baby I sort of misplaced a lot of things).  But honestly, this highlighted for me why I love film so much and why I have been missing it for the instant-gratification take-as-many-frames as you want digital format.

Film slows me down.  I shoot methodically, carefully and deliberately.  I think about what I am looking at, I study the light, I think about the consequences of different exposures.  I study the frame and am more aware of composition.  And then, when a roll is finished...I wait.  I am removed from the moment, the scene, my thought process and when I get the processed results I see it with fresh eyes.

I love the whole process (even more so when I can get in the darkroom and process and print myself).  Digital has done great things for photography but for me, the art form is so intrinsically linked to film.  The different images you can create with different cameras and types of film is, to me, impossible to replicate digitally (don't even get me started on the difference between a silver oxide  print and an ink one).

(these images were taken in Poland last September).

Côte d'Azur

For almost a year now, I have been preoccupied with Provence. I have been obsessed with the food and flavors of the region - fresh goat cheese & olives, roasted lamb, scallops, sardines, fresh herbs, Rosé, and of course truffles. I feel like this past year I have been discovering what so many foodies already have - that Provence might just be heaven on earth.


Even though we live (relatively) close to there - it seemed like some exotic, far away place that I would probably never visit until I was old and rich (ha!). Yet somehow, as we tried to find a place to go for a last minute save-our-sanity getaway over the Easter holiday (a trip that would probably be Cory's only break from work for the year), we found ourselves booking plane tickets to Nice.

I'm not gonna lie. It was everything I ever dreamed of. It was a beautiful blue water, delicious local wines, Tapinade from Nicois olives on fresh croutons (um yes please for every meal thank you), and the warmest, friendliest people like, ever.

I completely fell in love. The trip was just what we needed to sooth our haggard souls after a long, stern winter in Berlin (which doesn't exactly bring out the best in people). Fresh air, a slower pace, good food and stellar service everywhere we went. Its amazing what seeing smiling faces can do for you. Its no wonder the French Riviera has been the escape of artists, poets, and royalty for centuries. Lucky for us, its just as enjoyable for regular folk too :)

(if you are one of the like three people who cares, you can see more photos on Flickr)

Where have I been?!

The past few months seem like they have gone by in about 1 nanosecond. I left for a long trip to the United States on December 15 (my first trip home in the year and half I have lived in Germany) and got sick pretty much the day I was supposed to come home. After long flights and a long recovery from a nasty virus and lots and lots of snow in Berlin, I am finally coming up for air.



Before I got sick though, that trip in beautiful and sunny Southern California was awesome. I got to take advantage of the exchange rate and do some shopping, eat all the fish tacos I could, drive around in my parents convertible, and even spend some time on the beach. The weather was positively dreamy and I soaked up all of the sun's warm rays that I could, hoping that they would carry me through the winter (January still almost killed me with the lack of sun and ridiculously cold temperatures in Berlin).



I also got to play with my camera quite a bit - including making my cute 15 year old (almost 16! woohoo!) sister and her BFF model for me while I got a bit of much needed practice with my speedlite. We had so much fun taking the photos and enjoying the sun (they even took me out to an awesome Hawaiian cafe after where I got to indulge in some kalua pig and mac salad....mmmm hawaiian food....).



It was a lovely trip that made me miss Berlin terribly while also wanting to move back to SoCal. That is the problem of moving around so much - you never quite feel planted and always find yourself missing someplace else, no matter where you are.

Istanbul

This is the reason I haven't posted in awhile...because I was away in a breathtakingly beautiful city. Istanbul is full of friendly people, pretty light, great sites and Turkish Delight (which I could not get enough of). I loved it! I hope someday I can go visit more of Turkey.

More pictures here if you are interested.

Paris

A few weeks ago my camera and I got to get away for a few days and go explore Paris. I was there for almost 3 days and couldn't seem to pry myself away from the Eiffel Tower. I loved photographing it from almost every angle at every time of day.

I was loving all the adorable carousels as well...they seem to be everywhere and are so colorful and play this adorable french children's music.

While Paris wasn't my favorite city I have visited in Europe (that would be Rome, and of course Berlin!) I found it very inspiring artistically. Everything there is just so....stylish, and pretty and classic. The people, the architecture, the food - it all looks gorgeous. Really, I have never been anywhere where even just the people commuting on the metro look like they were dressed by the fashion editor from Vogue, every bakery's window looked like it was dressed for the cover of Gourmet, and all the architecture made me feel like I was in a moody and mysterious Film Noir classic.

Roman Holiday

Rome is such a beautifully photogenic place...full of bright colored buildings with shuttered windows and flower boxes, winding cobblestone streets, lively Plazas with stunning fountains, and architecture, art, and ancient ruins everywhere you look. The city feels more alive then anywhere I think I have ever visited.







I could have spent the entire time photographing the Tiber river that runs through the center of the city. The bridges spanning it are all adorned with sculptures, adorable light posts, and bricked arches that match the ancient architecture of the city.







The ancient sites and architecture are truly spectacular. It is so amazing to learn about the ancient history and civilization as you walk through the sites themselves. Cory loved seeing the buildings up close that he had studied and used for reference so often.







And of course, the art at the Vatican. Gazing up at Michelangelo's work in the Sistine Chapel, seeing the enormous collection of marble sculpture, and the giant frescoes by Raphael was a special experience. I actually wasn't even that excited about visiting the Vatican beforehand - but the art there just absolutely takes your breath away (even if it is sometimes hard to see amidst the massive crowds that are shuffling through the narrow corridors).







No trip to Rome could possibly be complete without visiting a few of its staggering amount of cathedrals and crypts. The sheer size of St.Peters, the intricacy of some of the alters, the mind-blowing age of some of the buildings - and of course some of the totally bizarre and disturbing crypts (the last picture is of one in particular where they bury - and display - monks).







Of course the highlight for me was the food and Gelato. I have been cooking nothing but Italian food since I left! The best ice cream I have ever had in my life is the last photo - from a place near the Trevi Fountain called San Crispino. Try the Meringue.

I left my heart in Rome

What an amazing city...so much history, so much life....so much good food! I almost died I loved the food so much. Don't even get me started on the Gelato and Granita...and let me tell you, a lemon Granita is about the perfect thing when its 105 degrees outside and you have just finished your bajillionth walking tour. Oh my, how I loved Rome.

I finally got my computer and internet up and running in my new flat today so it won't be long before I have more photos to share with you. It will be hard to focus on that though when I am so busy trying to figure out how soon I can get back to Italy while enjoying the gorgeous Berlin summer on my new Roof Terrace.

La Dolce Vida, no?

(actually....not entirely! Plenty of posts to come soon on the not-so-fun aspects of moving, being an immigrant and traveling...but lets focus on the postive for now mmmkay? )

Enchanting Egypt

Whew! I have finally made it through my nearly one-thousand images from the trip! Following are the highlights, if you'd like to see the whole set go HERE.