Inside Out // Communicating Through Photography

Dear Wanderers, 

Words often fail me.  I always have so much to say, but feel a struggle to paint an accurate picture.  The nuances are so important to me. 

With a camera in my hands, I can create a really specific point of view.  It's never bothered me that people may interpret my images differently than I do, because most often, I expressed exactly what I meant. Something I could never say with words. 

There are moments where light flutters around someone and I feel that I've captured something of the beauty that's inside them and it's such a moment of peace for me.  I hold my breath and shut out most sound. I feel like I'm simultaneously flying and so calm.  It's a bubbling up of energy that breaks my heart open; I shoot and then exhale knowing I gave something back.  I captured some wonder.  

I live for those little moments when I'm saying exactly what I mean.  People can look at the image and interpret it with whatever filter they bring. However, I have peace in knowing I said exactly what I wanted to, to the best of my ability. 

The muses and I communicated.  And the photograph is left over as a souvenir.  A little bit of proof that life is wonderful.

There is great happiness in saying just what you meant and putting it out there.

xoxo

S.

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4 Things // The Land of Fire & Ice

Iceland yay! Our trip is finally here.  We made it! The midnight sun is beautiful.  It never really sets.  It's hard to ever go to sleep when everything is so beautiful.

Adventuring : Frolicking around with Mike in a Kukucamper and having total freedom to go where we want.  Our cute camper has a bed and a stove. 

Eating : Mike cooks us eggs and bacon with Cafe Moto coffee on the edges of cliffs with the most extraordinary views.

Photographing : The living watercolor that gives Iceland a new landscape around every bend.

Dreaming of : Right here, right now.

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Inside Out :: Healing

Dear Wanderers,

I remember a girl named Kristen at art school. She was creating an album for a class assignment that documented her injuries. She had 4x6 prints and even a few polaroid images. The image spanned several images. Cuts. Bruises. The usual injuries in life. The album I turned in was a collection of images I shot in Cuba a few months before. My class spent seven days in Havana exploring the arts and meeting so many interesting people. 

This year has been a tough one. My brother has labeled it "The year of hospitals". My friend Brian, who has lost greatly this year, has labeled it "The best summer ever". Really, what choice do we have?

My heart is frayed. Mike and I are torn around the edges. This summer, my dad will start chemo, so we will rally. This is a fight he will win. There has been so much heartbreaking loss and terrible diagnoses that we have fought and ran from. Right now, we are going to fight a very contained lung cancer and win. I know to be hopeful, but shadows of loved ones lost knock me over now and again.

I keep getting a bruise on my right arm. It’s on my inner bicep. It looks like someone tried to grab me. I’m pretty sure its from the metal on my camera strap. Every time I see it, I have that feeling of falling down, of having too much on my plate.

I’m the type of person who counts my blessings. This season of amazing events running alongside heartbreaking events is a confusing one. I’m looking to heal and express these feelings that are leaving me so raw. I don’t want to make a list of the tragedies. It’s not my way. I also don’t want to be too quiet or I may find myself breaking down and falling apart by the smallest of bruises. 

So if anyone is interested in having the best summer ever, I’m your girl. I’m here to celebrate the small, beautiful moments and count them as victories. I want to honor these painful moments with living thoughtfully and enthusiastically.

To everything - turn, turn, turn

Love always,

Suzanne

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4 Things // Tropical Weddings

Hi Friends,

It's been a happy week of weddings and more on the horizon. Thanks for sharing your special adventures with us. 

Watching : Newsies Broadway & Camp David at the Old Globe.

Photographing : Kristen and Nik's tropical wedding at the Bali Hai. Yay.

Dreaming of : This coming weekend I am headed to Cabo for my friend Erica's wedding. #firsttimetocabo #ericaanddrewarerad

Organizing : We are going to start a video blogging series.  We've been doing some tests and you'll see Mike's mug soon.

xoxo

Suzanne, Mike and the Wanderers

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