Photography > Stifado event at Spata!

On Saint Peter's day there's an event at Spata (the town that I'm living), in which people are cooking, from previous night "Stifado" -a great, Greek dish- in large quantities and then they sell it in the morning. Basically, it's kind of a ritual.

It was my first time attending the event and I had a blast taking some pictures, early in the morning.

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Photography > Man smoking in Notara str, Exarcheia

Some days ago, while I was trying to find a parking spot for my car at downtown Athens, I came across to this guy that he was smoking in his balcony, at Notara str. I was blown away because his whole look (even the way he was smoking) was too Miami-sh.

Here’s a detail of the photo:

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Photography, inspiration > Old sign in Metaxourgeio!

Found this, while I was walking from my morning job (Omonoia square) to the Greek Designers Association (Metaksourgeio). I love vintage typography. Here’s a detail. “Καλύτερα” means “better”…

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Silhouette families - Post Number two!

Last week Greta posted about her gorgeous silhouette art works she'd made of her children - I just loved them to pieces.

I was going to copy her and make some of my own...but at my work at the moment, I'm learning how to use computer graphics programmes to 'clear cut' images - which means removing the background around an image of a person or object, to make it look a bit more arty on your website.

So I wondered about trying to combine the two, and with the help of Google found two tutorials that explain how to a) clear cut and b) turn into a silhouette!

At home I use paint.net (a free downloadable version of paint that is one step up, and more like photoshop) so these instructions here and here worked a treat. I would really recommend downloading paint.net if you are into graphics and creating art on the computer.

Once I had taken the photos to get the image for the silhouettes (like Greta, I took individual photos of our family against white backgrounds) I then imported the pictures into paint.net and followed the instructions. Then I googled 'family tree silhouette image' and found a couple of trees I liked the look of (make sure to choose images as big as you can, not clip art size - or they come out too pixelated), and started layering up the images on top of each other in paint.net, to create the over-all effect.

Print it on a computer and away you go!

Next I might do it again, but 'inverse' the lines into white, and print on a bright coloured piece of paper.

But I'm not sure which tree I like better - perhaps the coloured one will fit in best in the family room.

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Lovely Characters in My City.

At this past Friday's Downtown Bangor ArtWalk, my studio gave away free portraits to anyone who walked in to check out our business. Here are some of the great people from my city ... and even a sweet puppy ...

Truth be told, the woman in the red dress did not come into the studio on her own. I saw her passing by and yelled down the street to her, "Miss, I WANT TO TAKE A PICTURE OF YOU!". To which she simply turned her head, followed me, and entered the studio. I am not even sure if we exchanged words. She was just too cute to pass up.

So, our free portraits were a great success. And I hope to offer more freebie sessions in the future --- so that folks can see how fun and inexpensive a great photo shoot can be.

Thank you to all who participated! And for those who didn't ... we will get ya next time :)

Love,

Jodi

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Happy Easter!

Nikon D300: $1,500.00

Nikon 50mm Lens: $130.00

Box of Little Chicks: $2.99

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Time Spent Photographing My "Peeps" Photographing One Another: PRICELESS.

We hope you enjoy your peeps too! Happy Easter. And Happy Spring.

Love,

Jodi, Halis & Isaac

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The Studio - so far.

There was a time, seemingly long ago, when I posted to this blog daily. Since deciding to open my own photography studio --- well --- not so much. And I miss it. Heck, I miss alot of things now that my life has taken this new direction --- but it is all good. Truly.

Last night we celebrated the holidays with a Holiday Open House & Craft Fair at Studio 36. It was simply wonderful! We had 9 vendors selling and trading their wares --- many, many lovely friends and family members dropped by to purchase goodies, eat cookies and share conversation --- new friendships were formed --- and the children enjoyed one another almost as much as the endless bowls of cookies. It was a great night. (Thank you to all who came!).

It was such a fun night that I had no time to photograph it. I am bummed about that. But you will just have to trust me --- it was a really great time.

I do however, have some pics to share of Halis and Isaac modeling for me at the studio so that I could play with my new lighting equipment:

Believe me, I see the "issues" with some of the above pics ... and am still working on mastering my new lighting equipment. And thanks to my men ... I will always have willing models to help me get it right.

Next week, several of my young friends are coming together at the studio to organize some gifts for our local Ronald McDonald House and our Maine Veterans Home. Hopefully I will remember to take pictures :)

Have a great weekend! And thanks for reading.

Love,

Jodi

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The Studio Has a Name.

Thanks to my BFF for this logo design. We are still working on the final design ... and will show it soon. For now, I am up to my eyeballs with studio preperations, furniture, lighting, etc. Will post again soon.

Thank you to everyone who has sent their encouragements. You all rock!

Love,
Jodi

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The Studio.

Have you heard --- through my Twitter or Facebook --- that I am leasing an incredible property in downtown Bangor to begin my own photography studio? I am both elated and sick to my stomach. This is the big time. I had only put my want for a studio space out into the Universe on Wednesday ... and by Friday it came to me and bonked me on the head (with the help of a close friend). It is more ideal than I could even try to express here and the following pics are not going to do it justice what-so-ever. Let me just tell you that as I looked around the place ... I cried ... as it was as if it was built just for me. Seriously.

I brought along two friends with me ... one to keep me grounded ... and the other to push me forward. They were a perfect blend ... and both agreed that this space exuded "Jodi".

So ... here are the pics ... please try to imagine the space as a whole ... and without the ladders, mops, paint buckets, etc. Please also try to imagine that I can take much better pics than these ... and was just snapping away very quickly in order to show my husband ...

There are actually two more rooms that are not shown here. And of course ... the store front. I will try to take better pics asap. Until then, I am busy coming up with a name, filing all business paperwork, and getting my gear in order. (Also need to buy furniture, etc...etc...) Busy days ahead!

Thanks to so many of you for being so encouraging of my new venture. xoxo

Love,

Jodi

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Promoting Maine.

A representative of the Maine Office of Tourism recently wrote me --- asking if they could obtain rights to use one of my photos (shown below). I agreed to allow them, signed a small contract, and am now looking forward to seeing how they make use of it.


It is not the first time that I have given some rights to others to use my work ... but this one feels a bit more exciting than the rest (calendars, news articles, etc) because my pic may be used to promote the state I love so very much. AND because the pic is of my husband and son (though faces are not seen) enjoying a sled ride down one of our fave local hills.


So - here is hoping that the photo will be put to fun use ... and that I will one day catch sight of it somewhere unexpected :)


Love,
Jodi

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Wordless Wednesday : The Last of the Fall Foliage.

Love,
Jodi

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A Walk in the Woods on an Autumn Afternoon.

Can't you just smell it? The autumn scents that are conveyed in these pics? So yummy.

Or do you feel the cool, musty breeze?

What does fall look, feel and smell like in your neck of the woods?

Love,

Jodi

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This Morning.

I stepped outside at sunrise this morning --- for the first time in years (I am not a morning person) --- and here is the beauty I encountered:

One-Eyed Jack crowed to the morning sunshine.

I greeted my sweet goat "Me" --- and when I went to feed her --- I noticed ---

--- that the newest batch of chicks has taken up residence in the goat barn ---

and --- a mouse has taken up residence in the feed bin.

I took a little walk and enjoyed seeing the morning dew sprinkled along all the wildflowers.

And I spied a spider grabbing its first meal of the day.

As I ended my morning exploration of our small farm --- making my way to the front door --- this creature (my Mom's cat) came underfoot --- trying to get friendly with me. (Keep dreaming kitty.)

Aside from the unwanted kitty (though she did make for a great photo op) --- it was a pleasure to explore a simple morning on our simple farm.

I will try to do it again --- at least for the photo opportunites that such a venture provides.

Enjoy your day!

Love,

Jodi

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