Inspiration Thursday #1: Timothy Archibald

I decided that a lot of blogs have weekly "theme" posts, so I wanted to start my own. I am constantly being bombarded by artists, (mainly photographers) that people like, or that my work reminds me of such-and-such artist. So starting today, every Thursday will be dubbed "Inspiration Thursday" where I will enlighten my (small, but present) audience to an artist I think you guys will enjoy.

This week: Timothy Archibald

(All images in this post are credit to the artist, and not me whatsoever -- though I wish I had his talent.)

"I’m the photographer agencies call to make empathetic photographs of things that are a little bit different, a little bit curious. Human, humorous and sometimes subversive, these qualities seem to surface in every project we take on.

I was fortunate to discover photography as a teenager. At that time photography was this license to meet people and enter worlds unlike my own. Having the power to enter other cultures different from the suburban world I lived in was a powerful tool for a kid to have.

After leaving school with a degree in Art, I began using this human curiosity to support myself. Editorial photography allowed me to explore the subjects I was fascinated with: learn about them, humanize them, and view them with the full range of human emotions they deserved, in conjunction with a voice that was uniquely my own."

 I am completely compelled by his series called, Echolalia, which depicts portraits of his autistic son throughout the years of his youth. As someone who is very close to someone who is on the autism spectrum (my own brother was diagnosed when he was three) I feel like he captured the distance one feels when dealing with someone with this disorder -- at the same time his photos convey feelings of so much love and compassion for his son. I am simply stunned.

Check out his website which contains more awesome work here, 

or learn how to buy his photobook, Echolilia, here.

Like it? Hate it? Tell me in the comments below!

Meine Berliner Familie

I have been feeling a little uneasy lately. Maybe it's because of certain circumstances in my life, maybe it's because the end of the semester always carries some kind of emotion. I received a package yesterday from Germany, and I cannot express how happy it made me. My uneasiness quickly turned to reminiscing about my short study-abroad in Berlin, Germany a few years ago now.

I stayed with Juergen and Hanne, both of whom were pharmacists, and their teenage daughter, Clara. They were seriously the sweetest people I could have ever asked for as hosts. Every morning they made sure I ate before I left, and within 3 weeks I had become fully accustomed to walking to the U-bahn. I felt like I lived there, and their neighborhood was so quaint and lovely. I had the time of my life, and when I left they said I could come back any time. (Had I not bought my ticket home already, I would have stayed longer.)

In any case, I received this package from them yesterday. Made my day -- no, made my week.

 

The card reads, "Dear Cassie, We wish you and your family a happy Christmas and a ... (I can't read his writing!) and interesting new year! We miss you and hope you are doing well! Your Berlin Family, Hanne, Juergen, and Clara." So much candy! Knoppers are so good... and a Milke Santa? Simply divine.

For anyone who is curious, I took German in highschool and into my freshmen year of college (then studied abroad that first summer into college.) When I transferred, I had to cut back because the German class schedule was so intense, but I'm hoping to finish my minor before I graduate.

Tell me how your week is going in the comments!

Lazy Weekends

      Next week is my last full week of class for the semester, and while usually this is the time of year where I'm usually scrambling to get work done, I have never felt calmer than I do now. I know exactly what I need to do, and I've left ample to for it to be done. So I've been relaxing this weekend ... taking long showers (my mom bought me a Crumb Cake soap is from Earthway Soap last year, the boyfriend says I now smell like apple pie), snuggling, talking to one of the best friends about boys, and trying to clean up the place.

View from my apartment

On top of that, I've realized I have a very close neighbor...

      Decidedly, I've dubbed myself the Snow White of Boston. I realized it when I saw something sprint by my window yesterday and scratch at my screen. There this little guy was, just sitting there looking in. As soon as I got my camera he/she has dashed into the tree again, but he/she came back a little while later, and also back today. Maybe I'll leave some peanut butter crackers on my windowsill.

In any case, I hope you're having a good weekend.