Andy at the Taj

At the end of last month I set out on an adventure with my brother and John of Batdorff Photography to India.  It’s not until now that I’ve been able to process what that experience meant.  One evening in Varanasi was particularly crazy cool and John summed it up best with “Dorothy’s Tornado.”  The name was fitting for that experience in the back alleys of Varanasi, but it was also a great description for the entire whirlwind of a trip that India turned out to be.  Colorful characters, cows, bicycles, and spices spun around us while we made our way through Delhi, Haridwar, Varanasi, Agra, Jaipur and back to Delhi again.  Some of those photos can be seen in the Photo Gallery by clicking on the side bar.  Stay tuned for a video montage of the trip…

Bear X-ing, (ISO 400, 12mm, f/4, 1/2000s)

I posted this for Batdorff Photography‘s weekend post last Sunday, but would like to include it here as well.  I was having coffee with my longtime friend last week and even though we haven’t lived in the same town in over six years it’s still as if she lives two blocks away.  She was updating me on her week, her students, the leadership conference she recently attended, and her life as a “grown up.”  I had little to update her on in the progress of my photography as I swept my arm to display the littered parking lot in front of the coffee shop – the scenery that I currently spend my hours observing.   You see, in the past my drive to take pictures was always fueled by all the cool things I saw when I got out of my comfort zone, but for the past few months I’ve been sticking close to home trying to earn some extra money, and taking a breather.  In my effort to ground myself I’ve found that I’ve gotten “out of shape” and that my creative juices are definitely not flowing – I mean, I’ve been looking at these same surroundings since birth – what could possibly be cool??  Seeing that I was clearly uninspired, my friend gave me the boost which has stuck with me all week: she replied, “Kajsa, have you ever seen the arrow on the FedEx truck?  It’s always been there, you just have to look for it. See the arrow.”  (I wish I could give credit to the speaker of the aforementioned leadership conference who gave this advice to my friend, but unfortunately I don’t know!)  By taking the time to look at my home from an outsider’s perspective I can see all sorts of wild things: bear crossing signs, tractors holding up traffic, old barns, beautiful sunsets, and even art in the trash outside the coffee shop.  It’s the same old prompt: even if you don’t feel like there’s something to shoot, get out and shoot anyway!  You might find material to create some pretty great stuff. Now it’s your turn – see the arrow!

Near Burlington, VT; Kajsa Stolberg

I spent the last week in Burlington, Vermont and I’ve gotta say that between the skiing, the ice cream, and the coffee, the folks in VT really know how to live.  I wrote a tiny bit about it on Batdorff Photography’s blog HERE, and you can watch the video montage “Birthday Bash 2010″ HERE or on the side panel.  When you get the chance, I highly recommend a trip over to Vermont if only to count the number of Volvos or Subaru Outbacks that you spot in a one-block radius.

Michigan shore, Chicago

Skiing, Chicago, Winter!  I never have liked winter, I always prefer summer, and the transition into Spring is probably my favorite because of the smell of dirt.  The video on the right-hand sidebar is how I’m starting to come to terms with this whole winter thing… I mean, it’s Michigan, and kind of unavoidable.  If you want a larger version, go directly to the YouTube site to watch Wintertime.

1. Buy holiday gifts

2. Give back

Done and done with John’s new calendar.  ALL profits go to Big Brother, Big Sister, and the the Humane Society.  Check out the super coolest slide show of the decade, and see what could be yours:

Samurai March Man, Kajsa Stolberg, 1/80s @ f/5.6, 80mm, ISO 100

Every week I guest blog on John Batdorff’s photography site, and today’s post is on self critiques.  The more I study photography, the more I appreciate the formulas to good photos.  Check out the post, and navigate John’s site HERE, you’ll love how much he’s done.