For the 2nd Photographer’s Field Trip we spent the afternoon in Dealey Plaza getting great shots of the Grassy Knoll and surrounding areas! We even walked a few blocks to the JFK Memorial, which was very interesting! My close friend, Elizabeth Sostizzo, and I had so much fun! She’s a treat to be around, always throwing out great ideas! We ate after at the Spaghetti Warehouse nearby! The food was amazing, but filling! I could barely drive home! Haha!
I had the pleasure of shooting a cousin’s wedding a couple of weeks ago and had so much fun! Check out these sneak peeks from their special day!
For our 1st ever DFW Photog Field Trip, we went to the Dallas Farmers Market and had a lot of fun getting shots of the neat fruit and vegetable stands erected by the local farmers our of fields. I was lucky to spend the day with my good friend Elizabeth Sostizzo and a new friend who drove two hours to come, Romonia Isaac.
Afterward, we ate at this amazing Burger joint over by the magnolia theater and talked for a good hour or longer, getting to know one another and talking shop as well. It really was a great time for me and I cannot wait until August 15th for the next Photog Field Trip to Dealey Plaza.
Here are the shots I took on this first field trip:
I went to this amazing new restaurant in Dallas last night. It was cute, fun, hip, and thuroughly Italian! Vapiano’s reminded me so much of Italy, which is weird because it’s originally from Germany. Haha!
It had this cafeteria style setting to it. You ordered your food at the counters, they made everything fresh from scratch, and then when it was done you picked up your dish(es) and took a seat. I ordered the chicken fetuccini and I kid you not… it tasted just like a dish I would order in Vicenza. The flavoring was amazing and like nothing I’ve ever had in the states before.
After eating there, I was able to go see Restrepo again for a second time. Oddly, I thought the restaurant’s name, “Va piano” really had an impact on how I related to this movie.
See, “va piano” means to go slow. Take your time, relish what you have and though you should work for what you want in life, don’t rush it.
Restrepo is about a military combat outpost (aka COP) in the Korengal Valley in Afghanistan along the Pakistani border. The movie is a documentary that takes place during Battle Company, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Airborne Brigade’s 15 month tour to the Valley. During the first part of their deployment, a soldier by the name of Restrepo was killed in action and they quickly built up a COP on top of the mountain, taking the high ground and fighting off any attacks by the Taliban and any others who shot at them.
For a military spouse with a husband currently deployed to Afghanistan with the exact same unit, it was an eye-opener to watch this documentary. It gave me so much insight into what he’s going through… what they are all going through on a daily basis.
They sleep, eat, live combat.
They live in solid block buildings with makeshift bunk beds and thin mattresses. They eat MRE’s (which aren’t all that tasty unless you add the Hot Sauce to it) for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They hike up in the mountains with 80 pounds minimum on their backs while on patrols. They worry every minute about when the next fire fight will take place and still they keep going.
In the documentary, three or four of the soldiers closest to Restrepo gave their own accounts of what they went through and how tough it was. They had to bury friends.
This documentary is a must see.
Seeing this movie for the 2nd time this Friday. I’ll post a review some time this weekend!
So much has been going on and I’ve been so busy, but I love it! I wanted to catch everyone up, because next week I’ll be blogging mostly about the recent wedding I did and my summer mini-session too.
One evening I happened to miss one of the [b] School Study Hall sessions. Go figure. I was able to check into it a day or so later. It was about an Italy Wedding Workshop with [B]ecker and Dale Benfield this next March! Excited, I went to the website discussing everything and signed up! I really can’t wait, as the wedding workshop is in Florence, Italy and I’ll only need to take a two hour train ride to get there! A lot of other amazing photogs will be there too and I love every opportunity to learn more about this amazing passion with fellow enthusiasts.
On another fun note, my new friend Elizabeth Sostizzo and I have started a photog group here in the DFW area! It’s called DFW Photog Field Trips and it’s just a group of Facebook where everyone can join, get the info they need on where the locations are, and then meet up and get to know one another while doing a Photo Walk every time! Every month there’s a different location, so it keeps things interesting and helps improve on everyone’s portfolio!
So, definitely super busy! Haha! I’m also currently gearing up to head back to Italy (aka home) in September on the 20th. It’s about a month earlier than I thought I’d be heading back, but I’m missing it so much! Plus, most all of my photography work here in the states is slowing down… coming to a close for the winter. If I were staying, though, I’d totally be hitting it hard and trying for more weddings next spring and summer, as well as some Senior sessions! Haha! All in good time. :)
I’ll update more soon! Thanks, for those who’re reading this, for being so supportive! :)
I had so much fun shooting this wedding! Caan and Bryn have a love for one another that runs deep. Their cultures are very unique to me and I loved getting to see each step of the wedding done from her Cambodian side and his Chinese influence was there as well! It added all the more fun and created even more amazing shots!
For more Sneak Peeks, head over to my Facebook!
I had an awesome time yesterday afternoon and evening shooting a beautiful asian wedding! The customs and culture just fascinated me and it was neat to be able to learn more about Caan and her new husband, Bryn! :) So much fun! I’ll post Sneak Peeks soon!!
Okay, so I went to Borders and picked up some books and when I was at the check out waiting to… check out…. I saw this bag (tote) for only $1.99. I took a closer look and noticed that it was made out of 80% recycled products and that if I used it every time I came to Borders, then it would save at least a little in the plastic I could have gotten for my books to go in.
Conserving as many resources as possible is a good way to help our planet. Do I honestly think I, all by myself, will be able to make a huge dent? No, but if I get five people to join in this cause that so many others have taken upon themselves… and then get those five people to get five more people to do it… This could really get big.
So, I’m going to ask those that are reading this… who follow me… Go green. Buy those green totes at the grocery store and use them from now on. Take a tote with you when you go buy books or other non-organic materials, even if it’s at Staples or Best Buy. Take a tote. And when people see you using your tote and ask you about it… spread the “going green” love.
But, this is just one small act we can do and there are other things that will help us not only go green, but save money! And I don’t know a person who doesn’t like to save money. :)
Just look at the following list and start using some of these easy and efficient ways of going green and putting a little more money into your pockets:
1. Keep your A/C at 75 or 76 degrees during the summer and your heat at 71 or 72 degrees in the winter. You might have to wear a sweater inside during the winter, but it will pay off in costs.
2. Buy rechargeable batteries, install compact fluorescent light bulbs when your old ones burn out, and unplug all appliances when you’re not using them.
3. Wash your clothes in cold water when possible. I wash all of my clothes in cold water already and use one of Tide’s Coldwater liquid detergents. Just heating up the water is where 80% of the energy costs are going in terms of washing your clothes.
4. Plant drought-tolerant native plants. The types of plants you don’t have to water that much, if at all. This way you still plant things, but without having to water them all the time.
5. When buying food, try to buy organic or locally grown produce. Buying from local farmers keeps money in the local economy.
6. Skip the bottled water. I cannot say this enough. SKIP BOTTLED WATER! The plastic bottles are terrible for our planet and it will cost you a lot less in the long run if you buy a PUR or Brita water filter to filter your water for you at home.
7. Borrow instead of buy. Borrowing books and movies from local libraries saves you a ton of money and keep from the companies from having to use more trees to make more books.
8. Share with your neighbors by getting to know them more. Have a lawn mower you know your neighbors can borrow? Share it.
9. Always recycle electronic devices. Cell phones, batteries, computers.
10. Make your own non-toxic cleaning products from home. All you need are a few simple ingredients like baking soda, vinegar, lemon, and soap.
These helpful tips are all things I and my family do on a weekly basis and I hope you’ll look through them, print them out, and start doing these on your own! Going green is a good thing! :)
Just one for now! Y’all will have to suffer until I can post more or click on the photo to see more Sneak Peeks via Facebook! :)
Okay, so I know most of you will think I’m a bit crazy for this post, but I’ve been thinking about how to be more efficient in carrying all of my lenses, extra batteries, memory cards, etc. on a shoot… especially weddings.
My husband is in the Army and it got me to thinking about all the gear he has to carry and how efficiently he carries it in the pouches that line his utility belt or all upon his vest. I went to the nearest Army surplus store and found a black utility belt and black pouches. Though it wasn’t exactly what I wanted in terms of pouches, as the Army surplus store was a bit small (I basically didn’t want to drive all the way up to Omaha’s Surplus in Fort Worth), I did get what I needed to last me through this short wedding season I’ve got.
Most photog’s use messenger-type bags and others are fortunate enough to have purchased a shootsac, but I have neither. Oh, I’ve got a cheap $50 messenger bag that is way too bulky and it’s difficult for me to dig through to get everything… plus it’s heavy.
I placed the pouches where I wanted them on the belt, I loaded everything into their own pouches on the belt…. and below is me wearing the belt.
Don’t laugh. It’s ten times lighter than I thought it would be, even with the lenses in the big pouch and I even have room for my cell phone and a place for business cards. The black matches nicely with the black pants and shoes I wear, along with a white polo top. For now.
I know most people like either dogs or cats. You’re either a dog or a cat person and sometimes you’re both, but every person I’ve run into likes one or the other. I’m a fan of cats if I had to pick just one, but will easily fall in love with dogs. Just not the small dogs that nip at your heels. Those aren’t dogs.
Anyway, my mother-in-law (God bless her) asked her science classes a couple of years ago what pet they would like to have in the lab. A lot of the girls said a bunny and the boys said a snake or a lizard. This one little boy who had not spoken up in class all year long said, “A tarantula.”
So, my mother-in-law… again, God bless her, went down to our local pet store and picked up what is called a rose-haired tarantula. It stays in her science lab for the kids to watch. Last summer she was able to find another teacher who loved them and took it home for the two months.
This summer, I am sharing my desk with a large tarantula. I don’t think I mentioned this before…. I hate spiders. But there Rosa sits. It’s name is Rosa. I bought it crickets yesterday that are still walking around in her cage.
The more I look at her, the more creeped out I get. Why couldn’t she have gone with a bunny???
Saw Brooks and Dunn at the Superpages.com Center in Dallas, Texas. This song above all the others really, really struck a cord with me. :)
So, I’ve got a wedding I’m shooting this weekend and I’m super excited! This will be my first wedding ever to shoot. I don’t think I can ever be fully prepared for anything like this, but I also know that if I don’t jump into this I’ll keep holding myself back and never get any experience at all.
I’ve had some people tell me to wait as long as possible to do a wedding on my own and a lot of people have told me to never shoot it by myself. Well, I’m about to do both. Twice. In one month. :)
I’m going to take the leap, have faith that I have the experience and creativity needed to get the job done, and party on the flip side.
I’ll post pics when while I’m editing next week. :)
No one follows this. I’m almost sure of it, but for my own satisfaction I am going to start writing full time and posting it on here.
You know how people say the grass is always greener on the other side? What if, not only the grass is greener… but it’s got tons of dainty flowers and bumble bees and even a few cows or sheep lulling about? What if it’s not just about grass? The grass is always greener, because we never take a moment to look at ourselves and our own lives… what we have in our possession, either physically or mentally, to think that we too have green grass! We’ve got those flowers and those bees and those cows!
It’s just a different type of grass or flower or cow! It’s not what we expected, but it’s what God gave us and in return for all these riches, shouldn’t we thank Him for what He’s blessed us with?
I know, you’re all thinking… what about YOU?! I totally agree. In order to show that I mean, that I live, and die by what I say and don’t say…. Here goes….
* I am so thankful for the family God has blessed me with. For the son I have to watch grow every day and the husband I pray will come home safe.
* God has provided me with not only one roof over my head, but two! My home back in Italy is sitting there waiting for us when we get back and my in-laws have been so generous in letting Nate and I stay here while Steven is deployed.
* I am oh so thankful for my friends! For Jenn who inspires me to shoot, to write, to think on God and His word more! For all my other friends who give me the support and kind words that show I am loved and by many.
* My health and the health of my family and friends is something I am very thankful for! So many people today suffer from physical ailments and conditions that not even science can help and I thank God daily that He has given us the strength and good health to continue on.
* I thank God for giving me patience, determination, a strong will, and a stubborn streak. All are what I am and without them, I would not be me.
What are you thankful for in your life? What makes your grass green???
Food for thought.
Bliss
Sarah Carlos
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