Tag Archives: travel

Niagara Falls : Summer 2012

By Chris | Published August 8, 2012

Niagara Falls Photography

As I’ve shared before in the last 5 things post, we did an extended vacation to visit family in the northeast. One of our stops was at Niagara Falls because Bill had never seen it in the summer (it’s a completely different experience in the winter). I always take vacations as a time to play with different photography shots. Luckily it was sunset which was a great time of day for some interesting shots with incredible lighting. So this is what we came up with…

Niagara Falls Photography

Can I please make an announcement, people still go over the falls and die, about 20-25 people per year. If you haven’t been there you’d imagine that every dangerous area is kept from people by railings and signs and guards. The thing is, it isn’t. If you walk over the bridge (the top photo on the right) onto Goat Island there are all kinds of wooded areas and trails that just lead right to the edge of the water just before the falls (seen in the bottom photo on the right). Niagara Falls are actually made of three separate waterfalls, American Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, and Canadian (or Horseshoe) Falls and you can go over any of them quite easily.

While walking one of the trails we saw this man and his young son IN THE WATER! They were picking up change that people had thrown into the water in probably the calmest area right before the falls (the picture on the right was taken just a few feet from where these people were in the water). There are signs posted everywhere about being fined for getting in the water but these people didn’t care. The mother was just standing there watching them. They spoke very little English but when we said THEY WILL DIE she quickly collected her family. Amazing.

And that was Niagara Falls.

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5 Things : Cleaning, Niagara Falls, Quilts, Fall Garden

By Chris | Published July 31, 2012

1. Cleaning - Last night I got the fry bug, ie. the insatiable urge to fry everything I could find. I should note that I don’t fry things. Well not often. The last thing I fried was tostones, and I think the time before that was two Christmas’s ago when I made Struffoli. There are two reasons I don’t fry things. 1. Fried food isn’t good for you. and 2. It makes my house smell like fried food and I hate it.

That said in 90+ degree weather we turned off the AC, opened up all the windows and put a box fan in front of the open back door, and I fried for a good two hours. I asked Bill to turn up the living room ceiling fan which usually remains on in the low setting. As soon as he turned it on our living room, Bill, myself and our poor Sam dog were covered in a light, puffy layer of dust. This is my cue that we need to deep clean our house, soon.

Also if you’re curious about what I fried, I made these “Chick-Fil-A” style nuggets, which were less like Chick-Fil-A than I had hoped, still good though. I also fried up some okra (slightly failed at this one) and french fries.

2. Niagara Falls - I’ve been slowly going through our photos from our tour of the Northeast. We did a short evening trip to Niagara Falls since Bill had only ever seen it in the winter. I’ve gone countless times but it never ceases to amaze me. It also proves for some very quality people watching. I shot tons of photos, but this one makes me very happy.

It reminded me of this photo which was taken in the winter, the last time we were in Buffalo together, before we were married, a completely different season.

3. Quilts - I am finally starting a new quilt. I’ve been collecting fabrics for it, most of them are from Paper Thread Fabrics, who I just love buying fabric from. It’s another strip quilt, like the grey one I’ve been working on, but smaller strips, more fabrics, and more colors. I’ll post pictures soon.

4. Fall Garden - Our tomatoes are just about done producing for the year, so I’ll be pulling them out soon. The peppers will probably continue to produce through the fall so they’ll stay put. In the mean time I’ve been trying to figure out what to plant. I really like this website, you can put in your zip code, it’ll tell you your planting zone and then it will tell you what you can plant and when. Amazing.

5. Life is kinda boring right now so I don’t have a number five.

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A Glimps of Vermont, Winter, and Peacefulness

By Chris | Published May 15, 2012

I was pulling together a few photos from Vermont for a friend and stumbled upon this one. I realize I was supposed to share more from my Vermont Trip this February, but it just hasn’t happened yet. I’m sorry. I’ve failed.

When I ran across this image, as I was digitally shuffling through so many of them,  I was instantly reminded of the peacefulness I felt in Vermont. Since I got back from that trip I’ve been going non-stop with photo sessions, graphic design work, etsy sales, events for family and friends, birthdays, anniversaries, more photo shoots, travel, and just life. It’s gotten really really busy. And I’m not complaining at all, I enjoy it, but I’d lost sight of the clarity I found in Vermont.

We’ve got a few more trips planned in the coming weeks and I’m hoping to find that clarity again, to escape for a bit and refocus. To breathe again.

Also, I want to do a photo session in the snow. It’s on the bucket list.

 

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Vermont Photographs 1

By Chris | Published February 19, 2012

It’s taken me a while to get to these photos. I’ve been playing catch up and to be honest partially avoiding them. While in Vermont I really took some time to challenged myself as a photographer. I take pictures of people. I like that I get to interact with them, get to know them, and catch a moment when they are truly themselves. Landscapes and inanimate objects (except for food, food photography and I really click) however, I just don’t have the same connection. But, I think they turned out pretty ok, most of them are raw, unedited and the more time I spend with these images the more pleased I am with them. So, I’ll be sharing the photos from Vermont in two sections.

Vermont Photo Challenge Episode 1

Houston Photographer

Houston Photographer

I’m 100% in love with this barn. If I could have packed it up in my suitcase I would have. There is so much color and texture. And what was amazing was that normally I’d say, “that’s a great wall, I’d love to shoot a senior or couple there.” But instead I focused on the wall, the barn, itself. I took about 20 photos of this barn, while standing in snow up to my waist. It’s going to be the main focus of a new painting I’m working on too. Thanks awesome barn.

Houston Wedding Photographer

Just down the road from the amazing barn was an old water run saw mill (at least I think it was a saw mill). I took some wide shots of it, played with long exposures, different lenses, but I think the most successful shot was this close up of the flowing water and the ice. There’s beauty and tension in it and I appreciate that.

I found this place, where the thick wood ends. I’m not sure which image I like more. But I thought the scenery was SO interesting.

Sheep in the snow might be my favorite thing ever. I came across another puffier sheep, who had a lovely amount of snow stuck to it’s wool, but by the time I switched lenses he had run back into the woods. This guy stood, staring at me for a good while. I thanked him with a smile.

Cabot

We also took a trip to the Cabot factory where I saw how (and where) my favorite cheese is made. If you live close enough to Cabot, Vermont you also get to indulge in Cabot’s greek yogurt, cottage cheese, and veggie dip. It was probably the best greek yogurt I’d ever eaten.

I made several new friends while on the Goddard College campus. One was Becky who was the proud owner of Moo (the cute pup above). While Becky and I became quick friends I also bonded with Moo. I took this image during a leisurely hike through the woods, and it might be my favorite image from the hike.

I took the above two images on that same hike with Moo. I’ve noticed that the most successful images are the ones when I got personal with my subject (just like I would with a client), in this case some moss and fungus (?).

So that’s it for now. I’ll have more photos up shortly.Thanks for checking them out.

Share with Diliberto Photo and Design Houston

Have you every tried to challenge yourself in your own art? What did you do, how did it go?

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The Photography Chronicles ~ 34

By Chris | Published August 24, 2011

House. Of. Pies. Go there. This is the paper menu that sits under your food on top of brown diner tables. The waitresses still wear those diner dresses. And they have the best food and pie ever. Its a Houston icon.

But I’ve never gone there during the day, only late at night or the wee hours of the morning, cause they’re open 24 hours, and a girl has to take advantage of that.

Anywho, House of Pies, eat there.

 

 

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A Cruise Vacation

By Chris | Published August 22, 2011

If you thought I might have been MIA for the last week, then you’re right, I was. Bill and I along with two of our favorite families went on a 5 night 6 day cruise to Mexico. I’m still catching up on oodles of missed work, but in the mean time, here is a peak at our vaca.

Five nights of sunsets like these.

I’m convinced that I could live on the water, its the place I feel closest to God.

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The Photography Chronicles ~ 28

By Chris | Published June 15, 2011

Meet my husband’s cool side…yellow harley. I had heard rumor and legend of how he had bikes for most of his teens and early twenties, that he had a bike before his car. But I hadn’t seen it. And when we went to Myrtle Beach I not only saw it but I got to ride it (but don’t tell my mom). There is nothing cooler than riding on the back of a yellow harley in Myrtle Beach with the man you love (there is also nothing more frightening). I miss that yellow harley, but one day, we will ride again.

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The Photography Chronicles ~ 27

By Chris | Published June 6, 2011

Bill lived in Myrtle Beach, SC for about 6 months while we were dating. I went to visit him for a few days in the Spring as well as meet his parents and grandmothers (yes I was very nervous). After he picked me up from the airport, and on the way to his parents’ house I saw this. Ok so several things…

#1 Someone has 1/2 Price Sweet Corn

#2 Someone else had free coffee (and I didn’t stop for some, which I still regret)

#3 Spider man is standing on the side of the road

“Why?” You may ask…my answer: I have no earthly idea. I did however laugh quite heartily.

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The Photography Chronicles ~ 23

By Chris | Published May 17, 2011

For six years I lived in Tulsa, OK and it took me three years to find this bridge and the awesomeness that was the river. Its not like people boated in it or anything, most of the time there was very little water in it, at least at the end where we lived. But here, at the more northern side, before the dam, it was SO beautiful. This was a thoughtful place for me and it got be through a lot of wonderful and hard times.

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Anniversary Weekend ~ Part Tres

By Chris | Published May 10, 2011

Sunday was pretty relaxed. We ate breakfast at District 7 again and waited for my mom to pick us up from the hotel (we had abandoned our car at her house). We said hi to the pup at Mom’s, they watched their Grand-dog while we were on vacation, and headed back out on the town. Bill finally caved on my insistent desire to go shopping and we headed over to the Galleria area to Highland Village which houses almost every single one of my favorite “look, be inspired, but never can afford” shops.

Shop Number 1 :: Anthropologie

First off, I love anthropologie, everything about them their products, their displays, everything, except their prices. For example, these letter hooks, $14.99. I found the EXACT same letter hooks for $3.99 at Hobby Lobby. We hung a B and a C in our bathroom so we would know who’s towel is who’s.

I love that they use real plants in their displays. Notice the succulents in the glass jar, I will be making some of these for my house.

Love the mugs, love the aprons. The desire to sew a few of these is HUGE.

LOVE the use of glass tiles and glass shelves in this cubby.

Shop Number 2 :: The Paper Source

I have received their catalog forever and have always loved their insane assortment of paper products and just fun stuff. Last summer Houston got a location! This was my first visit and it was just as I expected, however, not quite as cool as the one in SOHO in NYC. But still, awesome

Shop Number Three :: Restoration Hardware & West Elm

So I can’t remember if I took this at West Elm or Restoration Hardware but both are AMAZING interior goods places. I get SO many ideas every time I visit.

Shop Number Four :: Sprinkles Cupcakes

So this is a new one to me, but I’ve been wanting to stop in. The front of the store is very plain, with just a little neon sign that says Sprinkles. Its self proclaimed (with the assistance of The Food Network) as “The Worlds First Cupcake Bakery”. The creator, Candace Nelson is a frequent judge on Food Network’s “Cupcake Wars”. It made me feel fancy, however I did not try a cupcake (we had just had lunch at Niko Nikos and were about to explode).

Shop Number Five :: Urban Harvest Farmer’s Market

And I still did get my farmer’s market fix, even though we missed it at Discovery Green. I normally don’t like chocolate but Brown Paper Chocolates had a espresso kahula dark chocolate that made me melt. I highly recommend.

Shop Number Six :: Z Gallerie

Always a favorite, Z Gallerie has funky home furnishings at prices I could think about affording. And like the rest in this list is a great place to get inspired and to find design ideas.

And that my friends concludes our second anniversary.

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