galveston

 

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Last sunday we drove down to Galveston to spend time with some of our family friends. Bj and I took turns with the polaroid, which I think was exposed to x-rays from the Chicago airport screening even though they assured me that it won’t effect the film. This has happened before, but I kind of like the desaturated look. Click here for bigger pics.

We swam for a bit, spotted a portugese man o’ war, ate bbq, and went downtown to the strand to eat homemade icecream. It was really relaxing. Oh, and we tracked down a Fazoli on the way home. I love summer!

completely smitten

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I am completely smitten by these shots from Love Me Do! For me, this 1940s vintage wedding dress is by far the best gown I’ve seen. Ever. The details in the back and the delicate applique won me over right away, and I love the fact that you can move around freely in this piece. No corsets, waist pinchers, and ruffling attendants needed. {swoon}

The photographers did an awesome job of capturing pictures throughout the day that go along with the ethereal qualities of the gown. via c is for charmed


lush colors me be itch

Tonight, we went to the Houston Center for Photography to see Tuey‘s work at the Juried Membership Exhibition. She was one of 26 chosen from around Houston and the United States! Impressive. After seeing the presentation and lush colors I was itchin’ to pick up the camera again! Here’s Tuey’s beautiful photos:

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Iron Board, 2009

Pink Socks and House Slippers. 2009

Pink Socks and House Slippers. 2009

Mom's Fan. 2009

Mom's Fan. 2009


One of our favorites from the show by Julia Cymbularz:

Yellow Curtain. 2008.

Yellow Curtain. 2008.

Afterwards, we headed to another friends house and played Rock Band in preparation for tonight’s karaoke for Roshan’s birthday. We ended the night with some yummy sushi. I heart summer.

chicago

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I fell in love again 
all things go, all things go 
drove to Chicago 
all things know, all things know

*Sufjan Stevens. Chicago

5 more days!

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I’m slowly trying to archive all my polaroids I’ve accumulated over the years. A couple of them, like the test shots above, weren’t pulled smoothly from the rollers and the result is a partially complete photo. In this case, I think the cloud shaped effect kinda works with the theme. Thanks B for being such a big help in the studio.

One more week until Chicago! We are so excited.

I prefer buffets over seated dinners

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photo by Jen Gotch. amazing photographer.

So, after today, I am going to take a break looking at all the wedding porn (didn’t make the word up, but it is so perfect). It’s a year away. Yep, I realized it’s not that far away, but I think I need to focus on our end goal: that everyone has a good time and knows how much we appreciate them celebrating with us! My dad is very eager in the planning stages, and for a while I started obsessing over all the details. Do I really need to worry about linen folds and table number cards? I want things to be pretty and different, but that can be achieved without following the costly traditional route, right?

Anyways, I still plan on DIY-ing as much as I can. One, it’ll make the process a lot more enjoyable and meaningful. Two, I’ll still feel in control of some things. However, there are a couple of things that are out of our control, such as venues and dinner set-up. I prefer buffets over seated dinners because you have to interact with more people and you can eat seconds if you choose! But when I suggested that, it was like (scoff) We can’t ask Vietnamese people to wait in line for food! I know some people are going to talk no matter what, but this is one battle I will not fight ’cause I won’t win. Heck, if I had it my way, I would throw a huge party by the beach. Bonfires, s’mores, twinkling lights . . .  should have waited for someone else to be the first to marry :)

Haven’t checked with B yet, but here are a few things I think I’m going to nix: professional photographer, videographer, traditional engagement shots, groom’s cake, bouquet and garter toss, veil & ring boy.

Instead of having a photographer, I’m hoping to get some of my photo friends to take a few shots for us with different film formats. So far I plan on using polaroids, black and white 35mm, and a holga. During my wedding web borrowing mania, I came across A Desert Fete, and I fell in love with their images. Definitely a look I want to go for.

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Gorgeous photos by Michelle Pullman. check her out

This is not going to turn into a wedding blog. We’ll save it for another website muahaha. Some things I look forward to when the wedding bells do ring: Seeing all my family from all over the world, hanging out with our Notre Dame and RISD friends, the rehearsal  dinner, & before and after activities. Oh, and marrying B! duh.

twilight is a muddled form of clarity

Yesterday, on the commute home, I was sitting back and suddenly became aware that the sun was preparing to set. An amber glow was filling up the whole bus. Not only the specific angle and personality of the light, but the public place, the young passenger in front of me, the dusty windows, they all made me think of Philip-Lorca diCorcia. The same photographer who said this:

It might be said that twilight is a muddled form of clarity. The warm glow that suffuses the ‘ golden hour’ in Los Angeles acts to filter the grim realities, the outright lies, the self-deceptions, which allow Hollywood, and by extension, America to flourish. ‘Twilight’ provides the rose-coloured glasses that make it possible to see out but not see in.

A couple images in particular sprang to mind. Both came from diCorcia’s Hollywood (or “Hustlers”) series. Each title reflects the subject’s name, age, place of birth, and the price he requested to be photographed. The first: “Mike Miller, 24 years, Allentown, Pennsylvania, $25.”

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The second: “Eddie Anderson, 21 years, Houston, Texas; $20” (1991).

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So I grabbed my iPhone and slyly snapped a photo.

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