Perfect days are made of this: sunshine after rain, good friends, long conversations, yummy food, music that moves, laughing until it hurts, falling asleep knowing that days like these are what memories are made of.
Monday, 7 May 2012
365 Days of Photos – April
Another month bites the dust… The speed of time… yeah…
‘I need another place
Will there be peace
I need another world
This one’s nearly goneStill have too many dreams
Never seen the light
I need another world
A place where I can goI’m gonna miss the sea
I’m gonna miss the snow
I’m gonna miss the bees
I’ll miss the things that growI’m gonna miss the trees
I’m gonna miss the sun
I’ll miss the animals
Gonna miss you allI need another place
Will there be peace
I need another world
This ones nearly goneI’m gonna miss the birds
Singing all their songs
I’m gonna miss the wind
Been kissing me so long‘~ Antony and the Johnsons – Another World
Thursday, 3 May 2012
I see You
That moment. When I opened my eyes to meet yours. An audible gasp escaped my throat, as the unconditional love, pride, acceptance and gratitude hit me like a tidal-wave. You have given so much. You mean so much. You saved me from myself and you will forever own a piece of my heart. I see you, my friend.
Monday, 23 April 2012
Sunnier shores
We travelled to Malaga to gather for dad’s birthday and to enjoy a rare treat they call ‘holiday’. The sun was warm, the company great, and good times were had. Here’s a little collection of iPhone and Holga memories.
Wednesday, 4 April 2012
365 days of photos – March
And then there was March… How do these months seem to run by so fast, that’s fourth of the year done already! Yikes.
’I wish the world was flat
like the old days.
Then I could travel
just by folding a map.
No more airplanes,
or speed trains,
or freeways.
There’s be no distance
that can hold us back.’Death Cab for Cutie
- The New Year
Wednesday, 28 March 2012
How does your garden grow
I am in fact a bit of a gardening hero. The amazing weather really put me in the mood for finally doing something nice with the outside space we have. I am most excited about my new cherry blossom tree, I think it will be my favourite photo shoot model in the future…
Monday, 26 March 2012
Road tripping
So it happened that we went on a road trip with Steph to sunny Dorset, where I got to shoot the loveliest Beloved session with Minna. A thoroughly good day.
Sunday, 18 March 2012
Visiting hours
Had the nicest of time catching up with Riina, Noa and Elli. More of these kind of days, please.
Saturday, 10 March 2012
A snowy weekend in Finland
At the beginning of March I went to check out mum’s new neighbourhood and see how she was settling into a new house in a new town. It was lovely to have a bit of a break and enjoy a few days of sunshine, snow, saunas and quietness. Although being further away from Helsinki made it a bit impossible to see any other family or friends in such a short space of time. I suppose there’s always next time…
Thursday, 1 March 2012
365 days of photos – February
And then there was February… There was hatching new plans, some sunshine, there were friends, but also some very sad times.
I can’t believe how this year is speeding past us!
‘The sun makes its course
by the eve across the sky
be be be just as sure
I’ll get up and wipe my eyes
I can see far from here’
~ Amy Seeley – Mile Marker
Wednesday, 1 February 2012
365 days of photos – January
It’s been a few years since my last attempt to complete a 365 days of photos project, and I think I’ve finally recovered. So I decided to start a new one for 2012. Although this being a leap year, there are actually 366 days in the year. But I reasoned that just because I started on the 1st of Jan, doesn’t have to mean anything, all my previous efforts started halfway down the years – so 365 it is.
The main reason for something like this is the fact that I haven’t really consciously taken many personal picture in the past few years, and I really miss that. Finding the time is still a concern, which is why it’s looking like this is now turning into an iPhone project. I did have lofty ideas of taking ‘proper’ pictures (and who knows, I might surprise one day!), but after discovering the Photo 365 app, which sends my daily pictures straight to my 365 set on Flickr, it all just got so much easier. Besides, I always have my phone on me, so this way the probability of me completing this year’s project goes up pretty drastically.
I know these are not great art, and that’s not the point. The point is taking pictures just for the fun of it, for myself, not for a client. And who knows, maybe one or two iPhone masterpieces will sneak in at some stage. :D
I can’t quite believe January is already complete!
Wednesday, 25 January 2012
Hurrah for traditions
It has become a bit of a tradition that every January Miikka comes over for a ‘working holiday’ of sorts, mostly consisting of some jobs that need doing around the house, drinking beer (him), ignoring emails (me), and catching up with the previous season of True Blood. He just flew back home today and the house already feels a bit empty without the regular sound of a bag of crisps being ripped open. Oh well, next year will come around soon enough, in fact, it seems like it comes around quicker and quicker the older we get…
Thursday, 19 January 2012
Award-winning…
Wednesday, 4 January 2012
End of year survey re : 2011
1. What did you do in 2011 that you’d never done before?
Some, erm, gardening (kind of). Birmingham.
2. Did you keep your new years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
For 2011 my resolutions were to ‘build on what ever success I achieved in 2010, but also work on getting the balance in my life right. To have more time for family and friends. To take better care of myself. And to properly ENJOY the ride.’
I think I achieved the first bit with bells on, the latter part, not so much, although it is a work in progress… So my resolutions for 2012 are to get closer to that balance thing, socialise more, get into better shape, and fingers crossed sleep more.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
The whole world most likely.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No.
5. What countries did you visit?
Finland, Scotland, Malta, Italy (twice, woo!).
6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?
More sleep.
7. What date from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
25th of July as had a lovely lovely birthday party.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Maybe winning the title of ‘Best Wedding Photographer, London and South East‘ in the 2012 Wedding Industry Awards.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Not being able to balance work and life.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Still dealing with the consequences of previous year’s injury…
11. What was the best thing you bought?
iPad!
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Susanna of course, and Stu goes without saying. Emma for keeping me sane and giggling, Steph for being my guardian fairy.
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
No-one I’d like to publicly name and shame. But I am finding it quite hard to get over.
14. Where did most of your money go?
House stuff. It’s never ending.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Going to Italy, my birthday party, seeing Emma in a play.
16. What songs will always remind you of 2011?
Adele – Someone Like You.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Happier.
ii. thinner or fatter? Fatter (sigh).
iii. richer or poorer? About the same.
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Sleeping, socialising, relaxing, loving life, exercising. (No change from last year there!)
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Stressing, worrying and doing things for people who don’t appreciate it.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
Christmas Eve at home with mum, Pauli and Stu. Boxing Day with Stu’s family.
21. How did you spend New Years?
At home making Bellinis with Sooz & Stu.
22. Did you fall in love in 2011?
More and more with watching my couples in love.
23. How many one night stands?
0. (Imagine the year when this suddenly has a high number! :D)
24. What were your favourite TV programmes?
Californication, True Blood, Dexter.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Hate is such a strong word. Disappointed for sure.
26. What was the best book you read?
Sarah Rayner – One Moment, One Morning.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
New to me more than new in general… Angus & Julia Stone.
28. What did you want and get?
iPad!
29. What did you want and not get?
Holiday somewhere warm. Kitchen & bathroom.
30. What was your favourite film of this year?
True Grit.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I threw an actual party for my 35th! A lovely, lovely picnic in our garden filled with old and new friends. Loved it.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
More sleep.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011?
I did start making more of an effort towards the latter part of the year. Dresses are back on the agenda.
34. What kept you sane?
Other lovely people in the industry.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Colin.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Riots in London made me so very angry.
37. Who did you miss?
Lots of people in Finland. Miikka and Johanna especially.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Emma & Pete, Steph, Ed… I can’t believe I only met these people this year, they are already such a huge and integral part of my life.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011.
You can’t please everyone.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
I was a heavy heart to carry
My beloved was weighed down
My arms around his neck
My fingers laced to crown.
I was a heavy heart to carry
My feet dragged across ground
And he took me to the river
Where he slowly let me drown
My love has concrete feet
My love’s an iron ball
Wrapped around your ankles
Over the waterfall
I’m so heavy, heavy
Heavy in your arms
I’m so heavy, heavy
Heavy in your arms
And is it worth the wait
All this killing time?
Are you strong enough to stand
Protecting both your heart and mine?
Who is the betrayer?
Who’s the killer in the crowd?
The one who creeps in corridors
And doesn’t make a sound
My love has concrete feet
My love’s an iron ball
Wrapped around your ankles
Over the waterfall
My love has concrete feet
My love’s an iron ball
Wrapped around your ankles
Over the waterfall
This will be my last confession
I love you never felt like any blessing
Whispering like it’s a secret
Only to condemn the one who hears it
With a heavy heart
Heavy heavy i’m so heavy in your arms
(i’m so) Heavy heavy i’m so heavy in your arms
(i’m so) Heavy heavy i’m so heavy in your arms
(i’m so) Heavy heavy i’m so heavy in your arms
I was a heavy heart to carry
my beloved was weighed down
My arms around his neck
My fingers laced to crown
I was a heavy heart to carry
But he never let me down
When he had me in his arms
My feet never touched the ground
I’m so heavy, heavy in your arms.
Florence + The Machine – Heavy in Your Arms
Friday, 30 December 2011
Christmas of ups and downs
Christmas was all about ups and downs. Mum and Pauli were over and there was presents galore. But Stu’s nan went into hospital the day before Christmas, which was a bit of a shock to the system. So it was all about balancing the good with the bad and sorting out logistics between us and Essex. There were some Christmassy moments to be had though, especially in the run up to the actual celebrations.
Wednesday, 21 December 2011
Venice in November
I’m cross-posting these images from the MTP blog as surely personal images need to be on my personal blog eh? From our trip to Venice in November.
Cameras used: Holga, an Ikoflex TLR (operations of which the eBay seller described as ‘esoteric’, and he wasn’t far off!), Polaroid Spirit and of course my iPhone.
Enjoy!
Tuesday, 13 December 2011
First time in Birmingham
For Stu’s birthday this year I really splashed out and took him up to Birmingham. No, but really, it was all good. We stayed at a cool hotel with an amazing view (apparently of the ‘Aids tower’), got to see Emma perform in The Lost Happy Endings (she was amazing) and spend some quality time with her, Pete and Jo. Definitely a brilliant trip. And Stu even got to see Ikea Birmingman on his birthday, how lucky is he.
