a terrifying alter ego

I love old, black and white movies and TV shows. I used to stay up late watching Perry Mason, Andy Griffith, and I Love Lucy as a teenager. I have many of those shows on DVD now and have brainwashed my husband into watching them regularly with me.

Another huge favorite growing up was Alfred Hitchcock. My grandma had a bunch of his movies from the 50s and 60s on VHS in her basement, and at a [too] young age I watched The Birds (terrifying, creepy birds that swarm around and poke people's eyes out and steal their homes), and The Rear Window (original version of Disturbia where Jimmy Stewart sees some unfortunate events through his binoculars and in a weird twist of fate, Perry Mason turns out to be a murderer).

But the classic-est of all the classic Hitchcock films is without a doubt, Psycho.
Norman Bates, a seemingly normal, shy, tender dude who runs a motel, greets a girl who is running from her boss and gets her set up in her room. They talk for a few minutes, during which time it is revealed that he has a controlling mother who he both resents and fiercely wants to please.

Fast forward to a few hours later when the girl is stabbed repeatedly in the shower by a shadowy, gray haired ambiguity.

Turns out, cute little Norman Bates is actually a psycho (get it) who has a split personality disorder that basically turns him into his dead, jealous mother when he starts to feel guilty and unfortunately must murder any woman that the 'Norman part' finds attractive. Creepy right.

Queue my dad, who was totally stoked when I told him that I wanted to do a photographic interpretation of Norman Bates/Mom starring him. He was literally perfect for the task and I am actually pretty freaked out about how well he does that maniacal eye sparkling grimace. It kind of took some convincing for him to release the photos of the application of lipstick but he realized it was all for a noble cause. Thanks dad.

The final image:

the persistence of memory: REMIX

For a recent school assignment, I was prompted to choose a classic, well-known piece of artwork and 're-interpret' it photographically with my own touches.

This trippy Salvador Dali painting The Persistence of Time has always intrigued me with its droopy clocks. I love how they are so out of context and doing something clocks really are never supposed to do.




The saggy clocks probably have some kind of deep meaning in Surrealism, but to me, they just take my mind to other things that make that droopy shape.



For example: Breakfast food. Pancakes and eggs both have that same oblong, saggy feeling when draped over your fork or plate. Can't you just imagine the syrup and egg yolk oozing and dripping? Plus, way more delicious than clocks.


So, here's my re-interpretation of the classic Persistence, breakfast style.




And for comparison's sake:

snow queen

As a photographer and hairstylist, it's probably the most convenient thing in my life to have a best friend who volunteers for my projects and experiments. She has been a blonde for most of her life, and we've recently been taking her hair darker and darker with amazing results. So naturally I had to photograph it in conjunction with a project for school I had coming up.

As it turned out, I didn't end up using the photos from this shoot for any school projects because they just didn't fit. It doesn't matter though because I still love the images on their own! The day after a snow day is the best for beautiful light and pristine landscapes, and this girl is just stunning anyway.

Thanks Meg!

Won't You Be My Neighbor

The latest project of mine has been to document artifice in yards and outside of homes. I find it fascinating the way that people choose to decorate their yards for all to see, and it makes me wonder if people care what passersby think, or if they put up items simply for their own enjoyment. I love seeing creative yards and now everyone knows why I drive slowly and creepily down neighborhood streets. I am not sharing this full project yet because the main idea is being included in my thesis project for my BFA show.

Kaelin + Trevor

My sister in law is getting married! Can't believe it. I pretty much insisted on taking their engagement pictures, and boy am I glad that I did because HEART EYES for days over these images. I used to think I didn't like taking pictures of people. But the few family shoots I have done and this one in particular has changed my mind- I love it. I love capturing genuine, tender, silly, moments of love and happiness, and these guys had those in abundance.

We drove up Big Cottonwood canyon in search of a foresty, woodsy area because that's the primary backdrop Kaelin and Trevor wanted. I think we nailed the location, and the timing at that, because it pretty much looked like Christmastime up there. The mountains are beautiful, the trees are beautiful, the drifting snow is beautiful, Kaelin is beautiful (Trevor's alright too), and all those things make for a happy photographer and gorgeous photographs. I also rented an 85mm lens for this shoot to see how I liked it, and mmmm.... I might have to invest in one of those.

Congratulations Kaelin + Trevor! I can't wait to be a bridesmaid in their wedding in January :)