Nature Girl and Her camera

Instagram @michellepatrickphotography

[mppllc]

“Hygge” (hoo-gah) Pinterest is alright with the discovery of the Danish way of life. It seems the “happiest” people in the world are concentrated in Scandinavia.  As a believer and follower of Jesus Christ, happiness has a different place in our lives. Our happiness comes from our faith and trust in God’s divine plan and presence in our lives. That said, I love all things European. I decided to explore this topic and found I was already living it.  The basic idea of hygge is the following: It is the art and practice of building a sanctuary and haven within your home. Connecting and building relationships with those you love.  Slowing down daily to enjoy each and every moment. Creating warmth and joy.   Honestly, what strikes me is how unamerican this is. Americans are multi-tasking 24/7. They find their value and worth in their busyness and work. They sit numbly in front of the television in front of electronics.  Seven years ago, I homeschooled our teenage son. We needed hygge. Our home was our refuge. We also got out into the woods regularly for the first time in our lives. It changed us. It made us. I now work from home. My home is my sanctuary. Mainly because I am an introvert. I need to create spaces that “feel” right. For the past five years, I have created essentially a hygge home. Candles, lamps instead of bright ceiling lights. Blankets everywhere. I don’t mean stingy blankets. I mean milky fleece, down filling and high cotton thread counts. I focused on creating one room in my home that I felt the best in. My bedroom. It’s sparse, clean, bright and organized. I cannot say that for the rest of the House most of the time. Hygge for me is cozy, textures, tactile and visual responses. In many ways it is the best of childhood memories.  I have created an outline for 2018 . Goals. It’s all about hygge and lagome. Lagome is for another post 😊.  I am am creating an two entire winter months of rest and healing. December and January. Yes, the busiest month of the year. I will be at home in my jammies reading, resting, rejoicing and worshipping. I will be entirely un-holiday-like. It will be glorious. Stay tuned for my next post as to how I will disconnect from the world in December and January.

[mppllc]

Scandinavian Inspiration

I’m all about utilizing existing perfection. My Christmas theme in the studio this year is all about Swedish-European design and color. Minimalism.

There is something ethereal about keeping a visual basic. It is soothing for the mind’s eye. A beautiful design idea is to take nature and place it with man made items. Sticking to a very simple color palette is what it is all about. 

[mppllc]

Fall photo shoot in the warm golden light

[mppllc]

Autumn, you make my heart sing!

Every autumn brings me dreaming of hot chocolate, sweaters, crisp air and golden light.

One of my very favorite things to do as a photographer, is to style and create mock up scenes. I gather beautiful things and create a little world that must "connect" with myself in a very strong way.

I haven't studied flat lay techniques. By placing items on the surface and moving them around, the eye will naturally "feel" the placement. I actually just place items naturally as I would if I were going to be living in the space.

[mppllc]

Christmas comes early

Stock photography is all about anticipation. Photos for December have been selling year round. New Year’s Eve photos have been selling weekly since January. However, lately the uptick in Christmas photo sales have reminded me that I am missing sales opportunities if I do not have any new images added to my portfolio. 

Photographing what you know, love and already have keeps your images authentic. I have been photographing vintage style images all along. It really is my passion. Unique, fragile and faded; they tell such a unique story. A deeper, richer story.

I will be photographing Christmas images from now through December. I am however working diligently to upload as many as possible as soon as possible. It’s amazing how far ahead the photos are purchased.

When I wake up on a beautiful sunny day I know I am destined for my studio for at least part of the day. Our three season porch has become my studio. Surrounded by three walls worth of windows, it creates such an incredibly natural source of light. 

Holding and handling my ornaments, smelling the peppermint and editing the photos makes me miss Christmas and all that it stirs inside the little girl I will always be.

Most to many of my props are vintage from second hand stores. They as well tell a very unique, original story. I usually collect one piece at a time. They also keep my expenses low to retain the integrity of profit.

I encourage you to photograph what you know. To photograph what you love. And to photograph what is available to you!

[mppllc]

Farmer’s Market

A lot of my photography leans in the minimalism category. Nature, food and lifestyle. However, one place that always turns me inside out is farmer’s markets. I highly recommend them for photo taking opportunities. When I upload them to my portfolio’s, I am immediately struck by how rich and vibrant that batch of photos were. 

The color, the image filling the frame with a visual treat. Fresh food is virtually alive. So it is no wonder that when you photograph it, it makes you feel alive as well. 

I always ask the vendor if I can take pictures of their items. It is both thoughtful and good manners. Second, I am always aware that I may be standing in the way of someone wanting to purchase said goods from the vendor trying to make a living. 

Lastly, I try to get into a fun position to photograph the food in a way that I hadn’t thought of. Sometimes, that means standing sideways in a crowd!

[mppllc]

A nip in the air

I spent the entire day in bed yesterday. I’d like to say it was terrible but it wasn’t. My bed is my refuge. All of those perfect pillows, white sheets, white comforter, a big pile of wool to knit. BBC miniseries back to back to back. It really was a welcome rest.

After a full day with no fresh air and I felt more unwell the next morning from being so cooped up. So I knew right where I needed to head and what my body and mind needed. The woodland and water.

To my great pleasure the air was just nippy enough to make my nose cold. I loved it! 

I quickly headed over to the streams edge to see how early fall has changed the flow of water. Acorns were “popping” down from the trees and startled me the first few times. 

The most phenomenal treasure was a pond that has been restored at Paradise Springs State Park. A dam broke quite some time ago and drained it. It was recently repaired. What a great delight to walk up to the pond and see it full again.  It is the most brilliant clean and clear blue.

One of my favorite nature photos to take are water. Water and it’s reflections, it’s colors and it’s shapes.

These gems were part of the morning and did not disappoint.

[mppllc]

Always Perfect

Each time I enter the woods I feel  a sense of freedom that the world holds back from me. There is no end to my wandering. There is no time that can hold me. When I am carrying my camera, every step takes me close to the treasure. It is as if I am on a mission. 

I always say to other photographers who are learning that there are four opportunities given to you with a photograph. The first is the natural experience of seeing your image or moment with your natural eyes. It hits you and you know it’s arrived. Second is seeing it once again through your lens. Third is seeing it at home on your computer/editing program. And fourth is seeing it complete.  This is why I never, ever, ever count a lost photo lost. I had four opportunities to see and experience this beautiful moment. If it doesn’t end in a life-changing photograph. If it’s not as crisp and sharp as it should be. If it’s not what I thought it could be. There is no loss. There is only gain. 

Pick your place and take your camera. Seek, explore and then aim and shoot. You’ve already won.

[mppllc]

Autumn is here in the woods. I recently read an article about something called “Forest Bathing”. Yep, yep, yep is what my soul sang to me when I read this. It is what I knew and had no words for. That envelopment that occurs when you enter a natural world. All is right. All that isn’t is left behind at the gateway to the world you have just left.  This is my introduction. I have spent my entire life as a creative. I am living that dream behind the camera. I photograph nature, wildlife, food, lifestyle, people, anything that brings me joy that I want to share and bring joy to others with. My work is in hospitals, homes and microstock agencies. It is my purpose to share beauty with the world.