Get out of your box.

Photography school for this girl is drawing to a close. One more week and all the souls that descended on Missoula Montana nineteen weeks ago will bid adieu and continue on to the next chapter. I can't believe it's over, I can't believe I did it, and I can't believe the new person who has emerged. I know that for me I have a lot to do after I graduate, starting with getting this blog to look like an internet savvy person actually runs it. A portfolio will need to be built so that I can get a website up and picking the next path that I want to travel down would be a move in the right direction. But despite the laundry list that will packed away in my suitcase next week, I am ready for the next adventure. Before this program I had a sinking feeling that I wouldn't find my way through the maze of higher education, that I would always be fearful of failure and that I just wouldn't be happy with my choices. Now, I'm ready. I'm ready for all of it. To quote one of my favorite songs, "What's left to lose? You've done enough...And if you fail well then you fail but not to us." I'm not scared anymore, and when I think about it it's silly that I ever was. I have an amazing family and the best friends I could ask for. This journey is about the relationships made along the way not the successes or failures and it's about time that I let that sink in.

Smile

August...I don't remember setting my summer on fast forward. I can not believe how this summer has shattered all expectations! (and clocks apparently...is it really August!?) Reading my last post brings many things into perspective for me, all those nerves and expectations I had for RMSP are quite humbling now that this summer has blazed by, leaving little time for pondering and honestly... appreciating. In less than two weeks my Summer Intensive experience will draw to a close, I will say goodbye to many of my new family members and start the final chapter in this career training course. I have two weeks of Professional Studies courses and then six weeks of Advanced Intensive. I can't put into words how much this experience has meant to me, I had hoped to make friends... I got a family, I had hoped to have a better understanding of my camera... I am now using its advanced settings, I had hoped I would be able to finally take the pictures I saw in my head... I am now moving those exposure controls like they are turn signals in my car. The bad days always had thick silver linings and the good days...were plentiful.

I feel so blessed to have found something that I love and that makes me happy at 21 years old. I'm excited for this adventure to float into fall and for this career to keep taking me higher.










Thank you to my parents, your unwavering confidence and support is priceless.
Thank you to my family, you are the greatest cheerleaders a girl could ask for.
Thank you to my friends, your enthusiasm is the fuel to this fire.

And Thank you to my Poppy, your love continues to shine through even the darkest rooms.

Series

A series, I was told, is a way to tie things together that could not necessarily stand on their own. I find that to be a visually stunning way to portray photographs, however in life I feel that some events can stand all by their lonesome.

I am preparing to enter into a family of photographers. RMSP's summer intensive starts in five days, and I have been trying to wrap my head around this career path that I so desperately want, but am honestly a little afraid of. Countless hours have been spent researching epic photographers, reputable magazines and amazing equipment. I check the web bulletin board for any updates to sink my teeth into before Tuesday, and continue to find endless testimonials that read more like love letters for this school and this profession. So while those emotions of anxiousness, nervousness, and sometimes sleeplessness are present there is a real sense of calm that has swept over me. I am reminded of that amazing week I spent with RMPS back in February and what a blessing that I get to spend the next three months building on that strong foundation. If life is a series of events I am thankful I get to document the ones that mean so much to me. 

Three

FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY! It's not really my thing, Lovely is AMAZING at it so I decided to do an homage to her since I was in a lovely (haha no pun intended) chocolaterie called Modern Dwellers. I can't remember when I started going there but I don't see it coming to an end. The drinking chocolate is to die for! I also partook in a delectable cherry white chocolate truffle. Rêve de chocolat!

Two

I want you to meet...

Lovely... yes that's her real name and when you meet her you know why. I met her last July when she shot my cousins first birthday party, we chatted and quickly became Facebook friends. It's almost like I've known her longer than these past 9 months. She is a wonderful photographer and scrap-booker, really she's an all around entrepreneur and I am very fortunate to have her in my life. 


A few weeks back we went to an old camera store in downtown Billings for a fun photo-shoot. I was explaining to her my insufficient knowledge of metering...which is comical when I look through my photos because I didn't get the color out of the wall that I would have if I knew what I was doing. Thank God for B&W conversion and post processing. I'm beyond thrilled that I get to actually learn those critical photography tactics this summer. Anyway, we had a great time and got some great shots. Enjoy. (Click on for larger image)




Berg*Blog

One

I am a photographer. 

I use that loosely, I don't have a lot of formal training (although that will be changing come June (I should put a countdown in this blog) I will be going to the Rocky Mountain School of Photography in Missoula Montana.) Probably to long for parentheses...ok back to what I was rambling before...oh yeah formal training. I have been taking pictures for a few years, it started with a little Sony point and shoot, my very supportive parents then upgraded me to a Canon 7D. 


I'm hoping to do so much more than photography...maybe not much more... just venture into the world of videography and maybe cinematography. (Not set on college yet.) That's as much of my boring past as I'll go into. 


My plan from here is to get a web album set up so I can post more than 1 photo at a time. 
So I guess that's the end of this post. Stay tuned for posts with actual purpose!






Berg*Blog