Rollin, rollin, rollin...

[Stage Notes:: Watching TV]
[TV:: Forrest Gump]

Well, I am back online so I suppose that means you would all like to know what I have been doing. Hmm, lets start near the end because that will help explain things. I think.

The end is the explination for how I am online because I am not on either of my parent's computers nor am I on either of my sister's computers. I am on my very own computer! That's right, I am the proud new owner of a MacBook Pro. It is so nice to be back on a Mac!

Since the last time I wrote, A lot has happened so I will recap best I can. First off, my little sister graduated :) Now our entire family has at least a Bachelor's Degree. I can't help but think that is pretty darn cool. Ironically, now that we have hit this milestone, I am getting ready to start my Master's coursework and I have a feeling my sis is not far behind.

I have also spent a decent amount of time in downtown Detroit. As I wrote before, I visited the Ansel Adams exhibit at the DIA. Since then, I went down to a Tiger's game against the Cardinals with a good friend from State and as we were coming home, we discovered there was an Art Fair at the Village in Rochester. The next day, I went to dinner with some friends that live downtown. They have this beautiful loft overlooking woodward. I must say that I am definately giving full creative control over any place I live in to them. It was like something out of a magazine, but it was still something you could live in...if that makes any sense. After talking for a little while, we walked to a French Cafe called Twingos. The food was fantastic and the ambiance matched perfectly. After enjoying a some fabulous appetizers and a delectable dinner we decided to walk over to Traffic Jam and Snug for some devilish desserts. The Traffic Jam is where my family typically goes after seeing a show anywhere downtown because the only thing better than a great night at th theatre is dessert after! We had also planned to go to the brewery next door but decided that we would rather go back to the apartment to hang out and talk.

I also made an attempt to see a friend from school who was supposed to play at a coffee house in my old neighborhood, but I ended up missing her play. I had hoped she was playing a full set, but it turns out she was only playing one song and she moved her time slot to play earlier. On the bright side, I did get to talk to her and her husband afterwards which was wonderful. It is so nice being able to catch up with friends you haven't seen in a long time. I also managed to get a copy of her new album. I highly recommend you check out her stuff at: http://rachanee.net/

Discovering the World Without Color

[Stage Notes:: Road weary and smelling popcorn]
[TV:: Grey's Anatomy]

Yesterday afternoon, my sister and I drove down to the Detroit Institute of Arts and went to an exhibit of Ansel Adams photography. WOW. I was absolutely in awe of the work that he did! I had some idea of the type of photography he did, but was amazed at both his style and variety.

His early nature work was soft with carefully chosen focal points and the rest of the picture blurred. When he was shooting people, it was often native americans in the southwest. You could not pick out faces but there was fantastic detail in their dress. Though, despite these, it was his later work that I was fascinated with.

He was a lover of nature; especially that of Yellowstone National Park. Looking at the collection, it was more than apparent that he desired to show that park as well as several others in ways that the human eye cannot see. He wanted to show a world that you cannot see in color, and can only be seen in the most dramatic forms of black and white. I Cannot help but wonder what it would be like to see the world through his eyes. For example, this picture of Monolith is one of his big breakthroughs. He said it was the first time that the picture he saw in his mind is the picture he captured on film.



Wow.

After looking at the gallery, I realised that I have loved his style of photography for a long time...I just didn't know it was his. He formed a group with some other photographers called f/64. The group was dedicated to crisp, sharp, high contrast photography. It is the one thing he was dedicated to during the meatiest part of his career.

One of the most interesting parts of the exhibit was the picture of Ansel Adams that the DIA was painting. They showed a portrait of a quirky and silly starving artist. He was good friends with Georgia O'Keefe (which I had no idea). He seemed to vary widely in the subjects of his work, but was consistent in the way he shot those subjects. Some of his photos had a witty sense of humor about them, while others showed a delicate femininity, and still others had a sort of dark beauty that he could see and wanted everyone else too as well.

Emergence

Hey everyone! I know I haven't been blogging much, but that is sadly inevitable. Currently I am computerless except for when I can commandeer someone else's long enough to check e-mail.

Why am I computer less? Well Friday was my last day at work which meant it was the last day of me having the work computer. Additionally, my laptop bit the dust a few months ago so I am pretty much completely unplugged. Sorry :( I am working on rectifying the situation since I will need one before the start of classes in June. That's all for now. Talk to you all soon...hopefully.